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When in Rome, do as the Romans do

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Carl-E:
True, different levels of formality.  Most bartenders actually ask you what they can get you if they're not too busy! 

I do that at the beer store, too.  "What can I get you today?"



Some of them actually have to think about it, despite buying the same beer several times a week for the last 10, 20 or 30 years...

or maybe because of it. 

Barmymoo:
It's not a criticism (although if you were to say "Give me a beer!" I'd consider that was rude!), just an observation about different cultures. Obviously it's kind of a blanket statement, there are plenty of people in the UK who don't say please all the time but I noticed that in the USA, people are lot more effusive in saying thank you but not as self-abasing in requesting things as in the UK.

mtmerrick:

--- Quote from: snalin on 14 Sep 2013, 08:40 ---
--- Quote from: bhtooefr on 14 Sep 2013, 08:34 ---Chip-and-PIN isn't a thing here, the few cards that have it are marketed towards people who travel to Europe, where (as I understand) magstripe transactions are now almost unheard of.
--- End quote ---

Here, cards still have the stripe, but the chip is used everywhere. If the chip is failing for some reason, you can use the stripe.

I think all of the cards that only had a strip is outdated and useless now. I'm happy with the chips - the magnets had a tendency to fail if they were exposed to other magnet sources, and not very strong ones either. Although with chips, cutting the card in two pieces to destroy it no longer really works, so that might be a problem.

--- End quote ---
i love using RFID payments. About half the establishments here support it. And most people have no idea what the hell just happened.

Now if only I could get Google wallet up and running in my phone, then i could really fuck with the ignorant.

Welu:

--- Quote from: lepetitfromage on 14 Sep 2013, 11:12 ---Another one? Excuse me! I can't even tell you how many times I was practically ran over by someone walking past me without a word. It's just two words, people....come on.

--- End quote ---

A peeve of mine I'm not looking forward to when I return to college is people standing or even sitting in the middle of the hallway, I say, "Excuse me." to get by and they just stay in the way. I've had people look at me after I've said, "Excuse me." and not make any effort to move.  :x

How chatty are shop workers in the USA? In the shop I work in we've actually been told things like, "Be polite and friendly but don't get Americanised with your service." Referring to the, "What can I get you? Would you like anything else? Is everything okay? Thanks for shopping here. Have a great day!" eagerness people think is done. I know on an individual level it would differ but in general.

cesium133:
A fun story from when I was in college: the one day the cafeteria did one of the specials they do once or twice a semester where the food is actually good. Whenever that happens there are always really long lines. So I was trying to enter the cafeteria, but the line for one of the serving stations was blocking the entrance, and nobody would let me though when I politely asked "Excuse me." So I backed up a few steps, and then tackled one of the people who wouldn't get out of my way. The crazy thing that I didn't know at the time was the college's new football coach was right behind me at the time. He (jokingly) offered me a position on the offensive line.  :roll:

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