In European school system, children are encouraged to learn how to reach conclusions through arguments. In order to reach a conclusion, Europeans usually asked themselves:
1. What are the facts? Do you believe these facts to be true?
2. How are the different facts related?
3. What is the conclusion?
Europeans assume an opinion is correct IF the underlying facts and reasoning are correct.
For instance, you say "Gambling advertising should be banned"
A typical european will say "Explain your reasoning".
You will then give the facts (“gambling is extremely harmful to society”) and the reasoning (“ads are designed to make gambling more attractive”). Finally, you reach the conclusion, (“Gamblings ads should be banned”).
This is basically a form of mental retroengineering.
Americans operate on a completely different mental structure.
In american schools, children are taught that anything is possible in the world that we live. Every individual is important and has great potential. Be confident in yourself and your skills.
In order to reach a conclusion, american children learn a concept called the marketplace of ideas.
Basically, just like you go shopping at the market for food. Except it’s for ideas.
The concept is that anyone can sell anything on the market of idea. Most americans assume that on the market of ideas, the best idea will naturally win customers.
When arguing for something ("I genuinely believe climate change is BS"), americans will rarely engage in mental retroengineering. They will state on the marketplace of ideas, their idea is as legitimate as any other.
As a consequence, when europeans and americans argue, they don’t operate on the same mental model.
It’s amusing how much blowback you’re getting without even having stated a preference. Are people assuming the mods here or useless or just haven’t seen this or what?
People here are way too worked up about motivations they’ve assumed and won’t bother with seeing proved or disproven.
Meannwhile, if I see a post I think doesn’t fit, I figure the mods should be approving posts rather than play whack-a-mole, realize its not my problem, and move-on. As an American, I’ll go on record; The “American” outlook on the “marketplace of ideas” is stupid, precisely because the substantiation part of the sale is essentially optional to most - you can get by on pandering to niche biases as the need arises.
It looks like the blowback is less about one side beinng better or worse than the other, and more about this whole thesis sounding like the most obnoxious fourteen year old you’ve ever met larping as a sociologist with zero substantiation to their sweeping statements
That and sweeping generalization with a baked in assumption that education is similar/comparable in all European countries