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The Last Place
angela morgenstern writes "Buddhist Bhutan was the last place on earth to legalize television. Trading traditional practices for daytime soaps and WWF, many fear that western influence will trample the culture." A whole set of articles about the effect of American television on one of the most remote places on earth - it's official, there is no escape from American "culture".
Sure there is, turn off your TV, prise your kids out of the kid-shaped depression in the sofa and do other things that don't require you to be passive and watch ads to give you a value system.
How did this actually get posted on /. ?
Americans just doesn't get it, most simply don't understand how good they have it.
What does the world wildlife fund have to do with any of this?
In the report it says : "Rinzy has hooked up this secluded society to 45 cable television channels, featuring everything from the BBC to Baywatch, all for about $5 a month: the price of a bag of red chillies."
Is that the cost of a bag of red chillies in the United States ? How much buying power is $5 in Bhutan ? So these people get to watch adverts for cars/food/luxuries that they will not be able to purchase.
I have only just got back from SEasia and could not find much to watch on their TV as they have their own programming that I found terrible. They have a good strong culture of their own and I think it will prevail. I had to resort to MTVasia and the BBC world. Even MTVasia is their own bubble pop rather than the stuff we are used to. As the tube moves into Bhutan I think it will be asian TV that goes with it and they will not get this expected burst of western "culture" when it arrives.
American "culture" ? is that an oxymoron ?
I love stacking my barbecues in the shed at the end of summer - you can't beat a bit of grill on grill action.
And you really believe we only watch American TV shows here in Asia? Typical Anti-American Euro-trash ranting....
"Whenever the cause of the people is entrusted to professors, it is lost." ~ V.I. Lenin
I'll put The Simpson's and other high points of American culture against any other "culture" past or present.
Bullshit. You don't wanna watch it, you don't have to. Pull the plug, turn off the TV, don't buy it in the first place. Meanwhile, I'll be content to indulge myself in the fine quality of American TV, thank you very much.
*flip* Rerun...
*flip* Crap...
*flip* Crappy rerun...
it's official, there is no escape from American "culture".
Sure there is. Here are a set of simple instructions.
1) Locate point of entry for electricity in to your house.
2) Disconnect Electricity (some car is advised at this point). 3) Locate all telephones in house.
4) Smash telephones with Hammer, or other large heavy object (possibly your now useless VCR).
5) Locate large wads of cotton wool.
6) Insert cotton wool in to ears (in case of passing boombox).
7) Never leave house.
Never mind Pax Americana, fear Pax AOL / Time Warner.
<fnord>OBEY</fnord>
*cough*...
/. Editors just forget little things like big corporate lawsuits...
WWF is not that same (or at least was but, not now) as WWE..
Are the Buddahists are worried about the "SMACKDOWN" being laid down to a Panda bear..
Nah..
Considering the age of the american culture which isn't a very long time, one van debate whether or not america has any culture at al, considering the long lasting culture from europe and not to forget asia. Not to say what is to prefer, the old or the new. greetings from the old world. :)
What is so "wrong" with American culture? Why everybody hates it?! If our culture can so easily break your own traditions from usual TV broadcasts then you should blame only yourself, not Americans. And if you don't like American Rationalism then welcome back to medieval age...
Bhutan's top 10 cable channels.
They mean to tell me that they get HBO in friggin' Bhutan? I can't even get it in Canada!
Actually this is a bit more accurate than you may think. Recently I spent a month trekking in Nepal - a nearby country to Bhutan and one that has only recently (30 years) opened itself to foregin influences.
The popularity of WWF, even high in the remote mountain villages, was not something I expected. Then again, this is usually the only "culture" the US exports.
I also visited the country about 10 years earlier after a few months backpacking through India. For around 3 months I travelled and didn't once see a bottle/can of Coca Cola (or derivative) - it was all local soft drinks that were available. At the time it was a refreshing change, and gave you a much more local flavour.
On my more recent trip you could *only* get Coca Cola soft drinks (Coke, Sprite, Fanta, etc.), even high in the mountains a week's travel from the nearest road. OK, they were locally manufactured (under license) and tasted different (the Fanta was nice!), but it was something that got in the way of emersing yourself in a completely different culture. As for the locals themselves, there seemed to be no benefit whatsoever for them having "Coke" soft drinks compared to the local ones before them.
Ho hum, roll on the Disneyfication of the planet.
been so unexamined and undiscussed. Four hours per person per day is the claimed average in the United States.
Is it fair to call the trash on television American Culture, or Jewish Culture?
this is hot stuff!:
;)
19:00-19:15 Tonight & The News in Dzongkha
19:15-19:20 Advertisement and announcement
19:20-19:50 Dzongkha Gongphel
19:50-20:00 UK TODAY Sutton Hoo- The London Marathon
20:00-20:10 News in English
20:10-20:15 Advertisement and announcement
20:15-20:30 Telematch
20:30-21:00 Telematch
I am ready to Dzongkha! Whatever it is
It never occured to me that there might be a place that there *ISN'T* TV.
Religion is a gateway psychosis. -- Dave Foley
Before any laws, TV could be provided and viewed by anyone.
If it was made illegal, people were more limited in what they could do and there were now laws which punished them if they broke the rules.
"Legalizing television" actually means that television is now allowed but only under the laws which limit what can be done with it. More television can be sent openly, but television thus has a new set of laws which prohibit various things.
Im glad i don't live in the land of corporate fraud, Terrorism, Fat Slobs, Mcbreakfast, DMCA and Slashdot. But we still get their crap. Luckily its only CNBC.
I guess there should be a distinction made between american culture and american "culture" as used by michael. Yes, you americans have a great culture; excellent writers, great artists and original musicians. Too bad that the stuff that actually gets exported the most is "culture": coke, disney and the worst of hollywood.
I've been reading some of the comments and all I have to say is this: don't short change yourself or your culture, be aware of the things that have real value and give these to the world.
---
"The chances of a demonic possession spreading are remote -- relax."
This is a tiny country, and they don't need a slashdotting.m .bt+bhutan
http://www.google.com/search?q=+site%3Awww.bbs.co
That might be a good enough link to use for most pages in the bhutan broadcasting service.
You want to feed your culture and yet you refuse to welcome them into your country.
Come on, what's so bad about our culture? Not all of us are the stereotyped fat slobs who stare at the TV all day. Our music is diverse, our people tend to work, and our culture is mostly tolerant on issues. And I like the fact that we are free to discuss issues concerning the government.
Just like I've seen the culture of a small Alaskan village cease due to the introduction of T.V. So will the culture of Bhutan. This letter to the editor is very convincing on that point.
When I was young, we were Alaskans. We had our own culture and music both the old (native alaskans) and the new Russians and Americans had forged a unique identity that was Alaskan. Then TV came. By the time I left High School you could see the changes.
My point is well illustrated by this story:
I graduated high school in 1992, the kids from our class did the Christmas dance theme on some cute "Stairway to Heaven" or other schmaltzy thing. The kids that were class of 1994 did "Christmas in da 'Hood". The '94 kids had gang violence in their classrooms. Kids bringing guns to school (with the intent of shooting other kids and not to show off their new hunting rifle), weapons, and grafiti became problems.
The ironic thing was that the younger classes were smaller ours was the largest graduating class.
I remember all the Rappers and the oppressed gansta' types sulking about the remote and wild wilderness of one of the remotest places on earth. Some people run away to the untouched beauty of Alaska to escape inner-city grime. How ironic that an aspiring young rap-star would be cursed with living in a place where there was hardly any crime and the government paid you to live there.
If religion is the opiate of the masses, then television is the crystal-meth of the glue huffing, crack-smoking, I-got-the-munchies masses.
[signature]
http://www.theregus.com/content/4/25869.html
On the other hand, this could help create a new kind of white hats: Buddhist hackers!
After realizing that I never watched TV anyway, and the kids were watching too much, I disconnected the cable.
Got internet for news, info, and entertainment. The kids now spend more time playing outside and reading. The only thing I really miss is sports (no big deal, as I hate all the local teams here in Maryland) and 24hr news (at least have the net).
Still have the TV (gotta watch DVDs and the kids still have the kiddie movies). But it mostly stays off now. It's nice.
Granted, instead of spending $40 a month on cable, I'm spending $100+ a month on DVDs.
No boom today. Boom tomorrow. There's always a boom tomorrow. - Cmdr. Susan Ivanova
The Simpson's...American culture
The world council rests its case.
Hopefully, after the novelty of television wears off, the Bhutanese people won't become as obsessed with TV as Americans are. When I was a kid, I used to wach cartoons every Saturday morning, without fail. I'm sure many other people did the same. But as I grew older, I watched TV less often, and now I only watch the news and sometimes a few programs I enjoy.
The article made the Bhutanese people seem, to me, like America's children. But in a few years, hopefully the novelty will wear off, and Bhutan won't lose its rich culture to Sex in the City and MTV.
Hopefully.
Oops!
What culture?! They have no tv!
Dzongkha is the national language of Bhutan.
this is a sig.fault
"THIMPHU, Bhutan -- Microsoft's latest venture is a localized version of its dominant Windows operating system for the tiny Himalayan kingdom of Bhutan. "
Article Here
As if that weren't bad enough, Bill Gates won't leave them alone either
So the rich will raise children on WWF, Martha Steward, and boy bands. After a generation or so, rich IQs will be cut in half, and the poor will begin to replace them in the high-paying jobs until they too can afford TV...
Donate background CPU time to fight cancer.
Yes, I'm not "American" (well I am, I'm south american, but in the states people take that name to mean them. In Chile, "America" means the continent). It's not about it being right or wrong, but it's the fact that it influences other people's culture. And the point that you can then argue is wether those other cultures should survive, be preserved, or if they are subject to "survival of the fittest".
As far as I'm concerned, one of my cultures was destroyed when the spaniards invaded northern chile and bolivia, and huge areas of that culture are now gone. But even though I've never even spent more than a couple of days in the places where my ancestors lived, I can still pick up a book or search the internet and learn about it. So yes, preserve it, but no, don't force people to keep it while they want to watch WWF, eat at McDonalds or whatever else.I don't want to impose my judgement on that. Otherwise you're teaching people to see their culture as obligatory...
I gave up having broadcast TV in my house 1.5 years ago, and after a short (2 month) period of missing it I now find life is so much better than it was with TV. I don't waste long hours watching stupid reruns of dumb shows (American or British - both are dumb) or worse still, infomercials. I have tons more time to spend with friends, my wife, reading, whatever. My wife spends more time doing her paintings and I spend more time studying computers and playing games (usually online). If we want some visual entertainment we go to the cinema or watch a DVD. The emphasis is on being able to enjoy the movies we want when we want, without commercials or being tied to a televison programmers schedule. Now we don't pay an average cable bill of 25GBP/month we can buy a DVD or even two instead and watch them at our leisure. Life without broadcast TV is cool, try it some time.
All those moments will be lost in time, like tears in rain.
downsides:
- WWE (formerly the WWF)
- The Anna Nicole Smith Show
- Jackass
- Springer/Oprah/etc.
- FOX News
upsides:
- Simpsons
- Red Dwarf
- Cartoon Network's Adult Swim
- MST3K
"I would say that 99 per cent of what my father has written about his own life is false." - L. Ron Hubbard Jr.
You jackass.
You can be a slack-assed, don't wanna work, socialist but hey, don't be so down on yourself. You can blame the Americans!
This is exactly the problem. You and your fellow countrymen have no understanding of other cultures, you don't want to have any understanding of other cultures, and you will never have an understanding of other cultures. Hey, they don't like America?! They must be socialists! Like you have any idea what Socialism is (Hint: Not your McCarthyist, Red Baiting, Commie-Under-The-Table American view of Socialism). Like you have any idea of why American Imperalism is bad. All you care about is money, and making the rest of the world as much like America as you can so that you don't have to concern yourself with that whole pesky "other cultures" thing.
The reason America bashing is "chic" is because of your and your fellow countrymans ignorance, self centeredness and introspectiveness. Wake up! The world exists outside of the US of A, and its different! Stop trying to make us like you!
Can you Euros...
Who are the "Euros"? Last time I checked, a Euro was a currency used in the majority of the countries which are part of the European Union?
Europe isn't a single country, any more than the USA is a single "state", you dolt. Six weeks holiday a year? Yeah, I fucking wish. Britian, for example, has the highest working week of any European country, and easily "beats" the US, too. France, on the other hand, has one of the shortest working weeks, and workers also tend to have a large number of holidays.
You ignorant fuck stick.
If you want a glimpse of Bhutan, read their national newspaper Kuensel on the web. It's in English and it gives a fascinating insight into a country that's still trying to take on the modern world on its own terms.
And it uses Slash.
It's good to see that the people of Bhutan keep up with there budist nature and look after pandas and the wildlife...
didn't you mean WWE
thank God the internet isn't a human right.
Recently, I had the oppurtunity to trek through three countries, Singapore, India and Switzerland. A few fascinating things I encountered:-
a)You get *authentic* Swiss chocolates in *all* countries.
b) Swatch watches are actually cheaper in Singapore.
c) It becomes depressing after a while, but supermarkets in *all* countries feature the same ice-cream brands (Nestle, Walls etc).
d) In Singapore (and to a large extent India as well), most of the costlier houses feature Swiss architecture. No, don't look at me, I really can't figure it out. Houses in Bukit Timah Road (in Singapore), Colaba in Bombay (India) and in Zurich seem exactly the same; the same sloping roofs, the same tiles and the same cars (Suzuki Altos, Toyotas, Pegueots).
e) Thanks to Ikea (apparently), beanbags are now a constant feature in middle-class houses all over.
f) Most Indian movies are shot in Switzerland.
g) Singapore's largest theater features Hindi movies only.
Now, what was that again about American softpower...?
pure and uncorrupt, just like a lot of africa etc ..... a hundred and a bit years ago.
As a gross overstatement Africa hasn't become poor, it's become greedy.
thank God the internet isn't a human right.
July 23, 2002
I just love all the people of this world who have opinions on things but never actually are willing to stick anything behind them.
Let me clarify some of the following: Interview and the wonders of Slashdot and the ability to look beyond the tips of their noses when reading anything on slashdot - most of the comments there are made before anyone has actually READ anything.
Anyway - for the few level headed enough to 1. actually have contributed ever to linux or any part of it and not just spouted out words but not had the guts to back them with code and effort, or 2. actually see more than their little world and are willing to actually understand "the enemy" so to speak, they might actually see where I'm coming from.
The desktop market share windows has isn't going away. It's entrenched. Everyone I speak to who devout isn't a linux head says "yeah - heard of linux - I know it's meant to be stable, but I can't use my apps on it". It's not a matter of if they will be happy with openoffice, or be happy with whatever equivalent there is - they want THAT PARTICULAR APP.
Also not to mention the ease of use windows has. You plug in a new usb device, or a new card or anything. It detects it - find the driver or asks you for the disk you got in the box, and bingo. On linux? HA! Good luck. Half the time I need to do endless reserach first to see if its supported - and even if it is, half the time I have to do some obscure hunting for code I need to compile and specially configure that more often than not only paertially supports it - and even then with moe bugs than you can poke a stick at. The average person doesn't want to do this - and rightly, shouldn't. I won't stop using linux. I still use it as my desktop. I know many others do. But linux isn't goin to beat microsoft. It isnt' going to take the majority share of the desktop markent. I never said it was dead. I said Linux has lost. It's not going to win. Just because you lose does not mean you re dead, but don't expect the masses of cheering fans. It's going to remain the minority holder on the desktop. In that respect I see it as a loss.
Also I haven't stopped working on stuff. I haven't stopped on E. I'm not bitter or have sour grapes. Just because someone asks me for facts and i give them without flowery words or soothing tones does not mean I'm bitter and am trying to extract my pound of flesh. I never really dodge the trusth or facts, and if people don't seem to be able to read something at face value - well that's their problem. Did I not say KDE and GNOME were doing a good job? Did I ever start Enlightenment with the aim to become an easy to use desktop for the masses? I never did. I never claimed such. Anyone who says so is putting words in my mouth. E was always a toy project. It is my toy. I get to push boundaires and explore ideas using it. It only ever made it open source for anyone elses desktop other than mine because people pestered me after seeing screenshots.
Also people just didn't get my point. I'm saying the future Isn't a desktop at all - the encumbent (windows) on the desktop will stay, but the future isn't a desktop computer at all - it isn't a nasty mess of a desktop with taskbar and a screen and a mouse and keyboard. I'm not the first to say this by any means - and I won't be the last. Devices (such as pda's and the likes) now have the grunt that desktops had years ago. They are what I see as the future. Devices you use for a limited set of things that fit in your pocket, have no wires and always work. Have a look at the i-mode and ketai phenomenon in Japan. Most people just want to do things - they don't care how - be it via windows or linux. Whichever way works. The techies like us care how - but what I'm saying is we are the minority. The mass market where linux can be on everyone's desk is not via the PC desktop - you want linux everywhere? Put it on their phones, in their cars, on their trains, on their watches. That's how you will get that.
I will continue to use Linux on my desktops because I like it. I will continue to develop for X because I like it. I will continue to use Linux on my laptop because I like it. I will do it because "I can" and because "I want to". But I will not go thinking that linux will take over the worlds desktop computers. There was a day years ago it might have had a fighting chance - if applications had started to be developed that people wanted, but that time has passed and all the apps are for the reigning OS and will stay that way mostly. The desktop isn't going to be a big thing for linux, but it has a fair go in other arenas.
So those of you who thought I'd given up - no way. I've just switched game plan. I never was a Linux visionary - never wanted to be, never asked to be - people just seem to have said I am. I am going to leave being a visionary and political activist to others. I say things how I see them. Take everything I say with a grain of salt - invariably it's me trying to make a point. I'm a realist and I'm into the practical of things. If I'm going to fight I want to make sure I have a damn good chance at winning.
it's official, there is no escape from American "culture".
Last time I checked the Amazon River Basin is largely UNEXPLORED. There are many many places left on earth out of America's Circle of Stupidity. That YOU don't know about them just makes it even sweeter for us. We DON'T want you Americans here, so you AREN'T.
Red Dwarf
Red Dwarf is a BBC series
Lately, I like to consider watching television and/or movies, the same as most people think of the consumption of alcoholic beverages. It's fine to do it socially, while in the company of friends or family, but taking in too much (especially while you're only by yourself), is not good for you.
Please consider making an automatic monthly recurring donation to the EFF
As I was reading through these posts, wondering why American culture has spread so virally throughout the rest of the modern world, it struck me as to WHY foreign governments don't seem to be saying a while lot about it: Control.
Think about it....has the American populace ever been so apathetic and easily manipulated as we have in the last 25 years? Our political and corporate leasership gets progressively worse and worse and yet the same people keep getting re-elected into office and appointed to positions of trust. This is a fucking wet dream not only for corrupt despots of all kinds in the rest of the world, but other so-called democracies and republics that don't want all the hassle that comes with actually appeasing people through honesty and care for citizens' well being.
"Fuck it", they say, "let em watch TV so we can manipulate their views with mass media and satiate their desires by making them think they have to have all the useless crap that's advertised...they'll feel their needs are met when they make a few purchases."
It's made most of us lazy, greedy, and apathetic...hardly anyone votes anymore and most of the ones that do cannot be bothered to think about who they're voting for, they just vote for whatever party they decided they liked in high school civics class. No one takes an interest in their community anymore. How many of you can say you know the names of all your neighbors? How many of you care? By this loss of sense of community and the artificial contentment that arises from being a "consumer", we don't take nearly as much of an active part in what's going on around us, community or government. Local or National.
Don't let it fool you...American culture is about being controlled while at the same time feeling like you're the one in charge. You ARE in charge...of what channels you watch and what merchandise you buy. I have genuine respect for those who are willful enough to avoid watching television, or better yet, do not own one. When the revolution comes, you'll be the ones who aren't watching it on CNN.
Happiness can't be found in catch phrases, soft drinks, feel-good tv shows, or pop music. I feel sorry for the people of Bhutan. It sounds like it used to be a nice place.
This message brought to you by the Council of People Who Are Sick of Seeing More People.
A few starters.
3rd world countries:
there's the 1st world (the allies!)
the 2nd worlds (the commies/fascists or whatever)
and the 3rd world, everyone else.
So the 3rd world are just unclassified countries, not poor or rich or anything else for that matter.
Freedom? freedom compared to what? being a native American a few hundreds years ago? freedom compared to the 10hour weeks enjoyed by our hunter gather ancestors?
America isn't free, they've just painted the walls that keep you in with pretty flowers and butterfly's to make it look like freedom.
money, well I think you meant greed, hopefully the people of Bhutan will stay as Buddhist as possible and rebut the influx of greed, but then again greed is more addictive than crack.
thank God the internet isn't a human right.
I don't know, the Amish have been doing a pretty good job of preventing their culture from becoming "Americanized" as far as I can tell, and they live in America.
These fears aren't just about Bhutan. If anything, America faces as great a threat from the death of local culture as anywhere else. The only difference is that we delude ourselves into thinking that raking in money makes it all "okay."
Sure, we feel more comfortable when we travel when we can order the same extra value meal in in every time zone, but I can only echo the sentiments of Lisa on the variety of Americana:
Lisa: Wow, Dad and Bart have been everywhere! They've eaten submarine sandwiches, grinders, *and* hoagies.
Damn. I guess I've been taken in by the tentacles too. I guess it's okay as long as I can super-size.
----------
I am an expert in electricity. My father held the chair of applied electricity at the state prision.
All your base are belong to us!!!!!
Your whole post is great, but these last few words really nail it. The fact is, common Americans have squat to do with "giving our culture to the world." First off, we don't export, big Katzian corporations do. Second off, we don't travel abroad, at least we can't afford to very often, and can't do much personal export.
So maybe I'd be willing to give some of my culture to the world, but there's not much way or opportunity. Instead we have Disney and AOL/Time Warner selling American "culture", as you say. The key distinction is between "give" and "sell".
The living have better things to do than to continue hating the dead.
Get the F out. Its WWE you nerds!
Calling TV "culture" is an affront to petri dishes around the world.
WOW, I didnt know that!!!
Who is this Linus Torvalds then?
According to Robert Heinlein, Tristan de Cunha is the most remote place on earth, not Bhutan.
We don't like Sadam. No, not for the human rights violations. For the profit, their oil. Same with Afghanistan. Oil in the backlands of Afghanistan.
There is no oil in Palestina or Israel. No wonder nothing gets done about that.
CIA actions in different countries.
Forcing other countries to open their markets while keeping theirs protected.
Kyoto and CO2. Deathpenalty (for retarted youngsters), gunlaws, Economical imperialism.
Need more examples? Now WHO is intolerant?
I noticed the BBC is on that list.
I've had it up to here (hand waving just over top of head) with people dissing American "culture", as it's always put.
Let's face it, what passes for culture in, say, Northern Europe is the art produced to the taste of a small elite that maintained its position through violence and threats of violence.
In much of the rest of the world, what passes for culture involves things like clitorectomy, honor killing of women, huge rates of infant mortality, etc.
What's America got by comparison? Well, an empowered middle class that gets to do pretty much what it wants. Hence we have backyard barbeques, tailgate parties, Budweiser, The Simpsons, large bellies, and early cholesterol death.
And guess what? We like it like that!
Now, don't get me wrong, there is room in the fringes for the next Mozart. In fact, bring it on! If we like it, we'll make you a multi-millionaire.
You see, that's the beauty of American culture: it's a total democracy of taste, and the mob gets to vote with its pocket book.
Now, I know that the elites in other parts of the world just totally gnash their teeth at this. That's what elites do when confronted with deomcracy.
Well, get used to it.
668: Neighbour of the Beast
You claim that the manipulation of the population of the US has become much more profound in the last 25 years. I think you are being a bit short sighted. You speak of Mass Media manipulating people...but people have been manipulated for eternity. Does being told what to buy and believe become more acceptable when it's the rest of your town/neighborhood doing the telling, rather than a corporation? Your complaints about corrupt polititions being re-elected is also an on-going theme in human government.
In short, nothing has changed except your perception. Do you truely think that Maw and Paw Kettle out in Bumfuck, ID knew about political scandles back in the 1800's? Of course not, all they knew about washington was reported in a newspaper. A newspaper that 'played nice' with the politicos. Things seem worse because you can see all the bad events, but trust me, this stuff has been going on forever. Do you really think the industrial magnates of the first half of the 20th century were 100% pure? Yeah right! When you own all the steel in the country, you do what you want.
Don't throw out the TV...maybe turn off the cable. Just remember that it's all entertainment. Even the 'news', and especially CSPAN!
Blar.
Next thing you know they'll get the internet and we'll have another September that never ended, as all the monks "log in the internet" and fill defile it with their spam and meetoo posts.
Sheesh, evil *and* a jerk. -- Jade
They WANT it, otherwise, they wouldn't be getting it. TV doesn't come where there isn't money to be made.
Called "The Cup". About foreign 'culture' influencing ancient Buddhist traditions.
Read about it here, here and here.
Although I don't come from a Buddhist land, I know first hand what it is like to have your country destroyed by Americanism.
This comment area is for America bashing only!!!
http://www.angelfire.com/ca3/marlowe Better a smartass than a dumbass.
TeeVee isn't the problem, its information pollution that is the problem. We all have seen what can happen when the information pollution gets on the internet. It make finding quality information harder. The signal to noise ratio goes down, and being an idiot becomes a social norm.
Oh, boy. I am such a redneck. I need to put on a Kraftwerk CD and read some gibberish by Derrida. And then maybe go out and pogrom a few Jews. Then I'll be suave and sophisticated.
And now is the time on Sprockets where we go on about how much more culture we have than the Americans.
Okay, I'll grant Europe had a fine culture, once. Operas and architecture and symphonies and everything. But that was a gosh-darn long time ago. Let's just face it. Europe has been in decline, culturally and politically, for about a century now.
I can get Beethoven, Mozart and Sibelius on CD. I can get the Dutch masters in high quality reproduction. I can even get the worthless crap the French are passing off as philosophy these days, though there's not much point. Who needs Europe anymore? It's all used up.
Nowadays, someone mentions European culture, and what comes to mind is the topless aerobics in that Chevy Chase movie. Just think, honey. They've been doing this for eons!
http://www.angelfire.com/ca3/marlowe Better a smartass than a dumbass.
Whats wrong with McDonalds? Tasteless, bland, small, factory-style food. Here we have local hamburger joint, ironically named "American Style" where you can get hamburgers like god intended them to be. Big, juicy and with TASTE! Something that McDonalds totally forgot.
But of course the sheeps go to McDonalds with their screaming kids. I have taken a vow to never set a foot inside McDonalds again!
It will be interesting to see what happens as as sociologists inevitably track this. Not that I am one, but I predict that Bhutan will move from a country that measures Gross National Happiness to one with increases in crime, violence, obesity, selfishness and stupidity, as does everything else Amerikan "culture" infects.
In case you haven't noticed: the Simpsons are a satire of the society you're describing. Some of us (i.e. not the mob) get the second degree in the show. Yes, there is one! And it's making fun of assholes like you.
Your post show be moderated as Troll. Good day!
And has there ever been a time in the recording industry with as many cookie-cutter fabrications of music like 'NSync, Britney Spears and Limp Bizkit?
If we ever want to do right by other cultures, we should sort our own out first otherwise we'll just keep re-polluting them over and over again!
Height: 38U, Weight: 0 Newtons, Eyes: #0000FF, OS: Gray Matter 1.0 (Alpha)
it's official, there is no escape from American "culture".
Or Great Britian "culture" or Austrailian "culture" or whatever "culture"
television is an entertainment device and if people are entertained by "culture" then let them.
God forbid they discover that the world isnt flat and there are other people in it.. let alone the fact that the people you were bred to hate all your life are not really as bad as your government told you they were... (Go watch some Chinese or Russian Television programmes or movies.)
Do not look at laser with remaining good eye.
You do have a cute ignorance about the Amish, doncha?
Just 'cause you're Amish doesn't mean you don't go through a period of druggin' drinkin' drivin' and enjoying the sins of the flesh
I have it on pretty reliable authority, second-hand from several Mennonites I know, that your average 30-something Amish man or woman has been pretty exposed to "Americanization" at one point or another, and this exposure is an essential part to their culture.
Why is it that we frown on cultural extinction? Sure anthropologists would like to study the vast array of cultures and traditions, but what practical purpose does it serve but to keep us apart? Social Scientists know, but dont ever say that the socioeconomic benefits of adopting universalizing culture and language (western) are significant. People suggest that "American Imperialism" tramples the traditions of the oppressed. Well guess what, if their traditions were better, we'd be accepting them. As it is, our culture is one of communication, freedom, and understanding. You say cultural oppression, I say liberation from outdated, unpractical, inhumane, and discriminatory practices. Teenagers in bhutan today have a LOT more in common with teenagers in the USA. Hopefully these commonalities will prove useful at the peace negotiations of the future. We can get rid of the stagnant warmongering old guard and move to a peaceful world. All thanks to TV.
People who think they know everything really piss off those of us that actually do.
What's wrong with Bhuddists watching the World Wildlife Foundation? Oh, you must have meant WWE.
mbbac
I'd assert that by the time an American goes abroad, there's already likely been quite a bit of "sorting" done. Those party-hearty young Americans are most likely out of the very wealthy, as are the old energetic. They're not average.
The living have better things to do than to continue hating the dead.
If the people of Bhutan want to watch tv, then it's their choice. If they want to pray instead, then it's also their choice. If Hulk Hogan is a threat to Buddhist culture then that says something about Buddhism. I don't like the tone of editorial comment, is Slashdot, another example of global, if not blatantly US, culture that also should be 'escaped' from by government restriction?
The Bhutan ISP & NIC runs Linux, Apache & mysql!
:)
Kuensal Online is generated with PHP Nuke. Free software wins! Maybe a small case study is in order? Anyone from Bhutan reading Slashdot?
Another curious story about Bhutan.
The evaluation of an action as 'practical' . . . depends on what it is that one wishes to practice.
It's just not cool to make fun of anyone's culture with the mocking quotes. By spending ten or so seconds looking at the article about Bhutan it says that they are getting an Indian cable feed. So should we also mock Indian "culture" as well?
As far as what American culture gets exported - hey - it's not like certain music, films, or television shows are purposely kept for the sole use of Americans on American soil. Demand is the decision maker. There is plenty of crap out there, and there is plenty of good stuff as well.
And one final point. Is the author suggesting that Bhutan is better off having no tv legally? Should they be kept from watching the news on the BBC or CNN? Should they not be allowed to watch a cricket match or soccer/football on Star Sports or ESPN? Should they be spared from the National Geographic Channel and the Discovery Channel as well? Are those things for non-Bhutan residents of the world only?
Folks,
I think the fall of cultural provincialism via the spread of television is not exactly a new phenomenon.
Think about it: when the Roman Empire spread throughout the Mediterrean, the culture of that empire heavily stomped out most local cultures and/or adapted local cultures to Roman needs. It was this singular culture that allowed Christianity to spread throughout the Empire by the 3rd Century AD.
When Johann Gutenberg invented the moveable type printing press around 1453, it made it much easier to spread learning around Europe. The ability to print thousands of identical copies of books formed the basis of national culture throughout Europe.
And from the 1920's on, the rapid deployment of radio did a lot to reduce provincial spoken dialects, especially with national radio networks pretty much forcing people to speak in very few or only one standard dialect(s).
Television is just only a recent medium that is stomping out cultural provincialism through the world; the Internet is doing the same right now.
This so-called "western culture" that all the backward nations are belly-aching about as "destroying their culture" is a bit of a misnomer. Sure it's predominantly identified with us, but you've got to realize that this wave of progress... this wave of technology and science, this wave of freedom and consumerism and all the good and bad things that go along with it... has been sweeping across all of humanity on this planet since the caveman days and has gained momentum exponentially, especially in about the past 300 years or so. Americans (and the rest of the "western society") have simply just learned how to surf this wave better than anyone else. There are those who, when upon seeing big waves pounding against the beach, proclaim, "Oh no!, There must be a storm coming" and then run and hide and bury their heads in the sand. Then there are those who proclaim, "Surf's Up Dude!" and charge headlong into it to catch a ride. If you do not progress forward, you die out. That's simply the way the universe is. Denying progress and intentionally stagnating your society is stupid as hell.
Well, I think the best thing you can do is to simply not watch tv. As an American, I can honestly say that yes we do have a lot of trash tv. We are in the years of the ever growing talk shows and of course we have the king of trash Jerry Springer. If you're looking for something worthwhile to watch on Tv I think you'll be looking for a long time to come. Thats my opinion. Just turn it off.
It's about advertising. People who haven't been exposed to mind-numbing advertisements all their life cannot escape mentally from them. So they'll buy anything you tell is good for them, if they can afford it.
It's not about freedom or being free like the US people or anything like that. Maybe some people would like to believe it is so, but it isn't. The reason is saturation to advertising.
When a Frenchman buys a Coca Cola, does he subconsciously want to be free like the americans? I doubt it. He just wants to cold drink. If it has somekind of taste which tells his body it is very good, i.e. sugar, then he might go for it.
As someone who has actually left the country(USA) and travaled to diffrent parts of the world (mainly asia and the middle east)let me tell you something; US, Canada, England, Australia, and many of the european countries have a good deal of freedoms pretty much in line with the bill of rights none of these countries way out thier in there laws(minus few tech laws but these will get ironed out in time and reps get more tech savvy). When I was in thailand I found it is legal to have sex with very young girls and prostitution is a mojor industry there. Some may say they have the freedom to prostitute themselves others would say its morally objectionable. these are the things that go on in other countries generally I like thai peopel they are friendly and don't look down on you because your american. when I was in japan and hong kong they would not let americans in to certain bars and nightclubs this obviously racism but no one cares. when in the middle east our female marines and sailors could not go out at night becuase they are females. If i was to rank America on personal freedoms she would easily be in the top ten. The U.S. set the standard for personal freedoms for citizens but now I think the Us has been lagging a little bit putting corporate interests ahead of the peoples. Currently this is just a minor nuisance but could get bad if left unchecked. Eventually the world be completely connected ( all hail the internet) . And the best ideas will surface and eventually be accepted. Right now Everything has an American slant to it because Americans and American Corporations get these products and ideas to market to the widest spectrum of people eventually this will change. and we will all be better for it. but whatever ihave to get back to work.
It's all Politics
g-damn hippies. No one goes around forcing people to watch American television, movies or listen to our music or read our books. Is it America's fault that our culture and style is popular? Except amongsy pointy headed 'intellectuals' and leftist-hippies.
Ugh. We are free you moron. Just because you aren't legally allowed to pirate all the intellectual property under the sun does not mean aren't free. Just what exactly would you like to do that you think an American isn't allowed to do, other than what I've already stated?
Mac OS X and Windows XP working side by side to fight back the night.
I'm sure that following shortly on the heels of WWE and Coca-cola will be the highly judgemental and anti-populist attitudes about such things. Your reaction to these things is also a part of the culture. Meanwhile, we should be kinda happy about the export of these other cultural notes:
...and much, much more.
- trial by jury
- women's rights
- end of torture
- highly productive economy
- separation of church and state
- education of the masses
- modern medicine
- multicultural tolerance
American culture is truly fascinating. It is a very infectious culture that most nations are finding very hard to keep out. The reason why it is so damned hard to keep out is that despite governments best efforts to slow it down or stop it, the people just flat out like American culture. France is a prime example. Here you have a nation whose government is actively fighting tooth and nail against American culture, and despite this, they are loosing. While some French might hate it, it is hard to convince someone that McDonalds, MTV, and Coke are bad things. If the people really wanted McDonalds to go away, they would just have to stop giving them money.
Personally, I think the spread of American culture is a good thing. American culture is the stuff that topples dictators and destroys ultra orthodox laws. Don't get me wrong, I am not saying that American is perfect, far from it in fact, but it is better then many places on this planet. I would personally like to see as much American culture boxed up and sent to places like China and the Middle East as possible. These are places that suffer from oppressive regimes. If Coke, McDonalds, and MTV can dent these regimes, then we should be mass producing this stuff.
I think that the entire 'war on terror' is a waste. Go ahead and do what you have to do, but your main weapon should not be stealth bombers. The main weapon should be picking out nations we don't like and dumping our culture on their soil. Dropping TVs and happy meals out of a C-130 would do far more create peaceful democrat nations then dropping bombs. As much as I dislike her music, watching Britney Spears dance around half naked on Islamic television would do far more to convince Islamic woman that they should not be forced by law to be treated so poorly, then dropping bombs on their heads would.
Using culture as an excuse for oppression is never a valid argument. In America an Islamic woman is free to wear full body covering if she pleases. Just the other day I saw a group of woman dressed all in black, covered head to toe so that they could only see through an eye veil. No one gave them anything more then a passing glance, and the police officer they walked by didn't even blink. Now, personally I would never choose to wear that, but I have the option too. A woman in American dress in some Islamic states would have been beaten to death if the police officer and not punished them first.
We are not perfect. We still have a few dumb laws, and we still have dumb people. We have the KKK and other hate organizations. These things can not be helped. Because our culture is open and free means that you have to take the good with the bad. The occasional nut that uses the openness of our culture to inflict hate crimes upon others are a very small minority.
Finally, as to the argument that American culture is intolerant, this foolishness is easily debunked by anyone who has never spent five minutes in an American city. Pick a culture and you fill find it happily accepted in any American city. We like other cultures. We love to scoot over and make room for other cultures to add their two cents. Have you ever heard Americans complain that there is too many Chinese food or Indian restaurants? Hell no! While the French are crying over McDonalds offering good cheap fast food that somehow threatens their culture, we are happily blowing over buildings to let the culture of the month build a restaurant. You have good cheap food in your country too? Great! Send us some.
So sure, go ahead and send us your poor and wretched and all that jazz. However, while you are at it, be sure to bring your restaurants, Nintendos, Mercedes, anime, games, music, movies, technology, and anything else you might have of interest. We won't turn up our noses and bitch about our culture being ruined when another fast food Chinese restaurant opens up, they start playing anime in the theater, they ship us some more Mercedes, and for the love of all that is good, send more Game Cubes and Japanese games.
As an American I am curious. How could the Germans possibly be worst tourists than we? The American Minister of International Annoyance is expecting a report from me on how we can improve our own curriculum on pissing off the world so I would appreciate your help, thanks.
NDPTAL85
Sub-Vice Counsel, Office of International Annoyance.
Mac OS X and Windows XP working side by side to fight back the night.
Well just because,
How do you teach a moron?
with a lesson.
here goes
Well
your not free as in beer (IP)
your not free as in liberty (e.g. is suicide still illeagle in some of the states? can I get arrested for indicent exposure?)
your not free as in freedome of movement
you not free as in choice
you not free as in speach (DMCA and all that).
you not free as in privacy
It wouldn't supprise me if there are laws aginst thinking some things!
you'r not really that free, it's just the pretty pitures on the walls that make you think you are, like crack addicts.
thank God the internet isn't a human right.
Unless you *actually* meant the World Wildlife Fund, you meant to say WWE, aka World Wrestling Entertainment.
The WWE lost their rights to the initials WWF in a recent lawsuit.
Your nothing short of a moron if you think regional and local flavor is lost in the US. The United STATES is not in any way shape or form a uniform society. People in the south are different from northeners, coastal folks differ from heartland folks, then there's the ethnic differences, religious differences, political differences, sexual differences......etc. Just because there's a McDonalds in every state does not mean we're all the same.
Mac OS X and Windows XP working side by side to fight back the night.
Do you honestly talk about those issues EVERY DAMN DAY? How about every other day? In my office I have a co-worker who talks about those issues every day and at first it was refreshing and enlightening. Now its just plain annoying at times. You really think people want to discuss global and political issues everyday? Its not fun you know. And yes fun is important. If its not an enjoyable activity then folks won't engage in it willingly. So please don't blame it on apathy or sheep like behaviour. Blame it on people not liking to talk and discuss issues that are boring and suck.
Mac OS X and Windows XP working side by side to fight back the night.
What do I think of American culture?
I think it would be a good idea.
Yes, I know it's probably redundant, but if this joke has been posted here then the original is already at -1 and I didn't get a chance to enjoy it again. No culture, no sense of humour, no cuisine... no wonder you people wig out over Monty Python and pizza.
It makes me wonder how some people can actually ask this question. If you don't think that it should be posted here, dont' fscking read it! that simple...just because it doesn't float YOUR boat doesn't mean that the other half million users here want find any intrigue or thought provoking discussions. ARen't nerds interested in the monopolistic mindcontrol seeking media companies who seek to control what the world watches and buys... this is one more step in that direction
is that what you are trying to imply? Since you have been to SE Asia, you know what it is like in Bhutan? I hate to break it to you but all of SE Asia is not the same....besides I'd say Bhutan is in Central Asia anyway.
Yeah cause American life is SO bad that there's so much of a reason to start a bloody revolution.
(rolls eyes)
Tell me when you progress beyond the Adolescent Black Block Counter-Culture phase and into Adulthood.
Mac OS X and Windows XP working side by side to fight back the night.
Send 'em back to Africa (along with their Jewish handlers).
This is Slashdot. Pro-Capitalist themes are not allowed. We only support the socialist morals of open source everythings. Nevermind that you need money to live or might not mind living in such a capitalist society. If you like making money, you are bad. If you don't mind others making money, you are bad. If you do not hate yourself for being a Westerner, you are bad. So please comply with the morals of this fair website. K THX BYE!
Mac OS X and Windows XP working side by side to fight back the night.
Overseas....lets see...anywhere....french...californian....french.. ..californian....french...californian...french...c alifornian...french...californian...FRENCH...CALIF ORNIAN...damn it wish it wasn't so hard to tell the difference between those two!
Walk with Music;
You /. dinks are fucking brainwashed. Bhutan had no compulsion to allow television. As far as I know the networks do not own any aircraft carriers, so nobody stuck a gun in their face. Except maybe their citizens, who might have been pissed off at a government who thinks it can dictate whether they watch TV or not.
American TV is popular with everybody, and why not? God forbid the poor bastards in Bhutan should see Bill Cosby living in a nice house in the suburbs and want that too.
Get the fuck over it.
This produces drive. Drive to "get ahead", drive to "keep up with the Jonses", drive to get your butt off the sofa and finish that goddamn Great American Novel.
That a side effect of this institutionalized dissatisfaction is a household full of unneeded, worthless goods is a small price to pay, sez I.
I have noticed some things here on slashdot and in general:
1. There seems to be this huge, inexplicable cultural self-hatred among many Americans.
2. People in foreign countries don't seem to have these reservations, after all they are importing American cultural artifacts.
3. Intellectuals & artists in foreign countries are too busy decrying #2 to go out and produce something to compete
3.a. A lot of #2 and #3 comes bagged with a sneering disdain for "the herd" and how stupid they are. How rude!
Being an American, I think we have the Fish's Problem -- we are insufficiently aware of water. There is a cultural boom going of unprecedented proportions. Dozens of movies every year, hundreds of novels, original classical-style music (this slips unnoticed by most of these "culture"-bashing folks), uncounted plays, one-man shows, Burning Man festivals
Sure, lots of it is dreck. What many people forget is that much of what was produced in the rennaissance sucked too, but we have the benefit of the historical filter... the stuff that wasn't so great quietly sank out of sight. A modern example... people are still talking about "Breakfast at Tiffany's", but "Dynasty" is already long-forgotten.
I'm sure any of you can cite great recent novels, albums, movies, etc if you stop and think for a moment.
Here's my challenge to you: tell me what recent -- say since 1900 -- pieces of culture (or "culture", if you will) will survive 100 more years. I'd love to hear some nominees.
[1] A brief note about Disney... their politics may be bare-knuckled, but their movies typically rock, and their parks are awe-inspiring. The fake "Indiana Jones" temple probably took as much work as any real temple to build. But what they can't be forgiven for is how they distribute the classic Disney movies. How goddamn dare they take Cinderella off the market?! Sorry, I'll shut up now.
The U.S. has done better than many countries in these areas, but we're far from perfect. Bhutan is far from perfect too. It might be a good idea to consider American failings before allowing the American cultural Juggernaut to roll into one of the last places on the planet that it hasn't already been. That having been said, I doubt that television will be the death knell of Bhutan's culture. There is always the option of not buying a TV set, or not watching it if the village buys one.
Still I do get tired of listening to defensive-sounding Americans brag about their culture. Like they invented all the things on that list.
- trial by jury
A good thing, if you can afford to get that far. Many more court cases are settled without trial (money buys justice) than ever go to trial.
- women's rights
U.S. laws protect women's rights to a degree, but there's still no equal rights amendment. And the laws' limited protection does not extend outside the U.S. The culture does, and the culture increasingly objectifies women. What I see happening is the exploitative culture is exported, while the laws that protect against the worst of the exploitation are not.
- end of torture
You might want to ask Amnesty International about that. The U.S. does not have a spotless track record, and often exports torture to other countries (avoiding for a moment the issue of whether Britney Spears videos ARE torture)
- highly productive economy
Which wouldn't look nearly so productive without the importation of cheap foreign-made goods, made by people who are, in every meaningful way, slaves.
- separation of church and state
On paper anyway.
- education of the masses
The why do American youth consistently score so very low compared to youth in other countries?
- modern medicine
Which is happily exported for a price... that few in Bhutan will ever be able to afford.
- multicultural tolerance
If Americans REALLY had multicultural tolerance they'd appreciate other cultures for more than just their restaurants and video games. They might actually learn more about other cultures than what their food tastes like and the names of all the Pokemon. And they wouldn't feel the need to crow all the time about how tolerant they are. It'd be a natural thing, like breathing.
More self-hate! Please come kick my ass because I mistakenly woke up happy about myself!
Mac OS X and Windows XP working side by side to fight back the night.
Let's pass a law that requires all exported media to be labeled as "Made in Canada".
That way they will blame Canada instead of us. Of course, Canada will be pissed, but we can handle them.
Table-ized A.I.
we haven't had a real (according to my 16 year-old) television for 8 years, though i do have a 9" color in the closet. he has told me that he really doesn't miss it! whenever i see one, say in a bar, i think i begin to glaze over. but, he does have an ibook, so life's not so bad.
What's so great about local culture that it must be preserved At All Costs?
What if these locals want to watch American television? Who are you to tell them that they are obligated to go meditate on snow or sing Bhutanese chants instead? Are the Bhutanese somehow obligated to maintain their current culture forever? What's it to you? And what happened to the idea of American culture being enriched by the contributions from abroad? Does it only work for us?
I'm not trying to annoy here, this is a serious question. If so-called cultural imperialism is done by request of the imperialized, what's the damage?
1.-Most culture was not appreciated by those elitist classes you are talking about. They normally jumped in the bandwagon. Elites are conservative by nature, art is progressive by nature, both normally don't mix.
2,- What you call "culture" in other parts of the world is a quasi racist attempt to pick into nasty things while ignoring great achivements elsewhere.
3.-What you mention as American culture is not so. It can be more aptly described as American way of life.
4.- IF American culture was democratic blacks and women would have more representation in all cultural fields, not only pop music.
5.- What are you doing about your own elite?
IANAL but write like a drunk one.
I'm missing a lot, but here are a few starters:
Will be remembered:
Won't be remembered:
Other cultural predictions:
What Future?
Damn, they got a localized version of Windows last week (ok, 2003, but it was announced last week, see http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/2164186.stm) , and now they get television. Bhutan is going to hell in a hurry.
Umm....according to the article, they legalised TV in 1999.
/., though.
I guess 3 years late is still pretty on-the-fly for
-Nano.
When I say WWF what do you think of first:
a) World Wrestling Federation
b) World Wildlife Fund
Aparently British courts believe that most people will answer B and have ruled that the (now) WWE no longer use WWF as people might confuse it with the World Wildlife Fund. It's obviously a bunch of white hairs (literally) frowning upon that rubbish on television in favor of the much more civilized environmentalists. It's not at all different than the myriad domain disputes that populate Slashdot, only this time both companies are big, its just that one is being discriminated against based on their content.
Of course I don't seriously expect the Slashdot crowd to care about wrasslin', but it's interesting to see that all courts can be dumb when deciding who gets to use what name, not just domain name courts.
The introduction of television is going to change the culture, i.e. what most people think about and dream about. This WILL affect everyone in the culture profoundly, because of its influence on neighbors, employers, co-workers, politicians (the 1960 election, anyone?), etc. An individual's decision to turn the TV off does not change that- it's a "head in the sand" response.
Toleration does not mean "agreement". You can tolerate something/someone and absolutely, totally, 100% disagree and dislike that thing or person for whatever reason you choose to.
Don't confuse the issue. Your metaphors about blacks living in white communities and young couples living in older communities is flawed. There IS tolerance there. There just isn't agreement. I think it is safe to say that the USA has a pretty darn good system for addressing disagreement. I mean, we have a reasonably non-violent approach to disagreement (at least domestically amongst ourselves). Sure there is intolerance in spots but for the most part, I think tolerance is very well ingrained in people these days.
Turkmenistan is taking new steps to limit the amount of information coming into the country from the outside world. President Saparmurat Niyazov said this week that law enforcement agencies need to work toward shutting down what Niyazov said were "illegal" cable hook-ups. Niyazov also said satellite dishes on rooftops in the capital Ashgabat make the city look ugly and ordered they be removed.
Central Asia Times
I'm an American, I enjoy the freedom and privledges that come with being an American. I watch TV shows because I like watching "The Agency", "BattleBots", "The History Channel", and "FOX Sports World". I guess I'm not the kind of guy that cares much about commercials, I'll still drink Coke no matter how many Pepsi commercials come on. Maybe if these Bhutanese (sp?) people watch some TV, they just might learn something that they wouldn't have learned otherwise. TV can be a great teacher, if we don't waste our time watching shows that are meaningless (sitcoms, Baywatch).
I guess I just don't see how watching TV is going to drastically change their culture, I watch Iron Chef almost every week and not once have I had the desire to eat raw fish.
Us Americans have it pretty darn nice, and we had it nice before we had TV too (or so my Grandmother says).
The Europeans should just shut up and stop whining about how terrible "American Culture" is. If it weren't for the USA everyone in Europe would be speaking German. Have you heard most of the music coming from Europe these days, it makes Brittney Spears sound "artistic". Also, stop blaming us for the crap movies, we don't like most of them either. Also, note to Europeans: quit whining about McDonalds, if you don't like it, don't eat there, I don't, neither should you. American culture is what you fucking make of it, and that is why you dopes won't ever understand it.
It's making fun of a certain kind of asshole. But I think it's wrong of you to assume he is that kind of asshole, or an asshole at all.
Anyone who can truly appreciate The Simpsons, I think, is not the asshole to which you refer.
And throughout, I don't think The Simpsons is very derogatory towards that kind of "asshole". They just sort of point out irony and silly situations.
And there you fell for the trap. Hook line and sinker! Thanks...
The problem is that you think that French and California Cabris are two single distinct entities. When in fact a California Cabris is a single grower with a trademark like Coca Cola and a French Cabris has many growers. And just like you said now with your diference you will associate one bad French Cabris as all French Cabris being bad, since there is only a French Cabris and a Californian Cabris.
"You can't make a race horse of a pig"
"No," said Samuel, "but you can make very fast pig"
I don't even want to think about that.
I get my valuesystem from the web and thats the way I likes it
autopr0n is like, down and stuff.
Taliban Afghanistan banned television before legalized it. So you could have moved from Butan to Afghanistan. If you wanted to.
autopr0n is like, down and stuff.
What is the opposite of "pro-life"?
"anti-life" or "pro-death"?
APart from the health issues of marketing
caffeinated sugar water, there's the Coke
company's responsibility for the decline of
Indonesia's tea-related traditions, for example.
And the same applies to Native Americans
and many others in the US. Soon the Bhutanese
will decide what is worth preserving and
they will hold on to it despite having
ready access to things like WWF.
But they didn't lose controll untill 2001, so you could have goten 2 more years of of freedom from other people watching TV if you had wanted to.
autopr0n is like, down and stuff.
I and my wife and kids watch "wrasslin'", and I've been a big fan ever since I met the Von Erics when I was ten. And before you criticize; the kids KNOW it is entertainment and not combat instruction. I happen to be a huge, huge fan of the weekly web commentary provided by Jim Ross, one of their major Vice Presidents. The business is just as fun as watching the show... even though we do make fun of some of the audience sometimes.
I think with the interesting people, their lives can't possibly be wrapped up into a nice little package.
I visited Bhutan a little over a year ago. It really does resemble Shangri-La. It not only is the size of Switzerland, it looks like it. The houses remind me very much of Swiss chalets with their barn like attics open to the air.
The country is amazingly well maintained. Very tidy and neat for a country just coming out of the middle ages. There are white painted stones along the cliffside highways perfectly evenly placed. If a stone is knocked out of the way, someone walking down the road will simply put it back into place.
It is a Buddhist monastic society. Ancient historic monasteries everywhere with links to some of the most important Buddhist masters.
We were in Paro the day the first Internet café opened there. Paro is the town with the only airport, so is the first and sometimes only place visitors get to. Thimphu already had Internet access. It is the capitol and largest city.
The people are wonderful. And education is a top priority. It is a very peaceful society, but changing rapidly.
The temples do not allow photography inside for fear of providing outsiders of pictorial inventories of the priceless artifacts inside. In the previous year a group of Bhutanese bandits from the east looted a temple, killing the monks who did not escape. This would have been an imaginable event only a few years ago. Desire for wealth obtainable by selling religious artifacts is overtaking the traditional values of the culture.
A simple Buddhist culture, with its sane attitude toward the human problem of desire, stands little chance of surviving the desire machine being unleashed there. Western media is the engine of materialism. I fear that western corporate monoculture will win over the minds of youth there in just a couple of generations. An alternate form of human social existence will then be lost.
no, not what I had in mind. I was referring to the actual choosing of the Cabris from your local wonderful liquor store. Choosing wise...hmmm I think I'll try this Cabris...1 says CALIFORNIA, the other 10 say Product de Francais or something like that. If one tastes a specific wine and doesn't like it and then rashly rules out all others in the same genre (Right word for wine?)let alone vintage or country of origination, as distasteful then he/she should not be drinking wine.
Walk with Music;
It's not like the American gov't is sending gov't officials or military to force other countries or regions to adopt American culture or trends. If a remote and traditional culture wants to embrace culture or technology from any other nation or culture, that is their choice (unless there are guns involved, which there weren't here).
Reciently after a long battle the World Wildlife Fund(WWF) won there case against the
World Wrestling Fedoration(WWF)
the World Wrestling Fedoration is now
World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE)