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I lose so much respect for people like this. I don't want to offend Americans, but this is mostly an American thing and it's not just corporate: it's politics,
by sonnyblarney 8y ago
I lose so much respect for people like this.
I don't want to offend Americans, but this is mostly an American thing and it's not just corporate: it's politics, religion, NGOs, entertainment, news - everywhere. (America literally invents it's own religions!)
The scariest part is when you meet true believers, those not just 'playing the game' but are really on the koolaid.
I believe this is because in America, people don't have quite as much of a cultural foundation to buy into, or rather, the local culture might be sparse, or unappealing. In non-American Western cultures and certainly Japan - there are establishment role models for people to look up to, across the spectrum in business, politics, nobility, etc. and there are tons of accepted cultural norms in sports, the arts, culture, cuisine etc.. There are more 'established ways' about everything from office culture, to manners, to politics, to religion. It's as though there are fewer 'seekers' perhaps because people are more grounded in their identities. Paradoxically this leaves less room for true change to happen because, in a way innovation often comes about when there's a little bit of kool-aid in the mix.
You can see this with Nike's recent commercialization ostensible social justice movements, or even with some of Steve Job's old ads. The one with Gahndi in it ... 'memba that? So funny.
I wish De Tocqueville were still alive to give us an updated view on things.
- sctb 8y agoHandwave-y nationalistic generalizations rarely lead to thoughtful discussion so we'd appreciate it if you would please not post them.
- darn 8y agoYou only call these out when the target is Americans. It's never "handwave-y nationalistic generalizations" when it's Americans doing it to others. It's becoming hilarious from where I sit, really
- sonnyblarney 8y agoThe article specifically concerns 'cultish behaviour' in a uniquely American firm, and the author is specifically speaking from the perspective of a 'non American'. My comment reflects observations I've made having living in many places around the world, speaking several languages immersing myself several different cultures and I think they speak directly to the nature of the article, more so than most of the comments on this thread which are a smidge colloquial side by HN standards. Also this isn't an issue of 'nationalism', it's about culture, ironically those are two subjects North Americans tend to conflate.
- 628C6l0 8y agoHe only enforces his "rule" when Americans are the target
- deleted 8y ago[deleted]
- jstandard 8y agoI think this is a "humans" thing. Japan and other countries have their own share of cults and group-think. Every culture has people who, for whatever reason, don't feel like they fit in. There will always be others who rise to take advantage of that. Without having been to the WeWork event, it's hard to cut around the article author's biased take. They chose a certain writing angle. The event from another perspective may be that of a fun, tongue-in-cheek festival where people cut loose for a bit. The author might also have been the only rational one there who hadn't yet drunk the koolaid.