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Opinions/Editorials Title: Fish don't know they're in water Fish don't know they're in water.
If you tried to explain it, they'd say, “Water? What's water?”
They're so surrounded by it, that it's impossible to see.
They can't see it until they get outside of it.
This is how I feel about culture.
We're so surrounded by people who think like us, that it's impossible to see that what we think are universal truths are just our local culture.
We can't see it until we get outside of it.
I was born in California and grew up with what I felt was a normal upbringing with normal values.
I was speaking to a business school class here in Singapore. I asked, “How many people would like to start their own company some day?” In a room of 50 people, only one hand (reluctantly) went up.
If I would have asked this question to a room of 50 business school students in California, 51 hands would have gone up. (Someone would have run in from the hallway just to raise their hand.)
Thinking maybe they were just shy, I asked, “Really!? Why not?” - and asked individuals. Their answers:
*
“Why take the risk? I just want security.” *
“I spent all this money on school, and need to make it back.” *
“If I fail, it would be a huge embarassment to my family.”
Then I realized my local American culture. The land of entrepreneurs and over-confidence. I had heard this before, but I hadn't really felt it until I could see it from a distance.
All of my Singaporean friends live with their parents. Even pretty successful ones, even married ones, even up to age 35, live with their parents at their parents' home.
When I told one that I left home at 17, she was horrified. She said, “Isn't that horribly insulting to your parents? Weren't they devastated?”
Then I realized my local American culture again. The emphasis on individualism, rebellion, following your dreams. I had heard this before, but I hadn't really felt it until I could see it from a distance.
My culture isn't in the center. It's off on the edge, like one petal in a flower, like they all are. Not right or wrong - just one of many options.
Yes, the rest of the world can enjoy a good laugh at the stereotypical American - just now realizing he's not the center of the universe.
I'm just a fish who didn't know he was in water. Post Comment Private Reply Ignore Thread Top • Page Up • Full Thread • Page Down • Bottom/Latest If you tried to explain it, they'd say, “Water? What's water?” If you try and explain stuff to fish you should be locked up in a mental hospital. "Keep Your Goddamn Government Hands Off My Medicare!" - Various Tea Party signs. #2. To: Godwinson (#1) If you try and explain stuff to fish you should be locked up in a mental hospital. I thought Stone already was.
#3. To: Skip Intro (#2) ...with Internet posting privileges.
#4. To: Fred Mertz (#3) ...with Internet posting privileges. I wish he would put himself on restriction.
#5. To: Fred Mertz (#3) ...with Internet posting privileges. Maybe he shares a room with byeltsin.
#6. To: Skip Intro (#5) That sounds possible. I'm off to lunch, this chit-chat channel is boring today.
#7. To: A K A Stone (#0) We're so surrounded by people who think like us... Now I know why the whiners here have a problem with your 'style'. They're just a bunch of fish out of the water, floppin' and flappin' their way to the next insurrection.
#8. To: A K A Stone (#0) Poster's anger at you aside, Good post...Plato agrees. Plato, The Allegory of the Cave
#9. To: socalv8 (#8) Plato agrees. I see no need to bring a Disney cartoon character into this. :-P Tag line: I wuz HACKED, cuz I SAY so! #10. To: Wood_Chopper (#9) I see no need to bring a Disney cartoon character into this. You brought the Goofy. ;)
#11. To: socalv8 (#10) A.J. Bonar used Plato's Allegory of the Cave to prove there is no "correct" golf swing. Now, if I have a dorado on the line, and he jumps out of the water, does he become aware of whether or not a tree makes a sound if it falls in the forest and there's no one there to hear it? Plato would have been pleased to have found out about the infra-red. Tag line: I wuz HACKED, cuz I SAY so! #12. To: Skip Intro (#5) Because I refuse to live in your world of regressive retards ! If you ... don't use exclamation points --- you should't be typeing ! Commas - semicolons are for girlie boys ! Top • Page Up • Full Thread • Page Down • Bottom/Latest |
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