Study on Child Behavior and Sugary Beveragers

I would say that Japan is much more "Western" than Russia at this point in terms of standard of living, worldview, and political culture, which are the biggest criteria for deciding whether a nation is "Western" or "Non-Western," not geography or ethnicity.

As ON said, Russia is drifting away from the Western European/American model and becoming more like China by the day. Putin realizes that if he were to embrace European ideals and come together with the EU it would mean the eventual end of Russia as a world power. Russia is basically a country-version of Vegeta from DBZ--butthurt that he's no longer top dog so even though he's technically a frenemy now he's going to be standoffish and hope that he doesn't end up chaperoning his half-human daughter while she shops at the mall.

Two borderline cases would be Turkey and India. In the first case there's a wishy-washy spirit of Europeanism and they have a democratic constitution and a high HDI, but it's also sliding toward Islamism and turning away from the EU (though their membership talks have restarted). In the second case it's a country that for many centuries along with China and Japan epitomized the Western concept of "The East," but it has a relatively (compared to its neighbors) healthy democratic system and at least on paper values many of the same ideals that Western nations do.

Originally posted by dadudemon
Thanks for this explanation. I do have a question: on that last one, do you have the time to expand on that with some detail?

I have a vague idea of what you're talking about, there, but I don't really know what you mean. I don't think anyone would care that it is off-topic.

Sure, I'm glad to take the time to expand my opinions to anyone who isn't Dolos...

anyways, to me at least, what should be called "Western" (and to be frank, I hate the term without any real idea of what should replace it), is a basic acceptance of capitalism mixed with the classical liberal messages of the enlightenment. Essentially, an acceptance that the state, or nation state, or whatever, has no right to infringe on the individual in some matters, and that this freedom extends to the economy.

Now, the obvious argument might be about the disparity in policy between America and Japan, but that same disparity exists between Canada and Germany, depending on the issue, and we don't label them as being "western vs non-western".

To me, having a generally democratic process of determining leadership and an economy that is open to all people (ie: capitalism) makes a nation "western", regardless of the policies that sort of attenuate those position. For instance, Canada require "Canadian content" on the radio, however, play a Brain Adams song and you have essential free speech on all other issues (I'm not saying I agree with the policy, but I'm saying such a small alteration to unbridled free speech doesn't actually constitute calling something "non-western"😉.

Russia, has in previous years, been restricting free speech, free demonstration and democratic rights, moving them away from what I would call "western" political values.

Again, like I said, it seems to be an issue of what we mean by "western", and given that Raisen decided to question why I would challenge him, I can't anticipate us getting much we disagree on.

haha, another example of ON + booze + internet = nonsense

That is at least comprehensible though, but lol, go me...

Originally posted by Omega Vision
I would say that Japan is much more "Western" than Russia at this point in terms of standard of living, worldview, and political culture, which are the biggest criteria for deciding whether a nation is "Western" or "Non-Western," not geography or ethnicity.

As ON said, Russia is drifting away from the Western European/American model and becoming more like China by the day. Putin realizes that if he were to embrace European ideals and come together with the EU it would mean the eventual end of Russia as a world power. Russia is basically a country-version of Vegeta from DBZ--butthurt that he's no longer top dog so even though he's technically a frenemy now he's going to be standoffish and hope that he doesn't end up chaperoning his half-human daughter while she shops at the mall.

Two borderline cases would be Turkey and India. In the first case there's a wishy-washy spirit of Europeanism and they have a democratic constitution and a high HDI, but it's also sliding toward Islamism and turning away from the EU (though their membership talks have restarted). In the second case it's a country that for many centuries along with China and Japan epitomized the Western concept of "The East," but it has a relatively (compared to its neighbors) healthy democratic system and at least on paper values many of the same ideals that Western nations do.

Originally posted by Oliver North
Sure, I'm glad to take the time to expand my opinions to anyone who isn't Dolos...

anyways, to me at least, what should be called "Western" (and to be frank, I hate the term without any real idea of what should replace it), is a basic acceptance of capitalism mixed with the classical liberal messages of the enlightenment. Essentially, an acceptance that the state, or nation state, or whatever, has no right to infringe on the individual in some matters, and that this freedom extends to the economy.

Now, the obvious argument might be about the disparity in policy between America and Japan, but that same disparity exists between Canada and Germany, depending on the issue, and we don't label them as being "western vs non-western".

To me, having a generally democratic process of determining leadership and an economy that is open to all people (ie: capitalism) makes a nation "western", regardless of the policies that sort of attenuate those position. For instance, Canada require "Canadian content" on the radio, however, play a Brain Adams song and you have essential free speech on all other issues (I'm not saying I agree with the policy, but I'm saying such a small alteration to unbridled free speech doesn't actually constitute calling something "non-western"😉.

Russia, has in previous years, been restricting free speech, free demonstration and democratic rights, moving them away from what I would call "western" political values.

Again, like I said, it seems to be an issue of what we mean by "western", and given that Raisen decided to question why I would challenge him, I can't anticipate us getting much we disagree on.

Thank you both for the in depth replies. I will respond to them, later. I was busy getting trolled in another place.

But, yes, there are a few things I would like to talk about. Do you want another thread or is this place just fine?

I really don't think anyone cares at this point, you are the OP as well aren't you?

If you wanted to attract others to the specific topic you could make a thread, but I don't think anyone would actually mind.

Originally posted by Oliver North
I really don't think anyone cares at this point, you are the OP as well aren't you?

If you wanted to attract others to the specific topic you could make a thread, but I don't think anyone would actually mind.

Good, I'll keep it here.