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KyrianDreamer
4,308 posts
Location: York, England


Posted:
I'm mostly out to ask the people from England, Oz, and NZ, who supposedly speak the same language as us americans... heh.

Basically, I want to know what people's sterotypes of americans are. Obnoxious? Self-centered? Those are a few I've hit so far. But what things do you usually associate with them?

Keep your dream alive
Dreamin is still how the strong survive

Shalom VeAhavah

New Hampshire has a point....


KyrianDreamer
4,308 posts
Location: York, England


Posted:
The only thing I have to say is that stereotypes are not necessarily negative. A stereotype is simply a formulaic, and oversimplified conception, opinion, or image. An example would be that British people are polite, which is usually a positive stereotype, but not any more true than that white people can't dance, or that women are bad drivers. (Although most americans I know would give up this cherished belief slowly- the British people one.)

Keep your dream alive
Dreamin is still how the strong survive

Shalom VeAhavah

New Hampshire has a point....


StoneGOLD Member
Stream Entrant
2,829 posts
Location: Melbourne, Australia


Posted:
Mynci, good point. It’s about time we had some fresh air in here.

faith, Al Gore just received a Nobel Peace Prize for his movie on global warming. That’s a move that’s made a real difference, and draws people together.

PK, Lurch makes an excellent point:

 Written by:

…but people are too caught up on the rapper saying 'Shoot the *****' on the radio to care or even acknowledge any sort of positive side of a very remotely connected culture.



Lurch, there may be many different types of 'gun' people, but yes, the American gun culture an unique element of America. American gun culture. And sometimes it is difficult to see people as individuals.

Unfortunately, the media/Hollywood/the recording industry does have a big impact on what people think, as does the advertising industry and gun Industry leaders. So the bottom line is, it’s up to you and the good gun people to change this perception.

Lurch, it’s not the Governments fault. The problem is that American society believes that it’s acceptable, perhaps not legal, but acceptable for adults to buy kids guns. As they say, turn a blind eye to straw and other purchases.


As far as stereotyping goes, we all judge people. This is part of our survival mechanism. Often we have made our judgement before they said a word (or read a word). Look at a punk and you have an opinion, look at a jock and you have an opinion.

If we as members of the human race practice meditation, we can transcend our fear, despair, and forgetfulness. Meditation is not an escape. It is the courage to look at reality with mindfulness and concentration. Thich Nhat Hanh


pkBRONZE Member
Lambretta Fanatic
4,997 posts
Location: United Kingdom


Posted:
why isn't it acceptable to buy a gun for a child?.



It comes down to the culture in which said family live, laws in which they abide by, education in which they have sought / been given.. I have argued quite strongly with some one I love very dearly off the forum about this and I totally respect what was raised by both parties.



I have learnt that you can only make judgements on a per person basis, by town, by state / province / county, and by country, you can not get a full picture.. this is where we make assumptions and stereotype people.



People feel very strongly about some of these issues and do not and take it very personally against them as a person when said judgements are made against the societies in which they live... I think Stone you make a good point there in your last sentence.

StoneGOLD Member
Stream Entrant
2,829 posts
Location: Melbourne, Australia


Posted:
PK, you ask why isn't it acceptable to buy a gun for a child?

I think the point was “illegal” gun; like the ones use in Columbine, eg Hi-Point 995 carbine and Intratec TEC-DC9

Here’s the rub PK, what you are saying is that we should agree with everything American, and dare not voice a different opinion. Leave our freedom of speech at the door, and succumb to the pressure to say only flattering things about America. Even though this is Social Discussion, for involved topics and debate.

And hey, what about the sensitivities of people who live in other countries, people who don’t like guns, who think the represent violence in anyway shape or form. Can’t we voice our opinion? Because that's all we are doing.


Yes, Socrates words are some of the wised words ever written, if you understand what you don’t know, you don’t know.

If we as members of the human race practice meditation, we can transcend our fear, despair, and forgetfulness. Meditation is not an escape. It is the courage to look at reality with mindfulness and concentration. Thich Nhat Hanh


newgabeSILVER Member
what goes around comes around. unless you're into stalls.
4,030 posts
Location: Bali, Australia


Posted:
 Written by: PK_


why isn't it acceptable to buy a gun for a child?.




eek

.....Can't juggle balls but I sure as hell can juggle details....


pkBRONZE Member
Lambretta Fanatic
4,997 posts
Location: United Kingdom


Posted:
I'm far from saying that we should agree with every thing American... censored that!, that would be a disaster.



What I am saying is that you look at an individual.. then make up your mind, you can not judge a book by it's cover.



And...



Gabe you could say some thing rather than wasting page load time with a quote and a smiley...



And why quote a question?.. are you trying to assume that I stand by those remarks?.
EDITED_BY: PK_ (1192328836)

StoneGOLD Member
Stream Entrant
2,829 posts
Location: Melbourne, Australia


Posted:
PK, yes you are saying we should agree with every thing American because you are not listening to the views of individuals living in other countries. Individuals, who don't share the American acceptance of gun violence.



Show me where I have said anything derogatory about an individual, and I’ll apologise. This is difficult because I (or others???) don’t know what was said by whom. Another thing you don’t realise, and I’ve pointed this out, is that some individuals have made their views on taking human life, with guns, explicitly clear. Like there are at least 40 pages of background to this discussion, so I've read the books; cover to cover.



If you take the time to read back you will see I pointed out an apparent contradiction. The following point on stereotypes had been raised a few times. If individuals don’t like the stereotype, then stop acting out the stereotype. It’s like a self-fulfilling policy.



As far as I’m concerned, HoP is a safe space for people from many countries, not only America, and people should just leave their guns and violence at the door, like you would when entering a church.
EDITED_BY: Stone (1192331238)

If we as members of the human race practice meditation, we can transcend our fear, despair, and forgetfulness. Meditation is not an escape. It is the courage to look at reality with mindfulness and concentration. Thich Nhat Hanh


pkBRONZE Member
Lambretta Fanatic
4,997 posts
Location: United Kingdom


Posted:
Actually Stone, I am only putting in my two cents, I'm not American, neither do I live by their beliefs.

Actually I stand by my own personal views, and I swore that I wouldn't let my children grow around guns.

But, I would change that view, say if I were raising a child with a partner who lived in a society where guns were apart of daily life, (under strict laws, guidelines, and through education and training), I would be prepared to change my current views.

So thus before running tone, sit back and take a breathe.

StoneGOLD Member
Stream Entrant
2,829 posts
Location: Melbourne, Australia


Posted:
So, you are thinking of moving to Australia?;)

I had a shotgun when I was nine years old and before that an air rifle. So I know about guns, but I've changed my views on guns, like many Australians, after the Port Arthur massacre.

If we as members of the human race practice meditation, we can transcend our fear, despair, and forgetfulness. Meditation is not an escape. It is the courage to look at reality with mindfulness and concentration. Thich Nhat Hanh


pkBRONZE Member
Lambretta Fanatic
4,997 posts
Location: United Kingdom


Posted:
Well I assure you that, America, Australia ... even the UK.. are not the first, nor will they be the last to suffer massacres, there will always be some sick and twisted individual out there.. and it it's not guns, it's rape, murder or god knows what else so why single out guns?

Actually I would love to live in Australia.. well I intend visiting some time soon that's for sure.

StoneGOLD Member
Stream Entrant
2,829 posts
Location: Melbourne, Australia


Posted:
PK, for sure come to the land down under, you will have a ball.

I don’t won’t labour this point, but after the Port Arthur massacre Australians handed in all their guns in an attempt to reduce the likely hood of further massacres. Though, guns are still an important tool for many people, especially farmers.

If we as members of the human race practice meditation, we can transcend our fear, despair, and forgetfulness. Meditation is not an escape. It is the courage to look at reality with mindfulness and concentration. Thich Nhat Hanh


LurchBRONZE Member
old hand
929 posts
Location: Oregon, USA


Posted:
Let me preface by saying I don't want to hijack this thread into a gun thread again so I'm completely open to ending this discussion in here, or continuing it's up to the others.


That said, I partially disagree stone. I know that the media, hollywood, and the recording industries have a huge (and largely negative impact) on how people perceive America's gun culture, especially people outside of the true gun culture who see that as the definition.

To answer both PK and Stone: there are some circumstances where it is alright/appropriate to purchase a weapon for a child, mainly meaning hunting. Most, if not all states have very specific laws about such cases, and the gun is only in the child's possession in very specific times, and under supervision. The columbine kids were nowhere near following those rules, and the straw purchases that were made for them are a federal offense, and were prosecuted, so they're far from 'turning a blind eye'.

Stone: we could get into specifics about the guns again if you want, but the Tec 9 they used was decommissioned to semi-automatic, as per the law, and wasn't very different from any other pistol. The Hi-Point is also semi-automatic and shoots pistol rounds.

I think this whole thread is more about assumptions than stereotypes.

PK, and/or Stone, come to the states and we can go shooting sometime wink

#homeofpoi -- irc.newnet.net Come talk to us we're bored frown

Warning: Please Do Not Jump On The Seals


pkBRONZE Member
Lambretta Fanatic
4,997 posts
Location: United Kingdom


Posted:
I'll be there next summer.


But anyway, yes I completely agree with you Lurch.

StoneGOLD Member
Stream Entrant
2,829 posts
Location: Melbourne, Australia


Posted:
Lurch, I partially agree. Though, for me it’s more like the media, hollywood, and the recording industries etc. have a large negative impact on society. Ok, I’ve been missing the bit about true gun culture. The bit I don’t get (and don’t take this the wrong way) is why not just embrace the cowboy image?

The prosecution of the people for supplying the columbine kids with guns happened after the event. The 'turning a blind eye' is something that happened prior to the event.

Yes, you are right about the specifics, in a technical way. However, today it would be possible to obtain real deal semi-auto ak’s etc.

This whole thread is about opinions. For sure, I’d love to learn true gun culture.

I’m thinking road trip wink

PK

If we as members of the human race practice meditation, we can transcend our fear, despair, and forgetfulness. Meditation is not an escape. It is the courage to look at reality with mindfulness and concentration. Thich Nhat Hanh


LurchBRONZE Member
old hand
929 posts
Location: Oregon, USA


Posted:
Oh I completely agree about the media, Hollywood, and the recording industries having horrible impacts on society, I mentioned that in the other gun threads, and I fully believe that the majority of the more violent state of the US can be contributed to them. Why don't I want to 'embrace the cowboy image'? Because you're probably thinking of the 'hollywood' gun toting vigilante justice cowboy, rather than a true cowboy, and I'd rather not encourage that misconception.

How are you supposed to prosecute a crime that hasn't happened yet? O.o I'm not saying our system is the best, but it does alright at balancing rights with protection. Laws and the Police aren't there to prevent crime, they are there to punish criminals after the fact. It wasn't illegal until the kids took possession of the guns, up until that point (other than arguing intent) the purchases were just fine.

And yes, a semi-automatic AK can be bought, other than the name and the looks there is very little difference between that and any other semi-automatic rifle. When compared to an average hunting rifle the AK is pretty weak.

I'd say do a little research and learn about the more active gun culture/sports like the ISPC, USPSA, IDPA etc etc

#homeofpoi -- irc.newnet.net Come talk to us we're bored frown

Warning: Please Do Not Jump On The Seals


StoneGOLD Member
Stream Entrant
2,829 posts
Location: Melbourne, Australia


Posted:
Lurch, as ironic as it might seem, accepting the real image might help dispel the hollywood stereotype. USPSA looks like fun. Not everything about guns is bad. Guns sports are an important competition in both the summer and the winter Olympics.

If we as members of the human race practice meditation, we can transcend our fear, despair, and forgetfulness. Meditation is not an escape. It is the courage to look at reality with mindfulness and concentration. Thich Nhat Hanh


Invader XanSILVER Member
Your friendly neighbourhood mad scientist
479 posts
Location: Over the hills and far away, United Kingdom


Posted:
Interestingly, I have to say that some of the most anti-American people I've ever known were actually Americans themselves.



And on the media note -- it's sad to say, but talk shows do a lot to perpetuate stereotypes. Jerry Springer portrays the worst side of the americans just as well as Trisha portrays the worst side of the brits. Trouble is that these things get broadcast across the world, and it doesn't exactly leave a good impression...

"Love the art in yourself and not yourself in the art."
--Konstantin Stanislavisky


pkBRONZE Member
Lambretta Fanatic
4,997 posts
Location: United Kingdom


Posted:
 Written by: Invader Xan



Interestingly, I have to say that some of the most anti-American people I've ever known were actually Americans themselves.



And on the media note -- it's sad to say, but talk shows do a lot to perpetuate stereotypes. Jerry Springer portrays the worst side of the americans just as well as Trisha portrays the worst side of the brits. Trouble is that these things get broadcast across the world, and it doesn't exactly leave a good impression...





I wouldn't say Trisha.... who's that twat that my mum watches in the afternoon... ? (I don't know his name)... but Christ or is England really so full of chav scum like they portray.

FireTomStargazer
6,650 posts

Posted:
[Old link] rolleyes wink

Second of all let me ask whether a) stereotype is a judgement, or something more of an attribute and b) where stereotypes stem from... umm

IMO a "judgement" based upon a stereotype only is "prejudice"... not even "profiling", but blatant prejudice.

the best smiles are the ones you lead to wink


The Tea FairySILVER Member
old hand
853 posts
Location: Behind you...


Posted:
Remember doing this in communications lessons at college...

can't remember exactly but stereotype is kind of a judgement, stems from how we can't glean all the information we may need to know about a person from just one glance at them and no contact, so we make generalisations based on just a few attributes of a person, such as age, race, clothes they wear etc etc. and in our heads we put them into a group of people with similar attributes, generalising about the group as well as the individual...

then the media takes this and uses it to infer the personality or characteristics of those it portrays, as an easy way of getting across lots of information about a character through their stereotyping. The media thus perpetuates the stereotype further and enforces it. Media can also create stereotypes and can challenge stereotypes that exist, but rarely does this effectively.

Hmmm, I'm rambling a bit here! Basically everyone does use stereotypes, it all starts when we're very young and is sort of a survival aid in it's most simplistic form, a method of trying to infer more information about a person from first glance using information that we have gained from other sources (e.g. the media, parents, teachers). It seems rather crude and unnesessary, but it's human instincts.

Idolized by Aurinoko

Take me disappearing through the smoke rings of my mind....

Bob Dylan


NateBRONZE Member
Groovy ga watashi no namae desu!
1,530 posts
Location: Oxford, Oxfordshire, England


Posted:
haha... americans.... hahahaha

one country i'm really not drawn to, but it has to be said the one's i have met are amazingly friendly and i've kept in contact.

not counting a certain foetus, or bryant as some people know him, he follows all the stereotypes apart from being fat tongue

I like Languages.

Educate your self in the Hazards of Fire Breathing STAY SAFE! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/hug.gif" alt="" />


NateBRONZE Member
Groovy ga watashi no namae desu!
1,530 posts
Location: Oxford, Oxfordshire, England


Posted:
oh and monkey, when you go over there, i'll be right with you, i can be your pick pocket child...... we're heading back to early 20th century.....with style

I like Languages.

Educate your self in the Hazards of Fire Breathing STAY SAFE! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/hug.gif" alt="" />


Invader XanSILVER Member
Your friendly neighbourhood mad scientist
479 posts
Location: Over the hills and far away, United Kingdom


Posted:
 Written by: PK_

I wouldn't say Trisha.... who's that twat that my mum watches in the afternoon... ? (I don't know his name)... but Christ or is England really so full of chav scum like they portray.





Oh, erm... is it Jeremy Kyle?

Either way, if my main impressions of this country were based on shows like those, I'd leave. Just go, get the hell out.



Maybe part of the problem with american stereotypes is they have sooo many of these talk shows... confused

"Love the art in yourself and not yourself in the art."
--Konstantin Stanislavisky


faith enfireBRONZE Member
wandering thru the woods of WI
3,556 posts
Location: Wisconsin, USA


Posted:
Al Gore winning a Nobel Peace prize for fuzzy science...yeah, I guess if it makes the rest of the world happy, I should be too.

Why not give it to the actual scientists who did the research? It's ridiculous to give it the hypocritical mouthpiece.

Ugh-Al Gore-gag

Faith
Nay, whatever comes one hour was sunlit and the most high gods may not make boast of any better thing than to have watched that hour as it passed


StoutBRONZE Member
Pooh-Bah
1,872 posts
Location: Canada



pkBRONZE Member
Lambretta Fanatic
4,997 posts
Location: United Kingdom


Posted:
At least Al Gore has tried to get the message across to the rest of the world his points and has thus far been successful..



Maybe he is hypercritical as a politician if that is the right word to use.



I'm glad that he did decide to share the price with the scientist as that would have been highly unfair of him.





And yeah Jeremy Kyle, that's him... and it does make me wonder why I just moved back to this country.. I live in a place we call Fight Town around here... so it too has it's share of wasters.



Take this quote from ChavTowns: If the Midlands needed an enema, this is where they would stick the pipe.



That sums this place up really well I find.



Other than

of a slight graphic nature.



But back to the TV chat shows.. it does seem that these days they are so in an American format. frown
EDITED_BY: PK_ (1192464422)

faith enfireBRONZE Member
wandering thru the woods of WI
3,556 posts
Location: Wisconsin, USA


Posted:
ok, fine he did share it, but he's just a figurehead, why does he get it?

Other people have been out sharing the message, he is popular right now...it should be a timeless prize...

Faith
Nay, whatever comes one hour was sunlit and the most high gods may not make boast of any better thing than to have watched that hour as it passed


newgabeSILVER Member
what goes around comes around. unless you're into stalls.
4,030 posts
Location: Bali, Australia


Posted:
 Written by: faithinfire



Al Gore winning a Nobel Peace prize for fuzzy science...







Gore didn't win the prize for Chemistry, Physics or Medicine, he won the Peace Prize. It's pretty much meant for political leaders, activists and who use their 'figureheads' fame and influence to try to reduce conflict (as would be produced by catastrophic climate change). It's like giving the Literature prize to writers, not scientists.



Not surprised there's disagreement about it though. Lots of Nobel prize decisions are controversial. Eg giving Henry Kissinger (who many people and countries regarded as a war criminal) the Peace prize in 1973.



An interesting insight into the usually ultra behind-closed doors Nobel decision making processes, is in Silvia Nasar's A Beautiful Mind, the biography of the mathematician John Nash who won the related (it was not part of Alfred Nobel's original bequest) 'Sveriges Riksbank in memory of Alfred Nobel' Economics prize in 1994. Usually they have a ban on any record the the decision making process for 50 years afterwards, but she must have been a good interviewer, got someone to spill the beans.

.....Can't juggle balls but I sure as hell can juggle details....


FireTomStargazer
6,650 posts

Posted:
Faith: could it be that you are just fulfilling some (US) stereotypes of being ignorant (towards the "better side" of the US)? And could it be possible that you were taking too hard on personal criticism for doing so (for example in the gun thread)?

Having said this, I reckon that all that provoked others to do more research and present these (vital/ useful) informations - therefore I think it was a good thing. Don't get me wrong.

Al Gore (whatever one might think of him personally) has dedicated some good part of his time, to raise awareness within the US on a topic that is affecting everyone on the planet: the US is just using to many fossil fuels - compared to the rest of the world - and they are exporting a form of capitalism and lifestyle that is out-of-date (in the face of limited resources - all of which based upon their history and the development of their nation, given that).

the best smiles are the ones you lead to wink


faith enfireBRONZE Member
wandering thru the woods of WI
3,556 posts
Location: Wisconsin, USA


Posted:
what exactly do you mean by that? Al Gore is just a figurehead. We have plenty of people who were green before it was popular. We have plenty of programs that encourage a green lifestyle. It's just in the news right now because it's chic.

Faith
Nay, whatever comes one hour was sunlit and the most high gods may not make boast of any better thing than to have watched that hour as it passed


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