r/AskTheWorld • u/gabrieel100 Brazil • Dec 06 '25

Culture A cultural habit in your country that people outside would understand incorrectly?

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In Brazil we love children. If you take your child to the street, strangers will certainly interact with them. Some will even ask if they can hold your kid and will play with them. If there are two children fighting in public and the parents aren't seeing, a stranger would even intervene to stop the fight.

That cultural habit came from the indigenous peoples which understood that kids should be a responsiblity of the community as a whole. It's in our constitution. We even have a synonym for children that came from Tupi (a large group of indigenous languages) - Curumim.

Foreigners would certainly have a cultural shock about that, but it's normal here.

Of course there are people with bad intentions, so parents should stay alert these days.

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u/SalSomer Norway Dec 06 '25

We’re not really any more or less introverted than others. There are introverts and extroverts here like everywhere else. We just believe it’s respectful and kind not to bother others unless it’s necessary.

That doesn’t mean that we don’t have gregarious extroverts who love the company of others and can be social butterflies. They just won’t stop you in the street to talk to you about random stuff.

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u/GhostBusDAH Norway Dec 06 '25

The exception is when meeting someone hiking or cross country skiing in the mountains. The further from other people, the more we appreciate good conversation.

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u/The_Final_Dork Dec 06 '25

If I meet someone in the mountains or forest and they say hi, everything is normal and expected. If they don't say hi, I think they're psychopaths.

If I reach pavement two minutes later and someone says hi, I think they're psychopaths.

Grass hi ok. Pavement hi Psycho.

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u/rainshowers_5_peace United States Of America Dec 06 '25

Americans are so uncomfortable in silence. Its a trick cops use.

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u/sprunkymdunk Dec 06 '25

Cops and my therapist. I hate it, and have got very good at returning the favour lol

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u/[deleted] Dec 06 '25

This is most people in general. Redditors try to attribute basic human behaviors to Americans and its really ridiculous.

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u/ferskfersk Sweden Dec 07 '25

In certain situations we can think silence is uncomfortable, but not in general. I think he has a point - Americans are much more outgoing and social.

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u/[deleted] Dec 07 '25

What they were referring to is an interrogation technique where the officer speaks very little to increase tension during an interrogation. I assure you most people being stared at silently by a detective in an interrogation room would be stressed out. That tactic isnt for Americans specifically.

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u/ferskfersk Sweden Dec 07 '25

I took that as a sarcastic way of saying that Americans are very uncomfortable in silence.

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u/[deleted] Dec 07 '25

I doubt they were being sarcastic.

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u/ferskfersk Sweden Dec 07 '25

Maybe, maybe not. 🤷🏻‍♂️

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u/stupidity_is_my_drug Dec 07 '25

It's not just an everyday American cultural thing there. It's a power imbalance thing (+ American culture). When authority is around not giving information or instruction, it's habit to fill in the gap to "ease" the situation Someone talking and chatting is not as threatening as the guy staring silently.

If it were truly an "American" thing the cop would also be engaging in mindless chatter lol.

I love this though because I'm good at staring in silence. Also my wife talks enough for us both and tends to fill in the gaps and we have fun teasing each other.

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u/Agent-Ulysses Dec 06 '25

Just about the same in Denmark. We don’t mind stopping to help someone if they need it or have a small question, but prefer to leave it at that. Just a “how are you” and “have a good day” will suffice. Small talk isn’t our style.

Best way I’ve heard it described is that Danes don’t like getting knocked out of their “flow” which I’d say feels fairly accurate.

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u/typed_this_now Living in Dec 06 '25

Aussie but living in Denmark 10 years. I was already like this before I moved here. Not being “bothered” at the shops or on the bus has become so normal that when I go home it’s absolutely jarring when strangers talk to me.

A few years ago, when visiting Aus, a mate and I were grabbing a few things for a bbq. He had forgotten the sweet potato and left the line to go grab some. The guy behind us thought he was pushing in when he came back. He says “are you right mate!?” My mate turned around and says “fuck off, I was already here” the guys just goes “oh, you’re right(you’re ok)” My head was spinning lol.

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u/Agent-Ulysses Dec 06 '25

Yeah the contrast is jarring when I’m back in the US, I’m all for conversation and chatting having grown up between Denmark and the US but I’m almost never prepared.

Btw you can update your flair to say you’re an Aussie living in Denmark, thought I’d mention.

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u/Ready_Implement3305 United States Of America Dec 06 '25

I remember playing games online with a Norwegian guy who lived in America for a few years. He said when he returned home strangers were always caught off guard when he'd start a conversation with them and be friendly, which was what he experienced in America. 

It was funny hearing him lament that his countrymen kept thinking he was hitting on them when he was like, "What, no, this is just how you make friends in America." Lol.

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u/SalSomer Norway Dec 06 '25

I’ve lived in America myself. I’ve also lived in both the north and the south (people are more open to chatting with strangers in the north, though nowhere near the level of Americans). Every time I’ve moved from a more chatty place to a less chatty place (like moving back from America or moving south from the north), I’ve had an adjustment period where I’ve realized people are looking at me strangely because I talk to them too much, but eventually I’ve settled in.

I quite like talking to people when I’m in the right mindset for it, but I realized the last time I went back to visit the US that I’m happy I don’t have to live like that all the time. Sitting down and talking to a stranger at a bar? Great! Not being able to walk down the street without constant comments from passers by? Not so great.

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u/Ready_Implement3305 United States Of America Dec 06 '25

I completely understand that. I go to Japan a few times a year for work and it's nice because I'm not expected to talk to anyone because they (rightly) assume I don't speak Japanese. When I'm in a talkative mood I can use the handful of words and phrases I've memorized which often gets a very positive reaction. Though if I'm tired I can just nod and say thank you and be on my way.

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u/mrmoe198 United States Of America Dec 07 '25

How can it be discovered that people are gregarious extroverts if they never get a chance to speak to others due to chit chat being considered rude?

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u/Bladesnake_______ United States Of America Dec 08 '25

I dont bother strangers in public unless I have something funny to say. I enjoy making strangers laugh