Current Events > what is it like to be american?

(+) Yeah! (+)

and is it a good or bad thing?
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I went to grab some lunch yesterday. We were standing at the entrance as it was busy and the waiter said it would be a 20 minute wait. Fair enough, I thought, they always say that but it might just be a 3 minute wait. We stood and waited quietly.

Two American women came in and announced they needed a table. Waiter told them the same thing. They were apparently upset that they couldn't get a table immediately, as if all the other people eating there were being rude to them personally. They then continued to kick up a fuss, presumably because they wanted someone to panic and get them a table faster. Waiter stuck to his guns and they stood there visibly fuming at the entire situation. I could feel the drama palpably leaking off them.

Finally we all got tables (like 5 minutes later) and when they went to order (our table happened to be near theirs), they modified everything on the goddamn menu. "Yeah I'll get the steak sandwich, but can I have it with lettuce instead of coleslaw, and mustard instead of ketchup? And instead of..." etc.

I was embarrassed for everyone and all I was doing was listening to this unfold.

So that's how I imagine what being an American is like. Never feeling embarrassed or that you're ever inconveniencing anyone.
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Eh, it feels normal. The only things that really suck is when the healthcare. Like right now I have a weird rash on my hands, but I'm not going to bother going to the doctor because it'll be expensive af.
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how it feels like? It's how it feels when your country is somehow able to elect the most incompetent president in the world ever

Parappa09 posted...

what is it like to be american?

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pinky0926 posted...

So that's how I imagine what being an American is like. Never feeling embarrassed or that you're ever inconveniencing anyone.

There is some truth to that.
TBH: I feel like many Americans are like pigs in shit.
They think they really having something, but they really don't.

They either don't see it, or maybe they suspect it, which leads to that over reactive patriotism people pretend to have.

I live in Upstate New York, and that is just what I see. Though I hear the nation's narrative as well.
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The US is too divided of a country for there to be one answer. Class, race, age, region, they all change how a person behaves. I think pinky's story sounds like something baby boomers would do but not other generations. Baby boomers are the worst.
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pinky0926 posted...

Never feeling embarrassed or that you're ever inconveniencing anyone.

Your anecdote was your observation at a restaurant correct? It's the staffs JOB to adhere to the customers requests and provide them accurately. Nothing inconvenient about doing your job.

iClockwork posted...

pinky0926 posted...

Never feeling embarrassed or that you're ever inconveniencing anyone.

Your anecdote was your observation at a restaurant correct? It's the staffs JOB to adhere to the customers requests and provide them accurately. Nothing inconvenient about doing your job.

lol shut up -.-
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Sativa_Rose posted...

The US is too divided of a country for there to be one answer. Class, race, age, region, they all change how a person behaves. I think pinky's story sounds like something baby boomers would do but not other generations. Baby boomers are the worst.

I was actually thinking that. Baby Boomers are a whole other world, but sadly they rule the roost.
And will for a bit longer.
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Sativa_Rose posted...

lol shut up -.-

This is why tagging is so useful, I have that guy tagged as "possibly hoth" which basically means not even worth responding to, even in jest
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I will say though that obviously these two women are not a reflection of all of America or anything. Maybe they were just rude. But if I had a point, it just seems to me like Americans are happier to speak up and demand what they want, whereas Brits tend to think more like "is it worth speaking up about? It's a bit of a bother but I don't want to cause a fuss".

If someone was being obnoxious on public transport - playing music on their speakers, speaking incredibly loudly on the phone, etc - I'd hope to God there was an American in the compartment to set them straight.
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pinky0926 posted...

It's a bit of a bother but I don't want to cause a fuss".

Again being asked to do your job doesn't constitute a "fuss."

Basically I think, The US has daddy issues. Top to bottom.
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pegusus123456 posted...

Eh, it feels normal. The only things that really suck is when the healthcare. Like right now I have a weird rash on my hands, but I'm not going to bother going to the doctor because it'll be expensive af.

do you get medical insurance through work? could they cover the costs?

Sativa_Rose posted...

The US is too divided of a country for there to be one answer. Class, race, age, region, they all change how a person behaves.

i totally get that

to be fair i've always seen the US as being 50 different 'countries' in a sense

pinky0926 posted...

But if I had a point, it just seems to me like Americans are happier to speak up and demand what they want, whereas Brits tend to think more like "is it worth speaking up about? It's a bit of a bother but I don't want to cause a fuss".

this is very true

and in regards to the story that you posted, i see things like that happening around london

my experience of american tourists is that they can be kinda loud and obnoxious (unintentionally, maybe it's just the culture) and it's very obvious when an american is around (maybe because brits are slightly more introverted)
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For reference, a Brit would have a complete internal argument about whether requesting extra yoghurt on the side for breakfast would be an unreasonable or not.
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pinky0926 posted...

For reference, a Brit would have a complete internal argument about whether requesting extra yoghurt on the side for breakfast would be an unreasonable or not.

this is what millennial Americans are like a lot of the time. Some people are still annoying though.
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pinky0926 posted...

For reference, a Brit would have a complete internal argument about whether requesting extra yoghurt on the side for breakfast would be an unreasonable or not.

a few days ago, i made a topic about going to chipotle for the first time. people said for me to request double beans AND extra salsa

i'm not sure if i could do that
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Parappa09 posted...

pinky0926 posted...

For reference, a Brit would have a complete internal argument about whether requesting extra yoghurt on the side for breakfast would be an unreasonable or not.

a few days ago, i made a topic about going to chipotle for the first time. people said for me to request double beans AND extra salsa

i'm not sure if i could do that

I still think about whether asking for condiments like ketchup after the initial order has been placed on the table is fair (i.e. making the waiter do another trip) and I'm 30.
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pinky0926 posted...

Parappa09 posted...

pinky0926 posted...

For reference, a Brit would have a complete internal argument about whether requesting extra yoghurt on the side for breakfast would be an unreasonable or not.

a few days ago, i made a topic about going to chipotle for the first time. people said for me to request double beans AND extra salsa

i'm not sure if i could do that

I still think about whether asking for condiments like ketchup after the initial order has been placed on the table is fair (i.e. making the waiter do another trip) and I'm 30.

That's the thing. When certain people are at a restaurant they feel it is their time to play king.

I have been a waiter before and that was the feeling I got. It's like their one moment to assert authority over someone with immunity.

I for one know my cooking is best for me. So when I go out I hope it's going to be pretty good, and I choose the item accordingly.
But what I really want, is to eat without having to do the dishes. For fuck sake some people really don't even know how to have a good time.
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less queueing

The worst part about customer service isn't receiving unreasonable requests or complaints, but rather being/feeling completely powerless to do anything about it.
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It's fun
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I dont really think about it. I try to be respectful of other people in general so when Im in other countries I just be myself. I have seen that asshole entitlement youre talking about but Ive also seen it on the opposite end here in the US as well from foreign visitors or recent migrants. Its not super common.

I will say there is nothing wrong with asking for your order to your liking. Not sure why you guys over there struggle with it. Then again you guys also dont tip, right? That might be why its different for us.

Im black so ummm
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Cal12 posted...

I dont really think about it. I try to be respectful of other people in general so when Im in other countries I just be myself. I have seen that asshole entitlement youre talking about but Ive also seen it on the opposite end here in the US as well from foreign visitors or recent migrants. Its not super common.

I will say there is nothing wrong with asking for your order to your liking. Not sure why you guys over there struggle with it. Then again you guys also dont tip, right? That might be why its different for us.

We don't tip unless it's truly exceptional service. I'll admit there are times when there's pressure to tip and it's annoying, like going to tourist hotspots in Edinburgh/London.

We don't like changing the order because I think generally we feel (on a cultural level) that you get what is listed and if it was changeable they would say so. Brits would first consider if it was changeable and then think about all the added bother for everyone down the production line, and then generally decide it's probably not worth it.

I don't think there's generally an attitude here that the restaurant/staff are there to do whatever you ask for.
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pinky0926 posted...

Cal12 posted...

I dont really think about it. I try to be respectful of other people in general so when Im in other countries I just be myself. I have seen that asshole entitlement youre talking about but Ive also seen it on the opposite end here in the US as well from foreign visitors or recent migrants. Its not super common.

I will say there is nothing wrong with asking for your order to your liking. Not sure why you guys over there struggle with it. Then again you guys also dont tip, right? That might be why its different for us.

We don't tip unless it's truly exceptional service. I'll admit there are times when there's pressure to tip and it's annoying, like going to tourist hotspots in Edinburgh/London.

We don't like changing the order because I think generally we feel (on a cultural level) that you get what is listed and if it was changeable they would say so. Brits would first consider if it was changeable and then think about all the added bother for everyone down the production line, and then generally decide it's probably not worth it.

I don't think there's generally an attitude here that the restaurant/staff are there to do whatever you ask for.

Cultural differences is what it boils down to. Stuff here is made to order and theres no issue asking for it a specific way unless its something ridiculous.

The U.S. is a pretty big country. The culture and people are pretty different depending on where you are. Here in the upper-midwest, people are pretty polite.
In @pinky0926 scenario, it would prolly go something like this...
oh, gaaash don'cha worry about it, hey.
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When travelling overseas I am often mistook for being an American when I am in fact Canadian.
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The best part of being American is being completely desensitized to clearly unhealthy portion sizes.

A 32 ounce pepsi is absolutely disgusting, but in America we just call that a "large" and it's not even the biggest size available.
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AlisLandale posted...

A 32 ounce pepsi is absolutely disgusting, but in America we just call that a "large" and it's not even the biggest size available.

I do love soda but yeah this is completely true lol
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Two_Dee posted...

AlisLandale posted...

A 32 ounce pepsi is absolutely disgusting, but in America we just call that a "large" and it's not even the biggest size available.

I do love soda but yeah this is completely true lol

It means to fight for whats right and always win.
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Parappa09 posted...

my experience of american tourists is that they can be kinda loud and obnoxious (unintentionally, maybe it's just the culture) and it's very obvious when an american is around (maybe because brits are slightly more introverted)

I dunno, maybe those who are more prone to travel abroad are less introverted by and large, but America has plenty of introverts... >_>

As for the example of the two ladies given early on... you may see that occasionally in America, but while they are having a fit literally everyone else is quietly sitting back half in shock and half wanting to tell them to shut up and that they are behaving unacceptably. It's hardly a common American attitude to be that rude.
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Imagine being an utterly insane person.

That's what it's like.

Imagine Logan Paul but worse
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thelovefist posted...

When travelling overseas I am often mistook for being an American when I am in fact Canadian.

im guilty of confusing canadians with americans
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pinky0926 posted...

I went to grab some lunch yesterday. We were standing at the entrance as it was busy and the waiter said it would be a 20 minute wait. Fair enough, I thought, they always say that but it might just be a 3 minute wait. We stood and waited quietly.

Two American women came in and announced they needed a table. Waiter told them the same thing. They were apparently upset that they couldn't get a table immediately, as if all the other people eating there were being rude to them personally. They then continued to kick up a fuss, presumably because they wanted someone to panic and get them a table faster. Waiter stuck to his guns and they stood there visibly fuming at the entire situation. I could feel the drama palpably leaking off them.

Finally we all got tables (like 5 minutes later) and when they went to order (our table happened to be near theirs), they modified everything on the goddamn menu. "Yeah I'll get the steak sandwich, but can I have it with lettuce instead of coleslaw, and mustard instead of ketchup? And instead of..." etc.

I was embarrassed for everyone and all I was doing was listening to this unfold.

So that's how I imagine what being an American is like. Never feeling embarrassed or that you're ever inconveniencing anyone.

lol

I've seen one or two of those people myself. What's really common, though, is people who fill up their soda at the fountain/grab napkins, then literally without moving literally, turn in place to face the counter.

Some people are just too dumb to breathe.
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Parappa09 posted...

what is it like to be american?

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life for me is like one giant, never-ending Kid Rock concert
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Healthcare is terrible as mentioned above. Lots of rednecks. Almost everyone is overweight.
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Fat people everywhere. Everyone making excuses for why they're fat, but being too lazy to actually do anything about it.

Then people wondering why health care is so high (which is a valid concern in itself)
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you can tell who are the foreigners. For some reason they feel so entitled
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Being an American is like staying up late, being congested, and having a headache all at the same time before going to bed.

But then you wake up completely fine, and breathe in that sweet spring air.

That's what it's like.
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Americans are the hardest working people. Work most hours take less days off.
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what is it like to be british
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What's it like for me is that it feels like politics runs too deep. I'm sure you'll see that in every country but I feel like everyone is too divisive. I've thought of ideas to try and escape to Scotland with my girlfriend someday and get away from it.

What's it like to be American? Closest thing I can come up with is "I'll order two of these. If I fill up or don't need the other one I'll just throw it away *shrug*"
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Wutobliteration posted...

how it feels like? It's how it feels when your country is somehow able to elect the most incompetent president in the world ever

Being American means being able to look at a growing economy, growing workforce participation, growing consumer confidence, increasing job growth and still being able to whine "Waaaahhhhh most incompetent president EVAR!"
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