Spoiled Americans | Imamother

amother

Dahlia

Mon, Jun 19 2023, 3:48 pm

Chayalle wrote:

I imagine apartments in the Old City don't have multiple bathrooms and laundry rooms, and yet, I would consider them to be quite luxurious.

Chayalle, the entire topic is confusing and peoples experiences are misleading.
I have one side of the family in NY and the other side in Israel.
The Israeli side is doing just as well financially.
there are different needs and different struggles in different countries.

American children have difficulties Israeli children dont have and are not spoiled, in my humble opinion.

amother

Tuberose

Mon, Jun 19 2023, 4:09 pm

amother Dahlia wrote:

Needs and different struggles aside, American children have a higher standard of living compared to the rest of the world. Higher then most of the developed world, and SIGNIFICANTLEY higher then the undeveloped world. Sure - there are tradeoffs, high pressure and anxiety, long work days.
But the inability to recognize how fortunate all of us in the developed world (including western europe and Israel) are is a symptom of being spoiled.

When you travel to the developing world you start to comprehend how lucky we are.

amother

Yolk

Mon, Jun 19 2023, 4:26 pm

amother Valerian wrote:

I only read the first two pages, but what exactly was the point of this thread???

I was going to say similar!
I'd love to sit & read all 8 pages - I'm sure its all true, but as an American I don't have that luxury, I have to get back to work!
I believe in general there is much more affluence in America, and in general the standards are much higher (definitely in Tri-state area), therefore people are more "spoiled". There is very different work ethic. American work ethic is cut throat, with much more emphasis of requirement to work hard and the reward is the affluence that one could achieve. (As opposed to Europe where I haven't seen it like that - where those who work do so from 9-5, and all enjoy similar time off.)

werty

Mon, Jun 19 2023, 11:19 pm

amother Pink wrote:

It doesn't work like that. The medical billing industry is non existent in the UK because of socialized medicine. Receptionists in a medical office get paid less than working in a school.

It's not about "won't work full time". It's about not finding jobs to work in. If you've never lived there you can't understand it. There are very, very few options. Also, there are no childcare options for full time mothers like there are in Israel and the USA.

I do think that British , and Europeans have bH in general better preserved the ideology of mothers spending more time with their children, even though that means they will have a lower standard of living. It is a choice, but usually just a natural and obvious one.
Most British people I know would not be comfortable at the idea of kids being out full day every day, and of frum mothers turning into career women instead of primarily being homemakers.

Its a compliment in my opinion.

nylon

Tue, Jun 20 2023, 2:12 am

The standards in many American frum communities don't match america at large. Only very well off people are sending their kids to camp all summer, and private school is a luxury for most people. That's why you hear frum Americans say you need $300K a year. How many Americans do you think have that kind of money?

My British in-laws have a dishwasher and eat meat or chicken regularly. They don't have a swimming pool, no. But the British climate doesn't really suit that anyway, even if they had bigger gardens.

Australians and Canadians are more like Americans when it comes to housing styles.

zaq

Tue, Jun 20 2023, 8:48 am

amother Valerian wrote:

I only read the first two pages, but what exactly was the point of this thread???

Didn't you know? It's "Let's bash Americans" season. Maybe next month it'll be "let's bash Brits" followed by "let's bash Europeans", then in September "let's bash working moms," October will be "let's bash WAHMs/SAHMs." After that, the sky's the limit: apartment-dwellers? homeowners? people with cleaning ladies? people with side-by-side strollers?

GILBERT & SULLIVAN
I've Got A Little List Lyrics

As some day it may happen that a victim must be found
I've got a little list — I've got a little list
Of society offenders who might well be underground
And who never would be missed — who never would be missed!
There's the pestilential nuisances who write for autographs —
All people who have flabby hands and irritating laughs —
All children who are up in dates, and floor you with 'em flat —
All persons who in shaking hands, shake hands with you like that —
And all third persons who on spoiling tête-á-têtes insist —
They'd none of 'em be missed — they'd none of 'em be missed!

[Chorus]
He's got 'em on the list — he's got 'em on the list;
And they'll none of 'em be missed — they'll none of 'em be missed

There's the banjo serenader, and the others of his race
And the piano-organist — I've got him on the list!
And the people who eat peppermint and puff it in your face
They never would be missed — they never would be missed!
Then the idiot who praises, with enthusiastic tone
All centuries but this, and every country but his own;
And the lady from the provinces, who dresses like a guy
And who "doesn't think she dances, but would rather like to try";
And that singular anomaly, the lady novelist —
I don't think she'd be missed — I'm sure she'd not he missed!

[Chorus]
He's got her on the list — he's got her on the list;
And I don't think she'll be missed — I'm sure she'll not be missed!

And that Nisi Prius nuisance, who just now is rather rife
The Judicial humorist — I've got him on the list!
All funny fellows, comic men, and clowns of private life —
They'd none of 'em be missed — they'd none of 'em be missed
And apologetic statesmen of a compromising kind
Such as — What d'ye call him — Thing'em-bob, and likewise — Never-mind
And 'St— 'st— 'st— and What's-his-name, and also You-know-who —
The task of filling up the blanks I'd rather leave to you
But it really doesn't matter whom you put upon the list
For they'd none of 'em be missed — they'd none of 'em be missed!

[Chorus]
You may put 'em on the list — you may put 'em on the list;
And they'll none of 'em be missed — they'll none of 'em be missed!