Ozkai is pretty much on the money.
If you met a japanese friend and they invited you over for sunday lunch,
would you "respect" them more because they cooked a traditional sunday roast?
or would you be a bit dissapointed that instead of experiencing some genuine Japanese culture, of home cooked food (from a packet of course :P ) ,
you got the kind of fare you could get in any pub?
@pockymepink
yes i understand what your saying, however the last 2 lines of your post apear to agree whith what you are quoting.
(also i have dealt with this many many times, my favourite is when people show the number 2 with the back of thier hand facing out which to anyone from the uk is rather rude)
you can tell if someone is offending you or not, thats not hard.
Basic social skills are required for this, as i am sure you are aware.
@Salv
It's not about respect. Has nothing to do with respect.
its about being yourself.
worked example:
you meet meet someone from a culture that waves with the left.
outcome 1.
Both parties try to apease the others culture so he waves with the right, you wave with the left. both look like silly social chameleons
outcome 2.
You wave with the right, he waves with the left. You understand that you are from different cultures. The genuine meaning of the greeting is understood by both.
i chose not to address the other oxymoronic points made,
hmm yes ignorance is a sweet flavour isn't it?
if only i was still a teenager and knew everything in the world
@MMM
point 1: As stated, citizen of the world.
culture is no longer defined by where we are from, or who our parents are.
it is also becomeing increasingly less inluenced by where we grow up/live
though that is not to say that all is moving towards the world of a single tribe
this is occationally refered to as Globalisation, you may have heard of it??
point 2: shhh, your wrong.
there is a big difference between going out of your way to offend people, and not going out of your way to apease and be liked/respected.
If you need to bend over backwards and use your knoledge of local customs and ettiquete to foster respect (to the point that if you did not you would not get respect), then thats respect is pretty shallow and probably only exists in your own mind.
point 3: it happens everyday, on more than 3 occasions.
i refer you to guns and roses (peace be upon them)
"Live and let die"
point 4: this kind of self proclaiming tripe deserves no response but you can have one any way.
the response is: LOLZ @ U
as for butchering food,
was in maccy D's the other day.
saw South American tourist take pickle out of burger.
have these people no shame!!!!