the differences between country cultures (1 Viewer)

vba_php

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this one is for Richard...hows this for a lighter topic?

I just ran across this article about the French and how they differ from Americans in their view on being content with life: https://getpocket.com/explore/item/why-the-french-don-t-show-excitement

Reminds me of the retired Air Force veteran I talk to every night at the federal building while I'm on break and he's waiting for his wife to finish work for the day. He's from Puerto Rico originally and tells me that the culture down there is also very different. I can't remember all the details about that specific talk, but I believe he told me that they don't like it when Americans have conversations with them and seem that they are happy with life. I'll have to clarify that with him though.

I also had dinner with a professor at the college here just 2 weeks ago and he's from Poland. He tells me that business people from Mexico specifically, tend to "fly by the seat of their pants" and not schedule anything in advance when there is a deadline. It was pretty much annoying to him, but he was, at that time, meeting with another professor from Mexico about a cirriculum change, and he told me that it was almost impossible to set up the dinner meeting with me because she could literally call him at anytime unannounced and say "OK, lets meet now. You ready?"

Anyone else? Regarding your own culture?
 

ColinEssex

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I had to laugh. I think culture and Americans is an oxymoron. Americans haven't yet worked out how to use a knife and fork yet. They can manage the fork but seem baffled by the knife.
They also can't figure out using gears in a car so it has to do it for them.

Now they've decided to start Gulf War 3, so Iran will now restrict oil passage so we'll all suffer thanks to the lunatic in Washington, who shows no respect for Iranian culture.

Col
 

vba_php

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the lunatic in Washington, who shows no respect for Iranian culture.
I won't say anything about the dude in the white house Colin, but hasn't Iran always been a risk to the entire world due to their obsession with the development of nukes? Last I heard, the leader over there was doing that sort of thing and ignoring the warnings he was getting from the united nations about his progress. Is that not true anymore?
 

Steve R.

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this one is for Richard...hows this for a lighter topic? ... Anyone else? Regarding your own culture?
Unfortunately, this is not a light topic. The examination of this issue is now fraught with political correctness that now vilifies and denigrates the success of western culture.

The "success" of countries is very dependent on their culture. Countries that tend to have a "mono" culture, work ethic, and a well functioning political system tend to be more "successful". (Of course, to demonstrate my openness, I have to immediately clarify that I am speaking in generalities and this is not true in every case).

Quick cursory examples; the US versus Russia and Venezuela. Russian and Venezuela have the potential to be as successful as the US. Also the difference between the countries in northern Europe versus the countries in southern Europe.
 

vba_php

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Unfortunately, this is not a light topic. The examination of this issue is now fraught with political correctness that now vilifies and denigrates the success of western culture.
the issue of "political correctness" is part of a bigger picture of what is tearing down a system that could otherwise be great if conceptual junk like that didn't exist.
Russian and Venezuela have the potential to be as successful as the US.
I used to be a professional bowler, and some Venezuelans *are* successful! Case in point, Amleto Monacelli.
 

Steve R.

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I used to be a professional bowler, and some Venezuelans *are* successful! Case in point, Amleto Monacelli.
True, but theme is: "the differences between country cultures". One person's success does not make a country "great". As a counter example, there are many Russian billionaires. Given their apparent individual wealth, why are they apparently not helping Russia to become a success story?

It would be great, if successful individuals in otherwise poor countries would help their countries become successful.
 

vba_php

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Given their apparent individual wealth, why are they apparently not helping Russia to become a success story?
maybe because they are in bed with Putin, like Trump is? :rolleyes: Or maybe Putin doesn't want anything to do with them, but rather wants to rule the place with an iron hand? i wouldn't be a bit surprised if either scenario was true.
 

NauticalGent

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They also can't figure out using gears in a car so it has to do it for them.

Too true. The wife and I are expect shifters however and our cars are standard transmissions. And although we taught our daughters to use a standard, their husbands cannot.

I'll never have to worry about them asking to borrow the car...
 

NauticalGent

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I won't say anything about the dude in the white house Colin, but hasn't Iran always been a risk to the entire world due to their obsession with the development of nukes? Last I heard, the leader over there was doing that sort of thing and ignoring the warnings he was getting from the united nations about his progress. Is that not true anymore?

I refuse to go down this rabbit-hole any more. However, traveling and living abroad has really allowed me to see things more clearly...
 

vba_php

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Too true. The wife and I are expect shifters however and our cars are standard transmissions. And although we taught our daughters to use a standard, their husbands cannot.
NG,

is it true that most Europeans don't have cars? I remember talking to a friend a while back who lived in Germany and she told me that most people take public transportation like trains to get around. I also have another older friend who lives in Switzerland and works for their government. Her and her husband have 2 cars, but she told me once that they rarely ever drive them.
 

Steve R.

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However, traveling and living abroad has really allowed me to see things more clearly...
An invaluable observation. The media we hear/see only provides us with filtered and limited views of a country. Consequently, without international travel, one's view of the world is incomplete.

Ironically, the "general" culture of Western Europe has surfaced in the US Presidential debates. When Romney was running for President, he kept lambasting European socialism as being "bad". I was very bothered by his remarks.

Now Sanders is running to become the Democratic candidate for President. Once again European style socialism has become a media talking point. In this case, the discussion in the media appears to be much deeper than with Romney in that European style socialism is being presented as more capitalistic than we, in the US, think.
 

NauticalGent

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NG,

is it true that most Europeans don't have cars? I remember talking to a friend a while back who lived in Germany and she told me that most people take public transportation like trains to get around. I also have another older friend who lives in Switzerland and works for their government. Her and her husband have 2 cars, but she told me once that they rarely ever drive them.

Not entirely accurate there Young Blood, most families, including the poor ones have cars. That being said, because of the robust mass transit and the cost of fuel ($9/Gl), most of the will use buses and trains when they can. There are times when even airfare is more economical than driving.

Even for the NATO forces here in Italy, although we do not have to pay the fuel taxes, it still costs us about 4$ a gallon for fuel. You Americans have no idea how good you have it, or even a clue as to why you ha e it so good. You THINK you do, but you don't.

As far as I can tell, SteveR has an inkling, but still not quite there...
 

vba_php

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Not entirely accurate there Young Blood
I hate it when you call me "young blood". I'm 39! I would say that term applies to kids in their 20s. Those are the ones corporate America is obsessed with in terms of skills. Perhaps that's because they believe those kids still have the passion, energy and desire left to create the technological innovations they need to make the money?
You Americans have no idea how good you have it, or even a clue as to why you ha e it so good.
Not everyone falls into that boat, Gent! I would assume we have it so good, and always have, because American political and corporate leaders are ruthless as hell when it comes to forcing 3rd world countries to give them their way? If I had a choice, I would much rather live in a country where respect for the "little people" takes precedence over "progressive capitalism" and "maximizing shareholder value".
 

NauticalGent

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I hate it when you call me "young blood". I'm 39!

Apologies, I will not refer to you as that again. For the record, it was not meant as an insult. I use it for for those who are younger than me but have not had the opportunity to experience all the joys of life that I have. Kind of a "Although I think you have much to learn, I still think you're ok" salutation.
 

AccessBlaster

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Every time you mentioned Young blood I was thinking this, weird.:eek:
 

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NauticalGent

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He wishes! Hell don't we ALL wish we were that cool?
 

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