Do guns make people more polite?

[JacksSmirkingRevenge]

Hmmm.

[Gawdzilla Sama]

Put twenty testosterone-peaked guy in a small, noisy, smelly space, most with hangovers, and give them all guns. And other nasty things. It's a good test of whether guns make for polite or not, IMHO.

[Ronja]

How likely are people to, during one lifetime, move and settle down in a new town/city and new work/study environment, if they live in the US? How likely is the same in the UK or Ireland? If a culture is for a sizable enough part built on moving away from people who know you well, that would sort of necessitate politeness - or? And again, if you meet the same bloody 50-500 people day out and day in, isn't it quite enough politeness that you don't murder those who would deserve it?

(disclaimer: this alternative hypothesis was inspired by non-trivial amounts of Finnish lager and Swedish ale)

[Gawdzilla Sama]

People move around more in the US than in most countries, I think. Ayaan has lived in three states now. Pawiz is moving to another soon, Ian and I have done a fair bit of moving. Moving two thousand miles is an adventure for us, not an epic journey for the most part.

[Animavore]

"Guns don't make people more polite, people do."

[HomerJay]

Nah. I think it's just not being English does that.
I noticed that myself the few times I was there, how rude you lot are.

Yeah, sorry about, I'd been drinking.

[Svartalf]

Excuse the slight derail.
It's often said that Parisians are notoriously impolite and anecdotal evidence of people I know would seem to bear this out - but I've never been to Paris or heard a Parisian's point of view about this.
....Svartalf? I'd be interested in any opinions you have about this view. Is it unfounded or accurate, in your opinion?

We are the soul of courtesy, it's just the fact that we hate english and all speakers of that abhorrent discord of noises that should be shaped by no human throat... If Merkins and other tourists would just learn a civilized language like ours, they would learn the truth about it.

Also only a moron would formulate such stupid theories and mash of baseless hearsay, and give me a sec so I can spit in your drink.

Though in full truth, and for reasons I do not fathom, Parisians do seem less genial than the average Frenchperson.

[Audley Strange]

I've been all over the shop, people in cities tend to be busy and thus less civil. Paris isn't that bad at all as far as I'm concerned.

[JacksSmirkingRevenge]

I'm pretty sure I remember watching a QI where Stephen Fry said that there is actually a helpline at the Japanese embassy for tourists who have been traumatised by rude Parisians.

*Has a rummage around*....
.....There we go:-

[Svartalf]

The Japanese? Yeah, but Japan has a fairly peculiar culture, where obsequiousness and avoidance of any hint of conflict are at a premium... we're far too informal for them.

[JacksSmirkingRevenge]

...When cultures collide.

[Clinton Huxley]

The key factor in instilling politeness is not weaponry but social stratification. Wherever there is a rigidly enforced social hierarchy, from the peasantry to the quality, you will find good manners, exhibited at least by those below you. I find that everyone I meet is unfailingly polite to me.

[Svartalf]

I see you've never met real chavs, and that the proletariat of the isles still need some work to understand what should be done with the exploiters.

[Clinton Huxley]

I see you've never met real chavs, Sir, and that the proletariat of the isles still need some work to understand what should be done with the exploiters, Lord Huxley, if it please you.

Fixed, old boy.

[Svartalf]

I see you've never met real chavs, sister, and that the proletariat of the isles still need some work to understand what should be done with the exploiters. like that vile hamster begotten and elderberry smelly huxley bloke who needs to accessorize his dress with a hempen collar.

counter fixed.