NationStates Jolt Archive

I've been listening on this forum for a short while to people who say that Americans are this, Americans are that, etc.

I am reminded in particular of the wag who posted that Americans are rednecks, or the poster who said that all Americans are stupid.

There was even someone who said that the EU had no lower class, which I found amusing.

It's not like I've never been to Europe, either.

I could have even concluded that Europeans were stupid rednecks, or had hordes of lower class people, just on the basis of my travels.

Places like Manchester, where I met working and lower class people who put one of two words (f**king and bloody) in with every other word in their speech.

Places like southern Germany, where there seemed to be plenty of German rednecks at the shooting club, where they could also drink beer and eat steak all day.

I won't go into their atrocious accent, which is very noticeable, even to a non-native German.

I remember many a rest stop in Europe, where magazines like Busen seem to be as popular as Maxim is in the US. One can only imagine the high intellectual standard in play here.

Or my time in France, where every male seems to have a cigarette - and I don't mean a Marlboro, or even something lighter.

Gauloise cigarettes seemed to be the rule, and they smell even worse than most, and crackle like they have twigs in them.

And popular newspapers! Americans are always held to task for the National Enquirer, or Weekly World News.

I suggest that you pick up a copy of Bild, one of the most popular newspapers in Europe.

Even a person with only two weeks of German instruction can read it, as it requires a rudimentary understanding of German.

I remember the first headline I ever read in a German newspaper - along with the photo of some European playboy and his wenches.

It said, "This is how he lives - with a blond on one arm, and a brunette on the other..." (translated from German).

And toilets - well, here in the US, I have a water conserving toilet, but it doesn't have a damn shelf built into the bowl so that I have to scrape crap out of it every time I use it.

And if I go to a rest stop, I can actually sit down to crap (even if I do have to clean off the seat), rather than drop my trousers and try to straddle a steel trench and make the attempt to eject fecal submunitions without hitting my pants.

So, it's not reasonable to me for someone to say that somehow, Europe is always the better, or higher culture.

Or that they always do it right, or that they have no rednecks, or no lower class.

And please, stop stereotyping Americans. I could do it to Europeans quite easily.

Why in god's name would you go to manchester?

When I go to England I rarely, if ever, go south of the thames or even outside the circle line~!

Well, I did go to wales last time, Cardiff and Treforest, but they're college towns ;)

I also discovered that Barrow-in-Furness is actually an old way to say Boring-Ass Location.

Ye Gods! What a nightmarish place. And even without the nuclear submarines...

And if I go to a rest stop, I can actually sit down to crap (even if I do have to clean off the seat), rather than drop my trousers and try to straddle a steel trench and make the attempt to eject fecal submunitions without hitting my pants.



That steel trench in a urinal. You are supposed to piss in it.

I would'nt like to be the cleaner who found the shit in the urinal.

Honestly. Americans do a good job of stereotyping themselves.

That steel trench in a urinal. You are supposed to piss in it.

I would'nt like to be the cleaner who found the shit in the urinal.

Honestly. Americans do a good job of stereotyping themselves.

No, I'm watching the Germans straddle it (there are neat foot pads), and they're crapping into it.

There wasn't a place to crap in the whole truckstop.

My mistake....Remind me not to take a shit or piss in Germany.

I thought they were efficient and clean as well. They they are shitting in urinals.

Places like southern Germany, where there seemed to be plenty of German rednecks at the shooting club, where they could also drink beer and eat steak all day.



It´s a shooting club afterall. What did you expect in a shooting club?

Well cultured rocket scientists and intellectuals?

No, I'm watching the Germans straddle it (there are neat foot pads), and they're crapping into it.

There wasn't a place to crap in the whole truckstop.

Well ya know. Some continental European destinations always have had this strange thing about toilets...but they're changing :-P.

Why in god's name would you go to manchester?

When I go to England I rarely, if ever, go south of the thames or even outside the circle line~!

Well, I did go to wales last time, Cardiff and Treforest, but they're college towns ;)

Whats the hells wrong with manchester?!?!?!?! its a great city and a damn sight better than london...not that it being my home town has anything to do with that opinion! ;) :D

It´s a shooting club afterall. What did you expect in a shooting club?

Well cultured rocket scientists and intellectuals?

I was assured that there were no gun-toting rednecks in Germany!

I was assured that there were no gun-toting rednecks in Germany!

Well, obviously whoever claimed that had no idea of what he was talking about.

And I´m really intrigued by that toilet you mentioned. I think I never saw anything like it. Maybe it was a bidet (although I´d bve suprised, because they´re kinda out of fashion)?

Well, obviously whoever claimed that had no idea of what he was talking about.

And I´m really intrigued by that toilet you mentioned. I think I never saw anything like it. Maybe it was a bidet (although I´d bve suprised, because they´re kinda out of fashion)?

It was at an Esso truckstop on the road to Munchen.

Short steel trench, steel food pads on either side, wide pan beneath with running water.

There was a steel bar on the wall across from each one of these. The people would hold on with one hand and squat down.

Craziest thing I ever saw in Germany (they're rather un-crazy and neat, so I found this as disturbing as the German version of the water-saving toilet).

It was at an Esso truckstop on the road to Munchen.

Short steel trench, steel food pads on either side, wide pan beneath with running water.

There was a steel bar on the wall across from each one of these. The people would hold on with one hand and squat down.

Craziest thing I ever saw in Germany (they're rather un-crazy and neat, so I found this as disturbing as the German version of the water-saving toilet).

You´re sure you accidentially didn´t enter the ladies restroom o_O ? Last time I saw one of those antiquated toilets was somewhere in the badlands in central Spain.

And those water-saving toilets are pretty cool. At least you don´t get that "nasty splashing water suprise" if you squeeze out a really big one o_O.

Yes, the turd just drops onto a dry shelf next to the apparent cup of water that forms the exit.

You have to have good aim and a really small dump to hit that water cleanly.

You also need a toilet brush every time - to push that turd out of there, because the meager bit of water that comes from the flush won't move it anywhere.

Never had trouble with my toilet.

(I actually can´t believe we´re having a discussion about toilets. C´mon!).

I was in a hotel in Milan and was shocked to see our bathroom only had one large towel. I guess we were supposed to share a sloppy wet towel. Also after the three of us took showers, the drain backed up. I guess it couldn't handle 3 American bathers. So before we checked out we each took a huge shit in the bidet. I bet that grumpy maid earned her 1000 lire tip. :p

why WE Europeans ALWAYS Stereotype Americans? You do a great job yourself you'know.
and BTW when you go to shitty European places, you go to shitty places! wtf did you expect? Class?
I may not have had the pleasure to visit the states but I haev a rather good view of ze avarege American....
And about the point that you can easily stereotype Europeans? sure, go ahead..

Never had trouble with my toilet.

(I actually can´t believe we´re having a discussion about toilets. C´mon!).

Well, back to the topic... I just find that every country has things that are screwed up, or lower class, or redneck-ish.

BTW, have you found that it's difficult to listen to a young woman from the south of Germany speak?

At first I thought it was just that one woman, but it's most of them, and it's really hard on my ears.

BTW, have you found that it's difficult to listen to a young woman from the south of Germany speak?

At first I thought it was just that one woman, but it's most of them, and it's really hard on my ears.

As I live down there, I never had too much trouble with it ;)

I live in Europe, Netherlands, and I haven't seen anything like what you described, in either France, Germany or the UK. You chose to go to such places, you could have chosen some more decent places in Europe... Also a "European" is quite hard to stereotype, because we're all of different peoples. I wouldn't say the average person in Southern France, has the same mentality as the average person living in the North of the Netherlands close to the German border.

I live in Europe, Netherlands, and I haven't seen anything like what you described, in either France, Germany or the UK. You chose to go to such places, you could have chosen some more decent places in Europe... Also a "European" is quite hard to stereotype, because we're all of different peoples. I wouldn't say the average person in Southern France, has the same mentality as the average person living in the North of the Netherlands close to the German border.

Paris isn't decent?

I've been to a lot of urban areas, but that was the most urine-smelling place I've ever been to.

See? If people find it easy to stereotype America, I can find it equally easy to stereotype Europe.

Maybe we shouldn't stereotype, neh?

Maybe we shouldn't stereotype, neh?

If it makes you feel any better, where I'm living in London atm is the whore-capital. I mean the capital cheap-whore district. Lowest offer so far: £10 for sex and a blow job.

Not bad...

I was assured that there were no gun-toting rednecks in Germany!
There's a reason that every single farm field in Germany has a hunting blind or two...

My big gripe about some European hotels and the like is the fact that there were no washcloths! When I was there this summer only a single hotel or hostel had washcloths, and that was the Berlin Hilton!

I also had a gripe about how 2 or 3 places I stayed had no shower curtains.

European public restrooms smell the same as American public restrooms, terrible.

Now, of course, there were things that were far better about Europe, the far more liberal drinking laws were very :) :)!

I'll just say that there are stupid people everywhere, so you cannot say that someone is better than the other.

I think you all just have penis envy, OK the penis is symbolic, but I think it's kind of funny how so many people around the world worry so much about america just beacuse were on top.

I guess you have your debate societies (Europeans) though I still love em. Ant you have you action societies (USA), we like to get things done here. Maybe if the europeans would stop worrying about americans and fix their own problems, then their economies would pick up. Thats right I said pick up. Most of europe's economies are shrinking, even on a bad year ours grows by at least 10%.

Americans get stereotyped because of posts like this... It's useless to tell people to stop stereotyping you and then talk about your negative experiences with them. I'm an American and I don't like being stereotyped, but I'm not about to complain about other places. No one's going to stop stereotyping each other, everyone does it to each other, everyone has the blame.

On a lighter note... I'm sure all British people don't drink tea. Someone help me out here. The few British people I know enforce that stereotype. :P

If it makes you feel any better, where I'm living in London atm is the whore-capital. I mean the capital cheap-whore district. Lowest offer so far: £10 for sex and a blow job.

Not bad...


Is that tax free? :D

I'm European, you should see me Stereotyping other Europeans.. :D

If it makes you feel any better, where I'm living in London atm is the whore-capital. I mean the capital cheap-whore district. Lowest offer so far: £10 for sex and a blow job.

And you say socialism is a bad thing? :D For that price, I probably wouldn't want it. It's (yes, it) vagina was probably lined with flesh eating bacteria. For the BJ part. Think about Limey's teeth. Cheap whores tend to have very lax hygiene. So it may not be your reproductive fluids collected in her mouth, but the absessed teeth too. blah. :eek:

My stereotype of Americans?

They are a bunch of religious fundamentalists, not much different to Kim Il Sung or Ayatollah whoever.

And what's worse - they don't stick to themselves like the Koreans or Ayatollahs. They want that everyone is like them. God-fearing and god-obeying brave citizens - seems like they have no will and no brain of themselves.

And you say socialism is a bad thing? :D For that price, I probably wouldn't want it. It's (yes, it) vagina was probably lined with flesh eating bacteria. For the BJ part. Think about Limey's teeth. Cheap whores tend to have very lax hygiene. So it may not be your reproductive fluids collected in her mouth, but the absessed teeth too. blah. :eek:

Ewww... That's a sick thought! This girl was a bit chubby though...probably why she was so cheap. I guess market capitalism comes into everything these days. ;) :p

Is that tax free? :D

Damn, now you've come to mention it, I bet there're hundreds of people evading that kind of tax here. Tax evasion is evil. :rolleyes:

My big gripe about some European hotels and the like is the fact that there were no washcloths! When I was there this summer only a single hotel or hostel had washcloths, and that was the Berlin Hilton!

I also had a gripe about how 2 or 3 places I stayed had no shower curtains.
well all i have to say about that is that it really depends where you go. now i havent been to the berlin hilton but ive been to numerous hotels in many european countries, and yes some were, shall we say, lacking in amenities, but you get what you pay for. besides couldnt you have called teh reception to ask for more towels? not too difficult...

I think you all just have penis envy, OK the penis is symbolic, but I think it's kind of funny how so many people around the world worry so much about america just beacuse were on top.

I guess you have your debate societies (Europeans) though I still love em. Ant you have you action societies (USA), we like to get things done here. Maybe if the europeans would stop worrying about americans and fix their own problems, then their economies would pick up. Thats right I said pick up. Most of europe's economies are shrinking, even on a bad year ours grows by at least 10%.

believe me when i say, i dont have penis envy. i lived in the states for nine years, i could, if i wanted to get an american passport because ive been 'naturalized' but i dont want to be american, i dont feel that i am an american. and for the record i know very few, if any, non-americans who want to be american.
also, you seem to be implying the usa is self-reliant? even the superpower needs trade. sure not everything depends on europe, why would it when you've got sweatshops in china and burma?
and dont forget, to give the american economy an extra boost, bush invaded iraq, not for the non-existent WMDs, or for liberating tha people (and how does bombing their towns into oblivion do that? liberate their souls from their bodies? o how kind...). oil and business. the contracts to rebuild iraq already settled, haliburton etc will soon be raking in the money.
i think it is more important to think about standard of life and equality. and america cant say weve got 'penis envy' now.

btw i dont not like american people, i just dont like the leadership and the way the general public have been duped so obviously and even when confronted with teh truth, do not always beleive it.

PLEASE stop this talk about crap ans piss and blow job. I'm eating GODDAMNIT.

even on a bad year ours grows by at least 10%.

You're not China. The US GDP growth rate is expected to be 3.1 % 2004. Really, now, read up on economics before you make statements.

Anyhow, I'm from Northern Europe and I can't stand the toiletries in most other parts of Europe.

Take the UK as an example. They still haven't discovered that you can combine the warm water faucet and the cold water faucet into one single faucet that lets you wash your hands/face/whatever without either freezing to death or scolding yourself. What's up with that? And is it really so hard to get decent water pressure in showers?

Oh, and CCTV-cameras are the work of the devil!

I've never been to a decent public toliet anywhere, ever!
As for impropper use of a urinal, I've been to a night-club in Edinburgh where some tinky bastard has shat in the urinal. :eek:

I think you all just have penis envy, OK the penis is symbolic, but I think it's kind of funny how so many people around the world worry so much about america just beacuse were on top.

I guess you have your debate societies (Europeans) though I still love em. Ant you have you action societies (USA), we like to get things done here. Maybe if the europeans would stop worrying about americans and fix their own problems, then their economies would pick up. Thats right I said pick up. Most of europe's economies are shrinking, even on a bad year ours grows by at least 10%.
Excuse me if I'm wrong but I think only China and a few of the other Asian miracles have reached 10 percent growth recently...

10 percent growth in a country like America would be irresponsible and would overheat the economy too quickly... or so I was told ...

On a lighter note... I'm sure all British people don't drink tea. Someone help me out here. The few British people I know enforce that stereotype. :P

I'm a Brit, and.. eerm.. yes, I drink tea. If it helps, I also eat scones and have bad teeth. ;)

Excuse me if I'm wrong but I think only China and a few of the other Asian miracles have reached 10 percent growth recently...

10 percent growth in a country like America would be irresponsible and would overheat the economy too quickly... or so I was told ...

At the very least it would cause greenspan to go into a heart attack inducing inflation fighting mode.

We are however chugging along at a healthy just under 4% clip. much better than Germany and France's just above 1% rate. And lets not even get into the unemployment rate game.

The British/ American stereotypes thing is a product of television. I must admit to being pleasantly surprised at how alike British and american soldiers were when serving alongside them in the first gulf war. I had assumed that the crap we view on TV was a reasonable portrayal of America and Americans... Well I was young at the time.

The Brits definitely have good tea. I drank a lot of it last time I was there. :)

Take the UK as an example. They still haven't discovered that you can combine the warm water faucet and the cold water faucet into one single faucet that lets you wash your hands/face/whatever without either freezing to death or scolding yourself. What's up with that? And is it really so hard to get decent water pressure in showers?


Hohoho...our taps are great...you just need to learn...put the cold first...then the hot...then the cold...then the hot...

And we don't like power showers...cause urm...we're all hippies...and it's bad for the environment!


;) :fluffle: ;)

At the very least it would cause greenspan to go into a heart attack inducing inflation fighting mode.

We are however chugging along at a healthy just under 4% clip. much better than Germany and France's just above 1% rate. And lets not even get into the unemployment rate game.

Yeah unemployment rate is worse in Germany in France. Although the figures are misleading because in the USA after your 12-months is up they no longer count you. In Germany and France they carry on counting you.. So the employment is not quite as much worse as it seems; although it's still really bad... wannabe commies :p when will they learn ! :rolleyes:

One of the problems (not the only one mind you) is that Americans get stereotyped by their leaders, who at the moment is Bush. keep in mind that not every American beleives in God (we are 18% athiests here), and virtually no one is the same as Bush. I have been living in Germany for the past year, and almost everyone I know has completely forgotten that I am American. It does help that I speak German practically without an accent, but everyone that I meet for the first time here is very suprised when I don't fit in with one of the many negative stereotypes. I make just about everyone rethink what they 'know' about Americans, and not just what the media wants them to think. I know the media thing sounds cliche, but from living here one whole year I know that it's true.

anyway, just a rant. If any of it needs clarifying, let me know, I haven't been speaking English for a while.

BTW, I live in Ludwigshafen, in south Germany. I recall an earlier post about a woman speaking strangely, and I must say that you are not alone, there are many strange dialects here. drives me nuts sometimes.

Everybody come to Scotland.... Who's better than all us Ginger headed dudes in Kilts... NOT SKIRTS ...nobody that who. ...AYE...

Yes, the turd just drops onto a dry shelf next to the apparent cup of water that forms the exit.

You have to have good aim and a really small dump to hit that water cleanly.

You also need a toilet brush every time - to push that turd out of there, because the meager bit of water that comes from the flush won't move it anywhere.


this whole thread has got me in stitches...JB is cracking me up!

My stereotype of Americans?

They are a bunch of religious fundamentalists, not much different to Kim Il Sung or Ayatollah whoever.

And what's worse - they don't stick to themselves like the Koreans or Ayatollahs. They want that everyone is like them. God-fearing and god-obeying brave citizens - seems like they have no will and no brain of themselves.
Kim Il Sung is an athiest, numbnuts.

Petrol....

My stereotype of Americans?

They are a bunch of religious fundamentalists, not much different to Kim Il Sung or Ayatollah whoever.

And what's worse - they don't stick to themselves like the Koreans or Ayatollahs. They want that everyone is like them. God-fearing and god-obeying brave citizens - seems like they have no will and no brain of themselves.

Well interesting post,

Where did anyone mention your stereotyping of Americans in particular?

As Shakespear said, "Methinks the lady doth protest too much" A guilty conscience perhaps?

And with, as someone pointed out, 18% of the population being atheists we are hardly all religious fundementalists.

Most people wont even discuss their religious beliefs outside their own church, too great a chance of being condemed socially of "bible thumping"

And finally with the recent election splitting the country 51% to 49% we are hardly all mind numbed zombies. At least 49% of the country disagrees with the current administration.

Hell the main theme of the democratic candidate seemed to be "Anyone but Bush"

Again hardly the type of behaviour you would see in people with no will or brain of their own blindly following the leadership.

Be well

AAhhzz
*A Good Ole Southern Boy who has not been inside a church for a decade, does not own a gun, and is an Environmental Specialist, hardly stereotypical is it?*

**Sorry to ruin your illusions, please feel free to keep them. After all, you have a right to your own opinions, in most countries anyway :) **

Wow, and no stereotyping of Canucks, eh, even though we are on side with the Europeans in stereotyping Americans?

Americans get stereotyped because of posts like this... It's useless to tell people to stop stereotyping you and then talk about your negative experiences with them. I'm an American and I don't like being stereotyped, but I'm not about to complain about other places. No one's going to stop stereotyping each other, everyone does it to each other, everyone has the blame.

On a lighter note... I'm sure all British people don't drink tea. Someone help me out here. The few British people I know enforce that stereotype. :P

I don't drink tea, or love the queen, or have bad teeth, or eat at shit restaurants, or envy americas symbolic penis?, or use capital letters!