Are people from the US offended when asked about their accent when overseas?

Question

I work in a retail enviroment and love talking to people from north america as I plan to travel there next year. The other day I served a customer with a US accent and asked where abouts in north america he was from. When he asked why I wanted to know I explained I was planning to travel to the US next year and wondered if he recommended any particular places. He snapped that it was very rude and invasive to ask someone about their accent,to shutup and do my job,and to "look it up" (which I am now doing).

Is this a common attitude among people from the US? coming from Australia I'm a very friendly person and often try to strike up conversations with my customers. It kind of upsets me that we live in a world where someones friendliness is interpreted as invasive and rude. I was looking forward very much to travelling to the US next year however if this behaviour is common I may rethink my destination.

I'm not meaning to offend anyone on here, just wondering if friendliness is an undesirable quality in the US.

Answer 1

Looks like you ran into a bad example.  Most people up this a ways are pretty nice.  By the way, people around the US are going to LOVE your Australian accent.

Enjoy your trip!  Sorry again for your run-in with an ugly american.  

Answer 2

Unfortunately you encountered someone who was very rude.  When I have been overseas I may be more aware of my own accent, but never would consider snapping at someone if they asked me about it.  Just like anywhere else in the world the US has a mix of all types of people, polite and rude alike.  My husband is from England and though he gets tired of being asked about his accent he is always polite and I think secretly he doesn't mind the attention now and again, though it is amusing that people seem to find accents a reason to occasionally intrude when we are out to eat or otherwise, which does get old.

Before visiting the US, to get a accurate description of places I'm supplying a few websites  in the sources section that have user reviews so you can get a realistic idea of what to expect at different locations.

Answer 3

he was probably in a hurry, just wanted to get served and get going about his business. as a customer he is not obliged to converse with you.

funny though, people from the South are often not in a hurry, and like to converse with everyone and anyone, and yet for this they get called "slow", "backward" and "rednecks"

Answer 4

Not at all! You just got one of the rude ones!  Usually, and I would say most of the time, people love to talk about where back home, where they are from, what their area is known for, etc.   Often times, people will go on and on about it, because it's a topic they know a lot about: their home.

You might have talked to a man from the New York area, as the area supposedly makes you "hard" and uncaring. However, I don't fully believe this, that's just what I've heard.

A lot of us try and be friendly to everyone, let alone strangers, and I've heard that the South is among the friendliest!

I'm from Ohio though, and I don't escape it much ;)

Answer 5

No, you just got an oddball. We are probably as friendly as most places. I've never been outside the country except for a trip to Nassau. I am from the southern US and I would have been friendly and nice to you. Please visit.

Answer 6

I'm English and I have never had that experience with anyone from America - far from it!  I guess people are people wherever they come from and some will take unintended offence at situations others would find normal.  Please don't stop being interested in people wherever they are from - I talk to everyone, in queues, in shops, all the time.  It's when we lose interest in others that the world will become lot lonelier.  I guess it's just one of those situations where you have to respect that their boundaries are different to yours.  Perhaps he has a fantastic story like he is on the run or something!!!  

Answer 7

Nope!

The guy you've talked to was just basically A RUDE a*****e! LOL

Honestly, if it was me i'd recommend you to the best places to visit and give you good reasons to come to the US, rather than to act stuck up and ruin your day.

Like I said, that guy was just a plain ol' a*****e. Seems like he has issues or he just wasn't havnig a good day.

... Not everyone is friendly!

Answer 8

No, this is not common. You just ran into a walking talking a*****e is all. 99% of people would have been glad to answered your questions.  

Answer 9

Hmmm... I think the person you spoke with was very rude.  They may have acted that way because you were conducting business but, thats still not an excuse to be rude.  Its not uncommon at all to ask people where they are from based on their accent.  If I talk to someone with a southern accent I often ask which state they are from, this is fine and I get asked the same thing all the time being from New York. I think you will find most people in north America very friendly and happy to tell you where their from, just be ready to tell them your from Australia which I'm sure they'll find exciting.

Answer 10

I think you just came across someone who was having a bad day.  I would not find it rude.  Very few Americans think about their accents.  Technically, there are over a dozen.  But the majority can be pared down to about four.  The southern drawl, the Bronx (New York) accent, the California surfer and the midwest (where I am).

If you catch the evening news from any of the major news stations, that is the way most Americans speak.

Answer 11

What a meanie! You were not offensive at all, sounds like somebody just peed in his cheerios. I think Americans are just surprised when asked about our accent because we don't think about it, we're usually the ones pointing out OTHER people's accents and it doesn't occur to us that we sound different too! What's funny is someone from Iowa once told me I had a Chicago accent. So we even notice it amongst ourselves. In any case, I love accents from all over, and friendly conversation is always welcome with me.  

Answer 12

It sounds as though you encountered a nasty character, not representative of the typical American. I think you will find most of us friendly, or at least civilized and polite.