Post

Yep, I travel a lot internationally and have never encountered someone who was unpleasant to me just because I’m American. I think many Americans who don’t travel abroad much seem to *hugely* overestimate the odds of non-Americans being rude to them simply for being Americans.

Someone will doubtless get mad at me for this (ironically) but I suspect that those Americans who claim they’re constantly treated poorly abroad merely for being American are actually just being treated poorly because they have Rancid Vibes

I think a lot of Americans expect a level of cheerful subservience from retail and food service staff that doesn’t exist elsewhere and they interpret that difference as being targeted for being American. So I agree, those people have bad vibes.

You’re probably right. I’m always a bit put off when I visit America about the slightly creepy insincere friendliness of the waiters. We don’t get that at home, we just interact like normal people. Although it’s started in our shops now ‘enjoy the rest of your day’. What do I say to that? ‘You too’?