Where can I get my brains washed

[Captain Oates 911]

Look it's no good - I am just one person and there are 360 million Americans, and by the time I have taught them all not to take statements at face value, and to not be so defensive about politics and religion, and to lighten up, I am going to be exhausted.

But I can't open my mouth about any issues without getting an enraged deranged response if it is 1 degree away from the US government line

Now I am going to go through with this immigration project so the answer is obvious - I need to have my attitude adjusted to become typical of the host population or at least brought into line

I am aware that they were brought up in classrooms with flags flying and hand on heart and George Washington could not tell a lie - but is it too late for me to be socially adjusted to think like them ?

My mother in law was watching telly with me and there was the trial of American troops for raping a young girl in front of her family and then shooting them all and setting fire to them.. she simple wouldn't even think about it and said US soldiers need supporting under all circumstances and it simply was not true whatever the evidence

In a nutshell, the attitude is 'my country right or wrong'

How am I going to cope with this huge culture gap without exploding with indignation or alienating everyone

actually I am serious - I read that despite the common language, the culture gap Britain/US is wider than between Britain and any European Country - it isn't the food or the language or the customs - it's the burned in attitudes and beliefs and approach to things. That isn't easy to accept, but I have been suspecting for a long time that it's true. Look at a rugby team from France/Italy/Ireland/England - as they walk onto the pitch their demeanor is very similar - now look at American football and all the strutting etc - it really is much more alien than most Brits imagine.

I am going to do this but I need to develop a coping strategy

alan

[Otto 83]

[Captain Oates 911]

Vielen dank ! Das ist wirklich nett ! Jemand versteht mich !

good 'un

[homesick_american 1]

Look it's no good - I am just one person and there are 360 million Americans, and by the time I have taught them all not to take statements at face value, and to not be so defensive about politics and religion, and to lighten up, I am going to be exhausted.

You've somewhat overestimated the US population; it's more like 280-300 million.

But I can't open my mouth about any issues without getting an enraged deranged response if it is 1 degree away from the US government line

It's probably not only what you're saying, but how you're saying it. Americans don't like to be lectured by foreigners.

Now I am going to go through with this immigration project so the answer is obvious - I need to have my attitude adjusted to become typical of the host population or at least brought into line

I am aware that they were brought up in classrooms with flags flying and hand on heart and George Washington could not tell a lie - but is it too late for me to be socially adjusted to think like them ?

That's not how I was brought up. It's easy to befriend Americans; we're a very earnest, friendly and laid-back bunch. You don't have to think like us or hold the same beliefs, but you need to respect people who think differently from you. It's a two-way street.

My mother in law was watching telly with me and there was the trial of American troops for raping a young girl in front of her family and then shooting them all and setting fire to them.. she simple wouldn't even think about it and said US soldiers need supporting under all circumstances and it simply was not true whatever the evidence

I would hope her attitude is not representative of the US population. Even my father, who is a Gee Dub supporter and red-blooded Republican, wouldn't say something like that. It's just flat-out wrong.

In a nutshell, the attitude is 'my country right or wrong'

The sooner you realize we're not all like that, the better off you'll be.

How am I going to cope with this huge culture gap without exploding with indignation or alienating everyone

Brushing the chip off your shoulder will help immensely.

actually I am serious - I read that despite the common language, the culture gap Britain/US is wider than between Britain and any European Country - it isn't the food or the language or the customs - it's the burned in attitudes and beliefs and approach to things. That isn't easy to accept, but I have been suspecting for a long time that it's true. Look at a rugby team from France/Italy/Ireland/England - as they walk onto the pitch their demeanor is very similar - now look at American football and all the strutting etc - it really is much more alien than most Brits imagine.

I am going to do this but I need to develop a coping strategy

alan

Having spent a lot of time in France, I disagree. The French are much, much more different from Americans than the British are. You guys are actually more like us than you'd ever care to know.

[Captain Oates 911]

You've somewhat overestimated the US population; it's more like 280-300 million.

You forget the Pedros and Juanitas and the Paddies - hum so you only outnumber the iraqis by 15 to 1 and not the 20 to 1 that I thought..

That makes it fairer

ok back to the sunbathing

[Fandango 1,440]

As usual, I agree with HA.

Hey, Alan...I just read some of your posts in that 'Mexican' thread and many of them had me chuckling. But this post of yours has irritated me, for all the reasons HA has put forth, so why bother repeating them, lol?

Welcome to the forum here btw

[Captain Oates 911]

As usual, I agree with HA.

Hey, Alan...I just read some of your posts in that 'Mexican' thread and many of them had me chuckling. But this post of yours has irritated me, for all the reasons HA has put forth, so why bother repeating them, lol?

Welcome to the forum here btw

Thought I might find some Brits or Europeans kicking around in this forum and I might get some insight into how others coped...

My thread is about people being intolerant and getting irritated at opposite views - and you come on and say that iritates you ?

Own goal I reckon

I used to know a woman who was accused of being un-feminine - she screwed her face up into a snarl and smashed her fist onto the table and all the glasses fell off onto the floor - she stood up and towered over the table and bellowed in a very deep loud threatening voice 'I AM FEMININE ' !!!!

It's called irony- the Americans think thats like coppery or steely - they don't get it - but it's the core of Euro-humour

Edited May 21, 2007 by saywhat

[Fandango 1,440]

As usual, I agree with HA.

Hey, Alan...I just read some of your posts in that 'Mexican' thread and many of them had me chuckling. But this post of yours has irritated me, for all the reasons HA has put forth, so why bother repeating them, lol?

Welcome to the forum here btw

Thought I might find some Brits or Europeans kicking around in this forum and I might get some insight into how others coped...

My thread is about about people being intolerant and getting irritated at opposite views - and you come on and say that iritates you ?

Own goal I reckon

I used to know a woman who was accused of being un-feminine - she screwed her face up into a snarl and smashed her fist onto the table and all the glasses fell off onto the floor - she stood up and towered over the table and bellowed in a very deep loud threatening voice 'I AM FEMININE ' !!!!

It's called irony- the Americans think thats like coppery on steely - they don't get it - but it's the core of Euro-humour

You don't have to lecture me on Euro-humor as I've lived in the UK for several years and I get what you're saying. I also get how difficult it is to acclimate to a place that is so similar on the surface, yet so different in reality.

I have no problem with embracing differences....but certainly not attitudes of superiority. America is what it is...there's tons of us and we're not all some big giant machine that is incapable of independent thought. The sooner you realize that and stop generalizing, the better off you'll be

Adding: if it's tolerance & acceptance of opposing views that you're after, how about showing some?

Edited May 21, 2007 by LisaD

[Captain Oates 911]

It's probably not only what you're saying, but how you're saying it. Americans don't like to be lectured by foreigners.

[

Neither do Brits when the lecturer is a nationalist supremacist - you are a foreigner by the way

[homesick_american 1]

It's probably not only what you're saying, but how you're saying it. Americans don't like to be lectured by foreigners.

[

Neither do Brits when the lecturer is a nationalist supremacist - you are a foreigner by the way

Yes, I'm aware of this. Your countrymen point it out every single day. I may complain about life in the UK, but it seems that I'm dealing with it better than you'll deal with life in America.

Either you're winding us up (which I strongly suspect) or your stay in the US will last only a few months before your wife throws you out, you go crazy, or you end up in the hospital courtesy of a chunky redneck who isn't familiar with your made-up terms of endearment.

Later.

[JenT 0]

I've forwarded my David the link to this thread.... he doesn't post here. I'll be interested in his perspective on this....

[Captain Oates 911]

You don't have to lecture me on Euro-humor as I've lived in the UK for several years and I get what you're saying. I also get how difficult it is to acclimate to a place that is so similar on the surface, yet so different in reality.

Oh dear - HA said my 18 mths in Wisconsin wasn't enough for me to learn ANYTHING - but you say your stay in the UK was. This is what I am complaining about - American's experiences are valid and everyone else's are invalid and they are just there to be taught the 'right' way to look at things.

and HA says we are not that different but you say we are - a split in the ranks eh ?

Lets see if I can open it up

one of you might come down my side yet

alan

[Captain Oates 911]

Either you're winding us up (which I strongly suspect) or your stay in the US will last only a few months before your wife throws you out, you go crazy, or you end up in the hospital courtesy of a chunky redneck who isn't familiar with your made-up terms of endearment.

Later.

see what I mean ? as soon as an American is given a little teaser, they immediately start talking violence- and relish the idea of what the redneck will do to me..

can't be long before they use the 'like a donkey' word- they always get below the waist pretty quickly

all i have to do is sit back and watch you two hoist yourselves with your own petard

Edited May 21, 2007 by saywhat

[Tommy&Dawny 0]

Maybe if you make a few more VAST generalizations about 300 million people, judged on one persons experiences with Americans...

[Captain Oates 911]

http://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/hoist%2...n%20petard.html