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

I keep coming back here in hopes of finding the reasons why we 'bash' foreigners - no matter where they come from, although Americans tend to be the most abused. This IS a dumb thread - but I guess I can't leave it alone; rather like picking at a scab. It amazes me how ignorant and hateful some people can be!

Who's leaving the site over this thread? Dang! I hate to think that something as trivial as somebody's opinion would be enough to make a person leave... especially a site as cool as this.

I think the whole point is that there is nothing wrong with individual Americans but there may be something wrong with the culture of one country dominating the rest of the world.

someones leaveing,the site because of what somebody at the end of some phone line on a keyboard uttered relateing to the thread whats wrong with americans...?where esle but h2g2 is an attempt at a global culture even being experimented with?please tell me if you know of any.oh sorry getting a little off topic again so let me tell you whats wrong with me today................maybe thats the answer the mememememememe in american

I usually get confused when people talk about America...

America is two continents (I think, my geography needs work) and North America has more than one country in it.

I have met some lovely people from all round the world
and
I have met some not so lovely people from all round the world.

I try to focus on the lovely people.

I hope this helps.

Sorry, it's around not round, isn't it?

Hello,

Also, the United States of America is a pretty varied place, with a lot of internal differences (the Guide article on it is wonderful in that regard). Personally, although I don't like some aspects of my native land, I'm mildly patriotic and glad to be a resident. And I think these threads where we beat up on other people based on media news are rather silly.

In response to the other question, Pheroneous announced he was leaving the site because of this and other concerns (including a lack of time). He was a good person who cared about the site.

Yours,
Jake

It's correct that one culture shouldn't dominate the world to the detriment of others, whether it's American or not. Some are unhappy with the global importance of the English language; useful as it is, it shouldn't be forced upon people and they shouldn't have to give up anything that is uniquely theirs because of it.
Interestingly, the man who I think has the best idea about Britain, and who describes it exactly, is Bill Bryson- who is of course American.
Staying open-minded...

I once heard a news story where the French were complaining about English dominating the world to the detriment of French. There was a bit of historical irony in that one, since French was spread mainly across the world through military conquests and colonialism. English has been spread more by commercial means, which makes it more insiduous but also more complicated (it's not just an external power forcing it on people, but some active acceptance, and other complicated relationships). Pick up any modern Postmodern or Media Studies reader if you're interested, because it's a fascinating subject.

And no, I'm not bashing the French. I have better things to do.

In France it's illegal to use certain English terms in most media, as the Academie Francaise does not wish to see its language defiled.

Also ironic, since the Academie was originally set up to reform the language. They can be a little ponderous at times (choosing words wisely), like the time when about 70% of French school teachers voted in favour of spelling reforms (eliminating unnecessary letters and the like) and they refused.
And look what the French government are doing with Breton.

That spelling reform sounds helpful. WHO DECIDED THE GENDER OF NOUNS ANYWAYS? IT DRIVES ME CRAZY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! @_@

Yes, all of that,and more! I am a Brit living in NZ, and it rarks (sp?) me up (to use a NZ expressions to be exposed to the NZ media and hear and see, all day, every day, what they themselves call 'Pommy bashing', and they (NZers)think is clever, funny and good. NZers however, have an obsequious attitude to Americans, an attitude I can only describe as 'brown nosing'. NZers go around with metaphorical signs saying "Kick me, Mr/Ms America, I love it when YOU do it". Many 1000s of NZ kids are being taught prejudice against all non-Americans, by a TV/Radio/newspaper environment that is 60% American owned, and shows 70% American programming on free-to-air TV. Children learn that: English people are cowardly, stupid or villainous;all bad guys everywhere talk like (Americans think) the Queen talks; the President of USA is the leader of the *world*, though only the "free" world truly appreciates him; globalisation, capital punishment, war, greed and MacDonalds are good- he**, they're not just good they're great! What is wrong with Americans? Cultural imperialism! (That being said, it's not all bad .. at least they gave the world *Star Trek*!

Well, let me you tell you. There was a secret American cabal that met recently. The number one thing on our agenda was to take over New Zealand. We were a little worried that we might not be able to pass the resolution because a quorum wasn't present, only 129,000,000 people showed up. Luckily, we were able to scrounge up some extra people, and the majority of Americans there present voted.

Some wag said that we should let y'all have your own media, but luckily one person had a gun, and we quickly eliminated that problem.

You're welcome to your own culture. Heck, we let you go through the cold war without stationing any nuclear weapons there. Don't worry, most Americans don't even know there is such a thing as New Zealand.

Ah, if it were only so simple...

Speaking as an American, I certainly *hope* the President of the USA is not the leader of the world. Many Americans believe he won by questionable means, and the majority is terrified of his incredible ineptness.

Of course most Americans don't know there is a New Zealand. Most Americans don't know there is a rest of the world! Did I ever say that cultural hegemony was some massive conspiracy? Of course not, it's just a toxic by product of the profit motive, simple. Let me giove an example, radio news-readers who would once have said 'Moscow' and who now say 'Mos-COW' in the best approved American style. I am not blaming this on Americans, who as you rightly, tho' with heavy-handed 'irony' point out, mostly are unaware of us, but on NZers little brother need for guidance, advice, caring and domination. In the '60s, it was Australia, who can be regarded as 'slightly older sister, now longer looked up to'.

Hmmm... I knew about New Zealand; isn't it north of Germany? Like everybody else on this planet, our first concern is with where we are right now. I'm in Fort Worth, Texas, USA. This doesn't mean that I've forgotten there are other people in other countries around the world. It's just that New Zealand affects my life a lot less than America does yours. Sorry. It's not my fault that I happen to enjoy the benefits of a capitalist pig society. Australia occupies most of your thinking, because it occupies most of the chunk of land you're on. For us, it's Mexico, Canada, Greenland, Cuba, and Central America.

Thing is, Lentilla, I personally hardly ever give Australia a thought - and as for America, I try not ot, but this is the thing about cultural hegemony... The problem is, I do not have anything against individual Americans, but it's America en masse... The 'we are the champions', we rule the world thing, I think you can understand why that gets up peoples' noses.

I haven't read the backlog - but will.

There is nothing wrong with individual (or even groups) of Americans. They are noticable only for being a bit louder, a bit richer and a bit more guillible than Europeans. I now apologise for systematically overcharging all American customers for their drinks when I worked in bars in Amsterdam and Hamburg.

BTW has anyone else noticed that all Canadian tourists in Europe have a maple leaf badge or motif on them somewhere so that the locals will not mistake them for Americans?