ok, i am in no way really all that patriotic, but i am against mass generalizations and/or blanket cover statements. I can't help but notice the mass ammounts of posts and threads that poke fun at americans, usually that we are stupid. But isn't saying that all americans are stupid the same as saying that all canadians are lumberjacks? or that all brittish people take tea time? or that all arabs are terrorists? Again, i hope this thread isn't seen as some kind of ramblings on of american patriotism, but jesus, lay off ok?

PS: I know where canada AND austrailia are! ;)

EDIT: spelling

I can't help but notice the mass ammounts of posts and threads that poke fun at americans, usually that we are stupid.


yeah, but, here's the secret/key to the whole American bashing thing, it'll help you to do a slower burn next time someone's bashing.....you have to remember that we americans KNOW we are better than the rest...just keep that in mind....all other countries are just jealous of us. :D

but i am against mass generalizations and/or blanket cover statements

i agree. but usually these statements often have some degree of truth to them. some degree.

The problem with anti-American generalizations is that they're so easy. Americans give a good case to those who would criticize broadly. Of course, as one who criticizes both broadly enough to sail ships through and nitpicky enough to make us all scream, my position obviously reflects a vested interest.

But think of it in terms of many generalizations we see around Sciforums, editorials, comedy routines, and so on.

I know well that there are intelligent and conscientious Christians out there. But I come across them so rarely that I'm left flabbergasted. I cannot help that the primary representation of Christianity available for me to experience is so shoddy.

I know well that the anti-drug movement has a point. But I'm so disappointed in the fundamental dishonesty of the drug warriors--if they have right cause, then why are they so dishonest? Much progress can be made if only the anti-drug movement held more honest and rational goals. It is no fault of mine that the anti-drug movement is most prominently represented by vociferous thieves and liars. Nonetheless, drug warriors routinely come off as blithering idiots.

And we all know that the US is a big nation. There's 300,000,000 of us--well, not quite. But our nation is more prominently represented by cosmopolitan New York and LA fashion than it is the midwestern values that have carried through so much in this country, or the happy asceticism of rural New England. With the ratings game the premier measure of journalistic success and repeated enactments of the principle that money is more important than life; with a multi-billion dollar televangelism circuit; with the GOP tightening the thumbscrews, the Democrats sold to prostitution, and an illiterate legacy in the Oval Office, it's hard to miss the sickness about this country's outward manifestations. Think of the Pledge lawsuit: How silly did Congress and the President look rushing to God's defense? Americans could have done much to promote an image of thoughtful dignity, but such solutions just aren't dramatic enough for our tastes. How is it that the "best nation on Earth" suffers an epidemic of violence? Can a "land of opportunity" justify a distribution structure that depends on a massive poverty class? Americans never really undertake such ideas in the public forum. Instead, we spend forty-million dollars on a blowjob.

And these days the gloves are off: You're either with us or against us; we're boasting our ability to extend direct military influence to foreign nations without provocation; we're mulling the use of nuclear weapons; our executive is preparing the mother of all forfeitures of liberty; Jerry Falwell blames lesbians and single moms for acts of terrorism; poll numbers had better be less reliable than their usual unreliable--Americans appear insane; there's a not-so-secret war against Muslims; our drug war is laughable ....

You know, it's a lot easier to see these manifestations of our public will than it is to see our brighter side. Among Americans, it took the destruction of the Columbia to get people talking about the leading edge of human pioneering. And while people rightly cheer Bush's contribution to the HIV battle, there is no denying that our best and brightest have been hard at work for years making sure you can get a boner after you're dead.

My best advice is to enter a zone of thought in which you forget for a period that you're an American. Watch what goes on around here with fresh eyes. Yes, the CNN and FOX News world is severely depressing, but it's a large part of what people around the world see of the US. Christina Aguilera, Britney Spears, Eminem; did you know that the entire American delegation once sequestered themselves at the Cannes Film Festival so they could watch "Seinfeld"? And "Dharma and Greg" was such a step up .... Our popular arts are messy; Hollywood is giving second- and third-rate a first-rate budget. Our great educational system is failing. We have the highest unwed-teen birth rate in the industrialized world. If you look at it from without, the US is a mighty strange place, and Americans are bizarre creatures.

It's really quite easy to pick on the US. And I tend to think that, to a certain degree, it's good for us. But Americans don't like the suggestion that we're anything less than superior, so we kind of shoot ourselves in the foot by limiting our sense of humor about it. It's well enough when Carlin picks on American habits, but heaven forbid anyone abroad get a yuk or two. ;)

Seriously, though--Americans should just give the naysayers less ammo.

:m:,
Tiassa :cool:

Those who make generalizations are just those who can't offer a good argument.

There is no fear in a good debate at SciForums.

people everywhere generalise.... :D

Originally posted by reformedtopunk
ok, i am in no way really all that patriotic, but i am against mass generalizations and/or blanket cover statements. I can't help but notice the mass ammounts of posts and threads that poke fun at americans, usually that we are stupid. But isn't saying that all americans are stupid the same as saying that all canadians are lumberjacks? or that all brittish people take tea time? or that all arabs are terrorists? Again, i hope this thread isn't seen as some kind of ramblings on of american patriotism, but jesus, lay off ok?

PS: I know where canada AND austrailia are! ;)

EDIT: spelling

I am totally Pro-American.
America is a polyglot culture,with diverse people, the archetype of what the world will be like in the future.Most Americans are generous and educated.
Those who make generalizations about different cultures are just those who can't offer a good argument..I agree with Youngwriter..

The problem with anti-American generalizations is that they're so easy. Americans give a good case to those who would criticize broadly. Of course, as one who criticizes both broadly enough to sail ships through and nitpicky enough to make us all scream, my position obviously reflects a vested interest As Tiassa succinctly put it...you should be proud of your country...

if you take the pillar of democracy away..you will have anarchy.....
American people are sentient,fervent,congenial brothers and sisters .....
Dominic
may i add if this sounds like a generalization...it is a positive generalization:cool:

generalization are the cornerstone of modern civilisation. Let me make another one.

american people are more obese than people in other western societies.

this one was also very easy

and...
Originally posted by pumpkinsaren'torange
.you have to remember that we americans KNOW we are better than the rest...just keep that in mind....all other countries are just jealous of us. :D

isn't this also a generalisation? Except that this one is not based on reality. Let me try another one for fun...

Americans think that all other countries are jealous of them


wow...i love generalisations.

Originally posted by spuriousmonkey

wow...i love generalisations.

I hate all generalisations. Every single one!

Cheers,

Ron.

I hate nationalism. I couldn't give a damn if anyone insulted my country. I just don't care.

If people weren't so patriotic, then there'd be no one to generalize. That's just the way I see. We're all human and IMO, it's pure stupidity to think that different countries contain different species of us. An american girl growing up in a Japanese family would become just as eductated, and just as prone to suicide. It's everything to do with the governmental and judicial systems which are in a million pieces right now.

And by the way, it's true. As reflected by your government, American's are, for the most part, undereducated and barebone. I'm not saying a lot of you sciforumers are. But it's mostly true. I hate to say so.

Originally posted by Elbaz
I hate nationalism. I couldn't give a damn if anyone insulted my country. I just don't care.

If people weren't so patriotic, then there'd be no one to generalize. That's just the way I see. We're all human and IMO, it's pure stupidity to think that different countries contain different species of us. An american girl growing up in a Japanese family would become just as eductated, and just as prone to suicide. It's everything to do with the governmental and judicial systems which are in a million pieces right now.

And by the way, it's true. As reflected by your government, American's are, for the most part, undereducated and barebone. I'm not saying a lot of you sciforumers are. But it's mostly true. I hate to say so.

Its not Nationalism having pride in your country, its the diverse cultures synthesising into a polyglot culture ,which has made America a great country....The world will eventually be one big family....for anyone to insult your country they are ignorant and uneducated....start looking at all the good things your country has done....
Dominic:cool:

You can only love yourself as much as you hate what you are not.

Christianity.. I read your earlier work. I'd prefer Islam, but then again that subject probably too clouded by generalisations to go into detail about that (the islam being the second most aggressive religion in the world and all). When it comes to religious matters involving the abstracties of invisible forces I allways remind myself to clearly state that the burden of proof lies on the one making the statement. I am not ready to defend this position.

As a European economist I can say that we look at the US and draw the trendline we will most likely follow for the next 3 years. A large percent of the schoolbooks were written by Americans, I practially grew up with Chiang, Forrest, Datar, Blanchard etc. We don't cover all the statistiscs though (wink to all you guys following the oilprice in your price index). The US has a very high research budget per capita. You guys rule economically. Though one must stick to the facts and not say you have the most powerfull economy, the largest economy, the greatest real wealth per capita. The Dutch for instance take pride in the fact that they have kept their wages low.

When it comes to democracy... Let's just say some of us believe technology, even when not progressing any further, in combination with some democratic willpower could still have a positive effect on the current election system so that it might lead to a government which could represent it's people in a more balanced manner. We don't mind the current system, but we would prefer not to speak of admirable democracy.

Hollywood productions are definately having a great influence on the prolls here. But it's incomparable with, for instance, Japan, (=generalisation) where actors are revered individually. How are Russian movies doing over there?

Drugwarriors. Someday a book will hit the shells which will cover the matter. That book will be on the black list of many latin american countries.

When it comes to the actions of Clinton concerning inturns. We don't care. Dishonesty is something he has to explain to his people. But it's nothing compared to even the least of the treaties renounced by the current administration. Check the Hitler&Bush mainpage for a comprehensive overview. But one should realise that many of these 'decisions' had the same kind of effect here as for instance the rearangement of property in Cuba or the nationalization of the Russian railroad in your country.

Christina Aguilera, Britney Spears, Eminem are all names that sound familiar, even to me, I believe they are the newest generation of child-pop representing actors. When it comes to these kinds of entertainment it doesn't really matter by whom the demand is met.

CNN and it's likes are now picking up pace when it comes to broadcasting nationalism. Being gifted with a rich fantasylife one might imagine Americans sitting in front of the pretty flashing collours and adsorbing the information being brought to them, Owing and Ahing when being told that 500.000 Afghans have decided to flee from the rule of the Taliban inspite of the coming liberation by US forces. I agree with Tiassa when he says that the stones that are planted will all but one be returned.

When I go on and take a broader scope. I see that mankind is doing pretty well. Somewhere between one and twenty thousand people are either capable of launching a nuclear rocket or melting down a nuclear reactor. Take whichever number you believe and multiply that by 29 and you have the number of personyears of nuclear threat we have survived. Not sure how Nagasaki and Hiroshima fit into the equasion though. And Tchernobile (must be about the English word for it) was an accident /calculated risk so that doesn't count.

The pace of technological advance is about as good as I would want to have it. If it would be going any faster we would all be stressed beyond belief. If someone would awake from a coma now, being asleep for 50 years, we could easily make him believe those were 150 years.

Also mind that having a unified economy in the US and a structure of extremely tight niches in the EU is in my opinion the best way to have a balanced growth in technology. Is nationalism a bad thing? I would say no. As long as it is limited. In a team consisting of 9 scientists and one 'lumberjack' with an IQ of arround 80 the latter will not be considered usefull in the effort to land a robot explorer on Venus. When the number of rocket scientists is increased with 90, that might change. When the relation is 999 to 1, sir lumberjack might well be the most productive member on the team. I would even wink a tear away when the last true rascist meets its creator. Yes me, the inventor of the racistpetting zoo. I believe in diversity and critisism.

I don't have time to check my spelling, I have 3 fulltime obligations. Tiassa, keep it short and punctual this time!

HEEEYYYY now, americans over generalize more than any other country in the WORLD.... watch some american TV.... they poke fun of any country.... they have poked fun at Canadians quite a bit on The Simpsons as well. then theres black comics who seem to be alowed to over generalize....


hey my theory is give our world another couple thousand years and the world will be and all ethnics will be ONE,
one ethnic group has sex with another and another and so on untill we are all united as ONE! then the world will really grown and start working in peace... tho cultures may varry still.


the way i see it, as soon as the world comes to peace, the sooner we can become the aliens and spy on other worlds ;)

i feel like i could go on here but lets not waste anyones time

isn't this also a generalisation? Except that this one is not based on reality. Let me try another one for fun...

Americans think that all other countries are jealous of them


wow...i love generalisations.


:D but, of course!:p

BTW this is a status-quo case.

Lets either make this discussion more interesting by giving thorough examples of generalisations as they exist in different countries today or just conclude that humanity sucks for all our generalisations speak poorly of 'the other folks' and for most of us the world's greatness is distributed resembling a natiogeographical-isoquantic pyramid with our persona on top.

Originally posted by adunguem factus homo
BTW this is a status-quo case.

Lets either make this discussion more interesting by giving thorough examples of generalisations as they exist in different countries today or just conclude that humanity sucks for all our generalisations speak poorly of 'the other folks' and for most of us the world's greatness is distributed resembling a natiogeographical-isoquantic pyramid with our persona on top.
ALL FRENCH PEOPLE EAT FROGS!!:D :D

i call french poeple frogs, my dad calls everyone a frog when he watches hockey
:D

Originally posted by A Canadian
i call french poeple frogs, my dad calls everyone a frog when he watches hockey
:D

So what happens when you have a frog in the throat!:D :D :m:

A great American generalization is that all conservative republicans are mean spirited heartless and cruel. No wait, that's true, not a generalization. Sorry, thought I had a point. ;)