Where can I get my brains washed

[Cassie 8]

My question, if you don't like America, don't like its people, why he hell are you trying to come here?

Many of us only move here because our loved one is here, and it makes sense for us to be here at this point in time.

(I was waiting for this question to pop up, only took until page 3!)

I had written a large paragraph as a reply to that, but there's little point in posting it.

The original poster will have a pleasant and enjoyable time if he learns when to shut up, it's that simple and it's something everyone else learned from childhood.

And that's exactly what I offered as advice on page 2, but somehow I think the OP is gonna have a hard time finding what he is looking for.

[homesick_american 1]

'Good ol boy territory', hehehe. Wisconsin IS a tough one. I had a Welsh friend who, to be fair, found it very hard to deal with people in Wisonsin when he visited a friend there. He too had expressed 'fear' of sounding 'too smart'. He spoke of people who were confrontational if he used 'big words'. I don't think this is ALL of Wisconsin, there are just those 'good ol boy' territories. They're in England too though! That's what puzzles me a bit. Why is it so shocking to find here when it's found EVERYWHERE? I've actually BEEN to Harrogate [Knew a guy they called "Nobby", it would be hilarious if you knew him] and I met quite a few people who were bugged by me talking about foreign cinema, and modern art stuff. Still, I didn't walk away thinking Harrogate was uncultured or anything of the sort, not by a long shot. Of course not.

ROFLMFAO

Harrogate, uncultured? STREWTH! Harrogate is snobbish as all hell, and you have to have some serious bucks to afford a house there. I worked in Harrogate for three years and the people there were very eager to discuss cultural matters. :blink: :blink:

[Mary Lou 681]

I offered a comment that I thought might help. When I've felt the culture gap here in the UK, I've gone to my husband to discuss it, and he's made really good, interesting points that have helped me. That's why I suggested talking to your wife.

Hey Margo- missed ya !

She can't hack it here at all - the English speak so quietly and she can't park and can't undertake on the motorway etc - in contrast I think I did ok in Wisconsin in the end but I am aiming for perfection this time and I want to feel comfortable without being a sell-out. I passed my driving test there and the motorbike theory and got a social security card and bank account and credit card etc etc

Yes I was doing ok but had to be SO careful about engaging anyone in a real conversation because if your not with us then you are against us is the ethos... When you go in a bar in Wisconsin and all the guys are 300lbs and they all have a pick up with a shotgun in it and a boy serving in iraq, all you can do is say how wonderful the beer is and much better than home. Its a bit different from a wine bar in Harrogate.

Carolyn is a fiery readhead but quiet as well and a thinker underneath- and the most European thinking of any American I have ever met. She dislikes dubbleyer intensly, but if she didn't I would be ok with it - and she can give me a tolerant discussion without identifying me as an 'alien' and the 'anti-american enemy' to be stubbed out

alan

Poor Alan, boo hoo, sorry Wisconsin didn't live up to YOUR standards. For one you are generalizing again here. I live in Wisconsin and dont have 300lb guys with shotguns in their trucks My husband is doing just fine living here. I know you are a wind up, so ok alot of people wont get your humor, so what? You just get on with it and its unfair for you to generalize.

[Captain Oates 911]

The original poster will have a pleasant and enjoyable time if he learns when to shut up, it's that simple and it's something everyone else learned from childhood.

How true. A friend of mine used to have a torrid time of going to the pub every Friday, he would almost always end up being beaten up or threatened. The reason: He was smart and liked to used he smarts to go to pubs full of squaddies and argue politics with them.

I.e. he was a ###### idiot.

oh dear more violence and swearing - if he was a friend of yours, how come he was an idiot - birds of a feather ?

[Oath 0]

My question, if you don't like America, don't like its people, why he hell are you trying to come here?

Many of us only move here because our loved one is here, and it makes sense for us to be here at this point in time.

(I was waiting for this question to pop up, only took until page 3!)

I had written a large paragraph as a reply to that, but there's little point in posting it.

The original poster will have a pleasant and enjoyable time if he learns when to shut up, it's that simple and it's something everyone else learned from childhood.

And that's exactly what I offered as advice on page 2, but somehow I think the OP is gonna have a hard time finding what he is looking for.

Yup

[no name 1]

Selectively blind. I agree that there is a lot of aggro against the US here- many americans in London claim to be canadians. It wasn't always so- most of it is the self-shame of the Brits turned outwards - that the US made us do something we should have been strong enough to say 'no' to.

I cringe when we go in a pub, because every time someone is ragging on america - and i feel embarrassed for Carolyn. Perhaps it's this universal condemnation that has given the US a siege mentally where everyone sticks together and stands by to repel the outside world....

I never claimed to be Canadian when I lived there, nor would I ever. I belonged to an expat group who, crazily enough, marched AGAINST GWB when he came to England.

Every American I met in England was able to defend their homeland if wanted to. I found many an ignorant Brit while living there.

You are going to have a hell of a time living in America.

[homesick_american 1]

I never claimed to be Canadian when I lived there, nor would I ever. I belonged to an expat group who, crazily enough, marched AGAINST GWB when he came to England.

Every American I met in England was able to defend their homeland if wanted to. I found many an ignorant Brit while living there.

You are going to have a hell of a time living in America.

Word. :thumbs: :thumbs:

[TheZilla 0]

'Good ol boy territory', hehehe. Wisconsin IS a tough one. I had a Welsh friend who, to be fair, found it very hard to deal with people in Wisonsin when he visited a friend there. He too had expressed 'fear' of sounding 'too smart'. He spoke of people who were confrontational if he used 'big words'. I don't think this is ALL of Wisconsin, there are just those 'good ol boy' territories. They're in England too though! That's what puzzles me a bit. Why is it so shocking to find here when it's found EVERYWHERE? I've actually BEEN to Harrogate [Knew a guy they called "Nobby", it would be hilarious if you knew him] and I met quite a few people who were bugged by me talking about foreign cinema, and modern art stuff. Still, I didn't walk away thinking Harrogate was uncultured or anything of the sort, not by a long shot. Of course not.

ROFLMFAO

Harrogate, uncultured? STREWTH! Harrogate is snobbish as all hell, and you have to have some serious bucks to afford a house there. I worked in Harrogate for three years and the people there were very eager to discuss cultural matters. :blink: :blink:

See! There you go! I had no idea that Harrogate is supposedly snobbish and stuff. The people I met worked in hospitals doing hard jobs, me talking about art and all this stuff seemed to irritate the hell out of them the whole time I was there. Still, I didn't walk away thinking this small group encapsulated Harrogate. Even you saying it's snobbish as hell wouldn't stop me from checking it out again. hehe.

[homesick_american 1]

'Good ol boy territory', hehehe. Wisconsin IS a tough one. I had a Welsh friend who, to be fair, found it very hard to deal with people in Wisonsin when he visited a friend there. He too had expressed 'fear' of sounding 'too smart'. He spoke of people who were confrontational if he used 'big words'. I don't think this is ALL of Wisconsin, there are just those 'good ol boy' territories. They're in England too though! That's what puzzles me a bit. Why is it so shocking to find here when it's found EVERYWHERE? I've actually BEEN to Harrogate [Knew a guy they called "Nobby", it would be hilarious if you knew him] and I met quite a few people who were bugged by me talking about foreign cinema, and modern art stuff. Still, I didn't walk away thinking Harrogate was uncultured or anything of the sort, not by a long shot. Of course not.

ROFLMFAO

Harrogate, uncultured? STREWTH! Harrogate is snobbish as all hell, and you have to have some serious bucks to afford a house there. I worked in Harrogate for three years and the people there were very eager to discuss cultural matters. :blink: :blink:

See! There you go! I had no idea that Harrogate is supposedly snobbish and stuff. The people I met worked in hospitals doing hard jobs, me talking about art and all this stuff seemed to irritate the hell out of them the whole time I was there. Still, I didn't walk away thinking this small group encapsulated Harrogate. Even you saying it's snobbish as hell wouldn't stop me from checking it out again. hehe.

It's cute to look at, but there's nothing to do there. I've been back once since leaving that job over 2 years ago. The only thing worth seeing there in all honesty is the flower show in the spring. Even the shopping in Harrogate sucks.

[Oath 0]

We all should step back and admire the OP for the skill he has which enables him to sidestep any decent argument and instead resort to insulting someone who doesnt agree with him, awe inspiring.

If that's 'intelligence' I'm glad to be a doorman.

[Fandango 1,439]

You know, it's the whole 'how do I dumb myself down to blend in?' mentality that I find oh-so-infuriating.

[homesick_american 1]

You know, it's the whole 'how do I dumb myself down to blend in?' mentality that I find oh-so-infuriating.

I think he's already dumb enough.

[TheZilla 0]

You know, it's the whole 'how do I dumb myself down to blend in?' mentality that I find oh-so-infuriating.

I think he's already dumb enough.

I nominate David Bowie's "I'm afraid of Americans" as the theme song to this thread

[Captain Oates 911]

I found many an ignorant Brit while living there.

You are going to have a hell of a time living in America.

You will find ignorant people everywhere - even in the white house

>>You are going to have a hell of a time living in America <<<

Sounds like another threat - I know I will have a great time with all your cheapo currency haha !

see what I mean about the underlying simmering violence ? it's runs through so many replies - you are all there with your hot pokers just aching to get at me for saying that GENERALLY Americans are not receptive to the slightest flaw in their country being pointed out...

That is all I am saying and all I have said - and it raises you all to such fury !

Collective paranoia or what

Edited May 21, 2007 by saywhat

[homesick_american 1]

You know, it's the whole 'how do I dumb myself down to blend in?' mentality that I find oh-so-infuriating.

I think he's already dumb enough.

I nominate David Bowie's "I'm afraid of Americans" as the theme song to this thread

Haven't heard it.

I found many an ignorant Brit while living there.

You are going to have a hell of a time living in America.

You will find ignorant people everywhere - even in the white house

>>You are going to have a hell of a time living in America <<<

Sounds like another threat - I know I will have a great time with all your cheapo currency haha !

see what I mean about the underlying simmering violence ? it's runs through so many replies - you are all there with your hot pokers just aching to get at me for saying that GENERALLY Americans are not receptive to the slightest flaw in their country being pointed out...

That is all I am saying and all I have said - and it raises you all to such fury !

Collective paranoia or what

They're being serious. Act like this in America and you'll have few if any friends...and it will be your fault, not ours.

Have a nice life.