And even more specifically, I do believe the problems stem most from American teenage behavior, because while kids are kids the world around, American culture does have a much higher degree of judgemental behavior. I'm an American and my eyes were opened to how different it really is in the U.S. compared to other countries when I moved abroad several years ago.

Having traveled pretty extensively, I think judgement comes in different forms with different cultures but it's definitely not an exclusively American phenomenon. In fact, I don't think Americans hold a candle to the Hong Kongese.