What are the worst things you've heard someone say about your culture or country here in the States?

[Ladylethal 12]

I have to disagree about Europeans being more worldly because they get more vacation time and travel to a foreign country is easier. You only need to take one look at any of the more southern parts of Europe, especially on the Med, to see the endless sales boards outside restaurants offering "Bangers and Mash" or "Fish and Chips" to see that while we (meaning Brits) might travel abroad, we often fail to actually experience the culture of the country. What good is there in traveling if you're only there for the weather? I've had people ask me what on earth I'm going to do if "it doesn't work out?" ... Hmmm, come back maybe? Makes me feel like I'm being launched into orbit, ground control to Uncle Sam or something...

Ahh, but even there you have europeans and europeans ... I meant it's easier to become in contact with different cultures, which doesn't mean everyone does. At least that's how it seems coming from a country where our currency (Real) values 1 to 0.40 Euros and 0.50 dollars. That combined with our laughable minimum wage makes it tougher for us to even begin to experience out of continent trips.

[Ali G. 37]

What are they world leaders in? What have they invented? What have they given to the world? They aren't even a major player in the world economy. Australia is more like a yacht club or country club. It the country disappeared tomorrow it would have no effect on the global economy or security. It's a nice place to live, that's it and that's fine.

Man, you really are thick. I bet your granddaddy was on the Titanic, still talking up the ship as it sank..

I have posted 100 times now what they outrank you in.

Edited March 6, 2010 by Booyah

[Susita 175]

Man, you really are thick. I bet your granddaddy was on the Titanic, still talking up the ship as it sank..

I don't seem to understand why when you all debate, it turns into this.

[Ali G. 37]

I don't seem to understand why when you all debate, it turns into this.

Some people clearly cannot accept reality. As such, rather than deal with it, need to resort to insults. Makes them feel better on the inside.

[DEDixon 39]

I don't seem to understand why when you all debate, it turns into this.

for the record, even if you are not talking to me, i'm in a bad mood tonight so my patients are wearing thin!

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

for the record, even if you are not talking to me, i'm in a bad mood tonight so my patients are wearing thin!

For the record, I feel bad for those patients of yours.

Edited March 6, 2010 by Mr. Big Dog

[SunDrop 59]

Ahh, but even there you have europeans and europeans ... I meant it's easier to become in contact with different cultures, which doesn't mean everyone does. At least that's how it seems coming from a country where our currency (Real) values 1 to 0.40 Euros and 0.50 dollars. That combined with our laughable minimum wage makes it tougher for us to even begin to experience out of continent trips.

Agreed, just as there are Americans and Americans

Because each nation in Europe is smaller geographically, it's actually more accurate to ask an American to compare and travel state to state. My USC fiance doesn't want to live in England because the weather sucks and we don't have good Mexican food. Do I take national offense at him not wanting to live in England? How could I, considering he doesn't want to live in New Hampshire either, because the weather sucks and they don't have good Mexican food. He can't stand the Mass accent and dislikes the crowded, materialistic feel of LA. These are cultural differences, IMO.

Every country, just as every state, has its "thing" that it does better than other places by comparison. If I were making Utopia, I'd have British history combined with German healthcare, French labour laws, US sales taxes, Japanese civility, Chinese industry, Australian economy, Swedish internet, Swiss chocolate, Finnish vodka, Malawian hospitality, Seychellian beaches, Thai cuisine and according to VJ, I should want Ukrainian women

For the record, I feel bad for those patients of yours.

It's a VJ diet!

[DEDixon 39]

For the record, I feel bad for those patients of yours.

darn! i even looked at that word twice .... still f'd it up.

[Ladylethal 12]

Agreed, just as there are Americans and Americans

Absolutely.

And about the discussion of Americans that travel around America, that's cool, I guess the people the OP and other people who gave examples are talking about are those that live in Anytown,USA or Sometown,AnywhereintheWorld and can't open their eyes a little to notice they're not an island, and yes, people have access to Comforts/Culinary Culture/Study/Language/etc in other parts of the world.

I'm sure there are people like that in any country of the world and we're talking about the absurds said by Americans because 1) we assume everyone here either immigrated to America or has a SO that immigrated to America and 2) it is a stereotype that Americans are so patriotic they refuse to look further than the tip of their noses, just as there's a stereotype that the Italians are loud and fight all the time, the French hate people that can't talk in french, Brasil is full of monkeys and naked women parading around the streets, British has bad teeth and bad food, etc etc etc.

Edited March 6, 2010 by Ladylethal

[VanessaTony 3,567]

What are they world leaders in? What have they invented? What have they given to the world? They aren't even a major player in the world economy. Australia is more like a yacht club or country club. It the country disappeared tomorrow it would have no effect on the global economy or security. It's a nice place to live, that's it and that's fine.

Okay spooky. I've sat in silence while you've insulted Australia for no apparent reason. I honestly do not understand what your issue is, maybe Booyah rubs you the wrong way but I'm getting a little miffed about it. SO, to answer your question, please take a nice little trip to here: http://www.whitehat.com.au/Australia/Inven...nventionsA.html which will outline to you just what Australia has done. My personal faves that obviously don't affect you at all:

- HPV vaccine

- the Humidicrib (for premi babies in case you didn't know)

- spray on skin for burns victims

- bionic ear

- electronic pacemaker

- refrigeration

- xerox photocopying

- notepad

- latex gloves

- garage roller door

- electric drill

- hills hoist

- black box flight recorder

- utes

- the combine harvester

... just to name a few. Here's another page in case that wasn't enough for you: http://www.dfat.gov.au/facts/innovative_australia.html

As for the rest... the economy stuff.. I wouldn't know. I DO know that we came out of recession ages ago so if we have no impact on the world economy and that was a benefit of it then yay for us. Oh, and our money makes WAY more sense being plastic and different colours for different denominations.

I don't care who does what. I DO care when you insult my country of birth for random reasons. You might not like SOME aussies but not all are bad. I might think some american's are morons but I don't think all are so could you please stop making sweeping generalisations simply because someone from Aus ticks you off?

Now I'm forced to hate all turtles. Shame really...

Edit -- Please bear in mind these aren't MY claims. This is what a search came up with. I didn't have the time or inclination to check up on it's accuracy.

Edited March 8, 2010 by Vanessa&Tony

[spookyturtle 9,465]

Man, you really are thick. I bet your granddaddy was on the Titanic, still talking up the ship as it sank..

I have posted 100 times now what they outrank you in.

Then tell me about Australia's contribution to the real world. They're not a major player. What did they invent? Sheep herding? What are they so well known for around the world? Technology? Medicine? Humanitarian efforts? Manufacturing? Science? Or how much happier the residents are? Please. As I said, they are a grain of sand in the world economy.

[spookyturtle 9,465]

Okay spooky. I've sat in silence while you've insulted Australia for no apparent reason. I honestly do not understand what your issue is, maybe Booyah rubs you the wrong way but I'm getting a little miffed about it. SO, to answer your question, please take a nice little trip to here: http://www.whitehat.com.au/Australia/Inven...nventionsA.html which will outline to you just what Australia has done. My personal faves that obviously don't affect you at all:

- HPV vaccine

- the Humidicrib (for premi babies in case you didn't know)

- spray on skin for burns victims

- bionic ear

- electronic pacemaker

- refrigeration

- xerox photocopying

- notepad

- latex gloves

- garage roller door

- electric drill

- hills hoist

- black box flight recorder

- utes

- the combine harvester

... just to name a few. Here's another page in case that wasn't enough for you: http://www.dfat.gov.au/facts/innovative_australia.html

As for the rest... the economy stuff.. I wouldn't know. I DO know that we came out of recession ages ago so if we have no impact on the world economy and that was a benefit of it then yay for us. Oh, and our money makes WAY more sense being plastic and different colours for different denominations.

I don't care who does what. I DO care when you insult my country of birth for random reasons. You might not like SOME aussies but not all are bad. I might think some american's are morons but I don't think all are so could you please stop making sweeping generalisations simply because someone from Aus ticks you off?

Now I'm forced to hate all turtles. Shame really...

And I care when someone insults my country of birth on a daily basis too. Especially when they migrated here. I mean no disrespect to you, just the douchebag who has it coming to him.

[SMOKE 1,426]

you've insulted Australia for no apparent reason.

its an ongoing love fest thing. where you been the last couple years?

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

its an ongoing love fest thing. where you been the last couple years?

she's a noob, relative to many of us

[spookyturtle 9,465]

Okay spooky. I've sat in silence while you've insulted Australia for no apparent reason. I honestly do not understand what your issue is, maybe Booyah rubs you the wrong way but I'm getting a little miffed about it. SO, to answer your question, please take a nice little trip to here: http://www.whitehat.com.au/Australia/Inven...nventionsA.html which will outline to you just what Australia has done. My personal faves that obviously don't affect you at all:

- HPV vaccine

- the Humidicrib (for premi babies in case you didn't know)

- spray on skin for burns victims

- bionic ear

- electronic pacemaker

- refrigeration

- xerox photocopying

- notepad

- latex gloves

- garage roller door

- electric drill

- hills hoist

- black box flight recorder

- utes

- the combine harvester

... just to name a few. Here's another page in case that wasn't enough for you: http://www.dfat.gov.au/facts/innovative_australia.html

As for the rest... the economy stuff.. I wouldn't know. I DO know that we came out of recession ages ago so if we have no impact on the world economy and that was a benefit of it then yay for us. Oh, and our money makes WAY more sense being plastic and different colours for different denominations.

I don't care who does what. I DO care when you insult my country of birth for random reasons. You might not like SOME aussies but not all are bad. I might think some american's are morons but I don't think all are so could you please stop making sweeping generalisations simply because someone from Aus ticks you off?

Now I'm forced to hate all turtles. Shame really...

My research shows:

combine harvester, US. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Combine_harvester

refrigeration, Scotland http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Refrigeration

HV vaccine was a multi nation effort the majority of the research centers were in the US: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Refrigeration

Latex gloves, US http://www.answerbag.com/q_view/1903205 and http://wiki.answers.com/Q/Who_invented_latex_gloves

photocopying, US http://wiki.answers.com/Q/Where_was_the_photocopier_invented

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Photocopier