Respect or Common Sense

[PoPPeR]

I've had to deal with this type of thing a lot in my life. Coming from an asian family, we have a lot of traditions that aren't accepted or don't apply to the American lifestyle but my parents still try to enforce them. A lot of these traditions are done out of respect for elders, but a lot of times they don't make sense, or there are alternative ways which make so much more sense that doing it another way just seems stupid. Have you guys been in these types of positions before, and do you just do the "do it out of respect" route to keep fights away, or do you go the common sense route and say to hell with respect, this isn't that culture?

 

[Zim Hosein]

Being "respectful" is the way to go IMHO PoPPeR 🙂

 

[gopunk]

like what? most things have a reason behind them...

in any event a little respect doesn't hurt anyone

 

[zoiks]

I remember that I didnt really listen to my parents a long time ago but I remember one thing this younger guy who worked at my place told me a long time ago.
It so happened that his parents never bought him the car that he wanted. They bought him a ford probe where he wanted a camaro. But in the end, he just told his parents that whatever they wanted would be fine with him. I was surprised at this but he told me something I still remember. He said that he had one set of parents and he'd better enjoy them while he can.
I always remembered that and the umpteen times where my parents always let me have what I wanted.
I think my parents will always be my own and I could never disrespect them.

 

[Greyd]

This may be a different culture - but your parents are not from this culture. For many asian parents, showing them respect is showing them love. American culture seems to express love more in physicaly forms (hugs, kisses,etc). Asian culture shows just as much love - just differently. Respect the culture they have lived in all their lives. But it really does depend on what you are talking about.

 

[NTB]

I myself haven't been in this situation, but I know somebody who's going through something very similar. One of my girlfriend's classmates is from Vietnam, and the two of them seem to be pretty good friends. It seemed to surprise him a little that the two of us (my girlfriend and I) would treat eachother as equals; it surprised her to find out that in his country she would have to use all those respectful terms and things because I am technically older than her...albeit by less than a year. A little culture clash, I guess. All three of us found it interesting though; it's neat to find out about other countries and customs from something - or someone, in this case - besides a guidebook.

Nate