Business English from All Ears English BE 32: Why Americans Are in a Competition to Be the Busiest
Dec 12, 2022
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Busyness As A Social Default
- Americans often respond to "How are you?" with "busy" or "tired," making busyness a social norm.
- Saying you're busy signals productivity and avoids sounding lazy in U.S. conversational norms.
Starbucks Example Of Routine Replies
- Lindsay describes overhearing Starbucks customers replying "tired" and "busy" repeatedly.
- The exchange illustrates how normalized those replies are in everyday U.S. interactions.
Time-Saving Equals Status
- Time-saving choices can signal high social status as much as expensive purchases.
- In the study, grocery delivery users and Whole Foods shoppers were perceived similarly in status.