Best of the Week
of Feb. 4, 2001
Best of Week
Archives
Here are the most intriguing cross-cultural exchanges
either begun or advanced during the week of Feb. 4, 2001, as selected
by Y? These postings, as well as "Best of the Week"
entries from previous weeks, also can be found by accessing Y?'s new
database using the search form, or, in the
case of answers posted before April 24, 1999, in the
Original Archives (all questions
from the Original Archives have been entered into the new database as
well). In the Original Archives and the new database, you will find
questions that have received answers, as well as questions still
awaiting responses. You are encouraged to answer any questions
relevant to your demographic background, as well as to ask any
provocative question you desire. Answers posted are not necessarily
meant to represent the views of an entire demographic group, but can
provide a window into the insights of an individual from that
group.
First-time users should first make a quick stop at Y?'s
guidelines pages for asking and
answering questions.
The book
on Y? is here!
"Why Do White People Smell Like Wet
Dogs
When They Come Out Of The Rain?"
Order it securely via credit card
Delivery in 2-3 days via Priority Mail
Read the
Associated Press story on "Wet Dogs"
Question:
During election time, why did a lot of poor, trailer
park-living white Americans have Bush/Cheney signs in their lots? Did
they think Bush would really do them good economically?
POSTED 2/8/01
Hazellboo, Jacksonville, FL, United States, 20, Black/African
American, Customer Relations
Mesg ID 2801112804
To
respond
BACK TO TOP
Question:
Considering that the African continent is predominantly Muslim,
why haven't African Americans maintained that religious background?
POSTED 2/8/01
Kimberly C., Austin, TX, United States,
<hijaza@yahoo.com>, 26, Female, Muslim, Black/African American,
Straight, housewife, 2 Years of College , Upper middle class
Mesg ID 2801120102
To
respond
BACK TO TOP
Question:
I work with people of a wide range of ages at a small retail
shop in a mall. Yet one of the managers who is in their mid sixties
seems to have this urge to argue any chance he can about anything. He
was in the military, and it seems as if he's applying those military
tactics in his employment. He also has this tendency to come to the
mall on his day off, or on his lunch breaks, walk on the second floor
and watch us, and make sure we're working and not goofing off. I
understand the visits to see how things are, announced or
unnanounced, but the spying, that is really creepy. No one is willing
to approach him and ask him why he does what he does. Why does this
man spy and creep around as if he doesn't trust us? Could it be his
age? Is he still trying to prove something to someone?
POSTED 2/7/01
Jerome, San Francisco, CA, United States, 25, Male, Catholic,
Asian, 4 Years of College
Mesg ID 260110256
To
respond
BACK TO TOP
Question:
Why is it that white people shower so often in one day? I am a
college student, and the females in my dorm shower all day and all
night. I feel as though I am not as clean as I should be compared to
them. Is there some kind of condition that causes whites to perspire
more? Or is it just a 'white' thing?
POSTED 2/7/01
Monique, East Lansing, MI, United States, 19, Female,
Christian, Black/African American, Straight, High School Diploma ,
Upper middle class
Mesg ID 2701112811
To
respond
BACK TO TOP
Question:
Why do black people eat so much cheese doodles and drink grape
soda?
POSTED 2/7/01
Toast, Stratford, CT, United States, 24, Male, Catholic,
White/Caucasian, Straight, student, Over 4 Years of College
Mesg ID 2701113455
To
respond
BACK TO TOP
Question:
I am taking anti-depressants and getting counseling for anxiety
and depression. Do you think there is a "depressed look" or demeanor
about such people? I have been making the greatest effort of my life
to communicate with more people, but sometimes I feel like people can
see my illness and are put off by it.
POSTED 1/30/01
Mary C., Cleveland, OH, United States, 38, Female, Unity School
of Christianity, Native American/American Indian, Lesbian, Manager, 4
Years of College , Middle class
Mesg ID 1300115357
Responses
I don't believe there is a set answer. I remember working with a
girl who was just one bundle of laughs and fun. When I got to know
her better I discovered she was on anti-depressants. I was very
surprised. Later, due to personal problems of my own, I, too, found
myself on anti-depressants. Although I tried to hide it, it was
obvious to all I was depressed. It was only when I was able to treat
the underlying causes of the depression that I became a real person
again. It took many months and some radical changes to my life. I do
have setbacks from time to time, but I get through them. For what
it's worth, the girl I worked with is still outwardly happy, and
still on depressants.
POSTED 2/4/01
David E., Evesham, NA, United Kingdom, 45, Male, Atheist,
White/Caucasian, Straight, teacher, 4 Years of College , Middle class
Mesg ID 230131020
To
respond
BACK TO TOP
Question:
A Hindu co-worker and I were discussing the fear of death many
Americans seem to have. She said Hindus and Buddhists generally don't
fear death because of the belief that in life you either reach
enlightenment or come back in another life to fulfill unresolved
desires. I said I thought the fear of death many Americans express is
a result of America's Judeo-Christian heritage, in which people have
grown up being told that if you sin you will burn in hell (barring
absolution of those sins). If you have a fear of death, is it because
of your religion? If you don't fear death, why do you think this is?
POSTED 1/29/01
Shelly, Pittsburgh, PA, United States, Female, Quaker,
White/Caucasian, Over 4 Years of College , Upper middle class
Mesg ID 1250141415
Responses:
First, I want to correct something you said. 'Being told that if
you sin you will burn in hell' is a strictly Christian belief, not a
Judeo-Christian belief. Judaism focuses on doing good in life for the
sake of doing good, not because of what will or will not happen when
you die. With that said, I personally am afraid of death, simply
because I enjoy life and do not want it to end, not because of any
religious beliefs.
POSTED 2/8/01
Stacey, Durham, NH, United States,
<slehrer@cisunix.unh.edu>, 20, Female, Jewish, White/Caucasian,
college student, Middle class
Mesg ID 13001112329
It's not as if people of Hindu and Buddhist faiths do not fear
death. All humans, regardless of faith, will fear death when
challenged by it (that's how our instincts work). What your co-worker
probably implied was that Hindus and Buddhists are more willing to
accept fate - i.e. 'whatever has to happen will happen' - as it
stares them in the face. So face it! Hindu and Buddhist philosophies
take a more holistic view of life (and death), and more so in a time
and space continuum context. Broadly speaking, to Hindus and some
Buddhists, life is considered a cyclical process wherein the 'soul'
of a human goes through a series of evolutionary cycles through its
journey on earth. By journey ON EARTH I mean that the 'soul' could be
John Doe in this lifetime and Jack Doe in its next lifetime. The idea
of this 'recycling' is to ultimately unite the soul with the INFINITE
PRINCIPLE or THE ABSOLUTE or GOD. This union takes place only after
the soul has gone through its 'cleansing process' on earth. The debt
of bad deeds done by the soul in one lifetime is carried forward and
repaid in its next life, while good deeds are handsomely rewarded.
Think of it as a learning experience for the soul, so that when it's
free of all 'bad debt' and therefore its 'earthly obligations,' it is
ready to liberate itself from the earthly binds of space and time in
order to unite with the absolute, or God. This is what Hindus and
Buddhists refer to as 'Moksha,' or freedom, or liberation. It's a
profound philosophy that cannot be easily justified by our current
standards of scientific thought/logic. It requires intuitive
reasoning and the ability to see the big picture. Time also is a very
critical element here. The concept is difficult to explain but is
better understood by reading some books on 'Karma' and general ones
on Hinduism and Buddhism.
POSTED 2/8/01
Zipeezy, Birmingham, AL, United States, 30, Male, Hindu, Student,
Over 4 Years of College
Mesg ID 250192520
talib kweli said it best when he said in a rap, 'You're only
scared to die when you're not living right.' I think a fear of death
is definitely because of a religious belief, the whole heaven/hell
deal. I'm not quite religious, but I don't fear death, either. I
guess it's just a belief that you live each day to its fullest.
Because I was raised in some not-so-great places in New York, you
sort of learn not to fear death because you never know when 'you
gotta go.'
POSTED 2/8/01
I.A., Montclair, NJ, United States, 17, Female, Straight, high
school senior, Less than High School Diploma
Mesg ID 2701112932
I believe its a fear of the unknown. We can all agree that sooner
or later we all will die, but who can say for sure what comes after
death? Its like walking into a crowded room blindfolded.
POSTED 2/8/01
Ladin, Washington, DC, United States,
<zionsword@hotmail.com>, 24, Male, Christian, Black/African
American, Straight, 2 Years of College , Lower middle class
Mesg ID 270120244
I think the fear of death is religious. People are not really as
spiritual as they seem. I believe in the Bible, and it says that 'Man
can only take one's body; I (God) own the soul.' Most people don't
believe that, or they are afraid they have not accomplished what they
feel they should have accomplished and need more time.
POSTED 2/8/01
Jai, Fort Worth, TX, United States, 21, Male, Baptist,
Black/African American, Straight, student, 4 Years of College ,
Middle class
Mesg ID 270153450
I must admit that my non-fear of death was initially supported by
my parents' Buddhist views - which inevitably rubbed off onto me.
Death, accordingly, is something of a gateway to another form of
existence - and thus might be desired. However, I have since found
the Buddhist preoccupation with reincarnation isn't compatible with
my 'world view.' I do not want to live life according to the
principles that dictate a 'good' reincarnation. Instead, I live
according to my own sense of direction, my self-defined 'meaning of
life.' Of course, this definition (in terms of religion only)
contains elements of Buddhism, but it also contains snippets of
Western religions. I do not fear death because my intrinsic 'meaning
of life' provides no reason to (the reasons for this are too numerous
for a short answer format), not just because of Eastern religious
philosophy.
POSTED 2/8/01
A.B., Detroit, AR, United States, 30, Male, Asian, Straight, 4
Years of College , Lower middle class
Mesg ID 2801121435
To
respond
BACK TO TOP
Copyright
and disclaimer