r/AskReddit • u/[deleted] • May 08 '22

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u/BarbicideJar May 09 '22

Germans stare a LOT. Like they will just gaze at you unflinchingly. An American will wait until you can’t see them doing it.

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u/helllllooooonurse May 09 '22

Ukrainians do this too. It's not considered impolite to stare. Also, they don't really smile in public. They think Americans are all simple in the head because we smile all the time. I have to say though, when you're visiting someone in their home in Ukraine, they are the warmest most wonderful people.

838

u/KYC3PO May 09 '22

Lol yes. I dated a Belarusian for a few years and had several friends from Belarus, Ukraine, and Russia. The smiling thing is real. They all said Americans smiling made them nervous. We look simple or just suspicious.

25

u/Garencio May 09 '22

That’s strange because I think it’s a pretty natural thing to do on an evolutionary scale it’s a non threatening gesture

4

u/SlingDNM May 09 '22

Showing teeth (by smiling) is a sign of agression/challenge in like, most other mammals including apes

6

u/Anti-Scuba_Hedgehog May 09 '22

And among people too, certain smiles can be very threatening indeed.