From: Lee Corbin (lcorbin@tsoft.com)
Date: Wed Jun 20 2001 - 00:42:28 MDT
Max M Rasmussen writes
> The way this debate is going is a pretty blatant example of a
> rather subtle culture clash. I have seen it before on the list
> and believe that it stems from differences in the philosophies
> of the educational systems of the german vs. the anglosaxian
> traditions....
> The German philosophy is much about proces and understanding
> of processes. Especially here in Scandinavia there is a very
> strong tradition of this line of thinking...
> The Anglo-Saxian philosophy is much about concrete knowledge
> and results.
>
> When Waldemar makes a post like the above it is most likely
> not meant as a solution to anything, it is not meant as pre-
> cooked ideal it is NOT meant to be FACTS. It's not nessecarily
> even meant to be his real view on things.
This clashes with my experience talking to Germans every day
about work-related issues. You offer scant evidence of this
being the case. Of course, I'm being skeptical now; but I
also do not believe that anglosaxons have a monopoly on
skepticism. You really are claiming that it is more likely
for a scandinavian to play Devil's Advocate than an anglosaxon?
> It happens so often on the list. Some European tries to open
> a debate, and the Americans bombard them with facts and
> opinions. Case closed.
Hmm. Somehow debate continues between Americans anyway. Moreover,
I have seen quite long debates on this list between Americans and
Europeans. But I'm not closed to your arguments :-) For example,
François-René ÐVB Rideau, although I greatly admire him, occasionally
rejects out of hand some arguments by others with abruptness seldom
seen here otherwise, and he's certainly not from the Teutonic
tradition. But until you show more evidence, I have to
suppose that these are just individual differences.
> Then the European seems like a pinko-commie-bastard to the
> Yanks,
You must remember that in the states we ourselves have no shortage
of pinko-commie-bastards; your generality here really is patently
false.
> and the Yanks seems like uneducated-narrowminded-airheads
> to the European.
Yes, but this is because so many Americans *are* uneducated-
narrowminded-airheads. It has nothing to do with culture clash.
> What the poor European is trying to do is just to start
> a process where we can all go through to the other side,
> all sharing a better understanding of the problem. Without
> necessarily reaching a conclusion or a consenus.
Again, in my experience Europeans are just as eager for
closure as Americans.
> For heavens sake. Some people are still discussing the
> idea of the free market. And many don't like it.
Don't forget that many in America don't like the idea
either. Socialism is an economic philosophy that can
be understood by a five-year-old; and there are many
people with degrees in economics who cannot articulate
how the free market works. But yes, you're right, there
is a greater tendency for Europeans to be anti-free market.
> The above is maybe my opinion. Debate anyone?
> ;-)
Well, I cannot imagine how it could be other than
your opinion :-) "Maybe" your opinion??? Perhaps
the cultural divide is greater than I imagined! I say
it's *DEFINITELY* your opinion, but then maybe it is
true that we anglosaxons just have to be definite.
Lee Corbin
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