The World According To Americans?

Originally posted by votan
reply to post by talklikeapirat

 

well according to many places in the world america is seen as the land of dumb fat ignorant people......


yet like a poster above pointed out we crushed the olympics, and put a rover on mars... what has your country done lately??

Do you really care about the Olympic Games ? I mean seriously ? How does that reflect the wealth of the inhabitants ? Last time I checked the chinese had food problems and so did the North Koreans, yet they both ended up before Spain, Canada, Switzerland, Norway, etc.You've got to understand that not only most countries can't ship over as much athletes as the USA considering that they have way lower population rates and sizes and that sports may not have the same place in the US culture and foreign cultures.

And for Curiosity you're helped quite a bit by your tradition of welcoming immigrants (same goes for the whole science field), here is the list of the Mars Science Laboratory mission team :

Richard Cook
Richard Cook
John Grotzinger
Joy Crisp
Ashwin Vasavada
Rob Manning and Joel Krajewski
Dara Sabahi
Dara Sabahi
Grace Tan-Wang
Matt Wallace
Jordan Evans
Mike Watkins
John "Jeff" Simmonds
Richard Kemski
David Woerner

I'm pretty sure Kemski, Woerner, Tan-Wang, Sabahi, Krajewski, Vasavada and Grotzinger have some roots outside of the USA.

I'm not saying USA is really the land of "dumb, fat, ignorant people" (well, you do have the highest rate of obesity in the world I think so denying this one is a bit difficult), when it comes to stupidity everyone has a fair share (I think I've seen the same experiment in France and Germany and they managed to get the same kind of video, it's just a matter of finding the good person and expect them to lose it in front of a camera either because the person is genuinely stupid or because of the stress induced by being asked questions in front of a camera).

Thing is america echoes all around the world and is supposed to be on top of most fields so when we hear some (high ranked) politician or public figure saying that evolution isn't real, that our planet is 4000yo, that socialism is just like communism, that you can see Russia from Alaska, "tide goes in tide goes out, it's a mistery" and such it just sounds out of place (well, and to be honest when your politics decide to be retarded they can really go through the roof, sometimes it can be amazing, I can't see a public figure here saying something like "There's an old saying in Tennessee -- I know it's in Texas, probably in Tennessee -- that says, fool me once, shame on --shame on you. Fool me -- you can't get fooled again.".
During the first campaign of Sarkozy his opponent used a word that didn't exist (something that would looks like "braveryness" instead of "bravery") and she went to China dressed in white : those are the two stupidest thing she did, it was 5 years ago and she is still considered as an airhead.

But then again, that doesn't mean there are more morons in the US than in the rest of the world, only that sometimes you've got some flaming idiots who have the means to attract the light.

Oh and about that Paris thing, it's well know in France that parisians are a kind of their own, a good chunk of them are full of themselves, I don't know if it's because it's the capital of the country or 'cause some of them are stressed out by the rythm of the life there but if you ask french living outside of Paris you'll probably hear the same thing.
But I don't think we are arrogants or rude for the most part (I mean, just like every country), althrough you may have to leave Paris to see that. And the countryside is gorgeous.

reply to post by thoughtsfull


yeah I agree theirs a lot of stereotyping all over the world the funniest one I've heard for a while was from a chinese friend "You westerners all stink like cheese". You can get some great laughs out of stereotyping but there is always some who can take a bit light banter to heart, and also sometimes people can go too far that's bad

Originally posted by octotom
reply to post by Bluesma

 

and needed to be saved by the Americans (not the Allies, of course, only Americans).

Given that you're an American, you would know why we say it that way. We're taught that Hitler was on his way to being Supreme Commander of Europe before the United States got involved in the war. It's not something that we just pulled out of thin air; there is a certain reasoning behind it.

Europe in 1941/42 (when the U.S. became involved)

The U.S. by no means won the war alone but the current European revisionist attempt to minimize the role American troops and materials had on the outcome of the war is ridiculous and insulting.

Britain would have starved in 1941 and the Soviets would have had an even tougher go than their 25 million dead had it not been for U.S. material supplies provided via massive cargo convoy's across the North Atlantic

What exactly is the reasoning behind denying that the bulk Europe was under Nazi control prior to U.S. intervention or the huge roll the U.S. played in the liberation of Europe?

Originally posted by Hawking
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

Well, that's because Texas is awesome.

there are 300 million americans

generalize much ?

I don't think this problem happens only america. Most of the world population has no idea what happens outside their countries.

reply to post by BobbyTarass



If the olympics were won by another country it would be used to support this argument. So basically it would only matter if it supports your argument.


yes and if those immigrants would have stayed in their country they would not have been given the means by which to put a rover on mars. what is your point?? Hello this is america!!! This country is made by immigrants!!

THe only real americans are those guys sitting on reservations. how easy it is to forget those people.

The tag on those athletes was the USA and same goes for the rover.

You point out all those things that politicians have said or what not... so i shudder to imagine how bad the rest of the world is. If we can get away with politicians saying things that you believe are dumb and still do well then either the things they say are not so dumb or they are just smart enough to head up the country that has been out performing the world.

I could have gone your route and pointed out how many of those politicians have routes to immigrants but i do not want to split hairs.

Originally posted by syrinx high priest
there are 300 million americans

generalize much ?

I dunno, pretty well sums up my worldview...

The only thing I would change on that map is Europe. I don't know about you guys but coming from southern california and being around a LOT of tourist attractions, I've come across many many Smelly tourists. To make matters worse, some of the women i've come across have hairier arm pits than I do with some rancid B.O. to go along with it.

reply to post by Drunkenparrot


LOL. Op, this graphic has been circulating the interweb for eons and it's a joke. A funny one at that.

Originally posted by Gremmies
The only thing I would change on that map is Europe. I don't know about you guys but coming from southern california and being around a LOT of tourist attractions, I've come across many many Smelly tourists. To make matters worse, some of the women i've come across have hairier arm pits than I do with some rancid B.O. to go along with it.

That's one thing I've never understood.....the sweaty armpit/wet-ashtray-full-of-chili-cheese-fritos smell. And especially that type of a strong funk coming from a female. I don't get it.
Is is because everybody smells like that wherever they're from? Or they just don't smell themselves? Or they just don't care?
Good gawd I surely can't imagine they prefer smelling like that if they are aware of it?

Are Americans more inclined towards bathing because of water availability? Do we stink to them because we wear deodorant and use perfumed soap & shampoo, etc?

I also find it odd that the French are supposed to have the corner on the perfume market, yet they seem to be the ones most particularly stereotyped for pit funk.

Love the original pic. About only thing I might add is a small section between p@ssies and commies labeled "really poor starving people that used to be commies" and could use a section over there showing where the mail order brides come from.

No, to throw 300 million Americans in together as morons is wrong and simplistic, I respect and understand all intelligent americans and just like ALL of us they make mistakes and cock up but I recently watched "the five" on Fox News and four of the hosts called all Europeans communists and WE (Europe) are better off following Americas ideas in economics, foreign policy and health care .........it really annoyed me seriously because there minds where closed to anything but this idealistic vision of a past America long long gone and just as I lost hope on the folks across the pond......the daily show came on and balanced it allllll out.

But I don't "generalise" them and I think the majority of intelligent switched on of Americans are great race and country but people who follow this Fox News crap need to read a book because if any of them presenters are reading this........when The American continent was discovered 220plus years ago we had been here for 1000 years.

Respect goes both ways

Ste

As a non-American, I will be emailing it to my "pussies/communist" friends and families from here in "uninhabited." Too funny.

Originally posted by votan
reply to post by BobbyTarass

 

If the olympics were won by another country it would be used to support this argument. So basically it would only matter if it supports your argument.

I wouldn't have thought of sports when it comes to the greatness of a nation but well, that's a point of view and I think we don't need to discuss it further as it doesn't appear to be as important as the points made below.

yes and if those immigrants would have stayed in their country they would not have been given the means by which to put a rover on mars. what is your point?? Hello this is america!!! This country is made by immigrants!! THe only real americans are those guys sitting on reservations. how easy it is to forget those people. The tag on those athletes was the USA and same goes for the rover.

I was talking about the post-war "brain drain" that allowed the USA's to take the lead in the science field and thus taking advandage of that position to keep the drain going nowadays. i'll add two question to that : it may be a paradox but wouldn't those countries be able to give their scientists the means to create a rover on Mars if there wasn't that historical "brain drain" ?
And at last, do you have to be so rude ?

You point out all those things that politicians have said or what not... so i shudder to imagine how bad the rest of the world is. If we can get away with politicians saying things that you believe are dumb and still do well then either the things they say are not so dumb or they are just smart enough to head up the country that has been out performing the world.

There are a few reason why your country leads the world in terms of economics and technology and it's not because your politicians are brighter than the norm, well, at least not since Jimmy Carter.
And for keeping the country running, we've seen the effects of a sustained war in periods of economic crisis, it's never a good idea to blow up money when your wallet is running empty. Don't forget that the US domination is less than 70 years old, on a world scale it's nothing and it doesn't take much to see a shift of the tables. Ask the greeks, ask the germans, ask the french, ask the italians.
I'm not saying it's going to happen but politics is too serious a matter to leave it to fools.

And I'm sorry but the last part of your paragraph seems trully arrogant, just like your first question ("what has your country done lately ?") and I'm french, so that tells you how it may sound to others.
It's not like the whole world stopped to turn when the USA launched the fifth or fourth rover on mars or when you got some medals in the OG (the soccer World Cup is a bigger event for us in Europe), there are tons of new discoveries/technologies/experiments done all over the world everyday. Concerning the "out-performing" part I'd say it could be true if you're considering that a performance is measured only by cultural exportation and science foundings.

I'm sorry if I sound picky I didn't want to keep a quotewar going but it trully sounds like you're totaly oblivious to the rest of the world.

Same goes for stupid girl :

Are Americans more inclined towards bathing because of water availability? Do we stink to them because we wear deodorant and use perfumed soap & shampoo, etc?

You can't be serious.
How in hell do you think the rest of the world looks like ? Hairy armpits ? Water availability ? Deodorant & shampoo ? Do you live in a fairy tale where Texas is the head of the perfume department ? Or maybe it's because you were looking at tourists that spent their whole afternoon in some tour bus in Texas under 35°C after a quick meal at the closest #ty restaurant.


About the pit funk, I already discussed that matter in an older thread, this is a urban legend, no, french women under 70yo (as I said previously I'm not really keen on watching 70yo+ armpits so I don't know if it was something they used to do in the 60's) and women in Europe shave their armpits, I don't know what you've seen but it's most certainly not a widespread custom. I've yet to see someone I know not taking a shower at least once a day, not using shampoo, soaps, deodorants or perfume or a girl walking around with hairy armpits.

You made me sound like some bitter asshole and I hate that but for god's sake you should travel outside of your country sometimes, it would be a nice experience.

reply to post by Bluesma

I agree with most of what you post and I KNOW their concept of Dinner as an EVENT as it takes FOREVER! LOL!

What PISSES ME OFF...is when I TELL THEM...LOOK...I have about 45 Minutes to get a bite to eat and drink as I have to be somewhere in an hour...could you PLEASE get me a Menu and a coffee? Then I get the EYE ROLL and the turn of the head.

And you are also right that being POLITE is like CHUM in the WATER! They will attempt to walk all over you. I have solved this problem by Physically and Psychologically intimidating them! LOL! Seems to be the ONLY thing that can get me in and out in 60 Minutes! LOL! SAD but TRUE!
Split Infinity

Hmmm, the tip isn't added automatically to the bill in France (but I thought it was the case in the US, I'm supprised), not at all, most of the waiters I've known were doing something like half of their money off the tips.

But that one certainly didn't deserved it.

Concerning the dinner as an event, these days it's not as common, most people don't have the time to stop for lunch for more than one hour (when they have one hour) and even the dinner is quite quick as people don't feel like spending two hours eating but I remember when I used to see my grandparents in the countryside we were starting with champaigne (they lived in the region where it's made so they could get some really good one for a really low price) and snacks at 12pm, following with a full course between 13pm and 15/16pm (starters - salad - fish - meat - cheese - dessert) some strong drinks and a cigar which most of the time ended about one hour later and we started everything all over again. Glorious days.

Originally posted by onthedownlow
reply to post by talklikeapirat

 

Excellent!! I love the map! Is the rest of the world so concerned with what Americans think? Sounds like fatgirl syndrom. Isn't it odd that the rest of the world only complains about the US? The US did not make this a popularity contest, the rest of the world (Europe) did. I think the last presidential election was a mandate that is quite the contrary to your post. It would seem that nationalism is only dead in the United States.

its not that the rest of the world is so concerned with what americans think, but a great deal, if not a majority of media in the english speaking world comes from America, and the US has always made it a popularity contest, spouting about how America is the best country in the world, and the rest of the world has had to put up with hearing about it for decades, and its clearly obvious to anyone that the US is clearly not the greatest country in the world, nor does it have the most freedom, or the best or even a top ten education system, or public health, or any other number of things that make up the properties that you can measure to support how good your country is. Thats why the rest of the world complains about the US, in my opinion

reply to post by talklikeapirat


I gave you a star and a flag. You know why? Because I can take a joke. I know this country is so much more than this but I can almost see how others might think this way if they listen to the babble that comes from sources reputedly American. We resemble it a little... but it isn't us. If you think so that is just another stereotype like the ones shown here. It is still pretty funny (a tad embarrassing for how true it really is) and I WILL BE reposting it.