I wish we could turn back the clock on inflation. I would be able to live on my saving probably for the rest of my life!
No, it doesn't. I've lived in Toronto, Edmonton and Vancouver. I've traveled the country extensively, including two pan-Canada road trips. There is no such thing as Canadian culture.RAiKE8 said:Err... Canada very much has a culture. Like. What. I don't even know how to respond to such a statement.
I'm not talking about a theocracy and whether or not the religion is actually true is completely irrelevant, as long as people believe in it.RAiKE8 said:There are certainly positive aspects to religion, but it's also been used as a tool of oppression - a bit too much for my liking. Plus there's the fact that, you know, there's not really any proof for the existence of the supernatural claims that every religion has. As for the last sentence, [citation needed].
I agree with this. Once I buy something I don't expect to have to buy it again a week later. I've taken to making alot of things myself for this reason.Tom Roberts said:Craftsmanship. The idea of planned obsolescence and/or replaceable (rather than repairable) goods is one that can hit the rubbish heap.
These two things are in conflict in my mind. I only truly appreciate Malay culture because my flatmate was Malaysian (coming to study here at the age of 20), and we both took the time to talk about our cultures and share our experiences. I wrote her a christmas card in malay and she made me a breakfast traditional to her people. It was really interesting and fun to learn about her people first hand without spending money to go abroad. I tried the food, i learned a tiny amount of the language and i learned about what its like there. That understanding is worth something i think. We related. Shes going to go back to visit or stay forever depending on her choice post-study but she has a story about actually knowing an English person and sharing culture with them. She ate a full christmas roast because our flat threw one.Westaway said:But Germany has German culture, and it's the only place in the world where German culture exists.
Diversity means nothing to me. A diverse community is not better off than a homogenous community in anyway.
You've basically described a best case scenario, and all you got out of it was a second hand cultural experience and a good friend.BiscuitTrouser said:These two things are in conflict in my mind. I only truly appreciate Malay culture because my flatmate was Malaysian (coming to study here at the age of 20), and we both took the time to talk about our cultures and share our experiences. I wrote her a christmas card in malay and she made me a breakfast traditional to her people. It was really interesting and fun to learn about her people first hand without spending money to go abroad. I tried the food, i learned a tiny amount of the language and i learned about what its like there. That understanding is worth something i think. We related. Shes going to go back to visit or stay forever depending on her choice post-study but she has a story about actually knowing an English person and sharing culture with them. She ate a full christmas roast because our flat threw one.Westaway said:But Germany has German culture, and it's the only place in the world where German culture exists.
Diversity means nothing to me. A diverse community is not better off than a homogenous community in anyway.
See why is Germanic culture worth preserving? Because its unique, interesting, vibrant and worth taking the time to appreciate. Which is why living with and forming a dialogue with people from other cultures can be refreshing, i liked being able to share stories about our values, holidays and opinions. That was fun. If you value other cultures then why not value talking to people FROM that culture who can share parts of it with you. Unless by diversity you mean people of that ethnic origin of a different colour who have no real link to it all raised in the same melting pot culture. But talking to natives visiting your native land is a totally different experience. I want to GO to germany rather than just look at pictures of it. Because the people are part of the culture and interacting with them is directly sharing it. Having someone native to Malaysia come here and talk to me, cook me the food her family cooked her that is part of nation, tell me her language, thats not something i can do in a homogenised community.
I had a similar (though not quite as in depth) experience with my bulgarian flatmate too. It wasnt particularly hard to achieve a best case scenario. People coming to live in your country tend to be nervous and open to friendliness. Go say hi, go the extra mile and make them feel welcome, make them a jello or some potato stew or fish and chips or whatever. Represent your culture at its best! They tend to respond quite kindly from my experience. But thats purely personal, maybe im lucky.Westaway said:You've basically described a best case scenario, and all you got out of it was a second hand cultural experience and a good friend.
The benefits you found were entirely personal and ignore the fact that multiculturalism on the macro-scale has degenerating results.BiscuitTrouser said:I had a similar (though not quite as in depth) experience with my bulgarian flatmate too. It wasnt particularly hard to achieve a best case scenario. People coming to live in your country tend to be nervous and open to friendliness. Go say hi, go the extra mile and make them feel welcome, make them a jello or some potato stew or fish and chips or whatever. Represent your culture at its best! They tend to respond quite kindly from my experience. But thats purely personal, maybe im lucky.Westaway said:You've basically described a best case scenario, and all you got out of it was a second hand cultural experience and a good friend.
You say "All i got" but i value that experience pretty highly. I can understand why you might not, but it isnt fair to say there was "no benefit" when i found a benefit in it. People can and do find benefit.
hold on a second....who are you to decide who does or doesn't have a culture?Westaway said:Places like Europe or where ever else do not need multiculturalism because they already have a culture. Canada has no culture, .
As a born and raised Canadian who has lived in three cities and traveled the country widely, I can very easily declare Canada has no discernible or practical culture. If you're aware of some magical culture I've never encountered but lives on in the hearts and minds of all Canadians, feel free to explain it to me. I love this country, but it's culturally destitute.Vault101 said:hold on a second....who are you to decide who does or doesn't have a culture?Westaway said:Places like Europe or where ever else do not need multiculturalism because they already have a culture. Canada has no culture, .
but you DO have a cultureWestaway said:As a born and raised Canadian who has lived in three cities and traveled the country widely, I can very easily declare Canada has no discernible or practical culture. If you're aware of some magical culture I've never encountered but lives on in the hearts and minds of all Canadians, feel free to explain it to me. I love this country, but it's culturally destitute.
No, it doesn't. You have absolutely no understanding of the topic at hand. Canadian culture does not exist. You're just having a hard time wrapping your head around the idea of a nation not having a culture at all, but it exists and its name is Canada. Have you even been here before? I seriously get the impression you haven't, but if you have and considered the trip to be culturally enriching I'd love to hear about it.Vault101 said:but you DO have a cultureWestaway said:As a born and raised Canadian who has lived in three cities and traveled the country widely, I can very easily declare Canada has no discernible or practical culture. If you're aware of some magical culture I've never encountered but lives on in the hearts and minds of all Canadians, feel free to explain it to me. I love this country, but it's culturally destitute.
you just don't find it particularly remarkable because something eastern seems "exotic"
no it doesn't have 1000's of years of history and its not distinct from other 1st world western countries...but its still a culture
did you read what I said or are you just saying things?Westaway said:No, it doesn't. You have absolutely no understanding of the topic at hand. Canadian culture does not exist. You're just having a hard time wrapping your head around the idea of a nation not having a culture at all, but it exists and its name is Canada. Have you even been here before? I seriously get the impression you haven't, but if you have and considered the trip to be culturally enriching I'd love to hear about it.
I said that was incorrect and asked you for proof.Vault101 said:I said Canada has a culture
Canada was settled by I think the French and British, both French and English are the main languages spoken there, if I assume correctly it is predominantly Caucasian in population, you live in first world standards the reason being its one of the many country's we classify under the "west" which due to a ton more reasons is a more developed nation, while culturally very similar to America the accent is noticeable in its pronunciation of words like "out" it is known for ice hockey maple syrup and a stereotype of people being incredibly politeWestaway said:I said that was incorrect and asked you for proof.
Well, honestly I wouldn't be against a regression to an old school 1950s mentality and set of ethics on a lot of things, though I understand why that isn't practical. Of course I suppose by the standards of these forums that's a typical right wing attitude.Dirty Hipsters said:People in the past sucked. Lots of racism and bigotry, sexism, etc. You name it, societies of the past persecuted people for it (and still do in some cases). Still, it wasn't all bad, and there are some social values that we've lost due to "progress" that I wouldn't mind seeing a revival of, like for example the old Victorian adage that "children should neither be seen nor heard."
I hate other people's children. They're loud, they're annoying, and they ruin everything. Airplanes? Children make them hell. Restaurants? If there's a child in there you will not get a peaceful meal. Movies? There's always some shitty parents who decide to bring their toddler to the theater and then act surprised when the little bastard can't sit still and be quiet for 2 hours.
I really wouldn't mind if "children should neither be seen nor heard" made a comeback.
What about the rest of you? Any old social values that you miss and wish would be revived?
I see what you did there, old "values".SacremPyrobolum said:I wish we could turn back the clock on inflation. I would be able to live on my saving probably for the rest of my life!