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-- Post your assumptions about all of us from the U.S.
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Originally posted by RJT How? The U.S. is by far the most ethnically/religious/culturally diverse nation in the world.

obviously you don't know what the idea of "melting pot" means

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Originally posted by ak87 Assumptions about Americans:

RJ's going to get you while you're sleeping.

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Originally posted by RJT How? The U.S. is by far the most ethnically/religious/culturally diverse nation in the world.

Possibly, however, I would say marginally as opposed to "by far."

BTW, I have no assumptions about all members of any demographic. I highly doubt there are many reasonable people, even notionally reasonable people, that do. Should you honestly believe anyone that espouses generalized views on Americans or any identifiable group would actually hold that those generalizations are true to every individual member of said group then I think you are sadly underestimating your fellow man.

I find 2 types of people, there's those who have a good sense of humour & are able to tap into others, allowing them to have a laugh with everyone who isn't just american, and then there's the other, who are just oblivious to things, like sarcasm etc. Examples include american customs staff, people of low intelligence & so on.

Self importance. I think everyone knows someone who's american who has a huge sense of it, looks down on people & generally adds to the stigma that a lot of people perceive. Also see : "we saved your asses in the war" type stuff. I'm not saying being proud is a bad thing, that's something that is different.

Another thing is simply that it's so easy to wind some people up. All you have to do is say "silly yank" and they'll go ape, whereas some countries just take the piss out of each other so much. If I had a dollar for everytime i've had a good laugh with someone from countries like france, scotland, ireland, australia, canada etc i'd be able to afford a good holiday. While many people from america fit this well, a lot get far too serious about things & it makes it no fun.

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Originally posted by stren obviously you don't know what the idea of "melting pot" means

Then why don't you enlighten me Stren? You seem to know oh so much about the U.S.

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Originally posted by Moral Hazard Possibly, however, I would say marginally as opposed to "by far."

In most of those cases (specifically Ethnic and Religious), I would say it is indeed "by far."

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Originally posted by Moral Hazard BTW, I have no assumptions about all members of any demographic. I highly doubt there are many reasonable people, even notionally reasonable people, that do. Should you honestly believe anyone that espouses generalized views on Americans or any identifiable group would actually hold that those generalizations are true to every individual member of said group then I think you are sadly underestimating your fellow man.

I've experienced the hatred for my country first hand throughout the world - These kinds of general views about Americans are indeed held as almsot dogmatic throughout many parts of the world - And simply being American is enough to warrant disgust from many in the international community.

There's a big difference between asking people their own, personal opinions, and the kind of "mob mentality" that has popped up in the international community, propagating outright lies about the whole of American society.

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Originally posted by Frenchie I think you're being way to defensive.

Why? If correcting widely held misperceptions is being "too defensive" then we've entered into a sad state of affairs.

I'm generally the first to make a joke at America and American's expense, but honestly, some of the shit people believe about American society is fucking laughable...

You have the right to correct what is wrong, but it seems that whatever anyone is going to say will be wrong to you.


EDIT: -Well for the people who are just assuming, they should STFU! If you haven't actually been to the states or come in contact with enough American people, they maybe you shouldn't talk.

We are all fat and ready to shoot anyone who says so with our guns that we all own.

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Originally posted by Frenchie You have the right to correct what is wrong, but it seems that whatever anyone is going to say will be wrong to you.

Oh ffs, here, you want me to talk shit about my own country, here are some of our problems:

- Our political system is fucked beyond belief. Elections are a mess, and not at all representative of American people in general.

- Our economic system is utter rubbish and heading for some serious issues without change.

- We consume. Tons. Way more than we should.

- Our marriage to Oil and other Coroporate concerns is fucking deplorable.

- And our societies general detachment from global politics is frightening.

All of those claims can be backed up by facts. You know what can't? Claims like this:

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Originally posted by Stren What mostly comes my to mind when i say shit, is that the whole melting pot idea is failing.

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Originally posted by Random TA 37 Why do all Americans say ______ ?

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Originally posted by Random TA 37 All Americans are ignorant of the rest of the world.

And so on.

When people start making intelligent and rational posts, I won't have anything to dispute.

i just hate the americans they show on tv who love george bush, christianity, war for no particular reason, etc.... its this sort of stereotype which is potrayed alot which i severely dislike. ive never met any so i dont exactly hate them and im pretty sure very few yanks are like this but alot of people arent smart enough to realize that. that being said the hatred towards americans is mainly because of their government, not americans themselves.

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Originally posted by trancepunkk i just hate the americans they show on tv who love george bush, christianity, war for no particular reason, etc....

Where are you seeing this?

i live in america, and let me tell you, the beer flows like wine, and women instinctivly flock like the salmon of capastrono.

L.O.L

-Take it down a notch.

-I don't think it's ALL Americans.
-Canadians Are just as if not MORE ignorant.


I don't hate.

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Originally posted by RJT Then why don't you enlighten me Stren? You seem to know oh so much about the U.S.

The melting pot is a metaphor for the way in which homogeneous societies develop, in which the ingredients in the pot (people of different cultures and religions) are combined so as to lose their discrete identities to some degree, yielding a final product which has a more uniform consistency and flavor, and which is quite different from the original inputs. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melting_pot

You talk about cultural diversity and you confuse it with the melting pot idea. I'm not saying america isn't culturally diverse, come one man, even googooly knows it is.


So my new assumtion about americans is: they jump to conclusions too quicly

is it true that the canadians primary means of transportation is the dogsled???

quote:

Originally posted by stren The melting pot is a metaphor for the way in which homogeneous societies develop, in which the ingredients in the pot (people of different cultures and religions) are combined so as to lose their discrete identities to some degree, yielding a final product which has a more uniform consistency and flavor, and which is quite different from the original inputs. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melting_pot You talk about cultural diversity and you confuse it with the melting pot idea. I'm not saying america isn't culturally diverse, come one man, even googooly knows it is. So my new assumtion about americans is: they jump to conclusions too quicly

You need to read your own references more thoroughly. The Melting Pot idea can also refer to a sense of cultural pluralism leading to an overarching homogenuos society. I'm not confusing anything, I'm just interpretting the "melting pot" idea in a different manner.

yup

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Originally posted by RJT You need to read your own references more thoroughly. The Melting Pot idea can also refer to a sense of cultural pluralism leading to an overarching homogenuos society. I'm not confusing anything, I'm just interpretting the "melting pot" idea in a different manner.

quote:

Originally posted by RJT The U.S. is by far the most ethnically/religious/culturally diverse nation in the world.

how is this the proof of the melting pot working ?

Re: Post your assumptions about all of us from the U.S.

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Originally posted by RJT what is it that you think ALL of us do that's so irritating to the rest of you?

Get fat.

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Originally posted by Frenchie -Canadians Are just as if not MORE ignorant.

yeah but we can just call you hosers & you'll throw your curling equipment at us!

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Originally posted by stren how is this the proof of the melting pot working ?

Many cultures, ethnicities, and religions (among other types of diversity) make up American society - This combination of ideals results in a culture that has combined aspects of an innumerable number of cultural traditions to form one American society.

You seem to think that the strict definition of "melting pot" as leading to a culture that is totally homogenous is not only the accepted understanding of the theory, but also what the founders of my country intended. This is simply not the case, so while the phrase "melting pot" may be misleading (a debate we won't resolve here as many of the worlds greatest sociologists still argue over its answer), it's still an accepted and well posited theory regarding American society.

If it'd be easier for you think of America as "Cultural Stew," please feel free.

quote:

Originally posted by trancepunkk i just hate the americans they show on tv who love george bush, christianity, war for no particular reason, etc.... its this sort of stereotype which is potrayed alot which i severely dislike. ive never met any so i dont exactly hate them and im pretty sure very few yanks are like this but...

Make up your mind.

And props to whoever said 'go there first, draw conclusions later'. It's so much different.

This does not apply to just America though.

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Originally posted by RJT I've experienced the hatred for my country first hand throughout the world - These kinds of general views about Americans are indeed held as almsot dogmatic throughout many parts of the world - And simply being American is enough to warrant disgust from many in the international community.

Indeed, the same is true the otherway as well. You're failing to recognize that people hold stereotypes and prejudices about any identifiable group, not just Americans, don't feel so special or hard done by. You're also failing to recognize that these prejudices often fall when applied to the individual. Only one with no practical knowledge or experience could hold fast to a predetermined position.

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There's a big difference between asking people their own, personal opinions, and the kind of "mob mentality" that has popped up in the international community, propagating outright lies about the whole of American society.

This is funny. Rob, there is nothing new about this. The US is arguably the very best at creating misconceptions or even outright lies, not only about other countries but themselves. You're a rational and knowledgable person, certainly you know I am right in saying that nearly all societies do this... the only thing that's different right now is that the US is taking note that it's their turn to be the slandered ones. Please tell me what is different about this then the US's irrational fear of communism and misrepresentation of it to it's own people in the 1950s or early 1900s propaganda about Germans soldiers killing and eating babies throught the French countryside?

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I'm generally the first to make a joke at America and American's expense, but honestly, some of the shit people believe about American society is fucking laughable...

Again, don't act innocent here or believe your situation is unique.... the shit Americans believe about other countries is laughable too. The shit Brits believe about other countries is laughable. The shit blacks believe about whites is laughable, the shit whites believe about Asians is laughable, the shit muslims believe about hindus is laughable the shit Christians believe about Jews is laughable and the shit Budists believe about Shintos is laughable. The fact that you believe all people hold steadfast to the misconceptions you think they have about you is highly laughable.

quote:

Originally posted by RJT If it'd be easier for you think of America as "Cultural Stew," please feel free.

That is a much better description then the "melting pot." Good on you!

quote:

Originally posted by RJT Many cultures, ethnicities, and religions (among other types of diversity) make up American society - This combination of ideals results in a culture that has combined aspects of an innumerable number of cultural traditions to form one American society. You seem to think that the strict definition of "melting pot" as leading to a culture that is totally homogenous is not only the accepted understanding of the theory, but also what the founders of my country intended. This is simply not the case, so while the phrase "melting pot" may be misleading (a debate we won't resolve here as many of the worlds greatest sociologists still argue over its answer), it's still an accepted and well posited theory regarding American society. If it'd be easier for you think of America as "Cultural Stew," please feel free.

like i suspected, you mistook the melting pot theory with Salad bowl theory (lol btw)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salad_...ultural_idea%29

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Originally posted by Moral Hazard The fact that you believe all people hold steadfast to the misconceptions you think they have about you is highly laughable.

Where in this thread have I made ANY claim that Americans are innocent in all of this? There's a good chance we're far more guilty (in a historical sense) than any other nation in the world with regard to demonizing the rest of the world for our own gain.

Does that somehow mean it's inappropriate for someone to stand up and clear the air?

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