Korean Job Discussion Forums

[yawarakaijin]

Now granted, its been a late night. Granted there are a few beers in me but it got me to thinking. How many of our views and opinions are rooted in a severe bout of ethnocentrism?

I sincerely wish to avoid discussion along the lines of conservatism/liberalism so let's try and discuss the issue without all the same old talking points.

Some may argue that ethnocentrism is unavoidable but I am of the opinion, that for all the amazing things the human race has accomplished, we should be, at least ,able to see other HUMAN BEINGS point of view.

I was in a bar tonight, casually drinking a few beers, and something just hit me. I was watching a music video and I just got me to thinking. Although I could understand everything shown in context, how would others view what was shown? I don't believe it necessary to name the video shown, as it would only detract from the debate, but why do we as westerners simply expect others to look past our shortcomings and see the beauty of our culture when often we do not afford other cultures the same courtesy?

Now some may just take my above sentiments as just more of the same old bleeding heart liberalism but its a serious question!

I DO NOT dismiss aspects of western culture which I have grown to love BUT should we expect ALL others to value these same aspects in the exact same way and at the exact same level?

[On the other hand]

[Gopher]

[Nowhere Man]

That's all a bit vague.

As OTOH points out, who's to say that westerners do expect others to value our culture, especially a music video which, without knowing what video, it's probably fair game to assume that some members of our own culture also don't approve of?

An interesting topic, but I think your interest in being objective has left it a bit too opaque to comment on.

[ddeubel]

I am not going to get into an "academic" discussion.

I think that what would be of value, as the OP mentions, is merely at first being consciously aware of the notion of "ethnocentrism" when judging/talking about other cultures and ways of seeing the world, organizing our shared experiences.

Yes, there are some very hard and immovable human conditions. We could start most anywhere, Maslow, the UN or a religious book. But we know them.

Beyond that, given the realities of the world, we should ask ourselves questions about our own "bias" - as any good scientist even would. It is not a matter of constantly dismissing every inter-cultural discussion as being impossible. It is only the process of constantly being vigilant (as might also a good journalist, always with that shyte detector on) of our own built in polarized glasses that will provide us with any stepping towards "universals" and truth.

People need to open up more, be more tolerant of, walk in others shoes more, travel or discover other cultures more, talk to others of another culture more......Why? Because it is for us to discover through diversity, the ONE of life. But we can't ever do that, if we don't challenge our own assumptions.

I find it particularly disturbing that given this world (atleast as so many commentators say) is shrinking, we are becoming "closer" -- that we are also becoming more (and negatively so) insecure/protective , of our own ways of life. Protective in the negative sense of not letting our way of life live but trying to keep it in a vacuum, keep it our own , keep it sacred. This will never work -- no culture can't stay static (the number one rule of cultural anthropology) and particularly in this world of so much cultural contact, it is farcical.

DD

[Leslie Cheswyck]

Well, he did say he was drunk when he posted that. Let's see what he says when he sobers up. I believe Herodotus mentioned something like that, no?

[EFLtrainer]

I personally have a problem with the lack of organization here. If nothing else, we are efficient in the ol' US of A. (Relatively, anyway.) So, yes, I prefer an organized workplace to a disorganized workplace and wish to goodness things were more efficient/logical here. Ah, but do I think organization is more important than the personal connections that might tend to be minimized by greater organization/efficiency, etc.? Well...

Objectivity is good, but not necessarily easy.