Politeness (Detroit, Canton: high school, college, to live)

[SoCal Midwest Noobie]

One of the things I have noticed about moving to Metro Detroit is that people are extremely polite and friendly. Most people go out of their way to be thoughtful and will say hi on the street sometimes to the point of if ive passed the person by they will go out of their way to say hello and I mean polite to the point of if you bump into a person by mistake they apologize profusely, for being in your way lol. It is such a relief to be able to cross the street and have people in large cars stop for you and wait patiently and reverendly without feeling like you will be run down and cursed at back in the small town wher I come from lol. Its all rather pleasant. Now California can be similar, it is a part of the 'have a nice day" culture, and people can be friendly there as well, its just that it seems like here you will almost have groups of people competing to open a door for you.

It reminds me of the stereotype of how polite people are in Canada, so that got me thinking, is this regional politeness, just a product of Midwesterness or a cross.over from being in close proximity to the Canadian border. Anyway just wondering in general, of course not everyone is polite,, but I find most are.

[jessxwrites89]

I think it's Midwestern... I've always loved Midwesterners. However, a little of it can be from Canada. I can't wait to move.

[animatedmartian]

I think it's more of the fact that people tend to live here for long periods of time. In more transient places, people put on much more of a guard and generally aren't motivated to make permanent connections. I'm sure in California, it's more common to find someone whose parents or they themselves weren't born there than someone whose family has lived there for 50+ years.

In less transient places, people grow up in already established communities where most people already know each other and pretty much say hi to each other on a daily basis. So it's almost like a habit of being friendly. Many people around here tend to have lifelong friendships that go back to high school or college if not farther. It's easy to tell when someone hasn't grown up here because they don't have the same sort of connections (and generally have a subtle difference in demeanor).

Of course, it's a huge generalization, but I'm sure there's at least a little bit of truth to it.

[jessxwrites89]

Originally Posted by animatedmartian

I think it's more of the fact that people tend to live here for long periods of time. In more transient places, people put on much more of a guard and generally aren't motivated to make permanent connections. I'm sure in California, it's more common to find someone whose parents or they themselves weren't born there than someone whose family has lived there for 50+ years.

In less transient places, people grow up in already established communities where most people already know each other and pretty much say hi to each other on a daily basis. So it's almost like a habit of being friendly. Many people around here tend to have lifelong friendships that go back to high school or college if not farther. It's easy to tell when someone hasn't grown up here because they don't have the same sort of connections (and generally have a subtle difference in demeanor).

Of course, it's a huge generalization, but I'm sure there's at least a little bit of truth to it.

That's true too. But, it's curious to as why Northeasterners are brash for the most part. I guess it could be the same way in California.

So, when I move and when the OP gets more established, will that friendliness be second nature to our personality as well?

[leroythelion]

Originally Posted by jessxwrites89

I think it's Midwestern... I've always loved Midwesterners. However, a little of it can be from Canada. I can't wait to move.

I lived in Canada for 25 years. Not every part of the country is friendly.

[jessxwrites89]

Originally Posted by leroythelion

I lived in Canada for 25 years. Not every part of the country is friendly.

I've never been to Canada. Which part of Canada do you live in?

[Retroit]

We round up all the rude people and ship them off to the coasts.

[animatedmartian]

Originally Posted by jessxwrites89

That's true too. But, it's curious to as why Northeasterners are brash for the most part. I guess it could be the same way in California.

So, when I move and when the OP gets more established, will that friendliness be second nature to our personality as well?

I guess it depends on what you consider established. I'd assume you sort of pick up the subtle traits of those around you if spend enough time around them which varies from person to person.

And I'd say the NE is a bit more transient than the Midwest but not as transient as the West coast. Also, the pace of life is faster there because the cities are more crowded, expensive, the whole rat race thing, etc., which might translate into stress or a more straight to the point attitude.

[jessxwrites89]

Originally Posted by Retroit

We round up all the rude people and ship them off to the coasts.

LOL!

Originally Posted by animatedmartian

I guess it depends on what you consider established. I'd assume you sort of pick up the subtle traits of those around you if spend enough time around them which varies from person to person.

And I'd say the NE is a bit more transient than the Midwest but not as transient as the West coast. Also, the pace of life is faster there because the cities are more crowded, expensive, the whole rat race thing, etc., which might translate into stress or a more straight to the point attitude.

True. My ancestors came here between 1900 and the 1930s from Ireland and Italy... so I can see that.

[leroythelion]

Originally Posted by jessxwrites89

I've never been to Canada. Which part of Canada do you live in?

Lived, past tense. I was in Quebec. I live in Canton now.