Is it normal that americans are so direct (with personal issues)?

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3 Comments

Hello people, I am from Germany, and my people are reputed as being direct and cold. However, I would say that that generally happens in academic or professional spheres. We usually don't make comments about people's appearances or their attitudes. Most importantly, if we dislike someone, we just hate them in silence and progressively avoid them or discretely ignore them.

Living in the United States for a few years, I noticed that people are really straightforward when it comes to personal issues. For instance, people always make comments about what I wear or about my hair (mostly positive comments though). Regarding personal relationships, people usually make questions or comments about my romantic partners or my family.

During arguments (specially about politics) I see that people tell each other really strong things, and even accuse each other of really serious actions, like being racist or homophobic. Pretty much, I would say that if people don't like you, you always know the reasons at least.

At first this deeply disturbed me, but I have grown to respect people's honesty. Personally, right now I am more disturbed about the fact that Germans (and Europeans in general) almost never say what they think, even to close friends.

So well, I just wanted to know if this observation I made is normal, and what you all think about it.

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85% Normal
Based on 20 votes (17 yes)
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Comments ( 3 )
  • Wolfeye
    9 years ago

    I'm native American, and I can say I normally observe personalities like that when I'm away from the reservation, but not quite so much around my home. It seems like younger natives do act like that, as well. Reserved personalities are becoming a thing of the past there. I'd say an American's level of being upfront depends on how "americanized" they are, for lack of a better term.

    I once heard two natives talking about such behavior. One suddenly shook the other's hand and burst out a string of questions like "How are you doing, Jack! How are your kids! How is your mother-in-law? What are your views on the president? How is your sex life?" People bust out laughing at that.

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  • RoseIsabella
    9 years ago

    I love honesty!

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  • thegypsysailor
    9 years ago

    I think your post is a fair comment on Americans, in general. We are and have always been a pretty up front peoples. Our country was founded in the hopes that the mistakes of others that came before were not repeated. Add to this the adventurous spirit it took to open up the west (there certainly hadn't been much unexplored or hostile territory in Europe or England for a millennia or more) that did not lend itself to the courtesies of civilized European behavior, and you have the open, straightforward American way.
    Unfortunately, political correctness and special interest groups are chipping away at this uniquely American mentality, so it won't be long now before we are just another humdrum society of sheep.

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