The Average American?

[Sc@tterbrain 0]

Quote[/b] ]This should scare the hell out of every American, and everyone else. Americans should be scared because their country is dying. Everyone else should be scared because America is dying.

Why everyone else? I mean besides Israel i cannot think of any country that needs you guys to live.

This is a clear sign of your ignorance. The US dose provide staple grains to over one third of the world population. In a crisis severe enough to disrupt transport or destroy production, many would suffer.

I think those that hold contempt for certain policies of the American government need to reserve some of that critical scrutiny for their own political masters.

As I said before, the trends that enrage us will continue until we are motivated enough to actually do more than complain. However, that usually requires a strong and trusted leader. As other Americans will probably agree, there is none on the horizon today.

One post expressed great surprise to Hilarry Clinton and Osama's recent religious pandering. This is your wake-up call to escape from the "this side good, this side bad" mental trap you are in.

I hate threads like this because its all hot air, and I now regret spending time on thoughts that will pass like wind through the ears.

I really only see change coming after the breaking point...whatever that may be.

[dm 9]

The amateur media (places like break.com et al) are possibly doing a worse job of tarnishing the image, since they specifically post the videos, pictures and stories of stupidity at its "best."

I tend to think the opposite. Have you checked the girls at Break? The college humour on Break made me want to study in the USA.

Well yeah, thats always a bonus. But unfortunately no amount of attractive women will ever substitute for the "stupidity" in the eyes of many people.

[Espectro (DayZ) 0]

Yea, well - many people here (youngs prefereable) doesn't even justify America to be part of the Western World.

[Infidel 0]

I hate threads like this because its all hot air, and I now regret spending time on thoughts that will pass like wind through the ears.

In my opinion time spent thinking about a discussion is not lost. If it hasn't made an impact on those you talked with, it may have furthered your views on a subject.

Infidel

[ebns72 0]

I'd disagree that the majority of americans are ignorant. Again, America is very diverse, so it may vary depending on region and the school systems in that region - however where I live the large majority of people are greatly interested in politics and are pretty intelligent. There's only a couple of people that are really like as portrayed in this interview.

[chipper 0]

It's easy to ask a people a bunch of questions in a video and only include the stupid answers.

[W0lle 1052]

I've never posted in this forum, usually I don't even bother reading it.

However I want to throw in my experiences here.

I use to chat with a lot of people from the states, not related to OFP/ArmA, and over the years I made myself many friends over there. Some of them I know personally, some I don't even have a picture from. Let's pick two of them as examples:

One of them, a technical at a phone company, is an absolute Pro when it comes to networking, protocols and the lot. Also a true patriot, a flag in front of the house, a flag on his car, and wherever americans wear their flag.

He believes in Bush, for him the democrats are a nightmare. From the world outside he knows where Canada and Mexico are located at, everything else is out of his mind and he doesn't care about.

One day he asked me if we have McDonalds and BurgerKing here in Germany!

- I wouldn't call that man an idiot just because he doesn't know where Iceland is located at, or because he believes in the Bush administration or because he has no idea if we have american fastfood here.

Then there's another one, due to illness bound to his house and needs national assistance. Average education, finished highschool and then did this and that. Patriotic too, but he's extremely critical when it comes to politics. He's a very good guy, we can discuss about politics and whatsoever for hours. He's very openminded, and very interested in what's going on in the world.

One day as we talked about another guy (which is jewish) he came to me and asked "Do the jews believe in god?"

- I wouldn't call him dumb because of that, he never had to do with jews in his life before. The location of Israel and Germany I had to mark him on a map btw.

Now a jump over the ocean to my very own family:

My wife, headnurse in a hospital. She can tell you everything about the human body, has every exam she needs to have and more. But she fu*ing doesn't know where on the map Great Britain, or Marocco or Japan is. The nearest countries, France, Switzerland and Austria she knows but that's about it.

It's just nothing she needs to know, maybe this is similiar to what's said above about the americans: What's more then 2 miles away from their house doesn't matter.

- She's definitely not an idiot (and I'm saying this not because I have to say it)

From myself I can say I know at least the majority of countries. Most of the question in the video I could answer easily (can't remember them all though), but ask me some easy mathematical question I fail horribly - I just suck at mathematics, ever did and ever will do in this life.

- Does this makes me an idiot? Well judge by yourself.

Like said above, you can make this video everywhere in the world. You'll get the same answers everywhere. Especially if you pull people out of their daily life and ask them such questions.

Ok the scene with the map made me laugh too, always the poor australians! But here too, you can make this with everyone in the world.

Conclusion (finally)

We all are idiots at some point, noone knows everything. The only thing I can confirm about americans is that they are really focussed on their own country, sometimes even just on their state. But they are definitely not all idiots

Thanks for reading

W0lle out

[Victor_S. 0]

I am an American, and just as others have said there is a mix of all sorts of people. People like to bash America because many Americans don't seem to know anything outside of America. Look at it from the perspective of an American though. We are geographically isolated from many other countries, we live in a large country to begin with, and we live fairly well. Many Americans don't know were other countries are located because this is not something they deal with in their daily lives. Living here you wouldn't know we were at war if you didn't read the news. Many people from other countries seem to have a grudge against America. I think this is mainly due to ignorance. They are content to bash America because we are an easy target. For example I remember watching a show in school about what other countries thought of us. Many of the people who hated American knew very little about us. They criticized us for the large number of people who were considered to be in poverty and said we couldn't take care of our own people. She failed to realize that poverty in America is much different than is some countries. People who are impoverished in America have air conditioning, color tv, and are far from starving. What I am trying to say is that you sometimes have to view a subject from someone else's point of view, because you might be making judgements based on what is right for your society and culture. I just really hate when everyone starts ganging up on American when they really don't have a clue what they are talking about. There is a lot of stupidity in this world, makes it easy to see why there is so much violence... I continue to visit these forums because for the most part the people here are mature, and the discussion here is fairly intelligent.

[Sc@tterbrain 0]

I hate threads like this because its all hot air, and I now regret spending time on thoughts that will pass like wind through the ears.

In my opinion time spent thinking about a discussion is not lost. If it hasn't made an impact on those you talked with, it may have furthered your views on a subject.

Infidel

Thank you Infidel. I know your right, yet sometimes fustration takes its toll.

I have been thinking about something all week. I have asked a few people and got some interesting answers. So I would like to share this with you.

Do you think politicians represent your views?

Do you think they are actually in touch with what "the people" believe?

I would be very interested in how people outside of the US answer this question about their own representatives.

[kerosene 0]

Keeping in mind that not even 20 percent of the US citizens (immigrants included) own a passport that would enable them to stick their nose outside the US it´s just natural that their international knowledge is somewhat limited. If you have no interest in other countries than yours you will not learn AND remember things about it.

And in gross most US citizens only care for something with a US flag on it. There gotta be a slogan somewhere that staying in the US is patriotic, no ?

Thats a very typically snobby European thing to say, as soon as we compare ourselves to Americans we suddenly forget what about 70% our own population is like:

A - Americans can go to Canada or Mexico with a drivers license

B - Fat, stupid English or German people staggering around Spain pissed up on larger does not equal sophisticated world traveller.

[GrimErazer 0]

Thats a very typically snobby European thing to say, as soon as we compare ourselves to Americans we suddenly forget what about 70% our own population is like:

A - Americans can go to Canada or Mexico with a drivers license

B - Fat, stupid English or German people staggering around Spain pissed up on larger does not equal sophisticated world traveller.

A - European Union citizens can travel to Norway, Iceland and Switzerland (non-EU) with only a drivers licence or EU identification card (Schengen Agreement),

B - Fat, stupid U. S. people staggering in Las Vegas pissed up or stoned does not equal sophisticated world traveller.

[kerosene 0]

You seem to have missed the point.

People always use the 20% of americans a passport argument to indicate that americans are ignorant, etc.

I also dont think any americans would claim that going to Las Vegas would make them a world traveller.

Whereas contrasting European and American levels of passport holders seems to imply that every European with a passport goes on holiday with some deep interest in learning about another culture.

I hope i've explained this in simple enough terms for you to grasp.

[GrimErazer 0]

I hope i've explained this in simple enough terms for you to grasp.

I thank for your insult!

[hellfish6 7]

You seem to have missed the point.

People always use the 20% of americans a passport argument to indicate that americans are ignorant, etc.

I also dont think any americans would claim that going to Las Vegas would make them a world traveller.

Whereas contrasting European and American levels of passport holders seems to imply that every European with a passport goes on holiday with some deep interest in learning about another culture.

I hope i've explained this in simple enough terms for you to grasp.

You've also got to remember - America is several times larger than any European country. We've got nearly every climate imaginable within our own borders. In order to go on vacation to a nice beach, we don't need to fly to Spain. Just drive a day or two to the coast - any of our many coasts. Wanna go mountain climbing? Don't need to fly to Switzerland to do it. Go ATVing in the desert? Don't need to go to Egypt.

Kerosene is right, too. Germans and Brits don't go to Ibiza to soak up Spanish culture any more than Americans go to Cancun for Mexican culture. So get off your high horses, guys...

[kerosene 0]

Always a pleasure my good man.

[Espectro (DayZ) 0]

You seem to have missed the point.

People always use the 20% of americans a passport argument to indicate that americans are ignorant, etc.

I also dont think any americans would claim that going to Las Vegas would make them a world traveller.

Whereas contrasting European and American levels of passport holders seems to imply that every European with a passport goes on holiday with some deep interest in learning about another culture.

I hope i've explained this in simple enough terms for you to grasp.

You've also got to remember - America is several times larger than any European country. We've got nearly every climate imaginable within our own borders. In order to go on vacation to a nice beach, we don't need to fly to Spain. Just drive a day or two to the coast - any of our many coasts. Wanna go mountain climbing? Don't need to fly to Switzerland to do it. Go ATVing in the desert? Don't need to go to Egypt.

Kerosene is right, too. Germans and Brits don't go to Ibiza to soak up Spanish culture any more than Americans go to Cancun for Mexican culture. So get off your high horses, guys...

That's true, but the cultural difference is many times larger in a smaller area in Europe and its sorroundings than in America.

For instance, Life and the economical situation and the system is alot different here in Denmark than it is  in Italy (No, Denmark is NOT the capital of Ikea ), 18 hours drive from here. (And that is from Northen Denmark where I live - For people that didn't know, Denmark is in Scandinavia which is in Northen Europe).

I believe that people being affected by multiple cultures both as infants but also in adulthood really brings much wealth to a person. Both in knowledge, but definately also in respect of other cultures etc.

[hellfish6 7]

I agree. Travel two hours in almost any direction from any place in Europe and you're likely to encounter a totally different culture, if not an entirely different country. Thats a big plus.

In the US, we have own own small microcosms too, the regional variations between fellow Americans. New Orleans is very different from New York, California is very different from Georgia, Seattle is very different from Miami. Luckily we all speak the same language, more or less.

In both of our cases, Europe and America, we run the risk of cultural homogenization. As the differences between the North and South blur, or the differences between Western Europe and Eastern, we are running the risk of becoming too similar.

For example, I can go to any place in the country and find exactly the same stores and exactly the same restaurants there that I'd find at home. Last time I was in Mississippi, I spent an hour trying to find a locally owned restaurant - in the end, I gave up at ate at a chain restaurant because that's all there was.

As the world becomes a smaller place, I think it's also slowly becoming a less interesting place. Some day soon, aside from the climate and terrain, going to Denmark won't be much different from going to Romania. Or visiting France won't be much different from Poland. You'll have the same chain hotels, same chain restaurants and same chain retail outlets. Just like America.

[Spokesperson 0]

Quote[/b] ]

Welcome to the European Union

by David Rovics

I landed in Denmark and there was Burger King

And a red and white sign saying "Coke´s the real thing"

The Titanic was sinking at the local cineplex

And the kids were chomping on corn chex

In the city center the stores were closing down

Things just haven´t been the same since the Wal-Mart came to town

In the growing suburbs folks were driving minivans

And it´s all gone according to the best-laid plans

(Chorus)

Welcome to the European Union

It´s evolving every day

Getting more and more like the USA

Well I thumbed a ride to Hamburg, saw the homeless in the street

The mayor had to build more houses to make room for the elite

The cops were rounding up the immigrants, sending them to other places

It was plain to see the desperation on their faces

When I got to Brussels you could feel the scheming in the air

Corporate executives in suits were everywhere

And they were very happy for all the plans they made

And you could hear them chanting, "free trade free trade free trade!"

(Chorus)

And in London men were saying, "We need more fighter planes

And we need more motorways with some exra lanes

We need Washington to teach us how an economy runs

And spend lots more money on cars and bombs and guns

When Euro-Interests are threatened we must be prepared

To invade some backward country if the United States is scared

Africa may shake and the peaceniks will glower

But what the world plainly needs is another superpower"

(Chorus)

Once we were so proud of social democracy

Welfare for all and long vacations by the sea

But now we have seen the errors of our ways

There is no alternative, no way back to the old days

If you want a living wage, we´ll tell you where to go

As we welcome China into the WTO

Yes if you want an honest job your prospects might not look sunny

But there´s never been a better time if you´ve got lots of money

(Chorus)

Yes in the halls of power from Athens to Par-ee

You can hear the rulers shouting "no more subsidy

So fuck off all you workers, farmers, greens and all

It´s time to turn the world into a giant shopping mall"

From Rasmussen to Shroeder, Blair to Berlusconi

It´s all the same old show, same old dog and pony

If you need me to spell it out, what´s the matter with them

It´s called C-A-P-I-T-A-L-I-S-M

(Chorus)

The song is free I think you can DL it at his site.

[Espectro (DayZ) 0]

Quote[/b] ]

Welcome to the European Union

by David Rovics

I landed in Denmark and there was Burger King

And a red and white sign saying "Coke´s the real thing"

The Titanic was sinking at the local cineplex

And the kids were chomping on corn chex

In the city center the stores were closing down

Things just haven´t been the same since the Wal-Mart came to town

In the growing suburbs folks were driving minivans

And it´s all gone according to the best-laid plans

(Chorus)

Welcome to the European Union

It´s evolving every day

Getting more and more like the USA

Well I thumbed a ride to Hamburg, saw the homeless in the street

The mayor had to build more houses to make room for the elite

The cops were rounding up the immigrants, sending them to other places

It was plain to see the desperation on their faces

When I got to Brussels you could feel the scheming in the air

Corporate executives in suits were everywhere

And they were very happy for all the plans they made

And you could hear them chanting, "free trade free trade free trade!"

(Chorus)

And in London men were saying, "We need more fighter planes

And we need more motorways with some exra lanes

We need Washington to teach us how an economy runs

And spend lots more money on cars and bombs and guns

When Euro-Interests are threatened we must be prepared

To invade some backward country if the United States is scared

Africa may shake and the peaceniks will glower

But what the world plainly needs is another superpower"

(Chorus)

Once we were so proud of social democracy

Welfare for all and long vacations by the sea

But now we have seen the errors of our ways

There is no alternative, no way back to the old days

If you want a living wage, we´ll tell you where to go

As we welcome China into the WTO

Yes if you want an honest job your prospects might not look sunny

But there´s never been a better time if you´ve got lots of money

(Chorus)

Yes in the halls of power from Athens to Par-ee

You can hear the rulers shouting "no more subsidy

So fuck off all you workers, farmers, greens and all

It´s time to turn the world into a giant shopping mall"

From Rasmussen to Shroeder, Blair to Berlusconi

It´s all the same old show, same old dog and pony

If you need me to spell it out, what´s the matter with them

It´s called C-A-P-I-T-A-L-I-S-M

(Chorus)

Let's hope it will never be like that ;-)

[MAA3057 0]

I was afraid that foreigners to the US would have the slightest thought of Americans being this way after this video was released on the net. It blasts everything out of proportion, I say. It probably took the show host hours to 'quiz' dozens of Americans with many questions. Hell, he probably quized many people in a couple of days only to cut out the most pitifully answered questions. If Americans were stupid, we wouldn't have created the most powerful (or at least one of the most) nation in the entire world in so little time (230+ years).

[Thunderbird 0]

I would once again point out that being stupid and lacking general knowledge are 2 different things, people tend to confuse both.

I'm sure if the US would seriously pay more attention to what's going on in the rest of the world, a lot of things would probably be much different than they actually are.

regards,

TB

[MAA3057 0]

I would once again point out that being stupid and lacking general knowledge are 2 different things, people tend to confuse both.

I'm sure if the US would seriously pay more attention to what's going on in the rest of the world, a lot of things would probably be much different than they actually are.

regards,

TB

I have to agree with you in regards to our younger generation of Americans. Most tend not to look at whats happening in the world through a political stand point. Most often, if they do have a clue, it is what their friends or professors have told them. Usually the information given to them is extremly biased and often times straight out lies. They need to concentrate on less mainstream media and shows and look into the seriousness of not only their own country, but others. They also need to think through a mature diplomatic point of view, and if need be, a more extreme perspective. Americans aren't the only ones with this problem though.

[Rhodite 3]

First and last warning.

Keep this discussion flame and flamebait free.

A locked thread is but one click away.

Happy posting..

[Wobble 1]

Im an American, I own a gun, I travel to south america and purchase midgets and get them to perform menial tasks such as sorting my socks, guarding my car, taste testing food I purchase from suspicious places such as the bum under the freeway, other midgets who are all "uppity" on midget rights, and of course Taco Bell.  

but the fact of the matter is, at this point I understand where most middle eastern countries are located... they are almost in the middle.. but just a little east, so I am not ignorant.

I eat lots of meat... any kind of meat will do.. pork, Beef, chicken...  disobedient midgets... etc.. the usual.. (all american eat midgets, dont be fooled.)

I do american things in my free time, I go fishing.. and dont keep any of the fish I catch, I play golf, wich I will admit is a retarded sport.. You hit a ball, then.. try and find the bastard.. and when you finally do... You hit it again..  Your guess is as good as mine.

I like "Chicken Fried Steak"

just.. what the hell is that?  it isnt chicken.. cooked like steak, so thats out, its really isnt steak prepared in the same way as chicken is... so no deal there either.. so that leaves only one option.. it is steak.. as cooked by a chicken..  insinuating that chickens... kill and eat cows, and so so with such  frequency that they have their reciepe.. which is in and of itself an eye opening and terrifying idea.. but what do you expect.. mad cow + bird flu.. its a modern race war..

and of course.. in the wee hours of thursday mornings (12:30am-ish to be exact) I .. while intoxicated.. create odd, and abstract posts on a video game forum.. while drunk..

what.. you thinke somebody would write all this nonsense sober?

[GrimErazer 0]

Heh, quite hilarious, "wobble the apologiser"!