Everytime I get on the subway, asian people run in front of me, push and shove and then smile like their cute? What the hell?? is it part of their culture to push people and then smile about it??
2007-07-17 02:06:49 · 12 answers · asked by spadezgurl22 6 in Society & Culture ➔ Etiquette
riding the subway for the past 5 years i have only experience asian people who push and act like that. no other culture has been like that. what gives?
2007-07-17 02:17:05 · update #1
Well, in areas here in the US I've been pushed shoved and crowded out of the way by representatives of all groups, Had about 6 YOUNG black teenagers come up to the front of a line at an amusement park and push in front all the people behind me and my group even though every was "politely" telling them that the line was further down, And once standing in line to meet Tom Selleck an OLDER white guy with a cane smashed my sister's foot in order to get in front of her, had Hispanics, blacks, and whites cut me off running to get to a line before me and then let others in. So It is not just Asians . Many of the Asians who are "transplants" to this country are just used to more people in public places as the tend to live in more populous areas and bumping and jostling are common occurences. At least however they TRY to speak our language.
2007-07-17 02:57:25 · answer #1 · answered by mysticalviking 5 · 7⤊ 0⤋
Wow! I read your question, and now I'm flabbergasted. I'm guessing you had a bad day, because your question sounds like your irritated or irritable. Maybe it's a hemorrhoid or maybe it's the guy in the next cubicle who keeps clearing his throat. I don't know but you need to lock it up. The alternative is that you're ignorant and I don't want to think that it would make my answer worthless.
Here's the deal. Like a few people said already. When the train, subway, bus or elevator comes the idea is to get your butt on, stay close so all can go and none get left, and to do this expeditiously. Try not to feel like you are being pushed and shoved. The idea is that everyone is getting on and all contact is incidental. It feels like a push but it keeps you separated. If I have my hand at you back that keeps me from having my chest at your back and you know that's a plus :-) Because the guy behind me is pushing along.
The smile is like, trying to look pleasant in an unpleasant situation. How can you miss that. I bet the Asian question here would be. "Why do Americans look so unhappy all the time?" For the love of Christ, these strangers are bumping along crowding onto public transportation and still forcing a smile to brighten your day. I mean who gets anything out of a smile? Not the smiling person, the person who sees the smile.
Hewwwy! Where is the hope for this planet?
2007-07-17 13:03:35 · answer #2 · answered by Di'tagapayo 7 · 0⤊ 2⤋
I'm an asian, and definitely think it's not cute. It was a personal pet peeve for me as well having to deal with all the rushing, pushing & shoving; not just in subways but other places as well.(And, no, I'm not guilty of that.) We do get polite people who gives way at times. But generally speaking, it's a mindset where "Why should I give way when others don't? I'd just get left behind!"
Smiling at you is a different issue altogether, it's probably due to the fact that you are not asian, and some asians think that caucasians are generally speaking, more friendly and more ready to return a smile.
No offence at all but different places have different cultures, just smile and enjoy your stay, life would be easier for you.
2007-07-17 09:25:57 · answer #3 · answered by freedom eden 2 · 4⤊ 1⤋
I'm Asian, Filipino in fact and not all Asians are like that. A good bunch of us think it's rude too. BUT have you ever seen how many people there are in asia? How many people have to hustle against each other to get on public transport, to get into a mall, yadayadayada? It's just a way of life for them. Sometimes they tend to bring this over to wherever they're at regardless of the existing culture there. That would be their mistake.
2007-07-17 09:54:35 · answer #4 · answered by Trillian 6 · 5⤊ 0⤋
My daughter has just come back from almost two years in Korea. Let me give you some insight that she has given me.
The density of population there, in Korea, and other Asian countries is so much greater than we have. Therefore, the tolerance for close interaction is greater. We in North America, need our space and find the bumping and pushing thing to be intolerable. But not so with Asians, to some degree, as they are used to being in such close contact as to make the "wrestling match" just part of their day.
The smile is not saying, "Aren't I cute?" but rather a plea for tolerance of their misdeeds. It is the way that they function in their own country and do not understand that this is misconstrued here. The smile is an Asian short-form for, "Sorry to be a pain! Please forgive me!"
They do not line up for things... but use the Every-Man-for-Themselves system. This is common in most of the world. We are odd man out, in the Line-Up and be polite system. Probably dates back to our British roots in North America because they are the only ones that use that system really. Most of Europe use the standard Every-Man-for Himself with some minor adjustments for the sake of decorum.
Understanding cultural differences can be a real challenge with us. I remember travelling in Europe with my daughter and saying to her, "I know we are pissing them off, but I have not quite discovered why!" So, they don't understand us either!!
I am not ruling out rudeness here, only providing another possible reason in the hope of making you feel a little better!
2007-07-17 09:26:44 · answer #5 · answered by Goddess of Laundry 6 · 12⤊ 0⤋
I don't know why they do it. Maybe because they are small, they need to show that they aren't afraid to push and shove. I find the same true with older Hispanic women. You could be standing waiting for a bus for 20 minutes, arms full of bags, and some Hispanic woman will walk right up and bump you out of the way to get on the bus first. They do it all the time and it is annoying as hell!
2007-07-17 09:29:06 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 4⤋
no...asians are actually very respectful. the smile is probably an apology for pushing you. but if that happens again, here's how to make sure the same group doesn't do it to you ever: shove them back & smile pretty.
2007-07-17 09:13:42 · answer #7 · answered by xtra0 4 · 5⤊ 1⤋
After pushing and shoving, maybe you think they should poke you in both eyes? Goofy, the smile means that they were just trying to get on the train and meant you no harm. Smile back and let it go. (or, poke them in both eyes as you explain it's part of your culture).
2007-07-17 09:15:43 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 2⤋
Umm first of all rude people can be found in all types of people, not just Asians.
Some people are just not brought up with good manners and don't know the difference between right and wrong.
2007-07-17 09:12:43 · answer #9 · answered by Cookie On My Mind 6 · 4⤊ 3⤋
Just foolishness
2007-07-17 09:10:39 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 5⤋