
Radunagi
United States
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In the USA saying "please" and "thank you" (As well as indirect requests, like "could you get me that pen" instead of "get me that pen") is very important in all situations. In some countries, like (parts of, Beijing I know is more polite than other parts) China, being close to someone, like family or a romantic relationship, involves a loosening of politeness standards like having to say please. If I am close to a Chinese person, and I say, please do this, they will see it as establishing distance with them. That is bad. But in the USA, if I didn't say please to my mother, then… well, I prefer not to think about it : ) Americans are also always trained to thank people in service positions, like waiters or ticket takers, every time they help us. This is something peculiar to my hometown, also known as paradise on earth, Santa Barbara - Honking your car horn is considered REALLY rude. People here don't do it. Even if the car in front of you is not moving, if you honk on them, you should give an "I'm sorry" wave to apologize for such a terrible breach of etiquette. People from other parts of the USA, like nearby Los Angeles, think this is really odd.
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