You're kidding aren't you?
[QUOTE=Md2000]What are the dos and don't in Argentina? I know in the states theres a big emphasis on giving a person their personal space but I've been to Europe where that doesn't seem to apply as much. Same things goes for approaching females. In America it's acceptable but I went to Dubai and almost got killed (probably a bad idea anyway haha) is it generally acceptable to randomly talk to someone and are there certain limitations to conversation / personal space I should know about?[/QUOTE]Etiquette and Argentina in the same sentence! What a joke! Argentinos, and by that I mean Portenos, (residents of Buenos Aires) are interested in taking your money and some may do it nicely but the majority go about it fairly brutally. Etiquette would not come into the equation except to detract you from their main game. When it suits them and their particular situation, they may stand on their dignity and protest about the uncouth foreigners. You might be fooled the first time but if you are half-smart, they won't get you again.
Argento
This board has argentine members, show them some respect
The nasty insults are very simular to the way many people talk about people from the usa all over the world--I wonder why? The arrogance, narrowminedness and egoism of many people from the usa will ultimately lead to it's own fall. Hurbris! I was born and raised in the usa and am proud of my country, but I still don't appreciate all the nasty comments by my fellow country men. All Argentines are X. All Portenos are why.
Buenos Aies is not part of the USA. Argentina has it's own culture and history which has value and is due basic respect even it you may not understand it; appreciate it; and are only in BA as a sexual tourist.
It's not a USA vs Argentina thing!
[QUOTE=Miami Bob]The nasty insults are very simular to the way many people talk about people from the USA all over the world--I wonder why? The arrogance, narrowminedness and egoism of many people from the usa will ultimately lead to it's own fall. Hurbris! I was born and raised in the usa and am proud of my country, but I still don't appreciate all the nasty comments by my fellow country men. All Argentines are X. All Portenos are why.
Buenos Aies is not part of the USA. Argentina has it's own culture and history which has value and is due basic respect even it you may not understand it; appreciate it; and are only in BA as a sexual tourist.[/QUOTE]It's not a USA vs Argentina thing. For your information I wasn't born or raised in the USA, but some how or other, my principles seem to align with most Westerners in terms of business, honesty and integrity. And that is the base line. And since I have more than 20 years of experience in the Argentine business world as well as the social experiences associated with living here, I feel as qualified as anyone to tell it as I see it. You might call it hubris, sexual tourist 'wash and wear opinions', ugly Americans overseas, whatever, but I don't give a rat's arse. You are entitled to your opinions even when they are based on wrong presumptions and my guess is, very little business dealings with Portenos. You don't have to appreciate my comments; just prove otherwise.
Argento
When I'm in west europe, I tell people that I AM CANADIAN
TRUE I HAVEN'T BEEN TO EUROPE IN FIVE YEARS--that was during the days of freedom fries--the USA government was despised. Hopefully the change in administration is bringing back some warm feelings. I did not invent the term the "ugly american" and they were not talking about south americans, but people from the usa who are 98% culturally insensitive to argentine culture, french culture and most places they visit.
I'll give you a stange example that was difficult for me to accept at first: It is very rude to say NO to someone. Negociation in BA is different than in the usa. If you negociate like you might in the usa, you will inadvertantly create bad will at the offset.
I have been doing business with argentines for 6+years. I am very, very careful about what I do and with whom I deal. I have enough family in BA and friends that I generally have some sort of connection to busnesses that I deal with in any serious transaction. I walk away rather deal with untrustable people. I was recently here for two weeks and went into about 6 or 7 real estate offices to look to buy an apartment. I walked out of all except two within 15 minutes--I did not chose to deal with them. When I actually buy when there is a serious down turn, I will buy from a guy who friends introduced me to years ago to invest in one of his projects. I did not invest with him, but we became friendly. I have lunch with him on every trip to ba and I've had asado with his family at their weekend house.
I agree that the government and the banking system in Argentina do not function and that you need "special know how" to be successful here. A good way to insure that you never develop special know how is to bad mouth and being rude to the people you deal with by argentine standards, not usa standards.
I was born and grew up in NYC. I personally find the Portenos simular to new yorkers: quick, fast, insensitive[except with familiy and friends] and with the potential to rip you off if you are not careful about what you are doing.
I am not saying that EVERYTHING ARGENTINE IS GOOD, BUT THAT NOT EVERYTHING IS BAD. My experienced is that there is a higher proportion of untrustable people in business in BA than NYC. But both locations have some wondeful people who are a pleasure to deal with. It is offensive to say "all agies are thiefs, liers and full of crap". Just as saying that all the people from the usa are ugly americans.