Thread

1. kybernetikos · 1790412590 · focus · HN ↗

   Other common issues - crosswalks and fire hydrants are common questions too, and crosswalks are not called that in most of the world and fire hydrants look pretty different depending on country.

   1. TFNA · 1790412951 · focus · HN ↗

      This is perhaps a declining problem, as young people in so many countries are growing up as proficient US English speakers due to heavy social media consumption, to the point that US English CAPTCHA challenges would just feel normal. I suspect there are more young people around the world now for whom "crosswalk" is more natural than "zebra" -- in my country, the latter is already a shibboleth that one is an oldie who learned UK English, now regarded here as an antiquated standard after teaching switched to US English.

      1. hasley · 1790414222 · focus · HN ↗

         There are more people than only young, intelligent people who want to use the world wide web.

         As mentioned somewhere else in the comments here: This is just one aspect where US American culture is being favored and forced on other people and their culture.

         Yes, I know how fire hydrants look like in the USA. But this is not the point. It is about respecting other people's abilities and cultures.

         1. TFNA · 1790414933 · focus · HN ↗

            The thing about all those other people, though, is that they eventually get ousted by mortality and cultural change by the younger people.

            I certainly agree with you that the spread of US American culture is creepy. But such complaints are falling on deaf ears among younger generations now, at least in my corner of Europe: people brought up on this stuff often don't see the problem, they perceive this as normal and fine. In fact, if you advocate for anti-globalization sentiments -- a cornerstone of the European left 25 years ago -- you might even be taken as a far-right supporter now!

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