Cultural stereotypes

The Mullinator

The Mullinator

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http://www.newscientist.com/article.ns?id=dn8111
http://www.livescience.com/humanbiology/051006_nat_stereotypes.html

Both articles are of the same subject. Basically the percieved stereotypes that many cultures hold even for themselves are really completely wrong.

Yet the stereotypes of Americans as assertive and Canadians as submissive are illusions, McCrae said. Both groups scored almost identically on measures of assertiveness in the study.

Another stereotype that was debunked was that of Czechs being antagonistic and disagreeable. Not only was this how other groups described Czechs, it was how Czechs describe themselves. Yet in the study by McCrae and his colleagues, Czechs scored higher on altruism and modesty than most people from other countries.

...

Past studies have shown that the stereotypes one group has about another generally agreed with the stereotypes people within that group harbor about themselves. For example, Germans think of themselves in ways that are similar to what the Italian, French and British think of Germans.

But if what Germans think of themselves is not an accurate measure of reality, as the current study shows, presumably what the French think of the Germans is also not trustworthy, McCrae said. "Both groups create differences that are essentially imaginary."
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So be careful about what you think about other nations or cultures because chances are you could be wrong, even if it is about your own culture.
 
ríomhaire said:
Captian Obvious stricks again!
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It is certainly not obvious to many people. Just look at the politics forum for examples of people saying things like "typical pushy american" or "typical french cowards".
 
Damn Americans and their assertiveness.
 
The Mullinator said:
http://www.newscientist.com/article.ns?id=dn8111
http://www.livescience.com/humanbiology/051006_nat_stereotypes.html

Both articles are of the same subject. Basically the percieved stereotypes that many cultures hold even for themselves are really completely wrong.


So be careful about what you think about other nations or cultures because chances are you could be wrong, even if it is about your own culture.
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I never understood how people could judge someone by nationality alone ..there's assholes in every country, there's nice people, there's people who live up to their stereotypes ..in essence, types of personalities are the same globally
 
Won't stop all those morons from making those 'stupid american' comments either.
 
I don't mind. I am daily surrounded by people who more than justify those comments.
 
Why do we get so offensive when someone from France a smelly Frenchman? Does it really matter? We all know we're just joking around, yet people go so uptight about it...
 
Raziaar said:
Won't stop all those morons from making those 'stupid american' comments either.
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Yeah, but the problem is that the world has seemed to reach a general consensus about what America stands for as a whole. And it's not good.

The general stereotypical american, in my opinion, is self-righteous, arrogant, greedy, morally delusional, and blindingly patriotic.

the current mess in the middle east is a prime example, which is why it's so often brought up. "We must defend freedom and the american way!" self-righteous. "We'll be greeted as liberators" arrogant. "We'll just give all the contracts to Halliburton, okay Dick?" greedy. "saddam was a dictator, and that's the REAL reason we went to war." morally delusional, "Off to war, Timmy, God bless america!" blindly patriotic.

Now I know first hand that you can't define a nation with a sweeping generalization. Many americans are not like the stereotype. However the problem is this: many americans ARE in line with the stereotype. And right now, those americans have a stranglehold on the US government, thus it looks like the majority of americans are like that, even if they might not be.

when we see people like cindy sheenan, we see them presented as the minority, a fringe group of trouble makers that the government ignores, and the public resents. the global community has seen very little to discredit the American stereotype.

but then, as some americans have said, you don't care what the world thinks.
 
falconwind said:
The general stereotypical american, in my opinion, is self-righteous, arrogant, greedy, morally delusional, and blindingly patriotic.
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I'm all those except the last 2. So I hit 3 out 5. What about you guys?
 
lol, don't even put greedy with americans because everybody is greedy.
 
We don't care what the rest of the world thinks, only because they are wrong.. We have some of the best education in the world.. We're far more educated than just about every other country, and equal with those of Europe and Canada etc.. We are not anymore greedy than your average European, and we are not arrogant, the politicians are arrogant.
 
DreadLord1337 said:
We don't care what the rest of the world thinks, only because they are wrong..
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way to reinforce the stereotype there, guy, but speak for yourself.
 
DreadLord1337 said:
We don't care what the rest of the world thinks, only because they are wrong.. We have some of the best education in the world.. We're far more educated than just about every other country, and equal with those of Europe and Canada etc.. We are not anymore greedy than your average European, and we are not arrogant, the politicians are arrogant.
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sorry but north american education doesnt even come close to european
 
Well what education are you talking about? The highest ranked uni in the world is Harvard. Also we dominate the top 25 of that same pole. High school and below...maybe, maybe not.
 
CptStern said:
I never understood how people could judge someone by nationality alone ..there's assholes in every country, there's nice people, there's people who live up to their stereotypes ..in essence, types of personalities are the same globally
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You win. Hmm lets see, I have some pocket lint if you want it.
 
DreadLord1337 said:
We don't care what the rest of the world thinks, only because they are wrong.. We have some of the best education in the world.. We're far more educated than just about every other country, and equal with those of Europe and Canada etc.. We are not anymore greedy than your average European, and we are not arrogant, the politicians are arrogant.
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I suppose that's why 11% of all high school kids (can't remember the exact figure) can't locate the US on the world map huh ^_^
 
Tr0n said:
Well what education are you talking about? The highest ranked uni in the world is Harvard. Also we dominate the top 25 of that same pole. High school and below...maybe, maybe not.
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We kill ourselves studying every year. Literally.
 
Awesome video Sulkie, also according to this person who knows this other person the average american education level is something like grade 5-6. I believe sweden was grade 10. aaand canada grade 9.


so take that as you will, I trust this persons sources :O
 
Why is it that all these random Americans off the street want to bomb Australia?
 
typical dirty humans with their greasy hair and slimy skin!

generalizations can be as specific or as broad as you want them to. we should avoid them, but our brains are naturally disposed to simplifying things down into broad terms.

as for our education. I know of a girl in my college who did not know if she was living in central or south america...i go to school in the US.

The probalem at the moment is too many people are whining and complaining about "school being too hard" for their snot nosed little dumbass spawn and as such they bring down the standard and cause any sort of discipline to fly out the window. If a child is dumb, hold him back, do everyone else the favor. I'm not saying kids should have to receive military style discipline and uniforms, but school should involve actual learning instead of just babysitting.
 
DreadLord1337 said:
We don't care what the rest of the world thinks, only because they are wrong.. We have some of the best education in the world.. We're far more educated than just about every other country, and equal with those of Europe and Canada etc.. We are not anymore greedy than your average European, and we are not arrogant, the politicians are arrogant.
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Ireland supposedly has a very high standard of education and we're one of the lowest spenders on it. Wierd.
 
Thats pretty funny... but they're preying on geographically inept people. You'll find geographically inept people all over the world. Everywhere you look.
 
Flyingdebris said:
typical dirty humans with their greasy hair and slimy skin!

generalizations can be as specific or as broad as you want them to. we should avoid them, but our brains are naturally disposed to simplifying things down into broad terms.
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Aren't specific generalisations called specialisations?

Razaair said:
Thats pretty funny... but they're preying on geographically inept people. You'll find geographically inept people all over the world. Everywhere you look.
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Yes, I doubt the majority would know what truncated spurs were. Geographical ineptness, the bane of the world :sleep:
 
The streotypical Korean:

Starcraft. Starcraft. and Starcraft. Although sometimes Warcraft.
 
15357 said:
The streotypical Korean:

Starcraft. Starcraft. and Starcraft. Although sometimes Warcraft.
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The bon bon toting, Starcraft playing Korean, eh?
 
15357 said:
The streotypical Korean:

Starcraft. Starcraft. and Starcraft. Although sometimes Warcraft.
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Also dies after 150 hours non-stop gaming.
 
kirovman said:
Also dies after 150 hours non-stop gaming.
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I'm only on my 5th. Middle exams ended today. :E
 
15357 said:
The streotypical Korean:

Starcraft. Starcraft. and Starcraft. Although sometimes Warcraft.
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The Korean gamer stereotype I know of is: KEKE
 
Raziaar said:
The Korean gamer stereotype I know of is: KEKE
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:LOL:

I have no ****ing idea why they insist on saying it in english.
 
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