Politeness Can Become a Habit: A Freelancer’s Social Experiment

Today, I’m sharing a fascinating social experiment that happened accidentally after my return from Germany to Russia. Buckle up for some surprising insights into human behavior and the power of simple courtesy!

For a month after coming back to Russia, I kept my German habit of saying “Hello,” “Goodbye,” “Thank you,” and “Please” in shops, cafes, and basically everywhere I interacted with people. As you might know, such overt politeness isn’t exactly the norm in Russia. But boy, did it lead to some interesting observations!

Now, my stats are more based on feelings than hard numbers, but here’s what I noticed:

90% of cashiers and shop assistants involuntarily responded to my “Hello” with their own greeting. Not bad, right? But the way they did it varied wildly:

• About half responded with visible confusion, their eyes practically screaming, “What’s her deal?” It was like I’d short-circuited their usual thought process!
• 25% replied as if I’d asked them to do something incredibly unpleasant. Their “Hello” sounded more like “Oh, go away!” (judging by the tone, of course). I’m chalking this up to them having a bad day.
• Another 25% were genuinely pleasant, even smiling!
• The remaining 10% seemed to have an ironclad immunity to politeness. No reaction whatsoever, not in their face or words.

But here’s the kicker: after a while of my daily “Hello,” “Goodbye,” “Thank you,” and “Please” training, some cashiers and shop assistants started greeting me first when they saw me! Talk about a mood booster!

The takeaway? People can get used to politeness, and in the long run, it can even become a habit. So, fellow freelancers and digital nomads, let’s spread some kindness wherever we roam. Be polite, and watch the world become a better place!

Remember, as we travel the globe building our freelance empires, we’re not just changing our own lives – we have the power to positively impact every community we touch. So go ahead, say “Hello” to that barista in Bangkok or “Thank you” to that shopkeeper in Shanghai. You never know what ripple effects your small act of kindness might have!

Have you noticed how different cultures approach politeness? Share your experiences in the comments below. Let’s swap stories and spread more positivity around the world!