I can see Canada as a 51st state of the US in future, it's allright with me.

Two words: Pathetic asskissing.

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Good article

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Sigh... sooo many inaccuracies in this article.

Like for example America being a "melting pot". It is NOT a melting pot, not even close. It is an Anglo-Saxon country which an Anglo culture.

but I'm not gonna bother explaining this... too little time. America, far from being a place of diversity, is actually (surprisingly) a place of conformity and firmly delineated social networks.

If you didn't grow up here and if you didn't go to college or high school in America i don't expect you to understand this.

In the COR somebody posted about a "Greek day" on campus and this girl from Canada ("Frenchie") immediately thought it was something to do with Greece, like an international party on campus. LOL. I rest my case.

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Originally posted by HardTranceProd Like for example America being a "melting pot". It is NOT a melting pot, not even close. It is an Anglo-Saxon country which an Anglo culture.

Well, it's an unequal melting pot. There's no racial mixture in the middle, but there sure as hell is where I live in LA (Russians, Armenians, Persians, Mexicans, Thai, Korean, Ethiopeans, etc).

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but I'm not gonna bother explaining this... too little time. America, far from being a place of diversity, is actually (surprisingly) a place of conformity and firmly delineated social networks. If you didn't grow up here and if you didn't go to college or high school in America i don't expect you to understand this.

Who is going to understand your point when your "not gonna bother explaining this"? America is too diverse, although I'll agree that in some aspects it is not.

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In the COR somebody posted about a "Greek day" on campus and this girl from Canada ("Frenchie") immediately thought it was something to do with Greece, like an international party on campus. LOL. I rest my case.

And that supports your theory how? Someone also posted about a Hi5 site in the COR and I thought they were talking about AIDS.

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quote:

Originally posted by Jake Benson Well, it's an unequal melting pot. There's no racial mixture in the middle, but there sure as hell is where I live in LA (Russians, Armenians, Persians, Mexicans, Thai, Korean, Ethiopeans, etc).

First of all, "diversity" does not necessarily mean "ethno-racial diversity". I'll give you just one example: American colleges/universities. If you're not part of (1) Greek life or (2) sports organizations, American colleges have no social life. If you're not interested in the two things above, you are pretty much a social outcast with few friends. Intriguingly, some experts believe this is why the Virginia Tech killer was so ostracized and alienated. How's that for "diversity"? In European colleges, for instance, social life is not all about 2 specific things, marked by social cliques. Indeed cliquiness is much less noticeable even in non-acadamic settings.

But in terms of your more conventional understanding of "diversity", I have something to say as well. LA isn't really representative of America.

In March I went on a Spring Break vacation in Panama City, FL. The students there were from Alabama, Tennessee, Kentucky, and other Southern states. I was the ONLY guy there with dark hair. There weren't even any Latinos at all (although there were some blacks). Most students were Anglo, with fair features and blond hair.

You see, the "diversity" that you talk about pertains to places in America that were settled by immigrants. That's usually the Northeastern cities (NY/Chicago) and LA. But very few immigrants settled outside of these well-known points. America is otherwise solidly white Western European racially, and also a foreign accent for instance is rather unusual.

OH OH and one more thing -

If you wanna watch TV, what are your options? Pretty standard: ABC, CBS, NBC, FOX, HBO. What's so "diverse"? (with the notable exception of Public Broadcasting, the only good TV channel). Your options are limited.

If you wanna grab some food - what are your options? Pretty standard: Quizno's, Subway, McDonalds, Potbelly, Starbucks.

If you wanna listen to radio - what are your options? Not many. The standard stations that cater to 'mass-appeal' music, top40 stuff. Nothing unusual or alternative.

You see, America's franchising and market economy doesn't really lend itself to... er... DIVERSITY.

Last edited by HardTranceProd on May-14-2007 at 16:32

quote:

Originally posted by HardTranceProd First of all, "diversity" does not necessarily mean "ethno-racial diversity". I'll give you just one example: American colleges/universities. If you're not part of (1) Greek life or (2) sports organizations, American colleges have no social life.

Right, because there's no such things as dorms or off-campus housing. And those who live in dorms or apts are surely lonely.

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If you're not interested in the two things above, you are pretty much a social outcast with few friends.

That's based on a faulty assumption that greek life and sports organizations are the only two social norms college life has to offer. Those are the two most common ways of college life, but that doesn't hinder anybody's capability of forming their own clicks or social gatherings. When I was on campus, I saw a lot of popular kids who didn't play sports or join a frat.

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Intriguingly, some experts believe this is why the Virginia Tech killer was so ostracized and alienated. How's that for "diversity"?

You can't rule out that individual differences play into account, i.e. chemical imbalance. Moreover, I think I read that the kid always had a troubled life and fitting in prior to college.

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But in terms of your more conventional understanding of "diversity", I have something to say as well. LA isn't really representative of America.

What about New York, Miami, Seattle, San Francisco, San Diego, New Orleans, Chicago, D.C.? They all seem to be growing in ethnic diversity. If you really push me (and I have time) I'll look at the top 10 cities and ethnic trends over the past 100 years and then post them. If anything, I think they're all increasing in ethnic diversity. After all, who are the largest groups of immigrants these days, Europeans? No. Mexicans and Asians.

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In March I went on a Spring Break vacation in Panama City, FL. The students there were from Alabama, Tennessee, Kentucky, and other Southern states. I was the ONLY guy there with dark hair.

Well it looks like you went to a segregated place. I went to visit my dad in DeRidder Louisiana and the town still has a section where specifically ALL the black people live. That doesn't mean that non-slave states are as segregated. Next time go take your Spring Vacation in Miami, Fl.

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There weren't even any Latinos at all (although there were some blacks). Most students were Anglo, with fair features and blond hair.

Really? Well maybe if you go to more than ONE spring break vacation in more than ONE city, you'll find that there's more diversity.

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You see, the "diversity" that you talk about pertains to places in America that were settled by immigrants. That's usually the Northeastern cities (NY/Chicago) and LA. But very few immigrants settled outside of these well-known points. America is otherwise solidly white Western European racially, and also a foreign accent for instance is rather unusual.

Yeah you're right to an extent. But look at the trends now. The Mexicans are travelling farther North and the Asians are ALL up and down the West Coast.

quote:

OH OH and one more thing - If you wanna watch TV, what are your options? Pretty standard: ABC, CBS, NBC, FOX, HBO. What's so "diverse"? (with the notable exception of Public Broadcasting, the only good TV channel). Your options are limited.

Your point would be valid if the year was 1957, which it is not.
Your point would also be valid if there was no such thing as cable, satellite, or internet, which there are such things.

quote:

If you wanna grab some food - what are your options? Pretty standard: Quizno's, Subway, McDonalds, Potbelly, Starbucks.

Don't forget Wendy's, Burger King, Astro Burger, Dicks, Bossa Nova, Toi Thai, Sweet Chili Thai, Cafe Vegan, Sammy's Thai BBQ, Kiku, Tokyo Garden, Gate of India, Arby's, Coffee Bean, etc. That's just a sample of places I've been to, many of which are not chains.

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If you wanna listen to radio - what are your options? Not many. The standard stations that cater to 'mass-appeal' music, top40 stuff. Nothing unusual or alternative.

Okay I agree with you 100% on that, but onyl within the context of AM/FM. You now have options to listen to satellite radio which gives you PLENTY of diversity. And if you still don't like that, you can always shop at iTunes, Beatport, or hell, make your own music and listen to it.

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You see, America's franchising and market economy doesn't really lend itself to... er... DIVERSITY.

You see, I just gave you examples and reasons for how it DOES.

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By the way it's funny that you mention LA. I visited in 2004. I remember seeing a guy in some random bar in LA who was wearing a shirt that said, "Don't speak English? Get the fuck out." As a matter of fact, I went to that bar the same day I arrived in LA.

Of course one anecdote doesn't prove anything, but... true story.

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When I was on campus, I saw a lot of popular kids who didn't play sports or join a frat.

This is very surprising to me, and runs counter to my experience. Any other forum members willing to share their thoughts on this?

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After all, who are the largest groups of immigrants these days, Europeans? No. Mexicans and Asians.

On a bus or subway in Canada, you're very likely to run into people of the following ethnicities: Portuguese, Croatian, Russian, Polish, Italian, Romanian. Please don't tell me they're not coming to North America, because they are, in large numbers. The founder of this forum (TA) is a Portuguese immigrant living in Canada, for instance.

But I have rarely seen people of these ethnicities in the US.

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Well it looks like you went to a segregated place.

Not segregated, like I said it was full of students arriving from other places. They were arriving from KY, AL, TN, etc. And these places are overwhelmingly Anglo. Otherwise, I would have seen more blacks or Latinos or Arabs, wouldn't I?

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Your point would also be valid if there was no such thing as cable, satellite, or internet, which there are such things. .... You now have options to listen to satellite radio which gives you PLENTY of diversity. And if you still don't like that, you can always shop at iTunes, Beatport, or hell, make your own music and listen to it.

OK. But how many Americans take advantage of that? Most people in this country are quite sheltered and maybe too lazy to explore what's available to them outside of their safe little zones. Note that this is still the exact OPPOSITE of "diversity".

That's exactly why people who work in the tourism industry always say that it's easy to tell if someone is an American tourist, because, when abroad, they will usually flock to the "M" or "KFC" signs, for instance, instead of making the effort to sample local culture and cuisine.

I don't want to belabor the point, but I do want to make clear that the myth of "diversity" in the US is profoundly misunderstood and very much flawed.

Last edited by HardTranceProd on May-14-2007 at 18:37

So let me get this straight...

This guy thinks that the friendliest people...

are the people of New York?

This HAS to be a satire.

quote:

Originally posted by HardTranceProd Sigh... sooo many inaccuracies in this article. Like for example America being a "melting pot". It is NOT a melting pot, not even close. It is an Anglo-Saxon country which an Anglo culture.

I'd only apply the term Anglo Saxon to people from British descent, but at the same time anciently the UK isn't a pure Anglo Saxon country. In general a lot of indiginious Brits will come from Anglo Saxon stock though even the UK is a severly bastardised nation due to countless migrations Romans, Vikings, Normans, Celts etc.

Too much migration into the States, from all over the shot.

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quote:

Originally posted by DJ Shibby So let me get this straight... This guy thinks that the friendliest people... are the people of New York? This HAS to be a satire.

Actually I did a recent poll where NY was pretty high on the list...

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