I've arrived in Australia 9 months ago and I've noticed that often when asking people to "give way" they will simply ignore me or even answer a "yes" but not move at all.

This is a situation that my wife, friends and work mates also faced a lot of times.

Some examples:

• I went to an electronics shop some days ago and there was this Asian girl standing in front of a product section that I wanted to check. She was texting on her phone. I politely asked "can I take a look at these?" and all she did was nod her head and still block the view.

• Leaving the train. Several times I was trying to hop off the train and a group of Asians would block the way and ignore my desperate "excuse me, guys".

• Groups of 5+ Asian people blocking the pathway while chatting and/or texting. "Excuse me" also didn't work.

• Same as above, but getting hit in the shoulder by one of them and not even getting a "Sorry"

So obviously I don't know if it's a cultural thing or not. It just seems that our standard "excuse me" has another meaning to them.

Edit: Apparently people got offended when I specifically targeted Asians. I know it sounds like prejudice, but if you don't live here or never came here then please don't bother answering. It's more common than you think and the reason why I asked this is because I didn't want to do something that might offend them (in terms of culture / way people walk in the streets of Asian countries).

Much appreciated!

I've arrived in Australia 9 months ago and I've noticed that often when asking people from East Asia to "give way" they will simply ignore me or even answer a "yes" but not move at all.

This is a situation that at least my wife, friends and work mates also faced a lot of times.

Some examples:

• I went to an electronics shop some days ago and there was this Asian girl standing in front of a product section that I wanted to check. She was texting on her phone. I politely asked "can I take a look at these?" and all she did was nod her head and still block the view.

• Leaving the train. Several times I was trying to hop off the train and a group of Asians would block the way and ignore my desperate "excuse me, guys".

• Groups of 5+ East Asian people blocking the pathway while chatting and/or texting. "Excuse me" also didn't work.

• Same as above, but getting hit in the shoulder by one of them and not even getting a "Sorry"

So obviously I don't know if it's a cultural thing or not. It just seems that our standard "excuse me" has another meaning to them.

What is the possible reason for this behavior and how can I politely ask to give way which is culturally understood by East Asians? Or how can I ask to give way in a way which is universally understood?

I've arrived in Australia 9 months ago and I've noticed that often when asking people to "give way" they will simply ignore me or even answer a "yes" but not move at all.

This is a situation that my wife, friends and work mates also faced a lot of times.

Some examples:

• I went to an electronics shop some days ago and there was this Asian girl standing in front of a product section that I wanted to check. She was texting on her phone. I politely asked "can I take a look at these?" and all she did was nod her head and still block the view.

• Leaving the train. Several times I was trying to hop off the train and a group of asians would block the way and ignore my desperate "excuse me, guys".

• Groups of 5+ Asian people blocking the pathway while chatting and/or texting. "Excuse me" also didn't work.

• Same as above, but getting hit in the shoulder by one of them and not even getting a "Sorry"

So obviously I don't know if it's a cultural thing or not. It just seems that our standard "excuse me" has another meaning to them.

Edit: Apparently people got offended when I specifically targeted Asians. I know it sounds like prejudice, but if you don't live here or never came here then please don't bother answering. It's more common than you think and the reason why I asked this is because I didn't want to do something that might offend them (in terms of culture / way people walk in the streets of Asian countries).

Much appreciated!

I've arrived in Australia 9 months ago and I've noticed that often when asking people to "give way" they will simply ignore me or even answer a "yes" but not move at all.

This is a situation that my wife, friends and work mates also faced a lot of times.

Some examples:

• I went to an electronics shop some days ago and there was this Asian girl standing in front of a product section that I wanted to check. She was texting on her phone. I politely asked "can I take a look at these?" and all she did was nod her head and still block the view.

• Leaving the train. Several times I was trying to hop off the train and a group of Asians would block the way and ignore my desperate "excuse me, guys".

• Groups of 5+ Asian people blocking the pathway while chatting and/or texting. "Excuse me" also didn't work.

• Same as above, but getting hit in the shoulder by one of them and not even getting a "Sorry"

So obviously I don't know if it's a cultural thing or not. It just seems that our standard "excuse me" has another meaning to them.

Edit: Apparently people got offended when I specifically targeted Asians. I know it sounds like prejudice, but if you don't live here or never came here then please don't bother answering. It's more common than you think and the reason why I asked this is because I didn't want to do something that might offend them (in terms of culture / way people walk in the streets of Asian countries).

Much appreciated!

I've arrived in Australia 9 months ago and I've noticed that most of the time when asking Asians to "give way" they will simply ignore me or even answer a "yes" but not move at all.

This is a situation that my wife, friends and work mates also faced a lot of times.

Some examples:

• I went to an electronics shop some days ago and there was this asian girl standing in front of a product section that I wanted to check. She was texting on her phone. I politely asked "can I take a look at these?" and all she did was nod her head and still block the view.

• Leaving the train. Several times I was trying to hop off the train and a group of asians would block the way and ignore my desperate "excuse me, guys".

• Groups of 5+ asian people blocking the pathway while chatting and/or texting. "Excuse me" also didn't work.

• Same as above, but getting hit in the shoulder by one of them and not even getting a "Sorry"

So obviously I don't know if it's a cultural thing or not. It just seems that our standard "excuse me" has another meaning to them.

Edit: Apparently people got offended when I specifically targeted Asians. I know it sounds like prejudice, but if you don't live here or never came here then please don't bother answering. It's more common than you think and the reason why I asked this is because I didn't want to do something that might offend them (in terms of culture / way people walk in the streets of Asian countries).

Much appreciated!

I've arrived in Australia 9 months ago and I've noticed that often when asking people to "give way" they will simply ignore me or even answer a "yes" but not move at all.

This is a situation that my wife, friends and work mates also faced a lot of times.

Some examples:

• I went to an electronics shop some days ago and there was this Asian girl standing in front of a product section that I wanted to check. She was texting on her phone. I politely asked "can I take a look at these?" and all she did was nod her head and still block the view.

• Leaving the train. Several times I was trying to hop off the train and a group of asians would block the way and ignore my desperate "excuse me, guys".

• Groups of 5+ Asian people blocking the pathway while chatting and/or texting. "Excuse me" also didn't work.

• Same as above, but getting hit in the shoulder by one of them and not even getting a "Sorry"

So obviously I don't know if it's a cultural thing or not. It just seems that our standard "excuse me" has another meaning to them.

Edit: Apparently people got offended when I specifically targeted Asians. I know it sounds like prejudice, but if you don't live here or never came here then please don't bother answering. It's more common than you think and the reason why I asked this is because I didn't want to do something that might offend them (in terms of culture / way people walk in the streets of Asian countries).

Much appreciated!