How come so many 'ethnic groups' seem joyless and serious?
@eslproofreader (517)
United States
March 20, 2007 6:30pm CST
Or maybe I should ask why Americans feel free to fly their freak flags... I honestly mean to offend absolutely no one, I just want to understand the differnce. Here in the U.S., it seems like foreigners are so serious. You never see one playing air guitar in the car at a red light. When I lived in Spain, I felt no shame in taking the garbage out in my pajamas and greeting my neighbors who were heading to work; they looked at me as if I were a complete freak. I'm never afraid to make a complete a*s of myself (as long as it's by my doing- and intentional). How come others seem so reserved? Is it a cultural thing with continental Europe? Is it a religious thing with Asian Americans? Isn't it 'normal' to be a 'freak'?
1 person likes this
3 responses
@SplitZip (1488)
• Portugal
23 Mar 07
In big cities, everyone keeps to themselves. In small cities and villages, everyone knows each other and if you know someone and don't greet them, they'll be angry at you and tell everyone else of your rudeness :p
It can be tiring to greet people 50 times a day, because you have to greet them every single time you see them. Seinfeld had a bit about this in office environments.
1 person likes this
@avonrep1 (1862)
• United States
23 Apr 07
Okay I am slightly confused, it is like a few topics into one. I am not ashamed to be an American, I love it. Being an American why did you call out flag a "freak flags?" I guess the patriot is coming out in me over that comment. I love America, the country and our freedoms and our flag. Though at the moment I hate what our government is doing.
@eslproofreader (517)
• United States
23 Apr 07
You misunderstood me! 'to let your freak flag fly' means to feel free to be different- or even freaky- and be proud of it. I love America, too! I love that our society is free enough that people take the liberty to be themselves, even when others don't approve. That's all that I meant by that. When I lived abroad, it seemed that if you did anything out of the ordinary, people were very put off by it. It made me homesick.
@96vidalias (344)
• United States
27 Mar 07
LOL! I haven't heard the expression "let your freak flag fly" in a long time. I guess it depends on what the culture considers freaky. Those same ethnic groups might be uninhibited about crying or arguing with your spouse in public, when in the US we would find it embarrassing.
They might have thought that pajamas were intimate garments even if you were better covered than most clothes. In India it's very private to brush your hair in front of another person.
Foreigners living in the States might feel too conspicuous to act up in public. When alone together they may very well play the air sitar or thumb piano.
