So what's new in your life?

[Luc of True Wind]

Watching my students take tests all day for a whole week is incredibly boring
I would much rather be, I dunno, teaching them something?

(Some context, I am a special education teacher, so when my students takes tests, I have to organize and monitor them taking tests in small groups.)

[Farore]

We were sitting down and Roll asked me what I wanted to do. I said, "I just want to sit here and be crabby."

He then proceeded to move his arms in a crab like motion while pseudo scuttling.

I'm not in a crabby mood anymore.

[Bear]

Haha! That's so cool Farore! The best medicine for a bad mood is some humor, right? XD

[ThePaul]

That's legal, anyway

[chrisb]

I was actually way more busy over Spring Break than the first week back to school haha. I am loving not having any exams for 2 weeks. I have had at least 2 tests a week since the end of January and I'm glad I have free time... to do absolutely nothing!

[chrisb]

Oh, and it is seriously ticking me off that people are comparing Battle Royale to The Hunger Games. I wouldn't mind if it was an affectionate comparison, but they're all "omg how dare they touch my beautiful Japanese (therefor superior) thing with their dirty western hands?" Both are entertaining books/movies, but nothing alike.

[Bear]

You know, I was going to post this in the anime thread, but I've always wondered about this sense of pride in one form of thing over another thing or a blind "team" devotion. It really annoys me and its pervasive in all aspects of life.

If you want to be exposed to the best that humanity has to offer, you damn well better be open minded to cultures around the world.

/begin threadderailing/rant
As a kid, I was infatuated with Japanese culture. In the NES days when I was in elementary school, I hated being in America; so many people seemed rude and disrespectful and my exposure to Japanese culture through neighboring families and what I had seen in pop culture was the polar opposite of that. I also despised the sense of censorship we would often see to violence and nudity from political pressures in the States that would alter games. As a kid, I hated being treated like one - that I couldn't comprehend complex or adult themes. This is one reason anime was also so intriguing to me because it did what no western animation dared do - tell adult stories with complex narrative complete with all the grit of humanity.

I could very easily see why someone who might be younger would have a sort of distaste with western culture. I just figure that they need to grow up though. There is a lot to love about Western and Eastern culture alike. I may hate people being rude and disrespectful, but I certainly appreciate the level of independence and fight we have. I hate certain aspects of Capitalism but would hate to stagnate under Socialism too. The world is a complex beast; I guess that is why I tend to be a bit Daoist in nature - balance is something I strongly believe in.
/endthreadderailing/rant

[Farore]

I understand where you're coming from, Bear. I lived all over growing up, mostly in Europe though. Each country, each region, each culture has it's own ups and downs. One example: Americans do tend to be rude. Japanese are very, very polite. Polite to the point of overdoing it sometimes. When I was visiting my parents there they introduced me to a few Japanese friends they had made. My mom accidentally introduced one of the men by the wrong name; he never corrected her. I would love to be in a more polite society, but I also like being able to correct people if they call me the wrong name!

Another random one: Germans do not eat pizza or French fries as finger foods. Pizza is eaten with a knife and fork, and with fries you get these cute little mini-forks. Since I essentially grew up in Germany (born there, stayed until I was 5 then went back from 9-13ish) I still go by that. Sometimes I eat pizza as a finger food, but I prefer using a knife and fork. At a sit down restaurant I always eat my fries with a fork >.<

Like you said though, be open minded. It doesn't mean you'll like everything, some things you'll probably even hate. But you'll also find the things you love.

[Bear]

Yeah, I get that impression about Japanese culture; being overly nice. I don't like the idea of being so reserved or overly nice in order to avoid offending someone. I've always disliked the idea that people would rather mask how they feel then just being honest. You can express how you feel in a polite way. If I'm being annoying or doing something wrong in someones eyes, I would rather know that persons honest opinion then having vile talk behind my back. I have no tolerance for that sort of behavior.

Of course, some people are so closed minded or closed off to constructive criticism or suggestions that you can't even do it in a polite way. They may live in a bubble refusing to develop a thick skin which I think is critical for personal growth. I tend to keep my distance with such people too.

That said though, there is a fine line to walk between being rude and courteous. There are plenty of people who are rude or overly critical with others than but not themselves. Those people are pretty jerky and even if they are critical of themselves more than others but don't do anything about it, that can be offensive too.

It is interesting though. Ever since I was a kid I've liked to sit back and watch people interact from interest. I think its great that the world is so diverse - I don't think it would be fun otherwise =)

All in all, keep the mind open, keep the ego in check and don't be afraid to express yourself. I think those are pretty good maxims to live by, at least I try to for myself.

[Alexx]