• You are currently viewing our forum as a guest, which gives you limited access to view most discussions and access our other features. By joining our free community, you will have access to additional post topics, communicate privately with other members (PM), view blogs, respond to polls, upload content, and access many other special features. Registration is fast, simple and absolutely free, so please join our community today! Just click here to register. You should turn your Ad Blocker off for this site or certain features may not work properly. If you have any problems with the registration process or your account login, please contact us by clicking here.

You're American

Rail Tracer

Freaking Ratchet
Joined
Jun 29, 2010
Messages
3,031
Instinctual Variant
sx/so
Nothing wrong with that I guess. It's becoming a more and more common thing in America, so I was curious more than anything. Thanks for your replies.

Common in that I am placing "American" first to show that I was born in America to show that I am different from Asians that moved to America?
 
A

A window to the soul

Guest
Common in that I am placing "American" first to show that I was born in America to show that I am different from Asians that moved to America?

No. Not that specific case. I'm referring to any case, as I'm speaking generally on the subject of including ones heritage with "American," whether it be "American-Asian" or "Asian-American".
 

Elfboy

Certified Sausage Smoker
Joined
Nov 26, 2008
Messages
9,625
MBTI Type
ENFP
Enneagram
5w4
Instinctual Variant
sx/sp
I don't really understand why people feel so connected with their heritage. in particular I don't get what's so great about feeling "American". frankly I'm ashamed of more parts of our culture than I'm proud of. honestly, I just feel like me. homo sapiens sapiens are all 99.9% identical anyway (to the point where it's frankly disgusting. a single family group of chimpanzees for instance carries more genetic variation than the entirety of the human race). are certain personality types more likely than others to place high priority in heritage? is it an SJ thing? an FJ thing? an SO variant thing?
 

Thunderbringer

New member
Joined
Jul 6, 2010
Messages
274
MBTI Type
INFP
Enneagram
6w7
I'm African and American and I've never experienced the problem TC spoke of. To me, it's actually a blessing because when people badmouth either nationality, I just say I'm the other.
 

Qlip

Post Human Post
Joined
Jul 30, 2010
Messages
8,464
MBTI Type
ENFP
Enneagram
4w5
Instinctual Variant
sp/sx
I don't really understand why people feel so connected with their heritage. in particular I don't get what's so great about feeling "American". frankly I'm ashamed of more parts of our culture than I'm proud of. honestly, I just feel like me. homo sapiens sapiens are all 99.9% identical anyway (to the point where it's frankly disgusting. a single family group of chimpanzees for instance carries more genetic variation than the entirety of the human race). are certain personality types more likely than others to place high priority in heritage? is it an SJ thing? an FJ thing? an SO variant thing?

It's a 'person not born as your standard white guy and located in an area filled with people who like to comment on it' thing.
 

Giggly

No moss growing on me
Joined
Jun 12, 2008
Messages
9,661
MBTI Type
iSFj
Enneagram
2
Instinctual Variant
sx/so
I'd rather have some culture in our country, even if that means several different ones who fight for recognition or superiority, than no culture at all. I'm not a fan of homogeny and staleness for various reasons.
 

Santosha

New member
Joined
Feb 1, 2011
Messages
1,516
MBTI Type
HUMR
Enneagram
6
Instinctual Variant
sx
"Non-Hispanic White Americans" as of 2010 made up about 64% of the current population. White is considered those from european, north african, and middle eastern heritage. Census bureua estimates through growth patterns that by the year 2042 the "non-hispanic" white American will actually be a minority, but a also a plurality.. meaning they will still make up the largest voting group. Keep in mind, these statistics are of legal people in the US at this time.

Hawaii, New Mexico, California, and Texas report non-hispanic white is a minority.

Maryland, Georgia, Nevada, Florida, Arizona, New York, New Jersey, and Mississippi all report less than 60% non-hispanic white population.

My point on this is simply that there is a very large number and growing.. of people that probably feel like they are in the same boat. (Feeling a division of citizenship/heritage) but when you look at it statistically.. being a nonwhite isn't quite the minority it gets made out to be, and won't be a minority for long.

I agree that the best thing to do is know who you are.. and forget the rest. Someone on this forum said that they hated it when people are inclined to identify themselves as anything beyond their own ideas, and I am apt to agree.
 

Qlip

Post Human Post
Joined
Jul 30, 2010
Messages
8,464
MBTI Type
ENFP
Enneagram
4w5
Instinctual Variant
sp/sx
The whole monolithic white America vs those with a tan thing is kind of ridiculous, and recent as well. Driving around small towns in my state, you can see signs of the cultural identities past. There are towns with old signs still in German, Swedish, Czech, and you know, English. And listening to the stories around here, they all had their little clashes. Anyone claiming to school you on what America is probably hasn't ever seen anything much outside of what is spoon fed to them by society.
 

Rail Tracer

Freaking Ratchet
Joined
Jun 29, 2010
Messages
3,031
Instinctual Variant
sx/so
I don't really understand why people feel so connected with their heritage. in particular I don't get what's so great about feeling "American". frankly I'm ashamed of more parts of our culture than I'm proud of. honestly, I just feel like me. homo sapiens sapiens are all 99.9% identical anyway (to the point where it's frankly disgusting. a single family group of chimpanzees for instance carries more genetic variation than the entirety of the human race). are certain personality types more likely than others to place high priority in heritage? is it an SJ thing? an FJ thing? an SO variant thing?

I already know that there is almost no difference between the DNA of my neighbors compared to my DNA.

It general terms, it's sociology, in a more specific way, it is cultural. We live in a society that acts and think in a certain way just as you act and think in a certain way. Not noticing those boundaries is like a full grown elephant fighting off a lone lion. That lion better know what he is doing fighting a full grown elephant all alone. Not to mention the possibility of a herd of elephants.

People define who they are. Just like you, Elfboy, who defines himself as an ENFP 4w3 SX/SP just like a bunch of other homo sapiens.
 

Elfboy

Certified Sausage Smoker
Joined
Nov 26, 2008
Messages
9,625
MBTI Type
ENFP
Enneagram
5w4
Instinctual Variant
sx/sp
I already know that there is almost no difference between the DNA of my neighbors compared to my DNA.

It general terms, it's sociology, in a more specific way, it is cultural. We live in a society that acts and think in a certain way just as you act and think in a certain way. Not noticing those boundaries is like a full grown elephant fighting off a lone lion. That lion better know what he is doing fighting a full grown elephant all alone. Not to mention the possibility of a herd of elephants.

People define who they are. Just like you, Elfboy, who defines himself as an ENFP 4w3 SX/SP just like a bunch of other homo sapiens.

I liken myself more to a lone lion fighting off a heard of elephants, but perhaps I'm just being self glorifying :encore:
 

Elfboy

Certified Sausage Smoker
Joined
Nov 26, 2008
Messages
9,625
MBTI Type
ENFP
Enneagram
5w4
Instinctual Variant
sx/sp
I'd rather have some culture in our country, even if that means several different ones who fight for recognition or superiority, than no culture at all. I'm not a fan of homogeny and staleness for various reasons.

could I ask you to elaborate. I think I agree with you, but I'd need to know what you define as culture
 

ubiquitous1

New member
Joined
Aug 3, 2009
Messages
172
Clarification: When I say first generation, I mean the first generation to be born in the U.S. (not the immigrants to the U.S.)



Anyone else feel this way? Are there particular ways to quell this?

You're not alone, my daughter's boyfriend is experiencing a similar problem. His parents berate him for his "Americanization" (he's Vietnamese). Of course this makes him angry and, at 15, pushes him to rebel even more.
It must be a tough position to be in, good luck. :hug:
 

Giggly

No moss growing on me
Joined
Jun 12, 2008
Messages
9,661
MBTI Type
iSFj
Enneagram
2
Instinctual Variant
sx/so
could I ask you to elaborate. I think I agree with you, but I'd need to know what you define as culture

Culture -The set of shared attitudes, values, goals, and practices that characterizes an institution, organization or group.

That is how I think of it.
I prefer it when there are several cultures within one country.
It keeps us sharp.
 

mujigay

Intergalactic Badass
Joined
Jun 9, 2011
Messages
532
MBTI Type
INTJ
Enneagram
1w9
Culture -The set of shared attitudes, values, goals, and practices that characterizes an institution, organization or group.

That is how I think of it.
I prefer it when there are several cultures within one country.
It keeps us sharp.

I love having several cultures as well, but Jesus Christ, it gets grating when people think that they can tell one another where they belong.

example: "You're not American, you're from Pakistan. Get out of America, Paki."

example 2: "You might look Asian, but on the inside, you're all American. Get out of Asia, twinkie."

And so on and so forth. Of course, the examples might be a little exaggerated, but that's the gist of it.
 

Rail Tracer

Freaking Ratchet
Joined
Jun 29, 2010
Messages
3,031
Instinctual Variant
sx/so
The whole monolithic white America vs those with a tan thing is kind of ridiculous, and recent as well. Driving around small towns in my state, you can see signs of the cultural identities past. There are towns with old signs still in German, Swedish, Czech, and you know, English. And listening to the stories around here, they all had their little clashes. Anyone claiming to school you on what America is probably hasn't ever seen anything much outside of what is spoon fed to them by society.

The only part of America that I truly know is the area in which I live in. Where 1 in 10 families have a mixed heritage. Where I can live right next to (as in literally being neighbors,)in this suburb, Mexican-Americans, African-Americans/Blacks, Vietnamese-Americans, Indian-Americans, Chinese-Americans, Whites, mixed, you name it...., and there wouldn't really be a problem with it. That is what defines my part of "America." Where there are immigrants that do come here legally. Which can be very different from someone living somewhere else.

Probably the biggest problem when it comes to this city is that people get these attitudes of each other from the rest of society just like you said.
 

Giggly

No moss growing on me
Joined
Jun 12, 2008
Messages
9,661
MBTI Type
iSFj
Enneagram
2
Instinctual Variant
sx/so
I love having several cultures as well, but Jesus Christ, it gets grating when people think that they can tell one another where they belong.

example: "You're not American, you're from Pakistan. Get out of America, Paki."

example 2: "You might look Asian, but on the inside, you're all American. Get out of Asia, twinkie."

And so on and so forth. Of course, the examples might be a little exaggerated, but that's the gist of it.

They be jelly.
 

skylights

i love
Joined
Jul 6, 2010
Messages
7,756
MBTI Type
INFP
Enneagram
6w7
Instinctual Variant
so/sx
Yes, I still take part in some culture and traditions that come from being Asian. In fact, I am (or was) the one who burns incense for my ancestors on a daily basis as it was almost like my sole responsibility to do so. Of all else, I am like the gatekeeper of my family.



Yeah, that is how I feel like, an outsider.

It is hard having to hear that I am not American for still practicing the cultures that my parents brought here. Sometimes I hear something along the lines of "This is America, stop practicing those stuff here." or "You eat those type of food? Ewwwwwww."

It is just as hard having to hear that I am not "Asian" enough because I don't speak my parent's language fluently nor eat everything that they eat. It sometimes become "Ohhhh, so now you want to be one of those Americanized people that can't handle these type of food?"

At the end of both scenarios, I ask myself, why can't I be both without being shoved by both sides?

yeah. i totally understand you. i get comments on my speech patterns from people where i live and people in my family. my accent is too heavy for the family and not heavy enough for the neighbors.

i wonder why people feel like you have to fit in so perfectly. what's the problem with being different? i really don't understand. why do they care how we talk, or what we eat, or our religious practices or how we dress or anything else? a long time ago i suppose it was threatening, but we moved past that like 1,000 years ago.

i don't identify with one culture at all.
and have always considered myself a
third-culture kid.



face-value wise i'd have more in common with an
american that lived in brazil for 6 years better than
an american born asian who can't speak anything
else but english and only left the country once to
go to their great-grandmother's 100th birthday in
the motherland.

for me, it has to do more with outlook and exposure
to the world and openess.

mmhmm that's so cool!!!
that's totally me, too... even though i have mostly only lived in one country. but the cultural divide is enough so that i feel everything they are talking about in there.

Characteristics

There are different characteristics that impact the typical American third culture kid:
Sociopsychology
90% feel "out of sync" with their peers.
90% report feeling as if they understand other people and cultural groups better than the average American.
80% believe they can get along with anybody, and they often do, due to their sociocultural adaptability.
Divorce rates among TCKs are lower than the general population, but TCKs marry at an older age (25+).
More welcoming of others into their community.
Lack a sense of "where home is", but are often nationalistic.
Cognitive and emotional development
Teenage TCKs are more mature than non-TCKs, but in their twenties take longer than their peers to focus their aims.
Depression is comparatively prevalent among TCKs.
Sense of identity and well-being directly and negatively by repatriation.
Linguistically adept (not as true for military TCKs).
A study whose subjects were all "career military brats"—those who had a parent in the military from birth through high school—shows that brats are linguistically adept.
Like all children, TCKs may experience stress and even grief from the relocation experience.
Education and career
TCKs are 4 times as likely as non-TCKs to earn a bachelor's degree (81% vs 21%)
40% earn an advanced degree (as compared to 5% of the non-TCK population.)
45% of TCKs attended three universities before attaining a degree. (i have attended 3 c: )
44% earned undergraduate degree after the age of 22.
Education, medicine, business management, self-employment, and highly-skilled positions are the most common professions for TCKs.
TCKs are unlikely to work for big business, government, or follow their parents' career choices. "One won't find many TCKs in large corporations. Nor are there many in government ... they have not followed in parental footsteps".

It's a 'person not born as your standard white guy and located in an area filled with people who like to comment on it' thing.

yeah exactly. or fuck, it can be your standard white guy (or chick, in my case), just living in any situation where your parents' culture is significantly different enough from the culture that you are born into that a substantial divide is created within your social identity. it's like there are two pieces of you... one of your "native" culture, and one of your "family" culture... and they are both and neither yours...
 

Mole

Permabanned
Joined
Mar 20, 2008
Messages
20,284
All the pride of an obedient child

I'm not American but at the same time it is important for me to understand America because we have three treaties with America - a military treaty, an economic treaty and a land treaty.

I also recognise it is not as important for America to understand Oz as America is the largest economy in the world and we are only the sixth.

But not only in Oz but throughout the world America is recognised as parochial. America is parochial in part because of geography and in part because of protestantism. And what is important to recognise is that Americans are proud of being parochial because when they are parochial, they are carrying out a national imperative. So Americans are parochial with all the pride of an obedient child.

So we get a double message from Americans. First we are told we are all free and equal but Americans are freer and more equal than others.
 
Top