Backward Country...hmmmmmm

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

No, sorry this is not true. I was brought up to use a knife and fork, but have friends whose cultures find it acceptable to use their hands. My ex-husband's country considered it polite to burp after dinner. However, I can't see any country thinking it's nice to pick your nose at the table! lol

I was taught to consider cultural differences before judging anyone. I would certainly not consider people backward, or from a backward country, for showing these differences.

It certainly is rude if you don't know the person or their culture and they're eating in your house ;-)

I'll agree that being ignorant of cultural differences leads to misinterpretation and social faux pas. You base your value judgements on your values and any other pertinent information you have available to you. You can make exceptions certainly, but you can only do that if you have the information with which to do so.

That's not to say of course that some behaviours (i.e. stoning, limb amputation etc) are so alien to western culture that nothing anyone says will make you accept them.

Edited June 26, 2006 by Fishdude

[Jenn! 918]

Damn, ya'll are taking this way too seriously

England sucks. The soccer team, that is. And that ain't relative. Bwahahaha.

Uh oh. Them's fightin words...

Edited June 26, 2006 by jenn3539

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

Damn, ya'll are taking this way too seriously

England sucks. The soccer team, that is. And that ain't relative. Bwahahaha.

Uh oh. Them's fightin words...

Good thing those English hooligans don't know where I live

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Damn, ya'll are taking this way too seriously

England sucks. The soccer team, that is. And that ain't relative. Bwahahaha.

Uh oh. Them's fightin words...

Good thing those English hooligans don't know where I live

My best friend is a german living in the UK. He's always amazed that whenever he watches TV there's almost always something on about WW2. I can sympathise - its like being stuck in that episode of Fawlty Towers.

The World Cup and European Championship can always be relied upon to dredge it up before every England/Germany match. back in Euro 96, the Sun featured photoshopped images of English and German players in WW2 regalia, under the headline "Blitz Fritz".

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

Damn, ya'll are taking this way too seriously

England sucks. The soccer team, that is. And that ain't relative. Bwahahaha.

Uh oh. Them's fightin words...

Good thing those English hooligans don't know where I live

My best friend is a german living in the UK. He's always amazed that whenever he watches TV there's almost always something on about WW2. I can sympathise - its like being stuck in that episode of Fawlty Towers.

The World Cup and European Championship can always be relied upon to dredge it up before every England/Germany match. back in Euro 96, the Sun featured photoshopped images of English and German players in WW2 regalia, under the headline "Blitz Fritz".

To someone who is neither English nor German, it's all extremely entertaining.

[Hilarious Clinton 452]

As I said, these judgments are ultimately subjective (based on the views of the individual as a result of their social background and upbringing).

Simple example - someone who is brought up good table manners would likely find it rude and 'backward' if someone were to pick their nose at the table, burp or eat with their hands.

In Thailand my wifes family kept handing me napkins. She told me they thought I was a dirty eater. They primarily use a spoon/fork for eating (chopsticks for noodles) but eat some things with their hands. Apparently I wasn't clean enough. They washed up all the time and showered a couple times a day. But had no problem just throwing trash on the ground.

They also had a list of countries that they considered 'backwards'. It's all relative.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

As I said, these judgments are ultimately subjective (based on the views of the individual as a result of their social background and upbringing).

Simple example - someone who is brought up good table manners would likely find it rude and 'backward' if someone were to pick their nose at the table, burp or eat with their hands.

In Thailand my wifes family kept handing me napkins. She told me they thought I was a dirty eater. They primarily use a spoon/fork for eating (chopsticks for noodles) but eat some things with their hands. Apparently I wasn't clean enough. They washed up all the time and showered a couple times a day. But had no problem just throwing trash on the ground.

They also had a list of countries that they considered 'backwards'. It's all relative.

Sure but what I would say is that almost all these sorts of misunderstandings (which is what they are) are caused not by any desire to offend but by differences in what people consider acceptable.

That's not to say that there aren't limits to what would be an acceptable cultural difference. Murder, slavery cannot be justified on cultural grounds because they're so at odds with our values.

[Girona40 0]

No, sorry this is not true. I was brought up to use a knife and fork, but have friends whose cultures find it acceptable to use their hands. My ex-husband's country considered it polite to burp after dinner. However, I can't see any country thinking it's nice to pick your nose at the table! lol

I was taught to consider cultural differences before judging anyone. I would certainly not consider people backward, or from a backward country, for showing these differences.

It certainly is rude if you don't know the person or their culture and they're eating in your house ;-)

I'll agree that being ignorant of cultural differences leads to misinterpretation and social faux pas. You base your value judgements on your values and any other pertinent information you have available to you. You can make exceptions certainly, but you can only do that if you have the information with which to do so.

That's not to say of course that some behaviours (i.e. stoning, limb amputation etc) are so alien to western culture that nothing anyone says will make you accept them.

Why would you have someone you didn't know, or at least know of, eating in your house?

Some behaviours are alien to the western culture, but I accept them for what they are. Stoning is the punishment for certain crimes and the person commiting that crime is well aware of the punishment before they commit the crime. Much like the death sentence here.

In South America I witnessed children that had limbs removed to make them "good begging material" as they approached Europeans, and other wealthier people, for money. I don't think it is right, but I can see if for what it is - a means of keeping their family alive. I accept it happens and why.

I think "ignorance" is the problem.

[rebeccajo 14]

Holy cow.....

Ok. I'm the one that said 'backwards'. In reference to a thread about a woman from Nepal. The OP stated that if the woman were to divorce her USC husband she could not return home because.....

"...if she returns to her native nepal, she is in danger of being viewed as "used goods" due to her divorce and will not only be a huge shame on her family, but also a potential victim of rape and/or murder..."

That seems 'backward' to me.

Don't know what to say to you Janice about how you took my phraseology. It wasn't meant to be offensive. Besides that, it's just my opinion anyway. If you don't like it you can always disregard it.

Edited June 26, 2006 by rebeccajo

[Girona40 0]

Holy cow.....

Ok. I'm the one that said 'backwards'. In reference to a thread about a woman from Nepal. The OP stated that if the woman were to divorce her USC husband she could not return home because.....

"...if she returns to her native nepal, she is in danger of being viewed as "used goods" due to her divorce and will not only be a huge shame on her family, but also a potential victim of rape and/or murder..."

That seems 'backward' to me.

Don't know what to say to you Janice about how you took my phraseology. It wasn't meant to be offensive. Besides that, it's just my opinion anyway. If you don't like it you can always disregard it.

I think "backward" was an unfortunate choice of word. If this woman's culture considers her "used goods" and she has the potential to become a rape/murder victim because of it, this is not backward, it is purely cultural.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Why would you have someone you didn't know, or at least know of, eating in your house?

Some behaviours are alien to the western culture, but I accept them for what they are. Stoning is the punishment for certain crimes and the person commiting that crime is well aware of the punishment before they commit the crime. Much like the death sentence here.

In South America I witnessed children that had limbs removed to make them "good begging material" as they approached Europeans, and other wealthier people, for money. I don't think it is right, but I can see if for what it is - a means of keeping their family alive. I accept it happens and why.

I think "ignorance" is the problem.

Ignorance certainly is a problem - but you will never convince me, for instance that Stoning is an acceptable form of judicial punishment, nor is there any situation where I would look favourably on a person who participates in something like that.

Obviously there's a subjective judgment there - but living as we do in a society (albeit a flawed) that generally respects human life (or at least used to), we have some degree of luxury to make that determination..

I think "backward" was an unfortunate choice of word. If this woman's culture considers her "used goods" and she has the potential to become a rape/murder victim because of it, this is not backward, it is purely cultural.

From a strictly politically correct POV sure. Its backward to me though

[arwensun1965 0]

Don't know what to say to you Janice about how you took my phraseology. It wasn't meant to be offensive. Besides that, it's just my opinion anyway. If you don't like it you can always disregard it.

Rebeccajo I am sorry If I have offeneded you in any way it was not my intention, again this is a cultural difference, as you say it is your opinion only and I should just learn to take it like water of a ducks back, I have this thing about me that just says things, I really did not realise that it would cause this much debate.

Janice

[rebeccajo 14]

Janice, you sure didn't offend me.

This is a discussion forum. We discuss stuff. I for one think it's cool and that's why I find it hard to stay away.

I think "backward" was an unfortunate choice of word. If this woman's culture considers her "used goods" and she has the potential to become a rape/murder victim because of it, this is not backward, it is purely cultural.

From a strictly politically correct POV sure. Its backward to me though

Me too and that's the reason I said it. But like I said it's only my opinion. Poor word choice or not.

If that gets me a trip behind the woodshed, oh well....I'm a grown up....I'll live.....

...peace people...

Edited June 26, 2006 by rebeccajo

[Fandango 1,439]

Sorry, but in the context of what Becca said, I agree that it's backwards...

[I'm Gone 60]

Any country where they tell you not to drink the tap water and/or you are wipping your butt with something other than TP is backwards.