But cultural differences can make that advice wrong.

At some sufficiently abstract level we're all the same, except for genetics and development traits.

How we express our values, how we rank our values, how we interpret key terms and concepts can vary. So I've seldom seen a conservative who matches the parody of conservatives seen here. I've seldom seen a liberal who matches the parody of liberals I've seen portrayed by conservatives. Expression, ranking, interpretation of the terms vary, and it's just easier to deny that there's any overlap or grounds for communication. Cognitive dissonance hurts and requires heavy thinking, we all like to avoid pain and inconvenience.

On the other hand, that doesn't mean there aren't differences in those things and in how we socially construct our self-image, even if we share a lot of the same values in whole or in part.

So I love my family and want it to prosper. That means if my son does something truly embarrassing or needs help for school when he's 20 I'll be there for him; if I had a daughter it would be the same. But I know families who won't help their kids buy school supplies once they've turned 18. I've known families who kicked their 17-year-old girl out on suspicion of having sex, and finding that too embarrassing for their peer group. Reports of fathers killing their daughters because of real or suspected sexual activity show up from time to time. All of them would also say they love their families and want them to prosper. But the first "other" family wants to encourage independence; the other required obedience and didn't want humiliation--they wanted to encourage righteousness in their daughter; the third knows dishonor would cause economic and social distress for his family.

So we're all the same. But in the end what we do in many circumstances, given what sound like the same values, really is different.