Since we had a post about the most friendliest countries, we should look at countries that have unexpected friendly people, not the usual answers like Ireland, Scotland, Canada, Taiwan, etc. For me it’s Montenegro. Londoners are considered to be cold and rude but I find them to be very pleasant with me.
Cambodia. Genuinely the nicest, and most helpful, people I have ever encountered all throughout the country. I was told about their general friendliness before, but was blown away by actually seeing it firsthand.
I feel this is racist.
It’s not racist.
If you paint an entire population with the brush of the experience/anecdote of one person, that’s generalization.
But this thread is NOT doing that. This thread is only asking people to share their experiences of places they have visited and people they found to be friendly. It is not meant to pass judgement on everyone from that place.
“What are some countries you’ve visited that shocked you with unexpected friendliness?”
Why would you be shocked by friendliness if you didn’t assume they would be unfriendly? Why would you expect them to be unfriendly? Not-racism…
“Londoners are considered to be cold and rude but I find them to be very pleasant with me.”
Translation: So I turns out this assumption I had of people turned out to be not true. So after I learned that lesson I thought I do the same mistake again but from the other direction and in a group setting"
This is not about if it is the right word to describe it, this is about reducing a group to a stereotype and how wrong that is. Call it cultural racism, culturism or some other shit that doesn’t hurt your feelings because you identify with it.
Why do you say that? Genuinely asking.
Because we reduce a population made of individuals to anecdotal evidence.
“People from there are like this” is just a problematic way of thinking.
Even if it is positive. Saying all Asians are good at math may seem positive, but it is racist because you imprint one attribute to a whole group and rob people of their individuality.
It’s racist 🤷
No, the only one approaching racism here is you, as you’re the only one equating culture to race. A black German is the same as a white German.
So when I say “all black people are thieves”, that is racist.
So when I say “all Germans are thieves”…if it is not racist, what is it?
I tried to find the correct word or phrase to use, and the consensus seems to be “cultural racism”, so I guess it’s technically a kind of racism, even though it doesn’t directly relate to race. “Culturism” would be a more accurate word, I think.
So it is so similar to racism that people call it cultural racism.
It’s as similar to racism as any prejudice is. It’s just a lazy term coined, I’d bet, for the sake of quick understanding within the context of its era, rather than for semantic accuracy.
Race/ethnicity is an immutable physical characteristic. Culture is a set of norms and attitudes that people choose to (or not) adhere to. Nobody would fly off the handle if you said new yorkers are stand-offish. It’s generally true - even if it doesn’t necessarily apply to the whole.
“Judge people not by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.”
Being German is genetics, like being black.
Not even new-yorkes? Then they are not really that stand offish, aren’t they?
But is is okay to judge people by the color of their flag?
You’re tripping dawg. Your argument is weak, which is why you’re trying so hard to twist people’s words into something they’re not.
Culture is a set of norms, attitudes and behaviors. It’s not racist to predict behavior based on whether said people self-identity themselves as members of those cultures. It’s not a difficult concept to grasp, so stop intentionally misinterpreting what people are saying. What you’re doing at this point is trolling, and you know it.
You feel wrong, unfortunately.
Another commenter said it’s technically racism so not really wrong.
China. The people are super nice, sweet, helpful, lovely people. It’s just their government I hate. I don’t know if they hate it too or not since they’re not free to say but I think they’re nice people and they deserve better.
Turkey! I had such a wonderful visit there as a teen in no small part because of the locals we met.
Turkey is an amazing country with amazing people in it
The unfortunate part is their leader is the opposite and is currently holding their country and people hostage
I mean Turks are currently giving Erdogan hell; let’s hope they succeed.
Same with most countries. The people are nice but the politicians are not
Netherlands. People there actually smile, it’s crazy
My answer, too. I remember being uncertain how I’d be received as an American. I stopped in a random restaurant once to ask for quick directions. The lady didn’t just give me some “fuck off”/simplistic “go that way” answer, she walked from behind the counter, came around, took the map I was holding out of my hand, and spent SEVERAL minutes explaining to me in perfect English all kinds of helpful info.
I loved that place.
Iran has been by far the most friendly and welcoming people. And I visited -a lot- of places.
Also USA had very welcoming people, I must have been lucky by judging from people online, but in real world, my experience has always been very positive.
This is one of my favorite videos and channels. He rides a scooter around the world. The people in Iran are almost absurdly friendly. I want to visit.
What channel do you mean, c90adventures?
Yes. Added the link I had copied hours ago lol
What’s the channel?
C90 adventures. I added a link
I’m wasn’t surprised but Mexico.
I was in the waiting room at a dentists office in Ciudad Obregón. Every single person that came in was greeted with a warm hello by every single person in the waiting room.
Germany, went just as brexit was happening, loved the place and people were so friendly, had a few long conversations with people on the bus/train. Also best breakfasts anywhere.
As a German, I can not relate. But I’m happy to hear about your positive experience!
France. You hear about how they’re rude if you can’t speak the language, which I can’t at all. But everyone I spoke to was totally helpful, polite, and personable. Even most of the people who I interacted with who didn’t speak English tried their best to understand and answer my questions.
For me it was Russia when I spent aroubd 9 days there (in and around Moscow). The people were genuinely friendly and there we not the scammers/tourist traps like in most of Europe and Asia.
The markets were as interesting as any I’ve been to in Asia/North Africa.
Back when the world is simpler (because I was young and ignorant mostly) Moscow shocked me too. Had to study there for a few years and despite their gruff outward look they are some of the friendliest I’ve met at that time.
Only exception is riding the metro/tram during rush hour. Those babushkas aren’t playing around and will tackle you down
Paris. I’ve always heard bad things about Parisians but they were cool. The only rude people I encountered were tourists.
Im planning to visit Paris soon in a few weeks so hearing this is really helpful! I don’t speak French well and have been trying to get better before the trip. But was worried I’d be treated rudely for it from all the stories I’ve heard. Glad to know they’re just stories
Don’t worry! Say “Bonjour” when you go in a place and say “Merci” when appropriate, don’t be loud in general, and everything will be fine.
Are you white?
Yes, white American who is unable to speak French. Which reminds me, Parisians are a lot less white than in the movies. At least the places I went and the people I met.
Just out of curiosity, how many of them are brown? Did you get a chance to see how they behave with brown people?
I’m not sure, it was very diverse but the amount and type of diversity changes depending on where in the city you are and when it is. I went to a market where just about everyone was I believe from North African or Arab backgrounds, white folks were a minority. I also spent some time in a bar where we were some of the only white people. Most places though white folks were the majority. I’m sure there’s racism but the only bigotry I definitely noticed among Parisians was against the Roma.
Taiwan.
New Zealand. So wanted to stay there. Made Canadians look a little rude. LOL.
As a Canadian, I can declaratively say that our reputation for being polite is bogus. As a whole, we are a shitty, privileged, nasty group of people. Our country is built on colonialism and genocide, so you can only imagine what a shit pot this is.
Ah, don’t be so hard on yourself. I’ve only had great experiences traveling in Canada and I like to think of Canadians as our brothers. There’s good and bad everywhere. I might have had a miserable trip to New Zealand if I had left just an hour later. Who knows.
I don’t think I’m being hard on myself, I think I’m being hard on the general population of Canada. Most people here are just what I said, overprivileged shit pieces
I feel like there’s a big difference between the surface level presentation that people see in Canadians, and then there’s the reality
I think you need to go outside and explore this country more, if you think most people here are shitty. Sure our reputation is a bit of an exaggeration, but on the whole I still know that this country is majority good and kind people
Like you already wrote, Ireland!
It was kinda shocking how openly friendly and relaxed most people there are.
I went to rome once, and I found people to be super unfriendly. Like, giving me looks levels of unfriendly.
After a few hours of this I realized the problem, I was wearing a Deicide t-shirt, and rome is christian as fuck. God I’m stupid.
After a quick change people were really nice :D
Yea, even down to the name, Decide has a very “we’re the devil worshippers your pastor ranted about” look.
I think the word itself, italian being closeish to latin, evokes the killing of jesus.
not my greatest moment hah
