It seems as those the West has gained their own reputation for ethics.
Cowboy Ethics is a book by James Owen that has been adopted by many businesses. It has even been made into a short Film, focusing on ethics in Wyoming. Below is a trailer for the video.
The Code of the West: Alive & Well in Wyoming - Trailer from Havey Productions on Vimeo.
Does this video portray Wyoming ethics?
Ethics have changed over time. Wyoming is not immune to those changes. Although Wyoming is fairly rural, when society changes, Wyoming changes too. I believe you still see a strong "Cowboy Ethic" in Wyoming, but that is not all you see. Everywhere you go there are going to be ethical and some not so ethical people.
To those who do not have first hand experience with Wyoming, this video depicts not only the stereotype of cowboys, but it also shows Wyoming in beautiful light. To outsiders, Wyoming seems to be the ethical kingdom untouched by the technological era. But Wyoming's population isn't just cowboys. It is said that some companies from the East coast find being from Wyoming a reason to higher an individual. It is as if being from Wyoming has given you a skill that puts you above your competition. Is this justified, or do videos and this idea of ethics in the West being superior give false hope?
It is important to remember that ethics have evolved, and that Wyoming may still hold more of those original core values. The West may have even had a much different view on ethics to begin, the cultural difference from the east coast to the west coast were and are vastly different. The east has always been more prone to cities than the west, and that could change the very basis for how ethics were first established. History may play a key role.
So many things to ponder. So don't forget to take a bite.
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteI think that most of what is said in the video is accurate. Wyoming is still one of the few places where a hand shake still means something. Also being from Wyoming does put you in a different light, regardless of if it is a job interview or moving somewhere new. Wyoming holds a mystic to people that don't know it, but what is known is all positive.
ReplyDeletePersonally I know that being raised in Wyoming has given me a huge advantage in many situations. If nothing else people will stop and pay attention because there are so few people from Wyoming around compared to the rest of the world.