We’re used to a lot of owners and managers of convenience stores (I think this includes corner stores?) and gas stations being naturalized citizens and foreign nationals. Idk how that got started or how widespread it is, how much of it is a true demographic vs confirmation bias of what we see portrayed in entertainment and media—but either way there is a clear concept of people in that line of work, true or not.
Of course I say this as an American assuming every random stranger on the internet I see commenting on a post I’m reading to be an American as well, so I’m not entirely sure if this idea holds up in other countries as well.
If it is true I’d be curious to know the reason why the demographic exists, specifically what it is that attracts non-native citizens
Do Americans say "corner shop"? Corner shops are usually UK thing because they are shops that are on the corners of residential streets, hence the name. When the houses were built it was thought that people would need access to convenient shops so they built the street with a shop on it.
Sure. In the bigger cities sometimes. More often we'll say convenience stores, bodegas or just use the chain store name like 7-11. But corner store gets used often enough even if the stores aren't actually on corners
Part of this is because for someone in the process of obtaining citizenship in the US it's actually much easier to legally start a business than it is to legally get a job. And with the decade or so that it can take to become a fully naturalized citizen in the US, folks have to make ends meet somehow so they'll naturally start a business since that's the one way they can legally make money until they get a work permit.
This is part of why there's such a thriving restaurant scene for foreign foods across the entire US, a family will come and pool their time and money to open a small restaurant, and that will be how they survive until everyone gets work permits and eventually naturalized. There's even a sub-industry of immigrants teaching other immigrants how to start a successful restaurant and what recipes work well for the American pallete. This is where some of the staples of Americanized Mexican and Chinese menus come from for example.
Can't speak to your specific example but I have 100% heard people say "had an accent" to mean "has a regional accent", that would include, for example, an Appalachian accent.
The shop owner, in the village I moved to, has this awful accent. Something about baguettes and croissants. Indiciferable as a someone from the Netherlands.
Same here... But in my defense the guy that runs the corner store near me has one, and Apu from Simpsons comes to mind too (the two have completely different accect btw
Not sure about these days - other than 7-11 the typical "corner store" seems to be getting increasingly rare - but when I was younger most were generally run by people that I assume were immigrants due to having some accent or other.
I have one of those at work 😀 6’2” / 190 cm. Black hair, skinny, looks like a tall forest elf.
Poor girl is on her third girlfriend in as many months. No doubt she’s just a tad intimidating to other lesbians. It’d be like climbing a tree.
I’ve had success finding nice matches for some of my LGBTQ friends, but there most certainly is a challenge in finding ‘tall attractive lesbians’ as a category 😂
I mean the thing that's stopping us most at this point is the fear of getting accused of sexual harassment for wanting to put women (assuming OP is a woman) into relationships.
Suggesting potential matches for people is extremely common. Especially among people who are already friendly. If you are afraid of being accused of sexual harassment for trying to set up two friends... you need to touch grass
If you are a random stranger then probably best not to. If you have built a rapport like in the post above then you should know how they will react and do it if you think it won't cause offence.
44 Comments
ToiletFlushShowerScream@piefed.world · 141 pts · 141d
I don't know why, but when I read this in my head, he has an accent.
Fmstrat@lemmy.world · 54 pts · 141d
It was the quick shift to "very handsome" without a pronoun modifier.
Linguistics ftw!
QuantumSparkles@sh.itjust.works · 21 pts · 141d
We’re used to a lot of owners and managers of convenience stores (I think this includes corner stores?) and gas stations being naturalized citizens and foreign nationals. Idk how that got started or how widespread it is, how much of it is a true demographic vs confirmation bias of what we see portrayed in entertainment and media—but either way there is a clear concept of people in that line of work, true or not.
Of course I say this as an American assuming every random stranger on the internet I see commenting on a post I’m reading to be an American as well, so I’m not entirely sure if this idea holds up in other countries as well.
If it is true I’d be curious to know the reason why the demographic exists, specifically what it is that attracts non-native citizens
echodot@feddit.uk · 12 pts · 141d
Do Americans say "corner shop"? Corner shops are usually UK thing because they are shops that are on the corners of residential streets, hence the name. When the houses were built it was thought that people would need access to convenient shops so they built the street with a shop on it.
lillardfair@lemmy.world · 9 pts · 141d
Sure. In the bigger cities sometimes. More often we'll say convenience stores, bodegas or just use the chain store name like 7-11. But corner store gets used often enough even if the stores aren't actually on corners
QuantumSparkles@sh.itjust.works · 1 pts · 141d
They do to some extent
Trainguyrom@reddthat.com · 6 pts · 141d
Part of this is because for someone in the process of obtaining citizenship in the US it's actually much easier to legally start a business than it is to legally get a job. And with the decade or so that it can take to become a fully naturalized citizen in the US, folks have to make ends meet somehow so they'll naturally start a business since that's the one way they can legally make money until they get a work permit.
This is part of why there's such a thriving restaurant scene for foreign foods across the entire US, a family will come and pool their time and money to open a small restaurant, and that will be how they survive until everyone gets work permits and eventually naturalized. There's even a sub-industry of immigrants teaching other immigrants how to start a successful restaurant and what recipes work well for the American pallete. This is where some of the staples of Americanized Mexican and Chinese menus come from for example.
Danquebec@sh.itjust.works · 2 pts · 141d
In my city, the overwhelming majority of convenience store owners are Chinese.
I should ask the ones near my house how they started.
FishFace@piefed.social · 17 pts · 141d
Everyone has an accent!
blimthepixie@lemmy.dbzer0.com · -2 pts · 141d
Yeah, are they just trying to say foreign?
FishFace@piefed.social · 7 pts · 141d
Not necessarily. People who say "he has an accent" just think that their accent is "not an accent" so it could also be a (different) regional accent.
Knock_Knock_Lemmy_In@lemmy.world · -5 pts · 141d
Having an accent is code for immigrant. If someone from alabama goes to new york, they are never described as "having an accent".
FishFace@piefed.social · 4 pts · 141d
Can't speak to your specific example but I have 100% heard people say "had an accent" to mean "has a regional accent", that would include, for example, an Appalachian accent.
clay_pidgin@sh.itjust.works · 16 pts · 141d
I imagine him Persian or Arab, because in my limited experience they have been the most charismatic shopkeepers.
blarghly@lemmy.world · 3 pts · 140d
I def thought the same
fenrasulfr@lemmy.world · 8 pts · 141d
The shop owner, in the village I moved to, has this awful accent. Something about baguettes and croissants. Indiciferable as a someone from the Netherlands.
TrickDacy@lemmy.world · 5 pts · 141d
Haha same
PeriodicallyPedantic@lemmy.ca · 4 pts · 141d
For some reason I imagined him with like... A Bosnian or Hungarian accent or something
gandalf_der_12te@discuss.tchncs.de · 3 pts · 140d
an indian accent, in my mind.
Damage@slrpnk.net · 1 pts · 139d
Lebanese for me
helpImTrappedOnline@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 141d
Same here... But in my defense the guy that runs the corner store near me has one, and Apu from Simpsons comes to mind too (the two have completely different accect btw
phx@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 141d
Not sure about these days - other than 7-11 the typical "corner store" seems to be getting increasingly rare - but when I was younger most were generally run by people that I assume were immigrants due to having some accent or other.
unemployedclaquer@sopuli.xyz · 0 pts · 141d
unemployedclaquer@sopuli.xyz · 0 pts · 141d
I made so fart jokes based on wtf
GalacticGrapefruit@lemmy.world · 77 pts · 141d
We need more people like this on the planet.
Denjin@feddit.uk · 59 pts · 141d
Tall attractive lesbians?
FinishingDutch@lemmy.world · 5 pts · 139d
I have one of those at work 😀 6’2” / 190 cm. Black hair, skinny, looks like a tall forest elf.
Poor girl is on her third girlfriend in as many months. No doubt she’s just a tad intimidating to other lesbians. It’d be like climbing a tree.
I’ve had success finding nice matches for some of my LGBTQ friends, but there most certainly is a challenge in finding ‘tall attractive lesbians’ as a category 😂
gandalf_der_12te@discuss.tchncs.de · 2 pts · 140d
I mean the thing that's stopping us most at this point is the fear of getting accused of sexual harassment for wanting to put women (assuming OP is a woman) into relationships.
blarghly@lemmy.world · 7 pts · 140d
???
Suggesting potential matches for people is extremely common. Especially among people who are already friendly. If you are afraid of being accused of sexual harassment for trying to set up two friends... you need to touch grass
gandalf_der_12te@discuss.tchncs.de · 2 pts · 140d
it's a work-related environment. they work as a cashier and are talking to a client.
blarghly@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 140d
You can do this in work related environments also. Not seeing a problem
saigot@lemmy.ca · 1 pts · 139d
If you are a random stranger then probably best not to. If you have built a rapport like in the post above then you should know how they will react and do it if you think it won't cause offence.
Texas_Hangover@lemmy.radio · -6 pts · 141d
Imaginary?
IAmNorRealTakeYourMeds@lemmy.world · 39 pts · 141d
despite the anecdotal nature of this medium. good people exist in the world, go outside and meet them
echodot@feddit.uk · 25 pts · 141d
Nothing never happens does it.
Fizz@lemmy.nz · 35 pts · 141d
What a king
gandalf_der_12te@discuss.tchncs.de · 27 pts · 140d
Hubi@feddit.org · 24 pts · 141d
The man's name? Albert Einstein.
QuantumSparkles@sh.itjust.works · 6 pts · 141d
I mean want it to be real but every time I see posts like this I have that same thought
Bazell@lemmy.zip · 2 pts · 141d
Explain the joke, please.
PixTupy@lemmy.ml · 11 pts · 141d
Implying that it didn't happen.
Passerby6497@lemmy.world · 6 pts · 141d
Nothing ever happens, everything is made up
audit69@programming.dev · 19 pts · 141d
ZombiFrancis@sh.itjust.works · 13 pts · 141d
MousePotatoDoesStuff@lemmy.world · 10 pts · 141d
I am headcanoning this upon my reality.
merc@sh.itjust.works · -1 pts · 140d
So, your best friend in the world. Do you ever see him outside his corner store?