Do you think cultural pressures destroy innovation/creation of new ideas?
I was raised in an Asian family, spent a lot of time in Asia (Japan, China, Korea, etc.). There's such an overwhelming pressure in many families to work hard, try to get into top elite schools and if you don't follow this path you are shunned. People immediately judge you. For example a dropout creates an amazing program, introduces it at his job interview, and gets rejected because of his status. Nobody, not one company will hire him because they don't want a dropout to represent their company. This superiority complex is incredibly sickening and at the same time concerning because how can you create ideas when there is no mobility in a culturally pressured society, everyone thinks alike, creating taboos, one way is the right way, etc.
Sorry for the small rant. This whole thing IS biased and based on my observation and familiarity. I'm just wondering I'm the only one that sees it.
Update:To Shansi: There's crime everywhere and to think cultural pressures create significant low crime rates is naive at its best. There is a lot of crime in asia, especially japan. If people are docile does that make them outspoken enough to report a crime? The answer is highly unlikely. And please enlighten me, "What great inventions has asia offered to the world that wasn't directly or indirectly influenced by western culture?" Yes there are some but not many. Western and European culture has offered many ideas from arts, literature, music, politics, to science and medicine. And the term easternized is rarely used! Westernized is commonly used to describe Asia!! There needs to be more people breaking the rules, more birth to ideas, and fearless behaviour against social pressures.
Comments
Cultural pressure also keeps the society intact. Korea and Japan both have significantly lower crime rates. Even Taiwan has a lower crime rate than most countries. Why? Culture pressures people into a specific level of docility.
Cultural pressures exist to maintain the status quo. It is indifferent to how you feel about it.
Oddly enough, I've lived in China, Japan, Korean, Spain, Philippines, USA, Germany, and even spent a few months in Norway. I myself am Manchurian / Chinese but all of my friends, cousins, and other relatives were allowed to pursue what they wanted. Most of us went to Art school but I dropped out as I lost interest.
...I didn't find trouble finding for work in China or Japan even as a 'drop' out.
I guess it's the mindset that differs between us. I've always accepted that the world won't bend to my will or become what I want it to be... my father taught me that I have two good hands and legs... I should use them instead of moaning about it.
When I went to highschool in Japan, me and my classmates actually enjoyed our time there. It wasn't really work... it was really really fun. We had so much activities and clubs. Also, lots of my friends in Japan majored in incredibly 'non-doctor/scientiest/maths' subjects such as majoring in English, German studies, Dutch Studies, Fashion, Cartoon and Animation.
Of course, there are always those who wish to just stay as is and become a salaryman / woman.
yes it is common practice for instance for africans to actively avoid education and integration with other people. in my country they say it is their way and that by being educated and tolerant of people of the world you are no longer african. that is honestly what they say.
that is why I am so happy and proud to have my family come from europe not just because of our history but because of our outlook. throughout european history people havent been obsessed with perfection or other unattainable goals. the simple goal of the european people for ages has been progression no matter who it comes from. there have been many instances where kings have thrown away their money causing action by the people to establish a more reliable system, some peasants became great scientists and philosophers. some fallen nobles became great businessmen. some people set out to explore the world. others invented things to ease everyday life so that we might devote ourselves to our families and pastimes.