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And who could blame them. As an outsider who didn't grow up in the U.S. but has spent the past year living here, people are generally amiable and friendly but w

by huragok 13y ago

And who could blame them. As an outsider who didn't grow up in the U.S. but has spent the past year living here, people are generally amiable and friendly but will take advantage of you for a mile if you give an inch. Rabid consumerism, shows of status, workaholism and an overwhelming feeling of fuck you got mine seems to pervade the collective psyche because you can't really lean on others (save for a few nonconformists).

thenerdfiles 13y ago
I believe TyphonBlue's Theory of Apexuality[0] could also explain a lot of this: > The third term is ‘Apexual’. This is a portmanteau of ‘Apex’ and ‘sexual’ and refers to a male-bodied individual who derives its primary identity from its position within a status hierarchy rather then a positive relationship with other male-bodied individuals. [...] > In light of that can you actually trust apexuals to have the best interests of the male-bodied at heart even if they are male bodied themselves? [0]: http://www.genderratic.com/p/1140/patriarchy-1-0-and-the-apexual/ http://www.genderratic.com/p/1140/patriarchy-1-0-and-the-ape...
alayne 13y ago
You can't generalize across 300 million people based on one year of personal experiences.
- notdrunkatall 13y ago
  Sure you can. You may not be entirely correct, but there is nothing wrong with stating an opinion based on personal experience.
  - deleted 13y ago
    [deleted]
bcoates 13y ago
I think you're experiencing some culture shock. Even if you can trust people to be decent, you still have to share norms as to what the other guy considers "decent". Americans tend to have a fairly individualist/independent view of ethical behavior that can be jarring to someone not used to it but it doesn't prevent social cohesion or a trusting society.
seanmcdirmid 13y ago
> people are generally amiable and friendly but will take advantage of you for a mile if you give an inch. How does that not describe...say Italy? > Rabid consumerism, shows of status, workaholism and an overwhelming feeling of fuck you got mine I've never lived in a country where I felt like this wasn't true, even Switzerland.

by huragok 13y ago

thenerdfiles 13y ago

I believe TyphonBlue's Theory of Apexuality[0] could also explain a lot of this: > The third term is ‘Apexual’. This is a portmanteau of ‘Apex’ and ‘sexual’ and refers to a male-bodied individual who derives its primary identity from its position within a status hierarchy rather then a positive relationship with other male-bodied individuals. [...] > In light of that can you actually trust apexuals to have the best interests of the male-bodied at heart even if they are male bodied themselves? [0]: http://www.genderratic.com/p/1140/patriarchy-1-0-and-the-apexual/ http://www.genderratic.com/p/1140/patriarchy-1-0-and-the-ape...

alayne 13y ago

You can't generalize across 300 million people based on one year of personal experiences.

notdrunkatall 13y ago
Sure you can. You may not be entirely correct, but there is nothing wrong with stating an opinion based on personal experience.
- deleted 13y ago
  [deleted]

bcoates 13y ago

I think you're experiencing some culture shock. Even if you can trust people to be decent, you still have to share norms as to what the other guy considers "decent". Americans tend to have a fairly individualist/independent view of ethical behavior that can be jarring to someone not used to it but it doesn't prevent social cohesion or a trusting society.

seanmcdirmid 13y ago

> people are generally amiable and friendly but will take advantage of you for a mile if you give an inch. How does that not describe...say Italy? > Rabid consumerism, shows of status, workaholism and an overwhelming feeling of fuck you got mine I've never lived in a country where I felt like this wasn't true, even Switzerland.