OK, I'm registered now. Post #14 is mine. Upon re-reading it I wish I could go back and edit some things. Sounds arrogant the way that came out. I'll dodge the light and claim I wasn't my usual charming self only due to lack of sleep.
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Originally Posted by aron
Actually, the "rugged individual" and the "harmonious coordination" aren't necessarily contradictions. They are just cultural predispositions. And I have to get over mine, and try to understand the other. Which is what I am doing here, typing this. ... my cultural mindset can fixate on "freedom" and end up being wild, uncoordinated, and not caring for anyone else. Then I'm useless to God. So I'm not saying that my cultural metaphor is superior, just trying to understand how others think. Does anyone else have any insight to the "Asian mind", as I've tried to relate to it?
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At the risk of sounding arrogant again, I think I've got some insights into this that I'll try to share as time allows. I think your own insights are fully in line with the reality of the situation, though, and it's nice to see you are honest enough to apply the same critical standards to your own culture.
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Originally Posted by zeek
When making generalizations about the "Asian mind' how do we avoid ethnic stereotypes rather than realistic and authentic depictions of actual cultures, customs and behaviors?
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Easy. "Ethnic" is spelled e-t-h-n-i-c, and "cultural" is spelled c-u-l-t-u-r-a-l. When someone speaks about cultural matters, don't assumr they're talking about racial ones. It's that simple. To suggest that it is somehow difficult to discuss the two separately without being racist is extremely PC, and stifles legitimate & respectful discussion. Keep in mind that cultural stereotypes are not the same thing as ethnic stereotypes, and that the former, unlike the latter, tend to be descriptive rather than vicious, and are quite often rooted in reality. Everyone knows that when it comes to complex systems like people, generalizations don't fit all situations, and that there are exceptions to every rule. But that doesn't mean the generalizations and rules don't still do a good job of accurately describing things most of the time.
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Originally Posted by aron
We could do a survey. Go to China and randomly ask people, "Do you value order or freedom more?" Then go to Butte Montana and Boise Idaho and rural hamlets of Colorado. Ask the same question. Then you will have a quantification of cultural values.
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The East/West divide alluded to in the OP is a very well-established and universally accepted dichotomy in academia. It is one of the most obvious and most striking phenomena in global cultural studies.
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Originally Posted by zeek
Maybe somebody has done research already that provide us guidance lest we simply confirm our prejudices to ourselves. Or is there some value in comparing and contrasting prejudices in a discussion such as is possible here? Or rather I should say that is what I would like to avoid if possible.
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I'm guessing that you have felt victimized by prejudice at some point in life. Please forgive if I'm being too presumptuous. I'm not trying to patronize you. But I don't understand your repeated suggestions that cultural differences can't be discussed respectfully outside the realm of racial stereotypes and prejudice, both of which imply open bigotry. Especially considering the tone of the OP, which I felt was a perfect example of someone's respectful insight into cultural differences. He was every bit as appreciative of Eastern cultural values as he was of his own Western ones, and offered just as much criticism of his Western ones as he did about their Eastern ones. That's called a respectful, balanced discussion, with no hint of the racial or bigoted stereotypes and prejudices that you seem to be afraid of. Where's the problem? Are folks just supposed to consider cultural differences taboo for fear that someone might say they're racist for noticing that such things exist?
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Originally Posted by zeek
Does that make you an expert about the Chinese or about that sister? Would she endorse your expertise?
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Does anecdotal evidence have any place at all in your universe? If he gives you quantifiable evidence, will you then question the statistical validity of those numbers? The guy is just trying to have a discussion.
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Originally Posted by aron
Zeek is right, though: I should have titled this thread something less inflammatory and provocative, like "Shared cultural norms and values: East vs West"
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Nothing against Zeek personally, but I disagree. I fail to see how either title is less inflammatory or provocative than the other. Am I just blind and insensitive? Both seem perfectly fine. What I feel is provocative and inflammatory is to suggest that generalizations about cultural differences are inherently racist, bigoted, or critical, and that they shouldn't be discussed without first issuing a full-page disclaimer before each and every sentence that someone can potentially misinterpret in a manner that wasn't intended.
Sorry. Maybe I just need to get some more sleep again.
I know I'm new here so I hope I'm not crossing the line.