Job Discussion Forums

[yaramaz]

We're a brutish, savage people, yessir. Grrrr. Can't wait to go back so I don't need to talk to people!



Any more generalities, folks?

[sandyhoney2]

One has to be careful speaking in generalities. I think the reason why this is problematic for many people is because it seemingly strips away one's individuality. Yet there are disciplines that make a study of groups and group behaviour.

The question is, then, is it legitimate to discuss people in terms of groups? Really, is it? The answer has to be yes. Definate group dynamics exist in certain cultures, at football matches, in language schools, etc. But you open yourself up to 'you generalizing b4stard' comments if you say 'I think (insert nationality here) are...'.

It's that whole psychology/sociology debate. I suppose it depends on the quality of your answer.

Turks are......
Football fans are....
Canadians from Central Canada are....
Canadians from the East Coast of Canada are...
All language schools in Istanbul are....

So I guess one can generalize - but you'd need to be able to back it up. (Ex. In the most recent Canadian census, it was reported that the majority of East Coasters were blah blah blah...).

[yaramaz]

Thanks sandyhoney- this whole Canada-nicey-nicey-boring thing was just getting under my skin because the generalizations insulted my friends and family and all the people in my life who really don't fit into these stereotypes. Just as ghost's sweeping generalizations about Turks a few years ago (and Taiwanese more recently) didn't reflect the turks I knew and lived around,these don't either. If you think Canadians are cold and distant and don't talk to their neighbours, then maybe you haven't lived in England or South Africa (the only two places besides Canada and Turkey where I've lived long enough to feel I can comment). And really, ghost, you can't say that either because my friends and family all know and interact with their neighbours- we did it when I was a kid and they're still doing it now.

But we're still cold and mean. Yeah.

[tvik]

canadians are nicer because life is easier there. in places where life is hard the people are harder. in cold countries the people are colder and in hot countries the people are hotter. in sunny places peoples skins are darker and in muslim countries people read the Koran. Not all of them but enough to make generalizations that are more correct than they are wrong

[justme]

Texas is a hot place. Check this out.

http://www.tdcj.state.tx.us/stat/executedoffenders.htm

[corall]

1. there is a difference between niceness and respect and expressing no passions for anything or points of views. we do respect difference in people and cultures - and that is a good thing. we speak strongly about the topics that interest us - like other people in the world - but if you are not interested in these topics you may find them boring (and we may find you boring too).

i think to get a real feeling for canadians you need to hit the smaller cities and communities. places like montreal and toronto are so diverse with everyone carving out their own space to practice their own cultures. i remember being younger when there was a big debate in toronto because there were so many different cultures and they didn't want to play the canadian national anthem in schools.

in my opinion, i like canadians (i am one) but i don't relate to most because my interests aren't the same as a lot of canadians that i have met. also i find that my sense of humour has changed a lot since coming here and living in south korea. i find that i am a bit more sarcastic and a lot of canadians i have met don't really like that sense of humour. but that doesn't make canadians boring or too nice - just different from what i am now used to and there is nothing wrong with that.

but hey hang out with who you want. anyone who feels the need to avoid a whole nation of people based on boredom and niceness, feel free. i can respect you opinion. also respect the fact that i would not want to go for a beer with anyone who won't accept me based on where i was born.


2. i have been to ankara once - it was terrible. really. ugly, dreary, boring, magandas, the whole lot. mongrelcat is the expert i think, as he has lived there - i would take his advice (and he is getting out now, so that says enough really).

[justme]

Right on, corall, yaramaz. If Americans could be more like our neighbors to the north, we probably wouldn't have engendered a president who goes marauding off to conquer the world. Is it really true you guys don't lock your doors?

I've only met one Canadian I didn't like, and it wasn't because she was Canadian, it was because she was a sub-standard teacher trainer with a snotty attitude. But that doesn't mean you can generalize about Canadians any more than anyone else.

In a diner in Canada, a wonderful thing happened to me. I ordered a side of fries with my burger, and the waitress asked if I'd like some gravy to go along with those fries. Boy howdy, would I! It was like being in Heaven, and I've loved Canada since.

[yaramaz]

justme, I assume that errant canuck was me? My goodness but I'm an insufferable twit. I blame Canada!

PS As a kid out in the boonies on vancouver island we didnt lock our doors but really, we lived way out and the whole area was populated by log house constructing organic hippies. Boring and nice twits, the lots of them. Good riddance!

[mongrelcat]

[corall]

[justme]

[mongrelcat]

yes...she


The one thing in my life I get to be expert in, and it's Ankara. I am pathetic.

[justme]

Maybe you feel pathetic, but your avatar is adorable!

Anyway, expertise on Ankara is necessary-- if we didn't have you, how would we know not to go live there?

[mongrelcat]

I guess everyone has value to society somehow...