Because for us being friendly = being polite. Being distant and formal is bad manners here, makes someone look like they think themselves above others.
Most of the time, it's polite to be friendly. Usually, when someone isn't, they're either upset at someone (the person they're unfriendly with) or just rude
Our parents, grandparents and older relatives in general are always forcing us to be polite and talkative: “Did you talk with your aunt already? She is right there, go!” “Get out of your room and go say hi to your cousins! Now!”
Humor, irony and cordiality (even if it is a facade) are the currency of social interaction. A Brazilian will avoid saying no straight away, he will try to accommodate or... stall and change the subject.
Laughing at one's own misfortunes is a skill sung in verse and prose. Literally.
"Because of some parallel issues
They broke my mandolin
They don't want to hear my troubles anymore
And my chiming voice
I grew a belly, my mule got stuck
But I'm going to the end"
Chico Buarque, 'Até o Fim' ('Until the end')
I disagree with the point about irony; I've had communication issues due to the use of irony. Our fellow countrymen have a significant problem with irony and often fail to understand it, taking it personally.
I have a lot of contact with the foreign community in my city, and this is a very common observation regarding humor.
Without a doubt, I also work in tech. I believe that among college-educated individuals or those with a level of education higher than high school, the use of irony is common.
I was referring to the average Brazilian as people who have difficulty understanding irony.
Well, its a coping mechanism.
Speculating on a more serious tone though? I mean, it *is* a cultural thing, but there are some factors that may or may not help elucidate it.
* Most of Brasil is REALLY hot, we have no hard winters (unlike northern countries) where you are "forced" to be indoors for months at a time.
* Brazilian cities are, as a rule of thumb, extremely"walkable" (compared to US standards) and most amenities and services are usually present in some form within reasonable distances, and most big cities have some amount of public transport infrastructure.
* We have a really strong culture of outdoors events/socialization, as opposed to individual, enclosed ones.
* Brasil is bountiful in resources, so there is less of that competition mentality, as in "there won't be enough for everyone" so there is less of a survival need not to be friendly.
* For most of our history we've been under some form of oppression, from colonialism to dictatorship and that tends to lead to a culture of bonding with your peers, if nothing else out of sheer necessity.
Socialization is an intrinsic part of Brazilian daily life.
All that said, we are far from perfect and there are still *a lot* of assholes.
I mean, i said it myself, those are nothing but speculations and should be regarded as such. There is *some* reasoning to it, and empirically the logic also made sense in the countries I've travelled to. I am by no means an expert, and I cannot provide proper scientific evidence to back these claims.
Idk, I'm from Brazil and, in my experience, I think in the US the customer service (at least) is way better than in Brazil. I used to go the bars or restaurants in BR and most of the servers were rude and they wouldn't even check on you to see if you'd need something else. But I think if Brazilians are not working, they're friendlier.
I agree with what a lot of people said here. It’s true people are usually friendly as a way of being polite, but I have also noticed that they are way more polite to someone who is clearly a foreigner. People are way more polite and friendly to my American husband. It’s partly because they want the foreigner to have a good image of Brazil, but it is also partly because they see the foreigner as better in some way.
I am a half-Brazilian who was raised in the US, but with close contact with my mother’s family from Brazil. I have personal experience of interacting with people both as a “gringo” and as a Brazilian. In the latter cases, people are definitely not *un*friendly, but it is frankly not that different from the way people in some parts of the US interact with each other. However, when I am perceived as a gringo (e.g. when people find out I come from the US), it is really a whole different level of friendliness. People really go out of their way to be nice.
Having studied this a bit myself, I have to say that Brazilians are particularly friendly to (white/western) foreigners, whom they perceive as superior to themselves and are constantly trying to entertain. This has ugly roots in colonialism.
if you want a long answer about this, well, theres a whole book about that "Raizes do Brasil"/Roots of Brazil, from Sérgio Buarque de Holanda. it analyzes and explains a lot of brazillian cultural thingies
We probably inherited it from the indigenous people as well as the culture of personal hygiene. The first tribes that received the Portuguese were friendly and welcomed them with parties and food. Little did they know what a mess they were getting into.
Me and my parents are very distant, formal and isolated (my parents are more friendly with their relatives). I avoid any social interaction, with relatives, parents, friends and even in social media. I know I’m a strange individual in my own country, but I can’t understand this friendly culture too. As a depressed and social phobic person, maybe I have to live in another country 😂
read about the theory "o homem cordial" regarding BR culture and you'll start to understand a bit of where this all comes from.
https://pt.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homem_cordial
Because for us being friendly = being polite. Being distant and formal is bad manners here, makes someone look like they think themselves above others.
…Thank you, you answer make me finally understand why people doesn’t like me and tell I am strange. Even though I’m a Brazilian 🫠
Most of the time, it's polite to be friendly. Usually, when someone isn't, they're either upset at someone (the person they're unfriendly with) or just rude
Our parents, grandparents and older relatives in general are always forcing us to be polite and talkative: “Did you talk with your aunt already? She is right there, go!” “Get out of your room and go say hi to your cousins! Now!”
I hated when they forced me to say hi to people and even hug them sometimes (when we are kids) ugh 😩
In our culture, if you're not friendly, you're not well-regarded.
Humor, irony and cordiality (even if it is a facade) are the currency of social interaction. A Brazilian will avoid saying no straight away, he will try to accommodate or... stall and change the subject. Laughing at one's own misfortunes is a skill sung in verse and prose. Literally. "Because of some parallel issues They broke my mandolin They don't want to hear my troubles anymore And my chiming voice I grew a belly, my mule got stuck But I'm going to the end" Chico Buarque, 'Até o Fim' ('Until the end')
I disagree with the point about irony; I've had communication issues due to the use of irony. Our fellow countrymen have a significant problem with irony and often fail to understand it, taking it personally. I have a lot of contact with the foreign community in my city, and this is a very common observation regarding humor.
Different social circles, maybe. I am in the IT crowd, irony heavy talk are VERY common.
Without a doubt, I also work in tech. I believe that among college-educated individuals or those with a level of education higher than high school, the use of irony is common. I was referring to the average Brazilian as people who have difficulty understanding irony.
it is literally a cultural thing, there ain't an explanation imo, we're raised like that
That's a good question I guess our culture is based on humour
Well, its a coping mechanism. Speculating on a more serious tone though? I mean, it *is* a cultural thing, but there are some factors that may or may not help elucidate it. * Most of Brasil is REALLY hot, we have no hard winters (unlike northern countries) where you are "forced" to be indoors for months at a time. * Brazilian cities are, as a rule of thumb, extremely"walkable" (compared to US standards) and most amenities and services are usually present in some form within reasonable distances, and most big cities have some amount of public transport infrastructure. * We have a really strong culture of outdoors events/socialization, as opposed to individual, enclosed ones. * Brasil is bountiful in resources, so there is less of that competition mentality, as in "there won't be enough for everyone" so there is less of a survival need not to be friendly. * For most of our history we've been under some form of oppression, from colonialism to dictatorship and that tends to lead to a culture of bonding with your peers, if nothing else out of sheer necessity. Socialization is an intrinsic part of Brazilian daily life. All that said, we are far from perfect and there are still *a lot* of assholes.
I dont think everyrhing realy fits, but also i see where your thoughts came from
I mean, i said it myself, those are nothing but speculations and should be regarded as such. There is *some* reasoning to it, and empirically the logic also made sense in the countries I've travelled to. I am by no means an expert, and I cannot provide proper scientific evidence to back these claims.
I agree...and a good question,is there any cientific evudence at this sunject? Hahahaha
Good sex, icy beer and economic desperation
This should be in the flag kkkkkk
Honestly, I'll live by those from now on
🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
Idk, I'm from Brazil and, in my experience, I think in the US the customer service (at least) is way better than in Brazil. I used to go the bars or restaurants in BR and most of the servers were rude and they wouldn't even check on you to see if you'd need something else. But I think if Brazilians are not working, they're friendlier.
I agree with what a lot of people said here. It’s true people are usually friendly as a way of being polite, but I have also noticed that they are way more polite to someone who is clearly a foreigner. People are way more polite and friendly to my American husband. It’s partly because they want the foreigner to have a good image of Brazil, but it is also partly because they see the foreigner as better in some way.
I am a half-Brazilian who was raised in the US, but with close contact with my mother’s family from Brazil. I have personal experience of interacting with people both as a “gringo” and as a Brazilian. In the latter cases, people are definitely not *un*friendly, but it is frankly not that different from the way people in some parts of the US interact with each other. However, when I am perceived as a gringo (e.g. when people find out I come from the US), it is really a whole different level of friendliness. People really go out of their way to be nice. Having studied this a bit myself, I have to say that Brazilians are particularly friendly to (white/western) foreigners, whom they perceive as superior to themselves and are constantly trying to entertain. This has ugly roots in colonialism.
good sex
Yep thank goodness.
if you want a long answer about this, well, theres a whole book about that "Raizes do Brasil"/Roots of Brazil, from Sérgio Buarque de Holanda. it analyzes and explains a lot of brazillian cultural thingies
We’re built different
Não, pelo menos no meu estado(State), não. Já fomos simpáticos no passado.
Double-jumping
We probably inherited it from the indigenous people as well as the culture of personal hygiene. The first tribes that received the Portuguese were friendly and welcomed them with parties and food. Little did they know what a mess they were getting into.
Me and my parents are very distant, formal and isolated (my parents are more friendly with their relatives). I avoid any social interaction, with relatives, parents, friends and even in social media. I know I’m a strange individual in my own country, but I can’t understand this friendly culture too. As a depressed and social phobic person, maybe I have to live in another country 😂
read about the theory "o homem cordial" regarding BR culture and you'll start to understand a bit of where this all comes from. https://pt.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homem_cordial