from Hacker News

The American vs. European Mindset on Life

by mertbio on 6/1/25, 6:29 AM with 53 comments

• by shayway on 6/1/25, 2:43 PM

  While the overall message of the post rings true, I do think it deserves some criticism for the framing device of American vs. European. Let me explain.

  First, it has to be said, online cultural osmosis and working for an international American company are two very narrow experiences of American culture. The anecdote they use to demonstrate German 'European mindset' - their flatmate using used furniture - is not something that one would be exposed to online or through business connections. That they saw it as notable to have used furniture in the first place I find more telling, which brings me to my next point.

  This post is more a condemnation of middle-upper class consumerism and greed than American culture in particular. While it's fair to say the US spawned and championed the mindset, as noted in the post, it's spread far and wide in the decades since.

  Now, why does the distinction matter? Well, there are gazoodles of people in the US with the 'European mindset'. You don't see them through international business connections, you don't see them out and about in San Francisco, you don't see them making blog posts about it - not ones that would be shared on Hacker News, anyway.

  To those in the middle-upper-class tech sphere they don't exist. I'm happy for those who gain something from posts like these, who are inspired to adopt a more deliberate way of living. But furthering the perception that the 'European mindset' is tied to specific material things (in this case, living in Europe) only helps to perpetuate the 'American mindset', and further erase the existence of alternatives to it!

• by politelemon on 6/1/25, 8:43 AM

  The author has expressed themselves well and this shouldn't be flagged. I can only assume it has triggered portions of the audience.

• by mycatisblack on 6/1/25, 8:13 AM

     Having lived in both systems and currently living in a country that clearly reflects the European mindset, I feel well positioned to compare the two.
  

  Having lived in Turkey, which you feel is heavily influenced by US culture, does not make you well positioned to compare EU and US.

• by OutOfHere on 6/1/25, 4:35 PM

  On average, neither Americans nor Europeans know how to spend their time of money well to really better their life andor the world around them. They mostly spend it on wasteful things that lead to them burning out their mental and physical health faster rather than slower. Some of these wasteful things are: gambling without a strategy, unnecessary material goods, expensive cars, excessive vacations, restaurants, illegal or unsafe drugs, alcohol, and tobacco.

• by TailorXBT on 6/1/25, 12:40 PM

  Mert's new blog post is like a huge "wake-up" call. The point is something everyone is aware of in daily life, but cannot put a name to. Some of us notice the difference in perspective from international game's some of us from work life, and some of us from daily life.

  So this blog post makes the point clear.

  Also, I have to add that I didn't understand why this post was flagged. There must be an explanation for it. There is nothing harmful in this post. I think it is unfair.

• by asimpletune on 6/1/25, 8:44 AM

  Honestly one of the biggest and most important differences is cars, city planning, and how they effect one’s community. I saw the other day a show hn for making friends and thought that so much of that need comes from not being surrounded by people in cities designed for people.

  I’ll use a metaphor that I think is funny. If life were an office, it is better from a community standpoint to start your life in an open office, and then eventually decide as you get more senior if you want to work from home completely, hybrid, or stay in the open floor plan. The opposite is a disaster, when life begins as a work from home office, from a community perspective, because you don’t have a good bridge to prior generations and other branches of the human genealogy tree.

  I’ll end by saying that I love the USA and it has a lot of great attributes as a nation. I honestly wouldn’t have enough time in this comment to go over how many things are done well there. Anyways, I’m just a little worried about the compounding effects from being without community, due to cities designed for cars. Situations like that can be unpredictable and dangerous, with unsavory alternatives suddenly seeming attractive.

  Roommates, romantic partners, workmates, and college buds are the saving grace in all this.

• by amai on 6/1/25, 4:16 PM

  The author has never lived in the US, but thinks he knows the American mindset of life? An the author lived in Germany, but generalizes his experiences there to all of Europe?

  The author should refrain from geographical comparisons and instead simply say "The materialistic vs the altruistic mindset." Because surprise, surprise you will find materialistic and altruistic people on both sides of the Atlantic.

• by davidcalloway on 6/1/25, 8:17 AM

  I'm curious how the author has much experience with the American mindset, since he didn't mention living in America when describing his background.

  Having said that, as an American living in Germany, I lately agree with his description of the difference. And, frankly, I cannot currently see myself ever returning to my home country other than shorter visits.

• by samuli on 6/1/25, 8:31 AM

  European mindset is more about everybody being equal, than becoming better than others.

• by puskuruk on 6/1/25, 6:49 PM

  This blog post doesn’t bring anything new to the table

• by fpauser on 6/1/25, 8:35 AM

  Interesting post, thanks for this!

• by jxjnskkzxxhx on 6/1/25, 6:44 PM

  > people who embrace this mindset sometimes mock or dismiss the European approach, often without making any real effort to understand it.

  Meh, Europeans do the same with respect to Americans.

• by ksplicer on 6/1/25, 8:05 PM

  I'd say the German mindset and American mindset is closer than most other European countries. Germany is one of the most capitalistic countries in Western Europe.

• by somethingsome on 6/1/25, 7:21 PM

  > The European mindset, on the other hand, prioritizes collective well-being and ensuring a high quality of life for everyone.

  Sounds completely false to me, people are not happy in general (maybe only previous generations), and even less happy are people that love their work where there is no reward, only more administrative tasks and regulations.

  The skills are not there anymore, the competency neither, it is not sustainable at all..

  But people like their current comfort and do not think too much what will happen next.

  Taxes most of the time are used to finance some private company, disguised in fundings. Or taxes are used sustain people that don't work and never will. Someone that doesn't work in my country make 3/4 to 5/4 of someone working 100h a week. It's completely nonsense, they have absolutely no incentives to work, and people are incentived to stop working.

  There are almost no working services, and functioning facilities. I really don't identify myself with that so great European mindset.

  I'm maybe only one data point that should move to America, but I cannot agree about 'European mindset prioritizes collective well-being and ensuring a high quality of life for everyone'

• by silisili on 6/1/25, 8:26 AM

  The US experience is summed up as having lived in a country with some perceived US influence, and having worked for a US company for an undisclosed amount of time.

  The European one by the same, except also having lived in Germany for some undisclosed amount of time.

  Using this 'experience' to speak authoritatively about the US or Europe as a whole is borderline insulting, regardless of content.