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It is? Joel Send a noteboard - 06/10/2010 06:51:31 AM
It's not like we invented circumcision, for example, or are the only country where it's the norm. And when I think of hiking I'm about as likely to think of lederhosen and the Alps as the Cumberland Trail; most of the regular hikers I know are Scandinavian, in fact. And nature parks NEED bathrooms; just 'cos you went to McDonalds yesterday doesn't mean you need to leave it on the ground at Yosemite today. :P

In the US, circumcision is almost the default. It's not in Europe. There are some religions that ask for it, but that's not the basis for circumcision in the US. One of the arguments I've heard used was that it's more appealing visually.

I can't speak to that; they're all equally unappealing to me visually. :P Circumcision is pretty much the default here, though not only here; this is the first I've heard of anything like a major controversy about it. I know it's tossed about (so to speak) in some circles but except among the "anything traditional scars an infant for life111" groups I don't hear a lot of debate. To me it's not even as hot a topic as blood transfusions; refusal to circumcise is far less likely to cause death, and an issue for about the same (negligible) portion of our populace. The consensus seems to be that it does at least slightly reduce the risk of infection and other disease, so it continues to serve a purpose (probably the purpose for which it was first devised. ) Meanwhile, America is far from the only country where circumcision is standard, and, while I haven't done the research, because I really don't care that much, I suspect Europe is more the exception there than we are.
As for hiking, I'm sure there are other nations where people hike, but the concept of hiking, at least for me, is linked to the US. I think it's different from trekking in the Alps. As for bathrooms, I think you overestimate the amount of bathrooms in nature parks in Europe.

It's the "for me" and "in Europe" parts that I was thinking of when I made the comment. Maybe you don't consider Alpine hiking to be hiking, but it is; much of the standard equipment for hiking was developed there before the US even existed. I'm taking no position on the number of bathrooms in European nature parks (in fact, until about an hour ago I'm pretty sure I'd never even considered the question) I'm just saying that I think nature parks in general are better off with them than without because I think they reduce the human impact on natural areas.
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This message last edited by Joel on 06/10/2010 at 06:51:45 AM
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/of sorts. Culture in general. And more specifically, American culture. - 04/10/2010 07:32:29 PM 1129 Views
Before answering that question, answer: "What is culture?" - 04/10/2010 07:48:40 PM 906 Views
Re: Before answering that question, answer: "What is culture?" - 04/10/2010 08:12:19 PM 815 Views
The foreigner POV - 04/10/2010 08:17:24 PM 904 Views
Thanks. This is what I was looking for. - 04/10/2010 08:22:40 PM 803 Views
Re: The foreigner POV is fun to read - 05/10/2010 03:14:00 PM 810 Views
LOL - 05/10/2010 08:13:39 PM 691 Views
- 05/10/2010 08:38:52 PM 676 Views
When I think of American Culture... - 04/10/2010 08:29:09 PM 880 Views
just a list? - 04/10/2010 08:31:19 PM 812 Views
How about traditional American values? - 05/10/2010 01:43:07 AM 964 Views
isn't that a bit misleading? - 05/10/2010 07:52:18 AM 887 Views
I never said they were unique to American culture - 05/10/2010 02:36:25 PM 749 Views
yes but we have more of it - 05/10/2010 02:50:53 PM 813 Views
- 05/10/2010 03:10:18 PM 677 Views
Do you know why it is rude to ask someone if they are from Texas? - 05/10/2010 05:53:19 PM 793 Views
ilu2 - 06/10/2010 04:13:47 AM 909 Views
I don't live in Gary. - 06/10/2010 04:25:36 AM 846 Views
It's part of IN though. - 06/10/2010 04:30:23 AM 860 Views
Good thing, too. He died recently. - 06/10/2010 10:13:26 PM 745 Views
Word (concept) association with "American culture" - 05/10/2010 09:57:07 AM 796 Views
i think those are pretty indicative word associations. *NM* - 05/10/2010 03:08:08 PM 344 Views
Indicative of what? *NM* - 05/10/2010 08:47:44 PM 371 Views
american culture? - 06/10/2010 04:50:27 AM 788 Views
Some of that may be more European than American culture. - 06/10/2010 04:20:16 AM 775 Views
But circumcision is a hot topic in the US - 06/10/2010 05:42:25 AM 826 Views
It is? - 06/10/2010 06:51:31 AM 867 Views
You're wrong about the default for circumcision the world over - 06/10/2010 07:44:40 AM 844 Views
That surprises me, but alright. - 06/10/2010 10:00:14 AM 798 Views
It is indeed only prevalent among Jews and Muslims - and the old British empire. - 06/10/2010 10:38:07 AM 871 Views
And, apparently, most of Africa. - 06/10/2010 11:46:32 AM 994 Views
I really don't think it is much of a hot topic here - 06/10/2010 09:37:50 PM 984 Views
You make a good point about tipping - 06/10/2010 09:58:10 AM 808 Views
I disagree - surely tipping is much more internationally widespread than some others in that list. - 06/10/2010 10:43:32 AM 763 Views
Re: I disagree - 06/10/2010 07:41:14 PM 900 Views
I don't think I disagree with that. - 05/10/2010 02:57:36 PM 854 Views
btw, I obviously think this is a good post. Fun. - 05/10/2010 03:21:21 PM 774 Views
sounds a lot like the America I know *NM* - 05/10/2010 05:55:27 PM 353 Views
Is the first part of that statement even true? - 05/10/2010 04:45:36 PM 746 Views
Hm. Interesting. - 05/10/2010 05:43:19 PM 720 Views
I think it is - 05/10/2010 06:00:18 PM 780 Views
Point! - 06/10/2010 06:02:33 AM 701 Views
Right! - 05/10/2010 09:42:20 PM 831 Views

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