Joe, I'm an Australian and I empathise with many of your concerns about US culture and politics. However you have tendancy to make sweeping generalisations which imply that all Americans are a certain way. Broadly speaking, I agree with the assertion that the US has more than its fair share of loud, arrogant, ignorant, materialistic, xenophobes. But to suggest that all Americans are like that is a bit like suggesting that all Australians are like Pauline Hanson. It's utter nonsense! And if I were an American I'd be offended by it. From where I sit I see you alienating many of the Americans who would otherwise agree with you and provoking the xenophobes on GFY to bash Australia. By all means criticise the US, but it might be wise to stop using phrases like, "Americans are...." These statements are NOT constructive! The simple fact is, Americans are as diverse in their character and outlook as Australians are :2 cents:

but then he wouldn't win a DVD player.

LOL, Australia and US at war...

with each other :ak47:

So Joe can sit in the post nuclear rubble and watch the DVD :thumbsup

Yes, but it is possible to generalise about Americans in the same way it's possible to generalise about Australians... about SOME things. For example, it's not inaccurate to say most Americans are extraordinarily patriotic.

I'm basing my views on my own observations and I have never once implied that ALL Americans can be put in a particular box. I must admit that very occasionally I do go too far because I let some of the clueless right-wingers on this board get to me!

Ha... that simply WILL NOT happen! Too many threads that are far longer than this one! :winkwink:

I just wish people would rubbish Australia based on all the fucked things we've done, not on what they saw on that episode of the Simpsons when they were in Australia.. that way I wouldn't have to argue when Joe pissed people off.

ahhh but you must understand that its a fake neo patriotism. This rash of flag waving is only a result of 9-11. You didnt see nearly as much flag waving before 9-11.

Your average American patriot would not even be able to pass a 7th grade quiz on their own nation's history.

Its a blind unrational uneducated patriotism.

These people are idiots, they have no idea what they are even patriotic about.

Oh, no. Everyone is becoming civil and beginning to make sense. I'm leaving for another thread.

I agree that you can make generalisations about a culture. The point that I am making is that (whether you mean to or not) MANY of your statements sound like you're suggesting that all Americans behave or think the same way.

That's because all the clueless right-wingers have left temporarily to run the stars and stripes up their flagpole and kiss their photo of George Bush good morning.

LOL, my sentiments precisely :thumbsup

Yes, but it makes them FEEL better. It must be hard for them to accept that the most powerful, richest nation in the world got bent over and butt-fucked by a raghead with a paltry $200 million to his name.

Like i said, sometimes I get pissed off and go too far.... hehehe. Just can't help myself. :winkwink:

I stand corrected. The Great Train Robbery wasn't "feature length".

thanks

Quote:

However I'm a little less inclined than you to give these Aussie-bashers the benefit of the doubt. Basically I think that if certain Americans would stop chiming-in with ignorant comments about countries they've never visited, most of Joe's shit-stirring threads would be still born. By posting moronic and witless statements they're simply supporting and encouraging Joe's arguments.

I would have disagreed with you a few days ago, but I'm beginning think you're right. I live in the San Fran, which is very international. I've got friends from all over, Europe, Latin America, S. Africa, Australia, etc. And we all give eachother shit about our countries, but it's not really serious. It's all in good fun. I thought that's what it was like on this board, but I think there are a lot of people here who take themselves just a little too seriously.

If Joe or any other Aussies indulge in a bit of US-bashing on this board I have no problem whatsoever with Americans responding in kind. Indeed Australians tend to be much less fervent in their patriotism than Americans and actually delight in a bit of well-targeted Aussie bashing. We do it to ourselves all the time and any New Zealander, Englishman, Irishman or South African knows how to play the game well.

The problem most Australians would have with the Aussie bashing that takes place on GFY is that it's not even vaguely funny or accurate and only goes to show how ignorant these people are about Australia and the rest of the World.

Bhutocracy summed it up perfectly:

BTW Jeremy, I've been to San Francisco a couple of times and love it! It's a first-rate city and reminds me a lot of Sydney where I live :thumbsup

america can lick my wang... i'd rather live in canada any day.

:thumbsup