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Comment by soulofmischief | Hacker News Reader

I'm curious what Americans have to do with this, do you have any sources to back up your conjecture, or is this just prejudice?

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People really over-exaggerate the claim of friendly and polite US service workers and people in general. Obviously you can find the full spectrum of character types across the US. I've lived 2/3 of my life in Britain and 1/3 in the US and I honestly don't think there's much difference in interactions day to day. If anything I mostly just find Britain to be overly pessimistic and gloomy now.

Britain, or at the very least England, is also well known for its extreme politeness culture. Also, it's not that the US has a culture of genuine politeness, just a facade of it.

I have only spent about a year in the US, but to me the difference was stark from what I'm used to in Europe. As an example, I've never encountered a single shop cashier who didn't talk to me. Everyone had something to say, usually a variation of How's it going?. Contrasting this to my native Estonia, where I'd say at least 90% of my interactions with cashiers involves them not making a single sound. Not even in response to me saying hello, or to state the total sum. If they're depressed or in an otherwise non-euphoric mood, they make no attempt to fake it. I'm personally fine with it, because I don't go looking for social connections from cashiers. Also, when they do talk to me in a happy manner, I know it's genuine.

Prejudice, based on my anecdotal experience. I live in the US but have spent a decent amount of time in Europe (mostly Germany).

It's common for foreigners to come to America and feel that everyone is extremely polite. Especially eastern bloc countries which tend to be very blunt and direct. I for one think that the politeness in America is one of the cultures better qualities.

Does it translate into people wanting sycophantic chat bots? Maybe, but I don't know a single American that actually likes when llms act that way.

> I for one think that the politeness in America is one of the cultures better qualities.

Politeness makes sense as an adaptation to low social trust. You have no way of knowing whether others will behave in mutually beneficial ways, so heavy standards of social interaction evolve to compensate and reduce risk. When it's taken to an excess, as it probably is in the U.S. (compared to most other developed countries) it just becomes grating for everyone involved. It's why public-facing workers invariably complain about the draining "emotional labor" they have to perform - a term that literally doesn't exist in most of the world!

That's one way of looking at it. A bit of a cynical view I might add. People are polite to each other for many reasons. If you hold the door and smile at an old lady, it usually isn't because you dont trust her.

Service industry in America is a different story that could use a lot of improvement.

> You have no way of knowing whether others will behave in mutually beneficial ways

Or is carrying a gun...

Politeness is one thing, toxic positivity is quite another. My experience is that Americans have (or are expected/required to have) too much of the latter, too little of the former.

> ... do you have any sources to back up your conjecture, or is this just prejudice?

Let me guess, you consider yourself a progressive left democrat.

Do I have any source for that? No, but I noticed a pattern where progressive left democrats ask for a source to discredit something that is clearly a personal observation or opinion, and by its nature doesn't require any sources.

The only correct answer is: it's an opinion, accept it or refute it yourself, you don't need external validation to participate in an argument. Or maybe you need ;)

> Let me guess, you consider yourself a progressive left democrat

I don't, and your comment is a mockery of itself.

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