YOU'VE Caused ME Cultural Offence. Why Do the Usual Suspects Think This is a One Way Street?

[JimRSmith]

We read FAR too much these days about how we, in the west, 'must' act towards recent immigrants, for fear of offending their culture.

However, very little is said about the many, many ways in which our OWN culture can be offended.

I've pulled together a little guide, on which customs people from other parts of the world sometimes follow, which really piss me off.

Something that's apparently 'offensive' these days, or so we're told...

1. Haggling

If there is a marked price on an item, then never, EVER quibble with this, and proceed to offer less. That is the price, there will be no discounts, and to suggest that it's worth less than the vendor believes is offensive. If you truly believe this, then say nothing, and simply walk away.

2. Bring me my change

Do not EVER assume that I have decided, out of the goodness of my heart, to pay more than the bill says, unless I have explicitly told you this. I expect my change to be brought to me, in a timely fashion, and not to have to ask for it. Particularly not more than once.

3. Do not approach me, uninvited, to sell me items that I neither want nor need

I will approach YOU, if I see that you are selling something that I might be interested in, NOT the other way round.

4. You will queue, in an orderly fashion, not pushing, and you will wait your turn

It is NOT acceptable for you to push into the front of a queue, nor to start a conversation with one of your friends or compatriots, and to bump the queue in this fashion. Join it, at the back, and wait your turn, like everybody else does.

5. If I have bought you a round of drinks in the pub, this is a gesture of goodwill, that I expect you to reciprocate

I am not giving you a free drink. You will come across as a tight-fisted miser, and the opportunity to participate in a round will not be extended in future. I'll also tell my friends what you did, and they won't feel inclined to involve you, either.

6. Do not 'Tut' unless you are expressing disapproval

This is a dental click, also spelled 'tsk' in American English apparently, which is used to express disapproval, and ONLY disapproval, when speaking English. It is NOT, for example, acceptable to use this sound to mean 'No'. Should you do so, it will be taken that your response meant "What a stupid question to ask", and it will cause offence.

Which additional customs have you encountered, that offend YOU?

[ThisDudeHere]

Randomly starting conversations out of the blue on the bus. The only leeway I'd give would be for old people or curious kids or something. If a random ass adult just starts talking to you out of the blue then that's not okay.
There should be at least some kind of inciting event. Like, perhaps you saw something out the window, or someone else did something. If there is not, keep quiet.
Walking indoors (in a home) with shoes on. I'm guessing that most cultures actually have this as a taboo, but I've seen examples, primarely in American movies, where they *shudders* go to their bedrooms with their street shoes. I mean... the fuck?

Stepping with street shoes on a carpet that people usually go barefoot on is just revolting.

[ThisDudeHere]

oh by the way forgot, you're a white man so you don't get to complain. You racist.

[BonnieBunny]

I found the SJW

[ThisDudeHere]

@BonnieBunny no u

[Wowgirl10q]

@ThisDudeHere He is not racist he's probably the most intellectual user's on here one of the nicest too. Blunt yes racist no

[ThisDudeHere]

@Wowgirl10q I'm pretty sure he's a altright Nazi.

[Wowgirl10q]

@ThisDudeHere 🙂 no sir he isn't. No more then I am

[ThisDudeHere]

@Wowgirl10q he's a white male so that means that he's privileged. And if he's priveledged and isn't checking it, then that means that he could be a few steps away from Nazism.

[Wowgirl10q]

He's not he's my friend I'm standing up for him just as you would your friends. I'm white I'm not privileged definitely am not a Nazi wouldn't support a Nazi he's a good guy he's been kind to me. That's what I go by.

[Wowgirl10q]

@ThisDudeHere I would do the same for you if we were friends too. But that wasn't nice or true

[ThisDudeHere]

@Wowgirl10q
He is my friend too and I was pulling your leg.

[Wowgirl10q]

Good job I take it all back

[ThisDudeHere]

Paldies

[jacquesvol]

I had many conversations out of the blue in other countries: on a boat, in a minibus. It's a way to learn something about the people.

[RazmanianDevil]

6). We have roads here fucking learn to use them
7). Why are you here but can barely say a sentence in English... how the fuck did you pass the test
8). Rape is bad stop doing it
9). Stop trying to change our country that when YOU ARE THE MIGRANT
10) If you migrate to America then you should hold American values
11). The constitution is final stop disobeying it
12). Don't take us for fools we will fucking shoot you
13). Respect our borders
14). Respect our president even if you didn't vote for him
15). Don't come to MY house and enforce YOUR rules.

I could go all day with this nice MyTake.

[SirRexington]

I agree with nearly everything but the idea that the construction is final, it is clearly not and should not be. They are called amendments for a reason.

Also, if you shoot someone because they made you feel foolish, time to turn in your gun. Because you are a fucking idiot.

And finally, I will not and never will respect ANYONE president or not for any reason other than I feel they earned it. Trump has not, its my duty as a citizen to air my grievances. Anything else is suppression of free speech. Also, we all know no one respected Obama and would have gone along with it if they felt forced to respect him.

[jacquesvol]

@RazmanianDevil you should hold American values
we will fucking shoot you
Respect our president even if he paid $135000 to hide his affair with a porn model?
Respect our president even if he dodged taxes?

Respect our president:

[MlleCake]

I agree with you on the price haggling thing. It is very annoying to have people think you can be talked down on a marked price. There's a time and a place for haggling. The checkout line at Target is not it.

From the perspective of a white lady living in California, I meet and know people from all over the world, and it's worthwhile for me to understand some customs that are different from my own, even appreciate some of those customs.

But no one is required to like everything about every other culture

There is this idea that to recognize a cultural difference, one must be racist in some way. And to be sure, many of the ways people talk about differing cultures is very racist.

[CandyCaneZoe]

Yes, at a make retail store, this is true. But let's not pretend haggling. isn't an important part of make purchases. At the end of the day, you still have the right to say no as much as I have a right to try and get a better deal. No need to take things personal though and get insulted.

[Goodwifie]

5) I have had trouble with.
My husband has been trying to cut down on how much he drinks while out with mates but the whole thing about buying rounds makes him feel as if he needs to keep up with the others.
On one night out it was my friends 40th birthday at a nice restaurant the cost of the meal and her birthday gift left us low on cash. Next thing I know the guys all started buying rounds of beer and at $12 a pint for six or more guys left us completely broke.
What's a nice but manly way to decline being involved in buying rounds?

[JimRSmith]

You posted this two hours ago, and I wanted to be able to give a properly considered answer, and I still haven't come up with one.

You need to make sure that you don't start off as being part of that round, I think, and everybody else will say "Come on, what's the matter with you etc" so I think insisting that you can't because you've got an early morning tomorrow, or saying it's doctor's orders or something like that is probably all he can do.

I might do another take on OUR culture's slightly unedifying relationship with alcohol, and this should get an honourable mention...

[Goodwifie]

They just put the drink in front of him and didn't ask.
This meant that I had to stop drinking and become the designated driver.
We've had had issues with my husbands drinking and he was really trying to cut down.
He went to a mates place on the weekend to watch the AFL grand finale and he was proud to say that he only had one beer 👍.

[monkeynutts]

You should tell your friends you can't afford to drink, Australia is the most expensive place on the planet for alcohol, they should understand, and if you were my friend I would shout you a few rounds or drop you a 50.

[Goodwifie]

👍👍👍thank you.

[jacquesvol]

@monkeynutts Australia the most expensive? Try Scandinavia

[Goodwifie]

@jacquesvol it all depends on where you are drinking.

[jacquesvol]

Tap water is cheap there

[Goodwifie]

@jacquesvol mate the main problem was my husband not knowing how to say no to a drink because It’s unmanly to say no to a drink. He grew up with parents who used to drink to get drunk every weekend either with friends or family, all of his mates are heavy drinkers this was his normal.
My husband turned into an angry drunk he wasn’t like this when we first met or when we got married, it really had me upset and confused so eventually I had to make him choose between the booze and his family.

[lumos]

Huh. Question: regarding number 3, do you mean people selling stuff in the street, or when you walk into a store and a salesperson comes up to you to showcase new items? If you mean the former, I understand. If you mean the latter, well, they're just doing their job. Have you ever worked in sales? These people usually need to fill a quota (sometimes when it comes to a specific product) and the only way to fill that quota is to walk up to people and grab their attention. Sometimes it works, other times it doesn't. What you, as a customer (or visitor) have to do, is simply smile and say "no thank you" and keep walking. No need to take it so personally or let it bother you. I can assure you that if they had a choice, they wouldn't want to bother you either.

Number 5 is kinda dumb too because nobody owes you anything, even if you buy them stuff. That's your own choice and if someone doesn't want to return the favor, maybe you should spend your money more wisely, or only on people you know for sure will appreciate it. Let's use the logic of number 3: do not buy someone a drink, uninvited, when it's something they neither want nor need.

Number 1 is also kinda dumb depending on what you actually mean. I understand not accepting someone trying to haggle when you work in an actual store and you can't give out random discounts to people. However, if you're selling your own stuff online or at a flea market of some sort, haggling is just a part of the game. In Finnish there's a saying that goes "Ei tyhmä ole se, joka pyytää, vaan se, joka antaa" which pretty much means "the one who asks is not dumb, the one who gives is".

[JimRSmith]

#3 - yes, I did mean people selling things on the street.

#5 - not in my culture.

#1 - I'm not talking about a flea market.

[SirRexington]

I disagree rather vehemently about thw first one due to my strong support of the free market.

The second point is an occurrence that really pisses my mom off. Out of principal it pisses me off, but not as much as my mom.

Third position you mentioned is a scurge that Americans have hated for decades. Finally its starting to die.

Fourthly, I hate being in a conversation and someone outside that conversation butts in to talk about something with the other person I'm already conversing with about an unrelated topic. Distracting from the topic already in the midst of dialogue. What I hate more is a person who doesn't say, "hey I'll talk to you later I'm busy at the moment".

I will walk away in anger (I'll make it known as well) if that happens. If I can tell that the person I was speaking to feel sorry about the intrusion but doesn't have the gumption to explain why he can't talk at the moment, I will very boldly and unapologetically explain to the interrupter that he needs to shut up because he was rudely sidelining a conversation already in progress.

As for the pub thing, don't buy me a drink then Jim. Cause I'm not buying you shit. I didn't ask for you to do so, to assume reciprocity is foolish and entitled. So don't get mad because you wrongfully assumed I "owed" it to you to buy you a drink.

As for the final point, I "tsk" everyday. To anyone who has a problem with it, get over it. Or else attempt to do something about it, if you decide to take that illogical and nonsensical path you will horribly regret it in the most painful way imaginable.

[Justacatlady]

I don't agree at all with the drink buying. If you buy a round with the expectation that I will buy the next you are a fool. You should never spend/lend money that if not given back would hurt you. I didn't agree to go out for the night with expectations that I would have to spend money on everyone. That isn't what going out is for. If you feel so inclined to be charitable and buy the group a drink, that is on you. I am not obligated to do the same.
With the rest of these, I'm not sure how they relate to a cultural thing? These are merely things any race or culture may do.

[JimRSmith]

The round of drinks thing might not be the cultural faux pas in the US that it is here, I suspect? I think those are fair points you're making, on reflection... 🤔

[hellionthesagereborn]

Being an American I would say I find cultural offense whenever any one tries to ridicule us and our second amendment, that's part of our history and culture why be so disrespectful to that. Or the demand that we sacrifice our entire culture and economic and political system to appease Europeans, if Germany and Norway want their socialist systems more power to them, but don't tell me how we are backwards and oppressive for not having them, independence is a VERY big part of our culture, don't dismiss it, its what allowed us to survive in a completely foreign environment far from the familiar and what has allowed us to become as prosperous as we have.

[SirRexington]

So? You're admitting to be a snowflake afraid of progress? Gotcha.

[hellionthesagereborn]

@SirRexington How? I stated that its rather screwed up and one could even say "offensive" to tell an entire nation that they are living wrong and they should do it exactly as you do. As for progress, what progress is that? the welfare state existed in rome, they implemented it and removed all the rules and norms of their society (like having a strong family unit and trading it in for casual sex) and then promptly fell apart. Socialism has also been tried multiple times and failed every single time without exception, like in the soviet union and all the countries Russia "annexed"(conquered. Like Poland, the Ukraine) and then promptly ran into the ground murdering tens of millions of people directly and even more indirectly, like China where Mao mass murdered tens of thousands of people to gain absolute power, like Pol Pot in Cambodia, like Cuba, like Venezuela, Ethiopia, etc.(all of which resulted in mass murder and the largest body count of any ideology in history by an insane margin).

[hellionthesagereborn]

@SirRexington The reason why we have freedom of speech for instance (and no other nation does by the way) is because that is necessary to expose lies and disinformation as well as for the people to assemble and know the facts so they can respond accordingly all something corrupt governments will not want from their people as it would mean the people would know and openly point out that corruption. The second amendment which is the right to bare arms is not just an acknowledgment that ones life has value and thus they should be able to defend themselves against whom ever threatens them. However its primary focus is in defense against the government itself as our ancestors were well aware of the tactic of a oppressive regime is to disarm the populace, that's what England did with Ireland for instance as disarming them not only prevents them from fighting back it plays a psychological effect as well of making them afraid as they now are becoming dependent upon their oppressors for

[hellionthesagereborn]

@SirRexington protection. They did it in India as well as the dutch and Spanish did in south America, as Hitler did in Germany (for those he intended to kill or conquer, like jews and in Austria), as Stalin and lenin did in Russia (claiming all the same things the left does, that it is for the peoples own good, then once they are disarmed they rounded up all their now defensless political opponents and murdered them), Mao did in china (with the same result), etc. The grand irony in this is that you would be the snowflake here, I don't care what others do in their own country, if you want socialism and to be disarmed and kept in a safe space where people are not allowed to say things you don't like by all means go to Venezeula, go to Norway (which ironically has higher rates of mass shootings then the US) or anywhere else, I will not stop you, just don't try to force your ideological beliefs down my throat because you believe that you are superior to others that's when we have a problem

[SirRexington]

That's a lot to respond to and frankly after reading it, I'm not sure I should respond. 90% of what you claimed was untue. So, have a nice conservative life, which is what I assume your leaning to, but that's the thing, I don't want to live in a conservative country. We weren't founded on one and should not continue living in a backwards country like we are. We are backwards thats a fact and it's not something to be proud of.

[hellionthesagereborn]

@SirRexington Sure it was, just because you don't like it doesn't make it untrue, it just means you don't like it. Also I would point out that your the one demanding that the world change for you, I'm the one asking that the world let me live my life as I see fit. As for your claims of being backwards, that's just absurd and your clearly unaware of how the world works. Take guns for instance, if you look at the data and actually analyze it you would realize that our violence rates are not actually all that high, in fact statistically even taking the lefts intentionally misleading numbers of 31000(this is misleading because it includes suicides which account for 63% of that number, another 4% are accidents) violent gun deaths, even the most conservative estimate of how many crimes are stopped by armed citizens is over 65,000(this is nonviolent, that is they never discharged their firearm) which is double the fake number. Most other studies have it as high as 2 million crimes stopped.

[hellionthesagereborn]

@SirRexington Even then when you look at the 31,000 gun deaths, that's 31,000(again we are using the false number that is claimed by the left not the actual number of about 11,000) deaths out of a population of 325 MILLION, giving us a percentage of.009%, that's how many people die percentage wise to guns using the lefts fake numbers. Using the real numbers its actually.003%. That's miniscule. Of course that's before we even get into that almost 10,000 of those are black on black violence and that itself is caused by the break down of the family unit (as its directly corresponded with the increase of single mother homes as fatherlessness has been proven to increase rates of criminality, poverty, academic failure, substance abuse and promiscuity (thus perpetuating the problem), which is actually encouraged by the left (if we fixed the 72% out of wedlock birth rate of the black community we would see those numbers drop down to probably only a couple thousand people a year)

[hellionthesagereborn]

@SirRexington Meanwhile if we look at the countries with the highest mass shootings its actually Norway followed by finland, Slovakia, Israel, and Switzerland. Most of which have highly regulated access to fire arms. If you are talking about say welfare states, well Norway for instance has a massive one (yet oddly enough fewer restrictions on businesses (which I personally agree with)). They also have a higher minimum wage of about 24 dollars. Of course 60% of that goes to taxes because welfare states are not cheap, reducing the actual value to about 12 dollars. But then because of higher taxes the cost of living is twice as high, reducing that amount again to being the equivalent of 6 dollars in the US. Then on top of that any "luxury" good, like cars, have many many more taxes placed on them (I believe they have almost 20 just for buying the car, then additional ones for parking etc.). That's why Scandinavian countries have some of the highest wealth gaps in Europe.

[SirRexington]

Im always amazed by people who spout and say the things you do. Mostly because you genuinely believe them.

I'm not changing the world for me or anyone out of selfishness but the belief in freedom and equality of opportunity. You telling me I can't fight for the things I believe in (that won't negatively affect you mind you) is not allowing me and thousands of others being able to live as they see fit.

America is not Your country, its ours. All of ours. We have different needs and we can't all fight for ourselves like brave warriors. Many of us need help. To deny that help makes you a monster in my eyes.

And no, just about everything you originally said was false beyond measure. As was your gun claims. There is no way to accurately present how many crimes are thwarted by guns. Our rate is extremely high considering how many people own them and how many deaths we have, murders alone. As for intentionally misleading numbers, i believe you confused left with the word right.

[hellionthesagereborn]

@SirRexington Then you have the issue of them having "no homeless", because they take tax payers money and pay for homes for the homeless. The problem is these people have absolutely no reason to go to a job they hate when they can make more and do less simply by free loading off the state costing every one else billions. Its actually becoming a real problem. You also have the issue of "free" college. They are "free" in the sense that you have to pay for it in all other aspects of your life even if you yourself are not going to one (resulting in them having the average debt of only slightly less then what the US's student loans debts are (only of course with the US only the people going to school are actually forced to pay for that unlike in Norway where every one is forced to pay). Then the issue with this is that they have limited space because they have no way to regulate people going to those schools, that is because cost is not an issue every one wants to go.

[hellionthesagereborn]

@SirRexington Sounds great until you realize that since they are not allowed to charge any one they cannot increase the size of their facilities, they cannot hire more teachers so they are forced to raise the standards to the point where you need effectively better then perfect scores to enter these schools. So most of Norway (and the Scandinavian countries in general) sends their children to Poland to study, which they do in fact have to pay for. If they didn't they would see a massive drop in the number of skilled laborers (doctors especially) which would have catastrophic consequences. In fact once you look at the data its quite clear that our "backwards" country, is in fact far from it. You may prefer to be pampered and taken care of by others, you may enjoy the idea of living off of the work of others, but I do not and most americans do not. We wish to live our lives on our own merits and abilities, we wish to contribute and not be a burden to others.

[SirRexington]

Dude... I genuinely can't do this with you. It makes my brain hurt. I'm sorry man, but these boring conservative talking points are old, debunked an atrocious amount of times and are just plain dumb. I'm sorry, but your vision od America is one that needs to die.

As for the homeless issue, the whole point of free education and assisted living is that people can have easy access to learn a trade the are interested in, use that knowledge to advance their careers and skip the whole working for a job they hate part. That's the point! Then they don't have to worry about not being able to shower or cook because they will have a stable home life, a sense of security that will make getting a job and an education easier...

Everything you believe in... Why? I still don't understand? Why?

[hellionthesagereborn]

@SirRexington First and foremost, I am not a conservative. Second, by all means, debunk them, debunk them right now, provide the data, provide the evidence because thus far all I hear from people like you is that "your wrong and stupid and your also racist/sexist/homophobic/transphobic/"insert random insult here" so I don't have to argue with you". Either prove it, or shut up. Its really simple, I said respect peoples independence, respect their cultures, then you, clearly a liberal, came here demanding that we not do that (because your a bigot (intolerant of others personal beliefs and views when they differ from your own)) and that any one who doesn't want an oppressive government system is evil and stupid. By all means, prove me wrong. I gave you the data, so far all you have given is insults and excuses. So come on, man up princess and refute my statements. you can start here: www.nytimes.com/.../...hs-are-mostly-suicides.html

[hellionthesagereborn]

@SirRexington www.answers.com/.../How_many_crimes_were_stopped_by_a_gun
www.businessinsider.com/why-socialist-scandinavia-has-some-of-the-highest-inequality-in-europe-2014-10
www.theguardian.com/.../scandinavian-miracle-brutal-truth-denmark-norway-sweden
So where is your data? You wanted this fight, you whent out of your way for it, don't back down now, give me a rebuttal. Unless you want to slink away like every one else when faced with cold hard facts?

[SirRexington]

Oh, and capitalism is not living off the work of others? Give me a break. You don't contribute to the community, thats not your style. You are selfish and think that any way of living that isn't yours is unAmerican or spooky socialism.

I want people to have their needs met so they can focus on themselves and pursue their own dreams, unhindered by inequality and financial instability.

I know you will assume me decided to end this conversation is me conceding but no, I just wanted to hear some points you gave. Sadly, none were original and none were factual (except for the effects of fatherlessness, which you used to reinforce your own fact to make it appear more accurate) and all of your points are aspects of an America i want to die. If anything you have strengthened my positions. Thank you for the discussion.

[hellionthesagereborn]

@SirRexington Ah, more name calling and bitching, not unexpected but disappointing none the less. How is working living off of others exactly? Its not. Also don't accuse me of stating some one was "unamerican" etc. your the one who started insulting and belittiling me when I asked that we not be insulted and belittled just because we live differently then other nations, not me. I think if you want socialism you can have it, but as this is America and we have our own unique culture and way of doing things I do not respect those who would destroy it, go some where that has the values you want, their are plenty of those nations around why do you need to destroy others to get what you want? Because you don't actually know what you want, you don't understand the real world, you don't understand the history or the culture or the struggles of real people because you where babied your entire life. Let me guess, you've never had to go without food before? You went to college to didn't you?

[SirRexington]

goo.gl/search/low+income+inequality+countries
Ranked: Income inequality around the world - Business Insider Mexico, Chile, the US and Turkey have the highest inequality among the OECD members. And inequality is even higher in emerging economies. On the flip side, Denmark, Slovenia, and Czech Republic have the lowest.
www.scientificamerican.com/.../
Guns Do Not Stop More Crimes, Evidence Shows - Scientific American
www.theguardian.com/.../gun-theft-us-firearm-survey
Up to 600000 guns are stolen every year in the US – that's one...
www.politico.com/.../defensive-gun-ownership-myth-114262
The Myth Behind Defensive Gun Ownership - POLITICO Magazine

For the record, I am not against the weapon. I'm against the irresponsibility we allow to obtain it.

[hellionthesagereborn]

@SirRexington Then you had your head filled with bullshit by people who have never actually had to live in the real world. People like Bernie sanders screams how we need socialism, even as he owns three different mansions. People like Jim Carrey scream how we need socialism even as he is worth 100 million dollars and gives none of that away (he himself could pull plenty of people out of poverty single handedly. Why doesn't he do it?). People like Stephen Colbert who's net worth is 60 million, Jimmy Kimmel who is worth 45 million, are all screaming for socialism even as they don't give up what they have for the name of socialism, for the name of charity. They live in big mansions, they live in gated communities with armed security all while demanding that every one else do the exact opposite of what they do. And how did they get their? Oh yeah, capitalism.

[hellionthesagereborn]

@SirRexington Their is nothing worse then a little boy who has never grown up, never experienced the world trying to lecture others on how it works. What do you know of economics? Have you ever run a business? Have you ever put in those fifty, sixty, 80 hour work weeks to get something off the ground? To pay the bills? Or where you just coddled your entire life and told you where special? So go slink away princess, slink away into your echo chamber where you don't have to hear the real world calling. I was fine with you having a difference of opinion, I am not fine with your conceit and vitriol, I hate cowards, and their is no bigger coward then a man who picks a fight then runs away when he knows he is going to get what he justly deserves. Go run and hide from the truth, it will find you eventually, no matter how big a temper tantrum you throw.

[SirRexington]

There is nothing more immoral than a greedy, unintelligent and entitled human being who thinks they what the other person has gone through.
I've been studying economics since I was in 8th grade. No college though, can't afford it! No one should have to work that many hours! Thats slavery!

I grew in poverty you stupid little bitch. I'm homeless and so is my mom. We have been for awhile now, but it's probably our fault isn't? It couldn't possibly be because of anything else.

I have autism and a bunch of other issues making my life difficult, doesn't mean I didn't and don't try to work through the obstacles, work long and harder than anyone else because of it. But yeah, its still my fault though right? Oh wait, those mental disorders are just liberal lies used as an excuse to bitch and complain aren't they?

On a least important note, if we are to criticize an idea because rich people are pushing for it, then shut the fuck up! EVERY conservative you love is a fucking millionaire as well

[SirRexington]

You insulted me this entire time. And that's ok. If you think me insulting you destroys my argument, you are still an oversensitive snowflake hypocrite.

America has not 1 culture, but the tolerance of others willing to cooperate. Yours does not. Mine does.

[SirRexington]

You and I will never agree. I knew I shouldn't have done this with you and I knew you'd use my own ego against me to "force" me into continuing to argue with you. I shouldn't have. You're why I hate America and why I'm ashamed to live in it. If I had the money and the knowledge of how to speak Norwegian or Danish, id move there for sure. Not Sweden though, too many immigration problems. Something I do think we'd both agree on.

[hellionthesagereborn]

@SirRexington Nope, I didn't start insulting you until you started, and my insults where quite tame, I was simply trying to call you out and coax you into actually presenting evidence instead of slinking off as people like you so often do. Naturally you've been a disappointment, all talk, insults and belittlement but no actual argument (you can't use the term argument if all you have said is some one is wrong, a snowflake afraid of progress (your literal first words directed at me (i. e. you opened with an insult, I then ignored it, you proceeded with the insults then I called you out for what you are, a weak bigoted princess who can't handle the truth so you throw insults and then hide because that's all you have (I on the other hand, have the truth which is why I am more then willing to sit here and have you present data to counter my statements, because I know damn well that you can't (and so do you).

[hellionthesagereborn]

@SirRexington America does have a culture, that's what makes us different then other countries, our culture and beliefs are different then other peoples. That's why we have the first and second amendment, part of our culture is about individuality NOT conformity (ironic how people like you keep trying to take that away from us, some people are too weak to stand on their own I guess) and an innate distrust of those who would try to dictate to us how to live OUR lives. So run along, I don't have time to deal with petulant children who think they are above every one else and especially not ones that think they are above the truth.

[SirRexington]

1. Why are you still responding this all this time later?
2. People like me? There are no people like me. I'm unique.
3. It's funny you say i want conformity, I'm the biggest rebel you'll meet. I hate authority, I don't follow the rules and I don't care. You think you know everything, your a conservative right? Your entire belief system is about conformity.
4. First and second amendment are not cultures. Not really. But the culture around the second amendment is disturbing. (In my opinion).
5. The idea we should not help those who can't help themselves is a backwards and selfish way of looking at life. A very elitist and petulant outlook.
6. Everything you say to talk shit to me is literally what you should be saying about yourself. Because you describe yourself well. A massively, arrogant and ignorant hypocrite who needs to shut the fuck up and crawl into a hole never to be heard from again.

[hellionthesagereborn]

@SirRexington I responded weeks ago, not very recently. As to your uniqueness, no, no your not. No your not a rebel, you can't call for socialism and be a rebel that is in fact the exact opposite of rebel, a rebel values independence socialist value groups. You can't be anti authoritarian if you advocate for a system that requires an all powerful government.
I'm not a conservative, I don't know what I am but conservative is not one of them and no, conservatism is not about conformity, its about personal responsibility that also comes with personal freedoms. If I want the government to stop interfering and telling people what to do clearly I cannot be for conformity because the best way to make people conform is through governmental mandates (which socialism advocates). I am for facts, I am anti authoritarian, anti irresponsibility etc. The first amendment is a law, the notion that people should be allowed to speak freely is culture.

[hellionthesagereborn]

@SirRexington Yes you would find the second amendment scary, cowards and those who would try and force others to do their will are always terrified of an armed populace. That said considering that gun violence is uncommon (.003% chance of being shot in the US) and even those most conservative estimates show that your 6x more likely to have crime stopped by an armed citizen then killed by one. So you can be disturbed all you want, it not illegal to be a coward, it just means your weak or stupid (as the first thing oppressive governments do is take away the peoples ability to fight back (as the Spanish, British, Russians and Chinese did). As for number 5, I never once stated you shouldn't help others, in fact I encourage it. What I said is you shouldn't harm others which is what your calling for.

[hellionthesagereborn]

@SirRexington Your calling to steal from other people, to give to some one else and rob businesses which will inevitably result in them firing workers (as we have already seen) again to give to others who then are incentivized not to try or to better their life as the second they do people like you advocate for robbing them because YOU think they have to much money, to good a life and they need to be dragged down back into the dirt where they belong (in your mind). That's what I am against. That's why socialism has murdered more people then any other ideology and did it in only 50 years what religion and every other ideology couldn't do in thousands. Your not about helping the poor or the "helpless", I mean look at your statement, "who can't help themselves" really? My uncle had polio and lost the muscle tissue in his legs. He needs crutches and leg braces to walk. The man not only worked finance but also helped build cabinets and furniture etc.

[hellionthesagereborn]

@SirRexington Is he the helpless that your talking about? How much of an elitist do you have to be to see a person and think your that much better then them? I'd imagine a massive elitist. You don't want to help any one (as I have pointed out we know that removing welfare and not stealing from people increases job participation and wages and people fair significantly better), you want them to stay in a perpetual infantile state so that you can lord over them, so you can pretend to be so benevolent and kind while using THEM as an excuse to hurt those who have more then you. Now as for your last little rant, your the one who instigates these fights I just lost my patience because I can't deal with a petulant child that doesn't understand how the real world works, some one who has never struggled and never had to face the real world and all the hardships that it brings who thinks he is better then every one else. So again, run along princess and bother some one else.

[ATuairiscean]

Very interesting take - A lot of this hasn't made it to Ireland though that said I don't get out much but I don't think it has - One thing of note Irish people were terrible at queuing in the first place anyway - I am not saying this because I am triggered but there is as many customs/habits that native people do which will annoy as much as any immigrants. Maybe the focus on diversity and cultural acceptance is over the top, my view is a mix of your view and their view, you can be traditionally native or multicultural as you want as long as you don't impinge on others, it is your personal choice.

[Logorithim]

I guess the big picture here is the conflicts that occur in a society when people from different cultures come into contact with each other. It's something that elites do not seem to care about, much less discuss, because it doesn't affect them.

[JimRSmith]

Truer words were never spoken...

[ManOnFire]

Dude, this is pretty true. Immigrants do similar things in my own country too but mostly the price haggling thing you said. It is SO annoying. I've worked in customer service before and can't stand how they claim the sign said this or want to bargain with you, holding up the line.

[avalonbob]

When in Rome, do as the Romans do. When you come to the USA, learn to do it our way, or go back home. And to our beloved Northern friends, when you come to the South, don't keep telling us, "Oh, in New Jersey, we do it like this or like that," because we don't care and are only acting like we like you because we're nice. We think you talk like ducks. You have ruined our Southern nation by gradually replacing our BAR-B-Q joints with Starbucks places and Yogurt stands. It's a plot.

[CandyCaneZoe]

Haggling is capitalism 101, as has been around longer than you've been alive. I will never walk into a car dealer and think, " this is certainly the best price they are offering me. There's no way they can bring it down any lower."

[Johnnie1000]

Not when the price is clearly mark and on the shelf. Its not haggling then,

[CandyCaneZoe]

@Johnnie1000 Car dealers have the price on the Windows

[Johnnie1000]

They advertise that their sticker prices mean nothing.

[Reggieray]

You must take this up with those who decided to give away your nation on your behalf. If you believe this can be done politely and reasonably, this is precisely why your great nation is in it's present predicament. The people you speak of do not give two fucks if you are offended, they come from a place where offense is answered with violent reprisal. Anything less pales in comparison to a concrete threat of force. The fact that you are indignant, yet civil, to them, looks remarkably like cowardice and is interpreted as such because there is no fear of reprisal. It's unlikely I must remind you how your government's policy of appeasement will ultimately work out for yourself or your countrymen. It will not stop unless your people have the inclination and will to make it stop.

I wish you and your countrymen the best.

[ZeussLightningBolt]

Nice take. It'll probably piss some people off though.

The not getting my change is one I've encountered and it really drives me nuts.

I'm guilty of the "expect reciprocation" one

Street hustlers also drive me nuts.

I am personally offended when store employees tell me to remove my back pack, because it makes me feel like they are treating me like I'm a thief.

[MarketData]

While I'm in full agreement with items 1-3, I should point out that 4-5 are not, unfortunately, exclusive to the occupying forces. 6 I haven't encountered yet, but sounds like a linguistic tic that will be ironed out over time.

I would like to add that I am generally on very good terms with the "ethnically challenged".

[CaptainSmartass]

I hate spitting. It's just rude and vulgar. Don't bloody do it. And Japanese tourists crowding every attraction and taking 7,000 photos of it. Let someone else have a chance. And while we're on the bad manners of Japan, they will barge TO THE FRONT OF THE queue (not even the middle), and signal for ALL their friends/family to come over. It's like bloody SEAL Team Six, but with cameras, instead of assault rifles...

[WhitePanther88]

Yes when you go to other countries it's important to live by the cultural custom already there.

[MarketData]

Upvoted for the gif.

[Lance1965]

That gif is hypnotizing...

[slatyb]

I'm an American, and I haggle if I am dealing with someone who has the authority to do it. Cars? Negotiating. Used anything? Of course I'm negotiating. Motel room at 11PM with a half-empty parking lot? Negotiating. It's an expiring commodity. They can take my money or get nothing.

[KuroAide]

Some people carry customs that make no sense... they believe it means something to keep history going even if it has no merit... I never know why... it shows the world does take its time to change even when it is unhealthy or wrong in some way even if its obvious even to the people who are a part of it...

[--Vi--]

Wow...

Is it bad that as a natural born white US Citizen, I:
1. Love haggling.
2. Never had someone not give me my change.
3. Find excitement and opportunity in salesmanship.
4. Sometimes cut in line. o_o
5. Do not drink...
6. Never heard anyone use tsk to say "no" and have no idea what tut means (except King Tut).

I guess im a minority now.

[Reggieray]

You are a minority, of sorts.

At this juncture, you are likely young enough and pretty enough to get away with it. Enjoy it while it lasts, it won't last forever.

[--Vi--]

@Reggieray thank you. :)

[BronzedAdonis]

Your points are valid although I'm not sure if the offenders are wholly immigrants

[JimRSmith]

No, that's a far point - ill mannered natives can also be guilty of some of the above, too...

[JimRSmith]

A *fair* point.

[BronzedAdonis]

swole would violet all of them

[JimRSmith]

It's the Way of The Swole.

[Massageman]

I'm offended so often every day that I could keep a lawyer employed full time with all the suits and complaints I'd like to make. But, I do have a life.

[RolandCuthbert]

I had to laugh at the "recent" immigrants comment.

That was hilarious.

[JimRSmith]

Not everybody on the site is American...

[RolandCuthbert]

Dude, you posted a photo with a guy dressed up as an American Indian to prove your point about recent immigrants being easily offended.

Again, that is hilarious.