Why are you Westerners so arrogant?

Question

I am a Westerner myself and why is that "most' others like myself have a tendency to disrespect older folks, impatient, have sex before marriage, more selfish, less loyal and patriotic to ones country?

Remember back in the 50's and 60's when respect and honor is paramount? When young men were gentlemens to young ladies and these ladies dressed and acted in modesty. Now we have young girls dressing up like hookers and young men acting like thugs, especially in the Western culture. Whats even worse is that most of us idolize Westerners like Paris Hilton, Britney Spears, Jenna Jameson, and Snoop Dogg. The young generations in other countries are also looking up to these icons.

We all know these people live superficial lives and we may deny the fact that we are superficial ourselves, however, the reality is that most of us who lives like this are living empty lives that lack significance. The end result will be depression.

Answer 1

I think it has to do with values, money, fame and power are envied and sought after by people in our country, we define success by such things in the west. This definition is encouraged by media and advertisement because it promotes materialism and consumption as a status reinforcement. really what I think it boils down to is marketing, to have people value such things promotes spending and turns a profit for the large corporations, material values are tangible and idealistic values are not so much. So young people have to chose between an overwhelming influence to value material things were the rewards are tangible and idealistic values were the priority is placed on things that are hard to see touch or taste. I don't know if we are necessarily more or less arrogant( I am sure all people think that there culture is better if not why live there) but I think we have more resources to influence other cultures and there values and it is in our cultures interest to so. I think you are right though in that we should not place as much value in the tangible and place more in the idealistic. western culture is still in my opinion more tolerant and idealistic than most across the board if not then why would it have such a global influence?

Answer 2

Depression is a chosen state of existence.

Ah, the 50s where women were beaten and children sexually abused. Ah, the 60s where LSD could be found on every college campus and where people slept around under the guise of "free love". The 50s and 60s where abortions abounded. Ah, the 60s when the then USSR almost annihilated some of the US. Ah, the 60s where blacks were being killed on college campuses. Where prominent leaders were being shot.

Answer 3

This from a person who in his other Y!A questions praised Britney Spears and hedonism! Of coursen, they also have you stating you were born in Hawaii, Nigeria, and Texas, so perhaps you have a tendency for confusion.

A. First of all, I doubt that you're really a Westerner. Your question's phrasing gives you away.
B. You have no idea what the US was like in the '50's and '60's
C. If you did have any idea, you'd know they were equally corrupt with sex scandals, racism, political strife, and celebrity. If anything, they were worse.
D. You have no right to blame western arrogance for the choices made of the young generations from other countries. They can think for themselves. They can accept or reject any "icon" they choose, western or otherwise.
E. Since you don't personally know the stars you name, I doubt seriously you know whether or not they lead superficial lives. Your choice in reading superficial "news", however, does say alot about you.
F. I don't lead a superficial life. No one I know does. If you are under the impression that most of us do, then perhaps it's the environment you keep.
G. I am proud that I belong to a class of people that is among the most generous to charities, open to life styles, inclusive of new cultures, and progressive in human freedoms
in the world.

Answer 4

I don't know that we are arrogant so much as Ignorant. And we tolerate Ignorance because we are Ignorant ourselves. If we weren't, we wouldn't have to discuss these problems, now would we.

Disrespect,Selfishness, Disloyalty, Lack of Modesty in women, and Lack of Gentlemenly behavior in men is directly linked, in my mind at least, to the gradual decline of morals brought about by pop culture post WWII, maybe even before that, I wasn't around, I don't know when the world went to hell in a Handbasket. Since those days long past tho, people have increasingly looked for faster, cheaper, and easier, in everything. we cater to it now, we Market it. we sell Brazen and arrogant as a Lifestyle choice, when in reality it is just noise from Whiny Little Brats, Like the ones you mentioned above. No one, and I mean No one, looks inward to make himself a better person. You just don't see it. Seemingly No one tries to Just do the right thing by others, and Think only of themselves. If Respect were more popular than Selfishness in this world, Life would be much simpler and happier.

and maybe I'm a little arrogant myself! :-)

Enjoy.

Uncle Mike.

Answer 5

I have to agree with you. I know im a little young but all my friends think snoop dogg and people like that are really cool. i hav a role model and his name is albert einstein and anyone who thinx that question is stupid is not understanding what pop culuture and other icons like that are doing. i am a westerner also and i hav no respect for this country anymore.

Answer 6

Having sex before marriage has very little, if anything, to do with being arrogant.

I guess maybe you could see it as arrogant in religious connotation?

Furthermore, many people, especially women and African Americans, were still very oppressed during those times. I don't look back upon that era as the archetype for a utopian society.

Answer 7

More with the stereotypes... You can say anything you want and there's always going to be exceptions to stereotypes. And until you've met every Westerner out there, you have no place to judge. Don't judge, and you won't be judged in return.

Answer 8

~~~ I believe it all started with those no good hippies. They just wouldn't cut their hair, now look at the world today. It's a crying shame. The Beatles turned our youth into Commies.Now there's just no turning back the clock. Yes, we are doomed to arrogantness forever! ~~~

Answer 9

you have a good question.
yet i feel that how you addressed it and to whom you did deflated it in all aspects.
a good start to improvement would be to delete the westerners part.
that way,you hit the ground from a nuetral perspective.

Answer 10

In my own personal opinion, it is because all the things you have listed are related to the christian religion. And in this day in age, less and less people are chosing that faith. They are starting to think on there own and realizing that those things aren't as important as everyone says they are. They are only matters of opinion. Some are good qualities to posses, but others in my opinion are not something I should have to do to be considered a "good, respectable, or accepted person"