[kingkong]

(07-20-2010 11:36 PM)speakeasy Wrote:  

Hey, just curious, where can I find out more about metrics for measuring cultural differences? That topic fascinates me.

http://www.referenceforbusiness.com/mana...ences.html

This is the stuff I'm vaguely familiar with:

Quote:

Hofstede's framework is one of the most prominent one in international management. He identified four major dimensions of cultural values—individualism-collectivism, power distance, uncertainty avoidance, and masculinity-femininity—along with a fifth dimension subsequently identified as Confucian Dynamism, or long-term orientation. Finally, Trompenaars and Hampden-Turner extended Hofstede's classification with seven dimensions that include universalism versus particularism, collectivism versus individualism, affective versus neutral relationships, specificity versus diffuseness, achievement versus ascription, orientation toward time, and internal versus external control.

Marketers and international business consultants have different countries and societies all mapped out on multi dimensional charts based on research and surveys quantifying this stuff.

The US is basically English, with more individualism and more Germanic attitudes about authority.

[speakeasy]

(07-21-2010 12:09 AM)kingkong Wrote:  

The US is basically English, with more individualism and more Germanic attitudes about authority.

I don't know too much about Germanic attitudes of authority, but yeah I do believe that the U.S. is pretty much British, just like non-Quebec Canada, Bermuda, NZ and AU. It'll be interesting to see what happens though as the country becomes more culturally diverse and that British-descended culture gives way to what will a conglomeration of Latin American cultures spreading northward via immigration. Here in L.A. I already feel like I'm living in Latin America.

[kindredspirit]

Difficult to predict but certainly, every place colonized by the Spanish (Latin America, Philippines) has been an economic basket case with very little innovation other than selling off their natural resources and cheap labor.

[InternationPlayboy]

(07-18-2010 03:17 PM)speakeasy Wrote:  

America has a culture just like any other country with it's own social norms, religion, beliefs, history, regional dishes, regional dialects, musical and artistic heritage, holidays and celebrations, etc etc. Why do people think Mexico for example has a culture but not the United States? I never understood that thinking. They will go down there and be like "woooow, Day of the Dead is such an amazing cultural event", yet don't see Halloween or Thanksgiving up here as being every bit as much of one. Why isn't going to a Texas rodeo as much a cultural experience as going to a bullfight or running of the bulls in Spain? Isn't the music of Miles Davis and Johnny Cash as much a cultural experience as the music of Pavarotti or Bob Marley?

We have a culture here just like any other place. We may have a strong consumerist element in our culture, but you know? Everybody else wants it too. Go to any poor country in Latin America and the elites pretty much live like Americans with their kids having a Nintendo Wii and the lastest smart phone so they can check their facebook at the movie theatre while watching Eclipse, and flying to Miami for a weekend of shopping.

I agree. Not only do we have a culture, but we have a culture the rest of the world is interested in whether they want to admit it or not.

[gringoed]

I actually had to go abroad for a while to start recognizing and appreciating American culture. You can't see the forest through the trees.

[AlphaQup2nite]

The one thing i respect from American culture is personal independence and freedom. You dont realized how much freedom you have in the US, as compared to a 25 year old Chinese guy who still lives at home, and needs to introduce all his girlfriends to his parents within like 5 dates or so. And how said guy is totally unable to balance his own checkbook, or even hold down a decent job after uni. There are a plethora of 24 hour conviencies and things to do. Here i have 7-11-esque marts and macdonalds to keep me up through the night, even most bars and clubs are closing down at close to 3 am.
In the states, i could throw huge beach parties and crank the music up as late as i want. I helped organize a beach party in china, when we got shut down at 2 am. While in the states, most girls have a pad of their own and a job to support themselves, in china, id be lucky if the girl could afford a love hotel if i forget my wallet.

At the same time, i hate living in the states, but there are some good things to be said about it.

[thegmanifesto]

"In the states, i could throw huge beach parties and crank the music up as late as i want."

Where was this?

And when? (I am guessing the 70's?)