About smiles and Russian mentality

[oryx_and_crake]

There was a heated discussion on this topic a while back; I think the article sums up the issue nicely.

http://commbehavior.narod.ru/RusFin/RusFin2000/Sternin4.htm
Don't say you haven't been warned ;-)
(please note the article is in Russian)

Comments

[zveriozha.livejournal.com]

Now it's a bit different in many shops and restaurants since they became private. But in many other fields it stays the same. It has positive things as well though.. Russian smiles are more valuable. ;--)

[cassandraclue.livejournal.com]

yep--in usa at least it's much harder to know who your true friends are. :)

[dvanoltri.livejournal.com]

Kind of illustration

http://bash.org.ru/quote/394540

[eyeballmassage.livejournal.com]

well they sure do a lot on the internet)))))

[archaicos.livejournal.com]

Finally, somebody covered the issue fully with a good level of detail and references to the history, culture and proverbs. I guess this is a must-read for everyone coming to Russia from abroad, especially from countries where people live different lives.

[alon_68]

I think the whole issue is a little exaggerated. The true problem is not in the smile itself, but rather in the level of service. Nobody would pay special attention to the smiles etc surface parameters if he/she receives good service. The real problem is that the customary Russian service is rather unfriendly to the customers, described with the infamous sentences "Вас много, а я одна!" (There are many customers and I'm alone!), "Не хотите - не берите!" (If you don't want you can not to buy!) and so on... I hope that the situation is improving since the Russian market is moving close to the outer world and since the younger people not having the Soviet-time experience begin to work in it.

[pigmeich.livejournal.com]

I think the true problem is distruct of fereigners in Russia.

[alon_68]

Sorry?

[pigmeich.livejournal.com]

The point of article isn't bad service or dissatisfaction while interacting with Russian service.

Instead there is a "wrong culture" problem - rejetion of smiley people in Russia.

Is there more clear?

[car-calloway.livejournal.com]

how acts non-soviet shop assistent when there are too many customers? Have you ever been a shop assistent?

[alon_68]

There is the queue and he/she assist the current customer, not depending on how many other customers are waiting. They know that they should simply wait and they will be assisted the same way. It's the responsibility of the higher level manager to avoid such situation, but even if it happens it shouldn't affect the level of the service. Anyway, personal remarks are not acceptable.

[car-calloway.livejournal.com]

OK. But let me notice that actually it is psycologially hard work. Sometimes i wouldn't blame assistant for being rude to me and wouldn't take it on my personal account, its just because of weariness. Russians don't used to hide their feelings - that is what this article about.

[alon_68]

OK, this is exactly what I'm talking about - if anybody feeling not so good considers it acceptable to pour his/her own bad mood to the people around, there would be very unpleasant atmosphere there.

[towarysc.livejournal.com]

Hm. Me, i feel really annoyed when i'm said 'twelve rubles' after i've already given tsese twelve rubles, then 'thank you, we're waiting for you next time', and all this in such a robotic intonation... brrrrrrrrrrrrrr.

[alon_68]

I don't need this. I need the problems would be addressed. Because sometimes the situation can be a little non-standard, or the customer can not to know something etc etc...

[pigmeich.livejournal.com]

Nice article. I feel like a foreigner in my own country... I always expect something of a kind, but never form so well.

[towarysc.livejournal.com]

Items 10 and 11 are nonsence...

[alamar.livejournal.com]

plus one

[alamar.livejournal.com]

It's fine up to the point 10), starting with what it goes downhill with a few really stupid assumptions.

[adri-nwnderland.livejournal.com]

This is a problem when russians go stateside and people think they are constantly angry or uncomfortable. I've spent 3 out the last 5 years in Russia/Ukraine and I also have lost my smile in public interactions, and I feel like its mostly a self-protection thing coming out of a general distrust of the people around you.Strangers are strangers. But, I also think that American smiles are different from one part of the country to the next. They smile much more in the south for example.
What I think it comes down to is population and openness. Americans in general are more open with strangers and Russians are more careful with who they let into their inner-circle etc. These are just my observations of my friends...