Dare To Ask Talk And News About Our Differences - This topic has 33 replies, 34 voices, and was last updated 16 years ago by
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I’m not really sure why Americans are so uncaring. I am American and I promise we are not ALL like that, but some of us are. I guess it’s just the way we’re raised I mean society tells us to fend for ourselves and be ruthless to get ahead in the capitalist society and elections which are usually unfair. Also I think it is our lack of culture, and non acceptance of our diveristy…or at elast in my town. everyone looks the same and acts the same cuz they’re afraid so if someone starts picking on a certain eprson everyone joins in because they’re scared. I’m not really sure why but next time you’re feeling up for a challenge, or happen to have to go to America. come visit a religious community, they’re generally alot more friendly and at least in the UCC very excited to welcome all visitors and make them feel at home
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Name : Allie, Gender : F, Sexual Orientation : don't know, Race : White/Caucasian, Age : 15, City : avon, State : OH, Country : United States, Education level : Less than High School Diploma,I have to agree with Antonio — I’m not sure what you’re experiencing is a hatred of tourists. In service jobs like you mentioned, Americans do crappy work for crappy pay with crappy (or NO) benefits. We don’t get guaranteed vacations– and sometimes we have to work on Christmas, Passover or other religious holidays. We don’t get health insurance for ourselves or our partners. We don’t have clean workplaces or understanding bosses half the time, either. It takes a very strong person to go to these jobs every day and still keep smiling! Granted, I live in the south and people down here put on a better facade sometimes (try Southwest Airlines… I’ve never had a nasty flight attendant with them) but otherwise… eughh.
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Name : Stephanie, Gender : F, Sexual Orientation : Lesbian, Race : White/Caucasian, Age : 23, City : Norman, State : OK, Country : United States, Occupation : Student, Education level : Over 4 Years of College, Social class : Middle class,I have only a brief experience of the US when I took advantage of cheap fares to fly to Florida for a look around when I was living in Britain. I stayed in Tampa and in a poor area of St Petersburg. I found that some white Americans viewed me with suspicion because I walked places. [I wasn’t game to drive US cars on the ‘wrong’ side of the road.] Conversely I found Afro-Americans to be very friendly, and much more worldly wise and able to share a joke. I found that service was poor, and my guess is that with the pay being so low, hospitality and retail employees didn’t have a lot of emotional investment in their jobs. They tended to hide behind a false smile and didn’t seem to know much about what they were selling. I never thought I would miss Britain and good old surly, argumentative British service, but I did. Occasionally in America I’d meet someone genuinely nice who’d try to help, but it wasn’t a high point. It hasn’t turned me off the country, I am intrigued by the US and want to see more some day.
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Name : Ben S., Gender : M, Sexual Orientation : Gay, Race : White/Caucasian, Religion : New Age/Metaphysical, Age : 35, City : Melbourne, State : NA, Country : Australia, Occupation : corrections officer, Education level : 4 Years of College, Social class : Lower middle class,I don’t think that American’s are anti-tourist. We have no problem with tourists, however, American’s are rude in general when compared with people from other cultures and countries. It’s nothing personal, but that’s the way we are. The general rudeness is more noticable in some areas of the US than others. I have noticed that behavior that is considered normal in the northeastern states is considered rude and offensive in the southeastern states.
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Name : Danman, Gender : M, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Race : White/Caucasian, Religion : Christian, Age : 33, City : Southside, State : VA, Country : United States, Education level : 4 Years of College, Social class : Middle class,I spent 2 years in the USA, and noticed the same thing. As far as I can tell, it works like this: service workers in the USA are essentially unpaid, and are expected to earn their wages by getting tips from customers. If you want someone in the USA to give you any sort of service, you have to leave a constant trail of $1 bills in front of them. As soon as the tips stop, so does the service. This is no doubt incredibly demeaning and humiliating for the service worker, which explains their resentful rudeness.
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Name : Pete-W30369, Gender : M, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Race : White/Caucasian, Religion : Atheist, Age : 33, City : Sydney, State : NA, Country : Australia, Education level : Over 4 Years of College, Social class : Middle class,Funny, all my European friends have always commented on how friendly (if shallow) they find America and Americans. Could be residual prejudice against Afrikaaners – you guys were the offical media bad guys in the 1980’s US (Lethal Weapon 2, etc., etc.), but I kinda doubt it (I should say all the South Africans and Zimbabweans I know are pretty cool). Try the old eye contact, ‘how you doin’, and ‘fine thanks.’ A lot of people respond really well to pleases and thank yous as well. Can’t hurt to try…now Amsterdammers, WE’RE rude.
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Name : dersk25708, Gender : M, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Race : White/Caucasian, Religion : Atheist, Age : 34, City : amsterdam, State : NA, Country : The Netherlands, Education level : 4 Years of College, Social class : Upper middle class,Many Americans have never traveled abroad due to lack of vacation time, so they don’t know what it’s like to be a ‘tourist’. I guess I’m so used to our levels of service that I don’t even recognize how bad it is, or you’re experiencing a regional issue. You may want to visit other parts of the country and determine whether this is a ‘universal’ phenomenon.
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Name : Mark, Gender : M, Race : White/Caucasian, Age : 37, City : Durham, State : NC, Country : United States, Education level : 4 Years of College, Social class : Middle class,I’m sorry you have had bad experiences while in the U.S. I would disagree with the other responder as not all americans hate there job. You make your own environment. I would suggest that if you get to travel outside the N.E. part of the United States please do so. I am on the west coast and people here welcome visitors and find differeces in people interesting. I have been all over the U.S. and find the south very hospitable. The S.W. is beautiful and the north, lets just say its nice in the summer. I certainly hope you enjoy the rest of your stay.
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Name : William, Gender : M, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Race : White/Caucasian, Religion : Christian, Age : 37, City : Vancouver, State : WA, Country : United States, Occupation : Project Manager, Education level : 2 Years of College, Social class : Middle class,I am really sorry to hear you say that since I work in the tourism industry. There are 40,000 employees just in our city alone who would love to serve you. But I must say that as a nation we do not do a good job of making foreigners feel welcome and focusing on tourism. It is the only major industry that does not have the presence in our Executive Branch of government that other nations have. Know that hotels and other more direct beneficiaries of tourism certainly appreciate your business. But the service provided overall in all of our industries has declined in recent years and that is what you are experiencing. So hopefully we are not just picking on tourists…it is just the way we treat everyone unfortunately.
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Name : Mike20451, Gender : M, Race : White/Caucasian, Age : 51, City : Charlotte, State : NC, Country : United States, Occupation : Tourism, Social class : Middle class,Do not be decieved by the big towns or cities that it sounds to me like you are surrounded by. Not every American is the same way. My response to you is for you to go to a small culturally diversed town and ask the same questions that you did before.I know that the town that i live in is not like that at all. If u were to ask that question you’d get a willing response. You cannot conclude all americans as the same type. Different towns have different views, different states have different people. The U.S. is still great. You just have to get in where you fit in.
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Name : Nyla, Gender : F, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Race : Black/African American, Religion : Christian, Age : 17, City : Willingboro, State : NJ, Country : United States, Occupation : student, Education level : High School Diploma, Social class : Middle class,Depends on where you go in the United States. The north tends to be more cruel. Where as the south is known for open doors and neighborly-activities. People are ruder in Washington DC than Nashville Tennessee. It just depends. Every heard the phrase ‘Dont blame a society for one person’ Well.. ‘dont blame a country for one region’ And also… the USA doesnt care if people hate us or not because we’re going to protect ourselves before we try to become popular.
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Name : Anna, Gender : F, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Race : White/Caucasian, Religion : Christian, Age : 17, City : Memphis, State : TN, Country : United States, Occupation : student, Education level : Less than High School Diploma, Social class : Upper middle class,Try taking a trip in Eastern Europe. It depends on where you are located. I don’t know where in America you are talking about but the states are pretty large so if you are in one city you can’t write off an entire nation. That’s like me saying that Europe sucks for tourism because some Germans were rude. Maybe you are in a town that just isn’t very friendly. Maybe you haven’t integrated well into your community and found hospitable people. For this I am sorry because they exist. But the States is difficult for tourists. There is little public transportation outside of larger cities, very few people are bilingual or try to be, interstates whiz you by without seeing what is all around you, areas have been suburbanized to homogeny, and no public toilets. Neighborhoods are not tight communities that they were. People are fearful of outsiders and that affects their interactions. Americans AREN’T happy with their jobs or the economy. A bad economy, no state mandated/provided safety net for healthcare, daycare, insurance, and other basic necessities create unhappy people. Some people may be worrying about a sick child and how to pay the monthly bills while you are complaining that they are not friendly. You’re from SA. Isn’t SA the place that had elites running the country where blacks had no say in anything? It is my understanding that unless you have the money, armed guards, and live indoors with high walls it isn’t safe to live in SA (although Newsweek says it has improved). If you grew up in a protected house and only exposed to elite people who had lots of money and happy smiling servants to go with that perfect life then you may think that America is rude. (I know nothing of your personal background but this paragraph should show you what it feels like to have your country judged in a paragraph by a person making snap judgments) America isn’t perfect. It takes a little more examination to get to the bottom of a phenomenon. Plus attitude often reflects how people treat you. If you come at someone with a bad attitude then you will probably get one in return. If I treat others with dignity and respect they eventually they reciprocate. It is always better to use kindness when trying to subdue mean people because it makes them look stupid for being mean.
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Name : Drew, Gender : M, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Race : White/Caucasian, Age : 29, City : Knoxville, State : TN, Country : United States, Occupation : Peace Corps Volunteer in Eastern Europe, Education level : Over 4 Years of College, Social class : Middle class,I think you have to be careful when applying a description to an entire group of people, let alone an entire country. While I have run into my share of rude people, I have come into contact with far more friendly and helpful people. I believe,it is a matter of whom you choose to remember. A second thing to consider is where you are when receiving services. Restaurants and retailers are both places where a lot is expected of people for low pay. Another consideration is your expectations. I have worked places where I have had to deal with the public. Some people want you to do every little thing for them. Of course they are not going to get the friendliest response, when we expect people we come in to contact with to be able to do a lot of things for themselves. I also think that being around someone for an hour or so, is not enough time to judge wether or not they are truly rude. You only get a glimpse of that person. For example, I would think you were rude and inconsiderate if I judged you by this email alone. It has been a while since you posted, so I hope by now you have had a much better impression of our country.
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Name : Melissa, Gender : F, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Race : Black/African American, Religion : Christian, Age : 24, City : Atlanta, State : GA, Country : United States, Occupation : Student, Education level : Over 4 Years of College, Social class : Lower class,It also depends where you visit in the U.S. The north east coast is a little uptight and blunt, the ‘old south’ is well a little ‘old’ in their ways of thinking, the west coast is materialistic and the southwest doesn’t really like stranges but tend to be the friendliest America has to offer.
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Name : Reyna29574, Gender : F, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Race : White/Caucasian, Religion : Christian, Age : 23, City : Houston, State : TX, Country : United States, Occupation : Student, Education level : 2 Years of College, Social class : Lower middle class,I’m inclined to blame it on the region you’re in; being in Pennsylvania, I imagine you’ve had your share of experience in the northeast. I cannot speak for other regions, but in the northeast, coldness and indifference is mostly a matter of culture. People just are not very social with others with whom they are not familiar. It may also depend on what types of populations you’ve been in; the more urban an environment is, the less people are pleasent towards one another. People tend to feel more free to alienate each other when they believe they will never encounter the other person again, which may also explain your negative experiences with our services. In terms of the rest of the world, it doesn’t usually occur to Americans that, in their actions, they are representing their nation. I don’t know about other Americans, but I have to say that no, I don’t care about what the rest of the world thinks of tourism experiences here.
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Name : Exton, Gender : M, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Race : White/Caucasian, Religion : nontheist, Age : 18, City : Medway, State : MA, Country : United States, Education level : High School Diploma, Social class : Middle class,
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