OT (or is it?): American Imperialism

[Nodachi]

America is not guilty of cultural imperialism (at least not in this century). What is being observed is a blending of cultures brought about by the advent of high speed communication.

[Strategia_In_Ultima]

A blending of cultures... where the predominant culture is the mainstream American one.

If it doesn't make sense, well heck. As long as my point gets across I don't matter if I'm writing something in English, then encrypt it using an alphanumeric key, translate what I've got into Chinese, encrypt that using another alphanumeric key, translate it into Indonesian and then back into English.

If THAT doesn't make sense, well heck. As long as my point gets across...

[Nodachi]

A blending of cultures... where the predominant culture is the mainstream American one.

That is actually true, but only because American culture is a mix of many different cultures and the blending of cultures is what is spreading around the world.

[Strategia_In_Ultima]

The MAINSTREAM American culture. And it doesn't add much these days, it just changes internally with little external influences.

[Strategia_In_Ultima]

Won't be posting anymore for a while... pro'lly tomorrow... spent the entire day on the forums... gotta go work on Capship 0.81

[dogscoff]

I don't know what parents in Hollywood complain about.

Everyone in Hollywood is insanely happy all the time. They all have great teeth and big cars and no-one os ever sad. Or so I'm told.

American business doesn't go into other countries to spread our culture. They go there because they see an opportuity to make money selling things to people in those countries that want to buy them.

But that is american culture. I'm not saying that capitalism is an exclusively american thing, or that the US even invented it, but the form of excessive, aggressive, all-absorbing, all-homogenising, lowest-common-denominator, ignorance-worshipping capitalism that is currently melting the population of the entire universe into a gigantic, brainless, MTV-cloned consumer-pool for rampant, soulless multinationals was very much born in the US in the latter half of the last century. I guess it's difficult for Americans to appreciate just how invasive this influence feels to everyone else. For example, this year I've seen the first few Humvees in this country, and it sickens me that people here are actually becoming ignorant enough to think these hulking abominations are actually desirable on our overpopulated little island with its narrow old streets and city centres.

If your complaint is that you don't like people in your country buying American products, then don't buy American products.

I don't (Shrapnel products excluded). Doesn't seem to be making a difference so far.

[Will]

Just a vain attempt to bring some levity to the discussion:

geoschmo said:
I don't know what parents in Hollywood complain about.

They complain about how hard it is to find a good supply of Vicodin. You would be doping up, too, if the whole world was blaming you for things. Even if they bought everything from you willingly, and continue to do so even after complaining

And re: American culture, to that I say: What American culture? We don't have any. We just take from everybody else's, mix together haphazardly, put it in lots of packaging, and call it "our culture". If anything, the only thing that you could call "American Culture" is our somewhat unique practice of selling anything and everything to whomever wants it, as long as you pay real money for it. And even then, I'm pretty sure that's just a European practice taken to the utmost extreme.

[Strategia_In_Ultima]

But that is american culture. I'm not saying that capitalism is an exclusively american thing, or that the US even invented it, but the form of excessive, aggressive, all-absorbing, all-homogenising, lowest-common-denominator, ignorance-worshipping capitalism that is currently melting the population of the entire universe into a gigantic, brainless, MTV-cloned consumer-pool for rampant, soulless multinationals was very much born in the US in the latter half of the last century. I guess it's difficult for Americans to appreciate just how invasive this influence feels to everyone else. For example, this year I've seen the first few Humvees in this country, and it sickens me that people here are actually becoming ignorant enough to think these hulking abominations are actually desirable on our overpopulated little island with its narrow old streets and city centres.

Thnx Dogscoff... thats exactly my point

[Slynky]

StrategiaInUltima said:

Thnx Dogscoff... thats exactly my point

Then go complain to the people that purchased them and quit blaming America for an "arm-twisting" that didn't occur. In order for something to sell, there needs to be a market. (I shake my head everytime I see one, too!)

[TerranC]

Slynky said:
Then go complain to the people that purchased them and quit blaming America for an "arm-twisting" that didn't occur. In order for something to sell, there needs to be a market. (I shake my head everytime I see one, too!)

Our point exactly.