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Why Americans Are So Rude
From An American
European and Asian countries have centuries of established culture including what behavior is considered polite. It has been ingrained to the point that they don’t think about it.
The United States is barely 250 years old. That is new, as countries go. It was established by settlers from many places. English immigrants brought manners that seemed strange to Native Americans. What the French thought was good manners seemed strange to Irish immigrants, etc.
America is a hodgepodge of nationalities and their perceptions of good manners. What resulted was the relaxation of stiff conventional customs.
As the world evolved, people became tired of being formal. Rules relaxed. Dress became more casual, as did traditions and manners.
Of course, the whole world seems to have gone crazy since the pandemic started. Americans may be the worst. The rudeness exhibited lately is not acceptable to any sane person.
Sometimes I am puzzled. I taught my children and grandchildren to say “Yes ma’am’ and “No ma’am”, as I was taught. Recently, a teacher at my grandson’s school insisted that her students not say that because it was an insult.
My best solution is to behave kindly and if I offend someone, I will ask them to explain why they are…