Snobs moving to the country

[Garandman]

Now see coobie, you just explained why us Southerners have a hard time with yankees. In the south, it's a deeply ingrained acknowledgement that you are a human who deserves to be acknowledged. And, it seems to me waving to acknowledge people is more of a south/north thing than country/city attitude, but country people all over are friendlier.

Listen you northerners, if you come south to live, please return or even initiate a wave! And be respectful. Don't be a dam n yankee.

When in Rome, do as the Romans do applies here, though it goes against our personal mores (the essential or characteristic customs and conventions of a community).

Ever met anyone who stands too close and asks too personal questions? Many New Englanders consider these greetings to be insincere, as we expect to be left alone to our thoughts. It is a cultural difference Southerners simply refuse to accept.

When I lived in Germany, the point was made to us not to ask Germans, How痴 it going? To Americans this is a pro forma greeting and the appropriate response is, Fine thanks, how are you? Made the mistake of asking my German landlord Wie Geht es Ihnen? (How are you?) There ensued a 20 minute detailed explanation of his life to date, including how he was not paid enough, fuel prices weren稚 too high, his wife was disrespectful in public, and he had vision problems. Lesson learned.

Another German friend who spoke English and met with many Americans asked me, why Americans were so obsessed with the weather. Asked why he thought so and he told me when they come into the shop they usually say, Nice day, isn稚 it?

The 11 nations of the United States - Business Insider

 

[JW 31635]

Most city folks dont know about the "turtle on top of the post rules".

 

[ultrarunner]

Post turtle - Wikipedia ???

 

[JW 31635]

Post turtle - Wikipedia ???

Yes sir... that's the one!

 

[Industrial Toys]

I'm German. A few weeks ago, I had the itchiest behind. While at the Grocery Checkout, the Girl of Course asked me the usual "How Are You?" I was so irritated by my state, that for a split second, I almost thought I would respond with the information that she apparently requested.

Many of the particularly young women in retail around here, also end the transaction with "Have a good one" which I find kind of odd.

At the very least, I'm sure they could care less if I had "a good one" no more than caring about how I am.

Humans say such stupid things in true herd-like fashion.

 

[ultrarunner]

I'm German. A few weeks ago, I had the itchiest behind. While at the Grocery Checkout, the Girl of Course asked me the usual "How Are You?" I was so irritated by my state, that for a split second, I almost thought I would respond with the information that she apparently requested.

I worked with several Tool and Die Makers that apprenticed in Germany.

Germans are known for being direct... some more than others...

I guess it would depend on how diplomatic you phrased your answer?

My brother had a very nice Austrian girlfriend we all thought was the one...

But she was very direct as most German speakers are.

She liked to go to the flea market antiquing... we were going down an isle and a nice older gentleman had a table of wares for sale... he struck up a conversation asking if we were interested in anything he had... my brother's very pretty blond girlfriend didn't miss a beat... she said, "I don't buy trash"

The kind man looked a little stunned... I quickly said, "Can't buy, NO CASH" and grabbed her arm pulling her away... all the while asking why "I" lied and went one to say he only was offering trash and that is what she said...

I told her that she needed to work on her English conversation skills, especially on being Diplomatic when speaking to people where it was just casual conversation...

 

[JW 31635]

I'm German. A few weeks ago, I had the itchiest behind. While at the Grocery Checkout, the Girl of Course asked me the usual "How Are You?" I was so irritated by my state, that for a split second, I almost thought I would respond with the information that she apparently requested.

Many of the particularly young women in retail around here, also end the transaction with "Have a good one" which I find kind of odd.

When I was a young swabbie in Uncle Sam's Canoe Club (a.k.a United States Navy) I had an opportunity to assist with the USS Constitution "Old Ironsides" named affectionately by our friends across the pond because their cannonballs would just bounce off of her moored in the Boston Harbor.

Wanting to expand my horizons, and having a very southern accent, I would frequent the local pub after a day of repeating myself over and over about Old Ironsides, and wet my whistle (another nautical term for when the boatswain would lick his lips and boatswain's whistle to get the crew's attention before voicing a command). See, in Boston, the neighborhood pub is where all the locals go after work. The drink and have supper and many of the wives also come in. Its a great gathering place, and has been for generations. I also found out that everyone has "their seat" (I guess the question "is your name on that seat" evolved from that).

I learned, in Boston, the ladies would like to hear southerners talk. I was asked to say "y'all" so they could all get a good laugh. I suppose, they all thought that we lived on huge plantations and the southern women wore ringlets in their hair and hoop skirts.

One day as I slipped up onto a bar stool, the bartender greeted me with a "how's it hanging?" I had to ask him several times to say it again until I figured out what he was asking. With his heavy Boston Massachusetts accent all I could do was laugh!!! There was a guy on my right (former Army Ranger) that offered to translate "he's asking what kind of day you had".

To this day, every time I hear that accent, I remember that friendly greeting and realize that "how are your mom and them" is just like asking "how is your family"; "I'm fixing to go" means "I'm late"; "over yonder" means "a couple of blocks up, just out of sight", but I have yet to be able to explain to someone what "bless his heart" means in anything other than "southern" because we in the south already know what it means!!!!

So, I recon I'll be waitin' one of y'all to be helpin me out with all of that!

 

[Industrial Toys]

My Ex called me "Socially Retarded". She was quite the little social butterfly. I kind of took that as a compliment. Why can't people just say what they mean, what's on their mind, or say nothing?

 

[2LaneCruzer]

I'm German. A few weeks ago, I had the itchiest behind. While at the Grocery Checkout, the Girl of Course asked me the usual "How Are You?" I was so irritated by my state, that for a split second, I almost thought I would respond with the information that she apparently requested.

Many of the particularly young women in retail around here, also end the transaction with "Have a good one" which I find kind of odd.

At the very least, I'm sure they could care less if I had "a good one" no more than caring about how I am.

Humans say such stupid things in true herd-like fashion.

Your response is understandable. However, imagine what it's like standing in a check stand 8-10 hours a day, checking several hundred customers, and trying to come up with a witty greeting for every one. It's difficult to do without sounding superficial...believe me, I know. If you ask or say the wrong thing, you can embarrass or insult the customer...also, if you ignore the customer and don't speak to them, they will almost always be offended. You're damned if you do, and you're damned if you don't. You have to recognize and greet customers or they will eventually go somewhere else.

Oh, you learn, or should learn, very early on, not to ask "How are you today?" Most will say "Fine", but once in a while you have to listen to a long list of ailments, operations, symptoms, etc.

 

[ultrarunner]

My Ex called me "Socially Retarded". She was quite the little social butterfly. I kind of took that as a compliment. Why can't people just say what they mean, what's on their mind, or say nothing?

They can... and some do so proudly and appear unfiltered... which is certainly giving food for faughter in Washington circles like never before.

Others, especially in business and politics, find they can accomplish more by using a more subtle approach...