Within the realm of social sciences, there’s something about behavioral adaptations to situations that I have to draw attention to. When I say this, I mean how people behave and react in certain social situations based on the proper assessment of the context. I think that’s why I find shows like Jersey Shore, Big Brother and reality TV in general so titillating. I enjoy seeing the interaction amongst people because something that more often than not seems obvious behavioral speaking, really isn’t. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t find downright manipulation a desirable trait, but working it to your advantage is pretty fascinating.

We’ll meet many “well-versed” people in our lives and I often wonder how they acquired their particular ability, that is being quick, adapting and recognizing the social context for which a certain behavior is required. While I wasn’t exactly shy and reserved as a kid, I definitely wasn’t a talker with the ladies (which is obviously a social situation we all encounter). It still amazes me how people can talk their way into a bedroom touchdown, but of course I don’t need or want to be that guy haha. It seems choosing your arsenal of conversation and behavior is something often innate and not to be learned… to a certain degree, but of course like many things, something we can all improve on. But being well-versed goes beyond just the ability to weave in and out of social situations without ending up in a car wreck. Another interesting aspect is how it extends outside one’s own culture. I guess for me, it’s something that I experience every day. Recently I started commuting a lot more again and that means fighting with hordes of people for that little bit of personal space on the subway or bus. While in the friendly confines of Canada, any sort of “bumping” will immediately bring forth dirty looks and the potential for a throw-down, the casual touching and jostling is all but expected. Of course it comes with the culture. Hong Kong has 18,176 per square mile, Canada has 9. If I don’t drop the shoulder and push/shove my way out of the subway, I’ll get stuck inside. Same with getting something done, the “polite” way just doesn’t cut it in most bustling Asian cities.

In this increasingly Global Village, your ability to go from one realm to another is paramount. While the world focuses on tangible measures for success, I can’t help but take weight in intangible skills such as these. It isn’t as easy as just being polite or learning someone’s customs, although I’m sure it helps. It’s like recognizing when passivity is necessary and when to be aggressive and gaijin smashing your way to the glory land. Yet as I alluded to in my references to reality TV, even if you put people of a common culture together (which negates that factor), it doesn’t mean people can communicate properly.

How much of this cultural skill can be taught through present day communications which as we know is mostly online. Does this rather than facilitate, make working with people outside our culture more difficult? I’m pretty sure that the last few paragraphs are a little disorganized but I hope you get what I’m trying to say.

-Eugene