The World According To Americans?

Originally posted by Bluesma

Originally posted by ColCurious
reply to post by ararisq

 

Originally posted by ararisq
[...] and Europeans are ....

Why exactly? I'm seriously curious about this.
If there really is a basis for these stereotypes, what is it?
What makes you think "Europeans" are pussies?
And who are those "Europeans" anyways? I'm German, not "European".

edit on 23-10-2012 by ColCurious because: (no reason given)

OH! OH! I know! I hear it often enough!

See many Americans think "europe" is France. (they also often think France has one city-Paris).
Since WW2, they have harbored and nurtured the idea that the french are weak pussies, as they let the Germans come in and take them over (twice, in fact), and needed to be saved by the Americans (not the Allies, of course, only Americans).

The french do tend to be very concerned with human rights and trying to avoid conflicts, and that alone is often seen as "weak".

Kinda seems like the french are a bit snooty...

Originally posted by ColCurious
reply to post by ararisq

 

Originally posted by ararisq
[...] and Europeans are ....

Why exactly? I'm seriously curious about this.
If there really is a basis for these stereotypes, what is it?
What makes you think "Europeans" are pussies?
And who are those "Europeans" anyways? I'm German, not "European".

edit on 23-10-2012 by ColCurious because: (no reason given)

[/quote

I'm American, would you like to know what I think about Germans?

(twice, in fact),

Three times actually

During the first half of the 19th century, many Germans looked forward to a unification of the German states, though most German leaders and the foreign powers were opposed to it. The German nationalist movement believed that a united Germany would replace France as the dominant land power in Western Europe. This argument was aided by demographic changes: since the Middle Ages, France had had the largest population in Western Europe, but in the 19th century its population stagnated (a trend which continued until the second half of the 20th century), and the population of the German states overtook it and continued to rapidly increase. The eventual unification of Germany was triggered by the Franco-German War in 1870 and subsequent French defeat. Finally, in the Treaty of Frankfurt, reached after a lengthy siege of Paris, France was forced to cede the German speaking Alsace-Lorraine territory (consisting of most of Alsace and a quarter of Lorraine), and pay an indemnity of five billion francs to the newly declared German Empire. Thereafter, the German Empire was widely viewed as having replaced France as the leading land power in Europe.

Wikipedia

reply to post by resoe26


A bit???

We English have been at constant war with them more of less fore the last 1000 years!. A "bit snooty" is putting is lightly.

However, if it wasn't for the Frogs you yanks would all still be British Citizens. And I am sure they only did that just to annoy us!!

Enente-cordiale! My ARSE!

Originally posted by JakiusFogg
reply to post by resoe26

 

However, if it wasn't for the Frogs you yanks would all still be British Citizens. And I am sure they only did that just to annoy us!!

It's a love-hate triangle.

America isn't number 1 ,any more than that Hindi guy on the bus is what that drunk red-neck was calling him cuz of the way he looked.

Red-Neck: Product of an educational system which ain't even close to number 1 any way you look at it.

Like this,Department of Public Instruction....

Acronym: DOPI.

Ha!,DOPI DOPI DOPI

Dopey.

Originally posted by MyHappyDogShiner
America isn't number 1 ,any more than that Hindi guy on the bus is what that drunk red-neck was calling him cuz of the way he looked.

Red-Neck

roduct of an educational system which ain't even close to number 1 any way you look at it.

Like this,Department of Public Instruction....

Acronym

OPI.

Ha!

Hey man!!! America is number one in Obesity!!
thats gotta count for something right!?

Ah, we can all do that...

There are numerous Europe according to *insert nation* that are quite amusing.. I like the Londoner one that places Britain somewhere in the middle of the Atlantic protected by the British sea.. it's proper name don't you know..

a few amusing ones here

www.brainpickings.org...

reply to post by talklikeapirat


I wonder how many people saw the map you posted and then just raged without reading the rest of you post. I bet it's a lot.

Good post.

The US is not even close to being number one on a lot of things...



I think the biggest ignorance of Americans is politics. Just ask one what socialism is. But what do you expect in a country that was set up for capitalist interests? It is not in the capitalists best interest for Americans to have more knowledge than it takes to go to work and consume.

Americans have been put in a box, and have be conditioned to believe stepping out of that box is anti-American.

(Generalisation I know, but if you truly do not fit that generalisation then I do not refer to you. If you get angry then you probably do fit the generalisation.)

reply to post by talklikeapirat


To actually answer your questions;
Cultural diversity in the U.S. is only as important as the level of comfort it creates; otherwise, many want a ‘whitewashed’ version with a very nuclear setting, though they won’t admit it. And your question about America being “America”…well that depends on who you’re asking. It has never, and will never, live up to the rhetorical hype of social mobility, equality, and the overall ‘good life’, especially for minorities.

reply to post by ANOK


After viewing your map, I think I'd like to move to Iceland.

I'm serious. How would someone go about moving to a new country?

Originally posted by resoe26


Kinda seems like the french are a bit snooty...

Yeah, I am aware of that stereotype existing in the US. I wonder what exactly is seen as "snooty" as far as behavior goes? What have french people you have known done that you read as snooty?

I know they are very distrustful- they don't believe people are fundamentally good, so need to spend some time with you before they'll open up, maybe that is it?

But you have to remember, they haven't had much evidence of others being so good and trustworthy in their history (example of Germany again...)

Originally posted by JakiusFogg
reply to post by resoe26

 

A bit???

We English have been at constant war with them more of less fore the last 1000 years!. A "bit snooty" is putting is lightly.

I'm confused... you feel that because your country has been in conflict with theirs for a long time,
that makes them "snooty"??

That is a wierd logic....

But be aware that from the american point of view, both the french and english have the reputation for being "snooty" (stiff upper lip and all that you know... )

reply to post by Bluesma


Americans will call someone snooty for having better shoes than them...

You think you're better than me?

Originally posted by Bluesma

Originally posted by resoe26


Kinda seems like the french are a bit snooty...

Yeah, I am aware of that stereotype existing in the US. I wonder what exactly is seen as "snooty" as far as behavior goes? What have french people you have known done that you read as snooty?

I know they are very distrustful- they don't believe people are fundamentally good, so need to spend some time with you before they'll open up, maybe that is it?

But you have to remember, they haven't had much evidence of others being so good and trustworthy in their history (example of Germany again...)

Having lived within swimming distance of France all my life, and the last 40 years popping back and forward, working in France and across Europe, I can safely say most people I know, including most of my friends and colleagues in France base the whole snootiness on the attitude of Parisiennes, and to be honest, that seems quite a fair stereotype.

Originally posted by thoughtsfull
[

Having lived within swimming distance of France all my life, and the last 40 years popping back and forward, working in France and across Europe, I can safely say most people I know, including most of my friends and colleagues in France base the whole snootiness on the attitude of Parisiennes, and to be honest, that seems quite a fair stereotype.

The Parisiens have that reputation even amongst the rest of France !!
I guess this just goes to confirm my earlier statement that for many Americans (maybe British too, I have no idea) France has one city- Paris. I have actually had Americans ask me about how it is to live in the country of Paris!!
(I live in the south, six hours away from Paris)

reply to post by Bluesma

France and the French have different attitudes about Americans depending on where in France you go. I have this certain American Failing for having the audacity to desire to actually have a French waiter actually take my order within 30 Minutes! LOL!

DRIVES ME NUTZ! I come from a Business Family that always had the motto...place the needs of your customer first and the customer is always right. In France the TIP is built in to the Price. there is no incentive for a person getting your lunch to work for a tip or be punctual.

HORRIBLE SYSTEM! I try to be polite but after awhile...I have to give them the stare which makes them nervous and I finally get a drink. Hate to have to do it though. Split Infinity

Santa!!

You know what map would be even worse? The United States according to Texans.

Most people here have no idea where other states are or what they're like. For them it's either "Texas" or "Yankees." I know a girl who thought she may have been to Pittsburgh because she drove from Texas to Florida

reply to post by ANOK


Hahahah

Mandelbaum Mandelbaum Mandelbaum!