Overview

• A Reddit post by @Weary-Risk-8655 described smiling at a fellow Indian in a New York café only to be met with arrogance until shared investor connections emerged.
• Major outlets including India Today, Hindustan Times and News18 have broadened coverage to include diverse online reactions and expert analyses of diaspora behavior.
• Many comments linked the cold reception to ego and insecurity, suggesting wealth or connections often dictate friendliness among Indians abroad.
• Others pointed out that friendliness can carry expectations of favors, reflecting transactional social norms within the community.
• Some diaspora members defended unconditional warmth toward fellow Indians and cautioned against perpetuating harmful stereotypes.