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Is Asian “Culture” Overrated?
What do you think? Overrated? I’m beginning to think so. All that nonsense talk about how much cultured Asians are and all that jazz, is crap, when we simply lack civic mindedness. What’s the point in being cultural, when you practice jumping queue, being kiasu, spitting in public, all those child-like attitude.
We criticize the westerners for not being cultural, when we Asians, don’t practice to be civilized.
Tell me, what’s the point?
All that cutting queues, being rude, etc, i think is now being a culture of its own. If not, why are we said to be rude? Most cant accept frankness, and can be quite hypocritical as well.
Seriously, what’s all that fuzz about you cant do this and that? Just live life simple.
it’s easier for us to point to others and name their shortfalls… right? looking inwards require much maturity.
i suppose the same thing also happen at non-asia countries. :p
oh gawd, i’m the one who’s owez complaining about it *cough ^^; about uncivilized ppl spitting from cars ewww, to ppl jumping queues, gawd these ppl are annoying seriously XD
hmmmmmmmm i just wonder why lots of asian women glorify the white men…
overrated? aside from that NO COMMENT
yups thats my scratch pad you visited alright with the KISS thing
Unfortunately, we’ve begun to liken Asian culture TO the lack of civic-consciousness.
“Ahh lookit that, that person just hocked some spit. Ah, must be Asian”
“Crazy-ass driver. Must be Asian”
Sad, huh? I’d rather be known as one who is lacking in culture, than one who is a Neanderthal.
And girls are wolf-whistled when they passed by these so-called “educated” malaysian. Similar case in the West is almost nil. The police here are so over-corrupted…erm…not only police, well you know.
Fresh grad here do not have a mind of their own. They have no communication skill and people skill. Dead memorization is what they do best, anytime. Period!
No Courtesy….. no courtesy what so ever for others…
yesterday was a high blood preassure day for the various reasons.
1. an idiot not only cut cue at the toll, but while waiting for his change, had time to open door and spit. And he was in a shirt and tie AND driving an expensive car!!!
2. am having issues with one of my membership thingys… the customer help desk (guy) called me to clarify my issue then all of a sudden I heard a lady’s voice asking me to repeat myself. Either I fell asleep long enough for him to have a sex change OR my ears were playing tricks. Either way I got pissed, but I told her I am not going to complain or nit pick about the lack of customer service skills and would much rather deal with the major issue. She didn’t bother to apologise.
3) the boss of both the clowns in point 2 called to ask me to clarify the issue (again! – you ppl don’t practice reporting is it?) and apologised for the clowns and said they were new and all that crap. like it is my problem for the lack of trainning your staff has?
I think the worst was when I was in a train and I stood up for an old lady with her grand child. While both of them were making their way to the seat, a young ciku sat down and I told her to please move because the seat was for the lady and her grandkid. She told me – I don’t see a name on the chair. hahaha… this is where I wish I had a sign that said – I am not a morning person, and haven’t had coffee. So if you like to live, then don’t piss me off. So I told her that neither does it mention her name and I gave her a look. She called me a bitch. “I suggest young lady the next time you want to call someone a bitch, look in the mirror.” “F*** you!” “Sure… take a number.”
Finally either BF or bro or regular male friend told her “can you just blardy hell stand up and stop being an idiot?”
hehehe…….. sorry I so long winded, but I can write a book about the things you see on trains!
I think there are many things we can also learn from the Western culture. Things like queuing, driving according to the rules, respecting personal space, not drinking from bowls or slurping and definitely not spitting.
I would say that we have Culture but no, we’re not cultured!
ahh yes i definately agree, i don’t know of all asians, i just know msians r SO rude, especially cutting queue!!!
Sokong! Culture is to an extent being suppressed as well in favour of religion. But can “tidak apa” be considered culture? Heaven knows we are overflowing with it!
Dude…spitting culture IS asian what…last time all kopitiam got that spitton bowl for the boys to spit into them…
as for jumping queue, mat salleh is as guilty as everyone else. Sometimes, they think they are of superior race that they do it without even feeling guilty! I’ve seen so many of them doing that, just because they are mat salleh!
and being kiasu…IS Asian. Well, unless you don’t count Singapore as being ASIANS!!!
We’re more cultured than yoghurt, didn’t u know.
What culture? As far as I know whatever negativities that Malaysians have and hate is more of a Malaysian thing. It isn’t a culture. It’s just bad manners brought on by the lack of civility and proper education.
Asian culture, true Asian culture is about being meek, humble, polite, following the traditions and rules set upon by a higher authority. The chain of command and hierarchy. That’s true Asian culture. Looking at the history from almost all the Asian countries (which actually do exist OUTSIDE Malaysia), that’s a given.
In retrospect, having the government ask the people to follow them regardless of their shortcomings. They ARE practicing Asian culture true and true.
Lex Hypocrites, yes, I meet them in abundance.
zewt Indeed, we should look at ourselves and not get sucked in by people with zero civic consciousness.
cely It does, but not as OFTEN as here.
massy Yes, I wonder what are they thinking when they jump queues or “blessing” the environment with their saliva.
Lucifer Hmmm….good topic for another entry. Give me the link to your crib again…
Tine It’s sad that Asians are generalized that way, but we’re not helping ourselves either.
Clare That whole whistling thing is seriously lame. Mutton heads.
Mo Yup, we lack that. Most foreigners I know have that in abundance while we keep falling back on culture. Rubbish.
coffeerox That happens in the LRT? Are people trying to be bitchy for a reason? That it’s their given right because they had a bad day or the world’s been unfair to them? Nonsense!
Pinkelle I agree – there are many things we can learn, but the million dollar question is, will we learn?
huei I’ve been to a few Asian countries, and it’s more or less the same.
ParisB Another excuse we use, religion, so separate ourselves from the “freethinkers”, and hurling abuse to them for not being religious or culture.
stupe Spitting is Asian culture? I think it’s more third world mentality. Mat Salleh is not as crazy as us on the road – cue Canada, US, UK and Australia. Prime examples of a decent amount of civic mindedness. I’m not saying all of them are, but compared to us Asians, we should make like an ostrich and bury our heads.
Bryan Sure it’s not the other way around?
Edrei Yeah, what’s the point of having true Asian culture when we don’t practise it? We criticize Westerners, and then masquerade behind our “culture” – we seem to have lost sight on reality.
no.. not really.. coz my culture…ended with me.. ha ha.. i am too ignorant to learn
It’s called the typical ugly Malaysian. You’ll see lots of them in Genting
Err..speaking of 3rd world mentality…aren’t most malaysians are still in that state?
i guess culture, much like social behaviour, are dictated where you are.
like, for example, it’s completely normal to be slurping your soup from the bowl when in Japan, infact, not doing so is considered rude.
It’s completely normal to be eating with hand in our country, but westerners might thing we have not seen cutleries.
same goes to us asians, smooching/air kissing is just not us, but it’s a-ok for westerners to be doing so.
don’t you agree?
clement Too ignorant?
Giddy Tiger At Genting? Hahahahaha!
stupe Well, I don’t know about most Malaysians in third world mentality. Perhaps, but despicable acts like spitting in public and jumping queues, is that a part of culture in some ancient civilization that I’m unaware of? I’m speaking of civic mindedness, one that sprouts from common sense of courtesy.
Daniel – ok, maybe doing that in PUBLIC is not exceptable, what i’m trying to say here, all along in my comments, is that the westerners are as guilty as us with all the vices. It’s not all rosy there, whereever they are. Maybe i’m just unfortunate to meet these mat sallehs that think they are god’s gift to we, malaysians.
And yes, they cut queue, spit and demand for things in degree worse than any of us.
can’t give you the url of my crib here oh Great Gallivanter it will sure mar the decency of your site
Well, Westerners probably lived a different life compared to us Asians if we reverse back time. I’m no expert but perhaps the weather, the influence from western countries as well as cable TV made us confused about our own identity. In the end, we have a mixed bowl of soup.
I’ve seen sharp dressed corporate ladies and men digging their nose when they think nobody’s looking in public.
Well, like it or not, our fashion, music and lifestyle still points back to the West somehow.
I almost dig my nose while writing this too..:P
well, for one asians are a bunch of people who can sometimes be somewhat lost concerning our own identity. i mean, we don’t have to look far to see how much we asians seem to revere whites, for some reason or another.
yes, we can sometimes be obnoxious, rude, uncultured in some sense, unsophisticated and just outright lacking in civic-mindedness. however, having lived abroad for most of my life, i see that in western countries as well, people who bump into you in the ny subways, the lack of courtesy in some f&b restaurants, to the point of sometimes even being racist.
i suppose because we are here to witness the lack of civic-mindedness in malaysia, we are somewhat biased in our thoughts and opinions of asians as compared to westerners. i don’t really think that we, as asians blatantly disregard anything to do with being civil. i believe it has more to do with how our culture has molded us (lepak, mamak, etc) to be more laid back and comfortable in our own skin.
i mean, it is a tad bit unfair to make judgements of westerners based on what we mostly see on tv’s and only from a select group of people whom met overseas. to be truly objective, you’d have to living overseas, mingling and hanging out with them westerners to get a better picture of what its all about.
i agree the westerners are much more courteous, say on the road and in general when we’re dining, but then again, look at how the culture of say the states, that plays so much important on customer service, because lacking in that may severely hurt business and result in complaints, or worse, being sued!
it’s true that we have a long way to go. just as the saying goes with malaysia having a 1st class infrastructure with a 3rd class mentality. looking at the history of malaysia as compared to other western countries, we are still very much so a young country. let’s give ourselves a little more time, and instead of blaming and pointing fingers, to instead practice more civic-mindedness and courtesy, especially on them malaysian roads!
stupe I’m not defending nor glorifying Westerners. I’m talking about Asians who bitch about Westerners, and lace it with culture – the hypocrites.
Lucifer E-mail it to me then.
Kay Kastum Well, I don’t think cable TV confused us, if it did, then we’re truly a gullible lot.
brandon Mostly agreed – stop pointing fingers at the Western world and hope that it blankets our third world mentality. And I’ve been around a lot and have met many people from different walks of life – so yes, I do have and seen the better picture.
The thing about culture is that…you only know when you are actually there.
I think all cultures seem glamorous somehow if you haven’t been there. When I say glamour I don’t mean all the Hollywood blitz but more on the “Waaa different country must be soooo interesting man” kind of thought.
BUT…when I am cruising the West, I use the “Asians are exotically beautiful” to the fullest *bat eyelashes*
Like how Dr House firmly believes that “Everybody lies” people innately need to bitch…about the other…especially if it is different from what they know or am…
I knda don’t agree that lack of civic mindedness is more prevalent in Asia. Perhaps more visible when set against the backdrop or context of a developing continent.
Thing is morons and ugly citizens exist in every culture, America, Britain, Canada and (definitely) Australia is full of them. But its set against a backdrop of modernity, prosperity and 1st world development, so appears a little less jarring.
Rudy We generally tend to point our fingers to the west whenever the word “culture” is mentioned. Blech.
Keropok I somewhat agree, but we Asians need to start pointing at ourselves before we point at others. It seems like a point where they run to whenever they criticize the westerners. Hypocrites of the highest order. All this talk about Asian culture is BS if we don’t practice it.
Regardless of races, all human are the same. You will find people of any races jumping queue, spit on the floor do some things disgusting if you trying hard enough to find it. You will always get what you are looking for, Try looking at the good site of Asian also.
Remember the time when we would get smacked for being rude to anyone elder than us? Now yuppie parents find it cute when their children are rude to elders or vandalise public property!
Unfortunately I think spitting has been an ugly part of asian lives forever – spit bowls are antique collectors items la ;p
Seriously we’re complaining about the current generation being rude, cutting queues, walking into lifts without waiting for the ppl inside to come out, inconsiderate driving, impatient on the road, not giving seats up for elderly ppl or pregnant women, being incredibly rude, disrespectful
Im afraid of how the next generation will be as these nuts are bringing up their children to be worse then them.
Im not sure if it’s the culture coz actually culture has moved backwards if you compare few centuries, theres a lot of pseudo conservativeness being practiced, if you seriously look at history what we practice now is not really culture but traditions that were adapted to fit someones social norm
To deem westerners to be ambicabbly decent is pretty far out – ive seen my fair share of rude westerners, ive had an idiot kick my car coz it was in his way – n ive seen ones who think we’re still their slaves – so no way will I agree theyre mostly well behaved
Plus only when you live around bthem do you realize it is basically each individuals character and up bringing that determines if they will be well mannered responsible citizens – culture unfortunately has nothing to do with it
Jaunesk Good point, it’s regardless of race, so why do we Asians tend to compare ourselves to Westerners and look down on them when instead we are the ones who should look in the mirror?
visithra Okay, perhaps I’ve not met my share of dodgy Westerners, but that still doesn’t give Asians the right to criticize them. I find it disgusting to be in a middle of a conversation where geographic location is the basis of argument on who’s cultured and who’s not.
i agree no one should pin point any culture to be greater than the other – for those ppl i used to quote history and what so call cultures have done – normally they have nothing to say – tends to shut them up ;p
My two sens worth : We Asians are actually a nice bunch of people, with diverse cultural backgrounds. The problem is a lot (not all) of us know how to criticize others for being rude yet in some other way are rude ourselves, often without realising it. And worse, we bring the issue of culture into it, saying the other rude people has no culture and all that.
Generally I would say Westerners are more polite than Asians in a lot of things but that does not mean they are better than us. It is just that they do not degenerate into a bunch of lunatics when there is a queue or a buffet or a plane to board etc. For the plane boarding bit, shameless plug. Read my blog and find out why. Gallivanter did already.
And I had it with those who often generalise that Westerners has no culture. Blinkers can be put on both ways, you know.
If you want to see real rudeness, go to China. They are UNBELIEVABLE. And China has what, 6000 to 7000 years of culture? They make our rude Malaysians look like choir boys and girls.
So the next time anyone in Malaysia especially those blood sucking parasites— oops I do mean politicians dare to say we have better culture than others yet could not stand being in a queue for more than five minutes, they should all be sent to China and made to queue over there. Then we will see who has better culture.
I know I am rambling. It was not a good day for me.
Daniel – NOW i get you! Hey wait, i’m one of them that seems to criticise them in this barrage of comments.
visithra That’s it, I’m dragging you along for future social outings. These people won’t know what hit them. Starting with 21st July, the Blogger Booze. Watch this space.
Wombat No, that’s not rambling at all, really good points. Thanks.
stupe LOL, well, I realized that I wasn’t clear enough beforehand, my bad.
Daniel – This is good discussion. at least most of us here could agree to disagree.
Like whoever once said : “I may not agree with what you say, but I will fight to the death your right to say it.”
Now if only that works in Malaysia…. (wishful thinking…
stupe Thanks, will think of more interesting topic after I get back from KK on the 12th. All my entries have been pre-posted already.
Wombat LOL. Let’s have a deeper discussion at the bloggers meet, come come Sir Wombat.
Yes.. i think what asian culture lack of is the western working environment. Diversity and Equal Apportunity are what missing from the culture.