They think everyone is the same,like them and should have a
Yep, that's it in a nutshell. It comes back to projecting one's own experiences and expectations onto others. There is always the assumption that other people are on the same page.
Intelligent, rational and considered thought doesn't happen just like that. I firmly believe, maybe wrongly, that it requires learning and a degree of discipline, like everything else. I am still trying to make sense of everything and have a hard time understanding the world and the people around me.
The most intelligent people who have crossed my path, weren't only in possession of incredible knowledge, but they demonstrated a tremendeous ability to put that knowledge into a practical and rational context. None of these people ever came accross as judgemental, superior or arrogant; and all of them exhibited a very high level of empathy and understanding.
In all fairness I know that panhandling is a big problem in the States. Lots of people have it down to a fine art as well - they execute it with great skill. I experienced this a few times when I lived there.
On numerous occasions well-dressed persons would strike up a friendly conversation, only to ask me for money before we parted company. Other times someone would just walk up to me and give me stuff, like a record or book etc. - tell me that he wanted me to have it, be really nice and friendly and then suddenly ask for money in return. Initially I was very perplexed and just gave it back to the person, politely declining their 'generous' gift. Another time this happened, I gave my thanks, turned around and walked off. They guy chased me down and I flat out told him that I thought it was a gift and didn't understand what he wanted from me. He got stroppy and I threatened him with the cops. In the end I just threw whatever he had given me to ground and walked off.
That happened when I was living in New York.
A friend once told me about a weird experience he had whilst holidaying in the States. He went to a bar, where he got into a friendly conversation with a guy and ended up drinking with him for several hours. Then, out of the blue, the guy ripped the gold chain from my friend's neck and ran off.
Here in Australia people don't panhandle to the extent they do in America. When they want something they just ask for it without any kind of spiel. It's usually for smokes or a couple of bucks for the bus. If I think they are dodgy I usually come back with 'sorry mate I was just gonna ask you for money/smokes - can't help ya bro, bye' before I move on.
It can get a bit tedious when people hussle for cash all the time. The window washing at traffic lights became a big thing in Sydney during the nineties. I had already experienced this in the States and knew not to give in. Then again, here they weren't as persistent and rude and would just walk of after doing the smear. Anywho, it takes all kinds to make the world go round and, like it or not, the US is known as the land of hussle everywhere else. Doesn't matter where you go in the States, there is always someone who wants your money and, unlike most other developed countries, they are really brash about it. It's your culture, so deal with it.
What is the great American philosophy that you learn as soon as you get there? Money talks and bull***t walks.
cheers
olav
Yep, that's it in a nutshell. It comes back to projecting one's own experiences and expectations onto others. There is always the assumption that other people are on the same page.
Intelligent, rational and considered thought doesn't happen just like that. I firmly believe, maybe wrongly, that it requires learning and a degree of discipline, like everything else. I am still trying to make sense of everything and have a hard time understanding the world and the people around me.
The most intelligent people who have crossed my path, weren't only in possession of incredible knowledge, but they demonstrated a tremendeous ability to put that knowledge into a practical and rational context. None of these people ever came accross as judgemental, superior or arrogant; and all of them exhibited a very high level of empathy and understanding.
In all fairness I know that panhandling is a big problem in the States. Lots of people have it down to a fine art as well - they execute it with great skill. I experienced this a few times when I lived there.
On numerous occasions well-dressed persons would strike up a friendly conversation, only to ask me for money before we parted company. Other times someone would just walk up to me and give me stuff, like a record or book etc. - tell me that he wanted me to have it, be really nice and friendly and then suddenly ask for money in return. Initially I was very perplexed and just gave it back to the person, politely declining their 'generous' gift. Another time this happened, I gave my thanks, turned around and walked off. They guy chased me down and I flat out told him that I thought it was a gift and didn't understand what he wanted from me. He got stroppy and I threatened him with the cops. In the end I just threw whatever he had given me to ground and walked off.
That happened when I was living in New York.
A friend once told me about a weird experience he had whilst holidaying in the States. He went to a bar, where he got into a friendly conversation with a guy and ended up drinking with him for several hours. Then, out of the blue, the guy ripped the gold chain from my friend's neck and ran off.
Here in Australia people don't panhandle to the extent they do in America. When they want something they just ask for it without any kind of spiel. It's usually for smokes or a couple of bucks for the bus. If I think they are dodgy I usually come back with 'sorry mate I was just gonna ask you for money/smokes - can't help ya bro, bye' before I move on.
It can get a bit tedious when people hussle for cash all the time. The window washing at traffic lights became a big thing in Sydney during the nineties. I had already experienced this in the States and knew not to give in. Then again, here they weren't as persistent and rude and would just walk of after doing the smear. Anywho, it takes all kinds to make the world go round and, like it or not, the US is known as the land of hussle everywhere else. Doesn't matter where you go in the States, there is always someone who wants your money and, unlike most other developed countries, they are really brash about it. It's your culture, so deal with it.
What is the great American philosophy that you learn as soon as you get there? Money talks and bull***t walks.
cheers
olav
