observation of cultural differences

[seldear]

It occurs to me that LJing Americans are far more intensely political creatures than LJing Australians. And no, not just because 'nobody cares about Australian politics' - it's an attitude that we bring (or don't bring) to the table when discussing politics and policies.

Granted, I think I have about a dozen Aussies on my f-list, but none of them have any political party that I could tell you of - other than election time, the attitude towards politics is that it's mostly for politicians. I'd say it's not that we don't care, just that our lives and the way we view the world is more important and less earth-shattering than holding to a particular political party or believing in a political ideology.

This seems to differ vastly from your average LJing American - although I probably do many LJing non-political Americans wrong in saying so. Let's just say that almost all the political comments on my f-list come from Americans, with the exception of one or two from Europe/UK. Granted, I have alot of Americans on my f-list - apparently they breed or something? *g* - but even those who don't post politics on LJ, talk about it offline.

I'm hoping to meet with a bunch of Aussie LJers in the next few days, quite a few of whom aren't on my f-list. I doubt we'll talk politics or anything near that. Fandoms, personal things, silly stuff...but not politics or political parties.

It's an interesting difference to contemplate.

Comments

[venom69.livejournal.com]

Sel be smart.

That is all.

[chiroho.livejournal.com]

I think the biggest difference is that in Australia, the only real talk of politics is a few weeks before elections. In the US, it's virtually always election season. I'm serious.

Remember that the Presidential election campaign lasts almost 18 months! And if it's not that, it's mid term Congressional elections, state elections, town elections, something. And people tend to affiliate more with candidates than Australia.

I think it's just more talked about by more people, hence it flows over into their LJ comments.

Of course, I just have fun baiting the lot of them. ;)

[seldearslj.livejournal.com]

Of course, I just have fun baiting the lot of them. ;)

Yes, I noticed. *g*

[alliesings.livejournal.com]

In the US, it's virtually always election season. I'm serious.

It is. Hillary is already campaigning for '08.

[chiroho.livejournal.com]

I'm sure GWB was already raising money for the 2004 election before he was sworn in as President in 2001.

[pixiesio.livejournal.com]

Well, I suppose you don't have many Canucks on your lj, but overall I find we here are in-between as far as how passionate we are about politics and/or linking ourselves to a particular party. I personally don't link myself with a particular party, but I am passionate about what I believe in and will fight for it on any political ground.

That make sense?

[seldearslj.livejournal.com]

I don't think I have quite enough Canucks on the f-list to be able to say anything about their political leanings. Or they don't post often enough for me to be able to comment about their politics. :)

[dannylurks.livejournal.com]

Sel, I've noticed the same thing. Brits don't talk about politics to people they don't know well, and I think that includes lj. I hardly ever see political comments from fellow Brits on here, and I'd guess there are about 10 on my friends list.

To give an example of this, I would never contemplate putting up any sign of my political allegiance at election time (poster in the window, sticker on the car etc). I quite simply don't want other people to know which way I vote, and I think a lot of folk over here feel the same.

And it's always said that a good way to start a fight in a pub is to talk about religion or politics... ;-)

[stef94.livejournal.com]

I think what also puts fuel on the fire of political rants by US LJ-ers is the fact that in the US, politics and religion are still very closely linked, even though, officially, state and religion are seperated.
It was especially obvious in the last presidential campaign:
if you weren't openly supporting the conservatives, you were pretty much a moral-less, unbelieving, liberal heathen.

Here in Holland it's all pretty much the same as in Australia: politics is for the politicians to do, and for us mere mortals to bitch about ;-)
And come election day, we try to find the least rotten egg amongst the 6 major parties and 16 minor parties.
Some of these parties (like the large Christian Democrat party) have a religious affiliation, but they don't ram it down anyones throat by claiming the other parties are moral-less heathens. It's something that dictates how they view certain political issues, and everybody knows this, and therefore the fact that the party has a religious affiliation doesn't get talked about during the campaigns. It's in the name of the party, and that should be enough to figure it out.
Religion is not an issue in election campaigns here, and that makes things a lot more bearable.