As always, I enjoyed reading your “replay” and finding out your perspective on our cultural differences Hive account@insight-out. I would say there certainly are some, but in reading through what you have to say here, I think some of it is partly just simple differences in interpretation of some words.

For example, what you have to say about “collectivisim,” I would link to our word community. America once had a much greater sense of community than we do now. Being closely connected to family and neighbors was commonplace. Particularly true in small towns, which is why my wife and I greatly prefer them over bigger population centers. What is left of the historic sense of community in America today is most likely to be found in small towns, in general, and, even then, most likely in small farming communities. A lot more I could say here, but that is the general idea in linking your cultural reference to “collectivism” to ours …

And, as for this Hive account@insight-out …

”If you read the construct description below the charts you will see that indulgence is connected to optimism.”

… I say “What?!” I have to read the “directions?” 😧 Oh no, not that … Say it isn’t so! I’m a guy and we don’t have time to read directions … 😏 😉

Seriously, okay now I took the time to actually read “the directions,” rather than simply respond based on what the word “indulgence” means to me … and … Hmmm, here is what I am reading …

”This dimension is defined as the extent to which people try to control their desires and impulses, based on the way they were raised. A tendency toward a relatively weak control over their impulses is called “Indulgence” …”

… and I do not find the word optimism. 😉

You and I are certainly like-minded on what you have to say about optimism and, yes, I think America has historically been remarkably optimistic. I would go so far as to link that characteristic to our Judeo-Christian worldview, which is distinctive, given our history in comparison to much of the rest of the world. But … We are “progressively” (there’s that word again … 😉) losing it …

What you say reminds me of my very first conversation (in northern England in the 1980s …) with the man who was soon to become my boss. He was very excited, since he had lived there briefly before, to be returning to America. Why? He said we, as a people, were so much more hopeful than what he experienced “back home.” He was pleased it had worked out that he could return there, having just started his family. And he told me he had no intention of returning to England either … Older than me, he retired awhile back. But, we keep in touch, from time to time (long story …). And, yes, he is still in America, retired to a small community in Virginia …

Well, gotta run and get on into my day here. “Things to do and places to go” which is not possible while “furiously” tapping away on my keyboard and clicking away on my mouse … 😉

Until “next time” Hive account@insight-out, I hope you and yours are enjoying a great day!