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ABC
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Examples:
Thailand.....The family unit tends to be very strong. Parents are to be taken care of by the children when they grow up. Extended family members tend to live together or generally in close proximity.
US.....Family unit may not be as strong. Not very common for extended family members to live in same household.
Parents are expected to be financially self secure for retirement or they must rely on welfare from the state. Much less emphasis on children being particularly obligated to provide a living for elderly parents.
IMO:
The example about family / values is not an east vs west issue, but an asian thing and not a religeous one either.
I live in the west, have grown up in tbe west and hense an "A.B.C" = Amercian Born Chinese.
These so-called East / family values are very strong in our family as well as most of my friends, who are also A.B.C's or at least A.B's.
No. My parents do not live with me, but I do live only 10 minutes from them and see them on average every other day for dinner or at least call them on the phone.
I call and see my parents because I enjoy their company as well as "family" is important values are in my blood. But, if I don't see them or call they don't jump down my throat.
Am I a "momma's boy"?? Hell no.
Eventhough I do not have to financially take care or them @ this moment, I understand that "IF" the time comes I will do so.
Another thing people might not understand or know if family heirachy. So, your elders are always @ the top and should never be disrespected. This becomes a challenge if you don't agree with that they are saying. ha ha ha!! If a family takes this heirachy to literal, then problems do arrise.
I won't go into any more details about Asian life. It does depend on where your parents were born, where you live now, grandparents influence on the family to name a few.
More spiritual?
Less spiritual?
As per the spiritual aspect, my only comment is that being spiritual is different then praticing.
Example, someone could say they are a Buddist, but follow none of the teachings or values. Though I would never question a persons faith out loud, bu in the back of my mind, I would wonder if that person is really Buddist or just going through the motions.
So, I don't think either culture is any more spiritual then the other one.
I sometimes think that Thais have too much of a laid back attitude and essentially are not as driven as they should be.
Go visit Hawaii sometime. You'll find that for the most part the locals that have never left the island except to go to Las Vegas for vacations think very close to this way!! ha ha ha!!
BUT, I will say in the Asian culture, working hard and getting ahead is very important. This is not to say that it is not important in non-Asian culture. BUT.... you can see this in the asian educationals system, where during high school finals there is a high rate of suicide amoungst the students because they crack under the pressure to perform. Beause good grades mean a good college, which in term means vast earning potential. At least that is what many Asians think. To me, that's on the extreme side.
In closing, all culutures hvae their good side and bad side. I could list a ton of negative ones attached to the Asian culture if needed.
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Thai Girls : Meet Sexy Thai Girls
Posted on: 6:08 am on June 22, 2004
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Mr Alan
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In the US I rarely eat at McDonalds. But what I don't understand is if everyone outside the US is complaining about them, why do people eat there and how do they stay in business?
Keep in mind that McDonalds is a franchise and the places are owned by locals.
If the EU bands together, I don't see how that will affect consumer preferences. Of course an EU government can ban McDonalds (sort of like France banned the word "email"), but that is just protectionism and government control that will eventually end up costing them in the long run.
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Bangkok Women : Meet Sensual Bangkok Women
Posted on: 6:10 am on June 22, 2004
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jack attack
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Cyborg,
It would be great for the US to absorb some Thai attributes, but highly unlikely. There just aren't enough Thais over there. But get out of the big cities and you do see a little more of the mai pen rai attitude in small towns.
Oddly enough, when Thais achieve a certain economic status and move into a big house, the first thing they do is build a wall around it! Family in, everybody else get the F' outa here.
IMO and warped view, consumerism is the cause for the changes in both the US and everywhere. Everyone is getting caught in the "I want" syndrome but it is getting further and further away from the "I need" reality. I want a new mobile but do I need it? I want a new car but do I need it?
Of course there is also "I want to get laid by 10 beautiful girls everday, but do I need it?" On second thought, scratch that last example.
Mr. Alan & Whisper
If I am not mistaken, Japan is mainly Shinto and Taoist but closely related to Buddhism. There was a period up until the mid 1800's whereby Japan was completely at peace and entirely closed to the west. When the Americans went there around 1850, they made such a threat that the Japanese at that point woke up and decided they needed to arm to protect themselves. Also they noted the expansion of western countries around all Asia and decided they wanted a piece for themselves. The rest is more current history.
But they have now exported their 'culture' too. The Japanese form of retailing is everywhere across Asia. Pokemon, Hello Kitty, Manga are shaping the youth here as much if not more than Harry Potter, Shrek, and Garfield. Karaoke is a Japanese export.
Koreans have a deep respect for family as do Thais. But their drive as a nation to be recognized internationally has caused them to work outrageously long hours, caused severe strains on male health and resulted in the country being the 11th largest in the world. No one wants to be laid back there.
As for Swiss IMO, they recognize national religions but the religion most followed is business. They were blessed with a natural mountain barrier until the industrial revolution. Then they quickly realized that for their size and geographic position, neutrality would serve them best. They are efficient without being ridiculous about it. They saw a financial opportunity through banking and created an industry.
Referring back to the opening comments, I agree that mixing the Thai and western cultures would be great.
That could be the rationale for getting all these Thai bargirls pregnant... we are doing it to create a future generation more better than today's!
Let's be honest, if all the terrorists were getting drunk and laid regularly would they have the time or inclination to do the stupid crap they pulling now?
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Thai Girls : Meet Sexy Thai Girls
Posted on: 6:13 am on June 22, 2004
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Mr Alan
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Jack Attack,
I would have to respectfully disagree with your assessment of Japan 150 hundred years ago. Samurai warriors existed long before any westerners arrived there. Since Japan is an island, there was not as much violence towards other nations back then, but that was geography and lack of technology and had nothing to do with their culture. There were plenty of battles within Japan.
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Bangkok Girls : Meet Sexy Bangkok Girls
Posted on: 6:20 am on June 22, 2004
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Hermanolobo
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Quote: from Mr Alan on 6:10 pm on June 22, 2004
In the US I rarely eat at McDonalds. But what I don't understand is if everyone outside the US is complaining about them, why do people eat there and how do they stay in business?
Keep in mind that McDonalds is a franchise and the places are owned by locals.
If the EU bands together, I don't see how that will affect consumer preferences. Of course an EU government can ban McDonalds (sort of like France banned the word "email"), but that is just protectionism and government control that will eventually end up costing them in the long run.
My point is not McDonalds but Global Culture swamping local or National culture. EU or US style.
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Thai Women : Meet Matured Thai Women
Posted on: 6:28 am on June 22, 2004
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jack attack
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Mr Alan,
Agree about the Samurai but if you have some free time, read the recent history described in "Flyboys". In the first few chapters it describes the basis of many of the social, religious and economic conditions in Japan today. There is an assertion that Japan was industrially at the top of their game at or before the US.
They developed emperor worship and Shogun shut the borders to the west, I believe in the 1500's. A while later came 200 years of internal "harmony".
But they also developed a rational way of taking hot baths with 'massueses'... now that is culture!
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Bangkok Women : Meet Beautiful Thai Girls
Posted on: 6:31 am on June 22, 2004
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jack attack
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Mr Alan,
Not trying to be antogonistic but now most of McD's in Asia are corporate owned or JV's. Thailand is a JV.
Note the reorganization of Pizza Hut and the fight they had with the Minor group of Thailand.
Globalization has done it's work. Ted Turner is to blame. If it weren't for CNN, nobody would know nuthin' around here! However, it is rumored he knew how to go out get laid!
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Bangkok Girls : Meet Attractive Thai Girls
Posted on: 6:39 am on June 22, 2004
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cyborg
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Guys, It is late here and I think my post may not have been very clear.I am not necessarily advocating making LOS another Westernized country anymore than it is but rather I am thinking of lessons learned.
I am thinking more about how we could live our own lives better. Maybe "I" need to slow down and not be so focused on profit and material acquisition? Maybe I need to enjoy my life more and worry less. Maybe I need a little more of the Mai Pen Rai attitude. Maybe I need a Thai wife who could rub off on me and thus soften my overall lifestyle.
Maybe some of my motivation and drive could rub off on a less than highly motivated Thai lady. Maybe I could introduce a casual Thai lady to the joys of achieving a goal.
I am NOT trying to say that all Thais are lazy..believe me I know that is not true. I just feel that there is a tranquility and calm acceptance that runs through the Thai character that is very pleasant.
I like their avoidance of confrontation but I detest the lying that seems to be endemic simply for the purpose of saving face.
I like their greater degree of acceptance of people such as Ladyboys and people with different beliefs. I think this shows they are advanced in there attitudes concerning acceptance. Unfortunately I think they are too comfortable with their acceptance of corruption.
This is such a complex thing to try and compare the pros and cons of disparate cultures. It is just in my nature to try to incorporate things I learn from other people that are different from me. That has always been one of the main reasons that I have travelled internationally quite extensively.
I just cant help but think when meeting people What can me and my culture teach them that may improve their lot in life? What can theirs teach me to improve the balance of my lifes attributes?
I think economics plays a HUGE role in a lot of this. I think as Thailand becomes more indusrialized and drifts away from their agricultural roots that there will be an inevitable drift towards a more hectic Western style of living.This may unfortunately cause a lot of the charm of LOS to evaporate.
Mai Pen Rai....
Cyborg
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Thai Girls : Meet Active Thai Girls
Posted on: 6:41 am on June 22, 2004
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Mr Alan
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Global culture is inevitable. The technology of the internet will change (and already has changed) everything. McLuhan’s Global Village (not to be confused with Hilary’s village).
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Thai Women : Meet Matured Thai Women
Posted on: 6:41 am on June 22, 2004
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Hermanolobo
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Quote: from Mr Alan on 6:41 pm on June 22, 2004
Global culture is inevitable. The technology of the internet will change (and already has changed) everything. McLuhan’s Global Village (not to be confused with Hilary’s village).
Marshall McLuhan ! I never thought that name would be mentioned on this forum. Where's Woody Allen ?
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Bangkok Girls : Meet Attractive Thai Girls
Posted on: 7:36 am on June 22, 2004
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