Loud Americans

Why do Americans speak so loudly? Several years ago, we visited Munich, Germany. The popular Hofbrauhaus was so noisy that you could not hear the person sitting next to you. Most of the people there were Americans. We went to Schneider Brauhaus, which is only a couple of blocks away. It was packed and most of the people were Germans. Even with the Brauhaus completely full, you could talk in a normal conversational tone. The beer and food were outstanding. I highly recommend it if you are ever in Munich. The thing that started this line of thought was was that one of my colleagues was down the hall and down a flight of stairs. He talks so loudly that I can hear him like he was sitting in my office, even though I closed the door. Not all Americans talk as loud as he does, but many do. When two or three get together, it is like a shouting match. I think part of the problem is that they don’t listen, only talk and talk as if it is a competition. Loudness persuades others of their viewpoint. It is hard to convince anyone when you don’t listen, think, and try to understand their position. This sounds very much like politics in the USA today.