Rude Questions in America
Email this article to a friend
Photo by nathalie407
In the U.S., it is considered rude to ask questions about a person’s income, age, or weight. Americans want to be liked or disliked for who they are on the inside, not by things they feel powerless to control, like their income, age, or weight.
However, some of us still want to know these things about the people we meet; don’t we? If you really want to know these details about people, you can do it indirectly by asking what their occupation is, when they graduated from high school or college, and if they enjoy outdoor activities, such as hiking or sports.
Here are some examples:
“What do you do for a living?”
“When did you graduate from high school or college?” [However, you cannot ask this question at a job interview. See “How to Ace Job Interviews.”]
“Do you enjoy hiking or sports?”
Do NOT ask:
“How much money do you make?”
“How old are you?”
“How much do you weigh?”
Most Americans are sensitive about their money, age, and weight. So, most of us would rather share our deepest, darkest secrets than talk about our true salaries, age, or weight. I believe we are worried about not making enough money, not being young enough, and not being thin enough. Wealth, youth, and fitness are all very important in the U.S.
For the same reason, it is foolish to brag about your income, age, or weight. You will make people feel bad about themselves and jealous of you, which will make them resent you. If you’re lucky enough to be wealthy, young, and fit, be happy about it to yourself; but, be modest around other people about your good fortune.
CONCLUSION
Making the effort to learn other people’s customs and to follow them is not only considerate and respectful, it will help you achieve success in life. See “How to Win Friends and Influence People.” Be awesome! Be your own hero!
Be sure to get the latest articles as soon as they’re posted by signing up here!
