Why are new immigrants, especially from non-english speaking countries so annoying and lacking in manners?

Question

For example, you are entering a buliding and walking behind one of these new arrivals and this person will let the door slam in your face instead of holding it ---which is common decency in America.

Or two new immigrant guys will be talking to each other accross a room with no regard for others who do not speak their language.

Answer 1

Why are uncultured arrogant Americans so annoying and lacking in intelligence?!?

Answer 2

Manners are codes specific to a society. Immigrants come from societies with very different codes. Holding the door, for example, is not expected in some countries. It took me a few months to get into that habit when I came to this country. If you ever travel internationally you will unavoidably offend others because you simply have no idea that certain manners are expected. (I heard that in Russia, it's rude to put up your legs or cross your legs so that the bottom of your shoes are visible--who would have guessed?)

By the way, when I first moved to the US, I thought the people here had poor manners because none of the men yielded their bus seats to women! This was expected in Central America, where I came from.

Answer 3

1. I don't necessarily think its such a horrible thing if two people speak in their own language to each other. If we were in Italy, met another American, we'd do the same. Maybe it seems a little rude because English-speakers may not quite know if they're saying rotten stuff about us, but its also kind of reasonable and natural that they do that.

2. There are cultural differences between this country and many other countries. Some cultures make a bigger point of teaching their children the "common decencies" than others do. Many people I know do not have negative feelings toward some nationalities because of "what" they are but rather because of the lack of refinement that may be associated with one group or another.

Much of the time the people who had bad circumstances and wanted/needed to come to the U.S. are not the ones who lived in refined affluence in their own country. If you go to any low-income neighborhood that has a bunch of white, American-born people in it you'll also find a whole lot of "lack of refinement" there too. (Not saying it about all low-income people of any group - but the rate of "lack of refinement" is higher in such neighborhoods.)

Another thing is if the guy in front of you in a busy store holds the door for you you may not notice what nationality he seems to be because he didn't call attention to himself by slamming a door on you.

When I was a little kid I lived in a city where Italian immigrants were the ones people had issues with because they seemed rude in the local stores. There were, though, teachers in my elementary school who treated the children with non-English speaking mothers in a kind of rotten way. I thought (and still do) it was because those children didn't have "up and coming" mothers who spoke English and would be down at that school making a giant stink if their child were mistreated or insulted or humiliated.

In fairness to immigrants, they often feel (or know) they may not be welcomed or respected or seen as deserving to be here. Maybe it makes them a little angry (a lot angry), and maybe they get to just feel like they have to take care of themselves and don't bother worrying about anyone else. (Just a theory.)

A couple of weeks ago I went to a WalMart for some hardware, and I was waiting for my companion outside for quite a while. Groups of immigrants were coming and going and hanging around nearby. I got something in my eye, pulled out my mirror, and noticed how pale my non-brown eyes are and how light my complexion and hair are when in the midst of all these darker people. For the first time in my life I felt like a minority. It wasn't horrible, but it was odd; and I felt like the oddball. I thought, "This is what many immigrants feel llike all the time." It wasn't horrible, but it wasn't particularly good either.

People learn manners from their upbringing. These days many Americans are guilty of not bothering teaching/showing manners either. I don't know.... Those are my theories.

Answer 4

The behavior you have described is annoying, whether it comes form Americans or immigrants. I have seen this more with Americans than immigrants, although probably because i live in an area where there aren't many immigrants yet. Some people are boorish because they are selfish, others because they havent learned the local customs. It's very difficult for immigrants to learn "proper" behavior, when the locals don't exhibit it themselves. Please give them a break, they have come a long way to be here. How would you treat locals who acted that way, and should know better?

Answer 5

The door thing really is rude, but it's common among Americans too.

As for the other--that's a private conversation that you have no need to listen to! Personally, I think it would be pretty stupid and inefficient if you were talking to someone with the same native language as you but you were talking in a different language instead. If they were talking to you they'd speak English. The real question is, why do so many Americans think they have the right to eavesdrop on everybody?

Answer 6

Try to put yourself in their shoes. Some countries are so over-populated that people normally bump into eachother in passing. It's not considered impolite.

Say you go to Norway tommorrow with your best friend & you don't speek their language. Will you feel guilty communicating with your friend in English.

There's a learning curve for everything in life. Be helpful instead of annoyed. It takes time to learn a new language & customs. If no explains the customs, you can't blame people for doing what comes natural to the way they were brought up, unless they break laws.

It is everybody's responsibility to take the time to find out what the laws are in other countries if you plan to go there. There are sites that will translate the laws in your language.

Answer 7

AS a lot of you have said, the biggest reason is they come from a different culture and don't know any better. The problem is that a lot of them aren't even trying to learn and alot of them don't intend to ever learn. They are the ones causing problems and if they are not going to learn our culture and manners , then they need to go back where they started from because they obvioudly prefer that way of life.

Answer 8

Maybe they are just as ignorant of your culture as you are of theirs - I wonder how many of your habits they would find offensive? Did you know that blowing your nose in public is considered very rude and bad manners in Japan??? If you feel that strongly about it, why not pick them up on it when you come across it and then they could be grateful to you for showing them the error of their ways :)

Answer 9

Dude, cut them some slack!!!
They're still trying tolearn about our customs. It may be hard to believe, but not everybody has the same value system as you. Give them some time to learn the ropes, let alone the language!!

Peace.

Answer 10

There are also some Americans who lack in etiquette too. Dont just categorize ppl. from other countries. We got some "Ignoramuses" right here in the good ole USA!!!

Answer 11

well i agree manners well every one can have bad manners but is u want to be a citicen of the us u should make an effort to learn english we should not have to spend tax payers money for translators and signs in six different langues they wouldn't tolerate ignorant americans going to their country and toing this so yea i agree