BS: Has Americanism Spread THIS far?

Subject: RE: BS: Has Americanism Spread THIS far?
From: Mrrzy
Date: 18 Jun 11 - 05:01 PM

I also do agree with the above that the world-wide media vision of humanity is very Americanized, that America (and many but certainly not all Americans) want it to be that way and expend a lot of energy to ensure that it BE that way, and that this is what is, albeit insidiously, imperialistic.

It's like a calm assumption that of COURSE everybody should be like us.

But it is true that we aren't the only sports fanatics, and that the footballl riots so often described in the media are talking about soccer.

Subject: RE: BS: Has Americanism Spread THIS far?
From: Little Hawk
Date: 18 Jun 11 - 05:00 PM

Good point, Joe. ;-)

Subject: RE: BS: Has Americanism Spread THIS far?
From: Joe Offer
Date: 18 Jun 11 - 04:58 PM

unfortunate mixture of large quantities of beer and adrenalin

....and testosterone.

-Joe-

Subject: RE: BS: Has Americanism Spread THIS far?
From: Little Hawk
Date: 18 Jun 11 - 04:57 PM

Darn right there is something wrong with sports. It's too competitive. There's too much money at stake. It divides the public against one another. It's the modern day version of the Roman games and the gladiatorial combats. The very worst form of it now, in my opinion, is the Ultimate Fighting "sport" which is nothing more than a street fight held inside a ring...for big bucks. That's disgusting and corrupt, and it should not be legal to put on such a spectacle.

Subject: RE: BS: Has Americanism Spread THIS far?
From: Mrrzy
Date: 18 Jun 11 - 04:53 PM

Half of anything is below the MEDIAN - not necesssarily the mean, which is the mathematical average.

I am happy, I guess, that this is sports loutishness rather than American loutishness. But there is, as I've said, therefore, something wrong with sports.

Or is this sort of thing becoming normal?

Subject: RE: BS: Has Americanism Spread THIS far?
From: Little Hawk
Date: 18 Jun 11 - 04:52 PM

Don has summed it up perfectly!

This has nothing to do with "the spread of Americanism", it has to do with loutish young sports fans of the stupidest kind, too much beer, and too much adrenalin. It has happened before in Canada after Stanley Cup hockey games. There was the famous "Montreal Riot", for example, and I think there was one in Toronto once too. It happens just about anywhere now and then, wherever the young, the restless, the immature, and the not too bright gather to observe our culture's version of the Roman Games... ;-)

Here is a historical account of the famous 1955 hockey riot in Montreal, Canada.

The Richard Riot (in Montreal)

Subject: RE: BS: Has Americanism Spread THIS far?
From: gnu
Date: 18 Jun 11 - 04:49 PM

John... half of them are below average intelligence.

Subject: RE: BS: Has Americanism Spread THIS far?
From: GUEST,Jon
Date: 18 Jun 11 - 04:46 PM

It more that likely relates much more closely to an unfortunate mixture of large quantities of beer and adrenalin.

I'm not saying they are not involved Don but in the UK, loutish behaviour is far more associated with (soccer) football than it is with other sports and I'd imagine for example rugby supporters may well enjoy a drink and get excited about the game without this sort of thing.

Whatever, I can't see any way "Americanism" can be blamed for this.

Subject: RE: BS: Has Americanism Spread THIS far?
From: Don Firth
Date: 18 Jun 11 - 04:27 PM

Mrrzy, I must say, I'm a bit surprised.

I don't know where you get the idea that this is somehow related to "American imperialism." If you haven't been living in a cave for the last several decades, you MUST be aware that there is a percentage of "sports' fans who turn into bloody-minded hooligans and indulge themselves with rioting and vandalism after a whole list of large sports events.

Most notable are international competitions of one sort or another. World soccer championships seem to be especially prone to this sort of thing. Take a good look at staid, civilized Olde England during soccer season!

This kind of collective mindless loutishness has absolutely nothing to do with "American imperialism." Nor is it characteristic of ANY particular nationality or ethnic group.

It more that likely relates much more closely to an unfortunate mixture of large quantities of beer and adrenalin.

I believe you need to check your values and prejudices and have yourself a long think.

Don Firth

Subject: RE: BS: Has Americanism Spread THIS far?
From: gnu
Date: 18 Jun 11 - 04:11 PM

"Am I just wrong that people in Canada tend to have better behavior than that, sports or nothing? "

Yup. Maybe years ago but not anymore. I find people around here, in THE MARITIMES!!!!, are severely lacking in "Canuckiveness". Seriously, it's unreal, unfortunate, unWANTED and I see it on a daily basis. Perhaps you "call" it being "Americanized" and perhaps your terminology is in some way "correct" because it points to a problem which seems to be caused by mass media combined with affluence which is most commonly associated with the US but it sure took me the wrong way when I read your first post.

In other words, I can understand what you said and why you are saying (said) it but your choice of words PERHAPS wasn't quite appropriate... no?

Subject: RE: BS: Has Americanism Spread THIS far?
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 18 Jun 11 - 04:11 PM

Why do so many people find real life so challenging?

Subject: RE: BS: Has Americanism Spread THIS far?
From: Mrrzy
Date: 18 Jun 11 - 04:07 PM

I thought it was the French who set cars on fire! Maybe it was the Quebeqcois, if that's how you spell that not counting accents which I can't remember how to do here...

Subject: RE: BS: Has Americanism Spread THIS far?
From: gnu
Date: 18 Jun 11 - 03:58 PM

Then again, it could be Rogers Cable TV and Internet. Rogers is from BC innit?

I just had a bout with them a few hours ago. At least three houses next and I had the cable screwed up two days ago when they were working on the poles next to my house. The young girl MADE me (yeah, right) check all my connections before she would make an appointment for a service call between 11 and 2 tomorrow (they call twice and if you don't answer they cancel). That is when I told her I was recording this call for quality control purposes on my digital voice recorder. An hour ago, a truck showed up and the TV works again.

I'd say it's Rogers that caused the riots. Too bad the vehicles set on fire weren't Rogers service vehicles. That would be "AMERICAN"!

Subject: RE: BS: Has Americanism Spread THIS far?
From: Bill D
Date: 18 Jun 11 - 03:51 PM

In any large city in any country there are ALWAYS some who skew the 'generalized' idea of behavior. You wouldn't judge all Americans by the inner city of Detroit, would you?

Subject: RE: BS: Has Americanism Spread THIS far?
From: Bonnie Shaljean
Date: 18 Jun 11 - 03:48 PM

Maybe you should not have used the word "American" when referring to crap human behaviour which happens worldwide.

Subject: RE: BS: Has Americanism Spread THIS far?
From: Mrrzy
Date: 18 Jun 11 - 03:46 PM

It just didn't seem like vancouver, somehow. If it's just sports as usual, then there is something wrong with sports.

Maybe I should have used the word exlanation rather than blame, but this was a bad thing, so calling the explanation blame is hardly a misuse of the term, and if that seems harsh, well, I condemn that kind of crap harshly. As pdq has condemned what they consider so worthy.

Am I just wrong that people in Canada tend to have better behavior than that, sports or nothing?

Subject: RE: BS: Has Americanism Spread THIS far?
From: Bonnie Shaljean
Date: 18 Jun 11 - 03:44 PM

> I blame the Americans for imperialistically spreading their personal-freedom-is-more-important-than-social-responsibility attitude.

I thought you were being tongue-in-cheeck. You mean you weren't?

You can't "spread" an attitude unless people are willing to adopt it themselves. Nobody's forcing them.


> I mean, come on, it's a GAME for crying out loud.

Does the name "Heysel Stadium" mean anything to you?

Subject: RE: BS: Has Americanism Spread THIS far?
From: Bill D
Date: 18 Jun 11 - 03:35 PM

The stories *I* have seen say it was your basic hooligan, who is present in many countries. Vancouver saw the same sort of thing at the Winter Olympics.

I do think it is stretching a LOT to assign the origins of this to the USA.

Subject: RE: BS: Has Americanism Spread THIS far?
From: maeve
Date: 18 Jun 11 - 03:33 PM

The on-the-scene commentary I saw and heard stated clearly that it was a Canadian-led mob behavior and that it was deplored by most people there. This behavior can be found in any culture and can be triggered by many motivations.

I find accusation and blaming to be unproductive; particularly in such a situation.

Regards,

Maeve

Subject: RE: BS: Has Americanism Spread THIS far?
From: gnu
Date: 18 Jun 11 - 03:32 PM

"I blame the Americans for imperialistically spreading their personal-freedom-is-more-important-than-social-responsibility attitude."

Huh? Wha? I think you owe an explanation.... not just to Yanks. I believe you have offended Yanks AND Canucks. Sorry, but that is my take.

Subject: RE: BS: Has Americanism Spread THIS far?
From: Ebbie
Date: 18 Jun 11 - 03:30 PM

For what it's worth, Mrrzy, I have never thought of you as racist or or a hate-monger or anti-American. Most 'Catters know of your family history- can't speak for pdq's knowledge, of course. He tends to be selective.

Subject: RE: BS: Has Americanism Spread THIS far?
From: Mrrzy
Date: 18 Jun 11 - 03:22 PM

I *am* American, and usually far from racist. But that's for a different thread.

I have never heard of Canadians rioting about anything, sports or other. That's why I was so surprised, and started a thread, although apparently on the wrong foot with one reader at least. I thought y'all knew I was American and thus, can (sometimes) get away with dissing the worst of us. But really, I don't think it was the English yobbos this time, or was it? pdq, do you have an answer to the thread even if you don't like it, if you're going to post?

Subject: RE: BS: Has Americanism Spread THIS far?
From: pdq
Date: 18 Jun 11 - 03:17 PM

Everything you ever post is Anti-American garbage and racist. You are a hatemonger. Go away.

Subject: RE: BS: Has Americanism Spread THIS far?
From: Ebbie
Date: 18 Jun 11 - 03:17 PM

Myrrz, I know nothing of Vancouver's experience this year but by and large it is not Americans who riot after (inter)national games.

Subject: RE: BS: Has Americanism Spread THIS far?
From: Mrrzy
Date: 18 Jun 11 - 03:10 PM

Whom would you hold responsible, pdq?

Subject: RE: BS: Has Americanism Spread THIS far?
From: pdq
Date: 18 Jun 11 - 03:02 PM

The initial post is moronic, hateful, Anti-American crap from one of Mudcat's more pathetic bigots.

Subject: BS: Has Americanism Spread THIS far?
From: Mrrzy
Date: 18 Jun 11 - 02:51 PM

How can there not be a thread asking who in the world was visiting Vancouver that there were riots after the Stanley Cup final? I mean, Canadians are already laid back enough, but *Vancouver* (I mean, British Columbia is staid enough) puts the fast in fastidious) rioting? I just can't see it myself.

I blame the Americans for imperialistically spreading their personal-freedom-is-more-important-than-social-responsibility attitude.

I mean, come on, it's a GAME for crying out loud. It's not like they even killed our gladiators or anything worth investing that kind of emotion in, is it?