8 minutes ago, fredwiggy said:

They eat fish and meat everyday because they aren't Catholics. Japanese rely heavily on fish of course because of their geographic location, next to the ocean.

So, eating fish on Fridays is not a cultural thing?

I never would have guessed, since there are so very many Catholics in Tokyo.

8 minutes ago, GammaGlobulin said:

So, eating fish on Fridays is not a cultural thing?

I never would have guessed, since there are so very many Catholics in Tokyo.

It's become a cultural thing but religious in origin.

14 minutes ago, fredwiggy said:

It's become a cultural thing but religious in origin.

Oh, now I see.....and we are finally coming to the CRUX of your matter:

The KEY POINT you need to come to terms with is this.....

Region is just a product of CULTURE, and nothing more.

Do you agree?

I hope so, because....many here on TV have been trying to convince you of this....for ages.

Religion is a part of culture, just as is Texas Barbecue...

Do you believe in Texas Barbecue, for example....???

Some, definitely, do NOT......

29 minutes ago, fredwiggy said:

They eat fish and meat everyday because they aren't Catholics. Japanese rely heavily on fish of course because of their geographic location, next to the ocean.

I think Christians can eat fish everyday of the week and no foods are forbidden because all are clean and created by God as Jesus stated which includes dogs. When times got tough dogs were quite often part of supper. Modern living is easy enough that there is no reason to eat pets, which is why laws across both the West and Asia forbid it.

2 minutes ago, GammaGlobulin said:

Oh, now I see.....and we are finally coming to the CRUX of your matter:

The KEY POINT you need to come to terms with is this.....

Region is just a product of CULTURE, and nothing more.

Do you agree?

I hope so, because....many here on TV have been trying to convince you of this....for ages.

Religion is a part of culture, just as is Texas Barbecue...

Do you believe in Texas Barbecue, for example....???

Some, definitely, do NOT......

Yes, I've always known that religion is a product of culture. I also believe in Texas BBQ, as it's the best worldwide.

Edited August 25Aug 25 by fredwiggy

4 minutes ago, atpeace said:

I think Christians can eat fish everyday of the week and no foods are forbidden because all are clean and created by God as Jesus stated which includes dogs. When times got tough dogs were quite often part of supper. Modern living is easy enough that there is no reason to eat pets, which is why laws across both the West and Asia forbid it.

Yes, we can eat fish anytime, and i always have. Not eating meat on Fridays was part of my Catholic upbringing. I see dogs and cats as pets and not food, and will never eat them.

9 minutes ago, atpeace said:

I think Christians can eat fish everyday of the week and no foods are forbidden because all are clean and created by God as Jesus stated which includes dogs. When times got tough dogs were quite often part of supper. Modern living is easy enough that there is no reason to eat pets, which is why laws across both the West and Asia forbid it.

Yes, and I cannot help but agree.

However, I just wonder:

How could a family of five make a decent meal out of their house cat?

And so, I think this is why most house cats survived periodic famines in Europe, even during winter months.

The typical Felis catus is known to be scrawny, mostly bones and fur.

Edited August 25Aug 25 by GammaGlobulin

Most people in the United States do not understand the close link between the Chinese people and the first settlers of America:

This important new finding has been reported by the South China Morning Post.

https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3185419/chinese-scientists-find-dna-link-native-american-ancestors

I just wish more Americans, especially those in Washington, could read important Science articles, such as this, because it is now more important than ever that we be friends.

In fact, there are now many Americans who actually look like Asians, and even talk like them.

Probably most here on TV do not know:

However there is a slang term, in Chinese: A Banana, which means some Chinese dude who moves to the West, and becomes WHITE on the inside, while remaining, unfortunately, YELLOW on the outside. This is seen by Chinese as a very derogatory term, as you might know.

And, as Gemini seems to say, a Farang can be called an EGG, for being WHITE on the OUTSIDE, yet YELLOW on the inside, after many "years of love" of Asian ways, even though I think this is a term which is quite rare.

============

So, this begs the question, surely, for the Farang here: How yellow are you, on the inside?

Edited August 25Aug 25 by GammaGlobulin

4 hours ago, TedG said:

Are you going to boil down Latino Culture to the small subset who modify cars?

Agreed! My close up take on Latino culture was close knit families that worked had and had a great sense of community. Some of the kindest people I know. The Chinese are not much different. Another pile of provocative drivel from GG.

20 minutes ago, cjinchiangrai said:

Agreed! My close up take on Latino culture was close knit families that worked had and had a great sense of community. Some of the kindest people I know. The Chinese are not much different. Another pile of provocative drivel from GG.

Sometimes, it is useful to be provocative, and it all depends on one's goal, really.

Why do you think Calvin Klein underwear is so popular today???

Do you think this is due to superior fabric?

This is a rhetorical question.

Yet...VERY provocative.....

Edited August 25Aug 25 by GammaGlobulin

And, whatever happened to the GREAT Chicano Culture....of yore.....???

https://edition.cnn.com/2026/05/02/us/video/los-angeles-low-riders-marybel-gonzalez-pkg-050212aseg2-cnni-us-fast

I guess you would have had to be there to truly appreciate it.

Also, by the way: WHAT ever happened to California? As if anyone needed to ask.....RIGHT?

California was once Beach Boys territory, yet....not anymore.

I do not miss the Beach-Boys, much.

I only miss the REAL California of guys like John Mayall.....but....

Unfortunately, John Mayall culture, of the 1960s....is totally alien to the California of today......

You just cannot go home, again..

So, there is really no point in even trying.....

Is there?

The sky is gray, the ground is so hard.

Edited August 25Aug 25 by GammaGlobulin

Concerning people of color in the USA.....and the UK.....

Has it not occurred to anyone, thus far, that,

Somewhere along the line,

People of Color just became tired of being....

INVISIBLE?

Well, I guess they are not invisible, these days.

Thanks, Ralph....!!!!

Edited August 25Aug 25 by GammaGlobulin

I thought the Chow Chow dog was bred by the Chinese for eating,

it's only Western sensibilities that find it distasteful ,a dog been

man's best friend , to the Chinese I suppose they taste very nice,

A friend in Taiwan told me when someone has eaten dog , when

he walks down the street ,all the dogs bark at him ,as they can smell

he has eaten a dog....

regards worgeordie

You ask about opinion, and the opinion is about the culture. Thus I'm assuming there's no need to take into account things like national success.

I'm going to opt for Latino culture. The music is vibrant and often joyous. Food is great. Women.....well, that's another preference. And what would Thai cuisine be without the contribution from Latin America (chili), that did not arrive on Asian shores until the 16th Century?

Since you specifically mentioned China, I can say I'm not especially fond of most Chinese cuisine, though I do enjoy Szechuan style. Cantonese is the epitome of boring. Others are just Five Spice, no matter the protein or vegetable, and then turbocharged with MSG. No thanks. Neither am I fond of the architecture. A little too much red, green and gold. And then the obsession with money and wealth, so just about every new condo tower is named Double Happiness Golden Good Luck Beverly Hills Shores.

Now of Japan, which you claim inherited its culture from China, I have a very different view. Japanese architecture mixes simplicity with extreme complexity, as in the joinery of, say, a temple in Kyoto. Toss in the way Japan promotes its artisans---granting them National Treasure status---that's a wonderful thing. I collect, and use, Japanese woodworking tools, even if they are way above my skill level. Blue steel chisels and wood planes? Glorious. And saws that cut on the pull, not the push, so that one creates a very narrow kerf.

Latino culture takes no study, unless one wants. It's instantly accessible and exciting. Its street and common food is spicy and satisfying, but also when the finest examples of it are tasted, an incredible range of flavors get through, showing a wonderful sophistication.

I know you, GG, love to post music videos. Here's one that I happen to enjoy. Is it silly? Probably. Will it endure the same way Brahms' 1st Symphony will endure? Unlikely. However, if you are in possession of a Y chromosome and have a full tank of testosterone, there is one dancer in this video who will stand out. You've gotta love Latin women!

Edited August 25Aug 25 by Wingate

58 minutes ago, Wingate said:

You ask about opinion, and the opinion is about the culture. Thus I'm assuming there's no need to take into account things like national success.

I'm going to opt for Latino culture. The music is vibrant and often joyous. Food is great. Women.....well, that's another preference. And what would Thai cuisine be without the contribution from Latin America (chili), that did not arrive on Asian shores until the 16th Century?

Since you specifically mentioned China, I can say I'm not especially fond of most Chinese cuisine, though I do enjoy Szechuan style. Cantonese is the epitome of boring. Others are just Five Spice, no matter the protein or vegetable, and then turbocharged with MSG. No thanks. Neither am I fond of the architecture. A little too much red, green and gold. And then the obsession with money and wealth, so just about every new condo tower is named Double Happiness Golden Good Luck Beverly Hills Shores.

Now of Japan, which you claim inherited its culture from China, I have a very different view. Japanese architecture mixes simplicity with extreme complexity, as in the joinery of, say, a temple in Kyoto. Toss in the way Japan promotes its artisans---granting them National Treasure status---that's a wonderful thing. I collect, and use, Japanese woodworking tools, even if they are way above my skill level. Blue steel chisels and wood planes? Glorious. And saws that cut on the pull, not the push, so that one creates a very narrow kerf.

Latino culture takes no study, unless one wants. It's instantly accessible and exciting. Its street and common food is spicy and satisfying, but also when the finest examples of it are tasted, an incredible range of flavors get through, showing a wonderful sophistication.

I know you, GG, love to post music videos. Here's one that I happen to enjoy. Is it silly? Probably. Will it endure the same way Brahms' 1st Symphony will endure? Unlikely. However, if you are in possession of a Y chromosome and have a full tank of testosterone, there is one dancer in this video who will stand out. You've gotta love Latin women!

I have no real opinion about the girls from South America.

However, I will say that I enjoyed using the pull-saw while on the insular isle of Formosa.

As we all know, the Japanese never actually invent anything.

Their unique forte is refinement of what others invent.

The saw, either push or pull, was used in China long before the Japanese ever dreamed of it....sometime back before the birth of Christ.....maybe about 200 BC....or so.......

The Japanese writing system was adopted from the Chinese writing system, since the Japanese were too lazy to invent their own, and not that I blame them, because inventing a writing system is just too much work.

When I was last in Japan, a few Japanese friends told me that Japan invented the Big Mac.

And....THIS I do not doubt.

1 hour ago, worgeordie said:

I thought the Chow Chow dog was bred by the Chinese for eating,

it's only Western sensibilities that find it distasteful ,a dog been

man's best friend , to the Chinese I suppose they taste very nice,

A friend in Taiwan told me when someone has eaten dog , when

he walks down the street ,all the dogs bark at him ,as they can smell

he has eaten a dog....

regards worgeordie

I was told the same thing, many times, while in Taiwan.

Therefore, this must be true.

I have yet to find a Chinese that could make a good enchilada.

11 hours ago, GammaGlobulin said:

I have considered myself to be Han, for many years.

Can you prove that I am not?

Even my Chinese friends say that I am.

You mentioned on several occasions your "chinese years". How long were you there ? What did you do (jobwise/leisure).

Would it be worth for you to open a seperate thread called something like "my chinese years" ? Go for it. I'd love to hear something about your "real life" (for a change).

11 hours ago, GammaGlobulin said:

Why am I the Only One on TV who loves Asian Culture?

Don't you know that Japan is basically Tang Culture?

The misunderstandings of you guys, concerning Asian culture, has boggled my mind....

FOR YEARS, ever since I first arrived here on TV.

..................but yearning to live in Nantucket ???

14 hours ago, GammaGlobulin said:

even though everybody says that all cultures are equal,

Who told you this?

I never heard that.❓

11 hours ago, Jingthing said:

You like pottery?

No, I think he's simply potty.

Possibly we can reduce it to the essential. We are biologically all the same. Homo Sapiens.

it's the cultural differences that seperates us dramatically.

Among other reasons, this "us against them" has always served as a good reason for us to bang each others head in.

A continuous saga. No end in sight.

Odd topic for a Thai forum.

9 hours ago, swissie said:

You mentioned on several occasions your "chinese years". How long were you there ? What did you do (jobwise/leisure).

Would it be worth for you to open a seperate thread called something like "my chinese years" ? Go for it. I'd love to hear something about your "real life" (for a change).

Unfortunately (or fortunately), we are allowed only one Profile and one account on TV.

8 hours ago, newbee2022 said:

Who told you this?

I never heard that.❓

It is a widespread view that is enforced by over censorship, and self-censorship, ie self-censorship of one's very thought procecesses.

It is now almost impossible to express the view that one culture is innately superior to some other culture, without being publicallly castigated for expressing this contrary view.

This is just part of being forced to be Politically Correct.

=============

I, of course, couild not care less about being PC.

10 hours ago, Screaming said:

I have yet to find a Chinese that could make a good enchilada.

Noodles are better.

4 hours ago, GammaGlobulin said:

It is a widespread view that is enforced by over censorship, and self-censorship, ie self-censorship of one's very thought procecesses.

It is now almost impossible to express the view that one culture is innately superior to some other culture, without being publicallly castigated for expressing this contrary view.

This is just part of being forced to be Politically Correct.

=============

I, of course, couild not care less about being PC.

Hmmh, no reliable sources? 🤡

I think I was Japanese in a past life--or maybe it was just living there for 2 years when I was a child. Spouse and I have been to China 5 times and Japan 3, with another possibly next year. I love Asian art and antiques, and love searching them out. The homes we create are always filled with our treasures.

4 hours ago, newbee2022 said:

Hmmh, no reliable sources? 🤡

This social pressure, during the past decades, to conform to Politically Correct perspectives is something we all feel.

And so, citing sources would be overkill.

1 hour ago, newnative said:

I think I was Japanese in a past life--or maybe it was just living there for 2 years when I was a child. Spouse and I have been to China 5 times and Japan 3, with another possibly next year. I love Asian art and antiques, and love searching them out. The homes we create are always filled with our treasures.

And so, a good life.

Also, I highly advise against leaving Asia.