Lithuanian defends national reserve against English criticism of perceived unhappiness

A recent observation by an English woman, who noted that people in Lithuania seem perpetually unhappy, has sparked a debate about national character and social interaction. The woman shared her surprise on social media, questioning why Lithuanians appear to be in a "bad mood all the time."

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Why are all people in a bad mood all the time? In England, it's normal to pass a person and ask: 'Hello, how are you?'

She contrasted this with the English custom of casual greetings like "Hello, how are you?" when passing strangers, suggesting that Lithuanians' reserved nature is unusual. This sparked a response from Emilis Jokūbas, who defended the Lithuanian approach to social interaction.

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Because people here are not fake. They don't pretend like in England, where everyone is smiling: 'Hi, hello.' Why are you asking me how I am if you don't know me? What difference does it make to you?

Jokūbas argued that Lithuanians are not necessarily unhappy but are instead more genuine. He suggested that the English custom of asking strangers how they are, without expecting a sincere answer, can lead to people pretending to be fine. "Why are you asking me how I am if you don't know me?" he questioned, implying that such interactions can feel superficial.

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Here, it's actually good that people are not pretenders. What you see on a person's face on the street is how they actually are at that moment.

He proposed that Lithuanian reserve is a positive trait, reflecting a reluctance to hide true feelings. "What you see on a person's face on the street is how they actually are at that moment," Jokūbas stated. He concluded that Lithuanians should be described as "real" rather than unhappy, emphasizing authenticity over performative politeness.

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It should be said that people in Lithuania are not unhappy, but simply real.