The Spanish Commons

November 14, 2016

Imagine you are sitting in a public square in the United States. Chances are there are a myriad of signs posted nearby delineating the rules of the space: no skateboarding, no smoking, no alcohol, dogs must be leashed at all times…things like that. While the space may be open to all, your freedom to use of it could be severely inhibited if you happen to be a skateboarding smoker who dabbles in public intoxication. Yet these rules exist to maximize the enjoyment of the space for the greatest number of individuals, even while limiting the freedom of others.


Now imagine you are sitting in a public square in Spain. Chances are the aforementioned skateboarding smoker who dabbles in public intoxication is present and has brought his dog, which is currently roaming free. In Spain, it seems the public space is to be utilized for the unlimited enjoyment of all, regardless of their behavior and whether or not it hinders the experience for others. This contrast between cultures regarding public ethics and conduct stems from differing views on the individual’s role in society and the extent of the law.

In our first day of orientation here in Madrid, we had a session on cultural competency. One of the sections contained this hypothetical: “Your friend was driving above the speed limit and got into a minor accident. You were in the car, and their lawyer tells you they'll get off fine if you testify that they were driving under the speed limit. What do you do?” The facilitator explained that as Americans, we would probably refuse to testify—seeing the law, and authority, as an absolute—but Spaniards would probably testify to save their friend from the trouble. The law is seen to be a bit more flexible here, especially with the little things.

Take, for example, cigarettes. At the outdoor train station at my university here, I often chuckle at the spectacle of the posted “no smoking” sign circled by puffs of cigarette smoke from the ring of adolescents surrounding it. It may be a posted rule complete with the threat of a fine, but no one seems to mind, much less care enough to report it. Moreover, imagine my culture shock when one day a Spanish classmate sat right next to me on a bench at the station and lit up, not fathoming for a minute that the secondhand smoke might bother me. Personally, I don’t mind cigarettes, but what struck me the most was that if a young person did this in the United States, they would almost certainly be reprimanded, glared at, or further antagonized (or even barred from doing so, case in point the anti-smoking movement at Georgetown currently).

On the whole, people are more laid-back in Spain than in the United States and, in my opinion, are more respectful of others' freedom to act as they wish. This comes into effect in the moral gray zone of drinking in public. While the practice of botellón (literally "big bottle") is illegal, it is entirely commonplace to see throngs of Spaniards drinking out of paper bags and aluminum cans in any public space. Another great example is public displays of affection; couples are free to make out in common spaces without fear of social ramifications or persecutions of public indecency. And what about unleashed dogs? In the United States a dog walking around freely on the street will probably result in a call to animal control and a steep fine; in Madrid it’s the everyday norm.

This kind of paradigm shift alludes to a moral gray zone between the two cultures and their views on public conduct. Is it better to live in a society where there are rigid rules in place in which everyone respects and follows in order to maximize general well-being, or is it better to live in a place where your individuality and personal freedoms (regardless of the views of others) are upheld to the max?
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