As an American, I find that quite amusing. I'd say it brings a smile to my face, but there's likely one there already.
My grandma (came to the US from the USSR during WW2) would always answer a little too honestly when we asked "how are you doing?" Sometimes she would say "Still walking" and sometimes she would talk about how the neighborhood is going downhill. I would laugh and say "you know in America we just say 'good'!"
Must be some interesting story there...
The joke isn't really Lisa mistaking a "gruff Slavic manner" for hostility, it's more the Slavic manner being actually hostile.
Beyond the surface interactions there's not much difference, though. Interactions with people you know better, be it friends, family or coworkers, are pretty similar.
When taken to the extreme you end up with a Potemkin village where everyone grins and nods and goes about their day never expressing anything honest.
I much prefer a society where people are open and there is some accountability than a group of smiling yes men which is the type of thing these corporate culture workshops seek to indoctrinate.
They both focus on you projecting "good vibes" and only allowing others who also project good vibes around you. If you can do this, then (Nature/God/the Universe) will reward you.
Like all the pictures of Jesus being crucified and wearing crowns of thorns, and the talk of how we are all sinners and bad people. And the talk of writhing in lakes of fire.
But seriously, as an American, I fully agree. Having to pretend to be a happy camper at work when one is going through a (not culturally approved) personal tragedy sucks big time.
*) The traditional, class struggle related response, however, is, "They are paid too much."
(Obviously, this is to be read with a grain of salt.)
"Leave me alone. I know what I'm doing." :)
This is exactly why you need to put an inordinate focus on the bright side.
>You are supposed to feel empathy for other people and feel bad for their misfortune even if you have the good luck of not going through suffering
Yeah if you live in a tribe of like 30 people maybe. You can't scale that sort of empathy to collectives the size of "all coworkers at $bigco". That's way too much empathising. Way too many people who are going to be down. Particularly in an office. You can't combine "unmasked feelings" and "dreaded place we have to be compensated to go to".
>I just don't understand this obsession of feeling good all the time. If you have never felt sadness, pain, shame, or embarrassment, is it something to brag about?
It's not about feeling good all the time. It's about not throwing your bad feelings at people who also feel bad while 50 other bad feeling people do the same.
Scratch Beginnings
http://www.amazon.com/Scratch-Beginnings-Search-American-Dre...
> I am going to start almost literally from scratch with one 8′ by 10′ tarp, a sleeping bag, an empty gym bag, $25, and the clothes on my back. Via train, I will be dropped at a random place somewhere in the southeastern United States that is not in my home state of North Carolina. I have 365 days to become free of the realities of homelessness and become a “regular” member of society. After one year, for my project to be considered successful, I have to possess an operable automobile, live in a furnished apartment…, have $2500 in cash, and, most importantly, I have to be in a position in which I can continue to improve my circumstances by either going to school or starting my own business.
It's a nightmare, and I have barely even touched on what it does for the negative reputation of Americans...(reinforces a reputation as superficial, idiots, two-faced, liars, etc). Other Americans, please find a way to stop this madness!