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**Andara Bledin** · 06-15-2011, 04:44 PM

Originally posted by Ipecac Drano View Post

So, you think that if America were to be smarter, it would be a country that spits on human rights and that its suicide rates would double?

Do you honestly believe that is what was intended by the post you're quoting? Seriously?

I'm asking in all seriousness because I want to understand how someone gets, "if we were smarter, we'd become abusive and oppressive," from someone stating that, "this state abuses it's population in an effort to force their people to test better or face punishment."

^-.-^

**mikoyan29** · 06-15-2011, 05:03 PM

Not to mention that many of these tests are not a fair comparison. We typically have everyone participate and the other countries cherry pick to get better scores. So you're not really comparing apples to apples.

Now as for the fat and lazy American stereotype....I'll get to that one after I drive a block to my corner grocery store to get my ice cream and 64 slices of American cheese.

**Rageaholic** · 06-15-2011, 05:07 PM

No, I never said that America would go to hell if we increased our knowledge. In fact, I think quite the opposite. What I'm against is the strict standards (straight A's or nothing) that are pushed there. Correct me if I'm wrong but those in Asian countries place a much higher emphasis on acheivement and less on the individual (collectivism). Therefore it's much more common for parents to disown their children for not living up to them, hence the higher suicide rates.

What annoys me is those who say that China has better acheivements and then blame American parents for caring too much about a childs self esteem and individual needs. Uh excuse me, but that stuff is important too. You have to think about what the kid wants too and can't plan their life (like they do in many Asian countries) Had I been raised by tiger parents, I would have killed myself for never living up.

Acheivement isn't bad, but it is at the expense of individualism.

**Ipecac Drano** · 06-15-2011, 05:17 PM

Originally posted by Andara Bledin View Post

Do you honestly believe that is what was intended by the post you're quoting? Seriously?

I'm asking in all seriousness because I want to understand how someone gets, "if we were smarter, we'd become abusive and oppressive," from someone stating that, "this state abuses it's population in an effort to force their people to test better or face punishment."

First of all I was asking him a question for him to follow up on, not forcing words into his mouth like you are wont to do. Secondly, where did he say, "this state abuses it's population in an effort to force their people to test better or face punishment."?

Let's take a closer look at what he had said, shall we?

"Americans are fat, lazy, and stupid".

"America is behind other nations in industrial standards."

I hate to pull the politcally correct card, but there are ways to say that without sounding like an arrogant douche.

Even then, it still bothers me because this is usually used when comparing US to China. What I get from this is that they're saying we should be like China, a country where human rights are spat on and suicide rates are high thanks to high standards.

I don't know about you, but when other people are saying that America is falling behind China and that Americans are "fat, lazy, and stupid", they sure aren't trying to link those achievements to those things Rage had mentioned.

Sorry, he said it.

**Ipecac Drano** · 06-15-2011, 05:27 PM