MYOB - Mind Your Own Business ?
When I lived in the USA, I noticed something at social gatherings many USAnians would discuss many issues about their country and others. If they felt there was someone from a certain country they were talking about, they would make an effort not to bring up the most negative topics within their earshot. They would talk about what they thought was good, happy and positive things about that country. Mostly.. There was a unwritten, but often quoted rule, for any outsider in the USA - dont discuss politics or religion at work or in social circles of strangers or even friends if you want to get along, progress in your career or achieve something. This was very different from India, where any outsiders opinion on domestic matters was listened to with great attention and given great weightage, often when it did not merit such.
In the time it took for me to figure out the unwritten rule in the USA, I would often chip in with my view or opinion about the domestic policies or foregin policies or spiritual or religious views. Sometimes, someone who disagreed with me would say - "You are a visitor here, for study or work. This is our domestic business. You should stay out of it and MYOB. Unless someone asks you, dont volunteer your view. If and when you become a citizen and are eligible to vote here, we will listen to you. We might not agree with you, but will listen to you because then you have a right to speak. Now you dont have that right." Of course, if I said something they agreed with, they would all compliment me on my wonderful insight!
"Well, fair enough! " I would think. But often within the next few minutes the conversation would shift to discussion of the domestic policies of 'other' countries and everyone would pitch in freely. When questioned, they would claim that theirs was the land of the free and that anyone was free to express an opinion about anything in the world and criticise anything - particularly if there was no one from the target country in the company present.
I find that here on this and other forums, similar USAnians and UKians and some of their admirers have a different standard for themselves. They will comment unsolicited about every minute detail of China or other countries domestic issues, even quoting 'principles' to back themselves, never mind that those very principles are out the window back home!
Should others tell them to MYOB? What do you think?
I am quite comfortable and prefer to let everyone speak and have their say, even if I dont agree with what they say.
Copyright (c) Kannan Narayanamurthy 2014
All rights reserved
When I lived in the USA, I noticed something at social gatherings many USAnians would discuss many issues about their country and others. If they felt there was someone from a certain country they were talking about, they would make an effort not to bring up the most negative topics within their earshot. They would talk about what they thought was good, happy and positive things about that country. Mostly.. There was a unwritten, but often quoted rule, for any outsider in the USA - dont discuss politics or religion at work or in social circles of strangers or even friends if you want to get along, progress in your career or achieve something. This was very different from India, where any outsiders opinion on domestic matters was listened to with great attention and given great weightage, often when it did not merit such.
In the time it took for me to figure out the unwritten rule in the USA, I would often chip in with my view or opinion about the domestic policies or foregin policies or spiritual or religious views. Sometimes, someone who disagreed with me would say - "You are a visitor here, for study or work. This is our domestic business. You should stay out of it and MYOB. Unless someone asks you, dont volunteer your view. If and when you become a citizen and are eligible to vote here, we will listen to you. We might not agree with you, but will listen to you because then you have a right to speak. Now you dont have that right." Of course, if I said something they agreed with, they would all compliment me on my wonderful insight!
"Well, fair enough! " I would think. But often within the next few minutes the conversation would shift to discussion of the domestic policies of 'other' countries and everyone would pitch in freely. When questioned, they would claim that theirs was the land of the free and that anyone was free to express an opinion about anything in the world and criticise anything - particularly if there was no one from the target country in the company present.
I find that here on this and other forums, similar USAnians and UKians and some of their admirers have a different standard for themselves. They will comment unsolicited about every minute detail of China or other countries domestic issues, even quoting 'principles' to back themselves, never mind that those very principles are out the window back home!
Should others tell them to MYOB? What do you think?
I am quite comfortable and prefer to let everyone speak and have their say, even if I dont agree with what they say.
Copyright (c) Kannan Narayanamurthy 2014
All rights reserved
No comments:
Post a Comment