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Original poster

If Brits are obsessed with class and Americans are obsessed with race, what about everyone else?

213 replies

NutellaEllaElla · 09/04/2022 14:42

What about other countries? What are the French, Italians, Germans, South Africans, Chinese etc obsessed with? I'm guessing for Indians it's Caste?

I'm just curious!

OP posts:
bellac11 · 09/04/2022 15:44

The french like suppositories I think

And australians are obsessed with NOT talking about class and pretending it doesnt exist.

I think the Fins are also obsessed with NOT talking about money, I think the Inuit are the same, its very bad form and no one addresses your income there.

MermaidEyes · 09/04/2022 15:46

@msTerryPratchett Great minds!

lemongreentea · 09/04/2022 15:48

Ah yes I get it now. I've had this but from Moroccan people. It wasn't about socks though. More like which shampoo to use and what to eat (and all of it came from Morroco lol)

LaMarschallin · 09/04/2022 15:49

Based purely on acquaintances/friends, the Dutch are very keen to be seen as the most liberal and laidback people.
And maybe it's because she's lived in the UK for so long, but the my closest German friend uses the word "posh" more than anyone else I know. She and her (English) husband had many long discussions about various public schools, with the class of the pupils being far more important than, say, academic results or excellence in sports that the DC might like.

Musicandcheese · 09/04/2022 15:51

The Japanese are obsessed by their work culture. I once taught Japanese children (a boy and his sister). They were very clever but hated any appreciative feedback. I remember the boy telling me, 'I must not be show off.' But whether that idea came from his parents or is ingrained into Japanese culture, I don't know.

PierresPotato · 09/04/2022 15:52

Yes it's maybe British and Irish (as my family is) that are unusual for not being very direct.

100problems · 09/04/2022 15:55

Based on Indian friends and colleagues cricket and education.

Based on US friends, the Democratic party.

MermaidEyes · 09/04/2022 15:55

Koreans are obsessed with education. Many poor kids spend hours and hours at school and then go to hagwons in the evening for more schooling

bellac11 · 09/04/2022 15:58

Yes Afghans are obsessed with the cricket.

Nomoreusernames1244 · 09/04/2022 15:59

Obelisk
Germans are obsessed with their digestion.
Oh wow I’m married to. Gastroenterologist

Lol first person to shoehorn their social standing into the conversation - gold star!!

jeannie46 · 09/04/2022 16:07

French-

  1. food/wine ( taken v seriously),
  2. health/medicines ( lots of interest/bordering hypochondriacs?),
  3. making new laws ( for them to object to/ignore). Once parked in a little village carpark - 6 places with a list posted of the parking regulations and long list of relevant laws in v small type (dating from 19th century), which covered a space metre square.
  4. clothes/appearance.
midsomermurderess · 09/04/2022 16:07

@PierresPotato

Bavarians and Austrians ime like to tell you where you are going wrong.
In my experience, the Dutch are like this too. They seem to love a good rule and take pleasure in telling you you have broken it.
elQuintoConyo · 09/04/2022 16:09

Spanish are obsessed with everything being brand new and not second hand. And spending long holidays in the grandparents' village. Trying to meet up with anyone at Easter or during the summer - they've all pissed off to the village of 6 houses and a horse!

They're also very concerned with their differences, eg Catalan independence, Basque independence, Madrid Vs Barcelona, how Valencian is a language not a dialect of Catalan, how Aranese is pure Catalan and not your modern rubbish to be scoffed at.

Ohmnomnom · 09/04/2022 16:13

Greeks are obsessed with food. It's just a never ending shuffle to each others house for a barbecue.

Albanians are obsessed with income. They think nothing of asking someone 'How much do you earn?' even if they don't know the person that well.

Mamette · 09/04/2022 16:15

You didn’t ask about Irish people but it’s who is dead.

Well maybe not my generation or younger but my parents generation and above, definitely.

My mother would check the death notices in the newspaper every day.

She would ring me. “Do you remember Breda who was on the school committee with me in 1982? Oh you do. Breda? With the brother in the army? Her husband was a mechanic. Remember she used to wear that turquoise boiler suit and court shoes and we all thought it was a bit much. Do you remember her? Well, she’s dead.”

Also Irish people go to everyone’s funeral. If you knew the person, you go. It’s not an invitation event like it is in other places.

Ohmnomnom · 09/04/2022 16:16

Oh, and Greeks are also obsessed with their history. Remember the dad in My Big Fat Greek Wedding that told everybody that everything was Greek? He's based on every Greek dad ever.

starsinyourpies · 09/04/2022 16:16

Italians obsessed with health with a special emphasis on digestion.

Also cleaning.

CantStartaFireWithoutaSpark · 09/04/2022 16:22

The Irish are obsessed with material things. They judge someone by the car(a) they drive and the house they live in. But also, how they dress, type of handbag etc etc.
I’m Irish, I hate this about them.

Tillsforthrills · 09/04/2022 16:23

Latin-Americans and Spanish are obsessed with being house proud and cleanliness.

Lesperance · 09/04/2022 16:25

@lemongreentea

French are obsessed with becoming more and more far-right.

And thinking their food is the best in the world. Its not.

Rubbish. It's clearly health. If you don't get three items on the prescription from the doctor, then it's not a good doctor. You know nothing about France if you don't know that it's health. Especially if you think it's the food thing. The French are like the UK with the stupid Blitz spirit at every turn. They hark back to when you could get an amazing meal for 10 francs and lament that it's not like that anymore.
Neverreturntoathread · 09/04/2022 16:40

The whole world is obsessed with class, race, and money. We just have a different view of which race is the best.

The most racist people I’ve ever met were Korean, and also Chinese. Hmmm much of the Middle East, and Eastern Europe, is incredibly racist about black people too. I’m white but I was 😱😱 at some of the things said in front of me when I worked in those regions.

Ugh depressing.

minniep · 09/04/2022 16:41

I'm Irish and like the OP has said there's a national obsession with death. My parents have been devastated to find they were on holiday when such and such died as they "missed a great funeral ".

Ticklyrain · 09/04/2022 16:49

New Zealanders are obsessed with how much their house is worth, and house prices in general. There have been leading articles about in the main papers pretty much daily for at least the past five years. It’s ironic, given how much we like to believe we are some sort of nirvana of social equality

Lucky enough to buy years ago but would love to be able to get through one social event without someone driving on about house prices in a faux concern/humble brag kind of way

Also, rugby. Relentless, and relentlessly dull.

Muminabun · 09/04/2022 16:50

Latvian people are obsessed with pork fat and death and flowers and taking pictures of cake Atleast my granny was…..
Irish people yes obsessed with money but very charitable do Gooders and yes the death notices.
French people love medicine and pills why bother with a healthy lifestyle when you can pop a pill, americans the same.

Roseglen84 · 09/04/2022 16:51

@minniep

I'm Irish and like the OP has said there's a national obsession with death. My parents have been devastated to find they were on holiday when such and such died as they "missed a great funeral ".
Yes, RIP.ie is a very popular website.

And everyone goes to funerals of people they have probably never met, like a work acquaintances' grandad - but it's seen as rude not to go.