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

An American obsessed with Rugby eh? I too rather like the sport but more from an aesthetic view point. It's a lovely sight seeing well toned male thighs, slightly muddy, running up and down a field Cricket is wonderful because you can fall asleep, go out and do the shopping, nip down the pub, and when you return to the match not much else has happened since the last time you looked so you don't have to worry about missing too much Cricket has started getting a little boisterous recently though. People used to sit and clap very, very slowly inbetween snoozes but now they paint their faces and sing the British National Anthem very badly Lacrosse is a sport that has always fascinated me purely because all characters in Enid Blighton books played lacrosse at school so I grew up knowing about it but have never seen it played, although I do see some of the local public school students carrying their lacrosse sticks with them. Sadly, if you haven't already guessed, I'm not a very sporty person I content myself with the strange and ancient tradition of Morris dancing

That was a bit of waffle wasn't it? Anyway, welcome to h2g2 Would you like some and ?

You've never seen Lacrosse played, eh? Ah, it's a joy to behold. I grew up just a few miles from the Onondaga Nation. Since you might not know, I should give you some background: the Onondagas are one of the Native Tribes who made up the Iriquois Confederacy of upstate New York, and the Iriquois used the sport for many rituals. I actually got to see a game played as it was played before the Europeans came to the region, and I've been a strong fan of the sport ever since.

If you ever get the chance, you should see the sport in action. It's strangely beautiful. And feel free to let me know what you think... I'm always eager to convert people into Lacrosse lovers!

Thanks for dropping me the line, and thanks for the warm welcome!

Dan

I didn't realise Lacrosse originated in the US. In England Lacrosse is strongly associated with Public schools (that's not like American public schools, English public schools are the fee paying ones while our state schools are the free ones). It always conjours up images of 'jolly-hockey sticks' school girls with plummy accents. I think a lot of the image is due to school stories of the 1940s and 50s. The more I think about it the weirder it seems that it's a sport mostly played and taught to the upper classes. I can't think of any other sport that the same can be said about. It's even stranger considering its origins. Now I'm intrigued in a social history type way as to why this has happened.

Well, I happen to be a bit of a Lacrosse historian, actually. (Don't worry, I'll try not to be boring.)

The French who settled in the upstate New York area saw an odd game being played by the natives, and called it Lacrosse because the wooden stick looked a bit like a Bishop's crook. It was a brutal sport in those days. The Iriquois actually called it the "Little brother of war", and it was used to solve disputes between tribes as well as for ritual purposes.

By the mid-eighteen hundreds, it was a popular sport in the northeastern U.S. and southern Canada. It was introduced as a collegiate-level game to fill the gap between baseball season (spring) and football (soccer) season (fall in the U.S.).

It became a major Ivy League sport, and around 1890 someone put together two exhibition teams, one made up of star players from America, the other made up of Native players (mostly Iriquois). The teams toured Europe, and it made an impact abroad. Since most of the American players were Ivy League students (Harvard, Yale, Etc.), the sport had an instant appeal to upper-class students abroad.

Not to bore you, but I can talk about Lacrosse all day long!

Kellirac

Not boring at all, really interesting, and I can see a good guide entry in the making Have a think about it. How did you get interested in lacrosse?

Well, I got interested as a result of a history/civics teacher. He has some Iriquois family, and he brought his students out one day for a demonstration of Iriquois/native culture. We played Longball (another Native sport), listened to chants and ritual drumming, and finished the day off watching a traditional Lacrosse game. I was amazed at the way these men played.

I found out that day that Lacrosse wasn't just a game or a sport. It was what the Iriquois did when they were happy, it consoled them in times of sorrow. It was a healing ritual, and a substitute for war between clans or related tribes. It was a way of life. That somehow made it much more important than other sports. To me, Lacrosse wasn't a pastime, it was a celebration of life.

Sorry to get sappy, but I have fond memories of that day.

So... you're the keeper of Real Ale, eh? And what is Morris Dancing? I've heard of it, but have no idea what it is.

Morris dancing is a traditional, ritual English dance. It's origins are lost in the mists of time but are probably associated with fertility. I've finally got around to writing a guide entry about it. The town I grew up in holds an annual folk festival so I was always surrounded by Morris and rather afraid of some of the hooden horses that accompanied sides. I've recently joined a Morris side after many years of wanting to and I love it. It's good exercise, a great way to meet people and it amazes me how stress relieving I find it. Must be all the jumping and banging large sticks. Morris dancing and real ale have strong associations

Yup, I'm the keeper of real ale so here are a couple of pints Another result of where I live I think. I live in Kent in the South East of England, home of the hop garden and some of the oldest breweries. Nothing beats the taste of a real, cask-conditioned ale. Real cider runs a close second though (must be all the orchards around here too).

I just read your piece on Morris Dancing. It sounds terrific, actually. I live in a town with lots of international students... that's how I got hooked on Cricket. I'll have to see if there is any Morris Dancing, too. It's a long shot, but you never know.

One of the problems with American culture is that there is so little history to draw from. "Ancient" to us is anything our great-grandparents did.

That last comment made me smile. I like the idea of great-grandparent activities being ancient. I live near an ancient city, it's got far too much history for one small area, I'm sure it's well over it's EU quota Even the college I go to is built on an historic site. My college is built on the site of St Augustine's Abbey, the first Christian site in Britain. The walls of the Abbey still stand and make a nice back drop to study in. The city is a walled city (much of the wall still stands, including a Roman bit)and it's fun to travel through the medieval gate in a double decker bus. It's got a castle, a very famous Cathedral where Thomas a Beckett was murdered, Roman mosaic floors in shop basements, friaries, iron age remains, saxon stuff. Even a lot of the shops are tudor How I long to look at something that's less than 50 years old

When I looked on the internet, there do seem to be Morris sides in the USA. Might not be such a long shot.

Well, if you want to see something under 50 years old, visit the United States. We seem to have this need to rebuild anything that's been standing for more than two years.

Where I grew up, there was an old trading post from colonial days. The foundation was original, but everything else had been rebuilt over the years. Then, about ten years ago, the whole structure was torn down, the site was moved about a kilometer away, and rebuilt using "authentic techniques", whatever the heck that means.

I found out later that most of the wood used to re-build this "authentic" fort was synthetic... part wood-pulp and part plastic.

On the other hand, the cities in America are cutting-edge, newer than-new. It can be a bit cold and impersonal, but there is a feeling of excitement. The west coast is the best example of it. Seattle and San Fransisco are two of the most vibrant cities in America.

So, what do you study in College?

I'm training to be a Even the hospital that I spent most of last year in was ancient. It used to be the workhouse! I think old buildings are wonderful because unlike new buildings that tend to be built like boxes, they have charm and character and beauty, they can cause problems though. I was in a shop the other day and a mother with a push chair wanted to go up to the first floor. She asked a shop assistant where the lift was, but there wasn't one. The assistant explained that they're not allowed to build one because it's a listed building. I'd love to visit the US one day, which is funny really because huge numbers of American tourists visit where I live. Are English tourists easily recognisable when they're in America?

It's strange, but Americans recognize an American tourist more easily than an English tourist. If you're a New Yorker visiting California, the Californians know right away, just by the way you dress. But as an English tourist, you would never be noticed.

To the average American, foreign tourists are only recognizable when they speak. It's a bit of American arrogance... we don't pay that much attention to the other people around us. Americans love to see tourists and visitors, though. It's our chance to show that we really aren't like the stereotype you see on TV.

Of course, there are so many different regions of America, and each one has its own identity. Right now I live in the Midwest, which is known for its aggressively friendly nature. But the East Coast is a bit more distant. The West Coast is where the worst American stereotypes come from, but it's also the best spot for tourists. The South and Southwest are not places I'd recommend to a tourist, unless you want to see deserts, cowboy hats, and shotguns.

Stereotypes cause the same problems in all countries, I guess. Just as people from different parts on the US differ I imagine it's the same in all countries. Did you ever see the episode of Frasier when Daphne is getting married and her family visit from England? It made me laugh so much to hear their really bizarre mix of accents. It's obvious to anyone from England that Daphne is from the south east of England and putting on a terrible lancashire/yorkshire sort of generalised northern accent. Her mother was played by Milicent Martin, an actress from Manchester with a strong, natural Mancunian accent and her brother was an Australian putting on a bad cockney accent. It was all very I'm trying to think of an American equivalent. Something a bit like Daphne from Boston putting on a southern accent, her mother having a californian accent and her brother played by an englishman putting on a New York accent. I hope that makes sense. I'm not really au fait with US accents but you get the picture?

I think I'd love to visit the US just to try and dispel some of the terrible stereotype images that the rest of the world is given. We have American comedians over here and they have a sense of irony so it must exist over there It's a sorry state of affairs when the only notion of what a country is like is from watching TV programmes and films, reading Bill Bryson and hearing anecdotes. Mind you, I'm sure some stereotypes are true: over here we do stand around in queues for hours, discuss the weather constantly and apologise frequently

Ah, I know exactly which episode you are talking about. It did indeed sound to me like the accents were all a bit different from one another, but I had no idea that they were regional variations.

It's strange that we're talking about accents now. Linguistics was part of my college coursework, and I was just recently re-reading a paper I had written about the fading accents of America. Oddly, all Americans are beginning to sound the same and regional accents and slang are dying out, probably because of television.

People from the UK seem to have a much more finely developed sense of irony than Americans do. Much of British humor puzzles Americans. I sometimes wonder why Monty Python, Douglas Adams, and Terry Pratchett go over so well here.

And of course, many of the American stereotypes are based on fact. Many Americans dislike the portrayal of family life on The Simpsons because it hits a little too close to home.

The local accent of the area I live in has almost died out, only a few older locals still have it. For a very long time people from London have moved into this area and brought their well spoken and rough accents with them, now this area has a form of London accent. It's a shame really.

It is said in England that The Simpsons is far more popular over here than over your side of the pond for exactly the reaon you give. It recently came first in a poll of the hundred most popular children's TV shows ever. I was watching a Sunday morning religious programme last week and an author of a book about religion in the Simpsons was having a serious discussion about the topic This follows on from other great discussions such as how Homer is a role model for Fathers. or should I say It's just a cartoon! Isn't it?

Stereotypes are a wondeful thing. They can even divide a country. I've noticed that characters in films or on TV have an accent that suggests a personalitly trait. The Southern US accent is always used to make a character sound stupid. It's the same over here. There is a big divide over regions and each region and accent suggests something to anyone not from that region. How on did we start talking about this? I'm afraid conversing with me is rather like a hiking weekend, I do tend to ramble

Hmmm... the Simpsons are more popular in England? I think it's more that we Americans have a love/hate relationship with the Simpsons. It's satire, of course, but it really skewers American culture mercilessly, and that makes some Americans uncomfortable. No matter who you are (as an American), if you watch the Simpsons long enough, an episode will offend you. But it's still one of the top-rated shows we have. Go figure.

The "southern accent = stupid" stereotype is so divisive in this country. Our wounds still haven't healed from the Civil War (some southerners STILL call it "The War of Northern Aggression"), and many of our politicians exploit the "stupid southerner" stereotype. We just had a big political problem with a southern state flying the Confederate Flag, which most African-Americans consider a symbol of racism.

Well, I really like that our conversation has wandered. It's nice to be able to chat about several different things. But if I'm boring you, just say so.

"It's satire, of course, but it really skewers American culture mercilessly, and that makes some Americans uncomfortable." - most British comedy is about taking the p**s out of the British. The British are very good at tearing their own society apart and satirising everything. It's very popular. Perhaps the whole nation has an inferiority complex, failed empire and all that

You'd be surprised how often the Confederate flag is seen in Britain. It's not used as a rascist symbol but is (rather bizarely) used as a symbol of everything that is American Line dancers and country music fans often have Confederate flags, there is a restaurant my friends and I used to go in that was decorated with American icons, number plates, etc. and of course a Confederate flag, and there is even a local drunk who dresses as a cowboy and walks around the town with the Confederate flag sloped over one shoulder. I don't understand this.

You are guaranteed that any conversation you have with me will wander all round the houses until we can no longer remember what we were actually talking about in the first place

Many Americans don't understand British humor for that reason. Americans like their humor to be cuddly and happy, with everyone hugging at the end of the half-hour sitcom. There are exceptions, of course, but Americans love feel-good humor. When an American company was considering buying the rights to a Stateside version of Absolutely Fabulous, the producers had to cut out the smoking, drinking, and drug references, and turn the Edina character into a loving mother! Doesn't that ruin the show?

The Confederate flag is a symbol for all things American, eh? That's so strange. We have battlefields, monuments and fortresses in this country that commemorate the role of the Confederate soldier. But flying a Confederate flag? That's just not done, except in rural areas (that are mostly populated by under-educated, low-income white folks) or at Ku Klux Klan rallies (which are unfortunately not yet a thing of the past). Last year, there was a Ku Klux Klan rally in the Midwest (where I live), and the Klansmen marched with both the confederate flag and the Nazi swastika. It's chilling to see it happen. I keep hoping that we've learned from our past mistakes, but we have so far to go.

Although there is the British National Party (Nazi) they don't figure predominantly in everyday life and round where I live there isn't a huge problem with racism although other parts of the country have had troubles. I think part of the problem is poverty. I live in one of the most prosperous parts of the country; racism and other social problems seems to occur in areas where there is deprivation causing social unrest.

Absolutely Fabulous without smoking, drinking, drugs or nastiness. doesn't really work does it. I wonder if when they re-make American sitcoms for British TV they have to add gritiness. There is a really funny sitcom on at the moment based on a US one. The family in that are horrible to each other. I've since the US remake of Fawlty Towers, it's awful.

When the English use the Confederate flag it isn't used to symbolise any racist ideas, it's mainly used by the rather odd group of people who are extremely fond of Country music, and dress in the most bizarre and colourful tassled clothing. (I have nothing against country music but some people go too far!) It's rare to see the Stars and Stripes though, although it's been more prevalent as people have flown it to share their support for the US following 11th Sept.

"It's rare to see the Stars and Stripes though, although it's been more prevalent as people have flown it to share their support for the US following 11th Sept."

Well, that is quite nice to hear. Actually, Americans in general seem a bit humbled and honored by the support we've seen since Spetember 11th. After years of what we had believed was invincibility, we now see that we really need to change the way we interact with the rest of the world.

Country music has a following over in England? I'm surprised to hear that. But then, there is a strong sub-culture in America that is crazy for anything English. Rugby, darts, pints of stout, and lots of people saying "bloody" this and "bloody" that. Which sounds rather strange coming out of an American mouth.

For some reason, Americans are wild about flags. Any flag. It's not uncomon to see the British flag (the Union Jack, yes?) flying alongside the American flag some places... particularly right now. Americans are hyper-aware of the ties that bring our nations together. And Prime Minister Blair's presence at President Bush's address to the nation about six weeks back really made an impact on Americans.