"Americentricity" by Itchy Feet

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[u/DennenTH]

I came from a rural town in America.  I have habits from growing up there in that specific time that can be seen as casual friendliness.

Is this why I get glared at for saying shit like 'Thank You'?!  I feel floored by this idea.  I always thought casual friendliness was the goal for what everyone wants to experience.

[u/dprkicbm → u/DennenTH]

If you get glared at for saying thank you, my guess is either that you're annoyingly loud or they think you're being sarcastic.

[u/PretentiousMouthfeel → u/dprkicbm]

Seriously. I've never had an issue anywhere in the US for saying thank you.

[u/Murrabbit → u/dprkicbm]

Or perhaps pausing and being too obvious about waiting for a reaction. Thank people all you like but keep fucking moving, seriously, get out of my store you're blocking traffic and our transaction is done.

[u/Nova225 → u/DennenTH]

If someone glared at you for saying thank you, they probably thought you were being sarcastic.

[u/ElderberryHoliday814 → u/DennenTH]

You should see some of the looks that a kind nod to anyone I make eye contact with looks like outside of the county. Sometimes a smile pops, sometimes a glare. (The smiles make it worth it)

[u/FakeJackelope1125 → u/DennenTH]

Wait, is saying "Please" and "Thank You" abnormal outside of the United States south?

[u/SlapTheBap → u/FakeJackelope1125]

Not at all. Midwest is full of it.

[u/Suitable_Entrance594 → u/FakeJackelope1125]

In some places, yes. In India it's not considered necessary to thank people for doing their job. It's not rude, it's just a bit weird. So if you get out of a taxi, you don't need to thank the driver and might get an odd look if you do.

[u/SlapTheBap → u/Suitable_Entrance594]

Aw man. I always tell people who do a service for me that I appreciate them. I don't have those skills!

My psychiatrists last name is Al-Sheikh and I always thank her for her expertise and how easy she is to work with. I appreciate it a lot, you know?

[u/N0ob8 → u/FakeJackelope1125]

It’s how you say it.

In the north you say it quickly. It’s a simple acknowledgement and nothing more. You don’t wait for a response and you shouldn’t expect one. No need to hold people up over pleasantries.

In the south they tend to draw it out. They say it slower and usually expect a response back. They also tend to add their own little flair to it sometimes.

Source - my experience living in the American north and south

[u/Prestigious-Emu-8734 → u/DennenTH]

I think it depends. Like I lived in Georgia and Texas until I graduated. If Im walking down the road its considered polite to nod and smile and say hello to a complete stranger if youre walking past each other. But up here in Portland is not really normal. But people dont seem to really care about it much either way. And I personally havent gotten weird looks for saying thank you.

[u/Kevadu → u/DennenTH]

I say "thank you" all the time and never in my life have I been glared at for it.

[u/Vigmod → u/DennenTH]

If you're being glared at for normal manners, I feel sorry for people living in big cities (I'm from a country with barely 400 000 inhabitants, and currently live in a country with a population of 5 and half million, so my idea of "big city" may be a little different from the US, or anywhere else really).