Weird question about collectivism

[Darc]

I was reading this article about collectivism

http://www.wa-pedia.com/forum/threads/4391-Are-Japanese-more-individualist-or-collectivist


And it claimed that places like Canada were highest on the list for things like collectivism, but I have found from living here my whole life, this is only true in regards to capitalism and how much monetary value or wealth a person has. So if you do not have enough wealth or money you are deemed as invaluable, and often times people are just kind of left by the wayside if they have any problems.

But besides that, I have found still that many individuals are still very conformist and despite the lack of concern for each other, there is a lot of expectation for rigid conformity, which I find kind of ridiuclous considering the expectation for people to be so "self reliant" in that sense. It kind of annoys me because it's very consumerism and capitalist like America, but at least America has the benefit of individualism more so, and one can actively seek and question things around them more often without being damned or shunned. I mean, I see the "individualist" thing in Canada translating more to people fighting for supremacy and balking over each other's superiority and material accumulations. America is slightly more materialistic I think, but only a little bit. So I don't really get the benefit of any of this at all.

So if Canada is supposedly so individualistic, why is it likewise still quite conformist?

Anyway, does anyone else agree that the typical notions of individuality or collectivism just hog-wash? or are they actually close to being accurate in regards to human psychology? I don't really agree with them at all.


I guess that's been my experience though, Canada is honestly really collectivist I think. It drives me nuts in that sense. Not in a harmonious way at all though, and that's why I wouldn't want to accept the majorities values here, but I find that everyone is supposed to conform to capitalist ideals. I feel like they are both two different virtual "realities" or something and you just conform to different things (in regards to (collectivism and individualism)

 

[Pin]

I don't know about Canada's culture. I also don't know what you mean by "capitalism."

Regarding Anti-Capitalism: I feel like nationalizing every industry is a bad idea because if everything is free there is no price, and if there is no price for a product, how would anyone know if people demand that product?

If there is no metric to adjust which accounts for the demand of food, that could lead to mass starvation or the overproduction of food.

 

[Darc]

I don't know about Canada's culture. I also don't know what you mean by "capitalism."

Regarding Anti-Capitalism: I feel like nationalizing every industry is a bad idea because if everything is free there is no price, and if there is no price for a product, how would anyone know if people demand that product?

If there is no metric to adjust which accounts for the demand of food, that could lead to mass starvation or the overproduction of food.

Ha ha, what does that have to do with anything?

It's not really about capitalism, it's just that generally, (who ever it is) it's for whatever reason been decided upon that individualism follows capitalist society's and collectivism communist/socialist ones.


I don't agree with it at all really though. For one, the left promotes ideas like "democracy" and for things to be decided upon collectively I feel this would entail some form of democracy, otherwise it's just like feudalism. With capitalism, sure, you have "individual" choice in terms of what you own and buy, but hat's virtually it. It doesn't make you an individual just because you like a different brand of clothing then the person next to you. I'd like to think that individualism is supposed to be about if anything, protecting "individual rights" which matter because at times the group acts harmfully in irregardless of what might be healthy for the individual. So it's good to have something to keep this at bay, I think. Plus I think it's great to have at least some small say in your personal choices, like how you dress, and how you spend at least a portion of your life.

Likewise, collectivism is nice in a community sense, because it's about taking the best interest of others in mind all of the time and working co-cooperatively. (but it works out usually in that, you have no personal choices or say in your own life. You are proverbially owned and have your value set by your community, family and friends) I just don't think it works anymore.So either way I think it's all just bullshit.