Americans and self-irony
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I like your Country. regards, Paul Watson Ireland Feed Henry! K(arl) wrote: oh, and BTW, CHRISTIAN ISN'T A PARADOX, HE IS A TASMANIAN!
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I like your Country.
You're speaking about my Country! I hate you idiot! ;P Note: this is a joke! I meant that when you speak about a Country, someone *may* take it as an insult or so, because you don't know exactly how the facts are, and things like that. That occurs to me very often :-O Most of the times, we don't have an accurate and reliable view of that Country, and we make statements or questions that could sound offensive to the other people. ___________________________________ Tozzi is right: Gaia is getting rid of us. My Blog [ITA]
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You weren't offensive but some people get touchy about this sort of topic. It could, sadly, easily get out of hand and while it isn't political or religious it is more than likely Soapbox material. regards, Paul Watson Ireland Feed Henry! K(arl) wrote: oh, and BTW, CHRISTIAN ISN'T A PARADOX, HE IS A TASMANIAN!
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You weren't offensive but some people get touchy about this sort of topic. It could, sadly, easily get out of hand and while it isn't political or religious it is more than likely Soapbox material.
That's exactly what I mean. ___________________________________ Tozzi is right: Gaia is getting rid of us. My Blog [ITA]
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Paul Watson wrote:
I like your Country.
You're speaking about my Country! I hate you idiot! ;P Note: this is a joke! I meant that when you speak about a Country, someone *may* take it as an insult or so, because you don't know exactly how the facts are, and things like that. That occurs to me very often :-O Most of the times, we don't have an accurate and reliable view of that Country, and we make statements or questions that could sound offensive to the other people. ___________________________________ Tozzi is right: Gaia is getting rid of us. My Blog [ITA]
Now I don't like your Country anymore. :P regards, Paul Watson Ireland Feed Henry! K(arl) wrote: oh, and BTW, CHRISTIAN ISN'T A PARADOX, HE IS A TASMANIAN!
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Paul Watson wrote:
I like your Country.
You're speaking about my Country! I hate you idiot! ;P Note: this is a joke! I meant that when you speak about a Country, someone *may* take it as an insult or so, because you don't know exactly how the facts are, and things like that. That occurs to me very often :-O Most of the times, we don't have an accurate and reliable view of that Country, and we make statements or questions that could sound offensive to the other people. ___________________________________ Tozzi is right: Gaia is getting rid of us. My Blog [ITA]
Do you know about India's Italian connection? :) Cheers, Vikram.
"Don't judge me You could be me in another life In another set of circumstances" - "Tomorrow we'll see", Sting.
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Do you know about India's Italian connection? :) Cheers, Vikram.
"Don't judge me You could be me in another life In another set of circumstances" - "Tomorrow we'll see", Sting.
Vikram A Punathambekar wrote:
Do you know about India's Italian connection?
:confused: (no). ___________________________________ Tozzi is right: Gaia is getting rid of us. My Blog [ITA]
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I saw a discussion in one Russian blog where people discussed an educational TV program where children were asked to think about positive and negative sides of Russians. Some critics said that Americans would never allow themselves to talk about their common negative habits. I don't think that such generalization is good in principle, but I also think that Americans are quite open to self-irony on TV and in the press. They just combine it well with patriotic feelings. So do you also think it's just a stereotype (common in some countries) that Americans lack a sense of self-irony and self-criticism, or do you think this has some grounds? Вагиф Абилов MCP (Visual C++) Oslo, Norway If you're in a war, instead of throwing a hand grenade at the enemy, throw one of those small pumpkins. Maybe it'll make everyone think how stupid war is, and while they are thinking, you can throw a real grenade at them. Jack Handey.
Vagif Abilov wrote:
common negative habits
Talking about stereotypes...: In the final run of the women snowboardcross event of the olympics games, Lindsey Jacobellis failed to get the gold medal because on the last bump she tried a backside grab just to show off, felt and Tanja Friden who was riding behind her won the gold medal. _Every_ comment I have heard here (France + Germany) about this story was : "this is so typically american" :rolleyes: More on this: Lindsey_Jacobellis[^] ~RaGE();
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In my experience Americans are too patriotic to criticise their country. I guess that stems form their immigrant nature and it being a new country. ie, there you are at Ellis Island, trying to get into the US, and you start criticising it? it ain't gonna help any. Whiile there is a macchismo about Americans that tends to dissuade self criticism, they are capable of it, but not to the extent of, say, Britain. Nunc est bibendum
fat_boy wrote:
I guess that stems form their immigrant nature and it being a new country.
fat_boy wrote:
I guess that stems form their immigrant nature and it being a new country
Oh. I thought Americans meant American Indians. So we are talking about the immigrants. :-D
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Vikram A Punathambekar wrote:
Do you know about India's Italian connection?
:confused: (no). ___________________________________ Tozzi is right: Gaia is getting rid of us. My Blog [ITA]
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Vikram A Punathambekar wrote:
Never heard of this[^] woman?
I'm not sure, anyway now it's clear. Thank you. ___________________________________ Tozzi is right: Gaia is getting rid of us. My Blog [ITA]
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I saw a discussion in one Russian blog where people discussed an educational TV program where children were asked to think about positive and negative sides of Russians. Some critics said that Americans would never allow themselves to talk about their common negative habits. I don't think that such generalization is good in principle, but I also think that Americans are quite open to self-irony on TV and in the press. They just combine it well with patriotic feelings. So do you also think it's just a stereotype (common in some countries) that Americans lack a sense of self-irony and self-criticism, or do you think this has some grounds? Вагиф Абилов MCP (Visual C++) Oslo, Norway If you're in a war, instead of throwing a hand grenade at the enemy, throw one of those small pumpkins. Maybe it'll make everyone think how stupid war is, and while they are thinking, you can throw a real grenade at them. Jack Handey.
I suspect we don't get a fair view of the USA - for example Mad TV and Saturday Night Live apparently show self irony but the corporate media types over here didn't think them worth showing here. The tigress is here :-D
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I suspect we don't get a fair view of the USA - for example Mad TV and Saturday Night Live apparently show self irony but the corporate media types over here didn't think them worth showing here. The tigress is here :-D
I agree. I also thought of SNL. So much self-irony! Вагиф Абилов MCP (Visual C++) Oslo, Norway If you're in a war, instead of throwing a hand grenade at the enemy, throw one of those small pumpkins. Maybe it'll make everyone think how stupid war is, and while they are thinking, you can throw a real grenade at them. Jack Handey.
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I saw a discussion in one Russian blog where people discussed an educational TV program where children were asked to think about positive and negative sides of Russians. Some critics said that Americans would never allow themselves to talk about their common negative habits. I don't think that such generalization is good in principle, but I also think that Americans are quite open to self-irony on TV and in the press. They just combine it well with patriotic feelings. So do you also think it's just a stereotype (common in some countries) that Americans lack a sense of self-irony and self-criticism, or do you think this has some grounds? Вагиф Абилов MCP (Visual C++) Oslo, Norway If you're in a war, instead of throwing a hand grenade at the enemy, throw one of those small pumpkins. Maybe it'll make everyone think how stupid war is, and while they are thinking, you can throw a real grenade at them. Jack Handey.
Soapbox topic. ------- sig starts "I've heard some drivers saying, 'We're going too fast here...'. If you're not here to race, go the hell home - don't come here and grumble about going too fast. Why don't you tie a kerosene rag around your ankles so the ants won't climb up and eat your candy ass..." - Dale Earnhardt "...the staggering layers of obscenity in your statement make it a work of art on so many levels." - Jason Jystad, 10/26/2001
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I don't know about self introspection, although I would believe they are as good if not more (due to easier access to intellectual material). For general critic about their country in general I believe they do critic themselves a lot, for example at least 49.8% of American dislike Bush, think Farhenheint somethin.. (you know this movie against Bush...). On a less positive note I also believe that Bush administration is quite bully on critic, such as Sheean (can't remember the name of this peace activist) who was arrested at a public meeting (where she had been invited by the speaker!) because of a TShirt she was wearing!
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I saw a discussion in one Russian blog where people discussed an educational TV program where children were asked to think about positive and negative sides of Russians. Some critics said that Americans would never allow themselves to talk about their common negative habits. I don't think that such generalization is good in principle, but I also think that Americans are quite open to self-irony on TV and in the press. They just combine it well with patriotic feelings. So do you also think it's just a stereotype (common in some countries) that Americans lack a sense of self-irony and self-criticism, or do you think this has some grounds? Вагиф Абилов MCP (Visual C++) Oslo, Norway If you're in a war, instead of throwing a hand grenade at the enemy, throw one of those small pumpkins. Maybe it'll make everyone think how stupid war is, and while they are thinking, you can throw a real grenade at them. Jack Handey.
Americans are extremely self-critical. It's hard not to be when you live in such a diverse country because there are many different groups and subcultures. Liberal Americans bash conservative Americans. Atheists bash Christians. Bush's approval rating is 36% right now (and Cheney's is 18%). We often view ourselves as too spendthrift and fiscally irresponsible, but we're all proud of our cars and houses. Watch our media, and you'll discover perpetual complaints about the way we act as a whole. Talk to an American and you'll discover that they're quick to criticize America's faults. America is composed of very diverse opinions and, while we're patriotic and proud, we're never afraid to openly admit when and where we're wrong. When you see otherwise, it's usually because we're circling the wagons to defend eachother from an outside body's criticisms (as in from the UN).
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Americans are extremely self-critical. It's hard not to be when you live in such a diverse country because there are many different groups and subcultures. Liberal Americans bash conservative Americans. Atheists bash Christians. Bush's approval rating is 36% right now (and Cheney's is 18%). We often view ourselves as too spendthrift and fiscally irresponsible, but we're all proud of our cars and houses. Watch our media, and you'll discover perpetual complaints about the way we act as a whole. Talk to an American and you'll discover that they're quick to criticize America's faults. America is composed of very diverse opinions and, while we're patriotic and proud, we're never afraid to openly admit when and where we're wrong. When you see otherwise, it's usually because we're circling the wagons to defend eachother from an outside body's criticisms (as in from the UN).
espeir wrote:
Talk to an American and you'll discover that they're quick to criticize America's faults.
Americans all have one thing in common: each one thinks s/he is the best driver on the road.
"Let us be thankful for the fools. But for them the rest of us could not succeed." - Mark Twain
"There is no death, only a change of worlds." - Native American Proverb
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I saw a discussion in one Russian blog where people discussed an educational TV program where children were asked to think about positive and negative sides of Russians. Some critics said that Americans would never allow themselves to talk about their common negative habits. I don't think that such generalization is good in principle, but I also think that Americans are quite open to self-irony on TV and in the press. They just combine it well with patriotic feelings. So do you also think it's just a stereotype (common in some countries) that Americans lack a sense of self-irony and self-criticism, or do you think this has some grounds? Вагиф Абилов MCP (Visual C++) Oslo, Norway If you're in a war, instead of throwing a hand grenade at the enemy, throw one of those small pumpkins. Maybe it'll make everyone think how stupid war is, and while they are thinking, you can throw a real grenade at them. Jack Handey.
There is a subtle differnce here: we don't introspect as a race, but as a nation, an institution, and a society. Usually the question would not be to think about the positive and negatives of Americans, but to think about the positives and negatives of America and ways we can be better as a nation. So, yes, it is true that we don't see ourselves as one race, or one religion, or one whatever as many nations can. I know a lot of people miss that subtlety, but it is a sublety that manifests itself as one of the bedrocks of America's greatest strengths and most fierce inner struggles. At least that is my take on it. My Programming Library C#, C# Run
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I saw a discussion in one Russian blog where people discussed an educational TV program where children were asked to think about positive and negative sides of Russians. Some critics said that Americans would never allow themselves to talk about their common negative habits. I don't think that such generalization is good in principle, but I also think that Americans are quite open to self-irony on TV and in the press. They just combine it well with patriotic feelings. So do you also think it's just a stereotype (common in some countries) that Americans lack a sense of self-irony and self-criticism, or do you think this has some grounds? Вагиф Абилов MCP (Visual C++) Oslo, Norway If you're in a war, instead of throwing a hand grenade at the enemy, throw one of those small pumpkins. Maybe it'll make everyone think how stupid war is, and while they are thinking, you can throw a real grenade at them. Jack Handey.
The patriotism and pride overshadow the constant internal criticism going on when viewing from the outside. Sort of like keeping family business within the family. Just listen to talk radio, watch talk shows, read opinion pieces in magazines and blogs, from US citizens and you'll notice a constant criticism of what we are doing and where we are going. BW
If you're not part of the solution, you're part of the precipitate.
-- Steven Wright -
espeir wrote:
Talk to an American and you'll discover that they're quick to criticize America's faults.
Americans all have one thing in common: each one thinks s/he is the best driver on the road.
"Let us be thankful for the fools. But for them the rest of us could not succeed." - Mark Twain
"There is no death, only a change of worlds." - Native American Proverb
I am the best driver in the world, everyone else is deluded. :) Gary Kirkham Forever Forgiven and Alive in the Spirit He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose. - Jim Elliot Me blog, You read
