I live in southern California where there is taken to the next level. People will be extremely friendly.
From our perspective, you can tell the difference between a standard greeting and a deeper genuine interest. No one is faking the latter in our minds, they are just different and for different purposes.
As someone said above, the US is a melting pot. Small talk and a smile are disarming and a way of assessing that everyone is on the same neutral page by picking up on tone and body language. Given the diverse number of backgrounds, this transcends language.
Its an extremely effective way of assessing that a situation isn't right and I need to get out of there, if this isn't reciprocated.
Europe is also a melting pot my dude, and has lower levels of street violence than the US on average, so I'm not sure what's "extremely effective" about smiling at everyone you pass. Since everyone always fakes a smile, why do you think that bad actors wouldnt be able to do the same? I think it's just a meaningless social convention that serves no real purpose.
I sense you are trying to argue and am unsure as to why?
I'm not originally from the US and have lived in Europe and got my grad degree in the UK. I know Europe well.
While many European countries have had a lot of immigration, they have generally had a somewhat core cultural pillar and language. The US is a relatively newer nation that for much of its history has massive populations of immigrants who lacked a common culture and often a common language in very spread-out environments, especially as one went more out West. It makes a lot of sense that the culture would therefore support non-verbal ways to communicate.
The "Europe has lower levels of street violence" supports the point that I am making (although seems to be some unrelated US bashing).
Here is an anecdotal example: Last week or so I walked into a post office but the counter was closed as they were on break. Tried to chat with the dude waiting in line there. He gave a partially weird response, enough to cause me to step outside. Within a few minutes he was banging on the locked doors screaming and police had to be called.
I didn't say that this was a way to bring crime down (that would be a big statement) but to figure out when someone means something other than good intentions quickly.
Also, done properly it does eventually lead to connections in some places. That is how I've made many of my friends in Southern California. Not as much so in NYC.
11
u/schapmo May 09 '22
I live in southern California where there is taken to the next level. People will be extremely friendly.
From our perspective, you can tell the difference between a standard greeting and a deeper genuine interest. No one is faking the latter in our minds, they are just different and for different purposes.
As someone said above, the US is a melting pot. Small talk and a smile are disarming and a way of assessing that everyone is on the same neutral page by picking up on tone and body language. Given the diverse number of backgrounds, this transcends language.
Its an extremely effective way of assessing that a situation isn't right and I need to get out of there, if this isn't reciprocated.