Asia is the rudest place?

Question

Asian cities generally fared poorly in these rankings, eight of nine of them in the bottom 11, raising the notion that what is considered courtesy in the West — holding doors, helping strangers, service with a smile — is culturally alien in Asia.

this is my opinion http://young-asian.tripod.com ( as malaysian )
how about u?

Asian cities generally fared poorly in these rankings, eight of nine of them in the bottom 11, raising the notion that what is considered courtesy in the West — holding doors, helping strangers, service with a smile — is culturally alien in Asia. - NST

My opinion at http://young-asian.tripod.com

I disagree.
In rank : NY is no 1 ( politeness city )
Mumbai no 1 ( rudest city )

Answer 1

i think we are just misunderstood. i mean, we have different cultures, you can't expect everybody to be westernized.

like in the philippines, we are wary of helping strangers because you know, you might be scammed or worsed robbed (it's true even if you live somewhere else). we are very hospitable for people we trust.

we respect elders, help older people (like in a bus, if it's full-we let the old people sit in our chair)

i would disagree that holding doors, service with a smile.... is culturally alien in asia because i always have good service experience with asians.

i guess for the poll, they just need to dig more and they could see how good asian people are.

Answer 2

Looks like that survey is slanted towards western lifestyle expectations. We here in Asia are called Orientals or Easterns, so we are definitely different from the west. If we are to apply our Eastern values, guess the rudest countries will all be in the west!

Come on, Thailand is known as "The Land of Smiles", and it is in Asia. Where do you find a similiar nickname for a country in the west? Philippines has also been known as a very hospitable country, especially by westerners. So baloney to that study.

In fact, Asian cultures had long been considered as graceful, in comparison to many western countries.

Answer 3

Yes they may seem rude to an outsider, but it's just a culture difference. I am soon to go over there for I love the people. Never seen so many smiles. When I came back to the U.S. and tried to adopt their policy by smiling at people,the reaction I got was not well received here. Rudeness you will find in every country especially if you're rude to them.

Answer 4

I am a ASIA...A Indian in fact. You are not wrong but you are not correct either.yardstick with which someone or your goodself has made this notion is wrong.

Culture ,behavious and lot of things ASIANS have learnt from UK and USA. And we are still imitating west without any head. except THAILAND which uses it's own language and culture..no country has escaped effect of ENGLISH....and INDIA is also one great 'monkey' of west.

People are generally good-be it USA/UK or ASIA..
Courtseys are refined gestures of 'so called deveopled countries' but ASIANS have thier own culture and behaviour. You orI can not say that they DO NO NOT HAVE HUMAN TOUCH or FEELING.

Rather if we take example of INDIA- guest is that who comes to your door and this is also foryour enemy. Indian history is filled with examples..that enemy came to doors...and he was treated like hon.guest because...GUEST IS GOD in HINDU CULTURE.

Now this gesture is much more warm and human than opening doors and bringing the chairs out...and all that ..........

Answer 5

It is dangerous to generalize. I have met courteous people mostly in Asian cities. What you are talking about are gestures. There is a difference between someone appearing to be courteous (smiling, nodding, holding doors) and someone spontaneously helping you. In America, you have both---in Asian cities, e.g. all over Japan, people bow to you endlessly, and really try to help you, even if they don't speak your language. Some cities in India are also like that.

The survey you mention is flawed and shallow----e.g. nowhere in the survey did they mention if, when asked to helped, people in these cities actually did help.

Answer 6

I felt the same too, that US is the rudest place. People don't chat with you in the church, and neighbour just hi and bye.

While in Asia, (I worked in Indonesia, China, Malaysia, Singapore, India and Philippins, but did my degree in US), the church member will make me feel welcome, and even invite me to their personal function.

In india, the neighbour will bring me their food to share with me. Not my white neigbour in Kansas.

In malaysia, the malay old lady will insist I stay in her house for a night when I got lost on my bike in the evening. I am a Chinese. In US, I doubt the white lady will invite me or any black bikers for a night.

In Indonesia, my business associate will also care for my family, other than just plain business talk. But in US, they don't.

So you see my point? It is culture difference. If we see things only thru' our culture lenses, we failed to see the beauty beyond that surface level.

I think, that is why, so many US foreign policy failed because of this. They have failed to see beyoond their own culture. Thus they are still suffering in Iraq. I pity the dead soliders and their families, as well as the victim in Iraq.

Asia is so huge, more than 100 races of people. Is your statement fair to say it is the rudest place? Hum. . . . not too nice dear.

What is deem as acceptable to your culture may be rude to others, and likewise, what is acceptable to us may deem as rude to you. So, when evulate other cultures, please hold your tongue, and learn more about their history and root first.

I am sorry, if I hurt your feeling on my commend on US. But I do have a hard time, since I step on US soil, in LA airport. They are clearly discriminating the Asian.

Answer 7

If you believe everything you are fed by the media, you won't travel anywhere and you probably won't even leave your house. Politeness means different things in different places. In Japan you don't look people in the eye because it is rude. In America it is rude NOT to look people in the eye. It depends on where you live. The RUDEST people I have EVER met are in America, not Asia....

Answer 8

The West can never understand Asians. Oriental people are the nicest bunch. The west thinks they have culture, yeah look at their kids and how disrespectful they are of their elders and other people! ugh!

Answer 9

Dont say like that!!! The Asian has the most great courtesy of all time.

Answer 10

I disagree. I'm from Korea, and have lived in many places. I've found Northern New Jersey is the worst place to live in and the people are very, very rude.