"It's interesting how almost every aspect of life in India is eventually spun and attributed to the caste system - kind of like Godwin's law."
Yes. Usually by people who have no direct experience of India. But then many people in India with no direct experience of America believe it is an immoral nihilistic society of "uncultured" pleasure seeking barbarians (rich too ;-)) .
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>> it is an immoral nihilistic society of "uncultured" pleasure seeking barbarians
>You're saying its not?"
yes I am. Or more precisely the point was that America is no more an immoral nihilistic society than India is.
To clarify even more, I am saying that the Indian assumption of "moral superiority" to America (something you'll hear if you hang around Non Resident Indian circles) is total rubbish.
Most Indians in America clump defensively with "their own kind" and know next to nothing of American history or culture and have few real friends (not acquaintances) among Americans. I have lived in the USA and it is a great place. These days I live in India and (surprise, surprise) it is a great place too.
America and India are very different from each other - what would you expect? India and America are almost exactly half the world apart- but there is really no "moral" superiority for one over the other. People are the same everywhere. There are just as many (by ratio) cultured people and uncouth ones, good people and bad people, bright people and fools in India as in America.
People who say and believe such things are (imo) close minded idiots reacting stupidly to culture shock.
"as long as you want to change the tone of your post completely from an strong absolute to a weak relative statement..."
Rubbish. There is no "change of tone". In my first comment I said that some people in India believe that America is a nihilistic nation and Indians are somehow more "moral". In my second comment, in response to your statement saying that you think such a judgment about Americans is correct (says a lot about you doesn't it? Why do you continue to live and work among these uncultured nihilists then vs going back to your more civilized homeland?), I said that people who believe such crap are fools and hypocrites. No "tone difference" there. And there were no absolute statements made in the first place to "tone down".
You missed the point. The misconceptions some Indians have about the West are absurd. Here are a few samples:
1. Every American divorces at least once. An average American marries about 3 to 5 times. I have no idea where this comes from.
2. Americans disown their kids at 16. I've pointed out that American teenagers often work part-time, and that this is a good thing. I'm usually just shouted down.
3. Americans don't entertain guests because food is too expensive. Nobody spends the night at anybody else's place.
4. Americans are materialistic and value money over family bonds.
5. American girls always dress in skimpy outfits. American guys sleep with every girl they can.
Frankly all your misconceptions ring so true. Just fire up HBO, Star World or any other western channel here in India and you will see all these misconceptions come alive. How else are Indians supposed to make opinions? :)
Hmm, by this logic Indians would believe that life in India is about dancing and singing all day in a rain of flowers, and getting lucky is getting a peck on the cheek... Now I've never been in India but I'm pretty sure Indians realize it's not like this :)
Fundamental Attribution Error: "A person will attribute qualities of [their own nation] to their environment and situation, but qualities of [other nations] to inherent properties of those others."
Everyone knows their own country isn't like the way it's portrayed by the media. But, at the same time, everyone knows that all other countries are like the way they're portrayed in the media. It's a wonder our brains don't leak out.
Yes. Usually by people who have no direct experience of India. But then many people in India with no direct experience of America believe it is an immoral nihilistic society of "uncultured" pleasure seeking barbarians (rich too ;-)) .