Uncia on 5/6/2007 at 08:15
[edit] Eh, who gives a damn.
BrokenArts on 5/6/2007 at 08:59
What he said.
dlw6 on 5/6/2007 at 11:01
Quote Posted by aguywhoplaysthief
Now, and this is an honest question - what are some examples of "indirect" and "subtle, sometimes highly ritualistic, ways of informing other people of unpleasant information"? I can't think of, at the moment, any other way of making a "negative evaluation" of someone in a social setting except by directly telling them. Mark it on a their calendar?
I currently live in and work with such a culture. It's hard to explain -- if the answer to a question is one that will displease, they prefer to give any other answer, including not answering or lying. To them the lying is less wrong than displeasing you. It's much the same with bad news.
Don
Kolya on 5/6/2007 at 11:48
(
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Largest_cities_in_the_world) Wikipedia informs me that you are in (
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mumbai) Mumbai, India. How do people there expect you to get better at anything if they don't tell you when you're wrong?
I could imagine they rely on you being self-critical and finding you're own mistakes? Or are there ritual lies that typically disguise unpleasant statements?
BTW I think that sort of thing happens everywhere to some degree. Say a child shows you it's drawing that he/she made for you and all you see is a bunch of arbitrary crayon lines on a crumpled sheet of paper. What do you say?
Swiss Mercenary on 5/6/2007 at 12:36
Quote Posted by Aerothorn
Swiss: Politics are generally different. This is looking at things from a more "personal" level, I think.
So, does that then mean that there are cultures who, before they spend money on something don't ask themselves the question "Is it going to work"?
Because otherwise, there's really nothing special to OMG AMERICA about most of the qualities he mentioned.
Quote:
Now, and this is an honest question - what are some examples of "indirect" and "subtle, sometimes highly ritualistic, ways of informing other people of unpleasant information"?
I can't think of, at the moment, any other way of making a "negative evaluation" of someone in a social setting except by directly telling them. Mark it on a their calendar?
I think he's just trying to glorify lieing through the teeth, or just keeping silent. I see the latter often enough up here, in the workplace. Doesn't make the backstabbing that follows the problem rising to the surface, for everyone to see, any more pleasant, though.
Quote:
I think the article expresses how americans would like to think of themselves, rather than how the actually are.
I think that's about right. Some of those traits certainly manifest themselves in Americans. Say, that "Equality" one. And yet, when push comes to shove (What do you mean fags should be able to marry?), the intolerance of enough of a segment of the population is self-evident.
Fett can say that it doesn't apply to the entire country all he wants, but unless he wants us to be talking about how that list applies to New Yorkers, or Californians, or Texans, or to some other specific sub-segment of the population, broad, national-level generalisations are the only way to discuss it.
rachel on 5/6/2007 at 12:55
Quote Posted by Kolya
Say a child shows you it's drawing that he/she made for you and all you see is a bunch of arbitrary crayon lines on a crumpled sheet of paper. What do you say?
"I told you MONA LISA, moron! TRY AGAIN!"
oh you meant say out loud?
AR Master on 5/6/2007 at 14:04
.
Rug Burn Junky on 5/6/2007 at 15:24
I disagree, clearly he is exploring the lonely pathos and ennui that is nap time, only to be reborn through the subtle magic of milk & cookies.
$44,000
User123abc on 5/6/2007 at 16:28
Americans are generally good looking
doctorfrog on 5/6/2007 at 17:20
Well, this sure dates it:
Quote:
The modern American typically owns:
one or more color television sets,
an electric hair dryer,
an electronic calculator,a tape recorder and a record player,a clothes-washer and dryer,
a vacuum cleaner,
a powered lawn mower (for cutting grass),
a refrigerator, a stove, and a dishwasher,
one or more automobiles,
and a telephone. Many also own a personal computer.The general assertion about materialism is still very true, however:
Quote:
Since Americans value newness and innovation, they sell or throw away their possessions frequently and replace them with newer ones. A car may be kept for only two or three years, a house for five or six before trading it in for another one.
