As an American with no social skills whatsoever, I get confused & annoyed when people offer me a beverage when I arrive at their house. Like why do they think I’m suddenly thirsty?
Presumably you had to travel to get there. It’s likely you didn’t have anything to drink while travelling. So they offer you a drink.
Also, it’s nice to sit and chat while enjoying a drink, whether that is a warm drink (coffee, tea, whatever), a cold drink (water, juice, soda, whatever), or an alcoholic drink (beer, wine, whatever).
Edit: Also why are you annoyed? If you don’t want anything a simple “nothing for me, thanks” is fine and shouldn’t put you out too much!
i’m interested in this. as a southerner, i offer everyone water when they arrive at my house because water is a basic human need and most people won’t ask for it when they need it because it can be a struggle to get it and they don’t want to put me out. it’s just like… a little showing of mutual respect and love for our shared struggle that takes not much to offer. if we’re eating, i’ll offer you food to.
if i don’t offer you water i’m communicating in the southern way that you are not welcome and your presence in my household has been imposed on me. i go by the standard Nikki Giovanni taught me: everyone gets fed, racists can fetch their own water.
but i acknowlege this is likely a cultural difference. my wife hates this pattern of showing solidarity and finds it confusing. so like… how do you and your people demonstrate that someone is welcome in your space?
As an American with no social skills whatsoever, I get confused & annoyed when people offer me a beverage when I arrive at their house. Like why do they think I’m suddenly thirsty?
Presumably you had to travel to get there. It’s likely you didn’t have anything to drink while travelling. So they offer you a drink.
Also, it’s nice to sit and chat while enjoying a drink, whether that is a warm drink (coffee, tea, whatever), a cold drink (water, juice, soda, whatever), or an alcoholic drink (beer, wine, whatever).
Edit: Also why are you annoyed? If you don’t want anything a simple “nothing for me, thanks” is fine and shouldn’t put you out too much!
i’m interested in this. as a southerner, i offer everyone water when they arrive at my house because water is a basic human need and most people won’t ask for it when they need it because it can be a struggle to get it and they don’t want to put me out. it’s just like… a little showing of mutual respect and love for our shared struggle that takes not much to offer. if we’re eating, i’ll offer you food to.
if i don’t offer you water i’m communicating in the southern way that you are not welcome and your presence in my household has been imposed on me. i go by the standard Nikki Giovanni taught me: everyone gets fed, racists can fetch their own water.
but i acknowlege this is likely a cultural difference. my wife hates this pattern of showing solidarity and finds it confusing. so like… how do you and your people demonstrate that someone is welcome in your space?
It’s just considered manners, here anyway.
isn’t it bad to be thirsty and good to have a nice drink?
Plus, there are thousands of years of culture in offering a drink implying trust and friendship.