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Posts: 7715

Emperor

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Q: What is 'western'?

I hear this term and I cringe.

"Western" usually means "American". Maybe throw in a bit of British and Australian from time to time, but in general, the only think that 'western' means is 'American'.

Whatever happened to the French? The Spanish?? The German, Swiss, Italian, Greek, Swedish, Canadian, Kiwi, Scottish, Irish, etc etc etc cultures?? Have they all been subsumed and overridden by the Americans?? Do the Danes all act, believe and do as the Americans do? Do the French have the same attitudes to sex that America does?

Does anyone ever bother to point out the difference??

(and yes, I do fully acknowledge that 'American' is a catch-all term as well, and there is vast differences in the mindsets of the individuals of that country as well!)

I just hate it when all things "western" get bunched together, as if we're all one big happy, homogonous family, with the same attitudes, beliefs, ideas, laws, food, etc etc etc (let alone, language!)

12 years 23 weeks ago in  General  - China

 
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Posts: 165

Governor

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preaching to the choir!!!

 

I tried to tell a small group of people that in America you have to many different races/nationality/cultures that the line is grey when you are speaking Western. My point was quickly muted by one person blanketed statement that "America" and "Western" are synonymous.

I boldly countered with "oh ok, so all Asians are the same as well" Conversation ended. no one wanted to go there.

 

Grinder Rule #33: Sarcasm is loss in arguments...don't ever use it.

DaBen:

Have to disagree with the grinder rule... yeah sarcasm is lost, but if you're already at the argument level there is no reasoning with them, so you might as well enjoy the bliss a good sarcastic remark brings.

12 years 23 weeks ago
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deefoe:

DaBen...grinder rules are written in stone* *but sometimes stooping is necessary

12 years 23 weeks ago
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12 years 23 weeks ago
 
Posts: 1932

Emperor

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I'm not American, and I have never lived in America. I use the term "western" the same way my teachers used it, and later my history professors: to describe similar cultures and languages that have developed from or been heavily influenced by common Greco-Romano-Judeo-Christian cultural roots.

 

With a heavy emphasis on the Roman part, of course. The use of "western" to describe a certain cultural sphere predates America by quite a bit, and was originally used to distinguish, essentially, those whose scholars and clergy used Latin compared to those whose scholars and clergy used Greek or Arabic.

 

Anyway, the Chinese frequently use the word 欧美, which is short for 欧洲美洲, or Europe-American Continents.

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12 years 23 weeks ago
 
Posts: 1197

Shifu

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To Chinese people, Western means white. Brazil and Mexico are part of "the West" but I guarantee that most people in the world don't think of them as such. 

rich45:

i met a girl once that thought that Mexico was part of the US.

12 years 22 weeks ago
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beaufortninja:

I've met a handful of Americans who thought Mexico was part of the US. Might as well be since people move back and forth so much.

12 years 22 weeks ago
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12 years 23 weeks ago
 
Posts: 57

Governor

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I am a Western since I am brazilian?

I though that everyone that has not asian look may be a western, but now, I am surprised

beaufortninja:

Everyone in the Americas, Europe, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa is technically Western since they come from a European cultural group.

12 years 23 weeks ago
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12 years 23 weeks ago
 
Posts: 2536

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Becaue Chinese see "westerners" as just all the same.  To them there is Chinese and there is everything else (unless you are black, then you must be from Africa).

Stupid is as stupid does.

deefoe:

yes. i have to say i agree with this. i am constantly telling people i am not african. it really is beyond some peoples understanding that there are black americans. i use to try and explain "yes i am from chicago, yes black like obama, but he's half-rican so its a little different" confused look on their faces and respond "so you are african" losing battle you cannot win

12 years 23 weeks ago
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rich45:

remember, China is the center of the universe. the place where everything good in this world was invented. we with our limited history of less then 6000 years are not worthy of recognition from the Chinese. so in their eyes we are al the same. french, american, italian. its all laowais.(except black people of course. they are all from Africa) next time a Chinese person tells you all "western" is the same. just agree and say that that means all Asians are the same. and Chinese are indistinguishable from Japanese in your eyes. and then sit back and enjoy the look on their face.

12 years 22 weeks ago
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12 years 23 weeks ago
 
Posts: 791

Shifu

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I'm Western? Can't be right? I'm from Australia. OMG

beaufortninja:

Welcome to the cool club!

12 years 23 weeks ago
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12 years 23 weeks ago
 
Posts: 1153

Shifu

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westerner not  western

Shining_brow:

No, not 'westerner'... I'm referring to culture, law, tradition, food, TV and movies, ethics and morals, outlooks...

12 years 22 weeks ago
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12 years 22 weeks ago
 
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