What's your favorite cultural quirk?

[Yeager942]

Whether its your own culture or another's, every society has its own little nuances that lends to its awesomeness uniqueness.


For me, it's the way some Armenian's refer to something that is cute. For example, if my sister sees a litter of puppies or kittens, she doesn't say that it is "cute" in an Armenian equivalent. She says, "Oodem Kezee," which means, "I want to eat it/them."

She wants. To eat. Puppies.

 

[Deshin]

With the Maltese it's swearing. A typical Maltese factory worker would put a drunken sailor to shame.

Ya see, being devoutly religious people (yeah sure) we hold the church in high regard, so the worst swear words are all linked to catholicism. But it doesn't just stop at "god damnit" or the like, when ya hear someone properly going off you'll hear about God, Jesus, Mary, Adam, Eve, all of the above mentioned's genetalia, the crucifix, the hill, the three wise men, the stable Christ was born in, the animals in the field, the star... y'all think I'm kidding but I'm not. And the quirky thing is in Maltese it actually makes sense on a grammatical and cultural memetic level.

Edit: Sorry your first reply had to be mine

 

[SelectivelyEvil13]

With the Maltese it's swearing. A typical Maltese factory worker would put a drunken sailor to shame.

Ya see, being devoutly religious people (yeah sure) we hold the church in high regard, so the worst swear words are all linked to catholicism. But it doesn't just stop at "god damnit" or the like, when ya hear someone properly going off you'll hear about God, Jesus, Mary, Adam, Eve, all of the above mentioned's genetalia, the crucifix, the hill, the three wise men, the stable Christ was born in, the animals in the field, the star... y'all think I'm kidding but I'm not. And the quirky thing is in Maltese it actually makes sense on a grammatical and cultural memetic level.

Edit: Sorry your first reply had to be mine

That was a good one, I never knew about that!

I'm part Italian and in my family we sometimes refer to other Italians with ethnic slurs for... Italians. Sometimes they're not even Italian, it's just they're doing the stereotypical thing that earns them that insult regardless.

 

[confessor]

I'm part Italian and in my family we sometimes refer to other Italians with ethnic slurs for... Italians. Sometimes they're not even Italian, it's just they're doing the stereotypical thing that earns them that insult regardless.

I know that feeling, trying being part Sicilian...I swear we're the loony bin of Europe -.-
But also being Irish-Australian, I can't help but hit someone when they try to impersonate my accent/get a Guinness just so they can be 'Irish' - it's like watered down chocolate syrup if you don't get it from the right place. You've got to know what you're drinking here (unless it goon *shudder).

 

[StBishop]

Contrary to popular belief, we[footnote]Australians[/footnote] don't eat shrimp. Ever.

We eat Prawns.

 

[Yeager942]

Whether its your own culture or another's, every society has its own little nuances that lends to its awesomeness uniqueness.


For me, it's the way some Armenian's refer to something that is cute. For example, if my sister sees a litter of puppies or kittens, she doesn't say that it is "cute" in an Armenian equivalent. She says, "Oodem Kezee," which means, "I want to eat it/them."

She wants. To eat. Puppies.

Cool. I am Armenian and did not know that.

OT: Living in the USA my whole life, I like how most Asian nations respect their parents and elders. The language differences when speaking to people older or more respected are nice. Bowing is cool too.

Its great to see another Armo on the board. I'm Barskahai. You?

 

[the_bearpelt]

As an American, I've noticed we LOVE accents. We find them sexy and fun. But apparently, in other countries, they expect you to speak without your native accent and try to adopt the one there when you speak their language.
I find this very interesting.

 

[the Dept of Science]

I'm English and I can't think of many things that aren't justified stereotypes.

 

[Xpwn3ntial]

A cultural quirk? In the state I come from? Don't make me laugh.

Oh, wait. I thought of one.

In the city I come from, it does not matter what your background is. At all. No one cares.

 

[Hiphophippo]

With the Maltese it's swearing. A typical Maltese factory worker would put a drunken sailor to shame.

Ya see, being devoutly religious people (yeah sure) we hold the church in high regard, so the worst swear words are all linked to catholicism. But it doesn't just stop at "god damnit" or the like, when ya hear someone properly going off you'll hear about God, Jesus, Mary, Adam, Eve, all of the above mentioned's genetalia, the crucifix, the hill, the three wise men, the stable Christ was born in, the animals in the field, the star... y'all think I'm kidding but I'm not. And the quirky thing is in Maltese it actually makes sense on a grammatical and cultural memetic level.

Edit: Sorry your first reply had to be mine

I just want you to know I read your post in a scottish accent. Why exactly, eludes even me.

 

[Naheal]

As an American, I've noticed we LOVE accents. We find them sexy and fun. But apparently, in other countries, they expect you to speak without your native accent and try to adopt the one there when you speak their language.
I find this very interesting.

To be fair, we only have a few accents that sound hot, and only on some people. However, other countries are much more lucky.

Another American cultural quirk (well, kink) is Asians. We really like asians.

The quirk could actually be that we like foreigners[footnote]So long as we're not members of the Tea Party and you're not Arabic in any way[/footnote] in general.

 

[Zap Rowsdower]

Contrary to popular belief, we[footnote]Australians[/footnote] don't eat shrimp. Ever.

We eat Prawns.

You are missing out greatly my friend.

In America most of our stereotypes of other people are either terribly off or terribly exaggerated.
That can lead to hilariousness a lot of the time.

 

[the_bearpelt]

As an American, I've noticed we LOVE accents. We find them sexy and fun. But apparently, in other countries, they expect you to speak without your native accent and try to adopt the one there when you speak their language.
I find this very interesting.

To be fair, we only have a few accents that sound hot, and only on some people. However, other countries are much more lucky.

Another American cultural quirk (well, kink) is Asians. We really like asians.

What do you mean, other countries are much more lucky? I don't really follow.

 

[AMMO Kid]

I love the way Vikings just fought about every thing with long swords and battle axes.

 

[theamazingbean]

With the Maltese it's swearing. A typical Maltese factory worker would put a drunken sailor to shame.

Ya see, being devoutly religious people (yeah sure) we hold the church in high regard, so the worst swear words are all linked to catholicism. But it doesn't just stop at "god damnit" or the like, when ya hear someone properly going off you'll hear about God, Jesus, Mary, Adam, Eve, all of the above mentioned's genetalia, the crucifix, the hill, the three wise men, the stable Christ was born in, the animals in the field, the star... y'all think I'm kidding but I'm not. And the quirky thing is in Maltese it actually makes sense on a grammatical and cultural memetic level.

Edit: Sorry your first reply had to be mine

Ehh, the culture of permissiveness that flourishes on the Internet has caused all swearing to become incredibly boring to me. Now, snubbing people with politeness, as you can do in Japan, much more fun.