The USA Page 2

Started by Jolene November 16th, 2010 11:55 AM
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Livewire

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Seen December 3rd, 2022
Posted August 2nd, 2019
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13.8 Years
Agreed.

I wasn't necessarily wealthy growing up; nor am I now, but I've lived a comfortable life and am able to eat, clothe myself, attend college, and work.

In America, we have a lot more freedoms than people do in Europe.
For example, people have a lot less freedoms in the UK. It is a crime to say "offensive" or otherwise politically incorrect things in public over there. We also have the right to keep and bear arms, which is a lot more restricted in Western Europe.

We also pay way less taxes on average than people in Western European nations do.
And the Parliamentary system essential creates one-party rule for a certain period of time. Here in America, we have a balance of powers. Not only a balance between the different branches of the federal government; but also a balance between the federal government and the states.
Like Aura said, try seeing yourself in their shoes for a change. Change your perspective outside of your comfort zone. Unless you've been there, studied the culture, the language, customs, etc, I wouldn't consider it wise to speak for them and to generalize like that. Certainly there are some advantages and disadvantages between us, but there is nothing wrong with Europe for those aforementioned reasons, and they certainly enjoy just as many freedoms as we do.
Section Eight
Seen May 19th, 2012
Posted May 18th, 2012
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I honestly don't see why America is so hated, though. I think it's more of a long-term effect from the Hippie culture, where Americans hated America, and the rest of the world followed suit.

As for the Soulless Capitalist America...

Yeah, I've actually gotta agree. Going to Mobile, I'm... Well, not exactly disgusted, but there are some places that I wouldn't be caught dead in, or else I'd be found dead in (<-White Catholic).

So, yeah.

Then again, every country, by necessity, has cities. And I'd rather take my chances in Mobile than, say, the rougher parts of London, Sydney, Moscow, etc.

As for Detroit... Eh, come to the South. New Orleans, once you get past the annoying Mardi Gras stereotypes, has some history. Personally, that's why I prefer the South. We're stereotyped to Hell and back, but, once you get past it, we have culture, and friendliness.


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As I said, can't judge a place I haven't been. If I go to New Orleans I'll take your word for it.
Section Eight
Seen May 19th, 2012
Posted May 18th, 2012
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As I said, can't judge a place I haven't been. If I go to New Orleans I'll take your word for it.
Don't get me wrong. New Orleans, like most cities, scares the living crap out of me, and I wouldn't go there alone. I definitely wouldn't go near 90% of New Orleans near Mardi Gras.

However, there are some absolutely beautiful spots, and some... interesting ones. Tulane, Loyola, and Bourbon Street are the biggest ones, for me.


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FreakyLocz14

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Like Aura said, try seeing yourself in their shoes for a change. Change your perspective outside of your comfort zone. Unless you've been there, studied the culture, the language, customs, etc, I wouldn't consider it wise to speak for them and to generalize like that. Certainly there are some advantages and disadvantages between us, but there is nothing wrong with Europe for those aforementioned reasons, and they certainly enjoy just as many freedoms as we do.
Limiting speech is a limitation of freedom no matter where you're at. What value you as an individual and what value a people's nation places on that is subjective. Any limitation on what a person can do or say is a limitation on their freedom. Whether or not that freedom is worth preserving is subjective.

In fact, this entire thread is subjective. There's no way around that.

Archer

NSW, Australia
Seen January 26th, 2020
Posted January 5th, 2020
3,956 posts
16.6 Years
there is that "WE'RE AMERICAN, WE DO EVERYTHING RIGHT" steryotypical mentality
That's the one thing that annoys me. Measurements, spellings, driving on the opposite side of the road to the English to be different (something France is also guilty of) and the "God is on America's side" motto all stack up. Yes, it's a powerful and good nation, but blind patriotism always confused me - anywhere.
1. "Not my ideals" =/= "Ridiculous."
2. Religion is allowed to stand in the way of scientific progress? That's not religion, ma'am, that's "ethics."
Very true. I can't find where it was said, but someone mentioned "[America] lets everyone in." If you're going to do that, you need to have a strong religion. I think people will find many of the laws that we find "ethical" are purely based on religion. If you let people come in and then pander to the minorities, letting them do whatever they like (something Australia is far too guilty of) then they're going to take over. When the base religion is messed with, it can send a countries values into turmoil.
Then again, every country, by necessity, has cities. And I'd rather take my chances in Mobile than, say, the rougher parts of London, Sydney, Moscow, etc.
Australian Sydney? Uh... If you carry a laptop into a dark alley in the middle of the night in the worst suburbs... maybe. I don't know what the hell it's doing in the list, though.

I really don't have anything against America and I am quite happy that they're the world power in place of certain other nations. I think the dislike is just a backlash to the over-zealous patriotism.

I think you will all remember a certain member of this forum making a thread that insulted basically every staff member and then threatened "you can't touch me because I am an American citizen." I am aware that it's probably a minority thing, but it's there and it's bloody annoying.
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It's not the best country, no country is...
I kind of hate what we try to be, we try to please everyone in the world, and that's a good thing but some countries don't want our help...it's like a kid trying to help another and the other kid punches you in the face for trying to help them...
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Fail. I meant Melbourne, Brisbane, etc. I know people from those cities, and... yeah.
Yeah, I can back that up. Melbourne city is pretty scary at night, like in the past ten years it's gone from safe to full of drunks with knives. Scary stuff.

Every country has its advantages and disadvantages. Personally I prefer living in Australia to living in America, and there are a couple of countries I would prefer to live in above the US, but it's great for holidays and seeing bands.

Livewire

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Posted August 2nd, 2019
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13.8 Years
Limiting speech is a limitation of freedom no matter where you're at. What value you as an individual and what value a people's nation places on that is subjective. Any limitation on what a person can do or say is a limitation on their freedom. Whether or not that freedom is worth preserving is subjective.

In fact, this entire thread is subjective. There's no way around that.
From your viewpoint, maybe that's true. I'm sorry but people cannot do and say whatever they please. We (the USA) have laws that need to be followed. There is a very fine line between what is a "personal freedom" and what isn't. You can't walk into a crowded building and bellow FIRE! at the top of your lungs. That isn't exercising a "personal freedom", that's inciting panic and it will get you arrested, and rightfully so.


But you're right, it is subjective and interpretations can vary wildly.

Europe does things differently than we do, simple as that. So what. My point still stands though. Unless your extremely well versed in their culture, don't judge them by the conventions of your own. Judging another culture through the eyes/standards of your own, aka Ethnocentrism, is bad.
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15.8 Years

That many countries, that close together, for that many years... That creates stereotypes, bias, prejudice, etc. I've lived there, so... yeah.
We have absolutely none of that in America. I mean, despite the fact that, in the 21st century we live in a culture that refuses to acknowledge homosexual marriage, where women still make $.77 on the $1 to men, and where half the members of a major political party refuse to accept a President's legitimacy, based on the color of his skin. Where we still have active hate groups such as the Westborough Baptist church, who protested my high school only just recently holding up their signs that say "God hates hags," etc. Yep, good ol' America.

1. "Not my ideals" =/= "Ridiculous."
2. Religion is allowed to stand in the way of scientific progress? That's not religion, ma'am, that's "ethics."
Religion does, most definitely, stand in the way of scientific progress. Christianity, for example? Your bible says that the world was created in 6th days, with humans being created in their present form on the sixth day. Any sensible person knows that the earth is at least 4 Billion years old, yet Evangelical Christians will still argue that the earth is a product of their "God," and only several thousand years old, without any factual evidence to support their claim. Personally, I see that as dangerous thinking, especially given religion's history of rejecting scientific claims that contradict their scriptures.

Do I think Religion itself is dangerous? Not necessarily. When practiced on a personal level, religion itself isn't evil. Whatever you want to believe is A-OK with me. However, when your religious beliefs, morals, or ethics begin to intrude on the beliefs of others in your society, as practicers of religion have done all throughout history, it is then that religion becomes the root of all evil.

Let's examine some of the more prosperous nations of Europe:
Liechtenstein (~80% Roman Catholic)
Finland (~98% Lutheran Church of Finland, remaining 2% mostly Orthodox)
Sweden (~95.2% Church of Sweden)
Switzerland (77% various religious (No official church, too divided among various faiths))
Denmark (92% Church of Denmark)
Norway (87% Church of Norway, ~5% other Christian denominations)
Eh?
"Eh?" is right. Would love to know where you got these statistics from. Wikipedia, perhaps? I was curious when I saw the claim that Finland is "98% Lutherian," because I always remembered Finland for having a relatively high Atheist population. So naturally, I checked up on it. Did you, perhaps, use wikipedia in constructing these numbers? Because it does say Finland was 98% Lutherian...in the year 1900. Since then, that number has dropped to about 80%, with an estimated 18% identifying themselves as "non religious."

Sweden? You stated that "95% belong to the church of Sweden." Wrong again, wouldn't you know! Since 1972, that number has dropped down to a mere 71%.

Denmark? More old statistics. The number above says 92% belonging to the church of Denmark. That percentage has dropped, quite drastically I might add, in the past 3 decades to ~80%.

And Noway? You said 87%, which was correct in the year 2001. That number now stands at 79%. Yet another drastic of decline of 8% in a span of just under 10 years.

My point is, being religious doesn't make you backwards and horrible.
My point is not that either. There are good people of every creed, color, and religion on the world, as well as bad. My point is that you should not attempt to use statistics in support of your claim until you take the time to check over your facts :B

So... You're whining that religion has too tight a grip, but you're also whining that our educational system doesn't stamp out any and all alternate beliefs?
See:
Secularism, n: The view that religious considerations should be excluded from civil affairs or public education

Explain, please. You can't fight for equality, and then demand that religion is completely wiped out. If I have to learn the history of Islam and the Middle East for the sake of political correctness, I refuse to let anybody eliminate Christianity from European history. An no, "We'll just teach the bad parts of Christianity, like the Inquisition!" doesn't cut it. If you do that, I want the massacres of the Confucians to be known. I'm sick of this forced political correctness.
...But no one is teaching the beliefs of Islam in school, only the history. Religion has played a very big role in history; this is indisputable. You're not being taught Islamic beliefs as if they're any sort of "fact," merely the history of Islam, and how it has impacted the world, past and present. We do the same for Christianity too.

I'm not happy about having political correctness shoved down my throat, but I bear it. You can bare seeing the words "Evolution is a theory."
And I'm not happy seeing ignorance either. The word "theory" has a very different meaning when talking in terms of science.

The formal scientific definition of theory is quite different from the everyday meaning of the word. It refers to a comprehensive explanation of some aspect of nature that is supported by a vast body of evidence. Many scientific theories are so well established that no new evidence is likely to alter them substantially. For example, no new evidence will demonstrate that the Earth does not orbit around the sun (heliocentric theory), or that living things are not made of cells (cell theory), that matter is not composed of atoms, or that the surface of the Earth is not divided into solid plates that have moved over geological timescales (the theory of plate tectonics). One of the most useful properties of scientific theories is that they can be used to make predictions about natural events or phenomena that have not yet been observed.

....By that same logic, the concept of gravity is only a "theory." Or should we also be taught the alternative explanation of "theological force?"

(#18. I heard the Eiffel Tower was a popular spot, 'specially around Christmas)
You are so funny.

Additionally, an American household is near the top of the charts in terms of disposable income. And, despite the whole "American employees are treated like crap!" argument, Americans still make some of the highest wages on average.
Yeah...but you failed to mention the fact that we also have among longest yearly work schedule of any other country, with the least number of vacations.

Do your research, please. I had to do a lot in order to correct you, and I'm glad I did.
Irony is a beautiful thing.

You look those young men in the face, and tell them that. You tell them that they're fighting an unjust war, for a country that you're ashamed of.
lalalalala, what the hell kind of argument is this? Is this an attempt at trying to make someone feel bad for not agreeing with your views?

Tell them that they've made the wrong choice. If they're religious, tell them that God won't save them, because there is no God.
Whether or not there is a God is irrelevant~ Soldiers have a right to believe what they want, as does any citizen. I sympathize with the military as well, but they knew what they signed up for.

Pull a Vietnam on them. Spit in their faces. After all, what more do they deserve.
More guilt, YAAAY ^___^

God bless America. Thank you for making me do my homework, Jolene. My faith is renewed.
Really? Because reading through your post here has caused my faith in the average American to drop slightly 8)

TRIFORCE89

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I'm a military brat. Hoo boy, here we go...

Go to any military base in America.

Any. Military. Base.

You look those young men in the face, and tell them that. You tell them that they're fighting an unjust war, for a country that you're ashamed of.

Tell them that they've made the wrong choice. If they're religious, tell them that God won't save them, because there is no God.

Pull a Vietnam on them. Spit in their faces. After all, what more do they deserve.
I don't see what that has to do with anything at all. The military is not the country. And any unrest or dislike of either of the wars (or any other combat missions) would be directed at those responsible for making the decision - not at men and women just doing their job.

What does religious belief have to do with anything either? I think the war was illogical. But I believe in God. Where's the relationship there? O_o

They didn't make the wrong choice. They signed up to serve their country. Respectable. Honourable. We thank them. Or the Americans thank them, I guess. I'm not American. You can support the troops, but disagree with the battle - which wasn't the decision of those fighting.

How thinking that their lives are being unjustly thrown away is insulting to them is beyond me. Thinking that not that all war is unjust or unnecessary, but that this one was and needlessly destroying lives and families. Might as well just say "Go jump of a cliff. It's needless. But it's a sacrifice. Your family will be torn. But we'll thank you for it" then.

Dawn

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And I'm Canadian, so I've absorbed quite a bit of American culture. On the whole it could definitely use a lot of improvements
Woah woah, hold up just a second. How would you like it if someone you didn't even ask started telling you you needed to change your culture? Not very much. That's because it's not very nice, at all. Culture doesn't work that way. It isn't something you change to make more efficient.



...There's that, and I question how appropriate it is to talk about the culture of a country with such a diverse culture. I mean really. That seems like a terrible generalization to me.
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Rich Boy Rob

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America's kinda cool, but I can't say I don't disagree with some of the country's ideals. For starters the whole idea of anyone being aloud to own a firearm makes no sense to me, the extreme republicanism that has a seemingly huge proportion of the country in a stranglehold of religion and racism, just look at the reaction to Obama's election. There also seems to be a lot more sexual censorship in the US than most of western Europe.

We also pay way less taxes on average than people in Western European nations do.
Why is that good exactly? Higher taxes are higher for a reason, they pay for things like schools and hospitals. Speaking of which; why is medicine in America treated like a business? And why was the idea for an NHS attacked like that? How is free health care bad?
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FreakyLocz14

Conservative Patriot

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Posted August 28th, 2018
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14 Years


From your viewpoint, maybe that's true. I'm sorry but people cannot do and say whatever they please. We (the USA) have laws that need to be followed. There is a very fine line between what is a "personal freedom" and what isn't. You can't walk into a crowded building and bellow FIRE! at the top of your lungs. That isn't exercising a "personal freedom", that's inciting panic and it will get you arrested, and rightfully so.


But you're right, it is subjective and interpretations can vary wildly.

Europe does things differently than we do, simple as that. So what. My point still stands though. Unless your extremely well versed in their culture, don't judge them by the conventions of your own. Judging another culture through the eyes/standards of your own, aka Ethnocentrism, is bad.
I never said that people should be able do anything they want, but restricting it is restricting their freedom. Absolute freedom would create a state of anarchy; but it would be ultimate freedom. Any sort of government regulation is a restriction on personal freedom. The government; however has to limit some personal freedoms in order to keep society safe and in order.

Amai

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Here are the only tolerable countries in my opinion:
Canada, Argentina, Sweden, Norway, The Netherlands, Iceland, Belgium, Spain, Portugal, and South Africa

These states in the US are tolerable:
Iowa, Vermont, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Connecticut

Maybe California, we'll see on December 8th.

..and these cities:
Mexico City, DC (It's a district, not a city, but yeah)

These are the countries that..well, let's just say if I was President I'd probably invade them and try to establish a better government:
Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Morocco, Sudan, Tunisia, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Liberia, Mauritania, Nigeria, Senegal, Togo, Angola, Cameroon, São Tomé and Príncipe, Burundi, Comoros, Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Mauritius, Seychelles, Somalia, Uganda, Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia, Swaziland, Western Sahara, Somaliland, Belize, Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, Barbados, Saint Lucia, Jamaica (yes, Jamaica), Saint Kitts and Nevis, Guyana, Trinidad and Tobago, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Lebanon, Kuwait, Oman, Palestinian territories (Gaza), Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Yemen, United Arab Emirates, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, Maldives, Iran, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, North Korea, Brunei, Burma, Malaysia, Singapore, Turkish Republic Northern Cyprus, Solomon Islands, Papua New Guinea, Vanuatu, Nauru, Kiribati, Palau, Cook Islands, Samoa, Tuvalu, and Tonga.

As you can see, although the USA is not on the tolerated list, it is not on the intolerable list either. So it's pretty neutral. My dream in life is to put it on the tolerated list.

By the way, if anyone can reply with the reason why all those countries are on the intolerable list, I will personally bow down to your greatness.
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I like to put America as Mexico, Canada, and the USA as a whole. Mexico for it's corruption, USA for it's BS in the government, and Canada for having the people living USSR style.....only with the option of "Free-thinking", but none of us actually used it. /sarcasm

Stephen Harper: Take monies frum skool n' use it 4 govnmintz purpoz
Me: Why not take money from prisons? You know, the T.V, X box, Internet and clean toilets.....
Canadians: *GASP*


If you go to Pakistan where women go to prison for being raped....say "Why do you wave your country's flag?". Sure the US Government is spitting nothing but BS right now, but I can say the same for Canada, Sweden, Russia, China, Vietnam, Saudi Arabia, Uzbekistan, South Africa, and Mexico as a few examples.


For my opinion on the US: Not a terrible country, if you want a horrid developed country, try Greece, it's a mess over there, to the point people suggest they leave the Euro Zone. If you've never been there, your insults on them is invalid.

I feel sorry for average German citizens getting dogged by basically everyone.....

FreakyLocz14

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Posted August 28th, 2018
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Why is that good exactly? Higher taxes are higher for a reason, they pay for things like schools and hospitals. Speaking of which; why is medicine in America treated like a business? And why was the idea for an NHS attacked like that? How is free health care bad?
You have to understand American political culture to understand why we value low taxes. We're a capitalist society, so we don't believe that the government should be providing services that we prefer private businesses to handle. And healthcare in America is a business. We have some the highest quality of healthcare in the world because of this. Free health care isn't really free. Nothing in this world is free. In order to have an NHS, we would have to pay for other people's healthcare. Call it selfish if you want, but Americans have a "Government: Stay out of my way!" political attitude for the most part.

Here are the only tolerable countries in my opinion:
Canada, Argentina, Sweden, Norway, The Netherlands, Iceland, Belgium, Spain, Portugal, and South Africa

These states in the US are tolerable:
Iowa, Vermont, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Connecticut

Maybe California, we'll see on December 8th.

..and these cities:
Mexico City, DC (It's a district, not a city, but yeah)

These are the countries that..well, let's just say if I was President I'd probably invade them and try to establish a better government:
Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Morocco, Sudan, Tunisia, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Liberia, Mauritania, Nigeria, Senegal, Togo, Angola, Cameroon, São Tomé and Príncipe, Burundi, Comoros, Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Mauritius, Seychelles, Somalia, Uganda, Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia, Swaziland, Western Sahara, Somaliland, Belize, Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, Barbados, Saint Lucia, Jamaica (yes, Jamaica), Saint Kitts and Nevis, Guyana, Trinidad and Tobago, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Lebanon, Kuwait, Oman, Palestinian territories (Gaza), Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Yemen, United Arab Emirates, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, Maldives, Iran, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, North Korea, Brunei, Burma, Malaysia, Singapore, Turkish Republic Northern Cyprus, Solomon Islands, Papua New Guinea, Vanuatu, Nauru, Kiribati, Palau, Cook Islands, Samoa, Tuvalu, and Tonga.

As you can see, although the USA is not on the tolerated list, it is not on the intolerable list either. So it's pretty neutral. My dream in life is to put it on the tolerated list.

By the way, if anyone can reply with the reason why all those countries are on the intolerable list, I will personally bow down to your greatness.
My Wild Guess: For their recognition (or non-recognition) of same-sex marriage. You would have to include California in that list.

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That's the one thing that annoys me. Measurements, spellings, driving on the opposite side of the road
I agree on any Australians on this one since New Zealand and Aus are kinda similar in the way we look at America.
I think that if I ever did move there I'd probably die driving on the wrong side of the road with confusion o_o

Measurments and Spelling is another thing. I mean whenever I talk/Skype any of my Forum friends I get into the habit of spelling it the other way - Mom/Mum etc.

Also how Americans say words differently than we do sometimes
EG Jandals - Flip Flops
Bickies - biscuits - Cookies
Block - Man
Bugger - Disappointed
Kumara - Sweet Potato
Jersey - Sweater

People who meet me say that I have an American Accent though I was born in New Zealand and I've never lived anywhere else (And I've been to America one when I was 5)
I personally do like the American accent but I've recently learnt that the accent can vary between States? Is that true and how can it differ?


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I agree on any Australians on this one since New Zealand and Aus are kinda similar in the way we look at America.
I think that if I ever did move there I'd probably die driving on the wrong side of the road with confusion o_o

Measurments and Spelling is another thing. I mean whenever I talk/Skype any of my Forum friends I get into the habit of spelling it the other way - Mom/Mum etc.

Also how Americans say words differently than we do sometimes
EG Jandals - Flip Flops
Bickies - biscuits - Cookies
Block - Man
Bugger - Disappointed
Kumara - Sweet Potato
Jersey - Sweater

People who meet me say that I have an American Accent though I was born in New Zealand and I've never lived anywhere else (And I've been to America one when I was 5)
I personally do like the American accent but I've recently learnt that the accent can vary between States? Is that true and how can it differ?
Quite honestly, we Americans find your word choices odd as well.
(Bickies? I always laughed at that xD)

And, yes, you can get a few different accents around here.
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I like to put America as Mexico, Canada, and the USA as a whole. Mexico for it's corruption, USA for it's BS in the government, and Canada for having the people living USSR style.....only with the option of "Free-thinking", but none of us actually used it. /sarcasm

Stephen Harper: Take monies frum skool n' use it 4 govnmintz purpoz
Me: Why not take money from prisons? You know, the T.V, X box, Internet and clean toilets.....
Canadians: *GASP*


If you go to Pakistan where women go to prison for being raped....say "Why do you wave your country's flag?". Sure the US Government is spitting nothing but BS right now, but I can say the same for Canada, Sweden, Russia, China, Vietnam, Saudi Arabia, Uzbekistan, South Africa, and Mexico as a few examples.


For my opinion on the US: Not a terrible country, if you want a horrid developed country, try Greece, it's a mess over there, to the point people suggest they leave the Euro Zone. If you've never been there, your insults on them is invalid.

I feel sorry for average German citizens getting dogged by basically everyone.....
Yeah those countries are kind of messed up, the world as a whole is pretty messed up but then again when has it never been messed up?
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Timbjerr

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I personally do like the American accent but I've recently learnt that the accent can vary between States? Is that true and how can it differ?
If you've got an hour or two to waste, there's a TVTropes article on this. XD

It's the same concept of there not being a central British accent. What most non-Brits call a British accent is just a simplified Cockney accent and what most non-Americans call an American accent is a variant of the Midwestern accent. :P

Livewire

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Posted August 2nd, 2019
14,091 posts
13.8 Years
Here are the only tolerable countries in my opinion:
Canada, Argentina, Sweden, Norway, The Netherlands, Iceland, Belgium, Spain, Portugal, and South Africa

These states in the US are tolerable:
Iowa, Vermont, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Connecticut

Maybe California, we'll see on December 8th.

..and these cities:
Mexico City, DC (It's a district, not a city, but yeah)

These are the countries that..well, let's just say if I was President I'd probably invade them and try to establish a better government:
Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Morocco, Sudan, Tunisia, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Liberia, Mauritania, Nigeria, Senegal, Togo, Angola, Cameroon, São Tomé and Príncipe, Burundi, Comoros, Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Mauritius, Seychelles, Somalia, Uganda, Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia, Swaziland, Western Sahara, Somaliland, Belize, Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, Barbados, Saint Lucia, Jamaica (yes, Jamaica), Saint Kitts and Nevis, Guyana, Trinidad and Tobago, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Lebanon, Kuwait, Oman, Palestinian territories (Gaza), Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Yemen, United Arab Emirates, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, Maldives, Iran, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, North Korea, Brunei, Burma, Malaysia, Singapore, Turkish Republic Northern Cyprus, Solomon Islands, Papua New Guinea, Vanuatu, Nauru, Kiribati, Palau, Cook Islands, Samoa, Tuvalu, and Tonga.

By the way, if anyone can reply with the reason why all those countries are on the intolerable list, I will personally bow down to your greatness.
I can see why you added the Eastern states, but Iowa? /is perplexed

My guess would be they are all either:

A. Third World Dictatorships
B. Extremely Right-Wing Islamic Theocracies
C. Nations with disgusting human rights records
D. Extremely poor nations, in terms of overall GDP


You have to understand American political culture to understand why we value low taxes. We're a capitalist society, so we don't believe that the government should be providing services that we prefer private businesses to handle. And healthcare in America is a business. We have some the highest quality of healthcare in the world because of this. Free health care isn't really free. Nothing in this world is free. In order to have an NHS, we would have to pay for other people's healthcare. Call it selfish if you want, but American's have a "Government: Stay out of my way!" political attitude for the most part.
That's an apt description of the conservative side of the argument, yes, but-

We like to whine about everything wrong with country, from SS to our infrastructure, yet we don't seem to want to pay up to fix it. That's mostly because our Politicians have done a great job of employing politics of fear and incitement that promote selfishness and greed. The best way to get elected in the united States is to cater to the "mob mentality" and scare the people into thinking your opponent will raise their taxes. It's a fool-proof strategy, even George Bush figured that one out. The emphasis on individualism and materialism is disgusting.

FreakyLocz14

Conservative Patriot

Male
Seen August 29th, 2018
Posted August 28th, 2018
3,497 posts
14 Years


I can see why you added the Eastern states, but Iowa? /is perplexed

My guess would be they are all either:

A. Third World Dictatorships
B. Extremely Right-Wing Islamic Theocracies
C. Nations with disgusting human rights records
D. Extremely poor nations, in terms of overall GDP




That's an apt description of the conservative side of the argument, yes, but-

We like to whine about everything wrong with country, from SS to our infrastructure, yet we don't seem to want to pay up to fix it. That's mostly because our Politicians have done a great job of employing politics of fear and incitement that promote selfishness and greed. The best way to get elected in the united States is to cater to the "mob mentality" and scare the people into thinking your opponent will raise their taxes. It's a fool-proof strategy, even George Bush figured that one out. The emphasis on individualism and materialism is disgusting.
There's noting disgusting about individualism. Our Constitution is based on individualist thinking.

And I was trying to emphasize that we cringe at the mention of higher taxes. Suggest that taxes should be raised, and your chances of election are slim even in left-leaning parts of the country.

And OP was referencing states and countries based on whether or not they recognize same-sex marriages.

TRIFORCE89

Guide of Darkness

Age 33
Male
Temple of Light
Seen November 25th, 2017
Posted October 21st, 2016
8,122 posts
19.1 Years
I like to put America as Mexico, Canada, and the USA as a whole. Mexico for it's corruption, USA for it's BS in the government, and Canada for having the people living USSR style.....only with the option of "Free-thinking", but none of us actually used it. /sarcasm

Stephen Harper: Take monies frum skool n' use it 4 govnmintz purpoz
Me: Why not take money from prisons? You know, the T.V, X box, Internet and clean toilets.....
Canadians: *GASP*
Not to make this a thread on Canada. But education is an exclusive Provincial responsibility. Not Federal. So, Harper can't "take monies frum skool n' use it 4 governmintz purpoz"