I don't think people in Europe actually dislike Americans per se, rather their attitudes and the 'American dream'. Freedom to carry guns, homophobia, capitalism, imperialism and a love of war, stuff like that. I know I personally can find their attitudes towards certain things, such as anyone who's not christian or those who are LGBT+ as disgusting and archaic, and don't even get me started on their love of their military forces and military supremacy. The one day-to-day thing about Americans (not America as a whole) that really annoys me though is 'aluminum' (aluminium), 'gotten', 'labor' (labour), omitted small words (like in the phrase 'write (to) me'), 'math' (maths), 'realize' (realise) and other Americanisms.
I saw someone mention that America is a better world superpower than Russia or China... is it? That comment that the opinions of any country that hadn't put a man on the moon is to be disregarded, elitist somewhat?- that sort of attitude is what I don't like about America. On the other hand, America does make good sci-fi 'movies', but they do (almost) always seem to star an American white in the lead role (only examples to the contrary include Independence Day, I Robot and perhaps a few others), regardless of the era or country involved, oh and Brits talk with clear Americanisms.
The biggest things for me by far are the bigotry towards LGBT+ individuals (yes, I realise the law has changed... the attitudes of those that don't like it haven't... westboro 'church' and its followers wouldn't be tolerated anywhere else), the attitude towards other religions, especially Muslims (although not my favourite subject (I don't really approve of the idea of religion as a whole, it causes too much harm) I don't target individual religions and certainly not the individuals who believe in the religion). And, similar to an attitude shared throughout Europe, I of course hate the American love affair with guns and weapons (of mass destruction)
You ^ have a problem with 1600 years of western civ and don't know it (I suppose China is better at marrying boys to each other etc?). America tends to preserve longer what Europe/UK gave up sooner. US uses words like "soccer" and "herb" because England used to use them. Most genuine, surviving Elizabethan dialects are supposedly on Islands in Maryland.
You ^ have a problem with 1000 years of western civ and don't know it (I suppose China is better at marrying boys to each other etc?). America tends to preserve longer what Europe/UK gave up sooner. US uses "soccer" and "herb" because England used to use them.
I do not know enough about China to comment on its LGBT attitudes, although from what you just said, I presume they're worse than America?
If England does not use it in their vocabulary, then its not English. Okay, its 'Old English' at a push, I guess
I don't think people in Europe actually dislike Americans per se, rather their attitudes and the 'American dream'. Freedom to carry guns, homophobia, capitalism, imperialism and a love of war, stuff like that. I know I personally can find their attitudes towards certain things, such as anyone who's not christian or those who are LGBT+ as disgusting and archaic, and don't even get me started on their love of their military forces and military supremacy. The one day-to-day thing about Americans (not America as a whole) that really annoys me though is 'aluminum' (aluminium), 'gotten', 'labor' (labour), omitted small words (like in the phrase 'write (to) me'), 'math' (maths), 'realize' (realise) and other Americanisms.
I saw someone mention that America is a better world superpower than Russia or China... is it? That comment that the opinions of any country that hadn't put a man on the moon is to be disregarded, elitist somewhat?- that sort of attitude is what I don't like about America. On the other hand, America does make good sci-fi 'movies', but they do (almost) always seem to star an American white in the lead role (only examples to the contrary include Independence Day, I Robot and perhaps a few others), regardless of the era or country involved, oh and Brits talk with clear Americanisms.
The biggest things for me by far are the bigotry towards LGBT+ individuals (yes, I realise the law has changed... the attitudes of those that don't like it haven't... westboro 'church' and its followers wouldn't be tolerated anywhere else), the attitude towards other religions, especially Muslims (although not my favourite subject (I don't really approve of the idea of religion as a whole, it causes too much harm) I don't target individual religions and certainly not the individuals who believe in the religion). And, similar to an attitude shared throughout Europe, I of course hate the American love affair with guns and weapons (of mass destruction)
This is me trying to hold in the urge to respond inappropriately and offensively to you.
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Last edited by Amaryllis : 27-09-2016 at 04:25 PM.
Reason: moved gif to hide box
I answered the question, and explained how those (Europeans, Brits or otherwise) that do not approve of american values (such as the 'right to carry arms'), do not dislike american people, rather the ideals that they have
Quote:
Originally Posted by htaediii
English people speak English, American people speak American, totally different languages.
True, but why is american still called english (on, for example computers)
Last edited by tiptoes : 24-09-2016 at 01:51 PM.
Reason: mean sarcasm
True, but why is american still called english (on, for example computers)
Probably because Americans invented personal computers, their operating systems, mobile phones, the internet, Facebook, twitter, Youtube, Instagram, Snapchat, Steam, dART, iTunes, MySpace etc. I don't don't what device you're on but go back to its development and you can thank an American (not that they would care). Props to Tim Berners Lee of course
Probably because Americans invented personal computers, their operating systems, mobile phones, the internet, Facebook, twitter, Youtube, Instagram, Snapchat, Steam, dART, iTunes, MySpace etc. I don't don't what device you're on but go back to its development and you can thank an American (not that they would care). Props to Tim Berners Lee of course
But then if you look at the ancestry of those people a lot of them descend from Europeans, or if you really want to go all out you could argue that technically all inventions are from Africa. Given that is where humanity apparently originated.
The only thing i really dislike about America is the conception that some people have that Europe is a country not a continent.
Everyone's (so long as not offensive) opinions are valid. The phrase agree to disagree comes to mind. I haven't always followed it myself but I think it's a good plan.
'Never forget what you are. The rest of the world will not. Wear it like armor, and it can never be used to hurt you.'
['There is only one thing we say to death. Not today'.']
'We are each our own devil, and we make this world our hell. Oscar Wilde
Its hard to dance with the devil on your back. Sydney Carter
But then if you look at the ancestry of those people a lot of them descend from Europeans, or if you really want to go all out you could argue that technically all inventions are from Africa. Given that is where humanity apparently originated.
The only thing i really dislike about America is the conception that some people have that Europe is a country not a continent.
I did say (in an earlier post) that broad, common elements that define a civilisation will be central to any participating states, cultures etc despite some differences etc. The EU's remaining members have much more in common with US than they will ever have with China.
The political philosophy of the US wouldn't have been possible without Greece, Rome, the Magna Carta, the Bible, Hobbes, Locke etc. Right now I have more in common with a dead Charlemange than a living Xi Jinping.
The thing that made America stand out within its shared civilsation was its commitment to citizen sovereignty - meaning power resided with the people vs royals, military, oligarchs etc. That's a reason citizens have a right to keep their weapons. If nobody can have arms then the people are not ultimately in sovereign power.
People can hear the term "American Exceptionalism" and think it means the people are exceptional and that's not what it means. The American "exception" is the source of ultimate power - the people. A baby born in US and put in cannibal society will be a cannibal. A cannibal baby put in US wont be a cannibal (maybe soon though lol) . So the "exceptional" bit has nothing to do with personal make-up.
Another individual feature is US formed with acknowledgment of a "creator" who is the source of human rights. The French Revolution didn't have that and was secular. But that feature would still be central to Western Civilisation. Europe is more hostile to that idea because it had a longer history of clerical abuses and tips more secular. Many more people go to churches in US than in France but US and France still exist in same civilisation and have much more in common than not.
Outside of Western Civilisation there are broad differences so I don't see general shared lines of development. As uplifting civilisation declines debasing cultures rise. Rome was followed by barbarian hordes. Not many sophisticated political refinements are possible. While all people might be created equal all cultures are not. Some cultures have a central appetite to destroy individual dignity. If a cannibal ponders thoughtfully and then says to their mates "humm - there's something wrong with eating people" - they end up in the soup pot.
An any case, across the board, you currently see Western Civilisation everywhere fraying at the edges and that's a bad sign as civilsations go.
Last edited by Isoverity : 30-08-2016 at 05:45 PM.
I think people dislike Americans (yes, Americans as a people, not America as a country) cos Americans are elitist and think they're better than everyone else, they have a slightly puffed up attitude about themselves and demeaning attitudes towards everyone else (including Europeans, then they wonder why people don't like them?)
here's another thing that you do (and one of my main reasons for disliking America): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-22tna7KHzI and how about this https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xfpMEin8D4c, I quote: "top five guns for 'home defense'" (my other main reason for disliking America). Violence, violence, violence & more violence.
Last edited by tiptoes : 24-09-2016 at 01:53 PM.
Reason: mean sarcasm
most americans have european blood somewhere in their lines, and some europeans have american blood somewhere in their lines.
along with that, everyone had the same accent (which was actually closer to the average american accent than the british accent) in the late 1700s, which honestly wasn't that long ago.
when it comes down to it you can stereotype a country, but the people in it sometimes deviate from the stereotypes, especially in a country as large as the one we're currently discussing. if anything a stereotype for most European countries is going to be closer to reality because the area you're making a general statement for is dramatically smaller.
Last edited by lord of luck : 06-09-2016 at 01:58 AM.
Reason: spelling
most americans have european blood somewhere in their lines, and some europeans have american blood somewhere in their lines.
along with that, everyone had the same accent (which was actually closer to the average american accent than the british accent) in the late 1700s, which honestly wasn't that long ago.
when it comes down to it you can stereotype a country, but the people in it sometimes deviate from the stereotypes, especially in a country as large as the one we're currently discussing. if anything a stereotype for most European countries is going to be closer to reality because the area you're making a general statement for is dramatically smaller.
In the late 1700's what is now known as 'American English' was 'proper' English, so in a way American is in fact old English.
Most of America has a love of guns, and of war, as evidenced by the NRA's ability to block any gun controls that would prevent further massacres
It's a weird coincidence that pretty much every mass shooting has happened in a "gun free zone"...just something to think about.
does that matter? Guns are so easily obtained in America that you probably wouldn't have to go far to be outside a 'gun free zone' to reach a supermarket that sells them, buy one there and take it back
