The OH-SO FASCINATING ancestry or ethnicity thread. (American, volume, irish)

[DontRunMeOver]

Originally Posted by right-track

Most of my voting life was spent under Thatcherism, then finally Labour win...what a let down.
Politics doesn't stop me being proud to be English.

Hell yeah, being English is awesome. We've got constant rain, no dentists and 3rd world transport systems (lots of the 3rd world transport systems were set up by the English, which explains the similiarities). But the English are cool. Maybe its all that boy-scouting... we're prepared to get drunk at any point in the day.

This also counts for those Welsh, Irish and (maybe) the Scottish.

[DearJenny]

Originally Posted by Rabid Sea Turtles

Wow, your thoughts are so original, and unlike other Americans.
Its no wonder you don't want to be associated with all us Bush-loving, war-waging idiots.

Its the foreign policy, its the rascism that still exists even though its denied, its the state politics, I believe that the bicameral government with damn checks and balances is a dumb system because nothing gets done, its just gets the run around. Its big business, hollywood image, all-around lying bull**** that we get from the media and the government. I believe firmly that news stations are bias and each tries to shape the viewers in a specific way.

I'm just tired of it all. Democracy started out as a great idea but the current administration is abusing it. Its like nobody really thinks for themselves anymore, or at least nobody does much about it. The ones who do are deemed radical, anti-patriotic, not the case. Power was given to the people for a reason and we arent using it to change what we dont like. None of it really makes sense to me, so I'd rather live somewhere else where the atmosphere is less tense. I'm not trying to change anything for the country by going somewhere else, just changing something for myself.

[DearJenny]

Originally Posted by DontRunMeOver

I'd make sure you think that kind of opinion through. Most Americans I've met outside of the US find it surprisingly difficult to adjust to life in other countries. PARTICULARLY those who see themselves as liberals, culturally-wise types. Before anybody jumps in with 'thats a stereotype' kind of rubbish, its not a stereotype as its an observation of most Americans I've met outside of the US.

I do realize it would be REALLY hard to adjust. I mean, metric system, currency, goverment(which means taxes and EVERYTHING would change), it would be hard but I'd be willing to learn.

[right-track]

Originally Posted by DontRunMeOver

Hell yeah, being English is awesome. We've got constant rain, no dentists and 3rd world transport systems (lots of the 3rd world transport systems were set up by the English, which explains the similiarities). But the English are cool. Maybe its all that boy-scouting... we're prepared to get drunk at any point in the day.

This also counts for those Welsh, Irish and (maybe) the Scottish.

...indoors or out and at every occasion. We appreciate a good queue, can bear witness to extreme acts of violence, without batting an eyelid. Treat war like sport and sport like war.

I love being English.

[Rabid Sea Turtles]

Racism exists everywhere, moving to Europe is not going to help you escape that.
You say it is unfair to label someone such as yourself anti-patriotic.
Saying that you hate living in your country, and that 66% of others in your country only care about what happens within the country, isn't really showing a sense of pride.
Where did you get that statistic, out of curiosity. Since I'm pretty sure the only media coverage I've been getting lately is the escalating conflict between Israel and Lebanon.

Do you really believe that you are the only person who thinks like you do?
The statement that news stations are biased isn't new.

Complaining on a message board isn't changing a thing.
You aren't revolutionary, your thoughts don't matter if you aren't going to act on them.

[DontRunMeOver]

Originally Posted by PipersLabyrinthX

I do realize it would be REALLY hard to adjust. I mean, metric system, currency, goverment(which means taxes and EVERYTHING would change), it would be hard but I'd be willing to learn.

Was that what you thought I meant by 'hard to adjust'? That's not it at all. Currency, measurements and paperwork isn't what I mean. That's just numbers and forms. I mean cultural differences. The way you act, the way other people act and how it affects your interactions.

Admittedly, these differences probably aren't very big between America and Canada.

[right-track]

Originally Posted by DontRunMeOver

Was that what you thought I meant by 'hard to adjust'? That's not it at all. Currency, measurements and paperwork isn't what I mean. That's just numbers and forms. I mean cultural differences. The way you act, the way other people act and how it affects your interactions.

Admittedly, these differences probably aren't very big between America and Canada.

I'm fascinated.
In your observations, what would you say are the differences that Americans would find difficult to adjust to.

[DearJenny]

Originally Posted by Rabid Sea Turtles

Racism exists everywhere, moving to Europe is not going to help you escape that.
You say it is unfair to label someone such as yourself anti-patriotic.
Saying that you hate living in your country, and that 66% of others in your country only care about what happens within the country, isn't really showing a sense of pride.
Where did you get that statistic, out of curiosity. Since I'm pretty sure the only media coverage I've been getting lately is the escalating conflict between Israel and Lebanon.

Do you really believe that you are the only person who thinks like you do?
The statement that news stations are biased isn't new.

Complaining on a message board isn't changing a thing.
You aren't revolutionary, your thoughts don't matter if you aren't going to act on them.

I'm not trying to change anything, I never even wanted to argue. I was just replying to what someone said about only one person using the word American on this thread. Its over. Whatever.

[right-track]

On topic please...you crazy yanks, you.

[DontRunMeOver]

Originally Posted by right-track

I'm fascinated.
In your observations, what would you say are the differences that Americans would find difficult to adjust to.

Well, I've got to stress that this is based on the Americans I have met in person (of which there have been quite a lot - about 50 different Americans, I've spent a decent amount of time with at one point or another). What I'll tell you about is the way in which the Americans I met tended to come across in person, and from this I'll touch upon how this turns into a problem for them and how its makes their social/interpersonal adjustments difficult. These impressions were based on my own impressions and also the many, many comments which I'd received from other non-Americans on these same people. Most of the time these comments were freely offered, some of the time I asked for comments and was given them. Why? I'm very inquisitive, that's why.

1. Most Americans I've met speak at a volume which most other cultures would consider to be shouting. To many people of other cultures, this would appear that the American person is actually trying to intimidate or force their views upon them, even though the American is actually just talking like they've been talking their whole life.
2. ALL but one of the Americans I've met complain constantly whenever they get the chance. Coupled with the loud voice, this gives other people the impression that they're just being attention seekers, although I'd be pretty sure that its seen as perfectly normal by them to complain when there is a problem.
3. The Americans I've met generally came across as argumentative and aggressive to me and people of other cultures. As far as I can tell, the idea in American culture is to put your ideas and opinions out there and allow other people to criticise it, while you do the same with other people's opinions. Although these Americans were used to this argumentative behaviour, most other cultures aren't so directly argumentative, so people of this culture get very offended when their ideas are rudely shot down, with no soft-touches.

Sorry, I've got to get my dinner, so I'll leave you with this little firecracker. I've not answered the question yet, but I'm hungry...