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Narcissistic students and EFL classrooms?
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Sashadroogie



Joined: 17 Apr 2007
Posts: 11061
Location: Moskva, The Workers' Paradise

PostPosted: Sun Jan 06, 2013 8:12 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Glenski wrote:
Sashadroogie wrote:
"Our culture used to encourage modesty and humility and not bragging about yourself," says Twenge. "It was considered a bad thing to be seen as conceited or full of yourself."

This is certainly news to me. Can any of our US posters confirm or deny the above? If it is true, when did the situation change so dramatically?
Note the victory dances that football players do when they score a touchdown. You didn't see that sort of thing years ago. Note the look of "I beat you, suckers" on the faces of Olympic winners now instead of "I'm exhausted but so happy and surprised I won" look from years ago. Notice the plethora of Christmas displays now compared to before, and the competition to be better and better, instead of the humble decorations indoors from ages ago. Note the higher profile of actors and actresses today, not to mention their soapbox speech-making at the Oscars, compared to their more reserved nature and "Thanks, Mom and my agent" speeches of yore. I know friends who complain about the little league attitude of parents who feel their kids should be treated better and shown more favorable treatment, regardless of their ability.

Yup, more bragging and mememe nowadays.


This probably contains a large degree of truth. However, as viewed from outside the US, especially looking at American tourists/colleagues abroad, humility was not one of their more obvious charms, ever. Perhaps this self-satisfaction has just reached levels unacceptable even to the culture which gave rise to it? Like the whole issue of guns in the USA...
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LongShiKong



Joined: 28 May 2007
Posts: 1082
Location: China

PostPosted: Sun Jan 06, 2013 1:53 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

What America lacks in greatness, it more than makes up for in its illusion.
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Sashadroogie



Joined: 17 Apr 2007
Posts: 11061
Location: Moskva, The Workers' Paradise

PostPosted: Mon Jan 07, 2013 10:06 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Illusion or delusion? Very Happy
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fat_chris



Joined: 10 Sep 2003
Posts: 3198
Location: Beijing

PostPosted: Wed Jan 09, 2013 10:11 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Quote:
Yup, more bragging and mememe nowadays.


To which I respond with the very contemporary "meh...meh...meh".

My time in Japan was good for me because I was surrounded by humble people. It was quite refreshing actually. Before Japan I lived in Manhattan for three years. All of the chest-thumping and "mememe" there got tiresome and on my nerves after a short while.

Cool

Warm regards,
fat_chris
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fat_chris



Joined: 10 Sep 2003
Posts: 3198
Location: Beijing

PostPosted: Wed Jan 09, 2013 10:16 am    Post subject: Re: Narcissistic students? Reply with quote

golsa wrote:
It's now quite jarring to associate with many westerners.


I find this to be true as well sometimes.

Warm regards,
fat_chris
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jaffa



Joined: 25 Oct 2012
Posts: 403

PostPosted: Wed Jan 09, 2013 10:25 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

America is all about the individual and kids are brought up to be super-confident and ultra-competitive ("You're the best, Randy!" said Dad. "And, you know what, I believe him!"), which clashes badly with other more modest nationalities when they meet. Even dull and dim Americans have this ingrained competitive nature that tells them that they are all-knowing masters of the universe, when, after 5 minutes in their company, they clearly are not.
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johnslat



Joined: 21 Jan 2003
Posts: 13859
Location: Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA

PostPosted: Wed Jan 09, 2013 1:22 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I could be wrong - because, after all, I don't have a personal acquaintance with all the other 311, 591, 916 of my fellow-citizens - but it seems to me that some posters might be skirting dangerously close to vapid generalizations.

But that's just my modest personal opinion.

Regards,
John

P.S. Of course, I'm not referring to Sasha, who has always eschewed vapidity Very Happy


Last edited by johnslat on Wed Jan 09, 2013 1:28 pm; edited 1 time in total
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Sashadroogie



Joined: 17 Apr 2007
Posts: 11061
Location: Moskva, The Workers' Paradise

PostPosted: Wed Jan 09, 2013 1:26 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Dear Johnslat

Surely you don't mean me?! I mean, when have I ever been vapid : )


Regards

Sasha
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Sashadroogie



Joined: 17 Apr 2007
Posts: 11061
Location: Moskva, The Workers' Paradise

PostPosted: Wed Jan 16, 2013 4:38 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Poland is the place to be, it seems!


http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-20931204
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