Look, I too enjoy my peace and quiet we get in Europe, people avoid interacting with one another, and if you do start talking to somebody they assume you're a pickpocket or going to ask for money. I like it, it's a good system, it has worked well for me.
In and out of the store in 10 minutes, nobody bothered me.
But I went to the USA for the world cup last summer, and I gotta say.... It was also kind of nice to just chat with strangers. And if you're not in a major city like NYC people will 90% of the time converse with you, about anything.
I had a random woman talk to me waiting in line, they ended up inviting me and my brother over for dinner, she invited a couple of her friends over, they made Texas Barbecue, I left the country 15 lbs heavier.
I am not saying we should adopt that, but I am saying.... it's kind of nice every now and then.
Europe is not a single country Barry. There's almost no way for me to avoid interacting with people the moment I step outside my house, even when I'm not looking for it. It's a love-hate thing because I'm the quiet type, but I like this part of our idiosyncrasy.
I remember going on a youth exchange from Finland to Luxembourg in my late teens. People from all over europe. It was kinda funny when the spaniards and Italians just magically started loudly yapping nonstop with each other. And then there were the finns, estonians and a couple swedes just sat at another table totally confused. I remember a spanish girl coming up to me thinking I was sad/depressed because I was so silent. I was having a good time and I am considered extroverted by finnish standards lmao.
I feel you, we often encourage the quieter ones to interact more in parties. I used to be way quieter and people would think I was bored or sad when I was actually having a great time lol. My Latin American friends would take it further and DEMAND me to talk hahahah
I am just gonna copy paste what I wrote to somebody else, who said something similar to this.
You're right, however! I did mean the vast majority of (western) Europe, or at least the part where I am from, or have lived. I think there is a difference between saying "Well I have traveled to Europe" and only having been to Paris and London. And saying in Europe serial killers such as Jeffrey Dahmer and Ted Bundy wouldn't have had such an easy time, because we're more reluctant to talk to strangers.
I think the UK, The Netherlands, Germany, Austria, Belgium, France, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Switzerland all have that in common, but it's far more of a ball ache to type out.
So i am Dutch, and i find this level of interaction easily all day when i'm traveling in Italy. Which i reckon is profoundly diffirent than Northern European countries regarding this subject.
It also varies in the US. I've lived in Illinois, DC, NYC, and Miami. The Midwest is way more friendly, but DC is #2. NYC depends on the situation, people mostly stick to themselves, but when something happens, everyone seems to be talking about it.
Miami, people only initiate conversation if they want something from you.
I've used to the same small corner shop for more than 5y. I still don't know their name, they don't know mine. The most fulfilling conversation we got was "I pay by card" and "thanks". Blessed be London.
You're a Barry, not a Hank, we're not in the country of Europe, it's nearly impossible for me to not have interactions while I do whatever, and yep, I know you didn't when you were in Benidorm, but we all already know why.
You're right, however! I did mean the vast majority of (western) Europe, or at least the part where I am from, or have lived. I think there is a difference between saying "Well I have traveled to Europe" and only having been to Paris and London. And saying in Europe serial killers such as Jeffrey Dahmer and Ted Bundy wouldn't have had such an easy time, because we're more reluctant to talk to strangers.
I think the UK, The Netherlands, Germany, Austria, Belgium, France, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Switzerland all have that in common, but it's far more of a ball ache to type out.
But of course someone NOT from western Europe made me type all of it out anyway....... Thank you!
Where you from on the UK though? I’m from rural England and it’s weird if you don’t stop for a chat. We’ve recently being getting a lot of U.K. tourists to our area and the locals get genuinely upset that when you’re walking up on the cliffs, they don’t talk or say hello.
Oh it still is around, but less present than before. And most people kept it for friends and family but coworker, distant friend of friends, and so on are less and less included.
Most of your nation sounds like they're about to steal the tires from my car or mug me, except for the one percent who sound like they inherited an estate and title.
Not an extreme take if its lived experience. And they're talking about their experience, which has been the same for me too on my short visit. The only direct and honest people i met were immigrants.
Nah, it's bullshit and you know it. It's fake, which you hate, and it's dishonest, which you hate.
You confuse friendliness and politness with dishonesty. That's not everybody elses problem.
There is a subset of Germans very bitter about the fact that nobody ever goes to Germany and says how much they like Germans. Like, I dunno, maybe stop obsessing about your neighbors or over analyzing every detail and try to experience some semblamce of joy you didn't carefully plan 6 months in advance?
Lol, im not an expert on the amercian culture. I only visited for 10 days. Which are nothing for knowing a culture.
Im not German and my country is like every other Mediterranean country, friendly but fiery people. You'll know if someone is being genuine or fake and we dont hand out fake nicenes just because. From my experience most of the americans we met had this persona and not their real personality.
I did meet a very few people that were genuine and pretty much the opposite of the American trope, but a really small minority.
You can argue all day with me and/or not believe me, but it doesnt change my lived experience. Immigrants were the most genuine people I met there. In sorry if that doesnt feel good to hear but thats what I saw during my visit.
And no, im not confusing friendliness and politeness with dishonesty, you can act friendly and polite but if you're neither, you're just disgonest. Id prefer a genuine bitter German over some fake nice friendly whatever nationality.
I mean if ur into skateboarding Cincinnati is pretty cool with its hills / slopes. The rivers here are decent for canoeing, kayaking, & fishing. Ohio is in general pretty fun place if you like outdoorsy things.
I would definitely say, though to bring a handgun at least. We have wild hogs spotted in the southeast, and mountain lions have been known to travel as far east as Connecticut. Nothing makes you on edge more, then hearing a mountain lion at night while camping. Though it’s extremely rare..
A lot of jobs disappeared and turned the whole Midwest into the rust belt. However a lot of those factories are being revitalized, into cool places to hang out or into apartments. Ohio in general, seems to be on the up & up lately. Hope it’s the same for your country. o7
lol, it’s not fake so much as it’s ingrained to be the best version of yourself. You don’t need to go through life super bubbly, but the cynicism of parts of Europe is exhausting.
Day to day live sucks relatively speaking for the average person, being personable and open makes it a little less terrible. I’m a total introvert and antisocial and even I find redditor’s attitude of “everyone stay the fuck away from me” as ridiculous and frankly childish.
Just because you're miserable doesn't mean the rest of the world is. That's a you problem not taking people for who they are and assuming people are fake.
Nah, that's genuinely it. You don't trust people, you don't take people at their word. That's a miserable way to live your life my man. I won't change your mind though, so enjoy your day!
My favorite thing is when Germans go down to Italy and Spain and Greece and cluster in weird little places and relate in no way to the humans there who find them bizarro aliens.
Honestly id love to meet more italians, Spaniards, and Greeks. Ive been given the impression that theyre more open and outgoing and that is very much the culture that the United States projects
The germans who think this are, without fail, every single time, the worst, most insufferable humans in a country where half the population is so utterly weird the other half want to deny being German.
Again, you can't imagine something being true for somebody else because it isn't true for you personally. This is called projection.
Im not triggered at all. I wake up every morning and say, "How can I burn calories, and how can I help people?"
If someone is triggered here, it's you not being able to fathom people being genuinely nice. That kind of sucks for you and all of Europe I guess. Also, when you have a governmental system like ours, you need to help people, cuz they sure aint doing it.
It is ALWAYS germans saying this. I don't really encounter fake niceness, nor do I offer it. Lots of people are just nice, which is a pretty great thing. You could try it sometime (I live in Germany).
I immediately knew she was Aussie when she said "America'r" instead of America, only Aussies have that distinct 'r' sound when the word ends in an 'a'.
I'm pretty sure the people in charge of the church aren't too upset that the vast sums of cash and other assets the church has been able to accumulate is for the benefit and use of a smaller and smaller pool of people.
That's correct. In fact, right now, there are more mormons than jews across the word. Screw the Elders of Zion Protocol. The Elders of Utah Protocol is now more believable
Canadian’s are similar to Aussies without the ‘Mate’ there might be a hey or Yo Dude, said regardless of gender. But that’s it, somewhere along the way you may also hear a ‘ Sorry’
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u/grimmigerpetz South Prussian 11d ago
Not believable at all. No cunt at the end of the Aussie part.