ListNook

ApprehensiveBead Mar 31, 2026 +1625

A lot of people (especially Europeans) call American friendliness 'fake' or 'superficial.' But I’d rather have a 'fake' nice interaction with a cashier than a genuinely rude one. It’s a social lubricant. It makes the day go by easier for everyone involved. Why choose misery when you can choose a 'Have a nice day'?

1625

JL0326 Mar 31, 2026 +999

And why is it assumed that it’s fake? When I tell a cashier to have a nice day, in that moment, I’m genuinely hoping they do! Research is now showing that these small “superficial” interactions are quite important for us, especially people who don’t get a lot of social interaction. When I first moved to my new city and was lonely, striking up random conversation with people at the grocery store actually did fill my social cup a bit.

999

ouchmouse666 Mar 31, 2026 +633

I used to be a cashier and one day when i was about 20 i was at work, in a really bad mood for a reason i can't even remember now, and because i was young little a****** i was taking it out on every customer that came thru my line. Just being a straight up b****. I honestly can't believe no one complained about me..... anyways, some guy who i never met before and never saw again after was in my line and when i started to ring up his items, without even acknowledging him, he says "hey" in a kinda firm tone so it caught my attention of course. I figured he was about to ask for the manager lol but he said "i don't know what's going on, but i promise it's gonna get better". I still tear up 23 years later thinking about that small act of kindness and how it fundamentally changed me as a person and how i interact with/treat others. Sometimes simple acts turn into a big deal.

633

doubleohzerooo0 Mar 31, 2026 +95

As a customer support rep, I hate it when a customer just shits on me. Especially when it's not something I can help with. Keeping this in mind, I try to be kind to others in customer facing roles. One little kind comment could make all the difference to someone who is having a shit day.

95

kbivs Mar 31, 2026 +49

If I ever have a need to complain about something to someone in customer service, I always say that I know it's not their fault personally. I also believe you will get better service by treating everyone as a human being instead of trying to be an a******.

49

AgamemnonNM Mar 31, 2026 +20

Same, I even tell them, if I get frustrated, I promise, it's not with you, but your company. It never gets to that point, but immediately puts them in a good mood and I end up with superior service and my issue gets resolved. If I had to guess, I would say I have like a 98% success rate with whatever issue I was having.

20

NarrowAd4973 Mar 31, 2026 +4

The way I like to put it is customer service weren't the ones that caused your problem, but they are the ones most likely to be able to fix it.

4

april_b547 Apr 1, 2026 +5

I work this type of job and do go the extra mile for customers who are kind, especially if it's a situation where I can't fix their problem immediately and they're already a bit frustrated, but choose not to take it out on me. What we can do is often limited by the tools we use and the company's internal processes, but if I have the ability to solve the kind person's problem, I will help them first over someone who yells at me. I can't speak for everyone who works in support, but I think this attitude is pretty common. We don't have a lot of power but being a jerk is not rewarded.

5

Ponderer13 Mar 31, 2026 +30

I used to work customer service in a government position, a necessary job but one that very few people are happy to get on the phone for. I'm a naturally kind person but it wore down on me. Then one day, I got a call from the actress Natasha Richardson, who had an issue with her documents. She was the sweetest, kindest person who ever called - she understood I had a tough job and treated me like a human. I never forgot that and it made me twice as determined to try and make people's days better if I could.

30

meirzy Mar 31, 2026 +10

I’ve called customer support for a variety of reasons and while I may have been fuming in that moment I let them know my anger isn’t directed at the rep.

10

Goldfinch215 Mar 31, 2026 +30

Amazing story. 💛

30

ouchmouse666 Apr 1, 2026 +16

Telling this story earlier brought back another memory from my time at that same store....this is basically part 2 of that tale lol. So after that encounter I was A LOT f****** nicer to people. Like, dude seriously gave me a tune up lol. Anyways there was this old lady who had become a regular at the store (it was this little mom and pop health food store) and she was known for being kinda short with people or just really quiet at best. But i kept being super nice to her every time she came thru my line and eventually she cracked lol and we started chit chatting anytime she came in. Ended up finding out she was recovering from a mental breakdown after losing her husband of 50 something years and had social anxiety and she was just struggling every time she was in there. Eventually she felt good enough to join a senior ladies bowling league, and then went and fulfilled a life long dream of swimming with dolphins. She was so full of joy sharing these stories with me and it was pretty amazing to watch her come back to life like that. She thanked me for the kindness I showed to her and damn if that wasn't a good feeling. I'm not gonna say I'm never an a****** anymore lol nor do i handle all situations gracefully, but experiences like those are a heck of lot better and being nice gives more opportunity for it. Win win.

16

Goldfinch215 Apr 1, 2026 +3

Proof of a positive ripple effect! If that doesn’t convince you, I don’t know what will. Thanks for sharing your stories!

3

711friedchicken Apr 1, 2026 +3

Wow. I’m 100% sure that would never, ever happen in my EU country. Most cashiers are generally being straight up bitches and that’s just on a normal Tuesday lol. And sometimes customers just b**** back. Sad state of affairs, but when I try to talk about it I just hear the old "well people are just honest and real yknow" excuse

3

51ngular1ty Mar 31, 2026 +149

It's why it's nice to compliment someone on their shirt or shoes or outfit and just walk away. You may have helped their day a bit. I love it when people comment on my shoes.

149

dualsplit Mar 31, 2026 +47

I LOVE to do this. I’m quick to compliment folks when I admire something specific… the color of their blouse, the way they express something, their nails, their shoes, etc…

47

moonchild291 Mar 31, 2026 +20

Same, I always compliment nice nails especially!

20

Amaranth504 Mar 31, 2026 +24

I stopped a Walmart cashier from peeling a coupon off a product while she was checking me out because her nails looked so nice. I told her to let me do it since my nails were shite anyway.

24

moonchild291 Mar 31, 2026 +5

Same 🤣 I can’t keep mine perfect to save my life, I’m just too hard on them!

5

Arienna Mar 31, 2026 +14

Try to get the dudes if you feel comfortable with it - they don't get a lot of casual compliments and it really seems to make their day!

14

moles-on-parade Mar 31, 2026 +21

I attended a neighbor's high school honor band concert a few weeks ago. The last piece, I noticed the vibes player in the back was really into it and nailing his part... so when I chanced across him in the lobby afterward, I told him he did an incredible job and he should be proud of it. The way that kid's whole entire face lit up -- This world needs to be freer with compliments.

21

madnippler Mar 31, 2026 +11

Any dude you talk to has gotten 3 compliments in his life and he remembers all of them lol Source: am dude

11

dualsplit Mar 31, 2026 +5

For sure! I do that, too. :)

5

Bethlebee Mar 31, 2026 +15

I love giving random compliments. The way it makes people smile is so cute.

15

VoiceArtPassion Mar 31, 2026 +12

I had two different grocery store employees on two separate occasions, a week apart, in the same section, complement my shoes. I loved it, even though I thought it was a strange coincidence. My shoes were nothing special either, just a pair of one year old no-name n*** sneakers from Tj Maxx that I bought for 12 dollars.

12

murphys_ghost Mar 31, 2026 +6

This has not always bode well for me as a man, but if I genuinely love it I say something anyway. I have learned to present it in kind of an effeminate manner when I’m talking to a woman to make it clearer that I am not trying to flirt and I’m just a weird fruitcase, two plums short of a fruit pie. It doesn’t always work and I get glared at sometimes, but I just say something nice and walk off. Dudes? “Cool jacket man.” If it’s relatable, I just naturalize and say something like “hey I was at that show!” Or whatever it is, gender regardless. But I’m also a Southerner and smile and nod at nearly every passerby that makes eye contact with me out of habit and I hold doors open forever if people never stop going in/out. Regardless, I don’t let the glares stop me from being friendly. Some people are just like that and have no interest in strangers, not everyone has my attitude. I was just raised this way. I don’t know how to be another way. My wife thinks it is adorable.

6

Sirenista_D Mar 31, 2026 +77

I think they feel it's fake because it's so different from the "norm" in their perception. But I also believe that repeated and various interactions all having the same tone, then one would start to understand "it's the norm in the US" and not fake

77

tibearius1123 Mar 31, 2026 +38

My wife grew up in LA. I grew up in Texas. She can’t fathom that I can talk to strangers and there is no transaction expected from either. She’s very conditioned that everyone who talks to you on the street wants something. I’ve had the same experience with New Yorkers in the city too. I’d greet them and they’d immediately say they don’t have cash on them. Then pause and “wait what?”

38

Paradoxikles Mar 31, 2026 +21

Texas imo is a very friendly state. California can also be. But LA is one of the most unfriendly cities.

21

YakSlothLemon Mar 31, 2026 +11

Not in my experience! I actually got invited to a meditation retreat by a woman I met sitting in traffic on the freeway – we were stopped long enough we had a whole long conversation.

11

Paradoxikles Mar 31, 2026 +5

That’s cool. I’ve had wonderful experiences meeting people in LA, but it’s a giant city. The vibe there is pretty aggressive. And the yuppie class is pretty vapid there.

5

harrymanback79 Mar 31, 2026 +11

Hey, go suck a lemon! (I live in L.A. its about 50/50)

11

Paradoxikles Mar 31, 2026 +6

I have met plenty of cool people in LA but in general, it’s one of the most unfriendly. I’ve been to a lot of cities in the US, and the white yuppy class in LA is quite unfriendly.

6

Megalocerus Mar 31, 2026 +7

I live in MA, who are famously kind but not nice.

7

PseudoLucian Mar 31, 2026 +3

Oddly, my experience is the opposite. I grew up in a small town in Ohio, but my first job after college was in Houston, and after five years I moved from there to LA. I found people in Houston - particularly the natives - to be quite unfriendly. Striking up a conversation with a stranger out in any public place simply wasn't done. They'd think you were after something. And can we talk about the lingering animosity toward "Yankees"? But here in LA (at the beach, not in the city) people are much more friendly then even my small Ohio hometown. People say hi to the mailman, wave at the garbageman, and say good morning to the landscapers working on the neighbor's lawn. Although... a friend who grew up here but moved to Maui complains that people here aren't friendly at all, because they'll walk right past a stranger on the sidewalk without saying hi.

3

l8nitefriend Mar 31, 2026 +32

Same. When I have a genuinely nice interaction with a cashier or server it puts me in a better mood at least for a few minutes lol. I worked service industry a long time and try to be friendly and normal to folks who probably deal with demanding weirdos all day. Just because it’s brief doesn’t mean it’s fake.

32

ras2101 Mar 31, 2026 +7

I’m a very frequent traveler and this is specifically why I still always go to a check in line at the airport instead of tagging my own bags. The social interaction is a treat if you are kind and can hope to pass some kindness along to a thankless job every day

7

One-Association-5005 Mar 31, 2026 +9

One of our greetings matches Mexican Spanish: ¿Como estas? "how are you?" This confuses non North Americans because they are being literal. The reply is usually some form of how life is in general, not an opening for a conversation. However, given tone, context, and relationship, it may mean exactly what is being said. Does that make sense?

9

LemonSkye Mar 31, 2026 +5

Italian has the same greeting; it's *Come sta?*

5

SnakeBatter Mar 31, 2026 +7

English is similar, at least up here in North America. “How are you?” Is a general greeting, and the acceptable answer is “Good and you”, and sometimes that’s the whole conversation.

7

TheLocalFluff Mar 31, 2026 +7

Nobody really expects anything else other than "Good / I'm fine" even if your day was bad. But if you're seeing the same person on a regular basis and you can tell if the person has time, the typical greeting may expand to an actual chit-chat conversation.

7

SnakeBatter Mar 31, 2026 +4

Right, because it’s just a greeting, same as any other. Similarly, “good afternoon” or “hey there” might be the entire conversation, or might expand into further chit chat.

4

SpaceCaptainJeeves Mar 31, 2026 +5

There's a book called "consequential strangers" or something along those lines about this.

5

HomoMirificus Mar 31, 2026 +3

Exactly this - fleeting interactions with people are just as important to social happiness and satisfaction, and there is research to back that up. Also, it's just.....not fake. I am very southern, and I smile and chat with people, make jokes, and ask about their day. I love making people smile and brightening their day. It creates a good solid community, and there is nothing fake about it.

3

Conscious-Mulberry17 Mar 31, 2026 +3

Exactly. I mean it when I tell someone they have a good day, or I offer a compliment in passing. I make small talk, too. I’m friendly, and I like the people I’m interacting with to understand I see and respect them as human beings.

3

ToneSenior7156 Mar 31, 2026 +9

This probably sounds weird but we are lucky in the US to not have had many wars on our soil or foreign invasions. In Europe, where borders keep shifting and have been vulnerable for centuries I think people just got used to keeping to themselves. In the US we are excited to see strangers - whereas in Europe strangers or even neighbors could be viewed as dangerous or suspicious. It’s a learned behavior from crisis times that becomes normalized and passed down.

9

SJExit4 Mar 31, 2026 +123

American here. I can't speak for all of us, but I sincerely want to be nice

123

Intrepid_Practice956 Mar 31, 2026 +11

Me too, and I have never worked for tips.

11

DerHoggenCatten Mar 31, 2026 +55

It doesn't matter if it is fake. I lived in Japan for a few decades and all of the politeness was "fake". Their culture allows for two faces - your "true" face (honne) and your "public" face (tatamae). It was expected that your public face was you putting your best foot forward and being polite and courteous for customers because you were being paid to be that person. Your authentic self belonged to friends and family. Customer service is about being paid to be nice to people so they will want to continue to patronize your establishment. There is nothing bad or wrong about it. The idea that you should be grumpy with customers because you're tired or having a bad day because being "real" is more important than providing a comfortable experience for people who are paying you for service is very strange.

55

DartyFrank Mar 31, 2026 +31

I’m in the Midwest and I think the average person wants to be genuinely nice. My friends and family truly care about other people, and I believe most strangers do as well. This holds true for the people I know from other regions, they just show it in different ways. I really hope you have a great day and someone does something nice for you tand makes your day today😁

31

Suwannee_Gator Mar 31, 2026 +78

I often see people comment this same thing with Southern hospitality. It’s not “fake” it’s just your default attitude towards a stranger being kindness. I don’t see the problem with that.

78

bulletPoint Mar 31, 2026 +36

I never quite understood that “fake” sentiment. I’m a naturalized citizen and I honestly believe Americans are genuinely nice. Straightforward. Honest. Transparent. I’ve lived all up and down the east coast and in Hawaii.

36

commandrix Mar 31, 2026 +29

The way I figure it, it costs nothing to be polite. And even if you're miserable, you aren't going to improve your life by making other people miserable too.

29

Resonance-stablized Mar 31, 2026 +13

I also don’t think it’s entirely fake either. I think that a lot of us Americans choose to be nice, especially because we don’t know each other to even be rude in the first place.

13

iceunelle Mar 31, 2026 +33

Also, why are people assuming it’s fake? If I don’t feel like telling someone to have a nice day, I won’t. I’m nice to others because I want to be, not because I have to.

33

iwannalynch Mar 31, 2026 +9

There is definitely a sense, among Europeans, that they're way too bubbly, and that they don't kind of meet the other person where they are. Like, if a guy is reserved and not too interactive, some people might expect the other person to follow suit and continue the interaction in a more reserved tone, whereas it seems like Americans are aggressively friendly even when they don't need to. That's my impression anyway.

9

petitbateau12 Apr 1, 2026 +3

Sometimes I think Europeans are being "fake aloof" since being "serious" is considered more respectable and professional. If someone is too smiley or bubbly, some people would assume they're a bit simple.

3

publicsausage Apr 1, 2026 +3

\>If I don’t feel like telling someone to have a nice day, I won’t. I’m nice to others because I want to be, not because I have to. Agreed. One of my first job had some stupid poster on the wall but it has always stuck with me, it said something to the effect of "It doesn't cost a dime to be nice/kind." There's 0 downside to being kind and plenty of upside, why not do that?

3

Ok-Board4893 Mar 31, 2026 +5

I'm a German with a American girlfriend. I noticed the friendliness in the US immediately and didn't seem fake to me. Germans and other Europeans are mostly just miserable fucks

5

XGreenDirtX Mar 31, 2026 +18

Well, why not have a real friendly conversation instead? I found that being nice, makes people react nice. So even when you dont feel nice, act nice, and you will start feeling nice real quick.

18

JackFuckCockBag Mar 31, 2026 +5

Being nice is easier for me even if I'm having a bad day. It takes more energy to be an a****** than it does to be nice. On the same note, a few nice words or a pleasant interaction, no matter how small, can make a bad day better for someone else.

5

partyclams Mar 31, 2026 +4

They call us too nice or rude and abrasive. They can’t make up their minds.

4

RogerClyneIsAGod2 Mar 31, 2026 +6

Don't we all know THAT PERSON? That person that is just miserable every damn day with nothing good to say at all about anyone or anything. All I can think is that they choose to wake up every day & be miserable & that's just a shitty & sad way to live life. Now I don't think everyone has to be all Shiny Happy People all the time because that's not possible, but to be the person that doesn't tell the cashier to have a nice day or to think everything & everyone is out to get you or to find the bad in everything because that's how the world rolls for them, it's just gotta suck to be THAT person.

6

tn_tacoma Mar 31, 2026 +3

My wife is from Ukraine and loves the niceness of Americans. We are in the south and it’s even more amplified here. People chat with strangers everywhere. She wasn’t used to that but has grown to love it.

3

Tardislass Mar 31, 2026 +3

Honestly I talk to people in my building in the elevator and one day I told an older woman to have a nice day. She looked surprised but then. Smiled and echoed the comment. Sometimes people acknowledging others can make their day. Let Europeans think we are fake. I still wish folks a good day when I travel. Easier than being angry at the world.

3

Iwaspromisedcookies Mar 31, 2026 +3

Sometimes it’s nice to just not interact, and neurotypicals expect you to say all these things like a dancing monkey to be polite, and it’s invasive. I remember one time I asked someone where the bathroom was I was having a panic attack. She said “I’ll tell you if you use your polite words” when I could barely get any words out at all. It doesn’t change the question to add meaningless words to it

3

EnvironmentNeith2017 Mar 31, 2026 +7

I’ve seen Europeans on here argue that American friendliness is fake, but Latin American is genuine and besides being bad at reading Latin American culture I think they’re just uncomfortable with anyone from a country with influence on the world stage being open and just generally optimistic.

7

mrmonster459 Mar 31, 2026 +85

One of my biggest eye openers about the American culture bits I take for granted, was when my high school German teacher (who yes, was from Germany) said Wal-Mart failed in Germany because "No one there wants to be greeted upon entering a store." Like, not saying either way (ours or Germany's) is right or wrong. Just saying it's a bit eye opening when you realize that in some cultures, it weirds customers away to just have a greeter saying "Hi" when you enter a store.

85

Better-Credit6701 Mar 31, 2026 +16

Actually, I've heard that the reason why Walmart failed in Germany is because of loss leaders, selling a product below the profit line to encourage people to buy other items when they are in the store which is illegal in Germany (as far as I know). Plus, Walmart doesn't play well with labor unions, that weird cheerleader thing, logistics. I live in Walmart land with Corp headquarters a few miles away and that cheerleading thing would be difficult to get through. Not to mention how many people I know who used to work for Walmart Corp.

16

Dry_Vermicelli5647 Mar 31, 2026 +5

Very true. Recently I’ve noticed the M&S stores have incorporated a customer service approach where the doorman is required to greet you on arrival. This works for a hotel, a greet, or a nod, but in a supermarket it’s become sort of an anxious situation. It was nice the first time, but I would prefer not to be greeted every time I enter the store (as crazy as that may sound). Something else I can relate this to is American customer service and following people around the store to offer help. As a Brit, if you need help you ask, but being offered by multiple workers as you go around the store is just too much. We’re customarily quite reserved people, introverted if you will. That would exhaust me very quickly.

5

Electronic_Syrup7592 Mar 31, 2026 +12

Interesting! I’m so weirded out by the greeters. I hate it.

12

YakSlothLemon Mar 31, 2026 +16

Maybe it’s because I’m in Massachusetts, but the greeter here is just some elderly person who sits near the door, they don’t talk to you unless you make eye contact.

16

UsernamesAre4Nerds Mar 31, 2026 +19

Being immersed in American culture and moving across state lines multiple times, you start seeing the underlying trend in places like Walmart. You start noticing the greeters aren't there to make you feel welcome; they're hired to make you feel watched. Same mentality behind the "catch em with excellent customer service" loss prevention tactic. You start noticing how artificial it all is. I've never lived in Germany, or anywhere on Europe, but I wonder if my thought process is shared by anyone across the pond.

19

CupcakeGoat Mar 31, 2026 +23

This is a wild take to me, because greeters are often seniors. The plain clothes loss prevention are there to watch you, not gramps at the gate.

23

time2ddddduel Apr 1, 2026 +3

I worked at a big box store for a bit, not Costco. I pushed carts (incidentally, probably my favorite job I've ever had). Occasionally I'd get put on greeter duty. To entertain myself, I'd quote Idiocracy to customers: "Welcome to Costco, I love you. Welcome to Costco, I love you." I imagine people must've thought I was mentally deficient or something lol. I don't remember getting any laughs. Brought me great mirth though.

3

redjessa Mar 31, 2026 +475

Is this a bad thing? Honestly, as an American right now, living in what I perceive to be a political nightmare, at least we are usually nice to each other out in the wild.

475

boxforty133 Mar 31, 2026 +179

It’s not a bad, I’m actually appreciating it.

179

CupcakeGoat Mar 31, 2026 +21

Thank you!

21

LolaAucoin Mar 31, 2026 +5

Where in America are you living? I was always surprised by how nice people were in Los Angeles, because you always think people there are shallow and rude, but they’re not at all.

5

Level_Tale5175 Mar 31, 2026 +23

Yes, I find people will put on a different persona when hiding behind a keyboard, but wouldn't say or do most of the things the say online in the real world.

23

Catbutt247365 Mar 31, 2026 +35

A smile is c**** but effective. It’s not fake or a hardship. I’m grateful to people in jobs who make my life easier. I’ve been helped more often by strangers than I can count.

35

boxforty133 Mar 31, 2026 +6

I agree. It just makes the world a better place

6

SummerTraditional532 Mar 31, 2026 +158

I was just in Costco and i was wearing my "May the schwartz be with you" t-shirt. The greeter commented that his teenage son just watched Spaceballs and how much he loved it. We had a fun conversation for a couple minutes just reminiscing about the movie's best parts. It was genuine and I feel that we both left just a little happier than when I walked in. *Edited to remove a word

158

boxforty133 Mar 31, 2026 +48

That’s exactly my point. Americans will connect with based on shared experiences and things like that.

48

burtmacklin15 Mar 31, 2026 +23

Isn't that just like a trait of humanity though? It feels almost inhuman to experience cultures where people don't connect or seem to care about each other.

23

h4baine Apr 1, 2026 +13

Some cultures are very closed and prefer everyone pretends they're in a bubble. I'm never not going to hurl random compliments at people lol. It's best when walking. If you're stuck in a train car with someone who started that conversation it can feel awkward for people not from more open cultures. If they're not used to those momentary connections there can be an awkward feeling of wtf now, is this person going to keep talking to me forever? The tube in London is like this. You can see some people who are visibly irked by people chatting.

13

ThomasVivaldi Apr 1, 2026 +12

I was in Costco today and saw someone walking around with a MAGA hat on. That made me just want to leave.

12

esoteric_plumbus Apr 1, 2026 +3

lol reminds me of the larry david skit where he wants to get out of having lunch with someone so he puts on the hat before they meet

3

Better_Inspector604 Mar 31, 2026 +143

I’m so glad you’ve had good experiences here! I feel like a lot of people are really quite lovely, it’s just that the Americans who aren’t are really loud.

143

Ok-Board4893 Mar 31, 2026 +44

Yea German here it was really refreshing to have so many nice people everywhere when I visited my gf in Colorado. Germans are mostly miserable f****** pricks (I assume the same applies to most EU countries), my gf noticed it while she was here. Really makes a big quality of life difference to have nice people around

44

ProdigyLightshow Mar 31, 2026 +10

I had really good interactions with random people when I was in Germany. I was staying in a smaller village where my mom lived at the time. But I am a tall white dude that looks very German. Many of those nice interactions I had were at small local festivals where people came up to me speaking German to me, only for me to tell them I’m American. They were all super cool to me though and we had nice conversations. Just wanted to throw in my experiences in your country. It was a great time.

10

YakSlothLemon Mar 31, 2026 +18

No lie, in Europe you can sometimes hear them across an entire square. Why am I 50 yards from you and still know you’re from Ohio? 😂

18

EngineVarious5244 Mar 31, 2026 +24

See, that's bizarre to me because I live in Hawaii and we get tourists from all over the world. Have you met Australians? The other day on the bus there was a couple practically screaming in [either Polish or Czech]. Like, I feel like us being uniquely loud is a bum rap.

24

spark99l Apr 1, 2026 +4

Australians are another fun and friendly bunch. Love them

4

I_Like_Turtles_Too Mar 31, 2026 +42

We're just REALLY excited to be there.

42

Alan_Wench Mar 31, 2026 +125

You are going to get a lot of pushback from your statement, but I think what is important to consider is that you often get back what you put out. It could be that you are getting back from people what YOU are putting out.

125

mykidsthinkimcool Mar 31, 2026 +71

I mean, I've heard from others this idea of American niceness, but as an American, I've never met an unpleasant person from Ghana... you may be on to something here.

71

boxforty133 Mar 31, 2026 +47

Ghanaians are nice people too, and very welcoming but may be I had the wrong perception of Americans

47

Invisibella74 Mar 31, 2026 +27

In general, I think people here try to be nice. There are people who have a bad day or people who are just grumpy by nature, but I would agree that, in my day-to-day interactions, nearly everyone is very cool. Now the only place I can compare to is Canada, and Canadians are super nice! Every time I've visited Canada, I've had a fantastic experience there. I think the media tends to highlight the bad apples in our country. Of course, it doesn't help that some of the most disgusting people in the US are also the most powerful. 😟 But when it comes to your average American? Nice people.

27

PiXellFrame Mar 31, 2026 +5

I guess that's true. A lot of Americans I've met are like human golden retrievers—super cheerful, maybe a little oblivious but genuinely nice. But yeah, energy vibes are real. If you go around all grumpy, don't be surprised if people give you the same treatment back.

5

JackFuckCockBag Mar 31, 2026 +55

I still try to be nice to people even when I'm having a bad day. I takes more energy to be an a****** then it does to be nice to someone. Edit: I'll also add that a few nice words can make someone's day better and that's a good thing.

55

Sweaty_Delivery7004 Mar 31, 2026 +4

Saying a few nice words to other people makes my day better, as well! Seriously tho, when I’m having a bad day, interacting with others and being extremely kind will usually help me feel a lot better, too.

4

boxforty133 Mar 31, 2026 +6

Very much true

6

OpposumMyPossum Mar 31, 2026 +24

I just came back from Portugal. I was surprised to be yearning Boston friendliness. I'd heard Portugal was friendly -- people can be nice but you really have to get them to warm up to you.

24

boxforty133 Mar 31, 2026 +9

I can totally relate to this. Last summer, visited a couple of countries in Europe and it reinforced my sentiments about Americans. Even met a couple of Americans and our interactions reminded me of the lovely people that Americans are.

9

LadderWonderful2450 Mar 31, 2026 +5

Aww ❤️

5

welding_guy_from_LI Mar 31, 2026 +33

For the most part we are nice and welcoming.. even us gritty NYers are kind and polite especially if you are from out of town

33

Pure-Manufacturer718 Mar 31, 2026 +15

Unless you wear a Boston hat. lol

15

Clessasaur Mar 31, 2026 +20

Well yeah those from Boston aren't people. They're just sentient Dunkins.

20

shinyprairie Mar 31, 2026 +8

When I visited NY for the first time this summer everyone was so kind that I was surprised! I was mentally prepared to deal with some potential rudeness but had the opposite experience with everyone I interacted with, and there were multiple times where people noticed that I was a little lost and approached me to give directions. Can't wait to visit again!

8

boxforty133 Mar 31, 2026 +6

That’s what I’m talking about.

6

Dokter_warungu Mar 31, 2026 +28

As a dutch guy who spends a lot of time in the US, I fully agree. Americans are incredibly nice people

28

Fluffy-Coat7281 Mar 31, 2026 +58

My family was born and raised in Italy and jeez the people in America are so much more humble and nice, less performative. Then i start thinking of the areas in the US where people aren’t as nice, which happens to be NJ and NY where a lot of italian’s tend to reside, lol 🫠🤔

58

boxforty133 Mar 31, 2026 +9

Haha, NJ and NYC is probably the exception. Loved them though

9

Electronic_Syrup7592 Mar 31, 2026 +19

I’ve actually found New Yorkers to be some of the nicest people I’ve ever met. Much nicer than here in Indiana.

19

humblefreak Mar 31, 2026 +16

I think New Yorkers are nice, but not friendly, if that makes sense. People can seem unapproachable and a bit brash, but if you need help or actually start talking to someone, they are very nice and will go out of their way to help you. Whereas in certain parts of the country (\*cough\* the southeast \*cough\*), people are very friendly to your face, but couldn't care less whether you live or die lol. Of course, there are exceptions, and you can find good and awful people everywhere. And I do actually find midwesterners incredibly nice and friendly, and willing to give you the shirt off their backs - but that might just be the specific places I've lived.

16

MyNameIs__Rainman Mar 31, 2026 +5

I agree, I've lived all my life in NY, and now I'm currently in NC. I can say without a doubt NY and other New Englanders are initially nice but not friendly, whereas here in the south it feels friendly but not nice.

5

nettek00 Mar 31, 2026 +4

New Yorker here. People here are not polite but they're absolutely very kind. They will glare and curse at you if you walk too slowly, but if you ask for a favor, they'll be the first to help out.

4

Any-Concentrate-1922 Mar 31, 2026 +4

Hmm, I'm from NJ. I think we're pretty friendly, actually. Maybe not as bubbly.

4

TerranRepublic Mar 31, 2026 +13

Some people are fake nice/helpful for sure but at least personally I'm of the opinion that we're actually being nice to people for no other reason than we hope it improves general society. Maybe we'll become friends and maybe not, but just because you aren't going to forge a deep and meaningful relationship with every single person you interact with doesn't mean you shouldn't be nice/generally helpful.

13

HansenTakeASeat Mar 31, 2026 +4

Fake nice beats rude for no reason every day of the week

4

dth1717 Mar 31, 2026 +13

But why should it be any other way? Is it hard to be nice? My firm belief is you get what you give ( no I'm not religious). And if they're a d*** to you, ok game on

13

Financial-Sweet-4648 Mar 31, 2026 +11

Thank you for the kind words! Most people I know really do make an effort on this front. I know I do. And it’s not fake, as some suggest. At least not for me. I genuinely feel a bit better about my existence when I take an opportunity to be nice to somebody else. I plan to keep doing it indefinitely. Ha.

11

boxforty133 Mar 31, 2026 +7

Definitely keep doing - people like us appreciate it and it has rubbed on me as well

7

AtiJua Mar 31, 2026 +9

The ones I've met seem pretty nice too.

9

Ultimatelee Mar 31, 2026 +10

Visited America last year and didn’t have a single bad interaction. Everyone was friendly and helpful. Made some friends and can’t wait to visit again soon.

10

see_blue Mar 31, 2026 +10

Smiling and being nice (greetings, nods, thank you’s, opening doors, lifting something, etc.) establishes a human connection between two people and make each of us feel better. For some, the moment lasts longer than for others.

10

Efficient-Scale-1485 Mar 31, 2026 +3

That's how I undo my giving up on life. Doing something for others places another tether between ourselves and the universe.

3

Jurellai Mar 31, 2026 +4

Glad that you’re having largely positive experiences!! It is also probably you being a kind person. America is so culturally diverse, so many people have an appreciation for that even if our media likes to pretend it isn’t true. The craziest people are often the loudest and the normal people are just out here living their lives, wanting to have a chill day. A lot of American culture places emphasis on compartmentalization of moods (don’t take out your anger on some poor unsuspecting person just trying to buy a bag of chips), “fake it till you make it”. (There’s science that if you smile or fake laugh it can trigger your brain to make positive chemical shifts.), and it really doesn’t cost anything to be polite. So it rolls into lots of people at least trying to be polite even if they aren’t feeling it. I suspect similar sentiments are probably true for LOTS of places around the globe. We’ve been fortunate to travel, and have found many people are lovely and welcoming when you show up with joy in your heart.

4

LookItsDaphne Mar 31, 2026 +5

When I get my coffee, or check out at the store, I look the cashier in the eyes, say "thank you," and I wish them a good day. And I mean it. Every time. And I typically get the sense that they appreciate it. I often see the same cashiers, sometimes I get to know their names. Sometimes I get to know where they're from, their family life, their interests. They're awfully nice people, and I'm really grateful that I get to know them. I live in an urban area, it's densely populated. I love having the sense of small town community that I get from spending a moment showing genuine courtesy. And I love receiving that small, earnest smile from a person who's doing a service for me. And it works overseas, too! Gracious, the number of people in Europe or Africa or the Middle East I've met who have visibly softened when I've asked them how they're doing! How is everyone else NOT like this? It makes the day better for everyone, I honestly don't understand why this isn't just how everyone is everywhere all the time!

5

WelshRarebit2025 Mar 31, 2026 +5

Customer service stands out to me too. I am not American but have visited a few times. But there are some terrible travellers!

5

forevermore4315 Mar 31, 2026 +5

A bad attitude is contagious. A good attitude is as well. And you know what? Everyone is fighting a hard battle you know nothing about. Be kind.

5

Hand_On_My_Heart Mar 31, 2026 +6

I chat with a few Americans here and they are all so lovely! Ive only good things to say about them ☺️

6

cursetea Mar 31, 2026 +5

I'm nice to people because they're people and that's the end of it I've met a decent amount of Ghanaian people where i live and i accuse YOU GUYS of being super nice too!!!! With gorgeous accents!!!!!!

5

boxforty133 Mar 31, 2026 +4

Loving this.

4

Technical_Can_9944 Mar 31, 2026 +6

I honestly don't want to live in a world where kindness is seen as a bad thing.

6

ShadA612 Mar 31, 2026 +4

Thank you. Glad we have made that impression. Hope we can continue to live up to it.

4

boxforty133 Mar 31, 2026 +3

It’s rubbed on me.

3

mmohaje Apr 1, 2026 +5

Americans definitely get a bad rap. A lot of times their friendliness is used to mock them. How many times I’ve heard people retell a story about an ‘annoying American’ and it’s because the person overheard the tourist debating where to go or directions and they interjected to help or made small talk whilst standing in lien. A lot of cultures I guess don’t like that. I’m an expat and have lived in my adopted country for decades. Despite having no family, none of my friends have ever invited us over for major holidays despite knowing we are celebrating alone. If you are standing in a grocery line in the US on a Thanksgiving and the person behind you overhears you are alone, you’ll have an invite to their house in a heartbeat (only a slight exaggeration). There is a genuine hospitality and gregariousness amongst Americans that others seem to interpret as disingenuous and they couldn’t be any more wrong.

5

boxforty133 Apr 1, 2026 +3

Absolutely agree especially on the invitation for thanksgiving. I remember I visited a local Social Security Admin Office on my birthday and the Security officer looked at my ID after welcoming me nicely and proceeded to tell my assigned officer it was birthday. Well, everyone in the office heard it was birthday and got so many beautiful wishes.

3

Schnapper94 Mar 31, 2026 +7

yes, i agree. i noticed politesness, humanity, kindness or their part, which i didn't notice in the people of my nationality

7

No-Maintenance6600 Mar 31, 2026 +4

that's interesting! it's true that americans can be pretty friendly, though sometimes it can feel a bit over the top for folks from other cultures. definitely a unique charm!

4

UmpireProper7683 Mar 31, 2026 +3

Considering how much c*** we have received lately (admittedly, much of it earned) it's nice to see something kind of endearing and sweet about us.

3

TheKarmaCrunch Mar 31, 2026 +4

Europeans be like “privacy is respect,” and Americans be like “so anyway my cousin got a boat.” Which one do you prefer?

4

bargielml Mar 31, 2026 +5

They are nice until you get behind the wheel, then everyone thinks they are the only person on the road. It is crazy how people will just cut you off/not let you merge when the lanes close, etc and just STARE ahead like you aren't RIGHT there in the next car over looking at them! Can you imagine if people acted the same way with grocery carts in the grocery store?!

5

AmandaR_Grover Mar 31, 2026 +4

I get what you mean. When I first moved here, the small stuff caught me off guard too-people holding doors, random “have a nice day” from strangers. At first it felt a bit forced, but over time you realize it’s just kind of the default vibe.

4

boxforty133 Mar 31, 2026 +3

Yes to the holding of the door and it doesn’t matter the gender or age.

3

Manuntdfan Mar 31, 2026 +5

I’m a white middle aged male American. People automatically assume I am an a******, so I go out of my way to be friendly, polite, and nice to try to dispel that stereotype.

5

irun50 Apr 1, 2026 +5

“Have a nice day” really should replace e plutonic unum in dollar bill

5

OkJuggernaut7127 Apr 1, 2026 +5

I love the American hospitality culture. Say what you will, it’s a lovely and incredible part of my travels. That’s not to say I haven’t met my fair share of mean people but by far and large it’s always been good imo

5

spark99l Apr 1, 2026 +4

This makes me happy. Thanks friend. Happy to have you as a fellow American

4

Much-Amaze69 Apr 1, 2026 +5

Americans are generally happy, appreciative people. Many of whom are willing to share their resources to help others. Despite what the media might have you believe.

5

SeaSaltSequence Mar 31, 2026 +6

As an American who's never been out of the country I think our general inclination towards niceness is about maintaining our humanity. There's a lot going on that feels devastating and out of our hands but we haven't fully lost sight of the need to love our neighbors and have community. Nothing is lost by being kind and especially post-pandemic I think positive tangible interaction is one of the few things keeping us all from going postal.

6

bony-tony Mar 31, 2026 +3

It really does vary. The level of niceness you'll get ina customer-service situation in, say, Houston is pretty different from what you'll get in New York. In most places in the US, the "customer is always right" idea still lingers in how device is provided, but it's much lesser in NYC where the culture is more to be curt and move fast. But both of those contrast with a place like Paris, where there historically the idea is that all parties are equal and the folks running the shop don't owe any special duty to their customers. There, it would for example be considered rude for a customer to enter a shop without greeting the proprietor. That doesn't hold in, say, modern supermarkets or fast food restaurants, but it's a just a different mindset.

3

pyro_pugilist Mar 31, 2026 +3

My personal motto I choose to live my life by is: try to be the bright spot in a person's day.

3

Any_Kiwi_7915 Mar 31, 2026 +3

Thanks I personally just go around and treat people how I want to be treated

3

Any-Concentrate-1922 Mar 31, 2026 +3

I'm American-- from New Jersey, which is considered less friendly, but I think we're still friendly and kind. Just less bubbly. My mother raised me to say "Hi, how are you" to people and smile. She said it was the polite thing to do. After a while it becomes automatic and natural. I'm fairly shy and reserved, but if other people are chatting to me, I'll chat back. I used to think I wasn't chatty at all, but when I lived in the UK for a few months in college, I was struck by the fact that people didn't really smile and greetings were minimal among strangers. That's when I realized how truly American I am, lol.

3

No-Armadillo-2983 Mar 31, 2026 +3

This is good to hear. We traveled to Europe last summer and though most people were nice, we met a few who were RUDE. We laughed about them later.

3

Clean_Swordfish7132 Mar 31, 2026 +3

Thank you.

3

FondabaruCBR4_6RSAWD Mar 31, 2026 +3

Life for most people is generally bad, relatively speaking, no sense in making it any worse than it needs to be.

3

Reasonable_Wasabi124 Mar 31, 2026 +3

I work customer service. I see absolutely no reason to be anything other than nice to everyone. That doesn't mean I don't stand up for myself if I have to, but why on earth wouldn't I greet anyone in a friendly way? I don't get it when people say it's fake or superficial. It's real. I like to think that I'm a nice person.

3

lumpy_space_queenie Mar 31, 2026 +3

I remember once I had a >!really bad menstrual situation. My pants were absolutely ruined and I had nowhere to go to change for the next 8 hours!< I was in the bathroom doing the best I could (wasn’t working) and a woman came up behind me, gave me a pat on the back, and said “I’m sorry, take care of yourself, it will get better” there was really nothing she could do to help me honestly, but just the acknowledgment that what I was dealing with was brutal/embarrassing, made me feel a little less overwhelmed and stressed out.

3

Wide-Ice-3968 Apr 1, 2026 +3

Being nice to strangers is how we can detect a crazy right away. A sane person having a bad day will at least be polite to you being nice. A crazy person having a bad day will be rude no matter how nice you are.

3

burnbeforeburning Apr 1, 2026 +3

We have sixty, maybe seventy years on this earth. If we're lucky. Why in the world would you spend those few fleeting moments doing something other than kindness? Kindness makes me feel good. Being mean makes me feel bad. I can't pretend someone's not a human. We all are

3

Sure-Arm-4385 Apr 1, 2026 +3

When all you read online is how Americans are rude, fat, the worst, the cause of all the world’s problems, etc….well, you gotta try. Thanks for noticing!

3

vishalnegal Apr 1, 2026 +3

This is a really balanced take. People often underestimate how much simple politeness and mindset shape interactions. Most folks aren’t extreme one way or another, they’re just living their lives, and if you show up with a good attitude, you usually get the same in return.

3

Gigantopithecus1453 Apr 1, 2026 +3

As a Scandinavian, I’ve noticed this too. American people are so incredibly friendly and warm, and I absolutely love it. They’re the friendliest of all western peoples I’ve encountered

3

AnywherePresent1998 Mar 31, 2026 +10

Come live in Europe. They’re too bitchy, you’ll miss Americans

10

boxforty133 Mar 31, 2026 +10

I lived in the UK for 2 years and France for a year, and I still stand by my comments about Americans.

10

AnywherePresent1998 Mar 31, 2026 +2

Well you belong here! Congrats

2

boxforty133 Mar 31, 2026 +4

Love it here.

4

Gard3nNerd Mar 31, 2026 +7

Foreigners always says this yet as an American I don't find other Americans all that nice lol.

7

boxforty133 Mar 31, 2026 +8

I absolutely agree. My neighbor shares the same sentiments as you. But let me share one experience about my neighborhood, when I go out for walks or the parks - strangers will literally say hi and how’s your day going every time. And a lot of these have led to useful conversations especially you genuinely engage. Some of these have really led to recommendations about restaurants, businesses, local spots etc.

8

Any-Concentrate-1922 Mar 31, 2026 +3

This doesn't happen to me in parks in New Jersey. At most, people might smile or nod or mutter "Hello." However, it has happened to me in some other parts of the US. The level of openness is very different depending on where you are. It doesn't mean people are rude or gruff. Just a little less open. But if I were to say, "Excuse me, do you know where I can get a good pizza around here" or something, the person would most likely stop and give me some recommendations. Or if I said, "Your dog is so cute," they might open up. People are friendly when there's an opportunity for an opening. BTW, some Europeans think Americans never walk anywhere. This is not true, at least where I live. The parks are filled with people, and many people take walks.

3

Conscious-Zebra-7477 Mar 31, 2026 +3

I'm American and lived in UK for awhile and people are much more nice here. I think young people aren't so much but older millennials and up and very nice and social.

3

Narrow-Accident-1136 Mar 31, 2026 +5

We have to be nice. Never know who might be armed

5

Manungal Mar 31, 2026 +4

I gotta find the study, but there is science to back this up. The more countries of origin in one location, the friendlier and bigger expressions people have. Canada has people from 60+ countries of origin. America has 80+.

4

boxforty133 Mar 31, 2026 +3

I would love to see this reference. At least, there’s science or studies to back this up people

3

ruinrunner Mar 31, 2026 +3

This is how I can tell if someone has traveled a lot (even for Americans). If they think Europeans are nicer than Americans, they haven’t been out very much

3

Technical_Control403 Mar 31, 2026 +2

I have friends from Ghana and Senegal. Probably the nicest guys I know as an American

2

boxforty133 Mar 31, 2026 +6

I agree. Just that Americans get a bad rap especially oversees.

6

Electronic_Syrup7592 Mar 31, 2026 +2

Being polite is not the same as being nice in my opinion. I see a lot of people who are polite….but they are not actually nice.

2

crook888 Mar 31, 2026 +2

it's nice to see something positive about us. don't go to the northeast. haha

2

SignificantPolicy143 Mar 31, 2026 +2

Wait till you meet the Canadians 😌

2

PresentTitle565 Mar 31, 2026 +2

wait, you don’t want us to be too nice? what’s wrong with that?

2

Additional_Low8050 Mar 31, 2026 +2

I’m so glad you were greeted properly!

2

Ok-Instruction-3653 Mar 31, 2026 +2

I don't think so.

2

BeardlessWonder503 Mar 31, 2026 +2

Wait until you meet Canadians!

2

Apprehensive-Ant2141 Mar 31, 2026 +2

“Too” nice?

2

Feisty_Water_3164 Mar 31, 2026 +2

I had to use the free valet service at a medical building because I could not find parking. When I came to collect my car, there was a woman berating the valet because he couldn’t locate a wheelchair. I heard the woman say, ‘ We both have appointments and I didn’t want to get out my own chair’. Inside my head ‘Lady, the only reason any of us are here is that we have an appointment’. When the valet returned my car, I tipped him and said ‘Don’t let this one 5 minute exchange affect your whole day.’

2

justseeingpendejadas Mar 31, 2026 +2

If you think people from the USA are too nice, you should go to places in Latin America, Africa and Southeast Asia lol

2

boxforty133 Mar 31, 2026 +3

I’m from Africa and I’ve been to Latin America - not made it to Asia but still give Americans their flowers.

3

GoAhead_BakeACake Mar 31, 2026 +2

Parts of the country are polite nice. Parts of the country are warm and friendly, where it's easy to strike up a conversation and make friends. Parts of the country are...well, there's a wide variety of social cultures here.

2

ReadySetGO0 Mar 31, 2026 +2

I’m American. I’m friendly to everyone, waiters, clerks, strangers in line with me. Makes my day brighter. And, hopefully, theirs.

2

AprilNichole209 Mar 31, 2026 +2

It’s easy to be nice and pleasant to strangers. The more pleasant interactions I have with strangers make it easier when I get around the people I do know and can’t stand.

2

MrsClaire07 Mar 31, 2026 +2

Sometimes, the “Polite vs Nice” feel of a place depends on what part of the USA you’re in. Here in New England, we’re proudly Kind but not (necessarily) Nice, lol! Glad you like it here, no matter what!

2

boxforty133 Mar 31, 2026 +3

Thanks, I’ll take nice or kind any day.

3

EatYourCheckers Mar 31, 2026 +2

I know a few people from Ghana, and I love how much you guys laugh! Like, about terrible things, too! A coworker was telling me how poor her grandmother is, that she eats rice that uses plastic as filler, so she is eating plastic rice, and she was laughing about it!

2

prettygoodnation Mar 31, 2026 +2

One time in Chile (I’m half American, half Chilean, but grew up in the U.S.), I asked a worker in a p******* if they had makeup brushes and she looked at me and said “idk ask the cashier,” and it honestly seemed so rude to me! Turns out she was just security for the store, but I would’ve expected more politeness anyway. It was a culture shock moment.

2

ziniabutterfly Mar 31, 2026 +2

I love random elevator conversations with strangers. People would frequently say hello to others they’ve never met before at work. It was genuinely nice.

2

Americans are way too nice

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