Things To Consider

[Amy (In America - Busy atm)]

Okay, I'm back - or should be. It might take me a day or two to unpack and catch up on sleep, but after that I will be an actual admin, rather than a lurkery one.

Anyway, I'm home and uninstalling TS2 off of my PC at the moment. I used to create all my stories on it until I pushed the game to the point of becoming unplayable. Still, I'll put it all back on in a bit. And my way of making Sims and houses has changed vastly over the years, so I guess its a good thing

I was thinking about a conversation I've had with a few people; about how most other countries in the world are well educated on the US through the media - but the same can't be said for the US and the rest of the world. I realised that over the years, exchange stories which were probably supposed to be shocking weren't actually to me, because we have different laws and lifestyles here in the UK. I figured this would be a good place to share and discuss the differences (I've posted it here to keep it relevant to TS2 exchange stories, but it is also relevant to anyone's general outlook on others).

Teenage Relationships In Sim Stories

SPOILER: Click to show

*approaches adult subject* So, there's always a lot of stories about 14/15 year olds in rather advanced relationships. I think the age of consent in the US is 18. However, the age of consent varies across Europe (and the rest of the world)...

Spain - 13

Albania - 14
Austria - 14
Bosnia - 14
Bulgaria - 14
Croatia - 14
Estonia - 14
Germany - 14
Hungary - 14
Italy - 14
Liechtenstein - 14
Macedonia - 14
Montenegro - 14
Portugal - 14
San Marino - 14
Serbia - 14

Czech Republic - 15
Denmark - 15
France - 15
Greece - 15
Iceland - 15
Monaco - 15
Poland - 15
Romania - 15
Slovakia - 15
Slovenia - 15
Sweden - 15

Andorra - 16
Armenia - 16
Azerbeijan - 16
Belarus - 16
Belgium - 16
Finland - 16
Georgia - 16
Lativia - 16
Lithuania - 16
Luxembourg - 16
Moldova - 16
Netherlands - 16
Norway - 16
Russia - 16
Switzerland - 16
Ukraine - 16
United Kingdom (England, Scotland,Wales and Northern Ireland) - 16

Cyprus - 17
Ireland - 17

Malta - 18
Turkey 18

Okay, so you either found that interesting or repulsive. The point I was trying to make though, was that people on the exchange aren't necessarily outright aiming for a controversial subject. It may in fact just be how it is where they're from. You could argue that it's the US site and so people had better stick to US laws, but imagine the US site was one of those which had no upload facility. Would you change your principals and culture to fit with the site if it were German? Or Serbian? Most probably not. So before starting a war against with the writer or flagging things, pull your mind out of the gutter, find out a bit about the writer, the story, and the facts behind it.

Religion

SPOILER: Click to show

Religion is not actually permitted in Sim Stories to my knowledge. But generally you can pick up on where it has influenced people. However there are very different views and religions spread throughout the world. For instance, in England, if you can find one person in two-hundred that goes to church every Sunday (or for anything other than weddings, funerals or christenings), you have hit the jackpot. Since the Industrial Revolution, religion has become less important across a great many countries. So remember, if you're going to hint at, or even outright write a story about religion, that the way you approach it and feel about it, doesn't reflect the way in which it is perceived or used across the rest of the world.

Regional Spelling

SPOILER: Click to show

There is nothing more frustrating in life, than constantly being told you are mispelling things. There are people on youtube who take glee in going "You spelled it wrong, it's FAVORITE not FAVOURITE!" - it is either depending where you're from. Grammar is dependant on region to, but not quite so heavily.

What you've got to remember, is the the rest of the world sees US made films and TV shows. But beyond that, books published in the US are not translated for places like the UK, only countries with completely different languages. However, the same doesn't stand for books published in the UK. For instance, Harry Potter - translated for America. In fact, the first book (Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone) was renamed Sorcerer's Stone for its American publication. There's sort of a double standards at work a lot of the time, as a lot of the world has been very exposed to American spellings and laws, but it just isn't true the other way around. It's no one's fault, yet there's no harm in being aware of it.

If anyone has any of there own, wherever they're from, lets here them. Or comment on the above ones. I don't think there's much point in shying away from our cultural differences, the only way we're going to accept, show an interest or get over them is by sharing, explaining and discussing. ;D

(P.s I hope that didn't sound like I hate America - I don't. The prospect of living there for four months next year is SO exciting!)

[Cayla]

Your coming here??? Nah, not all that exciting. The legal ages range from each activity.


21- Drink (most states if not all)
18- Marriage/Vote/Legal Adult 'other stuff'

SPOILER: Click to show

[16- in parents allow {marriage not 'other stuff'}]

17- NC-17 movies (worse than R rated)
16- Drive Car/Segway

SPOILER: Click to show

[15 Drive with temps and adult]

That's about it. Please remind me if I missed something.

[katemurph24]

Oh my, I never knew that there was much younger ages of consent in different countries! (little ignorant I know to assume everywhere is the same as the UK) I don't know if it's just cause I'm English and I'm used to it being 16 but I think anything younger is just not right! I would even say I think it should be 17 here. I don't think it is right that teens as young as 13 are being allowed to have sex (I just went ahead and said it, I couldn't think of anything other way of putting it, sorry) I mean at that age they are no where near fully developed not just physically but emotionally too. Allowing them to be so mature and get into advanced relationships at that age just isn't right to me. I suppose others might feel differently but thats my opinion on the matter.
The only thing is we don't exactly enforce it do we? It's more of a guideline than an actual law.

As for religion I am personally 100% atheist. I respect others believe in religion but personally I have never believed in God or the bible etc. I personally take the scientific view of the big bang and evolution. But I suppose like you said religion isn't a big thing here in the UK, at least not anymore, yet if you go somewhere like India you have to search long and hard to find someone who didn't have religious views. But I think its good that we have different views and opinions. The world would be pretty boring if we all thought and like the same things.

And I'm with you on the spelling thing, some people just want to point out peoples mistakes without first thinking oh hang on they might be from a country that spells things differently. Favourite (which can I just point out was just underlined red by my browser) is also one of my pet peeves along with COLOUR (again underlined)

Interesting thread by the way Amy, will be interesting to hear everyone elses views on this topics. Hope I didn't ramble on too much :-)

[mylittletoygun]

13? I'm sorry, but thirteen year olds having sex is disgusting, or maybe disturbing (just my opinion) They are still children!

And I live in the US, I'm not from the UK or anything, but I like spelling the word color, as Colour and I also like spelling favorite as favourite, even though I live in the Us.

[Amy (In America - Busy atm)]

I think 13 is too young too, but rumour has it the UK has the highest teenage pregnancy rate in Europe - so is age of consent really a factor? :/

I forgot the obvious ones...

Drinking in the UK - 18, but you can have a glass of wine with a meal wherever you go from the age of 14 or something like that.

Driving is 17, but I think they were on about putting it up.

The drinking law isn't particularly enforced. I don't personally drink much (probably because I always knew if I wanted to my parents would let me), but all my friends started drinking for the sake of getting drunk at 13 - 15. :/

[Cayla]

Dec 18, 2011 22:06:44 GMT katemurph24 said:

As for religion I am personally 100% atheist. I respect others believe in religion but personally I have never believed in God or the bible etc. I personally take the scientific view of the big bang and evolution.)

I, for one have barely gone to church. I agree with you Kate, but there are times in life for what I cannot explain. Bigger things, things I wish for that wouldn't normally come true. It helps for someone/something to "believe" That is why I think other nations do believe in a higher force because their life is poop. We are so lucky to live in the nations we do.

[Laura]

Food for thought here. As Amy said, there's definitely different opinions on this side of the Atlantic about things like under-age sex, drinking etc. We're more relaxed, I would say, about both. That said, I don't think anyone over here would condone thirteen and fourteen year old kids getting into advanced physical relationships. You've got enough going on at that age as it is, without having to worry about STIs, pregnancy etc. as well. I think the teenage relationship stories on the Exchange were harmless enough - only that, they did seem to glamorise things that are a lot grittier in real life. I won't go so far as to say they encouraged kids to become sexually active, but certainly they never portrayed the negatives involved accurately or realistically.

Tales involving under-age drinking really don't bother me at all - I'll even admit to having written a few myself. There is a strong culture of teenage drinking here: they say about 50% of Irish teenagers have been drunk at least once before the age of sixteen. I know they're a lot stricter about it over in the States but in Ireland, the UK and Europe, things are more lenient. The laws are in place but they are not strongly adhered to. I would however consider thirteen as too young to be drinking regularly. It's not even so much that it's against the law; it's that you are so much more vulnerable when you're drunk and at that age, you don't have the sense to steer clear of certain situations.

Religion was never really an issue in Exchange stories, as far as I know. I personally wouldn't have a problem with someone expressing views or opinions through the medium of a story - depending on how sensitively it was handled. Admittedly, if you're having all these morals and beliefs shoved down your throat, deemed as the only 'right' way to live, I personally would switch off fairly swiftly.

The spelling thing is not something I've run into problems with. Honestly, I'd put up with someone saying 'color' instead of 'colour' - much in the same way I'd hope people would tolerate me saying 'grey' instead of 'gray'. I'm more troubled by people not bothering to spell anything correctly.

Just my few cents worth!

[Amy (In America - Busy atm)]

Also, just been lurking on imdb and realised that this one is not widely known.

Gun laws in the UK are highly regulated. To my knowledge you can't own a handgun, only rifles. It's not as simple as just owning it either, you have to have a license and only use it to hunt or such. There's also routine checks by the police and RSPCA to make sure the guns are securely out of reach and not used for anything illegal. UK police don't carry guns unless its a special situation, but even then its likely to be a special unit that get called in.

In short, guns are basically not permitted in the UK. There is of course an illegal gun trade, but not a particularly huge one. Where other places have issues with gun crime on large scales, we generally don't. We've had a few shootings recently enough (last few years), in which men who owned rifles for hunting lost their minds and went on rampages. On a more one to one scale people are beaten or stabbed to death, probably as a substitute for a gun. So, if you're reading a story written by someone from the UK, that is why there is probably very little gun activity. Knife crime would quite likely be used in its place.

[Samantha]

That's interesting. I never knew how strict gun laws were in the UK.

I wouldn't say they're lenient in the U.S., but many people do own handguns for protection and whatnot. The police do a background check, and they go to your neighbors and ask if there's any reason why you shouldn't have a gun, etc. We've had a couple of cops come to our door for that reason.

You can get a hunting license at the age of twelve here (at least it's so in Connecticut). My dad's a hunter, and my brother will be getting his for the next season.

Driving laws actually very from state to state in the U.S. Where I live, you can't get your permit until your 16. Six months later (or less, if you take a driving course), you can get your license. Six months after that, you can drive with your siblings. And another six after that, you can drive with anyone.

I think religion has decreased in the West in general. I personally come from a religious family (both in my immediate and extended family), and I attend Roman Catholic mass each week, though I do consider myself agnostic. Most of my friends attend church or mosque regularly. I have some that are completely devout, and others that go but couldn't care less. I think religion is declining, though it would be completely unfair to say that it's disappeared from American culture.

Amy, do you know where in the U.S. you're going?

[Amy (In America - Busy atm)]

Gun laws tightened up here after the Dunblane shooting. A man walked into a junior school (I think, I really should google and check) so the kids were aged 7 - 11 and started firing. He'd owned the weapon legally and after that their was a huge campaign to monitor guns more closely. There's basically no equivalent to the second amendment in the UK. People who've killed burglars in their own homes usually end up sent to prison for murder.

I'm not sure where I'm going yet. It's between Maine, Oregon and Wisconsin

[Zoe]

Religion in the West of the West (aka Washington--as west as you can get) is very confusing. In my region--the Tri-Cities--there are two major religions. One, Roman Catholicism, and Catholic. I suppose Christian is a major, but I consider that a default religion unless you're serious about it.
Oh yes, and there are a lot of Mormons in the Tri-Cities. My best friend Elizabeth is Mormon, and I participate in the weekly activities they have--mutual.
I, personally, am completely Agnostic. When I was a child, my family was in the pool of Atheism, but we went to church with my grandmother at least twice a month, to make her happy. Now, I find religion to be a confusing subject.

In Washington, you can get a permit the day you turn fifteen--that is, if you've taken driving courses. But if you wait until you're eighteen to get your license, you don't have to take the courses. After receiving the license, you have to wait six months to be able to drive with anyone.

Guns in my county are inevitable. Everyone has them. But I'm pretty sure you have to be licensed to purchase a gun, of any sort.