Yes, obviously that's alright. It's nonetheless also alright to wonder about or even question the reason behind those different cultures.
As a European, it's just really, really strange to see how everything war, gore, death and guns seems to be alright for the kids overseas, but don't you dare show a nipple or say a bad word. I respect your culture, even like lots about it. But sorry, that's weird.
Right, but there seems to be a strange belief that the US in particular shouldn't have its own culture. My objection is to that. That's kinda American exceptionalism at its worst.
Europeans have their own share if strange cultural phenomenon, BTW. E.g. apparently they don't feed their guests in Sweden. [1]
I don't think anyone feels like the US shouldn't have its own culture -- definitely not more so than other places. If anything, the US injects its culture everywhere, due to entertainment being a primary export. And most of it is completely fine. People may shake their heads at certain things, much like you guys shake your head at the thought of not feeding your guests. But that's fine.
It's just that (sorry for using such a provocative word) the entire war/gun-fetishism is weird af for most outsiders. The way I see it, it's at least equal parts culture and excessive lobbying/brainwashing. And it shows in things like being fine with exposure to violence from a young age. Contrast that to people freaking out at nudity, and it makes for a silly juxtaposition.
I don't understand how the video relates to anyone thinking you shouldn't have your own culture. If anything that video claims that "leaving no one behind" and "decency and compassion" are what makes America America.
> Children in Europe don't play with toy soldiers or guns?
Occasionally for sure. But it's just on another level in the US. I can't pinpoint it, but I've spent years in America and visited a lot of toy stores :) we simply don't have aisles full of nerf guns and shit over here. You'll find them, but overall the topic is much, much less romanticized.
And in the context of movie ratings, every war/gory movie/videogame will be rated 16/18+ in most parts of Europe. I know, because I used to get some Star Wars shooters for Xbox rated Teen while on holiday in the US a couple years before I would've been able to get them in my home country :)
> If anything that video claims that "leaving no one behind" and "decency and compassion" are what makes America America.
Well, I kinda think those claims are mostly lies. We all know that Americans are not well-known for their compassion.
American culture used to emphasize frankness, family values, freedom, and individual responsibility. Now, it's rulings class has decided these cultural values interfere with their interests. So, they have decided to pretend these don't exist.
> And in the context of movie ratings, every war/gory movie/videogame will be rated 16/18+ in most parts of Europe.
That's funny. Frankness is not a trait I would have thought is very American. If anything, you guys are a bit too polite at times it seems.
I don't know if it's just the ruling class that has decided this change. I applaud everyone who keeps up "family values", but I will absolutely vote for shutting that shit down as soon as it's a front for "white man, breadwinner, white woman, housewife, two children -- everything else is worth less".
Unfortunately, a whole lot of those who were meant to keep up those values used them to suppress others.
I claim that it's possible to be progressive and still keep your culture intact. Family values can still be emphasized, but why not simply include all families, no matter how quirky they may come?
In any case, I applaud many things in your culture. I've always had a great affinity for the US. No country is perfect, and all will find some aspect about another culture they find strange. What's important is to keep an open mind, and not cling to traditions for tradition's sake.
> Interesting, are those ratings taken seriously?
It depends on the guardians, of course. I know I was not allowed to play games rated 16+ before I actually turned 16. I know friends of mine who played CS when they were 12. We all turned out okay.
It would be alright if one country didn't try to force its culture, prejudice and superstion on all others, because it's economically dominant.
I don't care if the US are obsessed with nipples. I find it ridiculous, but also kind of funny.
But when this obsession prevents people from sharing art on US controlled systems and services, then it's incredibly annoying. (It's not the most pressing problem in the world, sure, but it's grating.)
The average American watches 5 hours of TV each day, 2/3 of the shows are about physical violence. The entertainment industry is a propaganda for the gun industry because people feel that violence is everywhere, and that guns are needed for protection.
Research on the effects of viewing violence found a desensitizing effect, especially for children. People become less sensitive to the pain and suffering of others and more fearful of the world. This effect is much less pronounced for video games, which tend to not dramatize violence.
There is a reason we try to curtail violence in the media in Europe. When you engage with a fantasy many hours a day, it becomes your reality.
> The average American watches 5 hours of TV each day
That's an overestimate, it's probably closer to 3 hours per day [1]. Also, if you exclude the elderly (like +55), it probably becomes significantly less.
> people feel that violence is everywhere
It really is though. Right now, there's a war going on in Europe. Curtailing it wouldn't make it go away.
> Research on the effects of viewing violence found a desensitizing effect, especially for children.
Like the vast majority of social sciences, that area is full of low-quality studies.
