Is Every Country Like America?

[tgpo]

I've been looking around this past week trying to pick up on small things that people do that seem odd. Thus far I've noticed something that 99% of everyone at school does, they walk with their heads down. Why do so many people do this? Have Americans been trained not to look up while walking for fear they may look someone else in the face?

Another thing is when standing in line Americans put about 2-3 feet between themselves and the person in front of them. Is it like this in your country?

I think things like this are very interesting and neat to know.

[pacmania_2001]

Thus far I've noticed something that 99% of everyone at school does, they walk with their heads down. Why do so many people do this?

I do it if I don't want to talk to the person that is approaching. Other than that I normally mix between the two so that I don't step in something yet still dont look like an anti-socialite.

Another thing is when standing in line Americans put about 2-3 feet between themselves and the person in front of them. Is it like this in your country?

Pretty much, any closer and it feels uncomfortable. You get the ones who have to break the rule though and stand right on you or the opposite where they leave like 4-5 feet between them and the person in front.

[Craig Tucker]

Thus far I've noticed something that 99% of everyone at school does, they walk with their heads down.

Thats kids that do that, not specifically American.

[phonomas]

My guess is it's because they're ashamed at the fact that Bush is their "leader"!

[BTW - before you flame on - I'm American]

[stiltman]

I've been looking around this past week trying to pick up on small things that people do that seem odd. Thus far I've noticed something that 99% of everyone at school does, they walk with their heads down. Why do so many people do this? Have Americans been trained not to look up while walking for fear they may look someone else in the face?

I think it's more that they do not want to make eye contact. This could be for several reasons. age, size, surroundings... I see this wherever I go, just not in the US. In some cultures, women are not suppose to make eye contact because that's considered flirting.

Another thing is when standing in line Americans put about 2-3 feet between themselves and the person in front of them. Is it like this in your country?

Again I see this everywhere except for New York
The 3 foot rule has been around for ages....goes back to the caveman days....You get any closer than 3ft and you smell the other guy

[donpedro]

Another thing is when standing in line Americans put about 2-3 feet between themselves and the person in front of them. Is it like this in your country?

I saw much smaller distances in Europe :P (at least in Slovakia)

And would you like to know more ?

It is not that common to sit on the floor (airport, school, e.t.c.) in Europe. If you see person sitting on the floor at the airport in EU, you can be almost sure that he/she is from US.

When you finish eating food in restaurant in EU, thay will take your silverware and bring you clean one for next course and not put dirty silverware on dirty table for further use.

[Craig Tucker]

If you see person sitting on the floor at the airport in EU, you can be almost sure that he/she is from US.

Peoiple sat on the floor here, are generally known as Tramps, or Bums to you

[Touchdown]

If you see person sitting on the floor at the airport in EU, you can be almost sure that he/she is from US.

Peoiple sat on the floor here, are generally known as Tramps, or Bums to you

So what are you suppossed to do when you're waiting 2 hours for a flight and the waiting area is packed. Stand there because it's not the norm to sit? Not me, I'm plucking my fat azz on the ground and reading!

[Devanshu]

Another thing I've noticed...unless it's a busy day and there is no other option, guys dont stand next to each other at urinals. I always find myself skipping a urinal...it's the only way I feel comfortable.

[b1tchm4gn3t]

Another thing I've noticed...unless it's a busy day and there is no other option, guys dont stand next to each other at urinals. I always find myself skipping a urinal...it's the only way I feel comfortable.

I do that very same thing!

[wulf109]

Maybe our goverment promoted paranoia about terrorism is effecting us Americans more than we realize.

[lordsmurf]

I've been looking around this past week trying to pick up on small things that people do that seem odd. Thus far I've noticed something that 99% of everyone at school does, they walk with their heads down. Why do so many people do this? Have Americans been trained not to look up while walking for fear they may look someone else in the face?

Another thing is when standing in line Americans put about 2-3 feet between themselves and the person in front of them. Is it like this in your country?

I think things like this are very interesting and neat to know.

That's common in colleges. Hang out with groups that do things (club, greeks, whatever), and you won't see that.

[donpedro]

So what are you suppossed to do when you're waiting 2 hours for a flight and the waiting area is packed. Stand there because it's not the norm to sit? Not me, I'm plucking my fat azz on the ground and reading!

Not after 5 years in US, but before ? Yes, I would stand and my legs will hurt What surprise me even more was that while kids are waiting outside of school for bus, teacher makes them sit on the pavement.

[tgpo]

I don't stand for more than 5 minutes. Then I sit whereever I am, floor, chair, table, car, doesn't matter.

[Roundabout]

Another thing I've noticed...unless it's a busy day and there is no other option, guys dont stand next to each other at urinals. I always find myself skipping a urinal...it's the only way I feel comfortable.

Funny, isn't it? But absolutely true! It would look a little, um, strange if you came in a restroom and there were 10 urinals, with only one in use, and you started using the one right next to that guy :P
I think I'd be a little uncomfortable at that point and would be likely to finish my business early and get out of there...

[g_shocker182]

Another thing I've noticed...unless it's a busy day and there is no other option, guys dont stand next to each other at urinals. I always find myself skipping a urinal...it's the only way I feel comfortable.

dude its the code

[indolikaa]

Is it taboo in other countries to reach for the remote control in someone else's house?

Because if you do it in my house, you'd better damn well be turning up the volume on FOX News and not moving anywhere near the Channel buttons!

[pacmania_2001]

The rule of the urinals is that the first person takes the left most urinal, the next person in takes the right most urinal. The next person takes the centre urinal and depending on the number of urinals and the situation any other additional people choose to use the stalls or go in the centre of the centre and the left/right guy.

[indolikaa]

The rule of the urinals is that the first person takes the left most urinal, the next person in takes the right most urinal. The next person takes the centre urinal and depending on the number of urinals and the situation any other additional people choose to use the stalls or go in the centre of the centre and the left/right guy.

Good Lord. I don't know which is worse. Somebody analyzing urinal protocol or someone responding to it!

I'd just assume piss in the sink. Or the women's loo.

[pacmania_2001]

I'm going for a PHD in Urinal Studies

[Rookie64]

http://www.webpr.co.uk/pharsite/features.asp?gag=0008

[Craig Tucker]

Another thing I've noticed...unless it's a busy day and there is no other option, guys dont stand next to each other at urinals. I always find myself skipping a urinal...it's the only way I feel comfortable.

Thats called an inferiority complex

[gmatov]

Craig,

When he says the water sure is cold, just come back with "It ain't very deep."

Cheers,

George

[Craig Tucker]

Craig,

When he says the water sure is cold, just come back with "It ain't very deep."

Cheers,

George

[ChrisX]

Not every country is like America about people and mixing in the crowds.

I don't think Australia is much different to America but somehow a little easy in the crowd.

I do occasionally do look at others walking on the sidewalk and I do not have a problem with that. Only some just look at me and some just smile in return.

Only rarely I experienced a remark to me like that, “don’t look” or “what are you staring at”. It would normally be nothing aggressive is said to me or anything like that.

Occasionally I have trouble on someone looking at me. I just have to careful and the same for others not to stare. I think it's more that they do not want to make eye contact. A person can feel uncomfortable or troubled when looking in the eye. This is natural and part of human nature.

I do find Children do tend to stare at me in a public place and I do find as annoying and very uncomfortable. So, it’s difficult.

A parent has to teach the kids, “not to stare”. I remember once swearing at a father due to his children staring at me in a library room as I was trying to read. The father was angry at me. They were bad mannered and not having a good father. So, I left the room soon after and complained to the librarian.

Only once, a guy threatens me with a knife due to his girlfriend being present and just looking at her in a hotel some 25 years ago. Staring at a girl would be flirting and I wasn’t doing that. The guy just got jealous and this is all.

I couldn’t help it as I was opposite to them and a wall behind the couple and their friends. So, I moved to a more desirable area and later the couple just left the hotel. So, it was difficult and I was quite upset when I got home.

Sometimes we have to look for anything in other people or another persons behavior or acting suspiciously especially during our difficult times.

We have to on the alert at all times. This is one example, yesterday a man was randomly stabbed by another man and a policeman shot an attacker dead in a Sydney suburb. We have to keep an eye for something like that.

So, we can’t always be looking down when walking and have to watch for traffic and other people to pass. We got to look, however not to stare in the eye.

The distance, when standing in line Americans put about 2-3 feet between themselves and the person in front of them. This is just about same here in Australia.

The Anzac Day March is a very good example when standing in a line before and during the march and can be a little more, 4 feet.

[energy80s]

I'm going for a PHD in Urinal Studies

Are you taking the piss??

[ChrisX]

The rule of the urinals is that the first person takes the left most urinal, the next person in takes the right most urinal. The next person takes the centre urinal and depending on the number of urinals and the situation any other additional people choose to use the stalls or go in the centre of the centre and the left/right guy.

This is the way men are, like that. This our nature and to keep ourselves private and comfortable.