Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2003/05/27
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]When I first moved to Honolulu back in the mid 80s, I quickly learned that eye contact with many South Pacific Islanders constituted a threat or challenge. I remember my first week there, standing at a Waipahu bus stop, I asked someone standing there about the bus schedule. The response was: "Whatchoo like? You like beef o what?" (Translated: "What do you want? Do you want to fight?" It's much the same in parts of the urban USA. A direct look in the eye will elicit: "Whatchoo lookin' at?" or worse. Some 15 years ago, I found myself lost in Newark, NJ. I stopped in what looked like a residential area and asked a gentleman for directions. He turned, scowled and said: "Son, diretchuns is maatee 'spensive in this paat o town." I think Joseph hit it on the head with his comment below. Some people feel that being courteous somehow reflects weakness and vulnerability. - --Jim Joseph Codispoti Wrote: > I have thought about this phenomenon for a long time and my assessment is > that these days some people consider courtesy a form of relinquishing pride, > privacy, and control. > That people avoid eye contact seems to me to signify "I am not in the mood > for pleasantries". - -- To unsubscribe, see http://mejac.palo-alto.ca.us/leica-users/unsub.html