America is a great business but it is a lousy culture.

[Temprano26]

Last night I needed tires for my car so I went to Discount Tires and they got me hooked up in roughly 30 minutes with top-notch customer service. While waiting, I ate at IHOP which serves breakfast all day and that was wonderful. There are a lot of people in America that are really good at their jobs with strong work ethic and that is a strong plus. Sad to say, we don't get to know anybody on a deeper level. I cannot approach an attractive woman while she is working behind the counter and interact with her for anything deeper than business purposes.

There came a point in my life I realized I had enough stuff and that nothing at any store could possibly fill the void within me. Hell, I wanted to share the stuff I had with others because maybe by sharing it someone else could enjoy something that no longer brought joy to me. I have gone to the mall less and less over the years because despite having yards of material goods it never has anything that I really need. We don't need any $12 ceramic coffee mugs. I needed human interaction more than anything else. Human interaction that does not require a fee but nobody can even look anyone else in the eye anymore. Everyone is too busy ignoring everyone else.

When I arrived in Costa Rica I told an American friend that America is lonely as hell and she said "I know and they stay that way".

[gsjackson]

Very well put. But Main Street isn't doing so well anymore either, notwithstanding the examples of useful businesses you note. First the culture was destroyed, now it's the economy's turn.

[HouseMD]

I worked with a guy from Ghana that said pretty much the same thing, "In America you have money, but nothing else."

This isn't a place for living- it's a place to make your money and leave.

[Ghost]

.

[jamesbond]

I cannot approach an attractive woman while she is working behind the counter and interact with her for anything deeper than business purposes.

Nobody can even look anyone else in the eye anymore. Everyone is too busy ignoring everyone else.

When I arrived in Costa Rica I told an American friend that America is lonely as hell and she said "I know and they stay that way".

It's sad that in America you are supposed to mind your own business and only talk to people if it's business related. Try approaching women in public places and see what kind of reaction they give to you.

America is a country built for doing business, it's not a good country for having a social life.

[HouseMD]

There is less opportunity, but there is certainly plenty of money for those that are willing to do the jobs that pay. Nursing can net you 60-70k to start, engineering 60-85k (or 100-120 in the petroleum industry), respiratory therapy pays 50-65k to start, computer science can start you at 50-80k, physician assistants can make 80-150k, CRNAs can pull 160-200k, the list goes on and on. Follow the money if money is what you want, there's plenty of solid jobs that you can get with the right degree.

The trouble is people now insist that we "do what we love" which is a bullshit philosophy our ancestors would laugh at. Do what can provide you and your family and once you're all set you can do whatever you feel like. Doing what you love is an idea that is the product of a self centered and childish outlook that has been instilled in today's youth.

[The_Adventurer]

The problem is, many of the people who insist we do what we love are themselves multi millionaires and became so doing what they love. I was told by more than one successful publisher, filmmaker, game studio president and computer company president.

[In2dadark]

The trouble is people now insist that we "do what we love" which is a bullshit philosophy our ancestors would laugh at. Do what can provide you and your family and once you're all set you can do whatever you feel like. Doing what you love is an idea that is the product of a self centered and childish outlook that has been instilled in today's youth.

My ancestors game me some wonderful advice that I use & cherish today. I find it hard to believe they wouldn't want to see their future evolve rather than hold on to old fashioned or out dated ideals to their detriment. Which ones are OF & OD, that would be up to their offspring to decide. Not saying you're totally wrong. Just not buying the broad strokes. Many intelligent people can & do do what they love & get paid to do it.

Not to say those that are unable to get paid doing what they love are dumb. Maybe just unfortunate; and we know many who do end up in really bad jobs often are challenged in one way or another.

[In2dadark]

Last night I needed tires for my car so I went to Discount Tires and they got me hooked up in roughly 30 minutes with top-notch customer service. While waiting, I ate at IHOP which serves breakfast all day and that was wonderful. There are a lot of people in America that are really good at their jobs with strong work ethic and that is a strong plus. Sad to say, we don't get to know anybody on a deeper level. I cannot approach an attractive woman while she is working behind the counter and interact with her for anything deeper than business purposes.

There came a point in my life I realized I had enough stuff and that nothing at any store could possibly fill the void within me. Hell, I wanted to share the stuff I had with others because maybe by sharing it someone else could enjoy something that no longer brought joy to me. I have gone to the mall less and less over the years because despite having yards of material goods it never has anything that I really need. We don't need any $12 ceramic coffee mugs. I needed human interaction more than anything else. Human interaction that does not require a fee but nobody can even look anyone else in the eye anymore. Everyone is too busy ignoring everyone else.

When I arrived in Costa Rica I told an American friend that America is lonely as hell and she said "I know and they stay that way".

I like discount tire direct. We don't have their brick & mortar stuff here. Costa Rica sounds nice.. Just kidding. You didn't mention much about it. Are you there now? Sounds like you're in the US (at the moment).? Did you visit, have fun, meet a lot of nice women?

Seems HA is moving into a pseudo group mourning over the US & other western sites that are not coming back anytime soon. Is the glitter falling off of foreign lands that fast?

[HouseMD]

The trouble is people now insist that we "do what we love" which is a bullshit philosophy our ancestors would laugh at. Do what can provide you and your family and once you're all set you can do whatever you feel like. Doing what you love is an idea that is the product of a self centered and childish outlook that has been instilled in today's youth.

My ancestors game me some wonderful advice that I use & cherish today. I find it hard to believe they wouldn't want to see their future evolve rather than hold on to old fashioned or out dated ideals to their detriment. Which ones are OF & OD, that would be up to their offspring to decide. Not saying you're totally wrong. Just not buying the broad strokes. Many intelligent people can & do do what they love & get paid to do it.

Not to say those that are unable to get paid doing what they love are dumb. Maybe just unfortunate; and we know many who do end up in really bad jobs often are challenged in one way or another.

I'm not saying everyone had to do something they hate for a living, just that given the choice between a job that pays 25k a year you love and one that pays 100k a year you are indifferent to or dislike, it is foolish to pick the former. Too many people are unwilling to work hard to get ahead.

And my point about ancestors was this. My ancestors farmed limes for the king. They didn't choose to do so, they were charged with doing so and not exactly well paid. If I were to tell them "I have the opportunity to make enough money to live like a king and possess more money than 99.99% of people in the world. But I think I'll just be a batista and make coffee all day for peasant wages instead." They would probably ask what coffee was, and then promptly slap the shit out of me.

The ideal is obviously a job you enjoy that you are good at that pays well, but the latter two trump the former.

[Temprano26]

In2Dark -

I did volunteer work in Costa Rica and yes, the women have far better attitudes. In fact, many of them were not just happy with their lives but overjoyed with their lives. I felt that my values matched with theirs so much more. I carry a Costa Rica coin around my neck all the time now as a symbol of where I was reborn.

When I came back I was depressed by all of the bland architecture that all looked the same because I had spent months in a green country full of beautiful sunsets and where people were unified. Americans are on their phones all the time ignoring each other.

[ph]

I think that in developing or poorer countries, relationships, friendships are stronger and deeper because of their attitude and culture that is less demanding and more simple.

Like I hear in countries such as Brazil, Panama, S America, people treat strangers like they know who they are (even if they don't).

Whereas developed countries do tend to be efficient at business. Whereas personal relations aren't valued.

I think ladislav mentioned in one article about how rich countries tend to be colder while poor countries tend to be more open.

Its nice if we could have a balance of both though.

[ph]

Not to mention I am in China now. Being in China sometimes make me wish USA in some way in terms of customer service and business culture.

But again while I hate having had inconveniences in China, Im happy to see that its part of the cultural experience.

[NorthAmericanguy]

In2Dark -

I did volunteer work in Costa Rica and yes, the women have far better attitudes. In fact, many of them were not just happy with their lives but overjoyed with their lives. I felt that my values matched with theirs so much more. I carry a Costa Rica coin around my neck all the time now as a symbol of where I was reborn.

When I came back I was depressed by all of the bland architecture that all looked the same because I had spent months in a green country full of beautiful sunsets and where people were unified. Americans are on their phones all the time ignoring each other.

I can relate.

I was "woken up" in Thailand and I never stopped thinking about the place now that I have been back. I'm leaving the country next month to hit up Central America all while I'm working on a 3rd epic trip (North Africa) that entails visiting 3 different countries. America isn't going to get me! I'm going to leave this place for good once and for all.

[NorthAmericanguy]

I think ladislav mentioned in one article about how rich countries tend to be colder while poor countries tend to be more open.
.

In my life I have been around the very poor and the very rich and one thing that I have noticed is that poor people are generally very open and friendly where as most of the rich people that I know come off cold and indifferent.

To be fair, the rich people that I know have massive responsibility and they worked very hard to get where they got. That in itself will cultivate a personalty that is cold and indifferent because it's not easy to build up massive wealth.