RE: Ethnocentrism
January 30, 2022 at 9:11 am
(This post was last modified: January 30, 2022 at 9:51 am by Belacqua.)
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There are so many little differences like this, that we just don't notice if we stay in our normal bubble.
Like the way Americans will joke in a friendly way with the girl at the cash register, or the lady cleaning your teeth. That's seen as strange in Japan. Except now Japanese Starbuck's is training their baristas to act American, and it seems fake and slightly scary.
All the small things add up. I'm sure different people may be more different than we imagine.
Recently I learned about the acronym WEIRD, as used by psychologists. You've heard of this, I expect.
I often think of these differences on this forum, when we talk about religion. What seems self-evident and undeniable to people like us (and therefore the opposite seems unforgivably stupid) no doubt seems completely different to someone in a different bubble.
(January 30, 2022 at 8:38 am)OPlague Happy Wrote:(January 30, 2022 at 8:16 am)Belacqua Wrote: Japanese people have a little half-smile they do when they want to look non-threatening.
Yes it's interesting how different people deal with situations.
Black people have a tendency to prolong eye contact if you catch their eye. Whereas white people usually look away after a moment so as to avoid coming off as confrontational, black people often just keep looking, which creates the appearance of aggression and confrontation.
There are so many little differences like this, that we just don't notice if we stay in our normal bubble.
Like the way Americans will joke in a friendly way with the girl at the cash register, or the lady cleaning your teeth. That's seen as strange in Japan. Except now Japanese Starbuck's is training their baristas to act American, and it seems fake and slightly scary.
All the small things add up. I'm sure different people may be more different than we imagine.
Recently I learned about the acronym WEIRD, as used by psychologists. You've heard of this, I expect.
I often think of these differences on this forum, when we talk about religion. What seems self-evident and undeniable to people like us (and therefore the opposite seems unforgivably stupid) no doubt seems completely different to someone in a different bubble.
