I've just told an American person, who was apologizing for being rude, that work didn't matter so much to me.

Question

Did I make a real mistake.
Some background:
The American called me names after making a hash of things himself. Frankly, I can't be bothered and I spoke my mind, because he called me a "disaster" and to me a disater is something like a hurricane, not someone like me who does her best and deliver. He is so uncool, no ?

Answer 1

I think he was definitely uncool for name calling. At least he apologized for being rude. It's not like America needs any more reasons for the whole of Europe and the rest of the world to hate us, right? There's enough anti-American sentiment out there without this guy screwing things up! :)

And when he used the word "disaster" he most likely didn't think you were a hurricane-level, destructive force! He might have meant that what HAPPENED was a disaster (not easily fixed). But I can't speak for someone I don't know in a situation I don't really know, either.

Personally, I don't think you made a mistake with this situation. Best to move on, in my humble opinion...

Answer 2

I work in a restraurant in America, and there is something I've learned by doing so. You will find rude people everywhere you go, all races, all nationalities. Chances are, you just met a rude American. It's personal choice whether to speak your mind or keep your mouth shut. My rule of thumb is, if I'm at work, I'll keep my mouth shut. If I meet a rude person and I'm not at work, then I'll speak back to them.

Answer 3

if he was rude, that was not cool. But I think the problem was more of a cultural difference. Americans feel that it is very important to be a productive member of society and they way they do that is to work and earn a paycheck. This is not so for many other cultures. Being productive can be defined in many different ways.

Answer 4

You did not make a mistake by choosing to not get upset over something. We create the perceptions around the words that people say to us, regardless of their intentions, and by doing so we give ourselves our own power. Good for you.

Answer 5

Sounds like he lost his temper but at least he had the guts to apologize. He sounds a little hot-headed but not like a complete tool.

Answer 6

Eh --- just let it be and move on --- rise above it, be the better person --- all those tried and true cliches actually seem to apply here. Life is too cool to spend time scrapping.

Answer 7

He was a real jerk. Mistakes are called mistakes for a reason.

Answer 8

Don't know what the situation was, so it's difficult to answer. However, please don't lump all Americans in one basket. We are very diverse and believe it or not, we are not all rude. :-)

Answer 9

its all about opinions