Larian Studios Forums General Chat Cultural Differences

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I don't believe you, there glance...

the true reason is you're damn too good @ it <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/up.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/delight.gif" alt="" />

Once upon a time there was a country called Yugoslavia...

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In Sweden we have laws about violence, violece in illegal unless it is for protection, and if for protection you're not allowed to use more violence than neccesary. Killing is neve legal, no matter. These is more or less good laws. Better than most IMO.

So, according to Swedish laws the person in Alrik's story should get prison, and I agree. He wasn't exactlly charged by a maniac with a gateing gun. He SHOULD have shot in the air once to warn him. Not talking about him meeting a visitor with a shotgun.

In Egin's case I agree too. I would have done the same thing I guess. I mean, what do you do if two of your best friends get raped py two professionlas and you're in the same room? In this case it's really hard to know what enought violence is, too.

Six years in prison is WAY too much. I think he should have got a lesser penalty, if prison (how do you call it in English? Condishional, and some societywork prehaps. After all he DID kill a man, but six years...). The militaries did the following things: olaga intrång (illegal trespass) and rape, which should grant more than six years IMO. And they should be kicked out of the army, maniacs like those shouldn't be in the army.

Übereil

[color:"orange"](how do you call it in English? Condishional[/color]
Probation, is the word you were probably looking for <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Back to cultural differences:

A friend of mine, German and married to an American, who studied Anglistic and Psychology, once told me of the following experiment:

Imagine we are driving in a car in a normal street, you drive, and I tell you "park behind the car there on the right side of the street" (This is for non-English traffic traditions! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/winkwink.gif" alt="" />) - Where would you park? {try to imagine the scenary! Would it make a difference if it were not a car, but a dump bin standing there?}

The point is - the result of the test was that the majority of the Europeans parked behind the car (rear "trunk" side); the majority of the Americans parked behind the car (front "engine" side) - and the question arose as to why?

It seems that if an object has a defined front and back, like a car or a house, Europeans tend to make the additional analytical step irrespective of their current position in relation to the object, whereas the Americans see it, irrespective of the object's inherent direction, only in relation of their perspective towards the object.

I found that interesting - and a cultural difference <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Could you please post that in German, too ? <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggrin.gif" alt="" />

One huge cultural difference . French meals are *much* longer than German ones !
<img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/eek.gif" alt="" /> ( I mean the overall time for eating.)

Imagine trying to describe the color blue to an individual who has been totally blind all of their life.

Cultural different individuals need to come together with that kind of understanding of each other. Maybe not to that extreme, but I’m sure you all know what I mean.

Think of it.
The Americans, via their beginning history, started out with hard core Puritan Beliefs.
That’s how that country started out and was initially built upon that.
Yes, they have evolved into good and bad things as a country, but can’t you open your minds enough to understand why they rise up in such uproars over things like nipple gate and such. Those hard core Puritan beginnings still exist there. Although Puritan would no longer be the word, rather, Catholic, Baptist, Pentecostal, etc… and a million other religious beliefs. The Americans have laws separating church and state, but their country is still run by Religious officials.

The gun laws they have are remnants of a time when those laws actually made a difference. Times change and laws need to change with the times, but America is one of those countries that follows this rule, if it ain’t broke don’t fix it. So a major bad thing needs to happen before they change a law.

Hey, no country is perfect and even if there was such a country others would still say it wasn’t.
We as a people need to start accepting each other for who we are instead of acting like spoiled little brats.

I hope my post wasn't dumb, there are my thoughts.

Tsel <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

I've heard that it is even in the constitution of the USA, the "right to defend oneself", and that it comes from there. But I'm not sure.

Yes, they have that in there, but I think it says the right to bear arms.

The thing is with Americans there are a lot of Americans really Pissed off in their country. They are told they have the right to bear arms and then defend themselves, but then you have a million shady lawyers ready to sue someone for anything.
All we ever see outside of America is all of the Political Bull.
You need to live in America for awhile to get the real picture of its people.

The Political picture is still the same, but you'll see the people are really good people.

Tsel <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Isn't that strange? The thing with the parking is totally correct, it kept me busy thinking for about...5 minutes. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

I watched the news yesterday (as I do every day), and this is how all evi starts! No, seriously, it got me to another difference.

The whole story was about a man living in Colorado, who had a "little" accident with a nail gun. For some reason he managed to shoot a nail into his head without even noticing (how is that possible???). The next few days he didn't feel too well (no wonder!) and thought that he had tooth-ache. So his girlfriend or wife or whatever convinced him to go see a dentist.

This is what he did - the dentist did an x-ray and what he saw was a 10 centimeter nail in the head of the man. (Ouch) Then they went along and of course removed the nail - now the man has to pay around 60.000 dollars for the surgery costs because he was not insured (but stated that he is still the luckiest man in history, from the point of view that he has no more nail in his head he is probably).

This is something that is totally unthinkable here in Austria, because basically *everyone* is insured. If you need a surgery, you get a surgery and your insurance pays for you. Also, insurances are to be had very cheap, so that also people who do not have any money can afford it easily. I think that this is quite different in America, but please correct me if I am mistaken. It seems like a good portion of the population in America is not (sufficiently) insured.

When you have a job here your boss will automatically pay your insurance, in fact he has to do so. When you are married with children and are the only one with an income, your insurance also pays for your wife (husband) and children.

I think that the "right to bear weapons" and the "right to use them" are two different pair of shoes. I can understand, especially if something really bad happened to you in your life already, that you want to protect yourself and your family. I don't think, though, that it should be that easy to get fire-arms. I mean, if you have to bring a medical and psychological paper stating that you are healthy and sane, and learn the basic handling of the weapons you wish to own this is a good thing, imho. I mean, knowing what you do does not only protect others, it also protects yourself. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Iceweb >

The reason for the medical situation in America is because America, at least on paper (wink, wink), gives the power to its people. The individual is given the choice if they want insurance or not.
Everyone in America cannot be denied health care, but political Bull and the media is tricking the people that there are people who don’t get this. That is so untrue.
People from Americas bordering countries come into America all of the time to take advantage of this fact at the cost of the American peoples tax dollars. That is another ticking time bomb in America and its people.
Like I said, we need to actually live in America to really know what it is like.

Tsel <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Tsel, I agree with you there - and I can only have the image of America I can get through talks and news and media. It certainly lacks - seems like I need to make a looooong vacation sometime! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Here is a very interesting article about Allowable uses of Lethal Force, and seriously anyone interested in the issue should at least look at it.

This is not law itself but it looks into moral, legal and civil aspects of using a firearms.

One sad, excerpt from that article:

...."The statistics are more than frightening. Only four criminals go to prison for every hundred reported crimes. And the FBI estimates that 60 percent of all crimes are not even reported. For every hundred prisoners with life sentences, twenty-five are freed before their third year; forty-two are out by their seventh year; and people acquitted of murder by reason of insanity spend an average of only five hundred days in the mental hospitals before being released." (Armed & Female, P. 4)

"Over half of all robbery victims are attacked, and female robbery victims are more likely than men to be attacked and injured. Also, one in twelve robbery victims experiences serious injuries, such as rape, knife or gunshot wounds, broken bones, or being knocked unconscious." (Armed & Female, P. 21)

"Although hard to believe, the D.C. Supreme Court (Warren vs. District of Columbia) has upheld the decision that police are not responsible for the safety and defense of the individual citizen. The police and other law-enforcement agencies are responsible for the safety and protection of the general population in the districts they serve. That means that, if your life is threatened by a trespasser, an intruder in your home, and you summon the police, there is no legal requirement for the police or sheriff to respond to your call." (Armed & Female, P. 64)

"So the situation is this: the police cannot completely defend us from predator crime; the courts cannot keep the predators off the streets or otherwise occupied in noncriminal activities; and the gun is the most effective deterrent to crime available." (Armed & Female, P. 108)

Yup, can only sign the last thing you said Iceweb. About guns that is (you're quick, aren't ya? <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />)

And Tsel, you don't whant the roof to fall in over your head because you didn't maintain it, do you? <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/winkwink.gif" alt="" />

In Sweden I think most pepole are inshured too. Only the fools are not... And health inshurence is her not neccesary, since healthcare are run by the state! It's free for everybody. Of chorse, the lines are currentlly insane, but at least you will get the best possible healthcare no matter the size of your wallet, AND you will get it as fast as verybody else too. Unfortunantlly they didn't go for this rout in America since it's the first step towards communism...

Übereil

It used to be a few years ago. But now french meals are as short as everywhere else.
The women cooking great meals for her husband and her children two times everyday, it's finished since a long time ! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shhh.gif" alt="" />

Barta

You see Übereil the Americans do not want the Government or the State to run their lives. The American people want full control of how they live their lives in their own country America. They have that in a lot of ways, but they do not in a lot of other ways. It is a whole political mess, but then we all have our own messes in our own countries don't we. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/winkwink.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggrin.gif" alt="" />

I'm telling you, you really need to live there for a year or two to get the whole picture. There is the media controlled by politics and then there is the real American life.

Tsel <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Ybereil

Haha, not communism. Socialism. Yes, swedish healthcare systems has bee one of the most people friendly.

As for Estonia - med insuarance get only those, who work officially and since we give 59% of our incomes away in the form of taxes, far not everyone has that insuarance.

Nice link Egin. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wave.gif" alt="" /> I WOULD read it if it wasn't for the small texture and the long text...

In Sweden, a police hwo spots a crime HAS to interfere. It's his DUTY. And I might only imagine this, but in america it's veri simple to get your hands on a gun. And if it's very simple to get your hands on a gun, then a lot of criminals will get THEIR hands on a gun. And criminals aren't the kindest of pepole, and when they've got guns, they're pretty dangerous... I might just imagine though...

Übereil

Hihi, the longest meals are chinese meals because try to eat with those sticks <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/silly.gif" alt="" />

Ahh finally Ybe, do not be so naiive.

Availability of firearms does not stimulate crime. I mean any crime elements get their hands on weapons regardless of their location - US, Sweden, South Africa or Estonia. This is international very very profitable business <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/puppyeyes.gif" alt="" />.

You ARE quick aren't you?



I'm shure the homeless pepole who's homeless because their parents couldn't afford to send them to colledge feels the same way...

Übereil

Heh.... right. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />
My opinion is they're basically good but sadly naive (sp?), shockingly so in some cases, of the rest of the world. This has grown even worse since 9/11 and many people including myself prefer to holiday somewhere we can drive. However....

I do like Massachucetts (Home of the puritans originally) because they do instigate good gun control. Guess the christians ain't all bad.
However right next to us is New Hampshire. Hicks, shotguns in the back of the truck. Not a black man within 50 miles, you get the picture. A piece of paper is required for a gun. Bullets can be bought in wal-mart. Makes me sigh, deeply and shake my head in frustration.

The first amendment gives us the right to free speech. I love this, this is the good thing about America.

The 2nd (or is it the 3rd?) amendment is the right to arm bears, I mean bear arms. This is outdated and archaic. Its roots in the 17th century have no reflection on the society today. (well, unless you live in alabama) Home and self defence can be taken care of by tasers, mace or even (shock, horror) the police, possibly?
What that senile old git did in Florida (it was florida I think) was pretty much inexcusable. The fact that he got away with it shows just how wrong the justice system is there. He would've been convicted in Massachucetts. So that's the south for ya. Still fightin' the war....

My point? If there is one it is that you don't have to go to europe for cultural diversity. You can head south. You don't have to go far either. You'll hit pensylvania where evolution is now labelled 'theory, not fact' in biological textbooks. Words fail me on this one. To express my full opinion would boil down to a list of loosely connected expletives.

You can head north to Canada where gun deaths are in the teens for the entire country and everyone owns a gun too. Nobody locks their doors. Makes you think... Maybe the US has an attitude problem possibly? See 'bowling for columbine' by Michael Moore sometime, it'll clear a few things up....

Where I want to go, and will be in the summer (Canada is too cold <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggrin.gif" alt="" /> ) is good old California. Seriously, where would the world be without hollywood? Everyone here watches movies right? Personally I'm going for the wine and to see San Francisco. (home of Dirty Harry and a lot of gay people)

To be honest I still like it here. The money's good. I married a Yank. Can't complain really. The weather's definately better. (More sun, less SAD)

I'd still like to travel. Like Alrik with the US I still have preconceptions about Germany and Germans. Well, not many. Its just fun to make fun of you guys. Sorry. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggrin.gif" alt="" />
Every German I've met has been totally cool though. I don't think they're any more sexually liberated in particular. Sexual hang-ups exist mostly everywhere. Most people would still rather watch an action movie than a porno. Good old violence. Human nature.... <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif" alt="" />

Are there cultural differences? Of course. And the world is better for it IMO. Variation=development and understanding. Sometimes a few good jokes too. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggrin.gif" alt="" />