New England Stereotypes (Boston: lease, house, to buy)

[professorsenator]

Originally Posted by syracusa

Modesty in aestehtics will give you just that: modest aesthetics.

Use it up,
wear it out,
make it do,
or do without
- old New England saying

[syracusa]

Originally Posted by professorsenator

Use it up,
wear it out,
make it do,
or do without
- old New England saying

Is this hinting to the grand ol' habit of buying just about anything of SUPER HIGH QUALITY and then using it until you run it into the ground, make it an heirloom or take it to the grave with you?

If yes, I am not sure this is all that ... "modest".

[professorsenator]

Originally Posted by syracusa

Is this hinting to the grand ol' habit of buying just about anything of SUPER HIGH QUALITY and then using it until you run it into the ground, make it an heirloom or take it to the grave with you?
If yes, I am not sure this is all that ... "modest".

Yes, it is. And it is "modest" in that such an approach is not about impressing others, putting on airs, or embracing fads or trends. It is about utility, function, parsimony, thrift...often coupled with a regard for tradition. Such modesty does not disdain all that is new; rather, there is a inherent respect for the tried and true and a bit of skepticism about that which is sold as the latest and greatest because experience teaches that many things that come along don't live up to the hype and stand the test of time. It is a mindset that sees benefits in the humble and predictable versus the flashy and unknown. Things like, say, boring old wood clapboards...

[Frodo2008]

Originally Posted by professorsenator

Yes, it is. And it is "modest" in that such an approach is not about impressing others, putting on airs, or embracing fads or trends. It is about utility, function, parsimony, thrift...often coupled with a regard for tradition. Such modesty does not disdain all that is new; rather, there is a inherent respect for the tried and true and a bit of skepticism about that which is sold as the latest and greatest because experience teaches that many things that come along don't live up to the hype and stand the test of time. It is a mindset that sees benefits in the humble and predictable versus the flashy and unknown. Things like, say, boring old wood clapboards...

I agree with this logic. Fads come and go like the weather. I guess I'm like a lot of New Englanders I usually ignore the latest fads and then after a couple of years the fad is long gone.

[Beachcomber4]

Originally Posted by professorsenator

Yes, it is. And it is "modest" in that such an approach is not about impressing others, putting on airs, or embracing fads or trends. It is about utility, function, parsimony, thrift...often coupled with a regard for tradition. Such modesty does not disdain all that is new; rather, there is a inherent respect for the tried and true and a bit of skepticism about that which is sold as the latest and greatest because experience teaches that many things that come along don't live up to the hype and stand the test of time. It is a mindset that sees benefits in the humble and predictable versus the flashy and unknown. Things like, say, boring old wood clapboards...

Well stated.

[syracusa]

Originally Posted by professorsenator

Yes, it is. And it is "modest" in that such an approach is not about impressing others, putting on airs, or embracing fads or trends. It is about utility, function, parsimony, thrift...often coupled with a regard for tradition. Such modesty does not disdain all that is new; rather, there is a inherent respect for the tried and true and a bit of skepticism about that which is sold as the latest and greatest because experience teaches that many things that come along don't live up to the hype and stand the test of time. It is a mindset that sees benefits in the humble and predictable versus the flashy and unknown. Things like, say, boring old wood clapboards...

Except that I am still not convinced such outlook/practice indicate "modesty". Not when we talk about buying "super high quality", typically requiring serious money down, to be parsimonious in the long run. Most of the time, it indicates privilege, if anything. And today, many people who can appreciate the wisdom of this outlook simply cannot afford to adopt it. Sadly, the contemporary average Joe no longer has the luxury to opt for the "I-am-too-poor-to-buy-cheap-stuff" line of thinking.

Neither am I convinced that those who buy "super high quality" do it strictly for "utility, function, parsimony and thrift". Such people know very well the difference between "trinket" and "treasure", most were bred to make fine discriminations and to recognize true luxury in the minutest of detail. They know others in their circles have been taught well too.
I also don't believe in "not trying to impress anybody". Somewhere deep down you're probably trying to impress SOMEBODY by appearing like you never try to impress ANYBODY.

All humans are ultimately social animals. Somehow, someway, somewhere, at some level, we ALL seek to impress others, if only a few "significant" others. Or we seek to impress ourselves, but even this process involves the eyes of "the other".

So...I guess I am just not buying it.

That being said, the "boring old wood clapboards", just like the "dreary suburbs" - are NOT aesthetic. I proclaim this to be an axiom.

[HeadedWest]

Originally Posted by syracusa

That being said, the "boring old wood clapboards", just like the "dreary suburbs" - are NOT aesthetic.

Oh, you're going to love New England.

[Ashls]

Originally Posted by ConceivedinKY51

- Unemotional (and HATE emotions in public; it's the only place in the U.S. I've cried a few times in public and NO ONE walked up to me and asked if I was o.k.)

You did what!?

[professorsenator]

Originally Posted by syracusa

Except that I am still not convinced such outlook/practice indicate "modesty". Not when we talk about buying "super high quality", typically requiring serious money down, to be parsimonious in the long run. Most of the time, it indicates privilege, if anything....
Neither am I convinced that those who buy "super high quality" do it strictly for "utility, function, parsimony and thrift". Such people know very well the difference between "trinket" and "treasure", most were bred to make fine discriminations and to recognize true luxury in the minutest of detail....

No, syracusa, most people in New England (and the U.S.) aren't "bred to make fine discriminations."

Most folks are just people who have families they love, work hard to try to build a better life for their children than they had for themselves, and enjoy some good times along the way.

You have SO, SO much to learn about the U.S. and her people, but your profound unhappiness about being here and the resulting antipathy you exhibit toward the U.S. -- which oozes from every sentence you post -- seems to have put blinders on your ability to even faintly understand the complexities and contradictions of life in America. Instead, you seem to view everything through a negative, Eastern European-based prism and ascribe insidious meaning and motive to anyone and everything that does not comport with your own cramped and stunted world view (though you seem to think you don't have such a view, which makes it all that much worse...)

HeadedWest was right with his/her post which drips sarcasm: you're going to love New England

[syracusa]

Originally Posted by professorsenator

No, syracusa, most people in New England (and the U.S.) aren't "bred to make fine discriminations."

Most folks are just people who have families they love, work hard to try to build a better life for their children than they had for themselves, and enjoy some good times along the way.

You have SO, SO much to learn about the U.S. and her people, but your profound unhappiness about being here and the resulting antipathy you exhibit toward the U.S. -- which oozes from every sentence you post -- seems to have put blinders on your ability to even faintly understand the complexities and contradictions of life in America. Instead, you seem to view everything through a negative, Eastern European-based prism and ascribe insidious meaning and motive to anyone and everything that does not comport with your own cramped and stunted world view (though you seem to think you don't have such a view, which makes it all that much worse...)

Professor,

I think we're way off track here. I thought we were talking about aesthetics and the proverb you had brought up, which if you noticed, does not apply to all those masses of "loving folks" you seem to be bent on defending from an inexistent agressor. Most of those who buy "super high quality" and apply your valued proverb ARE BRED to make "fine discriminations".

I also think that it would be wise if we stayed away from analyzing each other's grand "views of the world" as it might be over our respective heads in cyber format. I myself thought I got a glimpse of a "cramped and stunted" world view in your posts but granted I know so little about you, I abstained. I agree with having a lot more to learn about the US and its people (I have a lot more to learn about everything) but I congratulate you for having covered it all on Eastern Europeans.

You know, Eastern Europeans do not have a monopoly on "cramped and stunted" world views...