Politeness in American Culture

     In every country there are rules about how to behave. Most of these rules are not written down. Some of these unwritten rules have to do with the space around you.

      People in the United States like to think that they have an invisible "personal space" around them. If you come into their personal space, they will be unhappy. Even in crowds, people in the U.S. try not to touch people who they don't know. If you get on a bus or train and there are many empty seats, you shouldn't sit right next to someone.

     Americans also like to have personal space around them while they talk to people. How far away should you stand when you talk to someone? In the U.S.,  the proper distance is about the length of one arm. In some countries, the distance is much closer, but standing closer makes most Americans uncomfortable.

     In a public place like a library, the personal space gets even bigger. There, it includes a person's books, papers, and other personal items. Another person should not come into the space where those things are. Another person should not touch those items without being told that it is OK. This feeling about personal items is also true of roommates. If you live with an American roommate, you should not use their things without asking.

     Another idea about personal space has to do with noise. It is not polite to be very loud in a public place.  You should be careful not to be too noisy in a place like a restaurant. It can even be rude to be noisy outside, especially if it is late at night or early in the morning. This includes talking loudly or shouting, playing loud music, or making loud noises with a car.

     Other countries may have different ideas about politeness and personal space. But if you visit the U.S., be sure to give other people lots of room!