From many past threads I have always noticed a trend with the British and Australian members and their remark on America; namely that we think we are the best. Well get off your high horse, cause we already did. America used to be the number one country but we have definitely lost that a long time ago. This is apparent to everybody but still comes off wrong.
How?
Well, the rest of you still think, that we think, we are the greatest and is where all your hatred comes from. No, we are not on some high horse thinking we are the greatest; people Europeans and anybody not in America; stop saying we think that and try to hold the moral high ground on us. You guys are the ones that are dumb now.
The following clip is from an American show in America, the entire audience agrees:
Get off your high horse we already did
We have to wait and see. You are currently on probation and we will see how Obama sizes up :)
The general perception of the American's that I see here in Britain is: arrogance, attention-seeking and this phony-patriotism that makes most of us here in England want to puke. When we have an election we don't go around wearing Tshirts with our candidates name on and waving flags like it's a football match, cheering and spinning catchphrases.
Of course you could turn the other foot and say that the English are bitter and subdued. I'm not saying either one is right -- only an idiot would be ignorant to turn around and say "these ten people I see on TV represent the whole nation". I would never do that. Ever. Because I realise that you can't paint a nation with the brush of a minority.
No one in England hates America. Sure I see banter between nations, I'm not going to cry when someone says all the English have bad teeth. This is your stereotype to the rest of the world. Cry about it or do something to change it.
That aside I also see American people putting out movies, music, novels, etc. etc. that influence the world's culture in a positive way. And I don't see anyone here in England not embrace the positive things American's do. If we really were as elitist as you make us out to be then 50% of the television schedule wouldn't be bought from American media outlets, the news wouldn't constantly be dominated by US things and people would boycott anything "American" made. Which is ludicrous because a good portion of British life is hugely influenced by modern American culture.
The world is pissed because it's always been a case that some (there's that word again, not everybody) American's portray their borders as the end of the world. You can't deny that there are some people that think that. Maybe they only represent 1% of your nation. But they're still there.
The English got off their high horse many years ago.
"The general perception of the American's that I see here in Britain is: arrogance, attention-seeking and this phony-patriotism that makes most of us here in England want to puke. When we have an election we don't go around wearing Tshirts with our candidates name on and waving flags like it's a football match, cheering and spinning catchphrases."Because you have a queen.
"get2sammyb said:And you actually think she has any power? The monarchy is essentially a tourist attraction these days. Correct any of my factual mistakes (I never did have that much of an interest in history) but Oliver Cromwell overcame the monarchy in the 1650's to essentially render them powerless."The general perception of the American's that I see here in Britain is: arrogance, attention-seeking and this phony-patriotism that makes most of us here in England want to puke. When we have an election we don't go around wearing Tshirts with our candidates name on and waving flags like it's a football match, cheering and spinning catchphrases."Because you have a queen."
National pride is common among everyone in their given country. I would say a lot of Americans still think this country is #1, but people tend to generalize everyone and say we all think like that. I think national pride is a big part of every country though, it just seems that America's national pride is the one heard about the most.
Honestly, I don't think MOST of the US actually thinks we're number one in anything. You're confusing the south/midwest super-republican/evangelical types with the entire country. Here on the west coast where I'm at, we're completely aware that we kind of suck balls. Don't throw all of us 'mericans in with the hicks and non-progressive thinkers, they don't speak for all of us (we just had an election that proves that).
That being said, I'm pretty sure all American agree with Bill Maher: soccer is definitely bullshit. :)
I believe right now we are far from being the best considering the economical crisis that caused tremendous job loss
but whatever !
God bless America , the greatest country in the world :D
"Megalon said:Patriotic jesting between nations: It's better than slowball (stolen from another GiantBomb user [can't remember which] in a different thread)." soccer is definitely bullshit. :)"Seconded."
"Honestly, I don't think MOST of the US actually thinks we're number one in anything. You're confusing the south/midwest super-republican/evangelical types with the entire country. Here on the west coast where I'm at, we're completely aware that we kind of suck balls. Don't throw all of us 'mericans in with the hicks and non-progressive thinkers, they don't speak for all of us (we just had an election that proves that).We're number 1 in swimming!
That being said, I'm pretty sure all American agree with Bill Maher: soccer is definitely bullshit. :)"
While we're in this thread though I would like to pose a question to the Americans: why do you support your electoral candidate like they are a sports team?
Edit: perhaps I should add in a "why do some of you.."
"While we're in this thread though I would like to pose a question to the Americans: why do you support your electoral candidate like they are a sports team?
Edit: perhaps I should add in a "why do some of you..""
??? I'm not really sure what you mean by that. Not entirely sure, that is.
"get2sammyb said:"While we're in this thread though I would like to pose a question to the Americans: why do you support your electoral candidate like they are a sports team?
Edit: perhaps I should add in a "why do some of you..""
??? I'm not really sure what you mean by that. Not entirely sure, that is."
It's like a wrestling match?
"While we're in this thread though I would like to pose a question to the Americans: why do you support your electoral candidate like they are a sports team?It's the greatest spectator sport, ever. Greater then Football.
Edit: perhaps I should add in a "why do some of you..""
"While we're in this thread though I would like to pose a question to the Americans: why do you support your electoral candidate like they are a sports team?Because they are more important than a sports team. These guys get to carry the nuclear missile buttons!
Edit: perhaps I should add in a "why do some of you..""
"While we're in this thread though I would like to pose a question to the Americans: why do you support your electoral candidate like they are a sports team?I think most people do it in a "normal"-ish way: they will have a sticker on their car or a sign in their yard during the election. But after all the is done, I usually don't see a lot of this kind of stuff anymore (unless the person is too lazy to take it off said car, or whatever the case may be).
Edit: perhaps I should add in a "why do some of you..""
I do remember seeing on the news and at televised candidate rallies people wearing all kind of crazy stuff, like tshirts with the face of the person they're supporting on it. Honestly, I don't get that stuff either. I guess it's just to get people excited about the candidate, but it looks silly.
Despite our appearance to other nations, MOST Americans (ok, most young-ish Americans) are very apathetic to things most of the time, including our own national pride and status. I think maybe we have to be hit over the head with sports-like excitement to get us to do anything important.
"get2sammyb said:I actually only saw one person with a obama sticker. But If obama gave a speech where i lived id make a sign."While we're in this thread though I would like to pose a question to the Americans: why do you support your electoral candidate like they are a sports team?I think most people do it in a "normal"-ish way: they will have a sticker on their car or a sign in their yard during the election. But after all the is done, I usually don't see a lot of this kind of stuff anymore (unless the person is too lazy to take it off said car, or whatever the case may be).
Edit: perhaps I should add in a "why do some of you..""
I do remember seeing on the news and at televised candidate rallies people wearing all kind of crazy stuff, like tshirts with the face of the person they're supporting on it. Honestly, I don't get that stuff either. I guess it's just to get people excited about the candidate, but it looks silly.
Despite our appearance to other nations, MOST Americans (ok, most young-ish Americans) are very apathetic to things most of the time, including our own national pride and status. I think maybe we have to be hit over the head with sports-like excitement to get us to do anything important."
"get2sammyb said:Which makes sense. Like I've said at least once in this thread already: in England we can't judge what you people see every day on the street. We can only judge what we see on TV. And then you have to hope that our nation as a whole isn't ignorant enough to assume this represent everyone. Which certainly I, and many others on this forum don't think."While we're in this thread though I would like to pose a question to the Americans: why do you support your electoral candidate like they are a sports team?I think most people do it in a "normal"-ish way: they will have a sticker on their car or a sign in their yard during the election. But after all the is done, I usually don't see a lot of this kind of stuff anymore (unless the person is too lazy to take it off said car, or whatever the case may be).
Edit: perhaps I should add in a "why do some of you..""
I do remember seeing on the news and at televised candidate rallies people wearing all kind of crazy stuff, like tshirts with the face of the person they're supporting on it. Honestly, I don't get that stuff either. I guess it's just to get people excited about the candidate, but it looks silly.
Despite our appearance to other nations, MOST Americans (ok, most young-ish Americans) are very apathetic to things most of the time, including our own national pride and status. I think maybe we have to be hit over the head with sports-like excitement to get us to do anything important."
Moon said:
"get2sammyb said:The constant nuke talk is another one that gets old over here. But I see what you mean. Although I'd argue those that carry the "nukes" should should be treated with more decorum than a sports crowd that, at the end of the day, isn't a matter of life or death."While we're in this thread though I would like to pose a question to the Americans: why do you support your electoral candidate like they are a sports team?Because they are more important than a sports team. These guys get to carry the nuclear missile buttons!"
Edit: perhaps I should add in a "why do some of you..""
No, most Americans certainly don't think they're number one in the world. Most people I know don't think so at least. But like the dude in the video said (no idea who it is , there are still people out there who believe that being America being the number one country is their birthright, and it's self-righteous pompous people who behave that way that get under my skin. But--and here's the important part--every country has people like that, and there will always be some people in other countries who generalize because of it. I know most people in America aren't sitting on a high horse anymore, but there are some people over here who think everyone in America is arrogant and conceited because they saw one or two people like that.
The best thing anyone can do in my opinion, is to simply not let it bother you. Who gives a shit what anyone else thinks? You know you're not conceited or arrogant. Your friends know you're not. Most other people probably know you're not. So why worry about what those couple of other people think?
Anyway, to steer the conversation in a slightly different direction: I'm glad America doesn't like soccer. If you guys took it as seriously as you do American Football, and given your (previous) financial status and the huge pool of talent, well, my beloved England would NEVER win the World Cup ever again. Which we probably won't anyway... but you see what I mean.
So thank you America, thank you for not liking soccer.
" Europeans and anybody not in America; stop saying we think that and try to hold the moral high ground on us. You guys are the ones that are dumb now.Bit of a generalisation isnt it?"
"America should stop bragging that its the greatest county in the world, and start acting like it" .....hmmm
also, soccer=best sport on earth, anyone else watching the FA Cup right now?
also, soccer=best sport on earth, anyone else watching the FA Cup right now?Come on Southend.
Plenty of people are proud and want to say/believe their country is the greatest, not just America. It just seems people only look at America as saying they love their country, or some Americans believe its number one, it means that's how America in general is, and we're on this pedestal. It's not even close to true seeing as nearly every Country who at least has it decent to great has people that think the same thing about their country.
Most tension between countries is never directed at the people specifically but rather the governments themselves. And you can't really deny that since George Bush came into power that the public image of America has suffered due to his regime's actions.
What the world really needs is a good alien invasion so we all work together!
"Anyway, to steer the conversation in a slightly different direction: I'm glad America doesn't like soccer. If you guys took it as seriously as you do American Football, and given your (previous) financial status and the huge pool of talent, well, my beloved England would NEVER win the World Cup ever again. Which we probably won't anyway... but you see what I mean.We'll keep it up.
So thank you America, thank you for not liking soccer."
"Most tension between countries is never directed at the people specifically but rather the governments themselves. And you can't really deny that since George Bush came into power that the public image of America has suffered due to his regime's actions.Have you been reading a certain comic book by any chance?
What the world really needs is a good alien invasion so we all work together!"
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