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My view (American who grew up in Kansas, lives now in Maryland, has been to Europe a few times) - American culture is more homogenous than pan-European culture, certainly, since we all speak the same language and follow mostly the same rules. However, Europeans tend to forget just how goddamn big America is when they talk about "Americans." Is Nebraska much different from Kansas? No, and same can be said for Maryland and New Jersey. But the two pairs are different, and Texas / Oklahoma vary from both of them, as do Washington / Oregon.
Regional cultural variations are most pronounced when it comes to food, acceptable levels of familiarity in personal interactions, dress, and consumer habits.
Consumer habits are most interesting to me, although really they aren't the most important difference [ I just studied econ] . Perhaps because I grew up in Kansas, I like space and a car with a V6 engine. In Maryland people are willing to pay $1500 / month for a little apartment and live without a car, but they must have an iPad and a daily Starbuck's coffee.
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CA10832 Posts
i've lived in new york, missouri, washington, california, florida, and georgia. there are CLEAR differences in culture and lifestyle between all of the various regions. i identify much more with the west coast and still feel quite out of place here in NYC.
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United States24779 Posts
On May 05 2013 04:48 Kolya504 wrote:
Regional cultural variations are most pronounced when it comes to food, acceptable levels of familiarity in personal interactions, dress, and consumer habits.
I think differences in food and dress are relatively minor compared to differences in acceptance of certain religions, political ideologies, etc. There are some places in the USA where a Muslim, Jew, Protestant, or Catholic will fit right in, and some where they will be ostracized (if not worse). There are some places where guns are treated like accessories, and some where you can go years without seeing one unattached a police officer's hip. There are some places with violence, crime, and gangster lifestyle running amuck where half of Americans couldn't survive ten minutes, and places with an apparent ruling class which follows racial/political lines.
@thread: We don't have a Gaza strip and can't compare with the varied communities within Iraq when discussing cultural variation, but its still extremely significant. Try living in one place in the USA, then move to a different place that is considered to be somehow culturally opposite (New York vs Texas for example)... anyone making assumptions about the USA, having not lived in the USA at all (let alone in multiple places) probably is 1% as knowledgeable about actual American culture as they think they are. The way the USA is portrayed in international media is not a good reference at all.
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Do U.S. states have their own culture or identity? Yes
Are they extremely significant as most in the thread claims? No
As someone who has lived in the Texas for ten years, New York for four, I would say the culture is different but not at all as significant as most claim. Yes, people identify themselves as New Yorkers, or Texans, but there's not that much state pride except when it comes to sports really. If one were to ask most people in the US, they would place their culture and identity as an American first rather than their state. However, in China it's almost the direct opposite, as there is almost ubiquitous provincial pride that it borderlines prejudice and discrimination. In fact, if you so much as speak a slightly different accent in China from the one the majority speak in the province, people will treat you differently, usually in the negative way. In fact, one of the first things asked in most conversations between Chinese is what province one's from. In the US, however, this is much less the case.
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On May 05 2013 05:28 Gnaix wrote:
Do U.S. states have their own culture or identity? Yes
Are they extremely significant as most in the thread claims? No
As someone who has lived in the Texas for ten years, New York for four, I would say the culture is different but not at all as significant as most claim. Yes, people identify themselves as New Yorkers, or Texans, but there's not that much state pride except when it comes to sports really. If one were to ask most people in the US, they would place their culture and identity as an American first rather than their state. However, in China it's almost the direct opposite, as there is almost ubiquitous provincial pride that it borderlines prejudice and discrimination. In fact, if you so much as speak a slightly different accent in China from the one the majority speak in the province, people will treat you differently, usually in the negative way. In fact, one of the first things asked in most conversations between Chinese is what province one's from. In the US, however, this is much less the case.
So you're willing to judge cultural diversity across all 50 states based on having lived in 2?
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On May 05 2013 05:28 Gnaix wrote:
Do U.S. states have their own culture or identity? Yes
Are they extremely significant as most in the thread claims? No
As someone who has lived in the Texas for ten years, New York for four, I would say the culture is different but not at all as significant as most claim. Yes, people identify themselves as New Yorkers, or Texans, but there's not that much state pride except when it comes to sports really. If one were to ask most people in the US, they would place their culture and identity as an American first rather than their state. However, in China it's almost the direct opposite, as there is almost ubiquitous provincial pride that it borderlines prejudice and discrimination. In fact, if you so much as speak a slightly different accent in China from the one the majority speak in the province, people will treat you differently, usually in the negative way. In fact, one of the first things asked in most conversations between Chinese is what province one's from. In the US, however, this is much less the case.
In all likelihood you're a white male younger than 30 who speaks General Northern, and almost never talks politics or religion with anyone he meets.
So yeah, to you America is mostly the same everywhere you go. Go ask a native Hawaiian or someone from Tuskegee how similar all of the United States is.
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On May 05 2013 04:13 farvacola wrote:Show nested quote +On May 05 2013 04:03 Scootaloo wrote:On May 05 2013 03:54 farvacola wrote:On May 05 2013 03:47 Scootaloo wrote:
Ofcourse, one liners and irrelevant critiques of grammar, how very... American of you. Well, considering that it is oh so easy for you to point at our nationality and both attribute pedantic criticisms to it while in the same breath making cursory judgements as to the depth of our culture, I think it's easy to see that you are nothing more than a hater. Not a hater at all actually, I enjoy an awful lot of your media, but when we're talking about culture's you'd have to be blind not to see the obvious problems here, for gods sake, many people still care more about their pre american cultures, be it Irish, Italian, African, Mexican or whatever then their American, let alone their states culture. American has a lot of great things, but original culture is not one of them, if you think that makes me a hater, then clearly you're just talking out of some outdated sense of patriotism, not any kind of historical perspective. Again, you clearly have no experience with actual Americans nor with the inherent problems in putting too much weight on ones' own anecdotal perspective when it comes to making judgements as expansive as those of an entire nation or culture. In fact, the notion of an "original culture" is something straight out of a fascist ideology; in order for one to even begin the process of judging such a thing, they must assign a value to a particular mode and operation of cultural expression with which to compare others. This superimposes a hierarchy of values overtop a phenomena that is distinctly without an objective value, and this amounts to cultural-political violence as one argues for their idea of culture in the face of others which may disagree with it. It's clear you have no respect for American culture, but I'm afraid that such a judgement is more entrenched in discomfort and disregard rather than anything truly objective.
Actually, living in a very popular tourist destination for Americans and knowing quite a few, clearly you're talking out of your ass due of frustration.
And if you're thinking this is all based on anecdotal evidence, clearly you've been too much caught up in thinking of fancy words to actually read my posts.
Clearly you're a cultural romantisist if you believe you should not assign values to cultural expressions, should we not assign a value to cultural practice of female or even male circumcision (which the states practice not for hygene purposes, but as a measure to counteract mastrubation)? How about the cultural tradition of hunting endangered species like whales? Or how about the american cultural ideas about physical beauty? That leads to anorexia, cosmetic surgery and steroids?
The fact that something is a culture does not mean it deserves any praise or protection from scrutiny.
You're right, I don't respect American culture, not do I respect any other culture simply for the merit of it being one, American culture has done a couple good things once they started to ignore their own isolationism, but these days their slave liberating days are over and they are more inclined to enslave via the wonderful systems of debt and military threat.
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On May 05 2013 05:44 Scootaloo wrote:Show nested quote +On May 05 2013 04:13 farvacola wrote:On May 05 2013 04:03 Scootaloo wrote:On May 05 2013 03:54 farvacola wrote:On May 05 2013 03:47 Scootaloo wrote:
Ofcourse, one liners and irrelevant critiques of grammar, how very... American of you. Well, considering that it is oh so easy for you to point at our nationality and both attribute pedantic criticisms to it while in the same breath making cursory judgements as to the depth of our culture, I think it's easy to see that you are nothing more than a hater. Not a hater at all actually, I enjoy an awful lot of your media, but when we're talking about culture's you'd have to be blind not to see the obvious problems here, for gods sake, many people still care more about their pre american cultures, be it Irish, Italian, African, Mexican or whatever then their American, let alone their states culture. American has a lot of great things, but original culture is not one of them, if you think that makes me a hater, then clearly you're just talking out of some outdated sense of patriotism, not any kind of historical perspective. Again, you clearly have no experience with actual Americans nor with the inherent problems in putting too much weight on ones' own anecdotal perspective when it comes to making judgements as expansive as those of an entire nation or culture. In fact, the notion of an "original culture" is something straight out of a fascist ideology; in order for one to even begin the process of judging such a thing, they must assign a value to a particular mode and operation of cultural expression with which to compare others. This superimposes a hierarchy of values overtop a phenomena that is distinctly without an objective value, and this amounts to cultural-political violence as one argues for their idea of culture in the face of others which may disagree with it. It's clear you have no respect for American culture, but I'm afraid that such a judgement is more entrenched in discomfort and disregard rather than anything truly objective. Actually, living in a very popular tourist destination for Americans and knowing quite a few, clearly you're talking out of your ass due of frustration. And if you're thinking this is all based on anecdotal evidence, clearly you've been too much caught up in thinking of fancy words to actually read my posts. Clearly you're a cultural romantisist if you believe you should not assign values to cultural expressions, should we not assign a value to cultural practice of female or even male circumcision (which the states practice not for hygene purposes, but as a measure to counteract mastrubation)? How about the cultural tradition of hunting endangered species like whales? Or how about the american cultural ideas about physical beauty? That leads to anorexia, cosmetic surgery and steroids? The fact that something is a culture does not mean it deserves any praise or protection from scrutiny. You're right, I don't respect American culture, not do I respect any other culture simply for the merit of it being one, American culture has done a couple good things once they started to ignore their own isolationism, but these days their slave liberating days are over and they are more inclined to enslave via the wonderful systems of debt and military threat.
So you know American culture based on tourists visiting your country? Am I understanding you correctly?
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On May 05 2013 05:44 Scootaloo wrote:Show nested quote +On May 05 2013 04:13 farvacola wrote:On May 05 2013 04:03 Scootaloo wrote:On May 05 2013 03:54 farvacola wrote:On May 05 2013 03:47 Scootaloo wrote:
Ofcourse, one liners and irrelevant critiques of grammar, how very... American of you. Well, considering that it is oh so easy for you to point at our nationality and both attribute pedantic criticisms to it while in the same breath making cursory judgements as to the depth of our culture, I think it's easy to see that you are nothing more than a hater. Not a hater at all actually, I enjoy an awful lot of your media, but when we're talking about culture's you'd have to be blind not to see the obvious problems here, for gods sake, many people still care more about their pre american cultures, be it Irish, Italian, African, Mexican or whatever then their American, let alone their states culture. American has a lot of great things, but original culture is not one of them, if you think that makes me a hater, then clearly you're just talking out of some outdated sense of patriotism, not any kind of historical perspective. Again, you clearly have no experience with actual Americans nor with the inherent problems in putting too much weight on ones' own anecdotal perspective when it comes to making judgements as expansive as those of an entire nation or culture. In fact, the notion of an "original culture" is something straight out of a fascist ideology; in order for one to even begin the process of judging such a thing, they must assign a value to a particular mode and operation of cultural expression with which to compare others. This superimposes a hierarchy of values overtop a phenomena that is distinctly without an objective value, and this amounts to cultural-political violence as one argues for their idea of culture in the face of others which may disagree with it. It's clear you have no respect for American culture, but I'm afraid that such a judgement is more entrenched in discomfort and disregard rather than anything truly objective. Actually, living in a very popular tourist destination for Americans and knowing quite a few, clearly you're talking out of your ass due of frustration. And if you're thinking this is all based on anecdotal evidence, clearly you've been too much caught up in thinking of fancy words to actually read my posts. Clearly you're a cultural romantisist if you believe you should not assign values to cultural expressions, should we not assign a value to cultural practice of female or even male circumcision (which the states practice not for hygene purposes, but as a measure to counteract mastrubation)? How about the cultural tradition of hunting endangered species like whales? Or how about the american cultural ideas about physical beauty? That leads to anorexia, cosmetic surgery and steroids? The fact that something is a culture does not mean it deserves any praise or protection from scrutiny. You're right, I don't respect American culture, not do I respect any other culture simply for the merit of it being one, American culture has done a couple good things once they started to ignore their own isolationism, but these days their slave liberating days are over and they are more inclined to enslave via the wonderful systems of debt and military threat.
Holy crap dude! Astounding amount of ignorance. Please just stop. You're making a complete ass of yourself and it's clear most of your "knowledge" on America is based on stereotypes and ignorance.
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Seems like a pointless discussion to me. No one here seems to be offering a metric to define "how different the culture is" between someone in texas and new york and how this "difference" compares to the one between Paris and Berlin. Everyone's just throwing out anectodal evidence and getting butthurt at those who disagree (well, mostly americans getting butthurt, but that isn't unexpected given the nature of the thread).
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On May 05 2013 05:44 Scootaloo wrote:Show nested quote +On May 05 2013 04:13 farvacola wrote:On May 05 2013 04:03 Scootaloo wrote:On May 05 2013 03:54 farvacola wrote:On May 05 2013 03:47 Scootaloo wrote:
Ofcourse, one liners and irrelevant critiques of grammar, how very... American of you. Well, considering that it is oh so easy for you to point at our nationality and both attribute pedantic criticisms to it while in the same breath making cursory judgements as to the depth of our culture, I think it's easy to see that you are nothing more than a hater. Not a hater at all actually, I enjoy an awful lot of your media, but when we're talking about culture's you'd have to be blind not to see the obvious problems here, for gods sake, many people still care more about their pre american cultures, be it Irish, Italian, African, Mexican or whatever then their American, let alone their states culture. American has a lot of great things, but original culture is not one of them, if you think that makes me a hater, then clearly you're just talking out of some outdated sense of patriotism, not any kind of historical perspective. Again, you clearly have no experience with actual Americans nor with the inherent problems in putting too much weight on ones' own anecdotal perspective when it comes to making judgements as expansive as those of an entire nation or culture. In fact, the notion of an "original culture" is something straight out of a fascist ideology; in order for one to even begin the process of judging such a thing, they must assign a value to a particular mode and operation of cultural expression with which to compare others. This superimposes a hierarchy of values overtop a phenomena that is distinctly without an objective value, and this amounts to cultural-political violence as one argues for their idea of culture in the face of others which may disagree with it. It's clear you have no respect for American culture, but I'm afraid that such a judgement is more entrenched in discomfort and disregard rather than anything truly objective. Actually, living in a very popular tourist destination for Americans and knowing quite a few, clearly you're talking out of your ass due of frustration. And if you're thinking this is all based on anecdotal evidence, clearly you've been too much caught up in thinking of fancy words to actually read my posts. Clearly you're a cultural romantisist if you believe you should not assign values to cultural expressions, should we not assign a value to cultural practice of female or even male circumcision (which the states practice not for hygene purposes, but as a measure to counteract mastrubation)? How about the cultural tradition of hunting endangered species like whales? Or how about the american cultural ideas about physical beauty? That leads to anorexia, cosmetic surgery and steroids? The fact that something is a culture does not mean it deserves any praise or protection from scrutiny. You're right, I don't respect American culture, not do I respect any other culture simply for the merit of it being one, American culture has done a couple good things once they started to ignore their own isolationism, but these days their slave liberating days are over and they are more inclined to enslave via the wonderful systems of debt and military threat.
Even better that you willingly admit that you are judging the bulk of American culture based on having interacted with a few tourists. Anti-American sentiment is an incredibly popular and easily accessible idea abroad, and you are laying bare the fundamentally flawed backbone to such an idea through your repeated refusal to admit that getting a sense for the culture of over 300 million people, spread across one of the largest nations by land mass in the world, is actually an incredibly difficult thing. Your willingness to ascribe potentially negative cultural phenomena to the US and the US alone tells the tale. Whale hunting, the fashion world's distortion of popular beauty, and the controversy surrounding circumcision are all topics with multivarious influences and beginnings, and this is clear to anyone who isn't a card carrying anti-American.
On May 05 2013 05:56 Sbrubbles wrote:
Seems like a pointless discussion to me. No one here seems to be offering a metric to define "how different the culture is" between someone in texas and new york and how this "difference" compares to the one between Paris and Berlin. Everyone's just throwing out anectodal evidence and getting butthurt at those who disagree (well, mostly americans getting butthurt, but that isn't unexpected given the nature of the thread).
So, if I start a thread about how the culture of Brazil breeds pathetically weak men, horrible discrepancies in wealth equality, and is responsible for the bulk of South America's problems, are you going to just sit there and take it? I'm genuinely curious.
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On May 03 2013 14:39 micronesia wrote:
I definitely think there are major variations in culture around the USA, but I don't think state lines are a good way to differentiate them.
I think many Europeans don't realize how different it is living in some states versus others. The size and diversity of the US is difficult to understand if you haven't experienced it yourself (there are not many comparable nations in this regard).
Canada?
ontario, quebec, east coast, west coast, northern inuit ect
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Utah certainly has a different feel than most of the states I've been to. It might not be much, but what is different sticks out pretty clearly between states.
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United States24779 Posts
On May 05 2013 05:58 EleanorRIgby wrote:Show nested quote +On May 03 2013 14:39 micronesia wrote:
I definitely think there are major variations in culture around the USA, but I don't think state lines are a good way to differentiate them.
I think many Europeans don't realize how different it is living in some states versus others. The size and diversity of the US is difficult to understand if you haven't experienced it yourself (there are not many comparable nations in this regard). Canada? ontario, quebec, east coast, west coast, northern inuit ect
I think Canada is another good example (and again one of the few). I've been to enough places in Canada to see this myself, too.
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On May 05 2013 05:56 farvacola wrote:Show nested quote +On May 05 2013 05:56 Sbrubbles wrote:
Seems like a pointless discussion to me. No one here seems to be offering a metric to define "how different the culture is" between someone in texas and new york and how this "difference" compares to the one between Paris and Berlin. Everyone's just throwing out anectodal evidence and getting butthurt at those who disagree (well, mostly americans getting butthurt, but that isn't unexpected given the nature of the thread). So, if I start a thread about how the culture of Brazil breeds pathetically weak men, horrible discrepancies in wealth equality, and is responsible for the bulk of South America's problems, are you going to just sit there and take it? I'm genuinely curious.
Why did you think I said it was unexpected? Of course you would see the comparisions made in this thread as insulting, much as I do about your opinion on Brazil.
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On May 05 2013 06:03 Sbrubbles wrote:Show nested quote +On May 05 2013 05:56 farvacola wrote:On May 05 2013 05:56 Sbrubbles wrote:
Seems like a pointless discussion to me. No one here seems to be offering a metric to define "how different the culture is" between someone in texas and new york and how this "difference" compares to the one between Paris and Berlin. Everyone's just throwing out anectodal evidence and getting butthurt at those who disagree (well, mostly americans getting butthurt, but that isn't unexpected given the nature of the thread). So, if I start a thread about how the culture of Brazil breeds pathetically weak men, horrible discrepancies in wealth equality, and is responsible for the bulk of South America's problems, are you going to just sit there and take it? I'm genuinely curious. Why did you think I said it was unexpected? Of course you would see the comparisions made in this thread as insulting, much as I do about your opinion on Brazil.
But, this thread is not full of singularly judgmental, idiotic opinions; it's clear that a fair number of non-US citizens had relatively little idea as to just how much variation there is amongst US states, and it's pretty cool that US citizens are given the opportunity to speak on their home states and experiences. Just as I would love to get a better idea for the culture of Brazil, as I have relatively little experience. My point is that threads such as these need not be inherently negative if we simply discourage bad logic and encourage, oh I don't know, listening to one another?
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Differences is a funny thing you'll find them in any country the difference in the US is the physical size of the US and the population; so you can find larger groups of differences. But it doesn't remove the shared history and identity. Local culture is always more pronounced it would be strange if it was the other way around.
The polls aren't much of a surprise ask American if they can different between regions of the US and their cultures you'll get more yes then no. Ask say a German and you're less likely to get people as informed about the US.
But reverse this ask an American to differentiate between the regions in Germany and you'll find far less people able to do so then if you asked a German to do it.
The only difference between the US and most other nations is physical size and diversity of the geographical locations. After all the US as a country that has continental weather. Scope is everything few countries share that kind of scope.
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On May 05 2013 06:09 semantics wrote:
Differences is a funny thing you'll find them in any country the difference in the US is the physical size of the US and the population; so you can find larger groups of differences. But it doesn't remove the shared history and identity. Local culture is always more pronounced it would be strange if it was the other way around.
The polls aren't much of a surprise ask American if they can different between regions of the US and their cultures you'll get more yes then no. Ask say a German and you're less likely to get people as informed about the US.
But reverse this ask an American to differentiate between the regions in Germany and you'll find far less people able to do so then if you asked a German to do it.
The only difference between the US and most other nations is physical size and diversity of the geographical locations. After all the US as a country that has continental weather. Scope is everything few countries share that kind of scope.
Of course I couldnt differentiate between regions in Germany, I havent been there. I would certainly be open to learning and hearing about these differences (and I know that they exist) though.
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On May 05 2013 05:28 farvacola wrote:Show nested quote +On May 05 2013 05:28 Gnaix wrote:
Do U.S. states have their own culture or identity? Yes
Are they extremely significant as most in the thread claims? No
As someone who has lived in the Texas for ten years, New York for four, I would say the culture is different but not at all as significant as most claim. Yes, people identify themselves as New Yorkers, or Texans, but there's not that much state pride except when it comes to sports really. If one were to ask most people in the US, they would place their culture and identity as an American first rather than their state. However, in China it's almost the direct opposite, as there is almost ubiquitous provincial pride that it borderlines prejudice and discrimination. In fact, if you so much as speak a slightly different accent in China from the one the majority speak in the province, people will treat you differently, usually in the negative way. In fact, one of the first things asked in most conversations between Chinese is what province one's from. In the US, however, this is much less the case. So you're willing to judge cultural diversity across all 50 states based on having lived in 2?
Right, because obviously I haven't spoken with anyone from states other than those 2 (sarcasm if you can't tell).
In all seriousness, I merely mention the two simply because the previous poster said "Try living in one place in the USA, then move to a different place that is considered to be somehow culturally opposite (New York vs Texas for example)," and I happened to have lived in the two in the example, although I have lived in other states for much shorter lengths.
On May 05 2013 05:39 ShatterZer0 wrote:Show nested quote +On May 05 2013 05:28 Gnaix wrote:
Do U.S. states have their own culture or identity? Yes
Are they extremely significant as most in the thread claims? No
As someone who has lived in the Texas for ten years, New York for four, I would say the culture is different but not at all as significant as most claim. Yes, people identify themselves as New Yorkers, or Texans, but there's not that much state pride except when it comes to sports really. If one were to ask most people in the US, they would place their culture and identity as an American first rather than their state. However, in China it's almost the direct opposite, as there is almost ubiquitous provincial pride that it borderlines prejudice and discrimination. In fact, if you so much as speak a slightly different accent in China from the one the majority speak in the province, people will treat you differently, usually in the negative way. In fact, one of the first things asked in most conversations between Chinese is what province one's from. In the US, however, this is much less the case. In all likelihood you're a white male younger than 30 who speaks General Northern, and almost never talks politics or religion with anyone he meets. So yeah, to you America is mostly the same everywhere you go. Go ask a native Hawaiian or someone from Tuskegee how similar all of the United States is.
If you even bothered to read my post, you'll notice that I said I've lived for ten years in Texas, so if "General Northern" = "Southern Drawl", then you might be right. Although it's true that I almost never talk politics, I do happen to have discussed religion almost weekly with people of different locations. Also if you bothered to read the post, you'll notice how I can speak with authority of Chinese provincial differences. As "a white male younger than 30" doesn't seem to make much sense unless he happened to major in Chinese Language in college and went to study abroad in China as well. However, this isn't the case, as I was actually born in China and lived in quite a few different provinces there as well. And the different cultural and identity differences between Chinese provinces are much more significant than that of any US state.
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On May 05 2013 06:17 Gnaix wrote:Show nested quote +On May 05 2013 05:28 farvacola wrote:On May 05 2013 05:28 Gnaix wrote:
Do U.S. states have their own culture or identity? Yes
Are they extremely significant as most in the thread claims? No
As someone who has lived in the Texas for ten years, New York for four, I would say the culture is different but not at all as significant as most claim. Yes, people identify themselves as New Yorkers, or Texans, but there's not that much state pride except when it comes to sports really. If one were to ask most people in the US, they would place their culture and identity as an American first rather than their state. However, in China it's almost the direct opposite, as there is almost ubiquitous provincial pride that it borderlines prejudice and discrimination. In fact, if you so much as speak a slightly different accent in China from the one the majority speak in the province, people will treat you differently, usually in the negative way. In fact, one of the first things asked in most conversations between Chinese is what province one's from. In the US, however, this is much less the case. So you're willing to judge cultural diversity across all 50 states based on having lived in 2? Right, because obviously I haven't spoken with anyone from states other than those 2 (sarcasm if you can't tell). In all seriousness, I merely mention the two simply because the previous poster said "Try living in one place in the USA, then move to a different place that is considered to be somehow culturally opposite (New York vs Texas for example)," and I happened to have lived in the two in the example, although I have lived in other states for much shorter lengths. Show nested quote +On May 05 2013 05:39 ShatterZer0 wrote:On May 05 2013 05:28 Gnaix wrote:
Do U.S. states have their own culture or identity? Yes
Are they extremely significant as most in the thread claims? No
As someone who has lived in the Texas for ten years, New York for four, I would say the culture is different but not at all as significant as most claim. Yes, people identify themselves as New Yorkers, or Texans, but there's not that much state pride except when it comes to sports really. If one were to ask most people in the US, they would place their culture and identity as an American first rather than their state. However, in China it's almost the direct opposite, as there is almost ubiquitous provincial pride that it borderlines prejudice and discrimination. In fact, if you so much as speak a slightly different accent in China from the one the majority speak in the province, people will treat you differently, usually in the negative way. In fact, one of the first things asked in most conversations between Chinese is what province one's from. In the US, however, this is much less the case. In all likelihood you're a white male younger than 30 who speaks General Northern, and almost never talks politics or religion with anyone he meets. So yeah, to you America is mostly the same everywhere you go. Go ask a native Hawaiian or someone from Tuskegee how similar all of the United States is. If you even bothered to read my post, you'll notice that I said I've lived for ten years in Texas, so if "General Northern" = "Southern Drawl", then you might be right. Although it's true that I almost never talk politics, I do happen to have discussed religion almost weekly with people of different locations. Also if you bothered to read the post, you'll notice how I can speak with authority of Chinese provincial differences. As "a white male younger than 30" doesn't seem to make much sense unless he happened to major in Chinese Language in college and went to study abroad in China as well. However, this isn't the case, as I was actually born in China and lived in quite a few different provinces there as well. And the different cultural and identity differences between Chinese provinces are much more significant than that of any US state.
It doesn't matter how you dress it up; you are placing an inordinate amount of importance and significance on your own personal experiences, and your willingness to discount the possibility that things just might be different than your experiences have led you to believe speaks to hubris more than any sort of objective standard of cultural variation. The moral of the story is that comparing cultural variations across different nations is so problematic as to render the thing potentially useless outside decades of exhaustive research.
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