Are American less patient than Brits?
Sep 6th 2017, 12:50 am
#31
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Re: Are American less patient than Brits?
I recognize none of the OP, my wife often chastises me for not giving people personal space and I think she has a point, we British are used to less space than many Americans.
Examples, I will nudge in to spaces in a crowd. I will (or at least used to until my wife trained me) just sit down at the free side of a table in a pub or relaxed attmosphere restaurant.
Examples, I will nudge in to spaces in a crowd. I will (or at least used to until my wife trained me) just sit down at the free side of a table in a pub or relaxed attmosphere restaurant.
Last edited by kimilseung; Sep 6th 2017 at 12:54 am.
Sep 6th 2017, 2:13 am
#32
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Joined: Jul 2008
Location: Portlandia Metro
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Re: Are American less patient than Brits?
We had personal space training at work today. We got taught personal space is from 1 1/2 ft to 4ft for an individual.
Sep 6th 2017, 2:42 am
#33
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Re: Are American less patient than Brits?
Whenever we visited relatives in Poland in the past, people would often converse almost nose to nose only a few inches away. I couldn't get used to it, and found myself backing away until hitting a wall where I then had no choice.
But I came later to appreciate this as a very human need and reaction for personal contact in communication and sharing. I see this idea of expansive personal space these days on public transportation where people spread out across seats with their feet or bags, and I don't really like it. It makes for alienation and avoidance of inter-personal contact in my opinion, and miss the old days in eastern Europe sometimes.
But I came later to appreciate this as a very human need and reaction for personal contact in communication and sharing. I see this idea of expansive personal space these days on public transportation where people spread out across seats with their feet or bags, and I don't really like it. It makes for alienation and avoidance of inter-personal contact in my opinion, and miss the old days in eastern Europe sometimes.
Sep 6th 2017, 4:24 am
#34
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Re: Are American less patient than Brits?
In my experience here of over 40 years in the US I find that Americans are very polite, quick to apologize if they think they've inconvenienced you in any way. Sometimes they apologize when it's not their fault but California is still laid back anyway.
Being one of the largest cities in the US there are often humungous traffic jams at times in LA but when a driver is heard blasting his horn then the general opinion is that "he must be some asshole from New York"
Being one of the largest cities in the US there are often humungous traffic jams at times in LA but when a driver is heard blasting his horn then the general opinion is that "he must be some asshole from New York"
Last edited by dc koop; Sep 6th 2017 at 4:26 am.
Sep 9th 2017, 4:45 am
#35
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Re: Are American less patient than Brits?
Just a few observations, currently living in NJ very close to NYC.
1. Getting in elevators, normally Brits wait for people to get out before attempting to enter right?
2. Letting person in adjacent bus seat get off first
3. Waiting until its safe to pass
4. Personal space, people walking way too close unnecessarily
5. People grabbing items in the supermarket that you were obviously about to grab
6. People attempting to cut the line
7. Not giving way to even elderly people at crosswalks
8. When you stop at a ped crossing for an elderly person the car behind tries to "go around" almost hitting said pedestrian and honks out of impatience
Does anybody else experience this? It London the same ? Wondering if I can even get used to this or will I have to move out into the sticks to get away from it :P
1. Getting in elevators, normally Brits wait for people to get out before attempting to enter right?
2. Letting person in adjacent bus seat get off first
3. Waiting until its safe to pass
4. Personal space, people walking way too close unnecessarily
5. People grabbing items in the supermarket that you were obviously about to grab
6. People attempting to cut the line
7. Not giving way to even elderly people at crosswalks
8. When you stop at a ped crossing for an elderly person the car behind tries to "go around" almost hitting said pedestrian and honks out of impatience
Does anybody else experience this? It London the same ? Wondering if I can even get used to this or will I have to move out into the sticks to get away from it :P
Sep 11th 2017, 9:02 pm
#37
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Re: Are American less patient than Brits?
I don't understand this. How would they know you were about to grab it? Was your hand hovering over it and they slipped their hand underneath your hand? Was there only one? Was it the last one? If it was the last one then I wouldn't want it anyway, there's probably something wrong with it --- that's why nobody wanted it.
Sep 12th 2017, 3:10 pm
#38
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Re: Are American less patient than Brits?
I don't understand this. How would they know you were about to grab it? Was your hand hovering over it and they slipped their hand underneath your hand? Was there only one? Was it the last one? If it was the last one then I wouldn't want it anyway, there's probably something wrong with it --- that's why nobody wanted it.
Thanksgiving rush after work [Whole Foods Manhattan] - last box of rosemary, sage and thyme. Hand was within an inch of the box, lady runs up and grabs it first.
Korean supermarket (on a special offer day) [NJ] - after waiting in line for beef to be cut, Korean lady pretends to not speak English and makes gestures that she just wants to look at the selection and not order, so I let her go in front to do looking only. She grabs all the beef and I have to wait another 5-10 mins for a new batch to be cut.
Korean supermarket [NJ] same day - in line the guy behind keeps looking over my shoulder at the line in front, I assume he is just looking but I realize that he is actually looking for an opportunity to sneak in front of me when there is the slightest gap. I move to the left when he moves to the left to block him and move to the right when he moves to the right. When I look behind to say "what?" he pretends to not speak English.
Sep 12th 2017, 3:14 pm
#39
Joined: Dec 2001
Location: Dixie, ex UK
Posts: 52,439
Re: Are American less patient than Brits?
.... Korean supermarket (on a special offer day) [NJ] - after waiting in line for beef to be cut, Korean lady pretends to not speak English and makes gestures that she just wants to look at the selection and not order, so I let her go in front to do looking only. She grabs all the beef and I have to wait another 5-10 mins for a new batch to be cut.
Korean supermarket [NJ] same day - in line the guy behind keeps looking over my shoulder at the line in front, I assume he is just looking but I realize that he is actually looking for an opportunity to sneak in front of me when there is the slightest gap. I move to the left when he moves to the left to block him and move to the right when he moves to the right. When I look behind to say "what?" he pretends to not speak English.
Korean supermarket [NJ] same day - in line the guy behind keeps looking over my shoulder at the line in front, I assume he is just looking but I realize that he is actually looking for an opportunity to sneak in front of me when there is the slightest gap. I move to the left when he moves to the left to block him and move to the right when he moves to the right. When I look behind to say "what?" he pretends to not speak English.
Sep 12th 2017, 4:15 pm
#40
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Re: Are American less patient than Brits?
I guess it is just a NYC thing to be, less patient and more stressed out.
Sep 12th 2017, 4:20 pm
#41
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Re: Are American less patient than Brits?
If you don't like the heat...get out of the fire...or don't shop in Korean stores.
Sep 12th 2017, 4:32 pm
#42
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Re: Are American less patient than Brits?
I guess staying in Western or Central NJ and not visiting Manhattan too often, that is a pretty chilled out lifestyle.
Unfortunately I have to commute to NYC everyday, at least for now.
Sep 12th 2017, 4:44 pm
#43
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Re: Are American less patient than Brits?
Have you ever drove across the GW Bridge? Or through the Lincoln Tunnel? It is pretty aggressive and there is plenty of impatience. It's best to have noise cancelling headphones for the subway and bus too (to drown out the noise from both unruly passengers and traffic/honking)
I guess staying in Western or Central NJ and not visiting Manhattan too often, that is a pretty chilled out lifestyle.
Unfortunately I have to commute to NYC everyday, at least for now.
I guess staying in Western or Central NJ and not visiting Manhattan too often, that is a pretty chilled out lifestyle.
Unfortunately I have to commute to NYC everyday, at least for now.
You seem to have overlooked the bit in my post where I stated it was a well know fact that New Yorkers are known for their impatience.
Last edited by Jerseygirl; Sep 12th 2017 at 4:51 pm.
Sep 12th 2017, 5:19 pm
#44
Joined: Dec 2001
Location: Dixie, ex UK
Posts: 52,439
Re: Are American less patient than Brits?
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