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Geek Culture / [LOCKED] Americans: you were lied to - lets forget partisanship and demand answers!

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CattleRustler
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Posted: 14th Jun 2005 03:06
@ DavidT, right. I wasnt implying that "all" french and uk'ers are for the "america sucks" campaign. As indicated in this thread, however, such voices seem to be from uk'ers.

And the notion that Americans only have their one slanted view of their country and their history is utter rubbish. As if we are not intelligent enough to look at all views, opinions, and facts - and decide logically (any issue). There are some brainwashed flag waving idiots who ignore facts regardless and spout their pro-usa crap, but i'd bet there are a lot less of them than people think. Why was the election so close then? Well the right wing decided to promote their lock on "religion" and suck in as much of the country they could that way. Pretty evil tactic if you ask me. Luckily bush's approval rating is dropping like a stone (42%) since the smarter, grass-roots republicans, and religious moderates are realizing they have been duped as well.

DBP - AirAmericaRadio.com - MoveOn.org - The news has been cancelled!
Benjamin
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Posted: 14th Jun 2005 03:12
Quote: " As indicated in this thread, however, such voices seem to be from uk'ers."

I must tell you now that UK'ers are strong realists.

Quote: "And the notion that Americans only have their one slanted view of their country and their history is utter rubbish"

Put it this way, your opinion of what 'heavy' is very different to my opinion. Apply that to what we are talking about and it makes sense, doesn't it? No one said you had a slanted view(well, as far as I know, I haven't read much of this thread), its just very different to our view, which is completely normal considering we have very different backgrounds. There is no right or wrong, its just an opinion.


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Ian T
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Posted: 14th Jun 2005 03:15
Quote: " There is no right or wrong, its just an opinion."


That's just your opinion!!!!

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DBAlex
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Posted: 14th Jun 2005 03:17
ROFLMAO...

Gotta love teh maddox quotes...




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Benjamin
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Posted: 14th Jun 2005 03:26
Quote: "That's just your opinion!!!!"

No, thats a fact. If someone pinched your arm, and then pinched mine, we would explain differently what it felt like.


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Jeku
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Posted: 14th Jun 2005 03:29
Sorry--- I came into this late and don't expect any real replies.

Quote: "The world will always hate the largest country."


Largest in what regard? Amount of people? Land?

Those who bash other countries, Americans or 'other', really are ignorant. You wouldn't believe the inhumane things the American soldiers did to the German people after WWII. How about caging them up in small camps, starving them and shooting the women and children who tried to escape? The people were desperate enough to try and dig into the ground like dogs to get away. How about when they went through the German towns and executed all the 15-year olds and younger who they could find? There are so many atrocities that were written and journalled about--- yet those books have all been banned. If you're lucky enough to have some of them I would suggest reading them. I have one at home which is heartbreaking, with pictures and every kind of graphic description imagineable.

Just about every country who has been involved in war has done the same thing. Look at the cruelty the Japanese invoked on the innocent Chinese in the 1940's. In my wife's city the Japanese murdered over 100,000 citizens (non-army) in a single day using bayonets and other painful methods. They also tested poisonous chemicals and gas on the people--- ala Hitler.

For us to talk, using sentences containing we (i.e. we fought hard, our people endured depression) is ignorant and self-serving. Like Mouse said, there's no way any of us living in first-world countries (myself included) can know the true horrors, or even a smidgeon of truth about WWII, so we should just shut up and stop pretending.

I wouldn't normally post something like this, being a mod and all, but since other mods have posted in here I thought it couldn't hurt


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Jimmy
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Posted: 14th Jun 2005 03:32
Quote: "Pretty evil tactic if you ask me. Luckily bush's approval rating is dropping like a stone (42%) since the smarter, grass-roots republicans, and religious moderates are realizing they have been duped as well."


Or maybe nobody cares, because it doesn't matter anymore.

And I don't know about you, but I knew I'd been duped back when they couldn't FIND the WMDs. So are they really smarter?

I like your notion that this memo is the cause of his drop in approval, when I haven't heard or read any mention of it, other than here. Wanna know why? Because you're all hippies with a fruitless agenda.

When you march on Washington, demanding action to be taken on the important issues that face us today and our posterity in the future, I'll go with you.

But what I see in this memo is more avoision by politicians from both parties.

Van B
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Posted: 14th Jun 2005 04:23
Guy's, we're British - we do history right!. Please don't try to defend the education system in America, I could waste time and go hunting for statistics about this stuff but I doubt that would help your nice colourful debate you got going here.

I don't know about any of you, but I had some great history teachers at high school, they were all excentric types who were really interested in all of it. However British history is something we learn in primary school, all through high school we learn world history. I'm assuming that America does'nt do things the same way, just like P.E. is no longer a required subject in a lot of US schools (if anyone can defend/explain then you have my undivided). I'm not trying to put Americans down here, I'm saying identify your own problems and deal with those before tackling other peoples.


Van-B

Ian T
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Posted: 14th Jun 2005 04:37
Quote: "all through high school we learn world history. I'm assuming that America does'nt do things the same way"


World history is learned from grade school through the end of college. Where are you getting your information?

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Van B
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Posted: 14th Jun 2005 04:53
OK I take it back, American education is the best in the world - there's absolutely no grounds for me thinking otherwise.

David T
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Posted: 14th Jun 2005 04:54


(sorry for the short reply)

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Rob K
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Posted: 14th Jun 2005 05:00
Quote: " However British history is something we learn in primary school, all through high school we learn world history"


That is slightly inaccurate, you can stop studying History after the age of 13 in the UK.

If you decided to stop studying at that age (I continued through to A-Level), you would have very little knowledge of world history. I think that by that time, the only non-British area of history I had looked at was the First World War (and then mainly from a British perspective).


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Jeku
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Posted: 14th Jun 2005 05:03 Edited at: 14th Jun 2005 05:04
Quote: "World history is learned from grade school through the end of college. Where are you getting your information?"


Hmmmm.... then how come all the Americans I've talked to don't even know the name of the leader of Canada? I mean, I could understand not knowing the name of the leader of, say, Germany, but Canada is your neighbour and your largest trading partner!

And the outcome of the War of 1812 seems to escape most Americans, too

EDIT: And let's not forget American downplaying of Canadians in WWII


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Jimmy
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Posted: 14th Jun 2005 05:11 Edited at: 14th Jun 2005 05:13
Quote: "Hmmmm.... then how come all the Americans I've talked to don't even know the name of the leader of Canada?"


That's because he spends his time floating naked on a pond, drinking fosters, rather than starting wars.

Wait that's Australia.

Canada.... hmmm Canada... that's a tough one...

Prime Minister... Cheetos, I believe.

I met him once. He kissed my baby, but shortly afterward I had to tell him it was a goiter. Nice guy though, he gave me ointment.

Quote: "downplaying of Canadians in WWII"


Yes, we cannot forget Mother Canada, opening her arms and warmly receiving our lost and battered draft dodgers.

Eric T
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Posted: 14th Jun 2005 05:12
Its taught in schools... its just the teachers are incompatent morons

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Van B
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Posted: 14th Jun 2005 05:16
Hehe Jimmy, don't knock them Aussies - they're always up for a fight. There were a lot of Aussies fighting in Vietnam and a lot of Canadians fighting in Korea too.

My brother works with a Vietnamese guy who was living in Vietnam during the war, sadly he had no decent stories .


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Ian T
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Posted: 14th Jun 2005 05:31 Edited at: 14th Jun 2005 05:32
Quote: " OK I take it back, American education is the best in the world - there's absolutely no grounds for me thinking otherwise."


Well that was a logical and reasonable rebuttal

Quote: "Hmmmm.... then how come all the Americans I've talked to don't even know the name of the leader of Canada?"


Most of my US friends do

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Eric T
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Posted: 14th Jun 2005 05:32
Mouse, There is one problem I do have with you talking about the education system of america....

I'm sure you know exactly what that is too...

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Ian T
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Posted: 14th Jun 2005 05:34
If you'll read my posts you'll find I have only actually said one thing about it which I know is a fact

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Benjamin
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Posted: 14th Jun 2005 05:43
There must be something wrong with it, for him to completely missunderstand Jeku's post


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Andy
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Posted: 14th Jun 2005 06:15
It's important to realize the difference between the US, americans and US foreign policy.

I don't hate americans and I don't know anyone who does. I do, however, dislike US foreign policy. Some people seem to dismiss even justified criticism of US forign policy, as some kind of hatred of americans.

>"The world will always hate the largest country."

To some people, the US can do no wrong. When those people encounter justified cricism of US foreign policy, they don't really know how to handle it, so they simply refuse to listen.

When people say things like "The world will always hate the largest country.", it's because that's an easy way to not have to listen to the arguement. The same people say things like 'They hate americans because they are jealous', 'They hate americans because we are free' etc. Claims designed to rationalize criticism, in order to avoid cognitive disonance.

Andy
Chris K
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Posted: 14th Jun 2005 06:40 Edited at: 15th Jun 2005 02:59
Quote: "cognitive disonance."


Oh FFS.

I really hate people who use stupid vocabulary when it clearly isn't the best word to use in that situation.

In days henceforth, let us surmise that your ardor remains a velleity.

EDIT_____

That's the one.

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BearCDPOLD
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Posted: 14th Jun 2005 06:40
Darn, missed the part I wanted to dig into, ah weel.

Jimmy owned you up there. You guys are making bogus claims, particularly in education. I recall in 8th grade when we did our big unit on WW2, one of the first questions to pop up was, "Why didn't we go in sooner?". The teacher explained we were still caught up in isolationalism, but then we realized, "Oh s**t, we screwed that one up." I believe we had our wake up call about isolationalism when we were bombed, and then we're getting a wake up call about balance in the fact that Georgie didn't get all the support he wanted for Iraq. We need to help the rest of the world, but not necessarily be the big badass vigilantes.

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Ian T
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Posted: 14th Jun 2005 06:45
Quote: "Claims designed to rationalize criticism"


Claims that do rationalize logical criticism. You're just avoiding responding to it.

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Jimmy
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Posted: 14th Jun 2005 07:07
I think we can all agree that rhubarb pie is good.

With the sugar on top.

Dazzag
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Posted: 14th Jun 2005 07:28
Quote: "rhubarb pie is good"
If that is the US equivalent of Rhubarb crumble then fine. With custard obviously. But you are right about the sugar on top.

See, we can all get along if you include Rhubarb desserts in the equation!

Oh, and history in Wales is f**king crap. Mainly consists of slagging off the english (spit). And in my school you couldn't take both history and geography after 13 years old, unless you spoke welsh. Top stuff there. As a result I haven't the foggiest who the prime minister of Canada is, or even where it is (this bit is a lie ). I do know though that the population is amazingly small, with land mass amazingly large. Pretty much the opposite of the UK. Plus you named it wrongly apparently.

Cheers

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Jimmy
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Posted: 14th Jun 2005 07:34
Quote: "Plus you named it wrongly apparently. "


Well originally the name was supposed to be C.N.D. but geehhhh ehehhehhehheHEHEHEEEHHHEEEE oh, I can't finish the joke, it's too funny *cry*

David T
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Posted: 14th Jun 2005 07:40
Quote: "If you decided to stop studying at that age (I continued through to A-Level), you would have very little knowledge of world history. I think that by that time, the only non-British area of history I had looked at was the First World War (and then mainly from a British perspective)."


Depends on school really, I did quite a bit of World history in junior school, although sernior school years 1-3 was first world war etc.

I didn't continue it after GCSEs, and listening to the tales I've heard about 14-page answers to exams, I'm glad

Quote: "I don't hate americans and I don't know anyone who does. I do, however, dislike US foreign policy. Some people seem to dismiss even justified criticism of US forign policy, as some kind of hatred of americans.

To some people, the US can do no wrong. When those people encounter justified cricism of US foreign policy, they don't really know how to handle it, so they simply refuse to listen."


That is exactly what I'm trying to get across! I don't dislike you all, just Bush



Living just the English side of a Welsh border I can sympathise. The local Tesco has got to label aisles in both Welsh and English. For those who can't speak English

Yr Wyddigrug

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Dazzag
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Posted: 14th Jun 2005 08:02
Yeah, it's class. Apparently 99% can speak english. But only something like 20% speak welsh.

Not sure what Wyddigrug means, but are you sure there is an I in it? As it happens I don't remember much more than saesneg and mochgyn. Thats a joke assuming I spelt things correctly.

Cheers

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Raven
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Posted: 14th Jun 2005 08:11
Quote: "Claims designed to rationalize criticism, in order to avoid cognitive disonance. "

Quote: "In days henceforth, let us surmise that your adhor remains a velleity."


ya know neither actually make sense.
unless they're misspelt; because otherwise, yup not alot of sense.

as far as Americans go... I don't hate them, and I don't hate the country. What I hate is the attitude where they plug thier ears and don't want to listen to a word your saying.

It's like trying to talk to a teenager about something they don't wanna hear.

This is what annoys me. Preaching that the country has Tolerance while at the same time you can almost literally draw borderlines of where each race of people live.

'Oh you can't live on the east side!'
'Why not?'
'Because the east side is where the Hispanics live.'

Though when some hispanic walks past that same person will pretent to be friendly and be like 'óla', but as soon as they walk past 'yeah, best to stay away from there'.

What makes me really annoyed is that my friend is russian, but she's adopted an american accent because whenever she speaks with a russian accent people literally stare and move away from her.

People brought up my whole waiter issue earlier, it's not just waiters.. it's the fact that just because they're serving me doesn't mean they have to have a smile through everything. Nice service is one thing; but having someone faking enthusiasm. ack! there is nothing worse that people who are fake.

I hate those damn two faced common Londoners, and I hate anyone else who doesn't say what they mean. I would rather someone told me they don't like me rather than trying to hole a smile for an hour talking to me before bad-mouthing me behind my back.

No but people would rather "keep the peace and be nice.", bollocks to that.. you want to keep the peace just don't talk to someone; don't put your own head so far your own arse just to fake plesentries.

It's a like a shop assistant; who cares if your working on commission I don't want to walk out of a store thinking you've been nice just to sell expensive clothes for some damn commission. I want to walk out of a store feeling I've been genuinly helped. If your not going to do that [censored] off and let me deal with my own business rather than hasseling me every 2seconds!

This is my biggest issue with Americans.. everything is some sort of weird faked happiness in order to keep peace and harmony.
You wonder why people end up cracking on a daily basis and shooting up places. Yeah that's always seemed like the best policy, create a nation full of people with repression then give them access to firearms. I'm sure that was the smartest thing to do.

Ian T
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Posted: 14th Jun 2005 08:14
Quote: "Preaching that the country has Tolerance while at the same time you can almost literally draw borderlines of where each race of people live.

'Oh you can't live on the east side!'
'Why not?'
'Because the east side is where the Hispanics live.'

Though when some hispanic walks past that same person will pretent to be friendly and be like 'óla', but as soon as they walk past 'yeah, best to stay away from there'."


1. This

2. Is

3. Bullcrap

That was easy

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Raven
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Posted: 14th Jun 2005 08:22
Quote: "1. This

2. Is

3. Bullcrap

That was easy "


Really.. so how long have you lived in your town for then?
Seen much of the other states? How many minorities do you happen to have living near you?

Ever had the lucky oppertunity to experience your wonderful country from the outside? People aren't friendly to everyone.
I often found until people heard me speak, and realised where I came from they didn't want to have much if anything to do with me.

After they realise your 'British' instantly your a 'pal'. Yah, definately awesome tolerance right there.

Jimmy
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Posted: 14th Jun 2005 08:28 Edited at: 14th Jun 2005 08:32
Quote: "'Oh you can't live on the east side!'
'Why not?'
'Because the east side is where the Hispanics live.'
"


What country are you talking about? The Mexicans are EVERYWHERE.

You wanna know why you can draw lines? Ok, let's talk a little US history here. Back, oh, 200 years ago, there was something called a slave trade, they imported and dealt MOSTLY in the south. Back then there was no western united states, so when they slaves sought freedom, they went NORTH. Ah, ok, that explains the African Americans, now the east, as you say, is where the hispanics live. You're an idiot. No sir, in the east, specifically the northeast, live the remnants of mass immigration. We've got irish, scottish, british, italian, polish, german, jewish, french, dutch... most of them were white. That's just the way it was. You're an idiot. Now these 'Hispanics,' they immigrate up from central and south america through mexico, populating the west. The west. You're an idiot.

Anyhow, I like the 'Hispanics' they're good people looking for a better life. Be nice if they'd come here the right way, but what can ya do?

Quote: "I often found until people heard me speak, and realised where I came from they didn't want to have much if anything to do with me.

After they realise your 'British' instantly your a 'pal'. Yah, definately awesome tolerance right there."


Have you looked at yourself in the mirror lately? Oh and don't forget, compulsive liars have a distinct odor.

Jeku
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Posted: 14th Jun 2005 08:44 Edited at: 14th Jun 2005 08:45
@Raven - Did you get hired as an artist straight out of high school or something? Did you skip the rite of passage cheap McDonalds job to get this innocent view of reality?

Quote: " Nice service is one thing; but having someone faking enthusiasm. ack! there is nothing worse that people who are fake."


Obviously you've never worked in the hospitality industry. If you have, and were making crappy tips, then you know that 99% of the time you don't want to be there, and you are faking your smiles.

Quote: "It's a like a shop assistant; who cares if your working on commission I don't want to walk out of a store thinking you've been nice just to sell expensive clothes for some damn commission. I want to walk out of a store feeling I've been genuinly helped. If your not going to do that [censored] off and let me deal with my own business rather than hasseling me every 2seconds!"


And once again, obviously you've never worked retail for commission. If you're making a lousy $8/hr. minimum wage, then you'll do your damndest to try and sell an expensive stereo to some schmuck. You don't really care if they don't know that a Magnasonic is junk--- just that you made your cut. And again, obviously not everyone is like that, but they are if they have to raise a family on your cash.


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Posted: 14th Jun 2005 08:49
I'm Confused.

First people say that America are isolationalism and it took so long for them to jump in either World War, now people are complaining because America is jumping into everything?

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Oraculaca
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Posted: 14th Jun 2005 08:52
Quote: "We've got irish, scottish, british, italian, polish, german, jewish, french, dutch"


Jimmy I love you for classing us outwith Britain .hopefully sometime

Jeku
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Posted: 14th Jun 2005 08:56
Cellbloc - You have a point. Some people will trash the Americans no matter what side of the issues they stand on. Quite pathetic, actually.


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Dazzag
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Posted: 14th Jun 2005 09:01
Quote: "Jimmy I love you for classing us outwith Britain .hopefully sometime"
Didn't see no boyos there.... bet all he had was pie with no crumble too.... green haired git.....

Cheers

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Benjamin
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Posted: 14th Jun 2005 09:07
I thought someone said something about them not jumping in soon enough, because someone else was saying how much the Americans helped everyone else, because yet someone else was saying something else. My brain is on fire.


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Andy
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Posted: 14th Jun 2005 10:25
>I really hate people who use stupid vocabulary when it clearly sn't
>the best word to use in that situation.

It could also be describe as 'perception sieve', but both are psychological terms, and I think the first term is more descriptive. What would you call it?

>First people say that America are isolationalism and it took so
>long for them to jump in either World War, now people are
>complaining because America is jumping into everything?

So you don't see any difference between WW2 and Iraq? Do you believe that the road to war should always be the same, regardless of the situation you are responding to? That's a very black and white approach to life!

Andy
Raven
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Posted: 14th Jun 2005 10:56
Quote: "I'm Confused.

First people say that America are isolationalism and it took so long for them to jump in either World War, now people are complaining because America is jumping into everything?"


Actually if you think about it for a second you might realise that the problem has nothing to do with the individual situations.

What do both situations.. World War 2 Involvement, and the Iraqi Conflict (i'm not calling it a damn war!) have in common?

It is a very very simple common theme, that is played throughout ever engagement that the United States has ever fought in.

See the problem is quite simply this. During a few conversations last nite I was talking (well bitching) to a few of my american friends about this thread. Now a single reoccuring response began to appear.

Now effectively the situation is this.
Wars cost money, and as such Bush has had to spend a lot of money on this war against Iraq. Now a key issue is that Iraq has Weapons of Mass Destruction. Now oddly enough the UK news is either a)not up to date, or b)not telling us the whole story, because Iraq does have WMD. So our news is wrong telling us otherwise.

Now as a result of Britian also being involved as the United States' ally, we have also seen a huge budget spent on this 'war'. So naturally a problem I have, is the fact that these resources SHOULD be better spent on internal problems.
Pensions, Police, Hospitals, etc..

I can think of far better uses for £20billion than fighting a relatively pointless conflict in the middle-east. One that we have learnt had pre-fabricated evidence in order to gain the peoples emotes to go to 'war'.

Yet, because this is a war we are helping with. The Americans firmly feel that internal problems are of no consiquence, and putting as much money behind the war effort as possible is more important to help out the United States.

See this is the first part of the logic that gets to me. That Americans feel that they are more important to the British government than the well-being of the country itself.

This not with-standing, another point comes to light. We're doing all this because we're allies. So if this is the case then where were the American's ready to fight the good fight when Britian has asked for thier help?

While the UK might not be as gun-ho as the United States when it comes to feeling slighted, over the past few decades we have had incidents where the US help would've been nice, and was asked for.

Each time we have been given the response 'This is not our business', and it seems that the people would agree.

So what exactly made Desert Storm, the UKs business aside from the fact that our forces make up over 30% of the UN Peacekeeper force?
Why should we care that the Americans were attacked by terrorists, when they refused to lift a finger to help with the IRA problem?
Why should we care when the Americans want to fight against some dictactor simply because they're in a bad mood and on the war-path?

Sorry but friendship should go both ways... not just Americas.
Yes, the terrorist attacks were a trajedy and our people were also caught in that. From my perspective that makes it a joint problem.
From the American perspective, it was an attack on thier soil and as such it's thier problem, so the UN can't tell them what to do.

The UN can't tell anyone what to do, this is why Saddam was able to mess around the weapons inspectors for almost a decade. Yet this little defiance doesn't have the same resounding impact on the effectiveness of the UN as American telling them to get stuffed.

If people want to go back to the actions of World War 2 and how America got involved then fine. Let's cover the fact that America refused to directly help, and rather than lending us aid they CHARGED us for weaponry.. the country was trying to fight a war that ment the survival of the people; and rather than helping like an ally, or better still a so-called friend nation should. Britian was charged for every gun, tank, ammo, etc...

Until they were attacked during Perl Harbour they refused to lift a finger to help. Despite the fact that although Britian didn't need to fight, they did so anyway because it was the right thing to do.

Hear stuff like 'oh without the United States France would be German right now'.. The french government may have surrended and let an occupation happen, but this was to have as few casualties as possible. France had neither the natural protection, nor did they have the armed forces to fight an all out war. That said, the Resistance WERE the key to the Western-side victories. Without thier information and lives given things would've been much worse.
They acted as an early warning system for Britian, they marked the movements of the Germans throughout thier region.

France may have surrended but it doesn't mean they ever gave up hope, and it doesn't mean they didn't fight any less than any other nation.

..

That is my whole problem here. It's just a self-centered culture that cares nothing for those outside thier own boarders, but are willing to get cosey to get thier way. Maybe it is just my stubborn English pride; but tht just ticks me off.

And you can keep trying to claim i'm some pathological liar, or i'm spouting non-sensical ravings, or whatever. Choose to deal with what I'm saying however you want.. just stands as a fact that you can't handle some real home truths.

BearCDPOLD
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Posted: 14th Jun 2005 11:55
I wouldn't know enough about past events in the UK where US help would have been helpful, but your point is valid. The only schtick I have is that you seem to be making a generalization that all Americans think the way that our leadership does--just because we have a democracy (or republic, whatever) doesn't mean people are always equally spoken for.

I think it was silly to expect 100% support from the UK (and even half that from other UN members) in Iraq. Like you said, your internal problems should be one of your priorities.

The bad bit about all of your posts again is that you are applying a generalization. Usually the people who would agree with what you are saying just don't even bother with politics because they don't like most of it for reasons you've stated.

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RiiDii
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Posted: 14th Jun 2005 12:44 Edited at: 14th Jun 2005 12:48
Countries will do what the leaders of the country thinks is in their best interest ('their best interest' being the leaders' best interest). If a country goes to war, it's more than likely because the leader(s) of said country managed to convince the population, or has some sort of authoritarian control. If the leader(s) fails to convince the population of said country, then the leader's best interest is to do what the population wants, or they might be removed from their position of power by those people (or worse). Acom's Razor then probably applies here quite nicely. If the a country was slow to enter a war, then it was because the leaders at that time didn't percieve that war would be in their interest, despite what the population thought. If the leaders perceived entering, or supporting, a war was in their best interest, then the job they would undertake is to convince the popluation that war was necessary.

Again, applying Acom's Razor probably applies to the best 'reason' to be interested in a war; and that is money or power, which are often interchangeable. Raven made a point about waiters that smile to get the extra tip. Like it or not, this is the way the world works. In that case, are politicians much different than waiters? Both probably want money, and both are willing to smile to get it. I agree with Raven; I don't like it either. But this is what happens. And yes, I am sure that there is some point where I would cross that line and present a fake smile to get what I want. As children, we are inadvertantly taught to cry to get our way (not everyone, but far too many of us). Is smiling to get our way any different in concept?

I have heard many reasons why some countries supported Iraq and why other countries did not. I can probably say with safety, that despite the amount of truth or decpetion in these stories is mostly irrelevant. Each country did what the leader(s) thought was in her, his, or their, best interest.

As far as generalizing about how tolorent (or lack there of) any population of any country is only demonstrates a bit of predjudice. Predjudice is human - it's almost required. One might like their rhubarb pie a certain way, or a particular flavor of ice cream. As such, a certain amount of caution when dealing with someone you don't know is also natural. Social animals (monkies are a good example) survive because they do not tolorate outsiders. Not just others of the same species, but also other animals. There are plenty of ants that will eat other ants, so toloration is not an option. This survival technique has proven useful for thousands and thousands of years. We humans, are only beginning to try and overcome it. And we should! But some patience is required after thousands of years of genetic coding.

I can tell you that I am a typical "white" caucasian living in what can only be described as a diverse community divided fairly evenly between Hispanics, Chinese, and Korean. I do not understand these cultures. I don't know what is acceptable or intolorable. I can tell you that I am just as likely to inadvertantly insult someone as to treat them with the utmost respect. That's my bad for not studying these things, but my passion lies in programming. Am I a bit stand-offish? Yes. Am I a bad person because I'm a little afraid of how my actions will be perceived? Do I have any right be concerned about my life and limb around people I don't know? If I take a step back, it is not because I don't, can't, or won't like that person. I just need a little space to get comfortable. And if you take step back, why should I take offense? If we do take offense - it's probably a cultural/social reaction anyway - that we will both get over once we get to know each other.

"Droids don't rip your arms off when they lose." -H. Solo
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Raven
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Posted: 14th Jun 2005 16:50
well my point on the tolerance isn't the fact that people are more divided than they are in the UK; because there is still quite a bit of divide.. but rather than between cultures it's more between classes.

i won't defend how each of the classes, or cultures recently have been treated in this country; as it has been pretty bad with all the paranoia. plus we've never had that whole 'racial uprising', so everything has just kinda fallen into place more here rather than being fought for (apart from the Sexs divide).

the real problem i have is how people seem to feel they need to defend thier shortfalls or what-not.

i mean you go to a resurant here, and either your waitress will be sincerly peppy (which heh, often are the cute ones or maybe that's just coincidence) or they will be very to the point. tips and such have never been a big issue here; i mean from my perspective anyways, while I generally leave a tip, usually you don't. it's like with the goods you buy, retail folk here have what they earn per hour.. without commission. Those services that do run on commissions tend to for larger purchases you make.

So generally speaking as far as the guy behind the counter is conserned; he'll make his £5-10 per hour no matter what he does, without any expectation of a bonux .. so it's a 'why bother'. So your generally left in peace, unless you ask for help.

The end result seems to actually be rather than these people getting stressed because they're not able to pawn off a tonne of stuff on you; they just sit back and relax waiting for the ocassional thing they can actually help with.

Good example is in Game or our local supermarket.. most of the employees are just pissing about whenever I go in. I mean I don't remember the last time I went into Game and DIDN'T see them playing some unreleased title behind thier little desk lol

I don't know what it's like for those who've had service like it is in america; but for something just as simple as purchasing a car really threw me. It was weird for me because... as far as I'm conserned the price on the sticker is basically the price you pay, unless it's a second hand dealership; then you 'might' be able to haggle it down.. if it's a second hand owner direct then often you can take a look offer a lil less but then you kinda feel bad unless they're ripping you off.

but my point is when I walk into say BMW, see a new M3 with a $17,500 sticker.. I'd assume that's exactly what I'd be paying. (plus standard APR if I get a finance package)

It's a little bit of a shock when your being talked at about the car as if all your getting is some metal frame and the price on the car is the 'base model' value.. I mean WTF is that about; you have the price sticker on an M3 2.0 TDi; but then for some reason the price is ment for a 1.6 Gas, and for the upgrade to 2.0 would be $Nth much and then to have it in Deisel again it $Nth much.

So to go from being able to literally see what i'll be paying, point out the car I want and have them write up the contract then getting it delivered to my home.. to something I'd espect from a 2nd hand dealership. It's a throw; especially when my friend who tagged along cause she wanted a laugh actually got me $3,000 off

lol try doing that with the UK dealer and see how far you get

Still it's stuff like that which puts me through a spin. The little differences that Americans feel are perfectly normal, yet to me make things feel too money driven, too faked, etc..

When I have some waitress being nice to me I want it to be because she's happy in her job.. not because she's trying to get me to give her a nice big tip. I don't mean for them to mope about and bitch about thier days (cause yeah a bunch of Marvins' is gonna make me want to stay that lil longer ) but more just to be normal.

I mean like diner lasses in the smaller towns, they generally tend to feel more like service folk from home.

David T
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Posted: 14th Jun 2005 17:02


Yep - And S4C, directed at those 20%, costs something in the regions of tens of millions to urn every year!

What a subsidised language...

Quote: "Not sure what Wyddigrug means, but are you sure there is an I in it? As it happens I don't remember much more than saesneg and mochgyn. Thats a joke assuming I spelt things correctly."


Nope, just a thing that's written on signs. It might be a place name. comes to think of it

Although I remember seeing "croeso" on some roads as in "croeso a cymru".

"A book. If u know something why cant u make a kool game or prog.
come on now. A book. I hate books. book is stupid. I know that I need codes but I dont know the codes"
Raven
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Posted: 14th Jun 2005 17:08
Croeso means 'Welcome'
buggered if i know what Wyddigrug means

Croeso a Cymru 'Welcome to Wales'

are you on a boarder town?
most roads have something like 'bus' or 'bump' on them, i know it's a common english word but means 'Slow' heh

i don't spend much time there so not sure, and never learnt the language ... it needs some more vowels first

Dazzag
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Posted: 14th Jun 2005 17:21
English vowels you talking about there boyo? I quite like "y" as a vowel actually...

Slow in welsh is "Araf" if I remember rightly. Confusing when you need to slow down and you are trying to translate at the same time...

We have some graffiti just off Anglesey that has been there since as long as I remember. Basically it says "sod off back to england english scum". Nobody has got rid of it. Stupidely english people don't know what it means so it has pretty much no effect.

As to learning the language, why bother? You only sound like a retard anyway. Basically there is a *lot* less words, and most things sound like "House live in, I do. Yes." because of it. It's the language Yoda would have loved If he had a bucket of spit...

Heh, in Uni there was this little english bloke called Bryn. He had always been told about his welsh heritage and that "Bryn" means mountain in welsh. Does it f**k I said, in my usual sensitive way, it means hill. Should have seen his face. Classic. He got kinda depressed after that (mental scarring methinks) and left Uni 6 months later. Gotta laugh

Cheers

I am 99% probably lying in bed right now... so don't blame me for crappy typing
David T
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Posted: 14th Jun 2005 17:32
Quote: "Slow in welsh is "Araf" if I remember rightly"


Yep - seen that one too. On all roads "SLOW... ARAF".

Quote: "are you on a boarder town?"


Yeah - the welsh border passes through one bit of town, then suddenly retreats back so if you get on the dual carriageway it takes a few mins to get there. Kinda weird.

Quote: "Does it f**k I said, in my usual sensitive way, it means hill. Should have seen his face. Classic."


Haaahaaa

"A book. If u know something why cant u make a kool game or prog.
come on now. A book. I hate books. book is stupid. I know that I need codes but I dont know the codes"
BearCDPOLD
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Posted: 14th Jun 2005 19:28
Whoa! Are you telling me that cars typically go for the price tag in the UK? That'd be the life man. I remember when I was little having to sit for hours while my parents worked out a deal on whatever car we were getting.

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DBAlex
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Posted: 15th Jun 2005 00:37
Quote: "We have some graffiti just off Anglesey that has been there since as long as I remember. Basically it says "sod off back to england english scum". Nobody has got rid of it. Stupidely english people don't know what it means so it has pretty much no effect. "


You'll think Im lying... But my mum saw that when she went to wales... And shes hated the welsh ever since...



You need that graffiti removed...

And Dont ask me how she knew what it meant...


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