10 Reasons I Disabled My Contact Form (Blog)

[Daffy Duck]

Originally Posted by Curtis2011

You have not truly lived until you have been with a group of girl friends while watching two Thai prostitutes on a stage pull living mice out of their vaginas and throw them into the audience.

Well damn! Now I'm really sorry I missed out on CGW #4.

[Curtis2011]

Originally Posted by escapeplan

Blimey, I thought ping pong balls were bad enough!

Originally Posted by Angela

.....while you have a deer in your mouth that has been frolicking in the wilderness only 2 hours before.

Originally Posted by Daffy Duck

Well damn! Now I'm really sorry I missed out on CGW #4.

Lol... they also did other tricks... but I don't want to spoil it for Steve!

[escapeplan]

Originally Posted by Curtis2011

Lol... they also did other tricks... but I don't want to spoil it for Steve!

Yes Curtis, but I think this is an incomplete picture of the land of smiles!

[MidasGirl]

Originally Posted by Steve Pavlina

Out of curiosity what do you think the benefits of visiting non-Western countries would be?

Lots of people have suggested that sort of thing, but so far no one has actually said specifically why it matters. I can guess at the reasons, but it would be nice to hear more specifics rather than "It will be an eye opening experience."

.

The reason nobody has been able to give you specifics is that it's highly experiential. It just changes you, the way you view the world, it broadens your view of life and humanity, etc etc. It a soul-enriching experience. It's like trying to explain to someone why it would be beneficial to fall madly in love. If they've never experienced it, there's not many words you can use to explain the true benefits of it.

[danas]

I have an unfounded theory that just as some believe that the left hand takes and the right hand gives so it is with East and West sides of the world.
The West is the taking side and the East is the giving side. The more east u go in the world the less the mentality is of "taking" and more "giving".
I have had this theory for a while.

And now after a year in the US I'm back east (not far east) and for example here all the cafes have free wifi and people hardly lock their home wifi. Why not share is the way ppl think.
Or I went to get a smoothie and forgot my wallet. I said oh sorry I'll run upstairs and get it, but the smoothie guy said it's ok pay me later. I said no I need to go buy some CDs anyway. And so he took out his wallet and gave me 20$ and said pay me later!
Another example which has stregthened my theory: I had a full course meal in Turkey in a restaurant and they didn't let me pay, claiming they think I brought them luck. Just some examples. Needless to say this kind of things never happen in the US, not to say that ppl aren't giving, but it's a different mentality. Everything costs money like nowhere else in the world ( this too has it's benefits).
But it's a nice thing to experience this different mentality where there isn't such a strong emphasis on materialism

[Curtis2011]

Originally Posted by danas

I have an unfounded theory that just as some believe that the left hand takes and the right hand gives so it is with East and West sides of the world.
The West is the taking side and the East is the giving side. The more east u go in the world the less the mentality is of "taking" and more "giving".
I have had this theory for a while.

And now after a year in the US I'm back east (not far east) and for example here all the cafes have free wifi and people hardly lock their home wifi. Why not share is the way ppl think.
Or I went to get a smoothie and forgot my wallet. I said oh sorry I'll run upstairs and get it, but the smoothie guy said it's ok pay me later. I said no I need to go buy some CDs anyway. And so he took out his wallet and gave me 20$ and said pay me later!
Another example which has stregthened my theory: I had a full course meal in Turkey in a restaurant and they didn't let me pay, claiming they think I brought them luck. Just some examples. Needless to say this kind of things never happen in the US, not to say that ppl aren't giving, but it's a different mentality. Everything costs money like nowhere else in the world ( this too has it's benefits).
But it's a nice thing to experience this different mentality where there isn't such a strong emphasis on materialism

I live in Texas and even some of our Mcdonald's have free wifi

It is ironic that "giving" free wifi is even called "giving", because the wifi just gets you in the door so you'll spend money at the store!

(For instance, a few times I didn't even want to eat at Mcdonald's, but I had to use their wifi so I went in for a few hours to use it. Needless to say sitting in a fast food place smelling all the yummy food convinced me to buy from them!)

In this case, them "giving" resulted in them "taking" from me! Sort of.


If you think about it... Giving and getting can be the same thing, and business is discovering this a lot lately. Give to your customers = customers keep coming back to buy from you.

Even Jesus said those who give shall receive, and the Buddha said "if you knew what I know about the power of giving, you would not let a single meal pass without sharing it in some way".

And more contemporary... Dr. Hawkins wrote in one of his books something about giving to others is the same as giving to yourself, since we are all the same Self on the inside.

[Savage]

Originally Posted by danas

I have an unfounded theory that just as some believe that the left hand takes and the right hand gives so it is with East and West sides of the world.
The West is the taking side and the East is the giving side. The more east u go in the world the less the mentality is of "taking" and more "giving".
I have had this theory for a while.

And now after a year in the US I'm back east (not far east) and for example here all the cafes have free wifi and people hardly lock their home wifi. Why not share is the way ppl think.
Or I went to get a smoothie and forgot my wallet. I said oh sorry I'll run upstairs and get it, but the smoothie guy said it's ok pay me later. I said no I need to go buy some CDs anyway. And so he took out his wallet and gave me 20$ and said pay me later!
Another example which has stregthened my theory: I had a full course meal in Turkey in a restaurant and they didn't let me pay, claiming they think I brought them luck. Just some examples. Needless to say this kind of things never happen in the US, not to say that ppl aren't giving, but it's a different mentality. Everything costs money like nowhere else in the world ( this too has it's benefits).
But it's a nice thing to experience this different mentality where there isn't such a strong emphasis on materialism

That all sounds great.

Free WiFi is common AFAIK. I had no trouble finding free WiFi at veg restaurants on my road trip. Starbucks has free WiFi too, even if you don't buy anything.

As for not locking your doors, that's also common away from the big cities.

[Bud921]

Hey Steve,

Having had the wonderful opportunity to live in China for two years during high school as well as having lived in The Netherlands when I was younger, I can say traveling was a powerful growth catalyst for me.

Specifically traveling helped me work on:

Gratitude: During one of my trips with school I helped bring running water to a rural village in China. It was one of the most humbling experiences I've ever had. One of the local Chinese women said that the well (which had clean water) was magical because it cured stomach aches and the runs. It made me appreciate how the simple things in our life.

I also recall a time when I saw two poor villagers fishing. They were the happiest people I've ever seen and to this day the image of them smiling remains vivid in my heart.

Putting Your Presence Into Place: I remember looking out into the plains of inner mongolia and and realizing how insignificant I am but at the same time how connected each and everyone of us are to the world. Traveling allows you to get outside of our "bubble" so to speak and appreciate what the other sides of the world has to offer.

Patience: Traveling also taught me a lot of patience in that it takes sometime to pick up language and other cultural norms. Not to mention in China everything you do involves bargaining.

Some food for thought,

[Savage]

I wonder what Easterners gain when they travel to Western countries.

[Entelechy]

LOL - Steve, this has to be one of your funniest blog posts.

Do you ever just get random solicitations for money? I would have assumed that that would have been on there.

[Bud921]

Obesity
Ignorance
Entitlement
Horrific Spelling

[Dev]

2 sentences which 'hit me hard' in this post:
1. Even a positive past can become a leash.
2. I know that recurring thoughts have the ability to manifest as real.

Thanks Steve

[Savage]

Originally Posted by Entelechy

LOL - Steve, this has to be one of your funniest blog posts.

Do you ever just get random solicitations for money? I would have assumed that that would have been on there.

Not very often, maybe 10-20 times a year.

[Acting Like Godot]

Originally Posted by Steve Pavlina

I wonder what Easterners gain when they travel to Western countries.

I am an Easterner.

The Western countries that I have travelled to are the US, Canada and the UK.

If by Western, you really mean "countries with lots of white people", then I have also travelled to Australia and New Zealand.

I cannot specifically say what I gain from travelling to Western countries (as opposed to Eastern countries).

(Eastern countries I have travelled to include Japan, China, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Indonesia and Thailand).

I will say that the food in the UK and the US is generally depressing. I have also had many friends who come from the US and the UK, to my part of the world, who then realise, for the first time, how depressing the food in their home countries really is.

I also find the weather in Western countries often depressing (winters). England, in particular, deserves special mention for lousy weather. I wonder whether Englishmen really know what a blue sky is.

Another thing I find depressing about Western countries is the broke, homeless people in the streets.

Make no mistake about this - there are also broke, homeless people in the streets of Eastern cities. But the broke, homeless people in, say, Bangkok, somehow look happier, more resilient. The broke, homeless people in, say, Tokyo, somehow look refined and dignified. The broke, homeless people in, say, Singapore .... errr, scratch that, there are no broke, homeless people in Singapore.

The broke, homeless people I have seen, say, in New York City, they just look miserable. Either that, or dangerous.

In general, I like white country folks. The further they live away from major cities, the friendlier they seem to be.

This distinction does not seem to exist in Eastern countries. Some people are warm and friendly; some people are not; but it doesn't appear to me to have any correlation as to whether they live in the rural or urban areas.

----------------

Also, hotels in the Western countries tend to really suck, compared to those in Eastern countries.

When I was in New York, I stayed in what was supposed to be one of the top, poshest hotels and I found it just ..... ok.

In practically any Asian country, you would get a much better hotel for a considerably lower price. Like, in Bangkok, the kind of hotel rooms I stayed in would have features like these:

- you can watch TV while soaking in the bathroom tub
- there are speakers in the bathroom
- you get a really great range of toiletries
- there's a lot of attention to detail. Like, little souvenirs and gifts for guests; a nice painting on the wall etc.

In Bali, you get, of course, your private villa + personal jacuzzi + infinity swimming pool + private garden, and your room is designed to give you a mountain view or a beach view. In many hotels, the villa is specially designed such that you can walk around naked outdoors with your lover, and no one can see you.

[escapeplan]

Originally Posted by Steve Pavlina

I wonder what Easterners gain when they travel to Western countries.

Look, the east isn't all about candles and spirituality and the west isn't all about cold hearted capitalism. The east is increasingly becoming westernised, and the benefits of this include better medical services, and better health and safety awareness, for example in their day to day working practices.

But like Midasgirl said, you need to experience to understand. The west has got it so wrong- not in terms of technology or democracy, but on a more fundamental level. Maybe the reason travelling outside of western countries doesn't appeal to you right now, is that you are not open to, or aware of, the benefits of leaving the west behind for a while. A new perspective can be gained even within Latin America, but with pre-conceived ideas of what you will or won't experience- you'll never know!

As for what the easterners get from travelling to the west, I would imagine heartburn, stress and isolation!

[danas]

Originally Posted by Steve Pavlina

That all sounds great.

Free WiFi is common AFAIK. I had no trouble finding free WiFi at veg restaurants on my road trip. Starbucks has free WiFi too, even if you don't buy anything.

As for not locking your doors, that's also common away from the big cities.

In that case Starbucks changed their policy, you used to have to pay AT&T.
In NY free wifi was rare. Here in the big city every cafe has free wifi otherwise they would loose business.
I didnt say ppl dont lock their doors, I meant they dont lock their home wifi with a password.

@Curtis
I dont think there is anything wrong with the "taking" mentality either. America is a wealthy country for a reason.
In America anyone with a creative idea and the right attitude, who is willing to work has an equal chance to become successful.
No matter where they came from, what class or background. That is amazing!
I mean Oprah Winfrey is one if the wealthiest women in the world and look where she came from. I think only in America could she climb to the top like that. In most other parts of the world the class system is much more prominent.

In NY a guy downstairs on my street would sell little scrolls of paper which he claimed were "a message for your soul" for 5 bucks, and ppl would buy them!
I think that is awesome. If you have a creative idea, you can make money.
Around here he would have much better chance begging for money.
Here if you ask for too much you are considered greedy.
Another example: On cable there is a new very popular series. The tv channel would upload it every day after it was broadcasted to their website so ppl w/o cable would watch it for free.
Now they stopped uploading bc they want ppl to join cable, and ppl are literally signing petitions that "how dare they not upload their programs for free". Now everyone is calling this cable company greedy and banning them. Its almost funny.

In Beijing I once asked for directions. The person literally dropped everything and gave me a 2 hour tour of the city not asking for anything in return.
Or another time a woman in Beijing offered me her couch which I slept on for a week and we became great friends even though she only spoke 5 english words, we were exactly the sam age and had so much fun together.

Steve Im pretty sure if you travel out of western countries you will notice this difference. That the culture doesn't evolve around making a profit.
Its very refreshing.
Unless you do only "touristy" things, which have a western approach.
But knowing you, you will connect to ppl more intimately then that.
_________________________

[danas]

As for Europe:
I also love the east.
Budapest is so much fun! with the turkish baths (Gellert!), great parks and markets, beautiful cafes. Prague and Krakow are super too but Budapest is my favorite though.
Istanbul is also one of my favorite cities in the world. fascinating culture, breathtaking islands which you can hop around with the ferries.

In the UK-
London!!! (be prepared to spend a lot of Money),
Scotland too-very different, a very special place with very special people. Stay in a bed and breakfast.
Wales is wonderful. Havent been to Ireland.

France-
Paris of course, but if you can make it to the south of France, rent a car and drive around the little museums, small islands, its so so beautiful.
Holland-
Amsterdam is fun, Ive been there 5 times from age 15-to age 20.
but always completely stoned out of my head- (haven't been their in 15 years though, so I cant recommend it. Id love to see how it is now that Im substance free.)
Germany-
Berlin is a must! By chance Ive been there once a year since 1997 and it always a different experience, one of my favorite cities on earth.
Italy is great too. Go to Milan for great fashion at bargain prices (if you know where to look), Bologna for the food. Venice and Florence are beautiful but so jam packed with tourists, it not my cup of tea.
Haven't been south for a long time so I dont remember, but its very different from the north.
Austria-
If you want to see the true meaning of the word decadence go to Vienna.

If you go to Scandinavia go in the summer when the sun never sets (but be prepared for huge mosquitoes and drunken people all over the place- Sorry to offend- but this impression stayed with me.), but for the rest of Europe I recommend spring. Summer is a nightmare with no ac and bus loads of tourists.

[Weena]

Originally Posted by danas

I had a full course meal in Turkey in a restaurant and they didn't let me pay, claiming they think I brought them luck.

We befriended a local Thai lady who cooked at the hotel we stayed at. She and her partner took us outside of the city (fun moped ride!) for dinner. The restaurant belonged to her family (had been built by her father) it was absolutely gorgeous, lots of locals and practically no tourists...and we had a sumptuous feast (several courses of meal) with them. When we offered to pay for dinner they would not hear of it!!! How welcoming and generous Thai people are... (By the way it's useful to read a book about what is polite or rude to do in Thailand...helps making friends too...this friend found we were very different from other travelers.)

Oh and i have no opinions about the ping-pong shows. I figure it's more of a man thing... as a woman, the idea of spending an evening staring at vagina did not appeal to me as much as visiting temples, rafting and feeding baby elephants...

[danas]

Originally Posted by Steve Pavlina

I wonder what Easterners gain when they travel to Western countries.

Its clean! and more organized. That in itself is a good enough reason.
Also its orientated around "having fun". Theme parks and wide highways. Stores and restaurants with a theme (as I said- more organized).
I mean you live in Las Vegas. That whole city was built around the idea of "having fun" in a very creative way.
And in general - Less chaos!

[Acting Like Godot]

Originally Posted by danas

In America anyone with a creative idea and the right attitude, who is willing to work has an equal chance to become successful.
No matter where they came from, what class or background. That is amazing!
I mean Oprah Winfrey is one if the wealthiest women in the world and look where she came from. I think only in America could she climb to the top like that. In most other parts of the world the class system is much more prominent.

That is a American myth.

If you google around, you will find that recently, the media has been featuring a list of the 20 richest self-made women in the world.

Basically, women whose wealth was not inherited or who did not marry a very, very rich man. Women who made their money through their own efforts.

On this list, there are

1 Italian woman;
1 Russian woman
1 Spanish woman;
3 American women;
3 British women; and
11 Chinese women.

Oprah is in 9th position.
JK Rowling (harry potter) is in last place (20th position).

[danas]

Originally Posted by Acting Like Godot

That is a American myth.

I dont know if its a myth bc I experienced this myself. Selling my photos for thousands bc people think its a good investment (it is!)

One thing I really liked about America as opposed from the UK (after living there 7 years) is this lack of class system.
In the UK if you have the wrong accent your chances to succeed literally go down.
My observation after a year in NY, is that anyone can make it with the right attitude and determination.
The most famous male singer- Michael Jackson- Most famous female singer Madonna- both had no special privileges (besides talent) yet they made it to the top bc of the culture they live in which allows that.
Its culture that encourages you to go after your dreams.
I mean some of the most rich and famous ppl in the US music industry grew up in the toughest ghettos- I dont think that can be overlooked

1 Italian woman;
1 Russian woman
1 Spanish woman;
3 American women;
3 British women; and
11 Chinese women.

How many of these women grew up in poverty as part of a minority race in their country? I doubt any but Oprah.

[aelle]

Originally Posted by Steve Pavlina

I wonder what Easterners gain when they travel to Western countries.

One of the main benefits of travelling to a completely different place is that it allows you to understand your own culture, your own baggage better - and consciously decide if you want to keep it or not. It's hard to realize what "Western culture" is until you step out of it. From the inside, you see all the differences - of races, of religion, blue states vs. red states, working class vs. elites, English speakers vs. Spanish speakers, etc. From the outside, you realize how trivial these differences are, as they are just nuances of a uniform state of mind.

In your case, from your writing I would say that your notions of freedom, responsibility or work are extremely western, and even pretty American. If you don't realize it, then it might be hampering you without your knowing it.

Originally Posted by escapeplan

Look, the east isn't all about candles and spirituality and the west isn't all about cold hearted capitalism. The east is increasingly becoming westernised, and the benefits of this include better medical services, and better health and safety awareness, for example in their day to day working practices.

But like Midasgirl said, you need to experience to understand. The west has got it so wrong- not in terms of technology or democracy, but on a more fundamental level. Maybe the reason travelling outside of western countries doesn't appeal to you right now, is that you are not open to, or aware of, the benefits of leaving the west behind for a while. A new perspective can be gained even within Latin America, but with pre-conceived ideas of what you will or won't experience- you'll never know!

As for what the easterners get from travelling to the west, I would imagine heartburn, stress and isolation!

Modernized != Westernized. The best healthcare system in the world is now in Singapore, and the public transportation systems of Japan and Korea would put those of Europe to shame - not to even mention the US. And yet these countries are very, very Eastern in their mentalities.

As for the west having it all wrong... well, I don't agree at all. It's different, not better. But I haven't always thought that way, I've had both swings of the cultural shock pendulum!

Originally Posted by danas

Its clean! and more organized. That in itself is a good enough reason.
.../...
And in general - Less chaos!

You must be thinking of South East and South Asians. You have not seen clean and ordered before you've stepped in Japan.

[Acting Like Godot]

Originally Posted by aelle

You have not seen clean and ordered before you've stepped in Japan.

Agree.

It is the Japanese work attitude.

Even road sweepers and janitors take pride in their work.

Actually, pride is an understatement. It's more like a perfectionist attitude.

I have been in many hotels in Western countries where, you know, little things will go wrong .... A curtain can't be drawn; the iron is missing; the kettle has calcium deposits in it.

I have NEVER seen any such problems in a Japanese hotel.

Japanese hotels are very small (and because of that, not very comfortable), but EVERYTHING works. You don't even need to stay in a classy hotel for that. Even in a cheap Japanese hotel, EVERYTHING works.

---------

One thing about the Japanese - they also expect their guests to be as orderly as them.

When they say "Checkout is 10 a.m", they really mean that at 9:59 a.m, you should be downstairs at the hotel lobby, with all your luggage, and ready to hand in your key.

I assure you that the average Western country cannot beat Japan for order.

[Acting Like Godot]

Originally Posted by aelle

Modernized != Westernized. The best healthcare system in the world is now in Singapore, and the public transportation systems of Japan and Korea would put those of Europe to shame - not to even mention the US.

Singapore's public transportation would also put the US and European public transportation to shame.

And Singapore's airport would also put US and European airports to shame.

In fact, if you check the international rankings of the world's top 10 airports,
you'll see that not a single US airport is on the list; and six of the top 10 airports are Asian.

Passenger's Choice Awards | World's Best Airport

I was pretty shocked, when I visited New York this year. I always have this image in my mind of New York as an extremely cosmopolitan city, and I expected the airport to be great.

It wasn't. It was pretty lousy. The building was unattractive; there was nothing much to do while waiting for flights; and the security measures made me feel like a terrorist suspect.

Okay - to give you some basis for comparison - this is what Singapore's airport is like.

1. There is a wide range of restaurants (in fact some people go to the airport just for the fine dining). And Steve, there are not one, not two, but THREE 100% vegetarian restaurants in the airport.

2. You could spend hours shopping there (in fact some people go to the airport just to shop)

3. You can go for a spa or massage while waiting for flights

4. The airport has free computers set up for your use (with Internet access)

5. There are shower facilities for passengers in transit

6. Basically the lounges are quite nice and comfortable

7. The security staff are really polite and pleasant - they do all the same kinds of security checks, but they don't make you feel like a suspect, instead they smile warmly and offer you a mint or chocolate at the end of the checking

8. the place is well-decorated and has different themes at different parts of the hotel (eg they have marine aquariums with exotic fish;, tropical orchid gardens; water fountains);

9. from time to time, they organise special events so that you have something to do while waiting for your flight; eg they have photographic exhibitions or Sudoku competitions with prizes

10. even the taxi queue area is designed such that you can wait in air-conditioned comfort, right until the time when your cab arrives

11. There is a MOVIE THEATRE in the airport. GYM facilities. SHOWER facilities. FOOT REFLEXOLOGY services. THREE children's playgrounds. A jacuzzi and a SWIMMING POOL. Hairstylists. Manicure and pedicure, for the ladies.

12. A nature trail!

13. At least 60 different eating places in the airport.

14. Xbox, Playstation, LAN gaming.

15. A four-storey slide! Like a theme park ride.

16. A butterfly garden (with a waterfall), koi pond, collection of rare orchids, and a garden of cacti species from Africa and the Americas.



JFK Airport? Nothing!!!

[aelle]

The first time I went to Japan, I came back and landed at CDG... We were a full plane from Tokyo plus a full transatlantic plance. There was one customs agent, rolling his eyes at every step of the process, and being short with the passengers who were upset about the ridiculous wait. 4 of his colleagues were there, but not working - standing behind him and sniggering.

Welcome back!

[escapeplan]

Originally Posted by aelle

Modernized != Westernized. The best healthcare system in the world is now in Singapore, and the public transportation systems of Japan and Korea would put those of Europe to shame - not to even mention the US. And yet these countries are very, very Eastern in their mentalities.

As for the west having it all wrong... well, I don't agree at all. It's different, not better. But I haven't always thought that way, I've had both swings of the cultural shock pendulum!



You must be thinking of South East and South Asians. You have not seen clean and ordered before you've stepped in Japan.

Yes, you're right of course and I was generalising. In fact it probably won't be too long before some of the "western" countries are viewed as being a little backwards.

[escapeplan]

Maybe without realising it Steve is sick of personal development or realises in fact that there are too many limits within human nature for it to be truly productive. One of the benefits if he decides to travel more is that he could assess whether his ideas and theories have a worldwide application. Travelling would give him a greater insight and provide him with greater authority.

How satisfying can it be getting requests and listening to the rants on these forums- I would have lost my mind with it all years ago if this was my site. Possibly Steve has now done all he can and is almost looking to push away from it, but who knows. Not me.

[aelle]

Originally Posted by escapeplan

Yes, you're right of course and I was generalising. In fact it probably won't be too long before some of the "western" countries are viewed as being a little backwards.

They already are backwards. But the blinds are still on, it'll be a while until they realize it.

[escapeplan]

Originally Posted by aelle

They already are backwards. But the blinds are still on, it'll be a while until they realize it.

Perhaps, and even longer until they accept it! Americans tend to be the worst when it comes to blinders though. At least in the UK no-one even pretends there is anything great about the place!!!

[invisiblehouses]

So I'm reading the posts about cutting off communication channels, I'm following the discussions regarding said posts, and the only thing I can think is, "Damn, I wish I could get ahold of a full version of Dweep right about now."

This probably just goes to show something, but I sure don't know what.