Thursday, October 13, 2005

Re: American's Individualism and cars



On 10/12/05, Tim Zhou <zhou_tim@yahoo.com> wrote:
Good reflection, Peter.  I was wondering if compact
car is the consequence or the catalyst of the
individualism ?

To my understanding, the compact car model is one result of the individualism. After all, American's individualism could be dated back when May Flower just docked hundred years ago. However, I believe cars also reinforce American's individualism. How do you think?
In Chemistry, what do you call the thing which is both the result and the cause?

No one should be content with going with the flow. I
thought that We all have the inclination of seeking
Control.  this is ubiquitous...

--- Shihwei Li <lishihwei@gmail.com> wrote:

> Hi,
>
> In Novartis, Wenlei is currently attending a series
> of English courses
> designed for Asian employees. In one course, the
> tutor introduced students
> an
> out-of-printed book, "Working with Americans".
>
> Accidentally, I discovered the book in Wenlei's bag
> and started
> reading it. It is an excellent book not only
> comparing cultures in America
> and
> in Asia countries, but also providing suggestions
> for Asian employees. The
> more I read, the more I understand the reasons
> behind a lot of
> observations I made in U.S.
>
> For example, while reading one chapter discussing
> American's
> individualism and the desire to control, instantly,
> I understand why
> cars are so popular in U.S.
>
> Another example comes from the observation I made on
> software. Software in nowadays allow users to
> configure according to
> users' own tastes. To the maximum extent, a user can
> totally change
> the outlook of the software. Again, the motivations
> behind the design
> are American's individualism and the desire to
> control.
>
> No one shall undertake the cultural impact from
> using software majorly
> designed by Americans. The impact is intangible, but
> real. For
> me, it is hard to use software which I can't
> configure since I
> already unconsciously accepted American's
> individualism and the desire
> to control by using software which I can configure.
>
> --peter
>




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Wednesday, October 12, 2005

Re: American's Individualism and cars

Good reflection, Peter. I was wondering if compact
car is the consequence or the catalyst of the
individualism ?

No one should be content with going with the flow. I
thought that We all have the inclination of seeking
Control. this is ubiquitous...

--- Shihwei Li <lishihwei@gmail.com> wrote:

> Hi,
>
> In Novartis, Wenlei is currently attending a series
> of English courses
> designed for Asian employees. In one course, the
> tutor introduced students
> an
> out-of-printed book, "Working with Americans".
>
> Accidentally, I discovered the book in Wenlei's bag
> and started
> reading it. It is an excellent book not only
> comparing cultures in America
> and
> in Asia countries, but also providing suggestions
> for Asian employees. The
> more I read, the more I understand the reasons
> behind a lot of
> observations I made in U.S.
>
> For example, while reading one chapter discussing
> American's
> individualism and the desire to control, instantly,
> I understand why
> cars are so popular in U.S.
>
> Another example comes from the observation I made on
> software. Software in nowadays allow users to
> configure according to
> users' own tastes. To the maximum extent, a user can
> totally change
> the outlook of the software. Again, the motivations
> behind the design
> are American's individualism and the desire to
> control.
>
> No one shall undertake the cultural impact from
> using software majorly
> designed by Americans. The impact is intangible, but
> real. For
> me, it is hard to use software which I can't
> configure since I
> already unconsciously accepted American's
> individualism and the desire
> to control by using software which I can configure.
>
> --peter
>


__________________________________
Yahoo! Music Unlimited
Access over 1 million songs. Try it free.
http://music.yahoo.com/unlimited/

American's Individualism and cars

Hi,

In Novartis, Wenlei is currently attending a series of English courses
designed for Asian employees. In one course, the tutor introduced students an
out-of-printed book, "Working with Americans".

Accidentally, I discovered the book in Wenlei's bag and started
reading it. It is an excellent book not only comparing cultures in America and
in Asia countries, but also providing suggestions for Asian employees. The
more I read, the more I understand the reasons behind a lot of
observations I made in U.S.

For example, while reading one chapter discussing American's
individualism and the desire to control, instantly, I understand why
cars are so popular in U.S.

Another example comes from the observation I made on
software. Software in nowadays allow users to configure according to
users' own tastes. To the maximum extent, a user can totally change
the outlook of the software. Again, the motivations behind the design
are American's individualism and the desire to control.

No one shall undertake the cultural impact from using software majorly
designed by Americans. The impact is intangible, but real. For
me, it is hard to use software which I can't configure since I
already unconsciously accepted American's individualism and the desire
to control by using software which I can configure.

--peter