Do get annoyed with some of the culture differences here?

To be honest I get most angry when people from the west have this blinkered view that the western world is perfect and anything else is just not good enough. Irronically, I am western, I am white British. The reason I feel like this is because I beleive due to many reasons - capitalism, loss of religion, the break down of family values - we have lost some very important things that other countries still have. We in the west arrogantly call these countries '3rd world countries'. The people may not have as long a life span, but they seem to have these values that I wish we had in the west. A person from the west can have absolutely everything they ever wanted in this world and still not be as happy as a person from a 3rd world country. So we can never be sure who has the best quality of life.

Not at all, that is what makes the world an interesting place to be in. If I was to be annoyed at any one culture it would be Americans who are shocked that the rest of the world isnt like them.

One of the cultural differences I don't like is in places that need security measures such as banks certain cultures can enter that bank wearing robes and veils where only the eyes can be seen but a biker can not go in without removing his helmet for security reasons, is this discrimination towards men ??? is assumes that the person behind the robes and veils is a woman, here in Australia not so long ago a lady in full robes and veil with only eyes showing wanted her drivers licence photo taken that way...I think that makes a farce of the security photo....

I think you nailed it just right. I feel the same. It is not only about culture but also about education. I hate any culture that discriminate woman and I don't care what they say. We live in 2008, not 5000 BC.... I was attending wedding and Bride couldn't dance, even she would like to, because only man could dance.... I was speechless.....

Mmmm...maybe you should avoid those discussions?? LOL So far I haven't come across such discussions by posters that have such a radically different viewpoint especially when it comes to the treatment of women. We're so lucky to be in this country and culture where women do have so much more freedom than many other cultures, but of course it wasn't always the case here either until the suffrage movement in the early part of the 1900s--women were considered "property" and chattel here as well. Alas, though there still are cultures and religions who view women as shat--look how women have been treated say in Afghanistan? They're getting a "little" better there, but not by much

I find other cultural differences very educational. When I read something that sounds very out of line compared to what I am used to in my culture, then I inform the Poster of the norms of my culture. Sometimes I can be a little aggressive when it comes to the treatment of women. I do like to inform all peoples that women are not chattle. They are of equal importance no matter what your culture is and should be treated accordingly. I abhor all forms of abuse whether it is men abusing women or women abusing men or adults abusing children. No one has the right to feel they own someone else or that they have the right to invade someone else's space. No matter what their culture teaches. Shalom~Adoniah

The only culture differences that bother me is if one group wants to impose their culture on Western society, for instance full veil and walking around with only the eyes showing. It scares the dickens out of me when I see a person so outfitted and I flee to the other side of the street or leave a store. How do I know who and what is hidden under the black shroud. As far as husbands controlling their wives I think people in those societies (including women) are socialized to expect this. Marriages are not entered in for love but for material and status reasons so the expectations of women cannot be very high. What bothers me a lot though that so much control and abuse exists in Western culture. Many men do treat their wives, companions, girlfriends like a piece of furniture, deprive them of seeing family and friends, sabotage any effort on the part of a women who has initiative and wants to better herself, be it in business or getting a better education. I have seen a recent Oprah show featuring spousal abuse and was shaken to the core. In other societies we can clearly see that women are deprived of rights and freedoms, in our society this abuse is hidden and goes on on all levels of society. Women who are brought up in freedom and reasonable equality submit themselves to virtual slavery. I will never understand why.

"But it still annoys me to see men talking about their wives as if they are property." As much as I realize that in some countries that way of living is acceptable and the norm...Being a woman born and raised in the western world AND coming from the past that I do I cant stand to read that sort of thing....We arent pcs of meat, we arent "less than" or unworthy of etc etc and to know that there are ppl in the world who believe that sort of treatment is acceptable and normal just baffles me to no end... Its not just some cultural differences though that I find myself getting flustered with..its also some religious differences too...Not wiht the norm but with the fanatics...As much as I understand that a fanatic is most likely raised brainwashed like that..how one can live that way and expect respect when they spew their hate is beyond me ESPECIALLY when they are from North America...

I do not get annoyed by the culture difference I see here. After all, when you know that there is difference why get angry at this?Sometimes when I sense fanaticism in any response or discussion, I keep away from participating in that discussion. Many discussions are objective and the Mylot.friends respect personal space and just go along. Even in the instance you pointed out, this does not upset me too much.On the other hand when I hear of women being beaten up by their drunkard husbands[this happens within the illiterate society of our country to a large extent]I really get irritated with these stupid men.

No I dont get the least annoyed when other cultures differ from mine. However some times and your example is one of them I just thank the Lord I don't live there!

I am like you in this respect! i respect the differences, but that still doesn't make them right, or make me feel any better about them. I haven't seen any of the ones taht you are talking about. The one that i can't get over is i have answered SO MANY discussions about "is it wrong to marry your cousin" Well WHO DOESN"t know that it IS! but apparently somewhere in the world, its normal and very common to do that.. ( i wonder about the iq levels in that country...) I dont wanna offend anyone, but it is a scientific thing proven is it not ? that you shouldnt combine family's DNA like that ?? it must cloud up the gene pool!

Yes, I notice them and I am appalled. I tried not to respond because I might cause an international incident. I hope that a place like MyLot might help people see that not everyone lives like them and that over time MyLot can be part of a catalyst of change.

... First let me say I know you were talking in generalities about the topic of culture and if it angers one if their opinions are different then ours ... but when you get specific and mention about male domination over women/ husband over wife .... well, then theres another issue involved as far as I'm concerned ..... I dont care what culture one has grown up in .... we all have come from a culture or time when male domination prevailed .... Its taken years for Europeans and Americans to get with the program ... and we havent totally evolved yet as much as we think we have .... but then there are places in the world that time stood still for many years and they just didnt change .... Now my problem is .... its not a culture issue as much as an ignorance issue .... and lack of growth ... men have been dominate to enforce what they want ... its a selfish issue ... because it only takes intelligence to realize that when one dominates another they are only met with rebellion and dislike and contempt ... if one shows respect and love they will get what they want that much easier ... because women will naturally submit to someone who shows her love .... And yes ignorance annoys the hell out of me

I am an Indian woman born and raised in the UK. My husband is an Indian man born and raised in India. When I first met him he had somewhat different ideas of what women should be like but I soon knocked that out of him LOL! Don't think I'm taking your discussion too lightly but I do personally have some Indian culture in me but only when it suits me. I'm a feminist and no one is going to order me around. My dad did it till I was 16 and hasn't been able to do it since! Some guys might think I'm what they would call a "ball-buster" but I really am not. I just believe in equality and respecting culture is one thing but I don't buy all this "women are possessions and they have to do as they're told!" I don't believe women who are treated that way are at all happy no matter how much I might get slated for saying all this here, it is 2008, women are allowed to vote, didn't you know?! Stand up for your rights and make your men treat you with respect! Culture or not - any culture that tells men they can treat women like dirt sucks - harsh but true! If you don't respect women, you're not respecting practically half of the human race and you don't deserve my respect, that's for sure :)

I know what you are talking about....but I get annoyed especially when it comes from my culture. I've seen the kind of discussions that you mentioned. I understand it's part of the culture but that doesn't make it right. I usually ignore those discussions because it might end up on a controversial note if I respond and I don't want that. But again coming to my culture, that's not how it really is....long ago men had to respect women and treat them right...I'm not sure how it came to the present state....but I don't think that;s the case anymore and it's only in certain places that it is acceptable for men to control their wives (maybe I am wrong on that...but atleast the places I've been to...it's not acceptable).

I try to understand the difference but I certainly do not have to accept them and what you just mentioned I could not accept. I could not accept an arraigned marriage either, but for somebody I know it works very well.

yes, i get annoyed sometimes. but next moment i think its totally different cultures. something may be acceptable and some may not be acceptable in my country, but its completely different elsewhere.so at first it may annoy me, next time I think, Ok i should response what i think is right.

I think it doesn't matter what culture you have particularly in this modern era wherein women are getting more aggressive in their rights. It is getting informed in the modern day culture. Studies shows that women who were taught in the exclusive for girls school are more aggressive that women who studied in coed. Maybe when women get together without men they become more independent and thus makes them aggressive.

culture varies from places to places, some acceptable behaviors in our place are not acceptable to others. different cultures are healthy since we can learn good things from it, the only fallback is when that different perspective seems to go offhand, cultures should not clash.

World is a big family.It is obvious that lots of culture differences all over the world.so there is "culture shock".Every country have their own history,culture,custom,and conwention.Every people also have different belief.so we treat things with different ways and have different opinions of course. I am a chinese,and in my country there are 56 minority in my country.They all have culture differences.For example,one nation that they consider cow as numen and never to eat it.but except them we all eat it.so when we stay with them we must take more attention not to eat beef,it is a respect for them.There are too many culture differences in the world.In my opinion,we must pay more attention to respect them.but the culture must be right. As you said, i also don't like the men to control women too much.It is not fair.Giving women freedom is a way to show your love and respect.