Differences between East and West.

[straylight]

I don't know much about the East to offer an opinion, but the "Anger" picture both amuses and confuses me.

[toyomansi]

lol these are exactly the differences I experience between Asia and Europe ;D To me, these differences in mindsets and behaviors are what make the biggest cultural differences. The differences really strike me whenever I return to Europe, the biggest one for me is the level of politeness and helpfulness of service people...

[straylight]

I hear that in Japan, they're actually nice and cheerful serving hamburgers at McDonald's.

[dead0baby0chick]

Wait, white people shower in the daytime? Seriously? Why?

[quiapo]

The link that Pelle provided is as funny as it is interesting. I certainly found many of the stereotypes resonated with my own perceptions of East and West, particularly the sense of time and punctuality. For us EAs, it is also interesting to note where we are on the spectrum of East and West characteristics. In my case, I find that my behaviour adapts according to context for several categories such as punctuality, expression of opinion, partying, but in others a core remains the same, such as experession of anger, and sense of self. We are so privileged to belong to different worlds, and can use the best of both.

[bluegum]

For the most part, it seems pretty accurate. I look at the graphics and its like differences between my mother and myself. Except for the familial stuff.

[joha87]

Yeah, I've seen those pics b4. Personally, a lot of them did resonate with me, but some were, of course, way off mark. Really, they more accurately reflect the difference between Chinese and German culture. Some Eastern cultures like Japan are very punctual, orderly, and quiet; while American culture is usually not very punctual, despite being western. (In fact, I think being punctual and orderly is very more of a German thing than a Western thing tbh.) I also feel that Koreans are a lot more open with negative feelings than Americans.

[Subuatai]

Hell or you can be born into cultures that doesn't resemble either West or East

Heh due to ignorance instead you're labeled 'barbarian' instead. Oh well, I guess for civilised people, ignorance IS bliss

[Paddy]

I feel that one of the fundamental differences between the west and the east (certainly east asia and parts of asia that have been influenced heavily by east Asia) is the individual responsibility of the people in the west (as unintentionally fostered by the Reformation) versus the collective responsibility of the east (as perpetuated and consolidated by Confucianism).

Capitalism is doing a wonderful job of undermining notions of collective responsibility. Collective responsibility has always done a great job of stifling creativity.

There are plenty of civilised peoples for whom the graphic doesn't apply. No one is about to steal your barbarian mantle, sub!

[Subuatai]

Well, both East and West certainly have something we don't; unity. As a result, amongst the tribes and now nations of the steppe, we're being pulled away from each other one by one. I'm guessing by the next 100 years, our way of life will cease to exist, and be only a memory, our people assimilated into new powers of this time.

Europe is united, Asia is semi-united, the Steppes... heh we would kill each other if we had the chance - if it wasn't for the threat of foreign interference. Only unity we've ever known was by the point of the sword.

[Paddy]

The modern nation-state will be the death of us all! First, the tribe, the clan, and then the family. And when those go, the individual will die. And the nation will have inadvertently precipitated its own downfall, even before nation has turned on nation.

[Subuatai]

Aye, but if my people are to be destroyed, we'll make sure we go down in a manner worthy of our ancestors who fought to keep us alive. To the last breath.