Transatlantic differences
by liverpooh on Mar.09, 2010, under Daily Blog, Liverpool
I’m back from a short trip home.  It was a bit weird at first to step off the plane then out of the airport to sunny states. So much sun, it was glorious. Sleeping in my own bed and seeing all my loved ones was great. I miss everyone. Whilst there someone asked me what is the biggest difference between being in England and being in America. I don’t remember anymore what I told her at that moment but I did tell her I’d have to think about it more.  I considered the immediate differences, driving on the left side of the road, pressing down to turn on a light switch, getting on an escalator on the left side , talking elevators the list goes on and on and on. After being back for some time now I realize what I believe to be the biggest difference, the one that affects everything is the difference of personal space.
Personal space is directly related to the distance at which others can control you. Far enough for 2 people to touch hands is the limit of where someone can dominate you. Beyond that a person cannot easily get his hands on another person.  Edward T. Hall, author of The Hidden Dimension, wrote that personal space ranges from 2.5 feet to 4 feet with Americans on the 4 foot end of the scale. Hall also stated that the personal space for Americans and Europeans is about the same. I disagree with him on that. Very seldom has any American, who is a casual acquaintance, ever gotten as close to me as any English person.
As I told one of my English friends when you see a group of Americans standing together talking they are not physically close at all. We are usually spread out in a circle, the 4 foot space in action. Take the same size group of English/European people and you will find that they are standing much closer together and probably touching one another more often. Of course geography and population dictate the amount of personal space each culture is comfortable with. America is a much bigger country and we expect space and give space whereas our cousins across the pond don’t have that much space and will try to fit into the smallest space possible to get what they need or to get where they are going.  Perfect example, when I got back I had to go to market to get some food so I went to ASDA, which is owned by Wal-Mart. I had been to Wal-Mart while I was at home the previous week and had a really lovely time shopping. I had time to look around and get what I needed without anyone stepping in my path or brushing up against me. Go forward a week and I’m in England, in ASDA, shopping and about to choke someone because person after person is walking too close, brushing against me and trying to walk in the same path that I am walking regardless of the fact that I’m there. It’s always crowded and given an area with open space I’ve seen English people still head toward the one spot where other people are instead of walking in the open, empty space. It’s different. I had forgotten that fact while I was at home but onceI got back and realized why was so aggravated I thought, ” get back into your English shopping mode now.” Aggravation over, I was fine. I would love to know what the personal space is for Australians. They live on a continent as large as America but they don’t occupy all of the land as we do, only the outer parts, no one inhabits what they call the dead heart of Australia, the middle of the country.
And since I am on the subject of personal space I will mention the book that I am currently reading which is The Golden City by John Twelvehawks. It is the third in the Fourth Realm trilogy of books concerning the electronic/technological breach of personal space and information by governments and the centuries old battle for freedom from the powers that be by a small group of people. A highly entertaining and thought provoking set of books to read.
If you are interested further in the study of personal space or proximics you should check out this book:
The Hidden Dimension Edward T. Hall
which will lead you to issues of personal space and technology which opens up an entirely different can of worms. You can check out these books:
Hertzian Tales by Anthony Dunne, this book covers the space between humans and electronics, cell phones, televisions, computers. Particularly the physical interactivity between device and person into an architecture the author calls the hertzian space which not only encompasses the form and function of a device but how people use, react and relate to it.
Simulacra and Simulation by Jean Baudrillard, one of my favorite books, a discussion of signs and symbols in modern society.
The Fourth Realm Trilogy – The Traveler, The Dark River, and The Golden City,all by John Twelvehawks.
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March 15th, 2010 on 7:42 pm
I think I’d like to disagree with your assertion that English people are Europeans. England is an island, literally and figuratively. I think English people are like any other people living near a border (or three) – an amalgam for the predominant aspects of the entire region. The English share some things with their European neighbors, but they have the physical isolation which allows for the strengthening of a separate culture. I think you will find America and Australia to be similar with regard to personal space (probably for the same reasons). The people who came to America were seeking freedom, space, a place to be (and of course wealth). The people who went to Australia had either run out of space to run in England, or seeking space, freedom, a place to be, (or, of course, wealth). I think Europe (in the final analysis) is just as insular as England, but with more experience spreading out, gaining land, losing land, and reacquiring space. I think that experience may allow them to allot more personal space, but Europeans also tend to engage in physical contact more readily than Americans. It’s interesting Americans have a reputation for being very friendly and warm and overall there’s truth in that, but there are also rules that apply in every situation. Just as you said, you became angry when your personal space was continually invaded. That belies the warm and friendly thing, but I would imagine people tend to want to hug you if they get to know you while respecting your personal space, because you’re a warm and friendly person when everybody respects the boundaries/rules. So, thankfully, in closing I’d like to say, you friend Edward T. Hall might be well-served by using a less-broad stroke with regard to the behavior/personal space of English, Irish, Scottish, Welsh and European people (and let’s put the Isles of Man and Wight into their own spaces while we’re at it).