Five Things About My Culture(s)
Aug. 11th, 2008 12:34 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
kayreList 5 things which are basic common knowledge in your culture, which people outside are unfamiliar with. This is not about obscurity, but something everyday to you, that others go "bzuh?" at.
Protestant Christian, Methodist version:
1) An asterisk in the bulletin means you stand. There may or may not be a note in the bulletin explaining this.
2) Bold print means the congregation speaks this out loud. Again, may or may not be a note.
3) We say "trespasses" in the Lord's Prayer, or maybe "sins" if we're a modern church. Not "debts."
4) We don't officially reserve pews-- but visitors might want to know that the seats near the center aisle from about half way to two thirds of the way back are almost certainly the customary seats of some regular attenders.
5) Doctrine is so relatively unimportant that there are many "union" churches which are combinations of Methodists and other seemingly incompatible denominations.
Vermonter:
1) Pedestrians rule. Even if a pedestrian is looking right at you when they walk into the street in the middle of a block, you come to a complete stop, smile and wave. If you're in one of the larger cities you can omit the smile and wave.
2) Grade A Light maple syrup is for tourists. Vermonters argue about whether A Medium Amber or A Dark Amber taste best; fanatics and bakers like Grade B.
3) If there's a barn on your property, in just about any condition (must have portions of four walls and a roof) you're a farm and get a tax break.
4) You pay property tax on your view.
5) Pickups, SUVs and four wheel drive vehicles aren't conspicuous consumption unless they're clean. The Subaru Outback is the unofficial car of Vermont.
Protestant Christian, Methodist version:
1) An asterisk in the bulletin means you stand. There may or may not be a note in the bulletin explaining this.
2) Bold print means the congregation speaks this out loud. Again, may or may not be a note.
3) We say "trespasses" in the Lord's Prayer, or maybe "sins" if we're a modern church. Not "debts."
4) We don't officially reserve pews-- but visitors might want to know that the seats near the center aisle from about half way to two thirds of the way back are almost certainly the customary seats of some regular attenders.
5) Doctrine is so relatively unimportant that there are many "union" churches which are combinations of Methodists and other seemingly incompatible denominations.
Vermonter:
1) Pedestrians rule. Even if a pedestrian is looking right at you when they walk into the street in the middle of a block, you come to a complete stop, smile and wave. If you're in one of the larger cities you can omit the smile and wave.
2) Grade A Light maple syrup is for tourists. Vermonters argue about whether A Medium Amber or A Dark Amber taste best; fanatics and bakers like Grade B.
3) If there's a barn on your property, in just about any condition (must have portions of four walls and a roof) you're a farm and get a tax break.
4) You pay property tax on your view.
5) Pickups, SUVs and four wheel drive vehicles aren't conspicuous consumption unless they're clean. The Subaru Outback is the unofficial car of Vermont.
