I have no idea if this is a true story, but i definitely hope it is. Unfortunately, as with most American cultural products, eventually Europe starts to import them (as we did with American culture war bullshit), and this toxic “hustle culture” is now slowly also becoming more normalized in some places in Europe, particularly in Germany. It’s definitely not the norm as it is in the US, and for the time being we still have laws against it (though with Blackrock Merz in charge who knows for how long…), but i am seeing signs of it popping up more and more.
You are right, I waa being hyperbolic and leaning into some anti western sentiments i’ve heard. I should have considered examples like the Romans, as well as the Aztecs, who practiced conquering and slavery to expand their empire, also in mild climates.