American Culture

[Unveiled Artist]

A lot of people (dont ask who specifically) people feel America, US, doesnt have culture and traditions. Stereotypes such as we eat a lot of fast food, to the average non American would be rude. Most of us eat fast food because we work over twelve hours a day, have four children, single parent, trying to "find a purpose", taking care of family members at home, and you ask them if they have time to fix a full course meal? Thats for holidays and special occasions. (Oh. Talking about my family *cough*)

Here are some American (US) customs. Americans feek free to add and nonamericans, what are aome America customs you find weird, rude, or so have you. Hopefully in person but second and third knowledge is cool too.

American Culture compared to the rest of the world.

1. We like our indepence and personal space. I have a neighbor that when we talk she is so close I can almost touch my nose to hers. The closer you get to us the more we feel we can trust you; usually for relationships or good friends if not best pals.

2. Equality. You would think not, right? Look at politicians. Church. Etc. Naw. We try to be equal rights because if not we wouldnt want our personal space, want same level of respect back, I scratch your back and you scratch mine, catching each other when falling backwards, if you do this with me i have to do the same with you. Its not national but individual. Tell us we need to be below you (if you arent a militant) is not good taste in the US. We reserve that for professions and business.

American Values

3. Getting ahead and change vs tradition and continuity

You would think us Americans arent family-people. Course we arent. We tell our children to get a job to help with this 100,000 dollar house we live in. Dont forget the morgage, the car, the bills! The food (aka above and MCds.) And why do we kick them out?

Usually they want to go. "Ma. Im an adult now" other children just skip out and never come back. Family values lost? Im a child of a single parent. Ive been through a lot. My parents much more. On back. We are a family. I wouldnt be alive without my hardworking stubborn parent. Its not that its we raise our children with different values. Not wrong. Different.

By the way, wondering abou continuity? Look at our museums, library of congress, just visit DC. You find pictures everywhere in many American homes of family. Altars that they claim are just tables with nick nacks. I went to my aunts grave with family four weeks ago. We spread her ashes, some, on my my aunts mothers grave. Where we pick that up? Have no clue. I have some ashes. Ma has the rest. Naw. We dont like family.

4. Too much technology? We do nothing natural you say?

Sciencd makes: medication. Better surgies. Makes food. Lets us watch the news just in case of bombing or radio when I heard about 911 right on the spot.

I must admit we keep making more buildings. Probably because of population rather than cutting down tres for sport.

5. We are time people. Well, most. Deaf people arent time people and a lot are Americans! But those whos culture is on the clock is for a couple reasons: work, work, and work. Amercans wouldnt know what to do without work. Our federal government closed down mid day and people walked aroune DC (nations capitol) like zombies.

6. Last but certainly not least: Americans are not all Eureopeans and Amer-Africans (southern states). My friend is philipine born and raised here. Differnet culture but struggling to reconcile that with her birth culture.

Also, not all americans speak english. When we do, not too well. Probably good to learn slang but dont get confused going north to south. What about north west of Virginia. Dialects are something too.

Not a deep discussion. Read at "your own time" not mine.

 

[Epic Beard Man]

One of the things I find weird, rude, and annoying from both U.S. Americans and foreigners are specific food and social etiquettes. For example at work in the cafeteria I hate it when people opening up the soup containers put their whole face in the bowl to sniff it. I hate it when U.S. Americans and foreigners cough without covering their mouths as well as sneezing. I hate it when some Mexicans and Central Americans (I know cause I see this a lot on California) like to whistle at you to call your attention instead of saying excuse me or calling your name.

 

[David T]

A lot of people (dont ask who specifically) people feel America, US, doesnt have culture and traditions. Stereotypes such as we eat a lot of fast food, to the average non American would be rude. Most of us eat fast food because we work over twelve hours a day, have four children, single parent, trying to "find a purpose", taking care of family members at home, and you ask them if they have time to fix a full course meal? Thats for holidays and special occasions. (Oh. Talking about my family *cough*)

Here are some American (US) customs. Americans feek free to add and nonamericans, what are aome America customs you find weird, rude, or so have you. Hopefully in person but second and third knowledge is cool too.

American Culture compared to the rest of the world.

1. We like our indepence and personal space. I have a neighbor that when we talk she is so close I can almost touch my nose to hers. The closer you get to us the more we feel we can trust you; usually for relationships or good friends if not best pals.

2. Equality. You would think not, right? Look at politicians. Church. Etc. Naw. We try to be equal rights because if not we wouldnt want our personal space, want same level of respect back, I scratch your back and you scratch mine, catching each other when falling backwards, if you do this with me i have to do the same with you. Its not national but individual. Tell us we need to be below you (if you arent a militant) is not good taste in the US. We reserve that for professions and business.

American Values

3. Getting ahead and change vs tradition and continuity

You would think us Americans arent family-people. Course we arent. We tell our children to get a job to help with this 100,000 dollar house we live in. Dont forget the morgage, the car, the bills! The food (aka above and MCds.) And why do we kick them out?

Usually they want to go. "Ma. Im an adult now" other children just skip out and never come back. Family values lost? Im a child of a single parent. Ive been through a lot. My parents much more. On back. We are a family. I wouldnt be alive without my hardworking stubborn parent. Its not that its we raise our children with different values. Not wrong. Different.

By the way, wondering abou continuity? Look at our museums, library of congress, just visit DC. You find pictures everywhere in many American homes of family. Altars that they claim are just tables with nick nacks. I went to my aunts grave with family four weeks ago. We spread her ashes, some, on my my aunts mothers grave. Where we pick that up? Have no clue. I have some ashes. Ma has the rest. Naw. We dont like family.

4. Too much technology? We do nothing natural you say?

Sciencd makes: medication. Better surgies. Makes food. Lets us watch the news just in case of bombing or radio when I heard about 911 right on the spot.

I must admit we keep making more buildings. Probably because of population rather than cutting down tres for sport.

5. We are time people. Well, most. Deaf people arent time people and a lot are Americans! But those whos culture is on the clock is for a couple reasons: work, work, and work. Amercans wouldnt know what to do without work. Our federal government closed down mid day and people walked aroune DC (nations capitol) like zombies.

6. Last but certainly not least: Americans are not all Eureopeans and Amer-Africans (southern states). My friend is philipine born and raised here. Differnet culture but struggling to reconcile that with her birth culture.

Also, not all americans speak english. When we do, not too well. Probably good to learn slang but dont get confused going north to south. What about north west of Virginia. Dialects are something too.

Not a deep discussion. Read at "your own time" not mine.

we have American folk music.

 

[ADigitalArtist]

We have a culture. It's just largely toxic and ****ty.

 

[Saint Frankenstein]

There is no one culture in America. It's regional and can feel like a bunch of different countries.

 

[Unveiled Artist]

One of the things I find weird, rude, and annoying from both U.S. Americans and foreigners are specific food and social etiquettes. For example at work in the cafeteria I hate it when people opening up the soup containers put their whole face in the bowl to sniff it. I hate it when U.S. Americans and foreigners cough without covering their mouths as well as sneezing. I hate it when some Mexicans and Central Americans (I know cause I see this a lot on California) like to whistle at you to call your attention instead of saying excuse me or calling your name.

Hmm. I didn't know Americans sniff their soup. Socks and armpits, yep, soup? Thats new on me.

 

[Epic Beard Man]

Hmm. I didn't know Americans sniff their soup. Socks and armpits, yep, soup? Thats new on me.

It happens a lot at least at my work and other places. They flip the lid up lean in sniff the food and stir it. That s*** irks me. I even seen one lady with a cold sniffling do this while her nose was running.

 

[Unveiled Artist]

It happens a lot at least at my work and other places. They flip the lid up lean in sniff the food and stir it. That s*** irks me. I even seen one lady with a cold sniffling do this while her nose was running.

That's disgusting. Normally we wipe our nose on our hands if there isn't a napkin nearby.

 

[ADigitalArtist]

To expand on that, if I had to use just one word to describe the majority of US media, identity, history (with all its cowboy revisionism), religion and politics...

...that word would be machismo.

 

[Epic Beard Man]

That's disgusting. Normally we wipe our nose on our hands if there isn't a napkin nearby.

Yup I agree

 

[Father Heathen]

Of course we have a culture, or rather many overlapping cultures. Music, art, film, history, shared ideals and values, family customs and traditions, etiquette and social mores, distinct language nuances, accents, lingo, etc.

 

[Politesse]

I think America came closest to having a unitary, well-defined culture shortly after the Civil War, when we were at our most expansionist and imperialistic and a rich mythic structure had developed around our founding and future destiny. Margaret Mead's "And Keep Your Powder Dry" is a nice anthropologist's look at the situation at the beginning of the Second World War, which makes some poignant predictions about our shared future as a nation.

She notes a lot of the things you mention: a general obsession with time and a sense of impatience toward life; A tendency to deeply mythologize our national distant past but "forget" recent history; a highly individualistic approach to parenting that rewards achievement and self-motivated behaviors.

But it is outdated now, and much better represents the lives of white Americans and recent immigrants than it does the residents of our racialized ghettoes, urban communities, and other diversities.

 

[Vouthon]

@Carlita I don't really view "equality" as an American cultural trait, despite the Declaration of Independence paying lip-service to the Enlightenment idea of natural human equality.

Americans are, to my mind as a Brit and European, obsessed with personal freedom - especially the freedom of the individual to amass as much wealth as can be produced, without much in the way of a social conscience.

I wouldn't even say that you have equality of opportunity, since African Americans - among other minorities - clearly still have fewer opportunities to move themselves up the social ladder.

Healthcare isn't free and universal either.

The U.S. started out as a sort of "gentleman's republic" governed by an elite of mercantile gentry, and in many respects its still the same - despite all the progress made.

I think this all stems from its 17th century roots in settlements populated by Puritan exiles from England, with their emphasis upon individualism, stoic hard work and adventurism.

 

[Kangaroo Feathers]

A lot of people (dont ask who specifically) people feel America, US, doesnt have culture and traditions. Stereotypes such as we eat a lot of fast food, to the average non American would be rude. Most of us eat fast food because we work over twelve hours a day, have four children, single parent, trying to "find a purpose", taking care of family members at home, and you ask them if they have time to fix a full course meal? Thats for holidays and special occasions. (Oh. Talking about my family *cough*)

Here are some American (US) customs. Americans feek free to add and nonamericans, what are aome America customs you find weird, rude, or so have you. Hopefully in person but second and third knowledge is cool too.

American Culture compared to the rest of the world.

1. We like our indepence and personal space. I have a neighbor that when we talk she is so close I can almost touch my nose to hers. The closer you get to us the more we feel we can trust you; usually for relationships or good friends if not best pals.

2. Equality. You would think not, right? Look at politicians. Church. Etc. Naw. We try to be equal rights because if not we wouldnt want our personal space, want same level of respect back, I scratch your back and you scratch mine, catching each other when falling backwards, if you do this with me i have to do the same with you. Its not national but individual. Tell us we need to be below you (if you arent a militant) is not good taste in the US. We reserve that for professions and business.

American Values

3. Getting ahead and change vs tradition and continuity

You would think us Americans arent family-people. Course we arent. We tell our children to get a job to help with this 100,000 dollar house we live in. Dont forget the morgage, the car, the bills! The food (aka above and MCds.) And why do we kick them out?

Usually they want to go. "Ma. Im an adult now" other children just skip out and never come back. Family values lost? Im a child of a single parent. Ive been through a lot. My parents much more. On back. We are a family. I wouldnt be alive without my hardworking stubborn parent. Its not that its we raise our children with different values. Not wrong. Different.

By the way, wondering abou continuity? Look at our museums, library of congress, just visit DC. You find pictures everywhere in many American homes of family. Altars that they claim are just tables with nick nacks. I went to my aunts grave with family four weeks ago. We spread her ashes, some, on my my aunts mothers grave. Where we pick that up? Have no clue. I have some ashes. Ma has the rest. Naw. We dont like family.

4. Too much technology? We do nothing natural you say?

Sciencd makes: medication. Better surgies. Makes food. Lets us watch the news just in case of bombing or radio when I heard about 911 right on the spot.

I must admit we keep making more buildings. Probably because of population rather than cutting down tres for sport.

5. We are time people. Well, most. Deaf people arent time people and a lot are Americans! But those whos culture is on the clock is for a couple reasons: work, work, and work. Amercans wouldnt know what to do without work. Our federal government closed down mid day and people walked aroune DC (nations capitol) like zombies.

6. Last but certainly not least: Americans are not all Eureopeans and Amer-Africans (southern states). My friend is philipine born and raised here. Differnet culture but struggling to reconcile that with her birth culture.

Also, not all americans speak english. When we do, not too well. Probably good to learn slang but dont get confused going north to south. What about north west of Virginia. Dialects are something too.

Not a deep discussion. Read at "your own time" not mine.

You know the old saying that "fish have no word for water"? Culture is kind of like that. People aren't aware of it when they're surrounded by, and have been brought up in, it.

 

[BSM1]

we have American folk music.

Actually most of our music can be traced backed to other countries. The only exception is American jazz. That seems to be as close to truly "American" music that we can find.

 

[Revoltingest]

Hmm. I didn't know Americans sniff their soup. Socks and armpits, yep, soup? Thats new on me.

The "smelfie" is a useful social device.
I do it so that others will not be threatened by my high social status.
This act tells them that I'm of lower station than I appear, & approachable.

I've never seen soup smelling though.
I'll give that a try.

 

[Unveiled Artist]

The "smelfie" is a useful social device.
I do it so that others will not be threatened by my high social status.
This act tells them that I'm of lower station than I appear, & approachable.

I've never seen soup smelling though.
I'll give that a try.

Is that why your nose is always turned up?

 

[Revoltingest]

Is that why your nose is always turned up?

No....I'm watching out for anvils.

 

[Politesse]

Actually most of our music can be traced backed to other countries. The only exception is American jazz. That seems to be as close to truly "American" music that we can find.

Oh yeah? Who was doing jazz, rock, disco, funk, r & b, hip-hop, gospel, ragtime, pow-wow, tejano, or bluegrass music before Americans were? We have been influenced by all the people who have come here from other places, but it is characteristic of us to use those raw ingredients to do something completely new. And not just our own music but world music in general would be unrecognizably different had the US not been over here mixing things up and experimenting. What country's popular music wasn't influenced by American jazz musicians, or the invention of the electric guitar and synthesizer? What we have borrowed, we have also given back in spades.

 

[BSM1]

Oh yeah? Who was doing jazz, rock, disco, funk, r & b, hip-hop, gospel, ragtime, pow-wow, tejano, or bluegrass music before Americans were? We have been influenced by all the people who have come here from other places, but it is characteristic of us to use those raw ingredients to do something completely new. And not just our own music but world music in general would be unrecognizably different had the US not been over here mixing things up and experimenting. What country's popular music wasn't influenced by American jazz musicians, or the invention of the electric guitar and synthesizer? What we have borrowed, we have also given back in spades.

Uhhh...Irish...Scots....many different African cultures...Italians...Germans... You really need to look up the history and timelines of American music before you get all puffed up. As a musician I understand your prideful perspective, but in reality all of our music--with the possible exception of jazz--is just an expansion of other world genres.