MexConnect.com Forums: General: Living, Working, Retiring: Trying to explain the US: Page 2

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Jan 21, 2003, 6:47 AM

Post #26 of 39 (1087 views)

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Re: [arbon] Trying to explain the US..What is QVC?

That QVC is online and available through some cable and satellite stations, true, and there are Spanish language, possibly even Mexican-based home shopping channels and similar outlets, but I was responding to the original post which asked what WE PERSONALLY had had and interesting time explaining. I had trouble explaining the purpose of the existence of something like QVC while down there. That is not to say that people throughout the world, including Mexico, don't know about it and use it, but I had trouble explaining it even after showing the channel to a woman who worked for us. No, I am not suggesting that the woman was naive, stupid, silly or ignorant (I know you did not say this, just stemming the possible storm here) I am merely saying she was not aware of it and when put to the test, it was interesting how I went about explaining it.

I think this thread was interesting to start with although it took a very steep, albeit expected, turn. Funny how that happened. When I first read the post I started to think or all the funny conversations I ended up in explaining these things and then explaining the purpose for their existence, in my own understanding based on my experiences. I had similar conversations with Mexicans explaining some products and customs to me. What is absolutely insane about the turn this entire thread seems to have taken is that my experience is that trying to explain things like rice cookers, bread machines and QVC is that is makes us look silly. If you've ever tried to explain some of these things to people you start to see how silly these things really do appear. So it's not mocking Mexicans, it ends up making us aware of how silly we might look to others ... and might even be, in some cases.

These types of posts are useful and fun, but they generally take the turn of "You're Generalizing About Mexicans" or "See How Commercial The US (and Canada) has Become with No Morals or Ethics". Neither of those is correct and both are based in their own stated generalizations ...

Try to explain QVC to a person (of any nationality) that does not have access or need for this and is not otherwise aware of it, and see how silly it sounds. Go ahead, try it.

Try to listen to the explanation of killing a dog versus having it neutered. There was a man who was born and lived all his life in Mexico, of as long a line of Mexicans as I've ever known (I'm trying to be careful here in stating this so as not to suggest it is indicative of all Mexicans or that this was not the proper way to address a person who is culturally and nationally a citizen of the United States of Mexico in North America) ... he was explaining that a friend of his was considering having his male dog neutered and went on to say that he might as well kill the dog instead of neutering it since it would be worthless. As a lifelong pet owner raised in a way that treats dogs as pets and part of the family (that is not to say that there are others in the Americas who were raised in the country between Canada and Mexico -- don't want to get into an issue of the names of countries or continents here -- that don't believe likewise), the explanation this male person (I don't mean to suggest that only males have this viewpoint as I am sure there are females in the Americas as well as hermaphrodites and transsexuals who might have this belief as well) that clipping the huevos would render the dog worthless. I imagine that was as effective an explanation AS my explanation of the need for a bread machine.

NOTICE: THE PREVIOUS REPRESENTED PERSONAL EXPERIENCES AND IS NOT INTENDED TO BE OTHERWISE INDICATIVE OF GENERALIZATIONS, GOOD, BAD OR PLAIN OLD LAME, OF ANY POPULATION, GROUP, ORGANIZATION OR TO EVEN SUGGEST THAT THERE IS MORE THAN A SINGLE HUMOID INDIVIDUAL OR MAMALIAN BEING (NO DISRESPECT TO THE INVERTEBRATES OR SEEMINGLY INVERTEBRATES AND OTHER SINGLE OR MULTI-CELLULAR BEINGS, SPIRITS, ENTITIES OR CONGLOMERATES) IN THE UNIVERSE THAT HOLDS THAT BELIEF. SIMILARLY IT IS NOT TO SUGGEST THAT THIS WAS THE ONLY PERSON (BEING, SPIRIT, ENTITY, ETC.) WHO MIGHT HOLD THIS BELIEF AS IT IS CURRENTLY HIGHLY UNDESIREABLE FOR ME PERSONALLY TO TAKE A COMPREHENSIVE WORLDWIDE SURVEY TO DETERMINE THE ACTUAL OR EVEN STATISTICAL OUTCOME OF SUCH A STUDY.

(This post was edited by LJ on Jan 21, 2003, 7:04 AM)

arbon

Jan 21, 2003, 7:32 AM

Post #27 of 39 (1080 views)

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Re: [LJ] Trying to explain the US..(Money comes in money goes out)

I realise your mileage may vary. LJ.

Money in & Money out.

Now try to figure out where your money goes,(where ever you live)

Then try to explain that to someone in Mexico.(making $150 pesos a day)

Then try to get them to explain, how they can live as well as they do.( some "Seem" to live quite well on a comparatively small amount)

The Old Gringo

Jan 21, 2003, 7:55 AM

Post #28 of 39 (1057 views)

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Re: [LJ] why do dogs ride INSIDE the car

For LJ:

" is it not OUR generation that is or created the Ken Lays and other corporate raiders who have so recently been exposed. "

Greed is with us in EVERY generation.

For the forum:

Now about seatbelts.

Wearing a seat belt is an incredibly smart thing. I always wear them when I fly and drive. Helmets on motorcycles are another really smart thing. There is a reason for the "What do you call a motorcycle rider without a helmet? An organ donor" cruel joke. But in the north, we unfortunately have a society evolving that thinks that it's the duty of government to protect us from ourselves and our own stupidity. Sure, DWI laws protect us, the public,(supposedly) from people drinking and driving. Child seat laws protect innocent children from ignorant parents. Speed laws protect the motoring public. Seatbelt and helmet laws really only protect us from us.

So many times people willingly give "responsibility" to the government rather than taking responsibility themselves, and government just continues to grow and grow and of course taxes that go right along with it to feed it.

Some young people, perhaps LJ's generation, actually believe that freedom is something that the government "gives us". Sorry, but government takes it away. I'm sure we'd all agree that we are willing to sacrifice a little "freedom" to live in an "orderly" society. I am even "OK" with seat belt laws, for the most part. But you've got to watch your government. I for one, don't need to be protected from myself.

I grew up in a rural area of the west with minimal government presence, we didn't call 911 and we didn't need 911. I have also lived in a large eastern city where many of the inhabitants believe that it is the responsibility of some layer of government to protect and provide for them in virtually every situation in their lives. When I was a policeman I was called to homes because : A snake was in the kitchen. A bat was in the house. Someones Pitbull was uh " being violated " by a French Poodle fence jumper, etc. Invariably, the person at the house always said "Do something."

So what does this have to do with Mexico? A little anecdote from Guadalajara:

A gringa from the north is walking down the street and steps into one of the ubiquitous holes in the sidewalk and twists her ankle. Decides to sue the responsible party. Case actually goes before a judge who decides that yes, that hole in the sidewalk was a terrible and most unfortunate thing, but it is a person's responsibility to watch where they step and dismisses her claim

(This was reported to me by a friend in GDL, thus I don't know the FACTS, but I find it totally believable.)

I think one of the traits that I most admire in Mexico is that so many are so "self-reliant." That is one thing that must puzzle Mexicans about us, that we are raising a nation of "whiners" when so many in Mexico (but not all) have so much less and simply go on about their lives, often happily.

TOG

Todd DF

Jan 21, 2003, 8:29 AM

Post #29 of 39 (1052 views)

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Re: [Jubilado] Trying to explain the US

2 just this week:

Automatic sprinker systems

0% financing and taking delivery of your new car the same day. I just waited 3 weeks even though the paperwork was complete with good credit. Oh yeah 16.5% interest.

Jan 21, 2003, 10:02 AM

Post #30 of 39 (1031 views)

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Post deleted by jennifer rose

Georgia

Jan 21, 2003, 10:04 AM

Post #31 of 39 (1049 views)

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Re: [Jubilado] Trying to explain the US

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I'll jump in where angels fear to tread: Non-relative babysitters. Going out without the children.

lucy

Jan 21, 2003, 12:39 PM

Post #32 of 39 (1218 views)

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Re: [LJ] pooper scooper

Pooper Scoopers are big in Mexico too. When walking a dog in downtown Puerta Vallarta by the ocean, you will be in big trouble if your dog poops and you don't clean it up at once. The police will be given your description at once and they will track you down. You have been warned...

Mike

Jan 21, 2003, 8:07 PM

Post #33 of 39 (1182 views)

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Re: [Jubilado] Trying to explain the US

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This thread has taken some interesting twists and, even though many posts were "slightly" off topic, were enjoyable nonetheless.
With Mexico being so close to the U.S. there is less explaining that must be done about our peculiarities. Other countries a bit further away require more explaining than Mexico.
When I first went to work in an Asian country one of the first questions one of the men asked me was "Is it true that American men don't wear underwear?" I was dumbfounded at first and asked why he would think such a thing. Turns out that exposure to American movies was the culprit. It seems that, in scenes that show a man getting out of bed, more often than not, he just pulls his trousers up without underwear.
"No matter where you go, there you are"

Alteño

Jan 21, 2003, 9:32 PM

Post #34 of 39 (1160 views)

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Re: [Todd DF] Trying to explain the US

How about this?

Chrysler has been advertising in national TV for the last months: Take your new car with no down payment, no interests, and 20 monthly payments.

Automatic sprinkling systems?

Which brand?: Hunter? HydroRain? Toro? Rain Bird? Rain Jet? Lawn Genie?. They are everywhere in the "Jardines" in the homes in Colonias Residenciales and Gated Communities in Guadalajara. And plenty of peasants who immigrate to the US work for Landscaping Companies that install and service these systems, they are expert technicians.

Alteño

Jan 21, 2003, 9:42 PM

Post #35 of 39 (1158 views)

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Re: [Georgia] Trying to explain the US

Georgia,

In Guadalajara it is very common that High School and College girls work as babysitters. Of course, I am talking Middle-Class people. My two daughters have worked as babysitters since they were in high school. Middle-Class people leave their children with the maid or "nana" (every Middle-Class family in México has servants at home, it is one of the characteristics that define that Social Stratum) or hire a babysitter when they go out.

Georgia

Jan 22, 2003, 6:21 AM

Post #36 of 39 (1143 views)

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Re: [Alteño] Trying to explain the US

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HI, Alteño, yes, I realize that in cities where there is a more energetic middle class there will be customs more like the US culture. I tend not to think of resident "nanas" as outsiders, but as an integral part of the family. However, in South America and Spain, where I lived before, in the pueblos the use of a teenaged babysitter to watch the children while the family goes out is really very unusual, wouldn't you agree?

Sometimes we need to consider city life as a separate culture. This is true in much of the US as well. The popular culture that one sees on tv is not the experience of people in poorer rural areas.

Denis

Jan 22, 2003, 10:45 AM

Post #37 of 39 (1083 views)

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Re: Wearing seat belts?

Actually, my Mexican friends wore their seat belts. This may not be typical, however. In a previous post (I can't get the darned Copy Shortcut thing to work Unsure

or I'd link it here) I referenced an article in Delmarva Today that waxed nostalgic about life in the U.S. several decades ago. Seat belts, or the lack thereof, were one of the very first things mentioned.

On a visit to Zihuatanejo several years ago, I was riding one of those ubiquitous 25-passenger buses, running with its doors open of course, when an American upbraided (in English, I'm sure that was a lot of help) a Mexican woman who was letting her child run up and down the aisle. The gist of her comment was that the kid could fall out of the bus and wouldn't she be sorry then. While I have to agree that keeping your kids from falling out of vehicles is a good idea, this is an example of how "common practice" differs from one place to another.

Los mexicanos no tenemos miedo a la muerte. That's a direct quote from my Mexican pen pal.

Denis

Jan 22, 2003, 10:54 AM

Post #38 of 39 (1082 views)

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Re: Yield to ambulances and streetcars? Forget it!

While riding the light rail from central Mexico City to Xochimilco, I noticed that several grade crossings required traffic cops even though they had signals. Without them, the streetcar would never have gotten through. On the opposite end of the spectrum, I recall a remark in The New Yorker some years ago. To control traffic on some of the crosstown streets, New York City requires drivers to turn off of them every few blocks, so that, say, 47th St. doesn't become clogged with people trying to avoid 42nd St. There are prominent signs explaining this; they read along the lines of "All traffic must turn left at 6th Avenue (except taxis and buses)." A Japanese visitor wondered aloud why, since the signs were plenty clear, a traffic cop was needed. "Cultural differences," was the reply.

johnr

Jan 24, 2003, 10:30 PM

Post #39 of 39 (854 views)

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Re: [LJ] Trying to explain the US

Re pooper scooper laws. In Mexico, D.F., which is -- perhaps -- not insignificant in this context, you'll find an extremely shrill attempt to enforce pooper scooper laws in a numer of middle to upper middle class neighborhoods.

In fact, the attempt has had an enormous amount of success in the Condesa neighborhood. Or would have had, except for the fact that somebody, be it vandal or overworked public servant, removed nearly all of the waste bins from the parkways. As a result, when I walk my own dog,there are literally scores -- literally, and scores (plural) both accurate -- of plastic bags of dog droppings left at the sites of the former trash bins.

I'm not sure that's an improvement in environmental terms, given the relative deterioration rate of dog crap and plastic. But it does indicate a nearly fanatic desire to obey pooper scooper laws.

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