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That is because different cultures have different customs. In some cultures it is acceptable to hug and put your arm around someone you have not met before, in
by Squarel 12y ago
That is because different cultures have different customs.
In some cultures it is acceptable to hug and put your arm around someone you have not met before, in others, even non-western ones, it is seen as extremely rude.
My language teacher when I moved here was telling our mixed nationality class about how in her perception, as you moved further north from the Mediterranean, the personal space people have increases, and how this does not mean people are not comfortable with people near them. This was in the same lesson where we started covering different gestures and how offensive in one is fine in another.
Two arms length is a farther than I usually have, but coming within an arms length if I do not know you, especially at a party, unless to tap my shoulder for attention will make me feel uncomfortable. Two arms length requires me to raise my voice to talk to you, which I consider ruder than being close.
That aside, the OP reads more like a "How to social engineer" than a how to be polite.
- bellerocky 12y agoI wonder if maybe the amount of space required between people contributes to a shared sense of isolation and maybe even entitlement.
- manmal 12y agoRegarding "How to social engineer" - I rather read it as a nice way to keep emotional distance to people without being cold. I think I'm gonna try it - I have a tendency to constantly judge people which I want to get rid of anyway.
- philwelch 12y agoDistance from the Mediterranean sounds about right. Americans inherit our sense of personal space from the English, more or less. Some cultures are even more extreme: http://i.imgur.com/g2DQgr5.jpg http://i.imgur.com/g2DQgr5.jpg
- tripzilch 12y ago> Two arms length requires me to raise my voice to talk to you, which I consider ruder than being close. I've been paying attention to this and have come to the conclusion that this is one of the major factors why Americans are perceived as "loud". As you indicate, this can lead to another type of invasion of personal space (for those who aren't part of that particular conversation).