h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

"I just had this fuuny thought. On the whole modern day America is made up of second, third, fourth etc. generations of peoples from the rest of the world."

Ah, but they seem to believe
that's irrelevant now.

What I meant was not that they think it's irrelevant, but we do.
We've forgotten that if we 'hate' Americans we hate ourselves too, because they come from where we come from.

I suppose that America was to be the 'new' world, that would live the constitution. The old world had such hopes that this would be the land of freedoms and perhaps we feel a little let down that it's turned out not to be so - but then it's probably human nature that's at fault not just one nation.

I am an american, and as such, I have a little bit of insight on this matter.

Americans are arrogant. That says about everything from my viewpoint.
We think that we are so much better than everyone. EVERYONE.

I wish I wasn't related to so many of them...

<I am an american, and as such, I have a little bit of insight on this matter.

Americans are arrogant. That says about everything from my viewpoint.
We think that we are so much better than everyone. EVERYONE.

I wish I wasn't related to so many of them...<
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I wonder how many peices you would be in now if you were iraqie and saying the same things about iraq.

By the way its is very easy to give up your american citizenship and be deported to the country of your choice. My I suggest the Suden as I amsure you would find a warm welcome there.

Heh, heh.

No, New Zeland would be better. More sheep than people, can't go wrong with that...

I suppose if a person lived in Iraq the possibilty of posting anything to an internet site would be very limited.
It's still good then that we have this place and access to it to vent, complain, disagree with each other, talk, SHOUT, question, respond, imagine, share, etc etc.
It's a little sad that some people's experience leads them to not like themselves and others near by.

"I wonder how many peices you would be in now if you were iraqie and saying the same things about iraq."

Where as in America they'll (people like starbirth) will just suggest you leave the country.

Welcome Mystrunner

Having read this entire thread I have seen that, in true H2G2 fashion, it moved largely off topic in between outbursts.

"By the way its is very easy to give up your american citizenship and be deported to the country of your choice. My I suggest the Suden as I amsure you would find a warm welcome there."

If you don't like some aspect of American society, then don't try to change it, just leave.

Is that what you're suggesting starbirth? It's not that you disagree with the argument that Americans are arogant, or with the fact that arogance is not necessarily a negative virtue, it's the fact that a negative comment was made about Americans, and that in itself is worthy of expulsion.

This statement really gets under my skin. More so because I've experienced many times in many countries. One such time was when I was in the US and I was arguing how the concept of tipping, the norm is the US, is a bad thing. My argument was based on (in part) the fact that it encourages low wages and redirects the enforcement of good service from the proprietor of the restaurant to the patrons (which to me is silly). The person to whom I was putting forward my reasons never even tried to debate these observations (which may not be valid), but simply said: "if you don't like it, then you can leave".

The very idea that a foreigner dared suggest that their country is not perfect was worthy of expulsion. Starbirth, you seem to extend that group of dissidents to include citizens? By this logic, we'll end up with people who think alike, look alike and agree on every single issue.

"Give me your tired, your hungry, your huddled clones yearning to think the same."

Apparition slurs:

*going home slightly sloshy after beer at work*



I was a little taken aback by this statement as you have told me you work as a teacher in a school. Having alcohol in a school {or any work place} is taboo here and could even wind up with the perp. being arrested. But then again I live in America. Should I take it this practice is accepted in New Zealand.

if you're going to say things like "Apparition slurs:"
At least be consistant in your ramblings

"I was a little taken aback by this statement as you have told me you work as a teacher in a school. Having alcohol in a school {or any work place} is taboo here and could even wind up with the perp. being arrested. But then again I live in America. Should I take it this practice is accepted in New Zealand."

I've never said that I was a teacher (BTW since there is a school of tourism and hospitality where I work. There is Bar and Restaurant on campus. This is a tertiary Institute.)

"Should I take it this practice is accepted in New Zealand."
Could it be that your innuendo is an attempt to detract from your own poor performance in recent posts. Sad really...

>If you don't like some aspect of American society, then don't try to change it, just leave.

Is that what you're suggesting starbirth? It's not that you disagree with the argument that Americans are arogant, or with the fact that arogance is not necessarily a negative virtue, it's the fact that a negative comment was made about Americans, and that in itself is worthy of expulsion<

I took it the poster did not like 'americans' not america it's rules policies or mores. It is one thing to change laws,policy or mindset {in fact it is the american way} but it is impossible to change over almost 300 million people. I was only pointing out that if she/he as her post suggests wants nothing to do with her/his brethen she is not forced to live among them. Also as bad as she/he finds living with these people there is worse.

As far as tipping ever here "when in rome do as the romans"

Della:
>I just had this fuuny thought. On the whole modern day America is made up of second, third, fourth etc. generations of peoples from the rest of the world."<

This is excactly the point I brought up long ago. we are your brothers, sisters, mothers.....we are more alike then you would care to addmit. As is clear by the name and tone of this tread.

Apparition:
if you're going to say things like "Apparition slurs:"
At least be consistant in your ramblings

starbirth
You said you were 'sloshy' I took that as being drunk and sloppy with ones words.
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Apparition:
I've never said that I was a teacher (BTW since there is a school of tourism and hospitality where I work. There is Bar and Restaurant on campus. This is a tertiary Institute.)

starbirth
You had made a statement that you work in a school that is muti cultural. I take responsibility for taking it you were a teacher. Serving alchohol on any school grounds is not allowed here I was pointing out that appearently new Zealand did {if I understood you right}
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Aparition:
Could it be that your innuendo is an attempt to detract from your own poor performance in recent posts. Sad really...

starbirth:
Did not make any innuendo's was only trying to understand.
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".....but it is impossible to change over almost 300 million people."

You only had to change the one by putting forward an argument that showed americans were not all arrogant.


"As far as tipping ever here "when in rome do as the romans" "

It's ironic really that the whole issue of tipping came up in a part of Disney where the (all foreign) workers are not allowed to receive tips (or at least weren't allowed when I was there).

Some off hand examples of American arrogance. (Just to be clear, I mean the state as a whole, not the individuals.)

Not accepting the International Criminal Court.

or the Kyoto agreement

Stomping around at the UN over Iraq, but not so over Israel. Or their own trangressions of International law over Columbia, Lybia, Camp X-Ray...

Calling the National Baseball League 'The World Series.' Its f*****g rounders, mmkay?

"Della:
>I just had this fuuny thought. On the whole modern day America is made up of second, third, fourth etc. generations of peoples from the rest of the world."<"

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That was said by hasslefree, Della was quoting.

Over here "school" is a word reserved for highschool and below. From what I've been told Americans refer to everything as school including university.

I suppose if you begin with a topic entitled thus; you're going to get some pushing and shoving

The Posting to which you are replying is from Neugen Amoeba
".....but it is impossible to change over almost 300 million people."

>You only had to change the one by putting forward an argument that showed americans were not all arrogant.<

I will say that the differance between arrogance and self confidence is very thin line. An arrogant person will not entertain other thoughts then his own and besides being self limiting is obnoxious.
A confident person believes in theirselves, have strong opinions but are willing to see others sides. Americans are taught from a early age that if they set their mind to it and do the work anything is possible. This can come of as arrogance to some europeans and asians who are taught to be more reserved. {This is not to say that some americans can not be reserved and some europeans confident or arrogant} My opinion of what constitutes arrogant, confident or reserved behaivor might be differant than yours NA and it could be strictly do to our cultural bias.