NationStates Jolt Archive

Please do not mistake with the country "America". I was curious about this because , in my home country of Canada, there has been alot of negativity about Americans in general, including one of my teachers branding them "idiots" after Bush was re-elected President. Many people I know will refer to Americans as "morons" and "rednecks" as well. Most of the people that say these things though, fall under one of those two categories themselves. I also onced had an American in San Jose ask me, "Why do you guys hate us so much?" I tried to explain, by using examples like President Bush. He replied, "Well we all didn't vote for that dumbass you know..." I won't get into European negativity towards America(ns) because I haven't experienced much first hand, although I believe it's strong there as well. I personally think it's all a bunch of bullshit, because we, as the rest of the world, are not so wondeful ourselves.

Ahh, glad to know there's intelligent life out there. ;)

While I view myself to be wonderfully wonderful, I don't think so high of my fellow Americans. There is no way I could see ANY people "very positive", since every people has it's drawbacks. There is also no way I could see any people "very negative", since every people has it's pro's.

I think that Americans, as a whole, have grown a bit too greedy and consuming. Now, I'm not a "go green" hippie, but I think we need to lay back on the excess fast food and pollution, spend a wee bit making sure that our major cities don't sink, and at least try to have good relations with the world. In this world of interdependence, not having many friends screws you over(E.G. N. Korea, Cuba). I do, however, think Americans are some of the most innovative and accepting people(in general, some groups of Americans are down-right stupid and racist) on the planet. We live in a mesh of nearly every culture on the planet, and we have invented large amounts of things.

People from where I live are so often referred to by people in the south and midwest as "not real Americans". If they are what "real" Americans are, then I hate Americans, because they are hateful and backwards and spiteful and bigotted.

I put negative. But I'd put that in any international opinion poll.

I don't know is it because of Bush or it's because America's a democracy? I don't view Americans or the U.S. government positively anymore.

I personally think it's all a bunch of bullshit, because we, as the rest of the world, are not so wondeful ourselves.

Well, believe what you will, but I don't agree. I was originally going to go on a bit of a tear, but hey, happy fourth of July and all that, Americans.

Smoke 'em if you got 'em.

....we have invented large amounts of things....
I like that...sounds very sophisticated! ;)

You reckon Hegel is right? Cuz that's what you're implying by saying a people has its' drawbacks.

As an american (I find it funny that you refer to us as if we were not even part of this "community") I find my fellow americans to be....some of the most pretentious people on the planet. Well, certain groups. I'ts impossible to group "americans' as a single people, for the fact that, despite how Idiotic, i think the word "Diverse" is,its just that...well...a pretty diverse set of peoples.

peoples. i like that word. I mean, you ahve to look from the inside out - yankees, rednecks, Negroids, mongolioids, WASPs, and people, like myself, that don't want anything to do with the rest of this nonsense.

In all honesty, I don't care either way about what my "fellow" americans do.
so to say what I think abuot americans i'd have to target every culture, "subculture" "counterculture" and whatever other grouping term that i'm failing to think of on an individual level.

See, I voted for michael badnarik, for the simple reasons that "
bush is a moron.
Kerry was a moron.

so i voted for the lesser of the 5 evils on the ballot. Or that what i percieved to be. Even though badnarik was, and still is a paranoid nutcase.
bah. the party system is a falwed, so i'm pretty much screwed. However, i'm not about to move. Fact is, I like it here.

it realy irks me when people say "O W3LL IM M0VING 2 KANADA LOL" - we all know that is bullshit.

...Kerry was a moron...
:D
He cured himself, did he?

Hardly. To me, he no longer even exists.

I like that...sounds very sophisticated! ;)

You reckon Hegel is right? Cuz that's what you're implying by saying a people has its' drawbacks.

Cut me some slack. It's 12 A.M here :p

Of course every people has it's drawbacks! There is no perfect culture! Everyone has good traits, and everyone has bad.

I find it neccesary to point out here, that there is no one uniform "american" culture. The only thing that comes to mind when i hear the word, is people.

Get more specific, then my images become much more cynical.

Well, believe what you will, but I don't agree. I was originally going to go on a bit of a tear, but hey, happy fourth of July and all that, Americans.

Smoke 'em if you got 'em.


Are you a Canadian, by chance?

I personally think it's all a bunch of bullshit, because we, as the rest of the world, are not so wondeful ourselves.

Ahh you summed it all up there. It's always easier to judge and or blame somebody else rather then judge yourself. ;)

Stupid people exist in all nations.

As to hatred? Meh! Don't see it. I get around and the simple fact is that if you are nice and polite to people; they tend to be that way back.....

Ahh you summed it all up there. It's always easier to judge and or blame somebody else rather then judge yourself. ;)

Stupid people exist in all nations.

As to hatred? Meh! Don't see it. I get around and the simple fact is that if you are nice and polite to people; they tend to be that way back.....


I never said I was perfect, buddy. I've been guilty of this sort of thing too, so in a way, I'm a hypocrit. Happy now?

I never said I was perfect, buddy. I've been guilty of this sort of thing too, so in a way, I'm a hypocrit. Happy now?

Eh?

I wasn't judging. I agreed with your comment.

People from where I live are so often referred to by people in the south and midwest as "not real Americans". If they are what "real" Americans are, then I hate Americans, because they are hateful and backwards and spiteful and bigotted.

Well that is not at all true, but they do tend to believe that you have more than your share of individuals that forget there is a midwest or south. As far as hateful backwards spiteful and bigotted, all one has to do is read your post and they will know where that really comes from. Have a nice evening and do get some help with that anger problem you are unable to deal with.

Very Positive 6 13.95%
Positive 11 25.58%
Indifferent 9 20.93%
Negative 11 25.58%
Very Negative 6 13.95%


This equals my vote = Indifferent. lol.

Liverbreath']Well that is not at all true, but they do tend to believe that you have more than your share of individuals that forget there is a midwest or south. As far as hateful backwards spiteful and bigotted, all one has to do is read your post and they will know where that really comes from. Have a nice evening and do get some help with that anger problem you are unable to deal with.

Ah yes, that's another problem. The casual dismissal of any of the Northeast's concerns.

It really depends on which Americans you're referring to. America ain't called the "melting pot" of cultures for nothing. In any group your going to have your nice, kind people and your crazy nuts who will use any excuse to hate you. All in all, I think that it averages out to be about middle, though that is true for any part of the world. And no matter what your opinion on America is, you can't doubt that our fireworks kick ASS!

Take heart in the fact that your country is big enough that you can have sectionalism. Imagine if you could take what you have and apply it to The Vatican or Luxemburg.......

Really you should be focused on the Alaskans and Hawaii uh....Hawaiians...They arnt part of the fold...they are out there doing their own thing away from the group.....you always gotta watch out for the loners...they are the ones that go nuts one day and shoot 50 people.

I view an American in the mirror. Sorry... I'm tied and bleary eyed.. boooo!

aww damn it..who screwed the vote up....now the positives are winning...

i've liked every american i've ever met. of course, just by how i know them, they're all the sort of americans who enjoy visiting/living in canada, so who knows if that's a biased sample?

Are you a Canadian, by chance?

Isn't everyone?

I just wish more people would be willing to sperate the actions of the American goverment from the American people. The goverment doesn't always represent all of the the people all of the time, or even some of the people all of the time.

One thing I have enjoyed about living in Japan, is that most of the Japanese I have encountered seem to be able to do so. I get many questions about American goverment and why Bush did something (whatever he did recently) but there isn't the sense of blaim for his actions that I feel from some of this board's posters.

As for Americans themselves (and from an American) E Pluribus Unum, what unites is being called American. One we may be, but we're still Many.

People from where I live are so often referred to by people in the south and midwest as "not real Americans". If they are what "real" Americans are, then I hate Americans, because they are hateful and backwards and spiteful and bigotted.

Look on the bright side - you could be a liberal living in the midwest. It's fun! Not only do I get the same people telling me I'm not a "real American," but my acquaintances in New England regularly inform me that, while I may think I'm reasonably well-educated and that I voted for Kerry, I'm really an illiterate bigoted pig farmer who likes having sex with my siblings and worships Bush, since that's just what midwesterners DO.

*sigh* One of these days, I'm going to write a song called the "Blue In A Red State Blues"...

I voted "indifferent" simply because I cannot lump all Americans into one category. I work in hospitality, I deal with Americans on a constant basis and on foreign territory (to them). Thus I get to witness some of the very best and some of the very worst. On the one hand, Americans are extraordinarily friendly. With that comes what could be called, well, "lack of class". There are some things that are just not considered polite to do or say in the presence of strangers, but that doesn't stop them.

They tend to be extremely loud people, at least by Canadian standards. I was told when I lived in Europe that most Europeans can't really distinguish between Canadians and Americans, except that they can't hear the Canadians. If they couldn't hear you, they figured you were Canadian, and if you were loud and annoying, they assumed you were American.

In the seventeen years I have worked with them, I have seen a huge change in American attitudes when travelling outside their own country. They used to be absolutely dreadful, rude and arrogant, fussy and demanding (while expecting to get everything for half price because since they are not in the U.S.A. they must be in the third world). In the past five years I have noticed a major shift in their behaviour. They have become polite. Remarkably polite, in fact. They still ask the most insulting questions, but we understand it is due to complete ignorance of the rest of the world, not out of meanness. I will never understand anyone asking "is that in American dollars?" Why the fuck would it be in American dollars? Are you in America? When you stay at the Ritz Hotel in Paris and they tell you your lunch bill is a hundred francs, would anyone ask "is that in Swiss francs?" You are in France, it's in French francs. Don't ask silly questions.

And the biggest change is in the military personnel, I am sure they are now being trained much better in how to conduct themselves in foreign countries, because the military folks are the best of the lot these days.

So yeah, some Americans (and I have a tonne of family in the U.S.)(that was a metric tonne, by the way) are great, and others are dreadful, so on balance I vote indifferent. Even if I look at your election, I can assume at least 49% of the people are okay, so that backs up my middle-of-the-road (and typically Canadian) response.

*sigh* One of these days, I'm going to write a song called the "Blue In A Red State Blues"...

heh heh heh we like!

hmm as a long term ex pat i've come into contact with many Americans outside of their natural enviroment (*grins*) and have so far noticed them to be the most polar people on that planet..

most nationalities have a whole sliding scale from great people to complete gits.. the Yanks I keep running into are one or the other.. complete arrogant twats or the kind of people you end up staying in contact with even after both of you have moved country several times in the meantime..

I have yet to meet an American who didn't fit into one of these catagories.. America seems to only export the best and the worst :D

we werent given much of a choice in the last election, it was really choosing between the lesser of two evils, plus the vote wasnt far from even. its unfortunate when someone like bush can take over the white house and ruin our international image, it makes it hard for me to not brand america as redneck, but that would be stereotypical and therfor worthless

I see America as the center of the world

I see America as the center of the world

I see the center of the world as being a hot molten core thing...

I put negative. But I'd put that in any international opinion poll.

Don't worry, we think you're an idiot too. Overall, I don't see any major problems with the USA today (both people and administration).

Everyone who put negative are anarchists, kids, people who don't "really" know about "current affairs", or are insanely jealous (and for the sake of reference, I'm not American)

Don't worry, we think you're an idiot too. Overall, I don't see any major problems with the USA today (both people and administration).

Everyone who put negative are anarchists, kids, people who don't "really" know about "current affairs", or are insanely jealous (and for the sake of reference, I'm not American)

...please say you also aren't canadian

Ah yes, that's another problem. The casual dismissal of any of the Northeast's concerns.

That is simply untrue. Where do you get such ideas? For the most part (except for your EuroLiberal politicians) we like people in the northeast!
We reserve, "casual dismissal" strictly for people in the NorthWest (Washington and Oregon) and "Pft" is strictly applied only to the distinguished nutballs of California.
I simply could do nothing to help your anger problem, however my good evening to you was very sincere, despite the fact that you just called me a biggot, spiteful, and a small slew of other totally disrespectful things, without ever having met me.

That's okay, LB. I've met you.

And I'll go along with Sdaeriji's impressions.

Bush :headbang:
War :sniper:
World-Climate :confused:
No Help for Darfur :mp5:
Egoistic :mad:
Big :D
The only Ones on Earth :rolleyes:

That´s how i see the USA

But americans?
Whoa Dude - I Think they are like you and me, aren´t they?
;)

heh heh heh we like!

Glad you approved. :D

I am Canadian and I really don't consider myself negative on Americans yet I voted that way, but I do know that many Americans are fairly ignorant of things in the world unless it affects their own country negatively.
It's the American system that I don't like. I don't like the fact that the American government sticks it's nose into places where it does not belong. Also when they expect other countries to act the same as them. Well, I hate to say it, but not everyone agrees with the American system. The USA has set up puppet governments in other countries for it's own gain. Unfortunately, it usually comes back later and bites them on their ass!!!!!

I am an American. I voted very positive. Yes, I am a bit biased, but hear me out.

We have an interesting sense of National pride. Though we truly believe our government sucks, it's not ok for foreign governments to ridicule us. We are a highly competative people who simply want to have and want to be the best. We also fall very short of that goal.

I didn't vote for Bush, nor do I agree with anything he does. I am truly a highly patriotic person. I am proud to be an illiterate, lazy, dumb, rude, obnoxious, crass, stupid American.

We, as a relatively young nation, have contributed a lot to the world. We know this. But instead of being remembered for those things (like the car, the computer, bifocals etc...) we are remembered for the stupid things we've done. Since there seemed to be such a lack of respect towards America and Americans, we tended to just return the favor.

Then, on Sept. 11, 2001, i saw such a response to our tragedy. There was such love and support for our Nation. I was most deeply touched and finally felt like a world citizen, instead of just an American citizen. I finally felt like the would actually cared about the United States. Unfortunately, within 1 year, we pissed everyone off again with that whole Iraq mistake. (Don't blame me, I voted against Bush.)

I don't know. Like us, hate us, doesn't matter to me. We're a very informal country, so we tend to carry that over with us when we go abroad. However, we are learning how to carry ourselves when we visit foreign nations. As to avoid those nasty international incidents. But however you feel about us, at least give us the benefit of the doubt. We did manage to defeat the most powerful nation in the world (England), with the help of the French, with what was basically rednecks with pistols. We've managed to survive our own stupidity and shortcomings. And we are still a work in progress.

America has at least 10 times as many idiots as Canada.

Of course, that's because the population is 10 times as much. ;)

There are idiots everywhere.

We, as a relatively young nation, have contributed a lot to the world. We know this. But instead of being remembered for those things (like the car, the computer, bifocals etc...) we are remembered for the stupid things we've done.

Buddy, I hate to rain on your parade, but no American invented the car, a German did. Well, two, actually, almost simultaeously and without knowing about each other.

But that aside, I voted indifferent.
I've met a number of Americans who fitted the worst stereotypes you could come up with, and exceeded them. And I've also met a number of Americans who were just friendly, civilised, everyday people. Some were highly intelligent and educated, some were... well, the contrary.
You just can't judge such a large group of people on the whole.
As for the government, well, I largely pity Americans. First they get a president they didn't really elect, then they don't get an opportunity to get rid of that guy, while he shows himself again and again to be one of the worst stereotypical, ignorant, arrogant and incompetent lunatics anybody could think of when talking about America.

On a world political level, America worries me no end. The impression I get again and again is that the American public lost their say in politics and are governed and ruled by a small group of people with exclusively financial concerns...

I'm slightly disappointed that there is no "mixed" option. I'm highly apalled by how creationism is revered as a science in the states among many other aspects of American life. Foreign policy is worst though. But nevertheless, Americans are some of the friendliest people I've met (next to maybe the Irish). It's hard to compromise the fact that such nice people do such aweful things.

Buddy, I hate to rain on your parade, but no American invented the car, a German did. Well, two, actually, almost simultaeously and without knowing about each other.
I'd like to add that the first computer was also invented by a German...

Meh. some of you who claim to be Europeans or Canadians sound so much like Americans it's funny-especially with your dislike of Bush and condescending view of other Americans.
Makes me wonder who here really is what they say they are.
Esp. when they're using American spelling and grammar.
Care to mention anyone specific?

Care to mention anyone specific?

I re-read my post, and realize how idiotic it is. No, I don't think so... I don't want to make personal attacks and what I posted was...wrong. bad thing to say. Apologies to all.

I'd like to add that the first computer was also invented by a German...
Sorry:
Babbage Charles. 1792-1871.

British mathematician and inventor of an analytical machine based on principles similar to those used in modern computers.
http://www.fourmilab.ch/babbage/ (clicky)

I re-read my post, and realize how idiotic it is. No, I don't think so... I don't want to make personal attacks and what I posted was...wrong. bad thing to say. Apologies to all.
I didn't feel insulted but I accept your apology anyway. :)

I've lived and worked with many Americans, taken long vacations in America, hung out with Americans taking vacation in London and spent a lot of time (on boards other than this one) chatting with Americans. I view them positively. They are in the most part friendly and honest, hardworking and generous, thoughtful and positive.

I don't let the few loud mouthed idiots on this board change my view of Americans because from experience I know them to be in the minority and that most other Americans are ordinary people that you could find anywhere in the world.

Sorry:
Babbage Charles. 1792-1871.

British mathematician and inventor of an analytical machine based on principles similar to those used in modern computers.
http://www.fourmilab.ch/babbage/ (clicky)
I stand corrected. Zuse invented his during WW2. But since Babbage was British, it still means that the computer wasn't an American invention...

I'm 100% sure that most, if not all, Americans are great people. I haven't met that many of them, but all the people I know that have say they are great people. Not many people here in the UK say "have a nice day" and actually mean it.

It's just the politicians and big multinational businesses I don't like.

That's why I voted positive. :D

The yanks? Well, my absolutely and completely correct, not to mention thoroughly thought out, opinion of them is, that they're one silly bunch of bastards, with this unexplainable obsession 'liberty' an' shite. There's nothing wrong with a little opression. It grows character.

But yeah. Hard to say. I've never actually talked to a yankee in person, so I my view of them is pretty much based on entertainment and what little meet on the internet.

I re-read my post, and realize how idiotic it is. No, I don't think so... I don't want to make personal attacks and what I posted was...wrong. bad thing to say. Apologies to all.

Well done, you are the second person on these forums to reaffirm my faith in humanity.

*gives you a cookie*

Sorry:
Babbage Charles. 1792-1871.

British mathematician and inventor of an analytical machine based on principles similar to those used in modern computers.
http://www.fourmilab.ch/babbage/ (clicky)


actually if you want to get technical, it would be the abacus.

That would be the chinese, right?

Let an American take a stab at this.

"How do I view my own people?"

Theres a serious political division in this country today.
One half prefers to let the government tell them what to think, and the other half resents anything that the government does.

Both sides are pretty stupid, but to me, the "right" side, is far dumber.

The very idea that we allow our leaders to do what they have been doing as of late, and sit by and say nothing, or do nothing...is maddening.

This country is becoming one that wants to do as little cerebral excerzise as possible, and it scares me silly.

But, this county is truly like no other on the planet, for good or ill.
You will find every type of person, from all walks of life here, and some you never thought existed...

We can be infinitely generous, and completely selfish.
We can be dumb as twice baked shit, and bastions of wisdom..(although this is getting rare)
You get the idea.....

Imagine living in a country, that was founded on principles of freedom, and a cuase that was right, and just, and that whatever faults it had, it was being shaped into a place where anyone would have the same chance at success as anyone else....

..and then slowly watch all of that slip away into some sort of Orwellian 1984 scenario.

Its sad, and nostalgic...and ultimately ..a bit scary.

actually if you want to get technical, it would be the abacus.

That would be the chinese, right?

I think so...though it might be Arabic or Greek, for all I really know. :confused:

I think so...though it might be Arabic or Greek, for all I really know. :confused:


Abacus sounds latin, but I could swear the Chinese invented them.

Abacus sounds latin, but I could swear the Chinese invented them.


Both correct

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abacus

Last time I checked 'Americans' were virtually extinct after foreign invaders stole their land and ethnically cleansed most of them.

Strange how what we hate most is what we fear in ourselves...

:headbang: :gundge:

Both correct

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abacus


Damn, Im good.

Wish someone would have told me earlier....

As an american I can say that we're nearly all morons. None of us see that our policies are currupting the very earth... and those who DO see don't seem to realise that we're PART of the earth.

People from where I live are so often referred to by people in the south and midwest as "not real Americans". If they are what "real" Americans are, then I hate Americans, because they are hateful and backwards and spiteful and bigotted.


I don't feel that the people on the East coast are not real Americans. That is such a stupid thing for someone to say. Not all people in the midwest are spiteful and bigots. By your post now alot will scream out. "SEE THEY THINK THEY ARE THE ELITE!" :)

I find it neccesary to point out here, that there is no one uniform "american" culture. The only thing that comes to mind when i hear the word, is people...
To everyone:
Hegel, a philosopher, reckons a "people" like the Americans has a common spirit and developes over time. Accepting that theory, one can indeed make value judgements about how much one likes a people, or not.
Where that might lead is another matter. In Hegel's case, it was WWI.

The main cause of negative opinions about Americans is:

1) ignorance - on both personal and government level

2) selfishness - the government acts as if the USA was the only contry on this Earth, just as if they have another Earth to move to once they destroy this one


I wish they finally burn all the oil in the world, I wish they genetically modify their entire flora and fauna, I wish non of their water is drinkable anymore, I wish they finally turn their entire arable land into desert. And then I would like to see them suffer a civil war caused by famine and poverty, and to experience the mighty world's reaction based on their respective "national interests".

Judging from the most Americans I've met, most are intelligent and nice people. The only problem is their media, which is heavily influencing (and perhaps even controlling) their view of the world.

Isn't "Americans" a bit to big a cathegory to judge? I mean, there are like 280 milion of them or so. I wouldn't like it if someone were to judge me as simply one of all 460 milion Europeans. I can imagine that the difference between a Dutchman and a Estonian is comparable to the difference between a Floridian and an Oregonian. And even those are huge cathegories. There are 16 milion Dutch people. There are also milions of, say, New-Yorkers, and that's only one urban area.
Okay, compare yourself to your neighbour first and then try to judge a certain milion people you don't even know personaly on the other side of the world. I think we can better discuss the political path a certain government has chosen, then the civilians it is supposed to stand for.

Americans in general seem to be nice (although in my experience they do seem to be under the misapprehension that England is the size of a stamp and everyone knows everyone else including the Queen!) I'm just happy in the knowledge that its not possible the re-elect Bush anymore and the government will get its comeuppance when China overtakes America as the next economic superpower :)

okay..so...

America, despite how much the nation would love to claim to be a democracy, is really a capitalist society.

Americans, while traveling in other countries, have a tendancy to think that they are the only tourists that matter.

It is not as simple as comparing one nation to another, or even one state to another. For example, I live in Washington state. Western Washington to be exact. This area is very liberal, a lot more concerned about the environment and things going on around us. Eastern Washington is a lot more conservative. For example, a few years back there was a group that tried to get a law passed to prevent people that were homosexual from adopting...but that proposal was also worded in such a way that even single people would not get custody of a child. Eastern Washington was extremely gung ho about this, while western did not want to see this happen.

New York has the 5 burroughs. Each of them made up of their own little individual quirks and communities. Last I heard there was around 6 million people crammed into that little city. It was crazy there.

I am an American. I don't agree with the war on Iraq, but I will support the troops who are following orders. I think there is not enough concern shown for environmental issues or what is going on in our own 'back yard' for us to be running around pointing fingers at other governments.

I have traveled around a little bit. My 2 favorite places are Vancouver, BC and Bath, England. My least favorite thing was getting stuck in a group with a bunch of American idiots that couldn't/can't show any respect for the country they visit. GAH! If I had heard one more American complain about not being able to understand the 'foreigners' accent I would have screamed!!

I am English, have a Canadian boyfriend, and have been to the US 3 times. I have met several Americans, have one as a near neighbour and talked to some more. Clearly I am unable to form an opinion on many millions of people on this sample, as I would not like to be compared to many of my fellow countrymen by someone who met a bunch of football hooligans in turkey.
I think a few things though....(isn't that odd?) My opinions, all backed up by my own personal experience is that Americans that I have met are usually more open and less reserved socially than myself. Many of them are friendly and seem to be kind and warm heated individuals. Sadly the American media is my bugbear...I know an American guy, he considers himself worldly and well read, he is political and thinks he is well informed, and to be honest he is a bright and well educated, nice, friendly guy...BUT when I talked with him about the situation in Zimbabwe, and the regime there, he had no idea what I was talking about...I then asked him some other questions about world events that I myself ( in no way do I consider myself well informed) know just from watching the TV news.....and he had no clue about them.

I think the insular nature of the USA reflects the biased world view that we had in this nation in early Victorian times...basically that all nations want to be American, be run like America, eat like America, drink like America, have American music/films/tv, and if they don't then there must be something wrong with them...after all, America is a great place..isn't it? It is a great place..but then so is the UK, so is Ireland, so is France, Canada, Germany, Australia, New Zealand.....I don't think that the average American can imagine how negatively this view that comes over is percieved by others.

One last thing....GEORGE BUSH...GLOBAL WARMING IS REAL! FACE IT AND LEAVE MY CHILDREN A WORLD TO LIVE IN.

[QUOTE=She who sighs]
Americans that I have met are usually more open and less reserved socially than myself. QUOTE]

I had an American girl in my flat in my first year at uni. She said that, in general, American people tend to consider themselves best friends straight away when they meet someone new...she said it was nice that in Britain people took time to get the know others properly and to allow a friendship to develop over time and not force it immediately only to withdraw it as soon as you disagreed over something.

As an American, I'm indifferent to those around me--just like I am to anyone else in the world.

I can't make any kind of evaluation until they open their mouths and speak, or act in some fashion.

Now, American government, that I have many opinions about--just like all the other governments in the world. :)

I'm a American, and I voted Negative. After reading your posts, I realized that I voted for the wrong reasons. I personally hate most of the people in my town, aka I think that each and every single one of them is a dumbass. Mabey it has something to do with the fact I hold grudges and live in the boondocks.

American's in generall(I think) are pretty decent people. I like us, well...most of us. :)

Are we speaking about Americans (Being those who owned the land before it was invaded) or the people who pillaged the land and now call it their own, polluting and destroying the Earth with ignorance and non-compliant attitudes?

Just wondering.......

Oh by the way - I voted VERY NEGATIVE!

Are we speaking about Americans (Being those who owned the land before it was invaded) or the people who pillaged the land and now call it their own, polluting and destroying the Earth with ignorance and non-compliant attitudes?

Just wondering.......

Oh by the way - I voted VERY NEGATIVE!
hey, we're not all jerks!...and I think that could be considered flamebait but i don't really care anyway.

I don't feel that the people on the East coast are not real Americans. That is such a stupid thing for someone to say. Not all people in the midwest are spiteful and bigots. By your post now alot will scream out. "SEE THEY THINK THEY ARE THE ELITE!" :)

I don't think that it's elitist of me to say that those people who say that people in the Northeast aren't "real Americans" are spiteful and bigots. I don't mean to say that everyone from the Midwest or the South are; just those that believe that they have a monopoly on everything that is "American". They are frequently the ones who refer to Massachusetts as the "People's Republic of Massachusetts", the ones who sent armies of lawyers to my state to contest the legalization of gay marriage, the ones who call any idea from the state "Massachusetts/New England/European liberal <expletive>".

Are we speaking about Americans (Being those who owned the land before it was invaded) or the people who pillaged the land and now call it their own, polluting and destroying the Earth with ignorance and non-compliant attitudes?

Just wondering.......

Oh by the way - I voted VERY NEGATIVE!

Remind me. Where did "the people who pillaged the land and now call it their own...." come from?

I'd like to add that the first computer was also invented by a German...

Too bad nobody ever saw it.

he is political and thinks he is well informed, and to be honest he is a bright and well educated, nice, friendly guy...BUT when I talked with him about the situation in Zimbabwe, and the regime there, he had no idea what I was talking about...I then asked him some other questions about world events that I myself ( in no way do I consider myself well informed) know just from watching the TV news.....and he had no clue about them.


Now now. If I ask you the situation of some states in the US; would you know them? Not everybody is tunned to Africa. Not everybodies thing is Africa. The US doesn't have the association to Africa like the Europeans(speaking of colonies that is).

Hell maybe people aren't interested over a latent guilt over slavery. I don't know.

You can ask me BTW. I have an interest in Africa. Lost a couple friends in Rawanda. :(

I voted negative though, most americans I've met have been OK or at least I've been indifferent to them. Unfortunately, the few I've met that have been negative experiences have been VERY negative experiences.

Like the chaperone on a band tour of Europe who spent the entire time complaining about how it wasn't like home. Wouldn't have been so bad but, this was her 5th trip there as a chaperone, if you don't like it, WHY THE F#*K ARE YOU HERE AGAIN!!!

The worst part is that when someone asks me about that trip, she's the one that first jumps to mind, not the many friends I'd made.

People are people. Some I like, some I don't. Most Americans I don't know so I don't have any real view of them. The ones I do know, some I like, some I don't. Why would I hate or love a bunch of people who are all totally different and I know nothing about?

American Government: Fiercly Negative
American People: Indifferent
America: Positive

Let me correct your teacher: Bush is an idiot not the whole of the American people.

Our election was VERY close. If the Dems had elected John Edwards in the primary, methinks that things would have turned out differently.

Yes our foreign policy has become imperialist, but again, that is the fault of our government. THE PEOPLE IN THE WHITE HOUSE ARE THE IDIOTS! Next time you see your teacher I want you to ask him: Has he met every American citizen? I'm going to go out on a limb here and say he'll answer no.

Like any other country:
some people are good,
some people are bad,
most politicians are dangerous morons.

Why is it thay everyone has an opinion about the Americans? Well, they're everywhere: in the news, in the movies, in the wars, in the pop culture, in music, on TV, averywhere I tell you!!! Now, who has an opinion about people from Iceland or Mali? Hmmm it's a bit fuzzy, eh?

Too bad nobody ever saw it.
Someone pointed out earlier that a Brit managed to build one much earlier. But the German one can be seen in the buildings of one of the Berlin Universities. Guy's name was Conrad Zuse.

Someone pointed out earlier that a Brit managed to build one much earlier. But the German one can be seen in the buildings of one of the Berlin Universities. Guy's name was Conrad Zuse.
Yes, in our CS courses we had a few references to Zuse's machines (Z1, Z2 and Z2, if I remember well). His computers were MUCH similar to today's machines in terms of architecture (memory banks, registers, bits/words); later computers from the 50s and 60s would have very crude architectures, be unreliable and hard to program (a sad regression from the Z3...).

Yes, in our CS courses we had a few references to Zuse's machines (Z1, Z2 and Z2, if I remember well). His computers were MUCH similar to today's machines in terms of architecture (memory banks, registers, bits/words); later computers from the 50s and 60s would have very crude architectures, be unreliable and hard to program (a sad regression from the Z3...).
I met his son (or grandson?) about two years back at a Long Night of the Sciences.
I found it amazing that he was a graphic artist before he went to build a computer.

I met his son (or grandson?) about two years back at a Long Night of the Sciences.
I found it amazing that he was a graphic artist before he went to build a computer.
That's so cool!

Once, we had as an invited teacher, the lady who had coined the word "bug". LOL. She was a funny, old, very intelligent lady. Could perform hex-to-decimal conversions mentally in 1/2 second.

That's so cool!

Once, we had as an invited teacher, the lady who had coined the word "bug". LOL. She was a funny, old, very intelligent lady. Could perform hex-to-decimal conversions mentally in 1/2 second.
When I was really young, Astrid Lindgren (Pippi Longstockings) and Eric Carle (the very hungry caterpillar) visited my school. That was a memorable experience... :)

Without having read every post yet, my opinion of Americans is a positive one, I would like to add that they are, in my experience, very easy to wind up because they get so defensive about their country. My experience is limited though, I have only met about 150 - 200 socially

I like the way everyone who voted for Bush must, by default, be an idiot and evil.

I also like the way people seem to think he entire population of the USA A) Can and B) did vote.

I love Americans. Friendliest people on the planet (Especially Texans).

Well, if you include me in the mix, the average (mean average, that is) American is super-ueber-double awesome-positive. But without me it's just positive.

Someone pointed out earlier that a Brit managed to build one much earlier. But the German one can be seen in the buildings of one of the Berlin Universities. Guy's name was Conrad Zuse.


It may stun you that a stupid idiot American actually knows who Zuse was. :eek: ;)

As I understood the Z2 was never formally seen. Built just before or was it during the war? It was destroyed during a bombing raid.

As such, it remains a claim.

The babbage machine was a computer but the american claim is the first digital computer which the Z2 fits the bill so to speak.

I love Americans. Friendliest people on the planet (Especially Texans).

You have to live here to really know "Texans". They're not the friendliest people around... That is, if the "Texans" you're speaking of are the "cowboy" types with the weird accents. They're "friendly toward their own kind", if you know what I mean...

Overall, I view Americans as good people, since I'll have absolutely nothing to do with the backwards bigots.

When I was really young, Astrid Lindgren (Pippi Longstockings) and Eric Carle (the very hungry caterpillar) visited my school. That was a memorable experience... :)

That is cool. My girl loves Carles books!

You have to live here to really know "Texans". They're not the friendliest people around... That is, if the "Texans" you're speaking of are the "cowboy" types with the weird accents. They're "friendly toward their own kind", if you know what I mean...

Well I'm pretty sure that given it was an extermely hot afternoon, astoundingly busy, I had long hair and was dressed like a typical emo/punk kid, and so on, that the fact the Texans I met were still twice as friendly than any other state's people kinda shows something positive down there.

I class Texans as those people who I have met who live in Texas. Admittedly, not many, but it made quite an impression.

When I was really young, Astrid Lindgren (Pippi Longstockings) and Eric Carle (the very hungry caterpillar) visited my school. That was a memorable experience...
Most young boys had secret fantasies about Pippi Longstockings I think... :D

But hey, we're hijacking that thread.


From the 9 US states I have visited, the people I liked the most were in Boston/Mass. and San Antonio/TX. Girls from Boston are just hmmmmm :fluffle:

The worse were from Washington/DC... once we were helping a family from DC visiting Montreal, and the guy started bitching and ranting against gays ("put them in a gulag"), separatists ("kill 'em all" --> yeah right, kill half of the Quebecois), and even French road signs. I was totally disgusted.

Well I'm pretty sure that given it was an extermely hot afternoon, astoundingly busy, I had long hair and was dressed like a typical emo/punk kid, and so on, that the fact the Texans I met were still twice as friendly than any other state's people kinda shows something positive down there.

I class Texans as those people who I have met who live in Texas. Admittedly, not many, but it made quite an impression.

Ah, so you didn't have the (dis)pleasure of meeting the types I mentioned! Good going.

Yeah, the ones that you mentioned are really nice people. Funny that most of them are hardly natives (all the ones I've ever met like that either moved down here at a young age, or their parents moved down here decades ago).

I like the way everyone who voted for Bush must, by default, be an idiot and evil.

I also like the way people seem to think he entire population of the USA A) Can and B) did vote.

I love Americans. Friendliest people on the planet (Especially Texans).

That seems to be a common thought among our friendly Europeans and Canadians buddies....

People from Georgia are pretty dang decent too I might add. Went there a couple of times to visit my uncle, those people were just awesome(it was funny as heck though, it started snowing so all of them ran to the grocery store and bought all the meat and milk...lol, it was just a couple if snowflakes)

I put negative, because I don't think Americans (on the whole) care enough about the rest of the world. As long as they're OK nothing else seems to really matter. This only really applies to people in the inner states of America, the ones that voted for Bush. The coastal states seem more aware of the world (they're the ones in which Kerry won, I think).

I don't think Americans care about the rest of us because they're the world's biggest polluter yet they don't seem to be kicking up much of a fuss about all the greenhouse gases they produce. If they actually noticed what was going on elsewhere they would stand up to Bush a bit more- after all, it's meant to be a democracy.

So anyone who voted for Bush I view negatively, unless they can come up with some pretty good reasons for it. I'm sorry- I sound really prejudiced- but anyone who can vote for someone running Guantanamo Bay....

Also I get really annoyed with the evangelical Christians in America who try to impose their beliefs on others through censorship of TV and through America's role as the international policeman.

I love the fact that we piss off so many people. It kicks ass. Except for the whole terrorist thing, but I do like the idea of pissing off Europeans and Canadians.

Anyway, how many people voted negative based on politics? That is, do you hate Americans for political reasons, or reasons as human beings? Doesn't matter, since every American must consider politics in their everyday life and make their political beliefs reflect their actions.

Also I get really annoyed with the evangelical Christians in America who try to impose their beliefs on others through censorship of TV and through America's role as the international policeman.

Yar-har-har. I'd say the pissy soccer mom types are more prone to censor, than the "evangelical Christians" you speak of. If they really had a controlling grip on TV, we wouldn't see all those damn shows that take hits at religion all the time, with no one whining. The media has no problem kicking Christians in the balls (watch The Simpsons, Family Guy, South Park, Daily Show, any comedy show or even some serious types question the right-wing - I mean, how many shows besides South Park on a blatant attack on the left?), it's just when it comes to swearing that everyone gets scared (well, only the soccer moms).

Yar-har-har. I'd say the pissy soccer mom types are more prone to censor, than the "evangelical Christians" you speak of. If they really had a controlling grip on TV, we wouldn't see all those damn shows that take hits at religion all the time, with no one whining. The media has no problem kicking Christians in the balls (watch The Simpsons, Family Guy, South Park, Daily Show, any comedy show or even some serious types question the right-wing - I mean, how many shows besides South Park on a blatant attack on the left?), it's just when it comes to swearing that everyone gets scared (well, only the soccer moms).

Nah it's the evangelicals. Many Churches have started setting up email "warning" lists to notify the faithful about harassing TV stations with "sinful" programming.

You don't see soccer moms counting dirty words and putthing the results on web sites.

Hmmm how many soccer moms are evangelicals?

Attacking the left? See there is the problem. The left kind of likes edgy humor. Kind of hard to put up a funny show with "family values" Most stuff is pretty lame these days. Except the stuff you mentioned. ;)

I may be American but I dont think American.

Money!!!! fast food!!! Kill!!! ect...

Nah it's the evangelicals. Many Churches have started setting up email "warning" lists to notify the faithful about harassing TV stations with "sinful" programming.

You don't see soccer moms counting dirty words and putthing the results on web sites.

Hmmm how many soccer moms are evangelicals?

Attacking the left? See there is the problem. The left kind of likes edgy humor. Kind of hard to put up a funny show with "family values" Most stuff is pretty lame these days. Except the stuff you mentioned. ;)

I'd count all the Mothers Against (INSERT RANDOM ThiNG TO OPPOSE) as the soccer mom crazy censorship people. Like when it comes to video game censorship.

And South Park, I'd say, is probably the only show that attacks the left, and does it in a way that pisses off the right. :D

When most people view America in such a negative way, they are usually talking about the government and not the ordinary American citizen. I actually sympathize for the American people because these crooks (Bush, Cheney, Rumsfield, Halliburton, and so on) are destroying the country and its credibility. Several American troops have died on the wrong soil (or desert for that matter). Those American troops should have been in Afghanistan tracking down Bin Laden and the Taliban. Its amazing Saddam is behind jail and not Bin Laden, isn't that ironic. It wasn't Saddam who sent those terrorist into America, it was Bin Laden. After the Gulf war and the UN sanctions against Saddam, the man (Saddam) couldn't even leave Baghdad. While Korea parades that it has nukes, American troops are stuck in Iraq, now trying to prevent a civil war. The world told Bush not to go to war in Iraq, all those millions of anti-war demonstrators around the world including Americans, and Bush ignored them, he ignored the UN and when reality hits him, he demands assistance? To say the world hates Americans, that's bull, after Sept 11, the whole world allied with America and was ready to help out but when Bush tried to take advantage of Sept 11 and other things (WMD, Democracy, & so on) to go to unjust war, that's when the American government and not the American people lost its allies.

I may be American but I dont think American.

Money!!!! fast food!!! Kill!!! ect...

I love money and some fast food (not McDonalds). I don't think many people like killing, except maybe Stan Smith.

well i made a mistake. it is inposible to have perfect goverment unless you where born on a different world with nothing on it and never heard the word man. or see man.

i'm sick and tired of these stupid esoteric viewpoints. how moronic do you have to be to make generalizations like "americans are idiots" yea there are some common facets which tie the people of a country together but trying to make big lump sum judgements is beyond ridiculous i know stupid americans, i know smart americans, i know bigoted ones, i know tolerant ones.

i'm also tired of you foreigners trying to judge america because of its political descisions, you aren't here, you didn't follow the political process we did, you aren't privy to our point of view so your not even qualified to pass judgement, its pompous and obnoxious anyway. there aren't many americans (if any) that go around criticizing canada or european countries for their political descisions so stop with this bullshit that americans are stupid because we elected bush.

if you want to objectivly analyze america you really have no choice but to come to the conclusion that we're doing something right as we're economically militerally and politically more powerful than any of the other countries criticizing us.

if you want to make a statement about americans, come to america and talk to some real americans until then shut up because no one wants to hear your ignorant bs.

I'd count all the Mothers Against (INSERT RANDOM ThiNG TO OPPOSE) as the soccer mom crazy censorship people. Like when it comes to video game censorship.

And South Park, I'd say, is probably the only show that attacks the left, and does it in a way that pisses off the right. :D

South Park attacks everybody, man.

I voted indifferent. I have issues with the American government, but most Americans seem nice enough. When I have been in America, I have not had many problems. There are some people that are very unpleasant, but that is everywhere. I think that many of them seem less aware of the rest of the world, but after watching the American media, I can understand why. Nevertheless, it is easy enough to do when you are in such a big country. I can take a cheap flight at the nearest airport and be in several different countries in less than 3 hours, or just get on a bus or train in be another nation in less than an hour. I think that in Europe that we have to be more aware of others because we are closer to each other, and we have more interaction with each other.

there aren't many americans (if any) that go around criticizing canada or european countries for their political descisions
Wow. That was pretty... wrong!!!

Wow. That was pretty... wrong!!!

VERY wrong, indeed.

i'm talking about elections not policy descisions we don't attack you for electing your leaders even tho many of them are extremely distasteful. the fact of the matter is you are willing to say the people are inept due to their choice of leader where as we say well they may not have made a descision we agree with but that means nothing in relation to the qualities of the people.

and yea i agree american media is awful and generally trivial but there are those americans out there who do pay attention to what is going on internationally but yes i'll agree they aren't in the majority.

Americans are no different than anyone else. I've been all through the States and I find all sorts of folks: friendly, talkative ones..indifferent ones..and jerks. The Northeast seems to have more Jerks and the South is a lot more hospitable..
Americans are more flag-waving types than Canadians, and that refects more on our defiencies than on American "arrogance".

All the anti-American bigotry and racism in our government and media is a national disgrace. Certainly the CBC does not reflect the attitudes of most Canadians!

i'm sick and tired of these stupid esoteric viewpoints. how moronic do you have to be to make generalizations like "americans are idiots" yea there are some common facets which tie the people of a country together but trying to make big lump sum judgements is beyond ridiculous i know stupid americans, i know smart americans, i know bigoted ones, i know tolerant ones.

i'm also tired of you foreigners trying to judge america because of its political descisions, you aren't here, you didn't follow the political process we did, you aren't privy to our point of view so your not even qualified to pass judgement, its pompous and obnoxious anyway. there aren't many americans (if any) that go around criticizing canada or european countries for their political descisions so stop with this bullshit that americans are stupid because we elected bush.

if you want to objectivly analyze america you really have no choice but to come to the conclusion that we're doing something right as we're economically militerally and politically more powerful than any of the other countries criticizing us.

if you want to make a statement about americans, come to america and talk to some real americans until then shut up because no one wants to hear your ignorant bs.

<winces> Oog. This will be bad....

i'm sick and tired of these stupid esoteric viewpoints.

Esoteric? You mean you read that in the Tarot cards?

if you want to make a statement about americans, come to america and talk to some real americans until then shut up because no one wants to hear your ignorant bs.

If you take a close look at the question of the thread, it seems like we were asked ;)
And you know what? The USA isn't the only country guaranteeing freedom of expression. We can criticise who we want...

Amen to that, the CBC is just a pathetic propaganda organ.

look i'm partial to the Irish consitution, its nice and availible on the irish governments website.

People from where I live are so often referred to by people in the south and midwest as "not real Americans". If they are what "real" Americans are, then I hate Americans, because they are hateful and backwards and spiteful and bigotted.

interesting. nice blanket statement.

you forgot to include Texas/New Mex/Arizona and the mountain states, cuz they all spilled their votes on Bush/freedom for Iraqis too.

Democrats own inner cities, bastions of welfare... and some farming areas. Republicans own suburbs, towns, and most rural areas.

Republicans own suburbs, towns, and most rural areas.

Yeah, where "white is right", if you know what I mean... Lest we forget that small towns populated mainly by people of darker skin tend to be overwhelmingly Democrat.

I put Negative. I know individual Americans vary a lot, but collectively they're arrogant, self-obsessed and xenophobic.

That said I do know some who are quite nice.

Generally speaking, if you don't like Americans because of their government, you are equally as bigoted and intolerant as a racist or an anti-Semite, only you've replaced race or religion with nationality. Everyone has bad experiences with certain people, but that doesn't represent all Americans, nor does it represent all people from any country. This would be like me hating the French people for their government not supporting us in Iraq, or the Germans, or any other country that opposed us. I may not like the government of a particular country, but I never let it rub off on my opinion of the people.

see thats well said

Yeah, where "white is right", if you know what I mean... Lest we forget that small towns populated mainly by people of darker skin tend to be overwhelmingly Democrat.

that's too bad, since the only reason i can figure anyone would vote for a democrat would be if they wanted to stay on welfare or if they had no faith in business whatsoever (among economic/financial reasoning).

Since repubs generally want to limit welfare/redistribution of wealth and keep taxes lower on everyone so that they can keep more of their own money to pump into the economy... if a person has a job that pays enough so that he would pay income taxes, the logical choice from the standpoint of personal economics would be the republican. they also want to help businesses, so keep taxes lower on them (than democrats would) too... since businesses employ lots and lots of people and sell goods to the public and provide investment opportunities, it behooves EVERYONE WHO WORKS, INVESTS AND/OR BUYS THINGS to keep taxes low on businesses.

aren't blanket statements fun?
------------------------------------

this actually has been bugging me lately:

I see so many poor people buying lottery tickets in gas stations... it bugs me for a couple of reasons:

a)They hold up the line... an average lottery ticket purchase takes well over two minutes and half the time you can tack on another few minutes because they're exchanging another ticket for cash.

b)These people very likely (or many of them, anyway) will blame George Bush for their negative economic status when all I have to do is take a picture, send it to them, with caption that reads "here's you wasting your money on the lottery... stop blaming the president for your financial straits and start SAVING your MONEY instead of WASTING it!" to summarize adequately the types of spending habits that likely have landed them in the position they're in... not to mention their fear of investing.

that's too bad, since the only reason i can figure anyone would vote for a democrat would be if they wanted to stay on welfare or if they had no faith in business whatsoever (among economic/financial reasoning).

Since repubs are generally against limiting welfare and keeping taxes lower on everyone so that they can keep more of their own money to pump into the economy, if a person has a job that pays enough so that he would pay income taxes, the logical choice from the standpoint of personal economics would be the republican.

aren't blanket statements fun?

1: Wait a minute, you're saying people want to stay on welfare? Urgh.

2: Hahaha. The logical choice for the selfish, maybe.

3: Call it whatever you wanna call it, but out of personal experience, all of these "lower my taxes so the economy will be better" people are just selfish assholes who don't give a fuck about poor people.

interesting. nice blanket statement.

you forgot to include Texas/New Mex/Arizona and the mountain states, cuz they all spilled their votes on Bush/freedom for Iraqis too.

Democrats own inner cities, bastions of welfare... and some farming areas. Republicans own suburbs, towns, and most rural areas.

Reading comprehension isn't your thing, is it? I didn't say that all people in the south and midwest are hateful and backwards and spiteful and bigotted. I said the people who like to make the claim that people from New England and New York are "not real Americans" are those things. If you want to include yourself in that category, go for it. But I clearly did not say that everyone from the rest of the country are those things.

Reading comprehension isn't your thing, is it? I didn't say that all people in the south and midwest are hateful and backwards and spiteful and bigotted. I said the people who like to make the claim that people from New England and New York are "not real Americans" are those things. If you want to include yourself in that category, go for it. But I clearly did not say that everyone from the rest of the country are those things.

No, you didn't. Your message was very clear and concise.

I just think he doesn't like it when somebody disagrees with him.

this actually has been bugging me lately:

I see so many poor people buying lottery tickets in gas stations... it bugs me for a couple of reasons:

a)They hold up the line... an average lottery ticket purchase takes well over two minutes and half the time you can tack on another few minutes because they're exchanging another ticket for cash.

b)These people very likely (or many of them, anyway) will blame George Bush for their negative economic status when all I have to do is take a picture, send it to them, with caption that reads "here's you wasting your money on the lottery... stop blaming the president for your financial straits and start SAVING your MONEY instead of WASTING it!" to summarize adequately the types of spending habits that likely have landed them in the position they're in... not to mention their fear of investing.

1: These people are buying lottery tickets so they'll have a fuck's chance of getting out of their situation.

2: Of course, because he's not doing anything to help these people out. They're not "wasting" their money --- A lot of them can't get half-decent jobs, and this is just about their only shot.

You don't seem to be very well-informed.

1: Wait a minute, you're saying people want to stay on welfare? Urgh.

2: Hahaha. The logical choice for the selfish, maybe.

3: Call it whatever you wanna call it, but out of personal experience, all of these "lower my taxes so the economy will be better" people are just selfish assholes who don't give a fuck about poor people.

i'm not!

that's like saying that all jobless people are lazy.

1: These people are buying lottery tickets so they'll have a fuck's chance of getting out of their situation.

2: Of course, because he's not doing anything to help these people out. They're not "wasting" their money --- A lot of them can't get half-decent jobs, and this is just about their only shot.

You don't seem to be very well-informed.

lmao

1. Get.. a.. job.. and.. save.. some.. money.

2. They.. can.. help.. themselves. It should not be the US government's responsibility to provide for perfectly able Americans. It should not be hard-working people's responsibility to pay for people to sit on couches, so long as those couch-sitters are able.

You don't seem to believe in personal responsibility.

You don't seem to believe in personal responsibility.

And you just don't get the fact that some people are in such a position that they're better off on welfare than they would be if they "helped themselves".

how moronic do you have to be to make generalizations like "americans are idiots" yea there are some common facets which tie the people of a country together but trying to make big lump sum judgements is beyond ridiculous i know stupid americans, i know smart americans, i know bigoted ones, i know tolerant ones.
This part I agree with. Then you go and ruin it with the rest.

there aren't many americans (if any) that go around criticizing canada or european countries for their political descisions
Obviously false.

we're economically militerally and politically more powerful than any of the other countries criticizing us.
Doesn't really help the image of Americans being big-headed and thinking they're superior.

no one wants to hear your ignorant bs.
Doesn't really promote the tolerance you supposedly want.

And you just don't get the fact that some people are in such a position that they're better off on welfare than they would be if they "helped themselves".

then perhaps we should remove the welfare and get these people to become productive members of society instead of leeches who suck money out of hard-working Americans' wallets and purses (or, in the South, pocketbooks)

hehe

it's so much fun sounding pissed off when you're only being melodramatic!

here's one reason to hate America: language changes (really) from region to region.

then perhaps we should remove the welfare and get these people to become productive members of society instead of leeches.

Yes, then everything will be so much better! Instead of having to worry about people starving, we'll just let them starve and "get on with our lives".

I am an american living in canada, and a minority at that.
in America, my family and i were often harrassed.
In American, cultures are tolerated, grudgingly.
in Canada, cultures are accpected w/ open arms

Somebody give me a valium before I go tearing people's heads off. Bloody...bleeding...sons of... rrrrrrRRRRRRAAUGHRRRRrrrr...

*closes eyes and breathes deeply to ward off stroke*

I am an american living in canada, and a minority at that.
in America, my family and i were often harrassed.
In American, cultures are tolerated, grudgingly.
in Canada, cultures are accpected w/ open arms

EDIT:

why was your family harassed? The only obvious reason I can come up with is that your family was :

a) had two gay parents(which i doubt, nor care if you do)
b) your of some sort of Islamic religion

am I close?

there aren't many americans (if any) that go around criticizing canada or european countries for their political descisions
Obviously false.


No, I've not encountered many. On the other hand I've met a worrying number of americans who don't seem to know where africa is.

No, I've not encountered many. On the other hand I've met a worrying number of americans who don't seem to know where africa is.

thats over by Austria right? :confused:

You have to live here to really know "Texans". They're not the friendliest people around... That is, if the "Texans" you're speaking of are the "cowboy" types with the weird accents. They're "friendly toward their own kind", if you know what I mean...

Overall, I view Americans as good people, since I'll have absolutely nothing to do with the backwards bigots.

My boyfriend moved to Texas after living in Buffalo, NY his whole life (he got a job with NASA). He says they are friendly, but not unusually so.

I say the people in upstate New York are the friendliest. I go to the park and have conversations with four strangers, and it's not unusual. But then again, that is my hometown so I may be biased...

I like my countrymen. But then again, I just like people.

i'm sick and tired of these stupid esoteric viewpoints. how moronic do you have to be to make generalizations like "americans are idiots" yea there are some common facets which tie the people of a country together but trying to make big lump sum judgements is beyond ridiculous i know stupid americans, i know smart americans, i know bigoted ones, i know tolerant ones.

i'm also tired of you foreigners trying to judge america because of its political descisions, you aren't here, you didn't follow the political process we did, you aren't privy to our point of view so your not even qualified to pass judgement, its pompous and obnoxious anyway. there aren't many americans (if any) that go around criticizing canada or european countries for their political descisions so stop with this bullshit that americans are stupid because we elected bush.

if you want to objectivly analyze america you really have no choice but to come to the conclusion that we're doing something right as we're economically militerally and politically more powerful than any of the other countries criticizing us.

if you want to make a statement about americans, come to america and talk to some real americans until then shut up because no one wants to hear your ignorant bs.

Political decisions are made by the people of the nation, either through the people they elected or other vote. Electing Bush has been a bad thing for our rep and image, and apparently for world peace and the environment too.

From one American to another, grow some skin.

Well where do i start. first i am not American, i am a British Politics student with specializations in Latin American Studies. and i am going to be very, very open and i will criticise heavily
First i think there is a lot of self arrogance in many Americans, i view Americans as living a dead dream, the so-called american dream is just another news paper headline, it is nothing but paper and ink. then is the whole Hollywood parody, people go to extremes to appear on a long red piece fabric while people with cameras film them. then it's the sense of extreme patriotism, swearing your life to a simple stripy flag? come on it's just a flag, there are thousands of flags in the world. Next is usual attitude to things which is that the only way of getting out of something is by taking out a gun and firing it at someone, thus killing them. next comes the world wide influence of American things, there are over 700 Mc Donalds take eaways in London, The new York Times is sold all over Central London, the American Embassy in London has more guards than Buckigham Palace, it even has barriers so that people can't look inside (that's just being too paranoid) Now this thing about calling Latin America their backyard is just awful and humiliating, Americans have to get used to the idea that they don't own the world, they own their own land and that's it, nothing else, it's just like Britain, we own our pair of little rainy islands (bless'em) and we own nothing else. Next is the excessive pride over a note of Dollar, we have pounds and very soon we'll have euros, so what, it's just currency, currency has been used for centuries but Americans think they created it. Next, other nations are growing extremely fast, China for example, South America are creating another EU and the final goal is a union to become one single sovereign country, if this were to happen they would grow extremely fast, they have a market of more than 300 million people, massive natural resources most of which are vastly unexploited, they have a bright future. it will take America decades if not centuries to get over the fact that other countries will become richer, a lot richer. the next thing i think of Americans is that they are junk food lovers and faithful smokers

EDIT:

why was your family harassed? The only obvious reason I can come up with is that your family was :

a) had two gay parents(which i doubt, nor care if you do)
b) your of some sort of Islamic religion

am I close?

You think those are the only two things that people in this country mock? You cannot be that naive.

thats over by Austria right? :confused:

It's inbetween china and taiwan :headbang:

It's inbetween china and taiwan :headbang:

No you are all wrong! It's in the US!

I have yet to meet a person who identified themselves as "Republican" who wasn't born well-to-do by world standards and ever had to worry about bills being paid or meals being there growing up. Not that all lefties did, but this is a common trait of the righties I've known. The well off never see themselves needing the safety nets that are their for their fellow man, and they want to keep their money and comfortable lifestyler. There is a big "I shouldn't do anything that doesn't help me" attitude, and thus the hostility towards wealth distribution. And anyone who doesn't realize that many people are ashamed to be on welfare is asleep.

I have yet to meet a person who identified themselves as "Republican" who wasn't born well-to-do by world standards and ever had to worry about bills being paid or meals being there growing up. Not that all lefties did, but this is a common trait of the righties I've known. The well off never see themselves needing the safety nets that are their for their fellow man, and they want to keep their money and comfortable lifestyler. There is a big "I shouldn't do anything that doesn't help me" attitude, and thus the hostility towards wealth distribution. And anyone who doesn't realize that many people are ashamed to be on welfare is asleep.

Come on! You don't believe in they myth of the welfare queens? :rolleyes:

Mom did welfare after the divorse. She won't talk about it.

I have yet to meet a person who identified themselves as "Republican" who wasn't born well-to-do by world standards and ever had to worry about bills being paid or meals being there growing up. Not that all lefties did, but this is a common trait of the righties I've known. The well off never see themselves needing the safety nets that are their for their fellow man, and they want to keep their money and comfortable lifestyler. There is a big "I shouldn't do anything that doesn't help me" attitude, and thus the hostility towards wealth distribution. And anyone who doesn't realize that many people are ashamed to be on welfare is asleep.

*hands you a cookie*

My thoughts exactly.

I put Negative. I know individual Americans vary a lot, but collectively they're arrogant, self-obsessed and xenophobic.

That said I do know some who are quite nice.

Exactly how you made yourself seem with that post.

You think those are the only two things that people in this country mock? You cannot be that naive.


welp, I know there are many other reasons why a group of people would be asses to you. Those two reasons were the two that i figured that might piss of the most people. frankly I could care less if your islamic or your parents were gay.

I'm just curious as to why you imigrated to Canada.

EDIt:

when you say "this country" refering to America, does that mean your in America?

No, I've not encountered many. On the other hand I've met a worrying number of americans who don't seem to know where africa is.

I have. Obviously we're both working off personal experience but the vast majority of Americans criticise other country's political decisions. And I criticise American political decisions. I'm not saying there's anything wrong with it; I'm simply saying that denying it happens is ridiculous.

I have yet to meet a person who identified themselves as "Republican" who wasn't born well-to-do by world standards and ever had to worry about bills being paid or meals being there growing up. Not that all lefties did, but this is a common trait of the righties I've known. The well off never see themselves needing the safety nets that are their for their fellow man, and they want to keep their money and comfortable lifestyler. There is a big "I shouldn't do anything that doesn't help me" attitude, and thus the hostility towards wealth distribution. And anyone who doesn't realize that many people are ashamed to be on welfare is asleep.

While I strongly agree with the sentiment, I know a fair few people who are against welfare who were born into a less advantaged background but worked their way up by themselves and because of this feel that other people should be able to do the same. I can probably understand that view a bit better though I still strongly disagree with it.

I have yet to meet a person who identified themselves as "Republican" who wasn't born well-to-do by world standards and ever had to worry about bills being paid or meals being there growing up. Not that all lefties did, but this is a common trait of the righties I've known. The well off never see themselves needing the safety nets that are their for their fellow man, and they want to keep their money and comfortable lifestyler. There is a big "I shouldn't do anything that doesn't help me" attitude, and thus the hostility towards wealth distribution. And anyone who doesn't realize that many people are ashamed to be on welfare is asleep.

Hi. You've met me now. I don't believe in welfare. If it weren't for welfare, I'd either have parents who got off their asses and did something, or I'd be an orphan. Or dead. I still don't believe in welfare. I grew up wondering if there was enough hot water for a shower, and trying not to eat too much at mealtimes. Nope, still no belief in welfare here.

I've been there, needing those safety nets. I was always ashamed of being on welfare, but my reaction to that is 'build an economy which has more jobs' not 'let 'em sit around forever'.

Hi. You've met me now. I don't believe in welfare. If it weren't for welfare, I'd either have parents who got off their asses and did something, or I'd be an orphan. Or dead. I still don't believe in welfare. I grew up wondering if there was enough hot water for a shower, and trying not to eat too much at mealtimes. Nope, still no belief in welfare here.

I've been there, needing those safety nets. I was always ashamed of being on welfare, but my reaction to that is 'build an economy which has more jobs' not 'let 'em sit around forever'.


So, you never identified your political background. I doubt a lack of welfare would have gotten your parents off their asses. You, as a child with no rights or resources, would have been screwed. It sounds like you're taking your bitterness towards your parents out on welfare. And that's just what welfare is: a safety net. Will some abuse the system. Yep. Just look at tax evasion, if there's a system it will be abused no matter what it is.

Take 1000 people. For now, take a bunch of Americans. Then psychoanalyze them. Talk to them, make a map of the different personalities, how often different traits occur, and what they are like.

Then do this again, this time with people from another country. Get a group of French, a group of Canadian, Chinese, Venezuelan, Egyptian, Russian, Lithuanian, Nigerian, I don't care. Get the psychological profile of every one of these nations and I can garuntee one thing- they will all look the same.

Countries are large things, with a lot of people. In groups that large, we're not all that different. To say we are is naive.

I'm just curious as to why you imigrated to Canada.


The Hell you talking about? Last I heard, Sdaeriji lives in Boston, MA.

So, you never identified your political background. I doubt a lack of welfare would have gotten your parents off their asses. You, as a child with no rights or resources, would have been screwed. It sounds like you're taking your bitterness towards your parents out on welfare. And that's just what welfare is: a safety net. Will some abuse the system. Yep. Just look at tax evasion, if there's a system it will be abused no matter what it is.

I'm pretty sure 'work-or-die' would have gotten them into action. And by the way, the whole point was to say that despite the fact it could have really, really fucked me over not to have it, I don't support welfare. I don't deserve one penny of what anyone else has earned or produced for any reason, unless they freely give it. Never did deserve it, never will.

The Hell you talking about? Last I heard, Sdaeriji lives in Boston, MA.

Sutherland Road in Brighton. :D

the only problem about north americans is that the majority of them are from the US.
canadians are great, and i really feel sorry for them, having the US as a neighbour...

:mad: America(ns) suck!
GO EUROPE!!!!!!!!!! :mp5:

Right on 'Akka-Akka'!

Americans-simple minds, simple pleasures

Yeah very negative, don't like their general attitude towards themselves, the law and the rest of the world. Selfish, biggoted and backwards.

Right on 'Akka-Akka'!

Americans-simple minds, simple pleasures

I'm quite confident in saying the youngest American I know - a four year old, with minor learning difficulties - is mentally beyond you more than any format of data conveyance could ever begin to show.

Just to let everyone know... the 51% of the voters who voted for Bush does NOT represent 51% of the total population. It represents 51% of the people who actually went out and voted, and I believe only about 20% of our elligible voters actually bothered to vote (I'd be more than happy if someone got the actual statistic, because I'm too lazy to get it right now). Which means that about 80% of the elligible voters either A.) forget, B.) didn't care, or C.) were smart and realized that both Bush and Kerry were morons and didn't vote for either.

So, to the idiots on this thread who are saying "I like the half that didn't vote for Bush," IT'S NOT HALF OF OUR POPULATION. Let's say 3/4s of our 280 million population was elligible to vote in the past election, so, 210 million. 20% of 210 million is is 42 million. Half of that is 21 million. So, in a rough estimate, that means that out of 280 million people, only 21 million voted for Bush. Again, sorry, but I hate computers, so I don't feel like finding the actual statistic.

Just felt like pointing that out.

Right on 'Akka-Akka'!

Americans-simple minds, simple pleasures

Hmmm school must be out.

the only problem about north americans is that the majority of them are from the US.
canadians are great, and i really feel sorry for them, having the US as a neighbour...

You've hit the nail on the head regarding the problem with North Americans.

Thanks for your sympathies. It's not easy, as you can readily tell from these forums...

Just to let everyone know... the 51% of the voters who voted for Bush does NOT represent 51% of the total population. It represents 51% of the people who actually went out and voted, and I believe only about 20% of our elligible voters actually bothered to vote (I'd be more than happy if someone got the actual statistic, because I'm too lazy to get it right now). Which means that about 80% of the elligible voters either A.) forget, B.) didn't care, or C.) were smart and realized that both Bush and Kerry were morons and didn't vote for either.

So, to the idiots on this thread who are saying "I like the half that didn't vote for Bush," IT'S NOT HALF OF OUR POPULATION. Let's say 3/4s of our 280 million population was elligible to vote in the past election, so, 210 million. 20% of 210 million is is 42 million. Half of that is 21 million. So, in a rough estimate, that means that out of 280 million people, only 21 million voted for Bush. Again, sorry, but I hate computers, so I don't feel like finding the actual statistic.

Just felt like pointing that out.

Bush got 51% of the votes, 62,040,606, which is 20.9% of the total US population of 296,540,061. Kerry got 48% of the votes, 59,028,109, which is 19.9% of the total US population.

Hasty generalisations suck.

That is all.

Bush got 51% of the votes, 62,040,606, which is 20.9% of the total US population of 296,540,061. Kerry got 48% of the votes, 59,028,109, which is 19.9% of the total US population.

Hey now.

There is a difference between population and the population that can vote. ;)

Hey now.

There is a difference between population and the population that can vote. ;)

I know. But his point was that 51% of the people who voted does not mean 51% of the entire population of the country. I simply corrected his numbers.

edit: For the record, the total voting-eligible (excluding non-citizens of age and prohibited felons and ex-felons) population of the US is 202,674,771. 122,294,978, or 60.25% of all eligible voters, participated in the presidential election. Bush got the aforementioned 62,040,606 votes, which is 50.73% of the participating votes, 30.61% of the total voting-eligible population, and 20.92% of the total US population. Kerry got 59,028,109, 48.27% of the participating votes, 29.12% of the voting-eligible, and 19.91% of the total US population.

Better? :D

edit the second: That paragraph is insanely difficult to read, no?

Total US Population: 296,540,061
Total Voting-Eligible Population: 202,674,771
Total Voters Participating: 122,294,978

Bush: 62,040,606
Kerry: 59,028,109

Bush votes as % of voters participating: 50.73%
Kerry votes as % of voters participating: 48.27%

Bush votes as % of voters eligible: 30.61%
Kerry votes as % of voters eligible: 29.12%

Bush votes as % of US population: 20.92%
Kerry votes as % of US population: 19.91%

You've hit the nail on the head regarding the problem with North Americans.

Thanks for your sympathies. It's not easy, as you can readily tell from these forums...

Ahh dobbywobby, you know you love us. What would you bitch about if we were gone? ;)

Yeah very negative, don't like their general attitude towards themselves, the law and the rest of the world. Selfish, biggoted and backwards.

I'll tackle 'backwards' in a moment.

First, let me pick myself up off the floor and repair my sides, because there are gaping wounds.

Ah, irony, how you do amuse me.

Backwards people don't produce more Nobel prize winners than anywhere else. Backwards people aren't the richest on the planet. You can call them evil and selfish all you like, but you don't get power through stupidity, and if you get it through dumb luck it won't last a decade. Backwards people don't invent the millions of things Americans have invented. Backwards people don't write the amazing stories Americans have written.

Backwards people do make judgements about groups of people. But hey, if you can make judgements about Americans, I guess I'm ok in my hatred of those preliterate fucking ugly niggers after all. Slap 'em back in chains, I say! Keep them away from our white womenfolk! They're all rapists!!!1!

id say nuetral good for anyone whos played Dungeons and Dragons before. that or lawfull nuetral.

Ahh dobbywobby, you know you love us. What would you bitch about if we were gone? ;)

I've got that covered, as it happens, Forrest. Luckily, most of what I'd be bitching about could be resolved within my lifetime - especially if you guys mysteriously disappeared.

well lets say kery is a idiot and bush is moron. funny it seem that goverment is tryed to keep bush in office. dont matter any more kery almost one thoe. idiots.

I'll tackle 'backwards' in a moment.

First, let me pick myself up off the floor and repair my sides, because there are gaping wounds.

Ah, irony, how you do amuse me.

Backwards people don't produce more Nobel prize winners than anywhere else. Backwards people aren't the richest on the planet. You can call them evil and selfish all you like, but you don't get power through stupidity, and if you get it through dumb luck it won't last a decade. Backwards people don't invent the millions of things Americans have invented. Backwards people don't write the amazing stories Americans have written.

Backwards people do make judgements about groups of people. But hey, if you can make judgements about Americans, I guess I'm ok in my hatred of those preliterate fucking ugly niggers after all. Slap 'em back in chains, I say! Keep them away from our white womenfolk! They're all rapists!!!1!
You don't get power through stupidity?....

So because you have what, maybe 100 more nobel prize winners, that means you're all geniuses? That's like me saying because we win more swimming medals than America that I'm a bloody dolphin. And yes backwards, America is terrible insular and superficial compared to any other country I have visited. And it's funny because your second statement would apply to many peoples in your country.

I've got that covered, as it happens, Forrest. Luckily, most of what I'd be bitching about could be resolved within my lifetime - especially if you guys mysteriously disappeared.

:D

Ok Dobbs.

You don't get power through stupidity?....

So because you have what, maybe 100 more nobel prize winners, that means you're all geniuses? That's like me saying because we win more swimming medals than America that I'm a bloody dolphin. And yes backwards, America is terrible insular and superficial compared to any other country I have visited. And it's funny because your second statement would apply to many peoples in your country.

:D

Aww he got you.

What of America have you visted? One city, maybe two? Come on spill it.

-edit-

OH and BTW. The US has had more then 100 in just science alone since 1951.

Backwards people don't produce more Nobel prize winners than anywhere else. Backwards people aren't the richest on the planet. You can call them evil and selfish all you like, but you don't get power through stupidity, and if you get it through dumb luck it won't last a decade. Backwards people don't invent the millions of things Americans have invented. Backwards people don't write the amazing stories Americans have written.

See its attitudes like this that make people hate americans. Its perfectly OK for americans (and im sadily one of them) to bash and belittle any one else in the world but as soon as they say one negitive word about us we start holding our noses high like our poop doesnt stink... Well let me remind you Begark there are alot of great NON american writers, Alot of NON american Nobel Prize winners, alot of rich nations that are NOT american. In all honesty we owe our "Rich" status to all the slaves we worked to the bone and exploited. We owe it to the immigrants we screwed over in the 1800's. We owe it to alot of people investing in OTHER countries instead of this one, but i guess they didnt teach you humility in school did they?

Seriously i dont like Americans.I know your saying "But you are an American". Yes i am but im not the typical ones you see invading countries or going on vacation and demanding everything be american. I dont like americans because in short we seem to have this attitude that if you dont like us we'll bomb you till you do or till we decide its not worth bombing you. Thats wrong and thats why people hate us. If we dropped that we might get along better in this world of ours. Also we need to stop medleing in other countries affairs.

So...I'm an American....a feminist gay rights activist Texan at that.

I go to school in ohio where i fought SO hard against "issue 1"...which was a way for legislation to say "Yeah, i know we had the protection of marriage act...but we wanted to punch you in the face too, gays."

I'm afraid of what my country is doing. We need help, guys. I'd like to ask for your solidarity--not hostility. I like that you criticize our bad parts--it makes the less-aware americans of the things that they can fix. BUT..because they're american..they'll get defensive and angry first. Some of us are progressive and aware...but the most we can do is be heard and vote. Sometimes, that doesnt' have as much weight as i'd like...*sigh*

I don't like being disliked when i visit pretty places. I want to meet you and not have a negative stereotype on my head when i visit your country.

To all you lovely brits.....bbc.uk.com is WAY Better than any news we get around here.

We're trying to fix it, guys...this government....this arrogance...but i admit i really like our informality...but i know a lot of us need to be quieter :).
There's hope....i hope.

The best to you all.

Teresa

The Hell you talking about? Last I heard, Sdaeriji lives in Boston, MA.

*blinks*

:eek:

whoops. lol
:D

...please say you also aren't canadian

Maybe there should be a topic about how we view Canadians :p

You don't get power through stupidity?....

So because you have what, maybe 100 more nobel prize winners, that means you're all geniuses? That's like me saying because we win more swimming medals than America that I'm a bloody dolphin. And yes backwards, America is terrible insular and superficial compared to any other country I have visited. And it's funny because your second statement would apply to many peoples in your country.

I'm British. Not that you'd know, 'cause my location and sig don't say it, but I've lived in England my whole life and am still there now. Anyways, check after the next quote for my response to the rest of what you said.

See its attitudes like this that make people hate americans. Its perfectly OK for americans (and im sadily one of them) to bash and belittle any one else in the world but as soon as they say one negitive word about us we start holding our noses high like our poop doesnt stink... Well let me remind you Begark there are alot of great NON american writers, Alot of NON american Nobel Prize winners, alot of rich nations that are NOT american. In all honesty we owe our "Rich" status to all the slaves we worked to the bone and exploited. We owe it to the immigrants we screwed over in the 1800's. We owe it to alot of people investing in OTHER countries instead of this one, but i guess they didnt teach you humility in school did they?

At no point would I claim there AREN'T brilliant writers outside the US. At no point would I claim no other nation has advanced science - the UK alone has contributed more than I can begin to sum up - Europe, Canada, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, they're all rich and they're not the only ones. The point is, when someone says something halfwitted like "Americans-simple minds, simple pleasures" and "Yeah very negative, don't like their general attitude towards themselves, the law and the rest of the world. Selfish, biggoted and backwards.", one feels rather compelled to point out the flaws in those... 'arguments'. If defending America from accusations of stupidity by pointing out intelligence in America is jingoism and nationalistic, well, I dunno what to do then. The quotes weren't insulting the UK, or I'd have pointed out John Logie Baird and Charles Babbage. They weren't about Germany, or I might have mentioned Gottleib Daimler and Werner von Siemans. No, they were about America, thus I bring up Samuel Morse and Robert Goddard.

:D

Aww he got you.

What of America have you visted? One city, maybe two? Come on spill it.

-edit-

OH and BTW. The US has had more then 100 in just science alone since 1951.

So we'll just disreguard all of Florida then? Haha I love that. So I have to visit every single state to get an idea of the people? Well I know I wouldn't want to live in any red states because I'm gay and it was bad enough when our school band toured to Tennesee.....memories of corn....lots of corn...

And thats what I said, 100 more than other countries.


At no point would I claim there AREN'T brilliant writers outside the US. At no point would I claim no other nation has advanced science - the UK alone has contributed more than I can begin to sum up - Europe, Canada, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, they're all rich and they're not the only ones. The point is, when someone says something halfwitted like "Americans-simple minds, simple pleasures" and "Yeah very negative, don't like their general attitude towards themselves, the law and the rest of the world. Selfish, biggoted and backwards.", one feels rather compelled to point out the flaws in those... 'arguments'. If defending America from accusations of stupidity by pointing out intelligence in America is jingoism and nationalistic, well, I dunno what to do then. The quotes weren't insulting the UK, or I'd have pointed out John Logie Baird and Charles Babbage. They weren't about Germany, or I might have mentioned Gottleib Daimler and Werner von Siemans. No, they were about America, thus I bring up Samuel Morse and Robert Goddard.

I wasn't talking about the few people that made a difference, I'm talking about the complete lack of manners, disipline the children and teenagers had, the complete disreguard of those children by adults, the pushy attitudes it seems of...everyone, the acceptence of crap as culture (hello your national food is Macdonalds....)

It's just a generally boring rude populace who most likely don't know who Samuel Morse is.

And I'd say the same for alot of Australia, besides the inner cities people are just stuck in their little suburban ruts. I like NY though. Nice diversity n such.

and Robert Goddard.

From Auburn, Massachusetts. :D

Maybe there should be a topic about how we view Canadians :p

...challenge accepted :D

So we'll just disreguard all of Florida then? Haha I love that. So I have to visit every single state to get an idea of the people? Well I know I wouldn't want to live in any red states because I'm gay and it was bad enough when our school band toured to Tennesee.....memories of corn....lots of corn...

And thats what I said, 100 more than other countries.


There is your problem. You don't know us all. Yes you have to visit all 50 states to see we are very much different. I have done that so I do know what I am talking about. There are noticable differences especially by region. The west coast is different the bible belt. Which is is different from the south, which is different from the east coast.

Florida hardly defines this nation as to it's personality. Come to California and I can tell you not that many people care if you are gay.


I wasn't talking about the few people that made a difference, I'm talking about the complete lack of manners, disipline the children and teenagers had, the complete disreguard of those children by adults, the pushy attitudes it seems of...everyone, the acceptence of crap as culture (hello your national food is Macdonalds....)

Yea right. We all let our children run rampat through the streets.

Sorry your one little excursion hardly declares you an expert to this land.

How old are you? Rather biggoted to be young.

From Auburn, Massachusetts. :D

Psst Morse was from Charlestown. :p

Psst Morse was from Charlestown. :p

I did not know that. Go us.

I wasn't talking about the few people that made a difference, I'm talking about the complete lack of manners, disipline the children and teenagers had, the complete disreguard of those children by adults, the pushy attitudes it seems of...everyone, the acceptence of crap as culture (hello your national food is Macdonalds....)

It's just a generally boring rude populace who most likely don't know who Samuel Morse is.

If you want to bash ANYWHERE for those things, feel free to include Britain anytime. Now I don't know what part of the US you went to, because where I've been people have largely been kind and courteous. Yes, I know some brats and I know some kids who are morons. I know the same is true of Britain, and Canada, and Australia, and of Europe, and the whole world, because that's just how Humans are.

Culture is relative, but I'd be a bit slower to denigrate the nation which gave us Arthur Miller and John Steinbeck. In modern times, see Firefly, Babylon 5, and Space: Above And Beyond. American culture has some damned well cut gems in there, just like everyone else does.

I know a fair few people who are against welfare who were born into a less advantaged background but worked their way up by themselves and because of this feel that other people should be able to do the same.

I'm in that camp--I'm one of them. If you are physically capable and can think, you can get out of just about anything if you try.

America. It's a great nation with alot to be both proud and ashamed of. Like most nations. The only difference with America is that American history or that which affects America... affects the entire planet without having a say in it... more so than with any other country.

Being myself a canadian liberal democrat I like to say that judging by the last presidential election... 49% of Americans are a-okay. Meanwhile the remaining 51% of Americans have serious mental health issues.
I mean... they elected Bush sr once and kicked him out the second go round. Bravo.
But re-electing Bush Jr. :headbang: What were those 51% thinking?

I am truly a highly patriotic person. I am proud to be an illiterate, lazy, dumb, rude, obnoxious, crass, stupid American.

I question your claim of "patriotism". In fact, I'm this close to itching to make a seperate topic on it. You are NOT a real patriot. Your just a nationalistic citizen. REAL Patriotism for Americans means loyalty to the US Constitution, Republic principles it was founded on, and many other idealisms that this nation was founded on. There are relatively few real American patriots anymore. Hell we tend to make up no more than 3% of the total population.

Two things. 1. Bush (W) has been the best President wev had since Ronald Reagan (no one will ever be a better President than Regean, Englands former president Winston Churchill comes close though). Those other 49% you speak of are liberal commies. The majority of my country knows where its at. 2. Someone earlier was talking about how he would not like to visit the red states because he is gay. I welcome him with open arms to my red state. Then I would bring him straight down to Mississippi and let them deal with him. Homosexaulity is a sin! Whats wrong with you people. Trying to let gay people adopt children, trying to marry. You are destroying the very thing that FAMILY stands for. This is insane. If we did not have republicans in office to stand up to it, I could not even dream of what would happen.

Two things. 1. Bush (W) has been the best President wev had since Ronald Reagan (no one will ever be a better President than Regean, Englands former president Winston Churchill comes close though). Those other 49% you speak of are liberal commies. The majority of my country knows where its at. 2. Someone earlier was talking about how he would not like to visit the red states because he is gay. I welcome him with open arms to my red state. Then I would bring him straight down to Mississippi and let them deal with him. Homosexaulity is a sin! Whats wrong with you people. Trying to let gay people adopt children, trying to marry. You are destroying the very thing that FAMILY stands for. This is insane. If we did not have republicans in office to stand up to it, I could not even dream of what would happen.

Trolling, Trolling, Trolling,
Keep those gases blowing
RAWHIDE!!!!

Ok I am bored now.

Two things. 1. Bush (W) has been the best President wev had since Ronald Reagan (no one will ever be a better President than Regean, Englands former president Winston Churchill comes close though). Those other 49% you speak of are liberal commies. The majority of my country knows where its at. 2. Someone earlier was talking about how he would not like to visit the red states because he is gay. I welcome him with open arms to my red state. Then I would bring him straight down to Mississippi and let them deal with him. Homosexaulity is a sin! Whats wrong with you people. Trying to let gay people adopt children, trying to marry. You are destroying the very thing that FAMILY stands for. This is insane. If we did not have republicans in office to stand up to it, I could not even dream of what would happen.

That was like four or five things.

but 2 main points...the 49% and then homosexuality

but 2 main points...the 49% and then homosexuality

So anyone who disagrees with President Bush is a communist? And why is Ronald Reagan a better president than Prime Minister Churchill?

Well, as an American, I've been thinnking, usually, for anyone who knows me, this means trouble...

Anyways, Quite possibly, the reason why so many other nations dislike us, is because, we are not like "Them" No two nations are the same, and when your the first nation on earth, to have every other nation as your mother nation, your bound to do things to upset them. This isn't our fault, it isn't there fault, its Human nature to Fear and hate things that aren't like "Us". This is actually the bases for some religions, if you look under the trappings and all the purty colors. But, that is niether here, nor there.

Back to the subject at hand.
What other nations are going to have to do, is learn to shut up and live with it. America dislikes several nations, but we live with it.

America isn't entirely free of Guilt either.
We have to learn not to act like spoiled children in the supermarket not getting our way. It would also help if we would stop electing Mentally deficient monkeys to lead us.

This naught but the first step.

The next step would be running off and attacking the some nation we had a grudge against based entirely off shady evidence that doesn't have a single shred of truth to stand on. Whats next, the Global U.S. Democratic Empire? just because a few terrorists attack in a manner that belies their stupidity, (Attacking one of the most powerful nations on earth isn't something a sane gorilla Would do.) doesn't mean we have the right to remove some Tinpost half cracked dictator and force our government on them. I seriously dobt the honesty of their thanks and praise. How many are just acting out of fear?

As for the rest of the nations on earth, standing up for themselves wouldn't hurt either. Why should the U.S, be the only one to have to stop letting Mentally defecient monkeys in office?

Then again, none of it matters anyways. Everyone cusses at the U.S., Burns Old Glory, and turns their back on us. However, when push comes to shove and the ones that would bend the world to their Ill will, everyone comes running to Uncle Sam, to protect them from the Nightmares that Plague them.

I'm sure I'm going to be disagreed with and attacked from every angle electronically possible though, and I am only one person, and this has been my Uncensored opinion.

Two things. 1. Bush (W) has been the best President wev had since Ronald Reagan (no one will ever be a better President than Regean, Englands former president Winston Churchill comes close though). Those other 49% you speak of are liberal commies. The majority of my country knows where its at. I believe you were apropriately answered by The Black Forrest.
Trolling, Trolling, Trolling,
Keep those gases blowing
RAWHIDE!!!!Leave Reagan out of this. Greatest presidents ever don't leave the countries in recessions like Reagan did. He was an average actor in the 50's and we'll leave it at that. Great presidents leave the nation at peace with the world, and with budget surplusses and with a booming economy. Like the man that was in the whitehouse before G.Bush Jr. It took dubya one year to squander 8 years of work. In his second year he put the budget in the red and the economy faltering.

Then again, none of it matters anyways. Everyone cusses at the U.S., Burns Old Glory, and turns their back on us. However, when push comes to shove and the ones that would bend the world to their Ill will, everyone comes running to Uncle Sam, to protect them from the Nightmares that Plague them.


What on Earth are you alluding to? "Nightmares that Plague" us?

I'm baffled. Elucidate.

Leave Reagan out of this. Greatest presidents ever don't leave the countries in recessions like Reagan did. He was an average actor in the 50's and we'll leave it at that. Great presidents leave the nation at peace with the world, and with budget surplusses and with a booming economy. Like the man that was in the whitehouse before G.Bush Jr. It took dubya one year to squander 8 years of work. In his second year he put the budget in the red and the economy faltering.

The economy wasn't Bush's fault. He entered the presidency with a recession underway and there wasn't anything he could do. It was the dot-com bubble and the Federal Reserve that killed the 90's boom, so I don't blame Bush for it. Clinton made some good economic decisions, so I credit him with some, but not all, of the 90's success.

I don't like the fact that Bush has run record deficits, bloated the government, and never vetoed a spending bill, so I agree with you on that.

What on Earth are you alluding to? "Nightmares that Plague" us?

I'm baffled. Elucidate.
Step away from NS for a minuete, as fun as it is, and read the newsites, take a good look at our world. We're on a downwards spiral. Death is Rampant, disease is climbing. Terror and sensless wars are on the rise. Its slowly reaching the point where nothing short of a Global Empire, or expansion to other planets/outerspace will bring peace to Earth. In the very old days long long ago before modern technology existed, there was peace, sure there were things wrong with the world, but everyone generally kept to themselves.

Soon enough, Kim Jong IL will be decided to be the next big things in threats to the world, and Bin Laden will be pitched to the side, or captured. Who'll be the aggressor? Us? Or Them?

I'm not political though. I've said my peace, and, Ill step aside now.

Step away from NS for a minuete, as fun as it is, and read the newsites, take a good look at our world. We're on a downwards spiral. Death is Rampant, disease is climbing. Terror and sensless wars are on the rise. Its slowly reaching the point where nothing short of a Global Empire, or expansion to other planets/outerspace will bring peace to Earth. In the very old days long long ago before modern technology existed, there was peace, sure there were things wrong with the world, but everyone generally kept to themselves.

Soon enough, Kim Jong IL will be decided to be the next big things in threats to the world, and Bin Laden will be pitched to the side, or captured. Who'll be the aggressor? Us? Or Them?

I'm not political though. I've said my peace, and, Ill step aside now.

You're insane. We are in an era of unprecedented global cooperation and peace, and you think things are WORSE than they used to be? Simply mind-boggling.

I don't like the fact that Bush has run record deficits, bloated the government, and never vetoed a spending bill, so I agree with you on that.There you go. I just hope nobody even thinks about getting me started on how he handled and continues to handle the 9/11 aftermath or this could get ugly on my part. :D

There is your problem. You don't know us all. Yes you have to visit all 50 states to see we are very much different. I have done that so I do know what I am talking about. There are noticable differences especially by region. The west coast is different the bible belt. Which is is different from the south, which is different from the east coast.

Florida hardly defines this nation as to it's personality. Come to California and I can tell you not that many people care if you are gay.


Yea right. We all let our children run rampat through the streets.

Sorry your one little excursion hardly declares you an expert to this land.

How old are you? Rather biggoted to be young.

I'm biggoted, ha!

Sorry but the great thing about the super power countries is they seemed to be quite open to shitting all over everyone else and when anyone says something towards them it's cause there jealous, it's because we want what you have, it's because we haven;t met every single person in the world.

Fine then I don't like Florida, Republicans and christian fundamentalist christians.

You're insane.

Yes, you have quite successfully hit the nail on the head. I AM INSANE. I am not a normal stabile person, I do not fit in with society, nor do I find the concept of sociallising even remotly entertaining. would you like a second Crack at it?

I found it rather humorous every time I chat with some of the undecided americans that eventually voted Bush, when they claim that they voted for him. because they weren't sure that Kerry was the right man for the job.

Kerry wasn't the right man for the job, I agree. But what they claim makes as much sense to me as saying... "I'm not sure about Jesus... he was always hanging around that prostitute... mary magdalen... let's vote for mother f***ing Satin instead... :D lol americans...

I found it rather humorous every time I chat with some of the undecided americans that eventually voted Bush, when they claim that they voted for him. because they weren't sure that Kerry was the right man for the job.

Kerry wasn't the right man for the job, I agree. But what they claim makes as much sense to me as saying... "I'm not sure about Jesus... he was always hanging around that prostitute... mary magdalen... let's vote for mother f***ing Satin instead... :D lol americans...

Satan gets shit done. Jesus sits around bleeding, forgives some people who killed him, does his ressurection shit, then buggers off into space for two millennia (And counting.). Satan, meanwhile, gets his pals War, Death, Pestilance, Famine, and Clancy, and they get down to business.

Ok, take that how you will, I'm not actually talking about Bush OR Kerry here, I think they'd both have had good and bad things about them. I'm just sayin' random crap 'cause it's 4am.

Satan gets shit done.So I've noticed.
Not that I live in Iraq or anything... and I'm not a stockholder of Haliburton either... :D

I'm biggoted, ha!

Glad you admit it. That is the first step to recovery.


Sorry but the great thing about the super power countries is they seemed to be quite open to shitting all over everyone else

Are we talking about the average american or the the goverment?

In all your american knowledge, you should know support of the war has fallen significantly.

To general claim of oppressing other countries? Why would I deny it. Every "top dog" nation has done it since they were formed. Hmmm was England was all Ghandi when it made it's empire?


and when anyone says something towards them it's cause there jealous, it's because we want what you have, it's because we haven;t met every single person in the world.


Ahhh yeaaa ok. :rolleyes:


Fine then I don't like Florida, Republicans and christian fundamentalist christians.
You are not the only one.

America. It's a great nation with alot to be both proud and ashamed of. Like most nations. The only difference with America is that American history or that which affects America... affects the entire planet without having a say in it... more so than with any other country.

Being myself a canadian liberal democrat I like to say that judging by the last presidential election... 49% of Americans are a-okay. Meanwhile the remaining 51% of Americans have serious mental health issues.
I mean... they elected Bush sr once and kicked him out the second go round. Bravo.
But re-electing Bush Jr. :headbang: What were those 51% thinking?

I should note that only ~100 million people voted out of a nation of 296 million.

I should note that only ~100 million people voted out of a nation of 296 million.

That's fine but out of the 296 million, how many could vote?

That's fine but out of the 296 million, how many could vote?

Somewhere in the range of 180 million. Probably more.

Being myself a canadian liberal democrat I like to say that judging by the last presidential election... 49% of Americans are a-okay. Meanwhile the remaining 51% of Americans have serious mental health issues.
I mean... they elected Bush sr once and kicked him out the second go round. Bravo.
But re-electing Bush Jr. :headbang: What were those 51% thinking?

The only reason Bush Sr. got kicked out was because Ross Perot split the Republican vote and allowed Clinton to win. It would've probably ended up with Bush getting re-elected had Perot not run.

And someone pointed this out earlier, but the 51% that voted for Bush is NOT friggin 51% of our total population. It's 51% of the elligible voters who voted forBush, which I think was really like 20-something % of our total population.

And as for calling the 51% that voted for Bush having serious mental health issues... um, yeah, most of the people I know who voted for Bush are level-headed, intelligent people, while most of the people I know who voted for Kerry are all those "f*ck Bush" people who have absolutely no idea what they're talking about. There are obviously exceptions, but that's generally what I've seen.

The only reason Bush Sr. got kicked out was because Ross Perot split the Republican vote and allowed Clinton to win. It would've probably ended up with Bush getting re-elected had Perot not run.The same can be said about Ralph Nader ruining it for Al Gore.

I have a pretty negative view of Americans. Which is saying something, as I'm American...

i have a very negative view off americans. i wish they would stop inclouding us english as europeans we are not conected to mainland europe and dont perticualy like the europeans ever especialy the french. one off the main reasons i dont like americans is that stupid festival inderpendance day i mean nearly a half of the people in america werent free and i hate how they treated the native americans taking all there land and then when the native americans try to take back there there land there killed and sent off to reserations. and also the way they think there the world police always steping in always thretaning people they think its there responsability to save the world from bad things. I also hate what they did to Heroshima and Nagasaki with the a-bombs probibly 100,000 or more people died now thats what i call a terrorist attack.