Rude Americans

[DinoDoc]

Originally posted by Tuomerehu
If you want rude, go to Suomithread and try to speak finnish.

That's easy. The language only involves randomly pressing keys without any discernable pattern.

[Sprayber]

I know many people in the South say that Northerners are less friendly then we are but I know plenty of rude people in my own city, (or town compared to cities elsewhere). Like most other things it comes down to the individual.

When I go into a store I do so with the knowledge that I am not the only customer there. If I can't find something or I need to know a price I wait my turn if someone already has the clerks attention. I don't expect the clerk to hold my hand through the store but I do expect some degree of politeness when I ask a question. I don't want to see them roll their eyes because I dared to ask a question. This happens a lot. The thing is, you don't usually notice when they are nice, only when they are rude.

[Provost Harrison]

Originally posted by Urban Ranger
Not even my SO is that short, she's at 160cm, which is the average for women here. Men average around 170cm IIRC.

Great, I'm moving! I am only 169cm tall myself so that would be ideal. Here I am a veritable midget.

Yeah, Americans seem to exude an 'arrogance', strange because it is something we, the British, seem to be known for out of all other nations. Although I have never been to the US (only experience of Americans over here) so I will have to tell you when I get the opportunity to visit.

[Sikander]

One of my pet peeves regarding service is when you are waiting at a counter and the clerk drops you in mid sentence to answer the phone and waits on the phone customer instead. Recently my father and I were standing in line at a take out restaurant, and the clerk kept answering the phone and taking orders, letting those of us actually present cool our heals in line. I suddenly realized that my dad had a cell phone, so we called in our order from the front of the line in order to keep from being interrupted. It took a minute or so before the clerk realized what was happening, and we all had a good laugh about it.

I do agree that too much service can be annoying. This tends to happen especially in restaurants in cities where you are seated at a table for two which is located in the center of the floor and is roughly the size of an airline tray-table from the coach section. I find it almost impossible to complete a sentence without being 'served' by the waiter, water-boy, bread guy, wine steward etc. I guess they are hoping to harry you until you leave and thus increase their table turnover.

[Provost Harrison]

One thing that would irritate me immensely about being in the US is this 'forceful tip demanding' business. It would deter me from giving a tip if anything because I would consider it to be very rude and impolite.

[ZoboZeWarrior]

Originally posted by C0ckney
I do speak some French and believe me they are rude

All f.cking people pretenting such bullsh.t are f.cking b.stard !!

[Provost Harrison]

Nah, the French are fine, they just tend to be very clear about what they want and don't want from what I have found.

[MOBIUS]

Bad service from sales staff drove 46 percent of respondents out of stores in the past year. Among those earning more than $75,000 a year, 57 percent had left a store because of the service, the study said.

Had quite a few of those, particularly on the East Coast!

Survey respondents also voiced displeasure at inconsiderate cell phone users. Asked how to address the problem, 61 percent backed legislation banning cell phone use in public settings such as restaurants, movies and museums.

I thought the UK was bad for this - but you guys are unbelievable!!! They don't mention cell phone users on the roads!!!

Also, 58 percent said they often encounter rude drivers, with just 35 percent admitting to such behavior themselves.

Rude would mean intentionally inconsiderate IMO, so not as bad as the UK in that respect. As for dumb f***ers that HAVE NO BUSINESS ON THE ROADS, well I'm sorry to say that US roads are choked with them! If it weren't for the relatively quiet roads in the US compared to Europe, I would easily rate it as my worst driving experience yet. I have driven in 8 different countries so far!

Cell Phone users - worst!
Slow drivers in the fast lane - worst!
Tailgaters - worst!
headlights on highbeam at night - worst!
Not indicating - about the same as Spain!
Not looking - worst!!! I had to avoid 3 potential collisions in only a month of driving!!!

The thing that really drives me into fits of apoplectic rage though, the creme de la creme has to be...

When driving on a two lane freeway the 'passing' car in the fast lane is travelling AT THE SAME SPEED AND NEXT TO the car in the slow lane THEREBY BLOCKING THE ENTIRE ROAD!!!

This utterly moronic action occurred dozens of times - it is a phenomenon that I can quite safely say DOES NOT OCCUR IN ANY OTHER COUNTRY THAT I HAVE EVER DRIVEN IN!!!

And no, I did not get a ticket in over 5,500 miles of driving!

I would concur that the south, indeed the warmer areas of the US are the friendliest (warmest).

I vote New Orleans the Friendliest City

I vote New York the Unfriendliest City (BIG SURPRISE! Well at least Caligastia and his wife were nice! )

That said, once most people (Exception: New York) realised I was British they instantly warmed to me and I was treated very well!

[Provost Harrison]

Aloha MOBIUS

Well I am sure I will get the opportunity to drive on the US's roads at some point in my life, but despite how we curse, the UK is supposed to have some of the best driving standards in the world (sometimes that fact amazes me when I look at some of the dickheads on the road).

The worst place I drove was Malta, but nothing too bad, just on occasions some of the locals did some f**king stupid stunts. Fortunately they drive on the same side as us so I didn't have that fact to adjust to.

[ZoboZeWarrior]

I prefere french standards : "Don't read when you drive, so don't read what is written on this stupid sign on the border of the road !"

[Provost Harrison]

Now that I can believe

[ZoboZeWarrior]

Being rude isn't only saying gross words. It's a general attitude.

[SlowwHand]

Originally posted by chegitz guevara
Indubitably.

However, my recent move to the South has led my to believe it is not true of Americans universally. These peple are so damned friendly and polite you want to hug them. However, not having been here in the past, it is impossible for me to know if they were even nicer and more politie in the past.

edit: Uh-mur-uh-cun.

Like night and day, huh ?

[Bereta_Eder]

I've travelled all around Europe. Name a european capital, chances are I've been there.

I've never met a peoples who are rude.

[reds4ever]

Originally posted by Tuberski
Should I have the title to this thread changed to ARE PEOPLE IN HONG KONG SHORT?

dwarfism amongst island populations is a well known evolutionary mechanism