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

I just simply have to jump in here. Take a look at Canada. We have aparently 2 official languages - French and English. Outside Quebec, there are French-speaking communities, like St. Boniface, Manitoba, and the rest of the country speaks English. But go to Quebec, and try to speak English - and get someone to respond in English. It won't happen. They have Language Police in Quebec - signs on all businesses have to be in French. They want to split with Canada and become their own (third world?) country. But, they want to keep Canadian currency, policing, pass ports, and still get money from the Government of Canada. Two official languages? Outside Quebec, that is.

If we look at history, in my own family, there are 2 peoples I'm supposed to hate (but I don't). Irish ancestors, 1 Catholic and 1 Protestant went to England to marry - they couldn't in their own country. I suppose I'm supposed to hate the one who's a different religion from me. I'm a Cameron on the other side of the family, so I'm supposed to hate the Campbells, which I don't. Certainly, learn the lessons of history, but lets bury the nonsence that lurks back there! There, my soul's layed bare - do with me what you will!

Oh come on I don't have a problem with the french greman irish or anyone....
my family (Boyds) are part of the Stewart Clan...the Ramsays in my family not sure about but that's besides the point I'm also meant to hate the Cambells but i don't I couldn't care less a persons a persons....there's no difference between you me or anyone here and people who don't treat people of different races, religions or what ever the same are prejuduce!
I'm 1/8 Irish 1/8 Belgium and 3/4 Scottish So my family is split religion and personally I don't believe in a higher being I mean it would be nice but I prefer the idea of the big bang but that's just my opinion why should push people to belive what I belive!!

Well said! If someone is going to hold a prejudice it should be against an individual person - not a group of people, and should be based on what that one individual is about - not on colour, race, religion, etc. People are missing a lot by not getting to know people who are different from themselves.

*takes a bow* Ditto!
Race, sex, age, religion, colour nothing should change our prespective on a good human being!

This conversation is converging with "What's wrong with Americans" Check that one out.

I certanley will!

I for one have had enough of this sort of discussion. I haven't even looked at the forum, and already I hate everyone in it. There is no hope for humanity, and I for one will no longer have any part in it.

O God what have we done. We're trying to explain that we really like people as individuals, but somehow it is inevitable to make generalisations about groups of people, which are usually unfavourable. These, however, do not stand up to closer scrutiny.

I am sure I am speaking for everyone here. Col. S. - don't give up humanity - if you want to change it, this is the best place to start.

I told him that he shouldn't judge a book by it's cover, race, religion, colour, age, sex or what formum there in!

I mean most of us are fighting against bigetry and what's he doing his judging al of us before he even knows us!

I expect that occasionally a lot of us do that. I try to do it without comment, at least. The last thing I want to do is offend anyone!

I've been a researcher on H2G2 for about 15 months, and stereotyping conversations have been the most common pasttime. Their prevalence and popularity only underscore how completely ignorant and stupid mankind as a society can be. Those forums usually have a minority voice of reason taking part, which I have also tried to do, but I'm just tired of fighting the losing fight. I'm off to my one-man nation/cabin in the Sierras, and I'll shoot anyone who gets too close, be they red, white, or blue. There's equal opportunity for you.

Be sure to take the elephant gun with you.

Much love and kisses go with you.

God someone needs to take a chill pill!

Who does?

CS - but even he has a point. We aren't going to really change the world discussing it here, while we are all basically of the same opinion.

Yeah but sure it's better that a minority shows it's opion on a subject even just to asure others that people aren't all judging by appearances!

Kicks this up to the top of the pile as a companion piece to 'What's Wrong With the Germans?'

B

As an American who has a close friend in London and a close friend in Paris, both of which I get to travel to more often than your average citizen because I have said friends and they have floors for me to sleep on, I can answer all of your questions, because I am an American, and we know everything. (That, by the way, was a joke)

From best I can tell the French hate the English because the English hate the French who hate the English, etc etc, but all are united when it comes to hating the Americans. For this I can say - I don't blame you.

This may come as a shock but most Americans hate Americans. You see we are not a culture where, in a large metropolis, one says Good Day or Au Revoir to, well anyone. We are culture where one does not look a stranger in the eyes but keeps the head down. This would seem an act of avoidance but in fact it is an easy way to check to see if said stranger is carrying a firearm via periphial vision.

Americans do not talk to other Americans. Even abroad. I spent six hours in a West End Pub talking with a Vietnamese immigrant, a Welch girl, a Scottish guy and a some girl with an accent I could never quite place but I didn't care since she bought me a pint. Two Americans walked in. (And yes, Americans are as obvious to us as they are to you.) They needed a seat so I offered them the extra chairs at my table.

In America, one does not sit at the table of stranger, one either stands, directing pointed glares at the seated patron in the hopes the person will get up and leave, or one makes a huge spectacle of asking if the chairs are being used, and when chairs are offered, dragging them fifteen feet across the floor, and then deciding who will sit where. If you're in America and want a cheap thrill, have an empty chair at your table, when someone asks if it is being used reply, "Of course it is, don't tell me you can't see him either!"

So anyways, there were these two American women, in their forties or so, one her first time in Europe, the other, rather snottily, having a country home there. The first timer was more than enthusiastic about sitting with me, the other *wiped the seat* before she sat down! The first lady was more than happy to spilt a pint and talk about Wisconsin or whatever backwoods place she was from. The other women was from Boston, which, as you may not know, is a metropolis and is pronounced Baws-ton just so they can tell if you're not a native.

Ms. Bawston had a coffee, which was not to her liking while Ms. Wisconsin and I drank beer and happily exchanged lost luggage stories. Ms. Bawston decided it was time to go and quickly got Ms. Wisconsin up and near the door where Bawston informed Wisconsin, "You simply can't be speaking to strangers in pubs like that."

Yeh, well f**k you too Ms. Bawston. Soon after their departure another American couple came in. And these were pure Americans Go To Europe. They had the fanny bags, the 35 mm cameras, the maps, everything. They sat at my table too. Live music was playing, this is 4 in the afternoon you know, and is in the only pub I've been to where you can see daylight from the inside, and Mr. American is just having a blast. Stamping out of time with the music, spilling ale everywhere, exclaiming how great it is to be able to drink before six in the evening - and this is when he is sober. I really didn't want to be sitting with them because they looked old enough to be my parents, but then I watched them. Kids gone off to college, their first trip to Europe, their life long dream. Hell I'd stamp my feet too.

The simple truth is that most Americans who go to Europe are either snobs who find some perverse pleasure in getting to be a snooty person o'er the pond as well as at home, or are good ole fashion country bumpkins who have made the trip to a place so foreign to them it may as well be Mars.

I've been to Europe 4 times in ten years. Last year, when I told my neighbor that my British friend would be staying in my home while I was staying in London, she remarked, "Do you think she knows how to run the refrigerator?"

Yes, Americans are dumb, we have WalMarts and microwavable fried pork rinds to prove it. But when considering the dumbing down of Americans, let's remember that our current top ten television line up consists of British imports - Weakest Link, Survivor, Big Brother, Millionaire. I spent an entire evening last summer trying to find a pub where people were not watching the finale of Big Brother. (The one where the girl had fallen for the boy and one was waiting for the other to get kicked out so they could live together happily ever after or for their fifteen minutes of fame, whichever came first). I gave up and went home early. The next morning I found out who won as it was the front page headline story, right above the article describing how the Real IRA had blown up "my" local grocery story and that explained that loud blast I had heard.

We're not all dumb. In fact, many of us are quite humourous and interesting. As are most people. Especially foreigners. There are some parts in the US where a non native accent might be met with disdain but never fear, those towns are dying out slowly but surely, due to inbreeding. As much as everyone claims to hate Americans, I love going to London. I love staking out "my" local pub where the owner will run a tab for me despite the fact he has no idea when I'll be leaving the country (not that I've ever stiffed anyone mind you it's just that in America few people even take checks anymore much less run tabs). And all the locals will, eventually, get around to making a point to talk with me, and find that I'm not so bad after all, and will buy me a pint or two.

As for the French, well, I've been friends with a native Parisian girl since we were sixteen. We're now both nearing thirty and have exchanged several visits back and forth. And basically yes, the French hate everyone, especially Americans, especially in Paris. But there are those few out of the way places, like the cafe next to my friend's appartment where I go every morning at 5 am for a few cafe au laits so as not to wake my sleeping friend, and I encounter people just coming off thier night jobs, having a drink before going to bed, and most, not all, but most, are willing to put up with my offending French accent and, after a drink or two, some will even speak to me in broken English.

So you see, I don't really think it's a matter of hatred at all. I think it all just depends on how much one has had to drink.

PS: You know if y'all ever had any ice for the drinks I think it would go a long way in smoothing the cultural misunderstandings. But perhaps that's just me. At a Sting concert in Hyde park, where it was 90 degrees, I was told I couldn't have any ice because it was against the law. That certainly explains the lack of ice availability, but I think perhaps you may want to question that law... but then again, Im American, what do I know?

(Anyone up for a holiday swap this year? I live in Florida, hence the ice fixation.)

Probably won't make it to Florida, but you're welcome to come here.

Ik, thanks for that really great posting