Best of the Week
of Dec. 19, 1999
Best of Week
Archives
Here are the most intriguing cross-cultural exchanges
either begun or advanced during the week of Dec. 19, 1999, as
selected by Y? These postings, as well as "Best of the
Week" entries from previous weeks, also can be found by accessing our
new database using our search form, or, in
the case of answers posted before April 24, 1999, in our
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. We encourage you 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 our
guidelines pages for asking and
answering questions.
$9.95
Order the
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Y?
"Why Do
White People
Smell Like Wet Dogs
When They Come
Out Of The Rain?"
ISBN: 0-9675971-0-2
Question:
This may seem a very silly and ignorant question to those out there
who are Native American (American Indian), but do Native Americans
have facial and body hair? The reason I ask is I have always heard
that Native Americans are related (albeit distantly) to East Asians,
and as I have lived in East Asia for some time, I know they have very
little facial or body hair. Recently, I met a man who said he was 100
percent Native American but who had heavy beard stubble and very
hairy arms.
POSTED 12/22/1999
Charles R., Nashville, TN, United States, 33, Male, Catholic,
White/Caucasian, Gay, Student, Over 4 Years of College , Lower middle
class, Mesg ID 12211999110651
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respond
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Question:
In the Bible, Jehovah refers to himself as a jealous God. But since
covetousness is forbidden by the Ten Commandments, and jealousy and
covetousness are basically the same thing, isn't Jehovah breaking his
own commandments by coveting human devotion so strongly?
POSTED 12/22/1999
Leonard, Seattle, WA, United States, 28, Male, Pagan, Straight, 2
Years of College , Lower middle class, Mesg ID 730199971730
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Question:
Why are Americans obsessed with the class system? I thought they were
proud of their classless society, as compared with other
countries.
POSTED 12/14/1999
D. Arnold, Taipei, NA, Taiwan, 37, Male, Atheist, White/Caucasian,
Straight, English teacher, 2 Years of College , Lower class, Mesg ID
12131999125835
Responses:
I've lived abroad for several years
and have had the advantange of observing American culture from the
outside. I believe Americans are obsessed with class because
Americans are obsessed with self-expression. In the American point of
view, a life lived in anonymity is a wasted life. Thus, many
Americans feel they must find some way to set themselves apart from
the rest - to mark their passage in this world. The best way to do
this is to accumulate wealth and then show it off, because wealth is
not easy to attain. The American dream is to live in an expensive
dwelling, situated in an exclusive area of town, drive (or be driven)
to a high power-job in an expensive car, eat power lunches at
exclusive restaurants, send the kids to exclusive schools, belong to
exclusive clubs and generally disassociate one's self and one's
progeny from "the great unwashed." It seems that many of the people
who have attained membership in the upper-class feel it is their
God-given right to look down at those who haven't and sneer because
they've set themselves apart. It's their form of self-expression -
that they're intrinsically better than most other people because of
who they are and what they have. The beauty of America is that
class-climbing is possible with hard work and luck. Membership in the
upper-class is not barred to those who choose their parents poorly.
However, the ugliness that is exhibited by those who have attained
membership in the upper-class is not confined to Americans. Rather,
this ugliness is common to all members of the upper-class,
nationality notwithstanding.
POSTED 12/21/1999
Rob, Tacoma, WA, United States, 33, Male, Episcopalian,
White/Caucasian, Attorney, Over 4 Years of College, Mesg ID
12209995415
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Question:
When visiting another country, we as Americans, are expected to
follow the customs of that country as much as possible. Why is it,
then, that when people from other countries come here, we are still
expected to accede to their customs? Why do we never insist, as they
do, that our customs be followed, especially if they are coming here
permanently?
POSTED 12/20/99
Nicholas F., Panorama City, CA, United States, 38, Male, Catholic,
Human, Straight, Network Engineer, 2 Years of College , Middle class,
Mesg ID 1215199912404
Responses:
In my experience, foreigners visiting or moving to the United
States adapt to your customs. I see them tip when tipping is not done
in their culture. I see them queue up (get in line) when that isn't
done at all in their homeland. I see them eat with a knife and fork
when that isn't customary in their culture.
POSTED 12/21/1999
James, Melbourne, FL, United States, Mesg ID 122099100056
Actually, "foreigners" often observe that Americans are the ones
who show no respect for the customs of others. For example, most
Europeans are multilingual, but Americans rarely learn other
languages and expect everyone else around the world to speak
English.
POSTED 12/21/1999
Astorian, Austin, TX, United States, 38, Male, Catholic,
White/Caucasian, Straight, Programmer, Mesg ID 122099101505
The United States was founded on the principles of personal
freedom. This means that in this country, people are free to live as
they choose within the framework of our laws. This includes the
freedom to practice customs brought over from other countries. The
United States has so many different cultures that it is imposible to
define a set of "American" customs. The customs that are practiced by
the people in my area may seem totally foreign to people in other
parts of the country, yet we are all Americans.
POSTED 12/21/1999
Lucy, San Jose, CA, United States, 25, Female, Hispanic/Latino,
Engineer, 4 Years of College , Middle class, Mesg ID 12209930543
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Question:
Many times during my life I have passed near a black man (a stranger)
on the street or in a public place, and when our eyes meet there
seems to be a moment of recognition or something that suggests we
know each other more deeply than is previously experienced. Has any
black man had this experience with a white man?
POSTED 12/20/99
George G., Boothbay, ME, United States, <goodwood@nqi.net>, 60,
Male, Church of Christ, White/Caucasian, Straight, Boatbuilder, 4
Years of College , Lower classm, Mesg ID 1217199940400
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Question:
To people who seem to behave as if their actions have no impact on
others (examples: playing your high-powered car sound system loudly,
regardless of where you are, or bringing your cellular phone to an
acoustic music concert and not muting the ring): What is your
attitude toward others?
POSTED 12/20/99
Phil S., Panama City, FL, United States, 65, Male, Straight, retired,
Over 4 Years of College , Middle class, Mesg ID 12199932950
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Question:
What would be the most inoffensive way for a gay male to approach or
solicit a straight male in the hope of prospective sex?
POSTED 12/20/99
James S., Vero Beach, FL, United States, Male, Mesg ID
12199942148
Responses:
Why would a gay man want to have sex with a straight man?
Wouldn't there be less aggravation involved for everyone in
approaching another gay man for sex? As a straight man, there's no
way for a gay man to approach me for sex if he's serious about
getting it. Sorry.
POSTED 12/21/1999
Andrew, Huntington, NY, United States, <ziptron@start.com.au>,
36, Male, Straight, Mesg ID 12209984725
I assume when you say "straight guys" you mean repressed
bisexuals. So if a gay man meets a likely prospect, he should work
the conversation around to: "Hey, do you know where I can meet a guy
to go out with around here?" If the straight guy is curious or
closeted, it's the gay man's lucky day. But if the straight man is
not interested, the gay man probably would not have offended him.
POSTED 12/21/1999
Daniel, Ann Arbor, MI, United States, 35, Male, Straight, Law
Student, Mesg ID 12209961906
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respond
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Question:
Where did the terms used by blacks for whites such as "honkie" and
"ofay" come from?
POSTED 12/20/99
S.W., St. Petersburg Beach, FL, United States, 51, Male, Agnostic,
Hispanic/Latino, Straight, retired, Over 4 Years of College , Lower
middle class, Mesg ID 12199963357
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respond
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Question:
Why do black people have such a strong and offensive odor when they
get warm or sweat?
POSTED 12/20/99
Jim P., Clearwater, FL, United States, Male, Mesg ID 12199992757
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