Kindest people in the world ...

[highfihoney]

I don't like to stereotype, but last summer me, my mom, dad and lil brother were in NYC. My mom tripped and fell down on the sidewalk and people just walked around her, as if she was in their way. I have been to NYC many times, and it seems like people get progressively rude each time I visit. However that had to be the most inconsiderate things I have ever seen.

I have seen people at a stoplight here in Los Angeles, get out of their car to help a person in a wheelchair cross the street. A major contrast...

Yeah,the population in NYC has lost touch with being human,i think its a byproduct of such a fast paced everything, one thing i noticed about NYC is that their police dept should give lessons nation wide on how to treat the public.

Ive been to alot of different states & every time ive needed a policeman ive been treated like i was bothering their doughnut break,not so in NY,they were helpful & actually wanted to help.

 

[NYyankeeboi]

Ive been to alot of different states & every time ive needed a policeman ive been treated like i was bothering their doughnut break,not so in NY,they were helpful & actually wanted to help.

lol, I don't wanna piss ppl off, but the entire police force in the US needs to be educated with regards to ethics, courtsey and common interactions with the citizens who pay their wages.

My aunt who grew up and still lives in Las Vegas (way back in the days) said that the city was safer and friendlier when the mob ran the town.

 

[Resident Loser]

Sad...

I hear what you're saying, and you are correct. But there are so many scammers in the city that you never know if that "old lady who fell" is part of a group who plan to rip off anyone who stops to help. It's sad, but people are afraid to take that chance.

...but true...it may simply be a diversionary tactic and the age of the "decoy" is irrelevant...

jimHJJ(...New York, jus' like I pictured it, skyscrapers an evrythin'...)

 

[Yamahaluver]

lol, I don't wanna piss ppl off, but the entire police force in the US needs to be educated with regards to ethics, courtsey and common interactions with the citizens who pay their wages.

My aunt who grew up and still lives in Las Vegas (way back in the days) said that the city was safer and friendlier when the mob ran the town.

Fully agreed, found the police force in Scandanavian countries far more friendlier and helpful, everyone needs to learn a lesson from them.

 

[rr2465]

Have to throw in my 2 cents...

My vote goes to the Japanese in the friendly/helpful department. I've been to Tokyo and Kyoto twice and its really easy to miss a train stop. I have found that despite their busy lifestyle there has always been somebody there that is "honored" to help you get in the right direction or go there with you to make sure you don't get lost. You walk into a store or a restaurant and they bow for you. For a big city, my wife and I have never felt safer. Two thumbs up for the Japanese!

 

[Sheep]

That's easy. No one wants to give the wrong impression to someone that looks foreign to their county. At least that's how it goes in Canada, but there isn't really a text book Canadian anymore, we've got all walks of life here.

SheepStar

 

[Davemcc]

That's easy. No one wants to give the wrong impression to someone that looks foreign to their county. At least that's how it goes in Canada, but there isn't really a text book Canadian anymore, we've got all walks of life here.

SheepStar

But still an overall sound reputation for being polite and helpful.

 

[NYyankeeboi]

Oha, this video is how the police treat people.

http://www.myfoxla.com/myfox/pages/Home/Detail?contentId=3105505&version=1&locale=EN-US&layoutCode=TSTY&pageId=1.1.1

 

[Buckle-meister]

...the kindest people in the world (generally speaking) are Americans.

I never posted here before because at the time the thread started I remember thinking "I don't buy into the thinking that folk from one country are more polite (better? ) than another - I consider that every country has good 'eggs' and bad 'eggs', so to speak.

However, whilst slogging my way up a mountain in Glen Coe a few days ago, about 200m from the (first) summit I came across a man, woman and young teenager on their way down and our conversation (walkers generally say hello to one another as they pass, if not stop for a small chat) went something like this:

Me: A'right? How yi doin'?

Teenager (in the lead): Hi.

Me: Och, you've got it easy!

Man: Easy?

Me: Aye, you're on yer way down.

Man: Ah...yes, we were passing through the glen on our way home and couldn't resist climbing to the top on this fine day.

Me: Aye, I think you landed lucky with the weather as it's not meant to be up to much for almost all of this week. Have you come from the west? (the walk is usually done in an east to west direction, as I was doing, but there's nothing to stop someone doing it the other way round)

Man: No, we only climbed to the top to see the view and then came back down again. Are you doing the ridge?

Me: Aye. (after a pause) Oh well, onwards and upwards. See you later (not meant literally).

Man: It gets easier from here (not as steep a grade). Good luck to you sir.

Me: (surprised at such courtesy) Thank you. Have a safe trip home.

I started walking again and mulled over those parting words and remembered about this thread and figured I would like to say how very (overly, even, given that it was just me ) polite the man had been. Me? Sir? Well, I never.

Of course, I should note that I can't tell the difference between an American and Canadian accent, so don't be patting yourselves too much on the back.

 

[avaserfi]

I think it really depends on the people you talk to. When I was in Turkey seven years ago or so right after they had a devastating earthquake I was going out to eat. The first night my parents and I went where the hotel recommended. The food was good but it was expensive, nearly 60 bucks for the 3 of us, which at the current rates was a complete rip off. The next day we walked down a random ally we noticed had a local restaurant at the end and walked in there. They had the same exact food except it was fresher and no one spoke English. We just pointed at what we wanted and they gave it to us. It was the best service I have ever had in my life and the people even those who were eating when we got there, locals, were great. We communicated as much as we could and had a blast. After we were done eating we had no idea how much to pay so my mom held out her hand with cash on it (I think about 30 or so dollars) and the guy took a 5 and was happy. We felt bad because the food was amazing as was everything else so we gave them 20 more (for a total of six people) and went on our way.

I have had similar experience where ever I travel it doesn't matter where you go it matters who you meet specifically on how you will be treated because my experience in Sorento Italy (same trip) was amazing as well yet when we stopped in Cannes France we couldn't pay someone to talk with us since we were lowly Americans.

 

[Davemcc]

yet when we stopped in Cannes France we couldn't pay someone to talk with us since we were lowly Americans.

Damn you Yanks for giving them back their country...TWICE!!

 

[darien87]

Americans kind?!?!

You're obviously meeting the wrong Americans.

 

[Tomorrow]

Damn you Yanks for giving them back their country...TWICE!!

Little did the damn, spoiler Yanks know that they secretly harbor(ed) Germanic-envy. Let's see. Citroen or Mercedes? Renault or BMW? Hmmm.

 

[mike c]

when I read robbie's "dialogue", I can't help putting a scottish accent to it.
(watched too much braveheart)

and had I known the second person was canadian, I'd have fun with it as well. eh?

avaserfi, the usual places a hotel recommends are usually the ones geared up to cater to tourists: can speak english, prices are more expensive because you are tourists, are pretty good at taking pics with your digital camera, know the general greetings of many languages.

 

[Dolby CP-200]

serious of course.

when we were touring in Venice, Italy ... some nice American ladies gave up their Gondola seats for us (they saw us and knew we were on our honeymoon) -> there's only one LOVE seat on the gondola. the others are bench seats. (couldn't afford to hire a gondola to ourselves)

and then when we were touring, this nice American lady made sure we were placed up front near the tour guide, so that we could understand what she was saying - she must have thought that we would have a hard time understanding english (foreign language to us).

and then in the US, everyone is just nice ... everyone has the time to greet and smile.

Did your Gondola, look anything like this with the hovercraft conversion from Q branch?

 

[avaserfi]

avaserfi, the usual places a hotel recommends are usually the ones geared up to cater to tourists: can speak english, prices are more expensive because you are tourists, are pretty good at taking pics with your digital camera, know the general greetings of many languages.

Yeah, we knew that when we got the recommendation but had a couple more days and figured we would at least try it. It was a waste of time, only get advice from the locals not your hotel!

 

[Buckle-meister]

I can't believe it. I met another couple of Americans/Canadians today! They're e v e r y w h e r e!

Met them as I was just about off the hill I did today (Beinn Damh - pronounced 'Byn Dav'). Said hello. The gent said "I just don't know where we're going!" (not so clever a thing to say when you're up in the hills, though in this instance they weren't in any danger of getting lost as there was a clear path.

If you don't know where you're going, how do you expect to get there? Hmm?

 

[Buckeye_Nut]

When I was in Turkey seven years ago or so right after they had a devastating earthquake I was going out to eat. The first night my parents and I went where the hotel recommended. The food was good but it was expensive, nearly 60 bucks for the 3 of us, which at the current rates was a complete rip off. The next day we walked down a random ally we noticed had a local restaurant at the end and walked in there. They had the same exact food except it was fresher and no one spoke English. We just pointed at what we wanted and they gave it to us. It was the best service I have ever had in my life and the people even those who were eating when we got there, locals, were great. We communicated as much as we could and had a blast. After we were done eating we had no idea how much to pay so my mom held out her hand with cash on it (I think about 30 or so dollars) and the guy took a 5 and was happy. We felt bad because the food was amazing as was everything else so we gave them 20 more (for a total of six people) and went on our way.

In my travel experience, that's pretty much expected. If you eat where the locals eat..... you'll get the best value...and quite possibly better food and service too.