American manners

[User17017]

Just a little rant - I was based in the US for a while, and I participate in a Zoom group run by friend who still lives there. Apart from us, it's all Americans. She mentioned a funny rhyming slang expression, and we talked about it a bit.

One of the (American) participants said, very loudly, "I'M NOT INTERESTED IN THIS!" And this is a high-functioning professional person, actually a lawyer.

Oh, well, just wanted to get that off my chest.

nothing really do do with American manners, it’s just one random American, I’ve had lots of rude interactions with fellow brits, it’s not “British manners” its just one rude person.

She probably thinks it's rude to go off on a tangent in a zoom group full of people about something completely unrelated 🤷🏽‍♀️

I’m American (dual national) and I don’t think this has anything to do with being American. You should hear the way my British colleagues talk to each other and about each other behind their backs. I work in a very prestigious field with very well paid highly educated professionals. They can be ruthless.

Americans do have some different social norms and etiquette to us in the UK, but in my experience that would be considered “rude arsehole” behaviour there too.

I think it does have something to do with her being American. Americans tend to be more direct.

But actually that's a good thing. As Brits tend to be superficially polite but then opt for a slag off behind backs.

So in reality , the American way here is probably better. You know where you stand. After the initial shock of the directness, you probably get over it.

I think that would be considered rude wherever you are from. They could have just said "right, now lets get back on topic", which would have come across perhaps better.

I do find Americans usually much more brash and forthright than the British, but I guess you do know where you stand with it.

I've always found Americans to be polite than us Brits.

I’m always shocked at the lack of ‘please’ when ordering and don’t get me started on cutlery skills