Friendly or Friendly?

This is a stereotype I proclaim as true: South American people are friendlier than North American people (i.e., US & Canada).

First, S. Americans are less concerned than we are about presenting a positive, successful image to the world. Socially speaking, if you're friends with someone, they say hi, and if you're a stranger in need, they help you. If you're neither, then they won't do a damn thing -- they'll leave you alone! -- a refreshing feeling for one used to attentiveness and scrutiny.

They don't spend part of every day engaged in superficial small talk and vapid courtesies with random people, because they don't feel a need to appear one way or another to each other (Truly, what does it matter what one appears to be? -- actions count.)

Let's examine what 'friendly' means in the USA. Some of our 'friendly' behavior can be related to the 'friendliness' or 'cheerfulness' shown by store clerks and salespeople trying to get you to buy things. For example, if you walk into a Chevy dealership full of stunning new vehicles,
the first thing the 'friendly' salesman does is greet you with a warm smile and say something like, "How are today?" Or -- to take another example -- when you by a Happy Meal (and it's so happy, isn't it!) at your local MickeyD's, what does the cashier say when you walk away? "Have a nice day!"

That's friendly, right? EXCEPT THEY'RE TRYING TO F*CKIN' SELL YOU SOMETHING.

We don't need to be friendly all the time -- because IT'S NOT REAL! It's like the reverse side of the coin that we're really afraid of one other -- can't trust no one else, don't know what they're gonna do. Everybody's kind of out for himself -- ain't that the attitude? -- so we act friendly to compensate. Acting friendly's better than opening your heart to another human being -- especially a potentially hostile one. Salesman do it and it works for them!

That's why white are -- at times -- overly polite and painfully respectful to blacks -- they're afraid of them! It's the same reason that people refer to each other as African-American instead of black and 'vertically challenged' instead of small -- you avoid bads reaction from a fearful individuals and look eminently respectable too!