Interesting Comment on Indians

Nick-H · Mar 1st, 2008, 15:37

Quote:

india syndrome... remember??? !!!

Oh yes, of course!

Thanks for your concern, I'm sure he'd appreciate it: the Capt. is tied up with family business, and we too eagerly await his return.

brishti · Mar 1st, 2008, 15:50

muchos gracias for the info nick. muchestly appreciated.
the 'moderating' concern is mutual

we watch you too - beware!

:brishti

the opoponax · Mar 1st, 2008, 21:07

But I'm not sure it's a generalization to say "Indians tend to be more outwardly hospitable than I'm used to," or something of that nature. Sure, there are some individual Indians who this is not true for, just as would be the case if I said "as a general rule, Indians tend to have brown eyes."

I've met my share of Indians who refused to help, or who took advantage of my vulnerability as a foreigner. I've met my share of blue and green eyed Indians, as well.

At a certain point, we need to be able to generalize in order to digest our knowledge of the world. If we could never make a statement that described more than a few people, our ability to make sense of things would be nonexistent -- we'd be like chickens who can never be quite sure whether they have 4 or 5 chicks, just that there are definitely more than 3, the highest number they can comprehend.

karuna · Mar 1st, 2008, 23:04

OK, are we talking about an imaginary chicken that can't count to four, or can chickens in general not count to four? How on earth did they test that?

Anyway, it goes "one, two, many, lots". Everyone knows that!

Kingstonian · Mar 1st, 2008, 23:13

Quote:

Originally Posted by the opoponax

At a certain point, we need to be able to generalize in order to digest our knowledge of the world. If we could never make a statement that described more than a few people, our ability to make sense of things would be nonexistent --

Yes, I'd never be able to get out of bed in the morning because I'd always remember that ONE time I got hurt trying ...

But I find Jay Nordlinger's writing "judgemental" (as opposed to exercising normal judgement), because he doesn't frame his opinions/experiences as tentative, provisional statements (like you did above) - always open to revision/correction in the light of further experience.

Hell, he just p***es me off and makes me come over all judgemental!

karuna · Mar 1st, 2008, 23:23

I absolutely agree with you Kingstonian. Still not sure about the chickens though.

the opoponax · Mar 2nd, 2008, 18:45

It's one of those old wive's tales -- apparently chickens don't have the cognitive ability to understand more than 3 (I think? It might be 2, actually). That's neither here nore there, though.

I should also repeat myself and mention that I hated the article for most of the same reasons others do, but that there is validity in the idea that Indian culture has different social norms than most of the West, and one of those differences is the way that hospitality works. Which is a fancy way of saying that many/most Indians are friendlier than a Western tourist is used to.

Scandojazzbuff · Mar 3rd, 2008, 19:33

Quote:

Originally Posted by spicetrekker

Well I have seen around 25 countries in the world and worked with around nationals from 35-40 countries so while I agree generalisations are dangerous territory but if I have to make one it is that more the sun-shine in any country the more the people seem to be jovial... so average Indian, south American, carribean etc are outwardly more friendly than say Nordic people who seem to be on the outside more reserved.

Yes, even Al Qaeda members seem more relaxed and friendly than the stock brokers I've run into on Wall Street. And, can anyone wag their heads better than an Indian? Nay, Baba. How many faces light up in Amerika when you wag your head at them?

brishti · Mar 3rd, 2008, 19:50

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scandojazzbuff

Yes, even Al Qaeda members seem more relaxed and friendly than the stock brokers I've run into on Wall Street. And, can anyone wag their heads better than an Indian? Nay, Baba. How many faces light up in Amerika when you wag your head at them?

do you know what you're talking about

that aint funny.

:brishti

atala · Mar 3rd, 2008, 19:54

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aishah

LOL, Steven!!! You might have a point about the sunshine, spicetrekker. I knew some Norwegians once and very dour, depressed people they were - they actually told me it was because they had such long nights in the winter and not much daylight. They were aware of how 'down' they were, and the husband was on anti-depressants. They had come to Oz to brighten themselves up. Well, we can't generalize of course, but it is an interesting point...

The point is actually very clear, about sun-shine. You see that clearly in Europe, the divide of North and South, even in the U.S., Northern versus Southern (or Western States), and very clearly in small Switzerland, NOrth and South of the Alps.

Prana, the life energy, is related to the sun, carried by sunshine. And another remark: Suicide rates in Northern countries tend to be high in February when the effect of the lack of sunshine is making itself felt.

Nick-H · Mar 3rd, 2008, 20:38

Sunshine does make a difference. The people in Ooty, cold wet July, had just the same expressions I'm used to seeing in London.

Brisso · Mar 4th, 2008, 09:30

Kill Nordlinger!!! Kill Nordlinger!!! Kill Nordlinger!!! Kill Nordlinger!!! Kill Nordlinger!!! Kill Nordlinger!!! Kill Nordlinger!!! Kill Nordlinger!!! Kill Nordlinger!!! Kill Nordlinger!!! Kill Nordlinger!!! Kill Nordlinger!!! Kill Nordlinger!!!

Let's have a good old-fashioned witchhunt. Please, why are people so emotional about one of a million inconsequential travel articles published every day?

brishti · Mar 4th, 2008, 11:43

who nordlinger? what nordlinger? where nordlinger? boo nordlinger?

gosh - the name has bugun to sound as cryptic as edwarseco

[ ref go to Nick Name thread ]

:brishti

Nick-H · Mar 4th, 2008, 14:16

Quote:

Please, why are people so emotional about one of a million inconsequential travel articles published every day?

Didn't think anyone was: I can dismiss something like this with absolutely no emotion whatsoever.

Must the IndiaMike Mod experience: turns one in to a cold-hearted bastard

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Mar 1st, 2008, 15:50	#32
brishti just another member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: india Posts: 2,263	muchos gracias for the info nick. muchestly appreciated. the 'moderating' concern is mutual we watch you too - beware! :brishti

Mar 1st, 2008, 21:07	#33
the opoponax Maha Guru Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Brooklyn, via New Orleans Posts: 1,052	But I'm not sure it's a generalization to say "Indians tend to be more outwardly hospitable than I'm used to," or something of that nature. Sure, there are some individual Indians who this is not true for, just as would be the case if I said "as a general rule, Indians tend to have brown eyes." I've met my share of Indians who refused to help, or who took advantage of my vulnerability as a foreigner. I've met my share of blue and green eyed Indians, as well. At a certain point, we need to be able to generalize in order to digest our knowledge of the world. If we could never make a statement that described more than a few people, our ability to make sense of things would be nonexistent -- we'd be like chickens who can never be quite sure whether they have 4 or 5 chicks, just that there are definitely more than 3, the highest number they can comprehend.

Mar 1st, 2008, 23:04	#34
karuna The cat's mother Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: the wrong side of the Y-A-M-U-N-A Posts: 1,936	OK, are we talking about an imaginary chicken that can't count to four, or can chickens in general not count to four? How on earth did they test that? Anyway, it goes "one, two, many, lots". Everyone knows that!

Mar 1st, 2008, 23:23	#36
karuna The cat's mother Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: the wrong side of the Y-A-M-U-N-A Posts: 1,936	I absolutely agree with you Kingstonian. Still not sure about the chickens though.

Mar 2nd, 2008, 18:45	#37
the opoponax Maha Guru Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Brooklyn, via New Orleans Posts: 1,052	It's one of those old wive's tales -- apparently chickens don't have the cognitive ability to understand more than 3 (I think? It might be 2, actually). That's neither here nore there, though. I should also repeat myself and mention that I hated the article for most of the same reasons others do, but that there is validity in the idea that Indian culture has different social norms than most of the West, and one of those differences is the way that hospitality works. Which is a fancy way of saying that many/most Indians are friendlier than a Western tourist is used to.

Mar 3rd, 2008, 20:38	#41
Nick-H Loud-mouthed, Noisy Bird Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chennai, India Posts: 27,763	Sunshine does make a difference. The people in Ooty, cold wet July, had just the same expressions I'm used to seeing in London.

Mar 4th, 2008, 09:30	#42
Brisso Specialist muddler Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Brisbane Posts: 603	Kill Nordlinger!!! Kill Nordlinger!!! Kill Nordlinger!!! Kill Nordlinger!!! Kill Nordlinger!!! Kill Nordlinger!!! Kill Nordlinger!!! Kill Nordlinger!!! Kill Nordlinger!!! Kill Nordlinger!!! Kill Nordlinger!!! Kill Nordlinger!!! Kill Nordlinger!!! Let's have a good old-fashioned witchhunt. Please, why are people so emotional about one of a million inconsequential travel articles published every day?

Mar 4th, 2008, 11:43	#43
brishti just another member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: india Posts: 2,263	who nordlinger? what nordlinger? where nordlinger? boo nordlinger? gosh - the name has bugun to sound as cryptic as edwarseco [ ref go to Nick Name thread ] :brishti

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