4 ms·
This seems unfair. First, there are absolutely economic and cultural factors that cause noise in the meritocracy. Second, for those Americans who aren't in disa
by sgrove 14y ago
This seems unfair. First, there are absolutely economic and cultural factors that cause noise in the meritocracy. Second, for those Americans who aren't in disadvantaged economic situations, there's certainly an emphasis on 'being happy' and being at least a bit of a generalist here which isn't as present in many other places.
Reducing that to 'text or playing video games or drinking diet energy mountain dew xtreme (the dewiest)' is dismissive and lowers the conversation.
- seiji 14y agoGood point. I was approaching from a view of mostly well off Americans who get annoyed when fer'ners show up and become more successful than they are. It's completely different when you consider people who don't even know how to do academic things well being placed against extreme cram school cultures. See: waiting for superman, the lottery, a few Frontline specials about it, and mst3k episode 816.
- sgrove 14y agoAh, yes, I see the context now. I suppose I have less an less exposure to people like that these days, so they rarely factor into my understanding. Probably fair to say there's a mix of different attitudes, understanding, expectations, and hopes in the American landscape.