Lately, I’ve been giving some thought to the old “nature vs. nurture” debate. Are people born good/bad or do they turn that way later on as a result of their life experiences? Personally I’ve always felt that it was a combination of the two. For example; maybe a child is actually pure evil when he is born, but his family is extremely loving and supportive and give him the best childhood he could possibly have. I think the evil in him would be muted so that he wouldn’t grow up to become a serial killer; just a politician or a lawyer. On the other hand, imagine a girl who is born pure good but grows up in a household where her father is a complete tool who was a country music one-hit-wonder and now he’s using his daughter to try and recapture some fame plus; maybe some evil corporation that’s run by a mouse is also using her to further their own world domination. That kind of girl might grow up to be in a position where she can be an influence on the behavior of young impressionable girls but instead of setting a good example she acts like a skank ho.
Now, it is a well accepted stereotype (and as you know all stereotypes are completely true) that Canadians are very polite and Americans are…not. There’s a scene in the movie “Canadian Bacon” that I often think of. John Candy (playing an American character) is barreling his way through a crowd of Canadians. Every one that he runs into says, “Sorry” or “Excuse me”; whereas he makes no apology at all. I have often observed this behavior at work. If I run into or get in the way of a co-worker, whether it’s my fault or not, they will always apologize. The curious thing is that I hardly ever do the same. In fact my usual response is, “Yes, you are.” (Which almost no one ever gets.)
Could this be my nature because I am half American or is it something that has been nurtured in me due to my own life experiences. I recall my second grade teacher used to come up behind the students and whack us across the back of the head if we were talking and she never apologized for it. And when the bullies would push me to the ground they never said, “Excuse me”. Could incidents like these have influenced me to the degree that I don’t feel a need for automatic deference when co-workers get in MY way?
I’m 100% American and I apologize. I’m hoping to grow up.
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I think it is great that more and more blogs are going dofollow. That for using keyworluv also.
hey Ernie,
A truly thoughtful and thought-provoking post… exactly what I would expect from an American.
I take it you don’t care for Hannah Montana? That’s ok. She’s banned in our house too right now. We don’t want to corrupt our kids.
I agree with you. Part of your personality you are born with, part is how you are raised… and part is probably what you watch on TV. Go A-Team! ~ Steve, the trade show guru
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I commented on cardiogirl’s site about how I often apologize when I answer a wrong number. So don’t blame this evil behavior on Americans, bub.
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On what basis would Hannah Montanna corrupt the kids – other than potentially putting them to sleep? Compared to many other options, she is tame …
Nice one.. I’m not american so I don’t care
)
Thought provoking…hmmm…shall I be serious or not??? Sorry about the indecisiveness!!!!!! :0)
Cheers
hahaha I think that is a funny Canadian stereotype, especially in that movie, because they are always apologizing even when they don’t anything wrong. I think there has to be a balance between the two.
I think Its depends on the environment you live in that’s why you don’t feel its important to apologize . Even I have some american friends and they are very polite . I don’t believe all this stereotype theory
Great post!
I agree with you completely!
<3 Lindsay
So Americans are all pure evil and Canadians are nurtured to be all sweetness and apple pie. Is that what you’re saying? It’s not good manners to call an entire population evil, but I suppose that’s because you’re half pure evil yourself.
You wonder if there are some things inherent to the human condition that is more instinctive than learned. I do agree with you on fundamentals but their are higher-level attributes that can only really come from the environment and influence of peers. Compassion is one of them. Also I recently read a book by one of the American Army psychologist who interviewed and counseled the former Nazi leaders on trial at Nuremberg. He concluded that evil was the absence of empathy–certainly something that we acquire or are starved of as part of the human condition.
I think Americans are looked at as over-bearing, arrogant and spoiled by other countries, so why shouldn’t this extend our up bringing and/or environment (in the U.S. ?)
I think you are right overall, I think it’s a combination of both.
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Actually he had more than one hit, but only one Number 1 hit. And only one that anybody other than a huge fan would know.
The really funny thing is that everyone reading this post knows exactly who it is, even if you didn’t call him by name. Well done!
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Stress and negative environments can certainly create negative behaviors. Unfortunately, most people are doing the best they can . . .
It reminded me of a discussion I had with my friend a few days back, he told me that you say we learn everything in this world..see we learn from inside the womb. There are few things which we adopt while in the womb from our environment and family. I watched a documentary of Cats in the Womb and cats while in the womb, run inside (they move their legs quickly) suggesting that they’re preparing themselves for the real life. I also believe that it’s a combination of both. If you’re living in an evil environment, I think very lucky ones will still be good otherwise they’ll turn evil themselves. If you rub your hands with coal, your hands also catches the color of coal
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“Lately, I’ve been giving some thought to the old “nature vs. nurture” debate. Are people born good/bad or do they turn that way later on as a result of their life experiences?”
I would have to say the environment or the upbringing of a child makes a big part of an individual’s character. I guess a child, however, is naturally good and is inclined to pick up negative or bad traits as he grows up. So nurturing a child is really a serious task for the parents, I must say.
“Could incidents like these have influenced me to the degree that I don’t feel a need for automatic deference when co-workers get in MY way?”
In the end, no matter how much we want to refer to past experiences, whatever we do is a matter of our current choices.
In my opinion, there is no one born pure evil. That’s because of environment. Environment influence anyone. This environment also known as culture.
I always think of this same thing when I hear about some terible things ppl have done. I always say to myself “Once they were somebody’s sweet little baby”. How could they grow up to be so evil?
Hence the difference of upbringing of course, however they have been many to succeed when all odds are against them. So who really knows other than God.
JMO>
As for me,it is all about you. You opt to be what you are. You can either be influenced by the people inside or outside your home but you basically know what is right from wrong.
I do agree with you on fundamentals but their are higher-level attributes that can only really come from the environment and influence of peers. Compassion is one of them. Also I recently read a book by one of the American Army psychologist who interviewed and counseled the former Nazi leaders on trial at Nuremberg.
“Personally I’ve always felt that it was a combination of the two”
I agree. Not all good parents get to have great kids. Some go their own way. Yet, background provides the kid a starting point on how to behave.
Canadians do have a bad rep in America. All the ones I’ve met have been hilarious though.
I think Canadians is good as compared to Americans.