BS: What is America really like??

Subject: RE: BS: What is America really like??
From: GUEST,Chris B (Born Again Scouser)
Date: 16 Apr 05 - 04:11 PM

Is that you, Michael Sands?

Subject: RE: BS: What is America really like??
From: CarolC
Date: 16 Apr 05 - 12:16 AM

This is what America is really like. And now you know everything you need to know about America.

;-)

Subject: RE: BS: What is America really like??
From: dianavan
Date: 15 Apr 05 - 11:25 PM

In America they have toilet seat covers made of tissue. Youre supposed to put them over the toilet seat before you sit down to protect you. Trouble is they often drop into the water or get stuck in your pants when you're trying to stand up. Waste of paper if you ask me.

I think it was a solution to everyone trying to stand up when they peed because their moms told them that they could get a disease from the toilet seat so they made these fancy but worthless, covers made of paper. Now everybody thinks they can't pee without a protector.

I did find it odd that Canada didn't seem to supply these necessities when I first arrived here. I got used to it though. Not nearly as complicated. In America, they know how to make a buck off of every neurosis known to man.

I like the people though. Friendly, friendly and more friendly. Fun and easy going. I can drink beer with the guy who is slightly right of Atilla the Hun and have a great time. I can work in the garden with my red-necked uncle who threatens to give my boyfriend a haircut. I never felt threatened by those I disagreed with. Part of being American was having an opinion and respecting others. Is it still that way? I don't think so. I think it has become much more polarized in the last 30 years.

Subject: RE: BS: What is America really like??
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 15 Apr 05 - 01:53 PM

Of course if you believed what tv writers say about Ireland, your country is populated by good natured drunks. If the writer is English they are good natured, stupid, lazy drunks.   

Well, not exclusively, but it's not such a bad approximation to the truth in both cases...

Subject: RE: BS: What is America really like??
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 15 Apr 05 - 11:46 AM

and another thing....

i've never seen anybody with a shetland pony in Piccadilly Circus, mind you if he did go there he'd probably do a roaring trade

You see, southerners are very sophisticated in england, they would take a shetland pony in their stride. comes from living too near the equator and voting conservative.

us northerners on the other hand, are models of gentility and the whole world has remarked on our exquisite good manners, generous natures, modest charm and friendly disposition.

Subject: RE: BS: What is America really like??
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 15 Apr 05 - 10:43 AM

sometime we'll have to organise a day trip, bring back a few sticks of rock - do they do rock with USA all the way down the middle?

over the Golden Gate Bridge, round Times Square, a bag of chips crossing the Grand Canyon....back on the jet for a sing song.

Could be a good day out, any volunteers to organise it?

Subject: RE: BS: What is America really like??
From: Peace
Date: 15 Apr 05 - 10:30 AM

Art,

The people have not changed that much have they?

Subject: RE: BS: What is America really like??
From: M.Ted
Date: 15 Apr 05 - 10:29 AM

The book to read is Bill Bryson's "The Lost Continent:Travels in Small Town America"--he returned to the US after years in the UK and made a pilgrimage to everywhere they went on vacation when he was a kid--he captures the surrealism--(he went to NYC too, but they couldn't fit it in the title)--

Subject: RE: BS: What is America really like??
From: artbrooks
Date: 15 Apr 05 - 09:30 AM

John Steinbeck died in 1968 and wrote his last book in, I think, 1961. Things have changed.

Subject: RE: BS: What is America really like??
From: Peace
Date: 15 Apr 05 - 01:40 AM

What is America really like??

Read Steinbeck.

Subject: RE: BS: What is America really like??
From: GUEST,Bill the Collie
Date: 15 Apr 05 - 01:26 AM

Mrs BtC and i were at one of those huge Sunday Brunches at KBH, Maui and were loitering near the melon slices havin a laff about something or other.
This lady from San Diego came along and enquired whether melons were available in Europe. I think she said something like
Ya get melons in Yurop?















We said yes.

Subject: RE: BS: What is America really like??
From: CarolC
Date: 14 Apr 05 - 05:50 PM

I think that GUEST, Rapaire, was making an attempt at irony. Unfortunate, really, because the attempt doesn't appear to have been successful. Or based on any sort of objective reality.

Subject: RE: BS: What is America really like??
From: Rapparee
Date: 14 Apr 05 - 05:38 PM

GUEST, if it's so offensive to live in the US, why not leave? My ancestors left Germany for that reason (among others) and the ancestors of others did the same. A lot of people living in the US today left their home country because they found living there intolerable. Steve Chang, for instance, lives right here in town; he and his wife swam out of Cambodia under fire from Pol Pot's Khemer Rouge.

This is not a "love it or leave it" response -- I'd really like to know.

Subject: RE: BS: What is America really like??
From: GUEST
Date: 14 Apr 05 - 05:08 PM

Some of us hate America and its values. We label people of (Christian) faith bigots, idiots, racists and selfish pigs. We hate our president and the significant majority that elected him. We thikn they were just duped by by the religious right. We can't wait to give credit to the enemies of our country - and we know we should have surrendered to Osma years ago. It would have saved the world sooo much trouble!

Subject: RE: BS: What is America really like??
From: M.Ted
Date: 14 Apr 05 - 04:35 PM

Ebbie says:

>The New York City denizen and the family in the Florida panhandle and the shrimper in the >Lousiana bayou and the Kansas farmer and the Montana rancher and the New Mexico artisan and the >California redwood treehugger and the Oregon bull rider and the Alaska dog musher have scarcely >even a language in common.

And it seems compelling, cept for one thing--the Florida family, the New Mexican Artisan, and the California Tree hugger started out as New York City denizens.

The Louisiana Shrimper could be Italian, with extended family in Philly and San Francisco, or maybe a Vietnamese shrimper who worked for fifteen years in Philly to get enough for a rig.   

The Montana Rancher and the Oregon Bull rider are both truckers who work out of Bakersfield, and the Alaska dog musher spends about half the year in San Francisco.

The Kansas farmer is the only one who stays put, and that's just because he can drive as far as he wants in any direction and it all looks the same, anyway--

Subject: RE: BS: What is America really like??
From: GUEST,WYS
Date: 13 Apr 05 - 11:24 PM

There are more than enough idiots to go around, that one thing you can count on here in the US. There are some good folks too but we are all F*cking Earth People on this side of the pond.

~S~

Subject: RE: BS: What is America really like??
From: LadyJean
Date: 13 Apr 05 - 11:18 PM

Some years ago, I saw a "Lovejoy" special that had the antique dealer on North Carolina's outer banks. Whoever wrote it had, obviously, seen a bunch of movies about the American south. All the stereotypes were there, the sadistic sheriff with a beer gut, the seductive southern belle, the old plantation house with the deep dark secret, the alligator infested swamp.
The problem being I have visited the outer banks. It has been a tourist area since the nineteenth century. Law enforcement is, of necessity courteous to strangers, the people, mostly descendants of pirates, are good middle class souls. There is no mansion. There is no swamp full of alligators.
Of course if you believed what tv writers say about Ireland, your country is populated by good natured drunks. If the writer is English they are good natured, stupid, lazy drunks.

Subject: RE: BS: What is America really like??
From: Rapparee
Date: 13 Apr 05 - 09:51 PM

He did, didn't he? Well, I admit it! Every house is full of guns and weapons, eveyone drives big cars, and the whole country is populated by gun nuts.

Can't fool j0hn, no sir!

Subject: RE: BS: What is America really like??
From: frogprince
Date: 13 Apr 05 - 08:39 PM

Dammit, John, everyone was trying to gloss over the truth, and you had to go and give it all away..

Subject: RE: BS: What is America really like??
From: Rt Revd Sir jOhn from Hull
Date: 13 Apr 05 - 07:08 PM

Mikael Jackson is american.

Subject: RE: BS: What is America really like??
From: Rt Revd Sir jOhn from Hull
Date: 13 Apr 05 - 07:06 PM

I seen about america on TV, they all are crazy!
[they all got loads of guns in there houses, and they eat mac donalds all day, and in the scools, the kids shoot each other, they all are really crazy, [even the police carry guns], here only really bad people have guns, and police have little wooden sticks [here if people make trubble, police shout "watch it, and stop that etc, or we might hit you with stick].
i seen loads about america on tv, i seen The A Team, The Simsons, And South Park.

and american cars are really massive [about 5 or 6 litre engines], and use loads of petrol , [but they call it gas!], they not bothered about this becase all american people are really rich, and petrol is very cheap anway, probly about 50p a gallon.


i seen a film, a man ate only macdonalds [breakfast, dinner, tea, supper etc], then he got fat, and got really ill, and haf to go to hospital, [its his own fault, he should eat proper food!
they all are bloody crazy!

Subject: RE: BS: What is America really like??
From: Ebbie
Date: 13 Apr 05 - 06:27 PM

To the right of me is an Alaskan Supreme Court Justice and his family, to the left is a historic house made into law offices, down the hillside below me is a historic house that is now a residential rental; across the sreet from me is a Tlinget family; next door to them is a retired bureacrat still involved in consultation and cater corner from there a 'Vista Volunteer' house. Next house down is my song partner who with her husband has a video services shop. We are all up on a hill from where we all overlook the Pacific ocean down below.

Subject: RE: BS: What is America really like??
From: artbrooks
Date: 13 Apr 05 - 01:53 PM

Well, I've lived in most regions of the US, and I'd say our current neighborhood is pretty typical. Very middle-class, single-family homes. On one side is a group home for "developmentally disabled" adult women and on the other is a gun-owning, deer-hunting Texan...who is also a cabinet maker and luthier. Across the street is a retired couple, both Hispanic; he is second-generation with parents from Mexico and her family has been in New Mexico for over 300 years. Next door to them is a younger couple with 2 children; he is Hispanic and a US government bureaucrat while she is Anglo and a stay-at-home mom; on the other side is an older couple - he is a plumber and she is a teacher. My wife used to say, when we lived in Cleveland, that if any of the kids got into trouble in the neighborhood our Black, Scots and Italian neighbors would all be out in the street to help.

Subject: RE: BS: What is America really like??
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 13 Apr 05 - 01:18 PM

The truth is all stereotypes are true. And at the same time they are all false.

What I mean is, whatever picture of any place, or of the way its inhabitants behave, which you've assembled from TV and so forth, you can go there and match it pretty close. And equally well you could demonstrate the reverse.

And another thing, there's a tendency for poeople travelling abroad as tourists to live up to the stereotypes of their country held by the people among whom they are travelling.

Subject: RE: BS: What is America really like??
From: PoppaGator
Date: 13 Apr 05 - 01:10 PM

If you didn't click on John Hardly's link for "ubiquitous," go back about four posts and check it out. It's a thread about the many chain eateries and other businesses that make any stretch of interstate highway across the US virtually identical to any other. (I noticed my own pseudo-name and noted that I used the word "ubiquitous" in one of my posts to that thread!)

US culture is getting more and more homogenized (i.e., things are become more and more the same everywhere), but there are still distinct regional "flavors" in different areas (although perhaps not for much longer). The further you get from the interstate highway system, the more local color you'll observe.

I'd also note that regional ideosyncracies are not limited to remote rural areas; some of our cities have quite distinct local cultures. It's the suburbs that are boringly identical everywhere coast to coast.

Subject: RE: BS: What is America really like??
From: Donuel
Date: 13 Apr 05 - 12:43 PM

AM talk radio (with the exception of NPR) calls for a war of every imaginable sort against: Democrats, liberals, gays, aliens, Europe, secularism, intellectuals, trade unions, poor people, constitutionalists, UN etc.

That there are so few right wing mad bombers like Tim McVeigh is evidence that common sense still reigns supreme despite the never ending diatribe of Corporate right wing AM talk radio.

Despite all the hateful propoganda, people here are generally friendly although guarded.

Subject: RE: BS: What is America really like??
From: Once Famous
Date: 13 Apr 05 - 12:38 PM

And of course, here in America women thankfully shave their legs and pits.

Subject: RE: BS: What is America really like??
From: GUEST,MMario
Date: 13 Apr 05 - 12:34 PM

What things are ubiquitous?

1a. You drive on the right side of the road and
b)walk on the right side of the sidewalk or hallway.

1a in theory would be correct - but have you ever noticed on the freeways and toll roads it is frequently the left lane that is the busiest. and as far as the "b" portion - I think it depends on where you are.


2. Ask for a rest room, not the toilet.

this really varies from place to place in the US.

3. There are many, many places to get a free drink of water.

less and less available all the time.

4. Except for in the wilderness, there is a copy machine every few blocks.

Excuse me? I don't think I've ever lived in a place like that. Of course, some people would claim I've never lived anywhere EXCEPT the wilderness.

5. It is easier to buy an illegal substance than to hear pretty music.

I'd quibble on that - but not much.

Subject: RE: BS: What is America really like??
From: John Hardly
Date: 13 Apr 05 - 12:21 PM

"Enough about the differences. What things are ubiquitous?"

ubiquitous

Subject: RE: BS: What is America really like??
From: GUEST,jeffp
Date: 13 Apr 05 - 11:48 AM

Boab asked:

Perhaps, jeffp, you are IRISH American???:-)

Right you are. Also Scottish-American, German-American, and a host of other hyphenations. I do, however, identify most with my Irish forbears.

Subject: RE: BS: What is America really like??
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 13 Apr 05 - 11:38 AM

Enough about the differences. What things are ubiquitous?

1. You drive on the right side of the road and walk on the right side of the sidewalk or hallway.

2. Ask for a rest room, not the toilet.

3. There are many, many places to get a free drink of water.

4. Except for in the wilderness, there is a copy machine every few blocks.

5. It is easier to buy an illegal substance than to hear pretty music.

Subject: RE: BS: What is America really like??
From: jacqui.c
Date: 13 Apr 05 - 08:47 AM

I've only been living in America since last October so can only speak for the little corner of Maine that I live in.

One of Kendall's friends asked me what was the main difference I had noticed between the USA and the UK. I had to stop and think, because, when it comes right down to it, most of the differences are of a very superficial nature.

I go to a gym on a regular basis and the sound system is set fairly high, meaning that it it difficult to hear other people talking. Looking around at the other women working out, from a visual point of view I could easily be back in the UK. When I get to talking to people here the concerns and interests are very much the same as in the UK.

Subject: RE: BS: What is America really like??
From: mg
Date: 13 Apr 05 - 12:41 AM

I should say we are all squatters on Chinook Indian lands. mg

Subject: RE: BS: What is America really like??
From: mg
Date: 13 Apr 05 - 12:40 AM

I like the neighbors question..on one side of are a young Coast Guard man and his lady friend who works at the grocery store.and their dalmation. Across are some students who seem to play football in the street a lot. On the other side of the street are some vacation rentals..one just burned down. Next door is a beautiful young woman who works in the local fish packing place. Then there are a couple of young Mexican American men who work at McDonalds..the landlords are from Eastern Washington, photogenic and hard-working, fixing up these old cottages. Down the street are the Golden Arches of America, which is beloved by the elderly of the town and also the clam diggers. mg

Subject: RE: BS: What is America really like??
From: Boab
Date: 12 Apr 05 - 11:26 PM

Perhaps, jeffp, you are IRISH American???:-)

Subject: RE: BS: What is America really like??
From: frogprince
Date: 12 Apr 05 - 10:38 PM

So many good answers, I don't have the heart to contribute any half-baked "serious content" right now; but I can't resist my own answer to weelittles question on "Jerry's people". Ask if there is any part of town you really should avoid; go there; look for a really decrepit looking bar; stick your nose inside, and take a deep breath. If the smell isn't too bad, try a different bar instead...

Subject: RE: BS: What is America really like??
From: Little Hawk
Date: 12 Apr 05 - 09:09 PM

THAT is the TRUTH!!! It ought to happen worldwide that way. Get the governments and special interest groups out of the loop, and things would improve tremendously.

Subject: RE: BS: What is America really like??
From: jaze
Date: 12 Apr 05 - 09:06 PM

Weelittledrummer, Why would you want to??:>) I'm reminded of when Phil Donahue had a show with his counterpart in the USSR. The audiences talked with each other and I was amazed that despite all the propaganda of both our governments, people were the same. Just ordinary folks. With innate curiosity about each other. Now if the govt's would butt out, I think "people" really would all get along pretty well.

Subject: RE: BS: What is America really like??
From: Little Hawk
Date: 12 Apr 05 - 08:34 PM

To judge the USA by television would be to consign it to the infernal regions, beyond any hope or redemption.

Subject: RE: BS: What is America really like??
From: Rapparee
Date: 12 Apr 05 - 08:32 PM

Right now, with 350 local folks in Iraq, this community does fixate on the shooting there. We want them back, in one piece. But that doesn't mean that everyone here agrees that the US should be there, either (and this is a VERY "red" state).

With 1,200,000 people on 59,000,000+ acres, Idaho is pretty thinly populated: this city of 50,000 is classed as "rural" for some things, but two Celtic groups flourish here. 86.4% of the people in Idaho do active outdoorsy stuff, from active birding to free climbing to hunting black bear with a bow. However, PETA did a demonstration here just last week.

The US is a country of contrasts, a country with lots of flavor. You can find just about anything you want here and the people are, mostly, pretty friendly and helpful. I've been in every state EXCEPT Arkansas, Oklahoma, and Hawaii and that's pretty much been the same everywhere. (So Canadians won't feel left out, I've also been in British Columbia, Alberta, the Yukon, the NW Territories, Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia.)

Don't judge the US by television. As my niece said about the TV show "90210", "Well, maybe they live like that in LA, but certainly not here!"

That statement covers the US. (Oh, yeah: English, Greek, Korean, Japanese, Spanish, and Shoshone are not uncommon languages here.)

Subject: RE: BS: What is America really like??
From: Little Hawk
Date: 12 Apr 05 - 08:07 PM

America is really like absolutely everything you can imagine. Just depends which part you go to, and at which time. It has its ugly side and its beautiful side.

In a general sense, people tend to see about what they want to see most of the time.

It is a country with a bit of a fixation on war and firearms, but that doesn't reflect on all its citizens by any means.

Subject: RE: BS: What is America really like??
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 12 Apr 05 - 07:26 PM

Surely that should be "would be".

But it overlooks many evils of non-western civilisations, and of course Gandhi's training as a lawyer.

Subject: RE: BS: What is America really like??
From: Amos
Date: 12 Apr 05 - 05:55 PM

How about Radio Free America!


I believe this merits the same response Gandhi gave (I think it was) when he was asked, "What is your opinion of Western civilization?"

He said, "I think it is a very good idea!"

A

Subject: RE: BS: What is America really like??
From: GUEST,Peter Woodruff
Date: 12 Apr 05 - 05:52 PM

Dear divilthebit,
   I have lived in America for 57 years. I grew up with pro-American propaganda all my life. But it is getting really wierd here with the media being totally controlled by the right wing neo-con nazi fasciest propaganda machine. Thank goodness for Air America Radio! If you would like to listen to it, just go on airamericaradio.com . Sorry I can't do the blue clicky thing yet. Talk about Radio Free Europe! How about Radio Free America!

Peter

Subject: RE: BS: What is America really like??
From: heric
Date: 12 Apr 05 - 05:36 PM

My Neighborhood: To my left are two young Naval officers. She just called the cops yeterday to send him packing (he won't be back.) She has a young son who visits in summer. Across from them: A retired Naval officer and his wife. Directly across: A Naval officer and his wife. Next to them, a 48 year old trust fund baby who smokes pot all day long. On my left, two young Naval officers, one of whom has spent 18 months in Iraq.

Our unanimous position on Iraq: No talking. It's don't ask don't tell.

Subject: RE: BS: What is America really like??
From: Deckman
Date: 12 Apr 05 - 05:03 PM

I think you've asked a very good question here. And it's a thoughtful one that requires a thoughtful answer. I agree with everything that's been posted to this thread to this point.

My neighborhood is also full of a very diverse crowd of ... well ... neighbors. Let's see: Our most closest neighbors are: rentors who are a married couple, he is a mexican immigrant/citizen and she is native to this town; across the street is a single man of about 40 who works in construction (just like me); then next is a married couple ... she works and supports him while he suffers from bi-polar; next to them are struggling renters who appear to be totally dissfunctional, after them come a young family of two little girls, she's being a busy mother and he's serving in the Coast Guard ... on and on.

One of the thoughts your good question raised in my mind is this: I strongly suspect that how we "Americans" are perceived in greater Europe surely must be influenced by President george bushe's (I refuse to capitalize his name) personal war in Iraq.

It's very important to EVERY neighbor I talk with daily, that you people "over there" realize that to a person, at least in my neighborhood, we do NOT support this war and the damage it has caused.

So, what are we like? We're largely just like you. We go to church, we don't go to church. We have jobs and we sometimes struggle finding jobs. We have dreams, some are fullfilled, some are not, just like you.

If you were at my home tonight, You'd meet my "Bride Judy" and my son Chris, we'd share our dinner with you (I think tonight it's meatloaf) and you'd also meet our two cats ... probably just like where you live.

I do hope that this gives you a little glimpse into my neighborhood! CHEERS, Bob

Subject: RE: BS: What is America really like??
From: jimmyt
Date: 12 Apr 05 - 04:50 PM

welittledrummer asks where those Jerry Springer types? Well, at about 10:30 to 11 PM around Piccadilly Circus, I have encountered them more thane once, and normally they have football colours on!

Subject: RE: BS: What is America really like??
From: John Hardly
Date: 12 Apr 05 - 04:42 PM

Garrison Keillor
The Waltons
Little House On The Prairie
The Woodwright's Shop
The Foxfire Series
Eric Sloane's "A Reverence For Wood"
Mother Earth News


...and The Simpsons.

Subject: RE: BS: What is America really like??
From: Bee-dubya-ell
Date: 12 Apr 05 - 04:38 PM

The U.S. is a country where most of us think 50% of the people are pretty good folks while the other 50% are idiots. Problem is that when we actually take the time to meet and get to know someone, there's a 95% chance they'll turn out to be one of the pretty good folks. So, where'd all the idiots go?

Subject: RE: BS: What is America really like??
From: gnomad
Date: 12 Apr 05 - 04:04 PM

Come on, guys, don't spoil my illusion of choice,

It really IS just like Garrison Keillor describes it?





Guys...?