I was hoping for a serious dscussion of the cultural differences between the US and Europe,
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But I guess I just got a load of 1 votes. Look, I know the SB isnt a place for serious discussion, but I would have appreciated a bit of a chat about what I saw. On the way back I bought an upgrade to business class as I couldnt face the rear cabin for another 10 hour trip, and the change was dramatic. (OK the food was stil crap) But eh cabin staff were all over me. Drink, food, nothing was too much trouble. From Munich backk to Marseille I flew economy Lufthansa, the same flight I took business class a few weeks back and the difference was one thing. I didnt get a good meal. Apart from that the quality of service (by the same lady in fact) was identical, and the quantity of free drink was the same. No difference in fact. So professionalism wins out over money on Lufthansa. United? its cash. If you've got it they'll give you good service, if you havent you get treated like crap. By the way, I still like Americans. I find their child like nature charming when they arent streesed out and in selfish mode. They are open, sincere, sociable, and straightforward. Its just a pity they seem to be lacking so much in their society. They set out to create Utopia, and missed the mark in many respects. And Buddy Guys Blues Bar was damn good. I just wish I wasnt so jet laged and a monday evening, I would have enjoyed it more.
Truth is the subjection of reality to an individuals perception
I think it's hard to have a serious discussion on this. Do you want me to start on France or Switzerland? Perhaps England? I lived there too; up in North Yorkshire. Each country has its own quirks and to not feel them you have to have been raised in that particular culture.
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But I guess I just got a load of 1 votes. Look, I know the SB isnt a place for serious discussion, but I would have appreciated a bit of a chat about what I saw. On the way back I bought an upgrade to business class as I couldnt face the rear cabin for another 10 hour trip, and the change was dramatic. (OK the food was stil crap) But eh cabin staff were all over me. Drink, food, nothing was too much trouble. From Munich backk to Marseille I flew economy Lufthansa, the same flight I took business class a few weeks back and the difference was one thing. I didnt get a good meal. Apart from that the quality of service (by the same lady in fact) was identical, and the quantity of free drink was the same. No difference in fact. So professionalism wins out over money on Lufthansa. United? its cash. If you've got it they'll give you good service, if you havent you get treated like crap. By the way, I still like Americans. I find their child like nature charming when they arent streesed out and in selfish mode. They are open, sincere, sociable, and straightforward. Its just a pity they seem to be lacking so much in their society. They set out to create Utopia, and missed the mark in many respects. And Buddy Guys Blues Bar was damn good. I just wish I wasnt so jet laged and a monday evening, I would have enjoyed it more.
Truth is the subjection of reality to an individuals perception
Frankly, I didn't respond to your post because if that is what you experienced than that is what you experienced, big deal. I don't fly a lot, but the times I have I have always been treated with the level of curtesy and kindness that you would expect from people going about their busy day. Too bad you didn't, but than, you strike me as the kind of person who sees only what he wants to see.
The only conspiracies that concern me are the ones I am completely unaware of. By the time I find out about it, its probably a done deal. Nothing in the entire universe is more useless than morality without authority. A morality free of hypocrisy is no morality at all.
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But I guess I just got a load of 1 votes. Look, I know the SB isnt a place for serious discussion, but I would have appreciated a bit of a chat about what I saw. On the way back I bought an upgrade to business class as I couldnt face the rear cabin for another 10 hour trip, and the change was dramatic. (OK the food was stil crap) But eh cabin staff were all over me. Drink, food, nothing was too much trouble. From Munich backk to Marseille I flew economy Lufthansa, the same flight I took business class a few weeks back and the difference was one thing. I didnt get a good meal. Apart from that the quality of service (by the same lady in fact) was identical, and the quantity of free drink was the same. No difference in fact. So professionalism wins out over money on Lufthansa. United? its cash. If you've got it they'll give you good service, if you havent you get treated like crap. By the way, I still like Americans. I find their child like nature charming when they arent streesed out and in selfish mode. They are open, sincere, sociable, and straightforward. Its just a pity they seem to be lacking so much in their society. They set out to create Utopia, and missed the mark in many respects. And Buddy Guys Blues Bar was damn good. I just wish I wasnt so jet laged and a monday evening, I would have enjoyed it more.
Truth is the subjection of reality to an individuals perception
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But I guess I just got a load of 1 votes. Look, I know the SB isnt a place for serious discussion, but I would have appreciated a bit of a chat about what I saw. On the way back I bought an upgrade to business class as I couldnt face the rear cabin for another 10 hour trip, and the change was dramatic. (OK the food was stil crap) But eh cabin staff were all over me. Drink, food, nothing was too much trouble. From Munich backk to Marseille I flew economy Lufthansa, the same flight I took business class a few weeks back and the difference was one thing. I didnt get a good meal. Apart from that the quality of service (by the same lady in fact) was identical, and the quantity of free drink was the same. No difference in fact. So professionalism wins out over money on Lufthansa. United? its cash. If you've got it they'll give you good service, if you havent you get treated like crap. By the way, I still like Americans. I find their child like nature charming when they arent streesed out and in selfish mode. They are open, sincere, sociable, and straightforward. Its just a pity they seem to be lacking so much in their society. They set out to create Utopia, and missed the mark in many respects. And Buddy Guys Blues Bar was damn good. I just wish I wasnt so jet laged and a monday evening, I would have enjoyed it more.
Truth is the subjection of reality to an individuals perception
Was Chicago was a nice visit for you?
"The clue train passed his station without stopping." - John Simmons / outlaw programmer "Real programmers just throw a bunch of 1s and 0s at the computer to see what sticks" - Pete O'Hanlon
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Frankly, I didn't respond to your post because if that is what you experienced than that is what you experienced, big deal. I don't fly a lot, but the times I have I have always been treated with the level of curtesy and kindness that you would expect from people going about their busy day. Too bad you didn't, but than, you strike me as the kind of person who sees only what he wants to see.
The only conspiracies that concern me are the ones I am completely unaware of. By the time I find out about it, its probably a done deal. Nothing in the entire universe is more useless than morality without authority. A morality free of hypocrisy is no morality at all.
Glad I can agree with you Stan. I've flown a fair bit in economy and business/first with different airlines and the cabin crew have always worked hard, been proffesional and courteous. The only problem is you get so used to great service you don't always appreciate their efforts. Elaine :rose:
Visit http://www.notreadytogiveup.com/[^] and do something special today.
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But I guess I just got a load of 1 votes. Look, I know the SB isnt a place for serious discussion, but I would have appreciated a bit of a chat about what I saw. On the way back I bought an upgrade to business class as I couldnt face the rear cabin for another 10 hour trip, and the change was dramatic. (OK the food was stil crap) But eh cabin staff were all over me. Drink, food, nothing was too much trouble. From Munich backk to Marseille I flew economy Lufthansa, the same flight I took business class a few weeks back and the difference was one thing. I didnt get a good meal. Apart from that the quality of service (by the same lady in fact) was identical, and the quantity of free drink was the same. No difference in fact. So professionalism wins out over money on Lufthansa. United? its cash. If you've got it they'll give you good service, if you havent you get treated like crap. By the way, I still like Americans. I find their child like nature charming when they arent streesed out and in selfish mode. They are open, sincere, sociable, and straightforward. Its just a pity they seem to be lacking so much in their society. They set out to create Utopia, and missed the mark in many respects. And Buddy Guys Blues Bar was damn good. I just wish I wasnt so jet laged and a monday evening, I would have enjoyed it more.
Truth is the subjection of reality to an individuals perception
fat_boy wrote:
United?
Over the years I have traveled extensively within the USofA, both for pleasure and business. I absolutely refuse to fly United, the absolute worst airline in the country. I've had them lose luggage, a real joy since the luggage contained Christmas gifts and heirloom cross-stitched Christmas stockings, and they've lied to me about connecting flights when the connecting flight was also United.
Mike The NYT - my leftist brochure. Calling an illegal alien an “undocumented immigrant” is like calling a drug dealer an “unlicensed pharmacist”. God doesn't believe in atheists, therefore they don't exist.
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Glad I can agree with you Stan. I've flown a fair bit in economy and business/first with different airlines and the cabin crew have always worked hard, been proffesional and courteous. The only problem is you get so used to great service you don't always appreciate their efforts. Elaine :rose:
Visit http://www.notreadytogiveup.com/[^] and do something special today.
Trollslayer wrote:
the cabin crew have always worked hard, been proffesional and courteous.
Yes, this is true; and I have been on the servicing end of professional courtesy as well, as I used to work at a bank, and had to act much the same way. Thing is, "professional courtesy" has always left me with a bad taste in my mouth, like something is fundamentally lacking. It's too polished, too... perfect. There's little humanity in it. While that's not necessarily a bad thing, it does make me wonder what the social price is of people who are only ever as polite as they must be. For that reason, when I worked at a bank, I tried to show, and be, genuinely interested in the people I was interacting with. I found I got alot further professionally that way, as well. I'm the one who got thank you notes and positive feedback to the managers. I think at some point, appealing to the lowest common denominator so as to avoid any and all offense is unnecessary. I think this is what fat_boy was commenting on about his experiences with flight crews and the such.
It has become appallingly obvious that our technology has exceeded our humanity. - Albert Einstein
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fat_boy wrote:
United?
Over the years I have traveled extensively within the USofA, both for pleasure and business. I absolutely refuse to fly United, the absolute worst airline in the country. I've had them lose luggage, a real joy since the luggage contained Christmas gifts and heirloom cross-stitched Christmas stockings, and they've lied to me about connecting flights when the connecting flight was also United.
Mike The NYT - my leftist brochure. Calling an illegal alien an “undocumented immigrant” is like calling a drug dealer an “unlicensed pharmacist”. God doesn't believe in atheists, therefore they don't exist.
Was it United that went bankrupt recently, or was it AA?
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But I guess I just got a load of 1 votes. Look, I know the SB isnt a place for serious discussion, but I would have appreciated a bit of a chat about what I saw. On the way back I bought an upgrade to business class as I couldnt face the rear cabin for another 10 hour trip, and the change was dramatic. (OK the food was stil crap) But eh cabin staff were all over me. Drink, food, nothing was too much trouble. From Munich backk to Marseille I flew economy Lufthansa, the same flight I took business class a few weeks back and the difference was one thing. I didnt get a good meal. Apart from that the quality of service (by the same lady in fact) was identical, and the quantity of free drink was the same. No difference in fact. So professionalism wins out over money on Lufthansa. United? its cash. If you've got it they'll give you good service, if you havent you get treated like crap. By the way, I still like Americans. I find their child like nature charming when they arent streesed out and in selfish mode. They are open, sincere, sociable, and straightforward. Its just a pity they seem to be lacking so much in their society. They set out to create Utopia, and missed the mark in many respects. And Buddy Guys Blues Bar was damn good. I just wish I wasnt so jet laged and a monday evening, I would have enjoyed it more.
Truth is the subjection of reality to an individuals perception
I hate Lufthansa. No leg room, cramped cabin - bah. Awful airline.
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But I guess I just got a load of 1 votes. Look, I know the SB isnt a place for serious discussion, but I would have appreciated a bit of a chat about what I saw. On the way back I bought an upgrade to business class as I couldnt face the rear cabin for another 10 hour trip, and the change was dramatic. (OK the food was stil crap) But eh cabin staff were all over me. Drink, food, nothing was too much trouble. From Munich backk to Marseille I flew economy Lufthansa, the same flight I took business class a few weeks back and the difference was one thing. I didnt get a good meal. Apart from that the quality of service (by the same lady in fact) was identical, and the quantity of free drink was the same. No difference in fact. So professionalism wins out over money on Lufthansa. United? its cash. If you've got it they'll give you good service, if you havent you get treated like crap. By the way, I still like Americans. I find their child like nature charming when they arent streesed out and in selfish mode. They are open, sincere, sociable, and straightforward. Its just a pity they seem to be lacking so much in their society. They set out to create Utopia, and missed the mark in many respects. And Buddy Guys Blues Bar was damn good. I just wish I wasnt so jet laged and a monday evening, I would have enjoyed it more.
Truth is the subjection of reality to an individuals perception
How can you base a "serious dscussion of the cultural differences between the US and Europe" on your experience on a plane and your short visit to one city? You really immersed yourself in american culture by visiting Chicago for a few days? Next time just go to Disneyland or Disneyworld....that's all you need to know about america.
Mark Salsbery Microsoft MVP - Visual C++ :java:
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fat_boy wrote:
United?
Over the years I have traveled extensively within the USofA, both for pleasure and business. I absolutely refuse to fly United, the absolute worst airline in the country. I've had them lose luggage, a real joy since the luggage contained Christmas gifts and heirloom cross-stitched Christmas stockings, and they've lied to me about connecting flights when the connecting flight was also United.
Mike The NYT - my leftist brochure. Calling an illegal alien an “undocumented immigrant” is like calling a drug dealer an “unlicensed pharmacist”. God doesn't believe in atheists, therefore they don't exist.
Mike Gaskey wrote:
I absolutely refuse to fly United, the absolute worst airline in the country.
Not much experience with Northwest, I take it? ;)
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:confused: We don't need fancy elevator buttons and shit like that. I am quite happy the way it is n now. I can go to McDonald's and stuff my gut for only 3 or 4 dollars, drive around on the country roads in my 500 dollar vehicle while bumping my two 12 inch subwoofers in the back.
Word, write letters and sh*t yo.
Is it too much to add a little touch of design? Come on, so much is crying out for a little style/ I mean, take a look at Italian bathroom fittings the go and look at US ones. If you dont feel your countrymen are missing somehting then I supose you just dont get it.
Truth is the subjection of reality to an individuals perception
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I think it's hard to have a serious discussion on this. Do you want me to start on France or Switzerland? Perhaps England? I lived there too; up in North Yorkshire. Each country has its own quirks and to not feel them you have to have been raised in that particular culture.
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Frankly, I didn't respond to your post because if that is what you experienced than that is what you experienced, big deal. I don't fly a lot, but the times I have I have always been treated with the level of curtesy and kindness that you would expect from people going about their busy day. Too bad you didn't, but than, you strike me as the kind of person who sees only what he wants to see.
The only conspiracies that concern me are the ones I am completely unaware of. By the time I find out about it, its probably a done deal. Nothing in the entire universe is more useless than morality without authority. A morality free of hypocrisy is no morality at all.
Stan Shannon wrote:
you strike me as the kind of person who sees only what he wants to see
You got struck wrong then Stan. I am , in fact, a very open, observant person, almost totally lacking in bias. What you see of me here, on the SB, is 9/10ths psuedo-geist. Anyway. Yes, you answered one part of my observations. I am quite prepared to accept that United is crap and other airlines are a lot better, but, you didnt answer the utilitarian question. ie, why is so much stuff in the US utilitarian loooking, lacking in those design touches we have in Europe by the score? And then the food. You just cannot justify US food. It is so bad, universally, and comprehensively, it is crap. Serious crap. Its not the ingredients, its the way of putting it together. It, is perhaps, in line with the decor: "Why make it better if it works, so why make food better if it fills you up and keeps you going till the next meal." Well, the difference is big from my perspective. You 'live to eat or eat to live'. That is the difference.
Truth is the subjection of reality to an individuals perception
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Was Chicago was a nice visit for you?
"The clue train passed his station without stopping." - John Simmons / outlaw programmer "Real programmers just throw a bunch of 1s and 0s at the computer to see what sticks" - Pete O'Hanlon
Paul Conrad wrote:
Was Chicago was a nice visit for you?
Yes. I always enjoy the cultural experience associated with travel. And Buddy Guys blues bar was pretty damn good! I mean, to listen to blues, in Chiocago, its like, well, its like skiing the Hanenkaan!
Truth is the subjection of reality to an individuals perception
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fat_boy wrote:
United?
Over the years I have traveled extensively within the USofA, both for pleasure and business. I absolutely refuse to fly United, the absolute worst airline in the country. I've had them lose luggage, a real joy since the luggage contained Christmas gifts and heirloom cross-stitched Christmas stockings, and they've lied to me about connecting flights when the connecting flight was also United.
Mike The NYT - my leftist brochure. Calling an illegal alien an “undocumented immigrant” is like calling a drug dealer an “unlicensed pharmacist”. God doesn't believe in atheists, therefore they don't exist.
Mike Gaskey wrote:
I absolutely refuse to fly United, the absolute worst airline in the country
OK, I guess I am never going to fly them again. They are a joke, a bunch of fuckwit cretins of the highest order. (Unless its busines class, which was good, exceot for the food.)
Truth is the subjection of reality to an individuals perception
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I hate Lufthansa. No leg room, cramped cabin - bah. Awful airline.
73Zeppelin wrote:
I hate Lufthansa. No leg room, cramped cabin - bah. Awful airline.
The Bombarider is a small aurplane, but it is bloody fast, and quiet. Almost all short hop planes have tight seat room, its no better on Ryan air, easy jet, brusells airlines, but, at least the drink is free on Lufthansa!
Truth is the subjection of reality to an individuals perception
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Is it too much to add a little touch of design? Come on, so much is crying out for a little style/ I mean, take a look at Italian bathroom fittings the go and look at US ones. If you dont feel your countrymen are missing somehting then I supose you just dont get it.
Truth is the subjection of reality to an individuals perception
I go into the public bathroom to pee, and get the hell out. Its a waste of money to purchase fancy bathroom fittings. Maybe you could find them in a really expensive resuraunt or something.
Word, write letters and sh*t yo.
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Stan Shannon wrote:
you strike me as the kind of person who sees only what he wants to see
You got struck wrong then Stan. I am , in fact, a very open, observant person, almost totally lacking in bias. What you see of me here, on the SB, is 9/10ths psuedo-geist. Anyway. Yes, you answered one part of my observations. I am quite prepared to accept that United is crap and other airlines are a lot better, but, you didnt answer the utilitarian question. ie, why is so much stuff in the US utilitarian loooking, lacking in those design touches we have in Europe by the score? And then the food. You just cannot justify US food. It is so bad, universally, and comprehensively, it is crap. Serious crap. Its not the ingredients, its the way of putting it together. It, is perhaps, in line with the decor: "Why make it better if it works, so why make food better if it fills you up and keeps you going till the next meal." Well, the difference is big from my perspective. You 'live to eat or eat to live'. That is the difference.
Truth is the subjection of reality to an individuals perception
fat_boy wrote:
you didnt answer the utilitarian question. ie, why is so much stuff in the US utilitarian loooking, lacking in those design touches we have in Europe by the score?
All I know is that Europeans have been making the same complaint about us for about the last 300 years. So, to me the only pertinent question is why do you guys like to complain so much? (Or, as my dad would have said, 'quit yer cry'n and eat whats in front of you or you can damn well go hungry!')
The only conspiracies that concern me are the ones I am completely unaware of. By the time I find out about it, its probably a done deal. Nothing in the entire universe is more useless than morality without authority. A morality free of hypocrisy is no morality at all.
modified on Sunday, December 09, 2007 4:35:52 PM