[eric-hu]

> Rape and genocide and embezzlement also exist for a reason, and make sense to people who think a certain way.

> Something this author believes that most people (in our coastal bubbles) don't: that some cultures are better than others.

I think you can ask people in coastal bubbles about the rape and genocide cultures of various wars and embezzlement subcultures of various corporations. My money is on them saying those cultures are inferior.

[ramy_d]

Actually i would argue the opposite. Not to the extent of genocide but the lid has really blown on Hollywood's sexual harassment problem (read: rape culture). Let's not forget Uber's contribution there and of course the whole gamer gate scandal which is still fresh in the minds of the people involved in the community. Racism, classism, and authoritarianism's roaring 2017 comeback. Then there's Madoff, Exon (classic) , various kickstarter scams, Nortel (Canada represent! ) etc

I mean if you think about it just a bit, there are many examples that would indicate we actually live in those cultures. Sure they might say those cultures are inferior, but let's take a cold hard look here.

[eric-hu]

Oh but I didn't say our society's hands are clean. My money simply goes to the odds of what "cultures" most in ours might find reprehensible.

And as for those in our society who do those things? My money is on most people in the home turf saying that's not their culture, that these are bad eggs.

[ramy_d]

This is a form of Nimby: "well I don't do those things and it is reprehensible that people in my society do!". That's cute and all but what are we doing about that? Look at the Weinstein scandal - that dude was on a 37 year streak. Or Pixar's Lasseter with a history dating back 15 years. NYT quoted Rashida Jones:

  “There is so much talent at Pixar, and we remain enormous fans of their films,” they continued. “However, it is also a culture where women and people of color do not have an equal creative voice.”

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/11/21/business/media/john-lasse...

Racism, Sexism. _But not me, not in my backyard, those people exercise reprehensible behaviour! shame on them_. Come on.

I'm just saying: we gotta own up a bit, we live in this society too, we also make it what it is and we can all strive to make it better. I don't see bad eggs, I see bad systems that foster bad eggs. my 2c

[int_19h]

It really depends. I have noticed this same trend recently, whereby things are accepted in other cultures because judging it would be "cultural imperialism". It even got into some previously non-controversial (in liberal circles) topics, like female genital mutilation. Google for "FGM cultural imperialism" for a lot on this.

[corey_moncure]

Any discussion of morality is moot in a society where genital mutilation (of any gender) is tolerated.

[DuskStar]

Most people in the US seem to be far more tolerant of circumcision than FGM. And under many definitions, circumcision qualifies as genital mutilation...

[corey_moncure]

Yes, we agree completely!

[smnrchrds]

Ergo any discussion of morality is moot in America society? What exactly are we doing here?