This would be a nice situational question in an F/A interview....

But all joking aside, yeah, there isn't too much that could be done. Ask yourself, what could YOU have done if you were in the flight crew's position? Not a whole lot.

I wouldn't chalk this up to an American vs. International passenger difference. It's quite possibly just a cultural thing. Believe me, ask around - people may find certain American social norms to be strange or disturbing. It's all relative!