American Vs European Culture II

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Message 1476504 - Posted: 13 Feb 2014, 13:03:27 UTC
Last modified: 13 Feb 2014, 13:05:50 UTC

Nothing has changed since I lived and travelled in 'Western Europe', many decades ago.

Nope, nothing happened, except the cold war ended, the Berlin Wall came down, the European project has advanced significantly, 9/11 and the attacks on Madrid and London occurred. Or perhaps it was even longer ago that you visited Europe and you might have missed the end of fascist dictatorships in Spain and Portugal.

But good, glad to know you base your opinions and views on personal experience from decades ago.

Out of curiosity, when you say you lived in Western Europe, when and where exactly did you live and for how long?
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Message 1476582 - Posted: 13 Feb 2014, 17:11:37 UTC - in response to Message 1476448.  

Ok, here we have a new thread on the same topic as before. But can we please have some ground rules here.

1. Don't slam someone else's country just because you disagree with their views, they probably don't agree with yours either.

2. If you want to take up personal issues with someone use the PM system, don't let it spill over onto the open forum.

3. A reminder of the rule on the left as I compose this post.

* No abusive comments involving race, religion, nationality, gender, class or sexuality.

The aim of this thread was to explore the differences in culture and thinking between the two countries, which we all agree exist, and in the process to add to international understanding. The sort of replies that I was looking for were "I may not agree with your outlook on this matter, but I understand more now why you think like this, and how you came to do so".

OK, we start off with a clean sheet.

Good on you Chris, you're a brave man!
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Message 1476605 - Posted: 13 Feb 2014, 17:56:09 UTC - in response to Message 1476600.  

Thanks Es, that's appreciated :-) I do try, and my heart is in the right place, but by gosh it can be a tad difficult at times. Not so much brave, as just preferring to believe in the better side of people. Wish me luck!

Past discussions on seti have given me a powerful insight into the American Psyche that I never had before. I am sure that Americans are learning just as much about how differently Europeans view the world.

It is not uncommon for people to have no idea that there way of doing things is not the same way or even the most natural way of doing things.

Try being an immigrant in a new country, everything you hold to be true and the right most obvious way of doing things is no longer true. It doesn't mean one way or the other is wrong, but cultural differences can be huge. I think this this thread is an excellent idea, as hopefully more people can have the insights that I had into culture differences between Americans and Europeans.

I hope everyone on either side of this debate bears in mind that what they hold as true and obvious is not always true an obvious in another culture.

I have really enjoyed watching this debate and seeing people here struggle with that concept.
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Message 1476618 - Posted: 13 Feb 2014, 18:21:08 UTC

The culture shock of descending from 40k feet to work in another country is quite something and not to be underestimated.
Small things like the the word for "loo", "breakfast" (although that's becoming more universal) and "bedroom" - have you ever tried booking a room in parts of Switzerland where you and the hotelier only have badly broken French and Italian in common - I could have managed in German, but she spoke only three words (and one of those wasn't polite) and she spoke no English at all - that's a culture shock in the extreme. I fared better in HK where at least a lot of the signs were in both English and Chinese, so much pointing worked there...

I still recall going down to breakfast in a motel near SF airport and thinking "Why is everyone speaking English with an American accent?" - I'd just spent a few months on the wing around the world (passport full of great stamps and visas, shame some scrote stole it in London - of little use as it was full and cancelled...).
US vs European cultural observations? Many Americans have never ventured from their home states never mind their home country, where as many Europeans travel a lot, even within Europe - the cultural difference between the Scandinavian countries and the Mediterranean ones is, I would say, as big as between the US and the UK...
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Message 1476656 - Posted: 13 Feb 2014, 19:00:09 UTC - in response to Message 1476618.  

The culture shock of descending from 40k feet to work in another country is quite something and not to be underestimated.
Small things like the the word for "loo", "breakfast" (although that's becoming more universal) and "bedroom" - have you ever tried booking a room in parts of Switzerland where you and the hotelier only have badly broken French and Italian in common - I could have managed in German, but she spoke only three words (and one of those wasn't polite) and she spoke no English at all - that's a culture shock in the extreme. I fared better in HK where at least a lot of the signs were in both English and Chinese, so much pointing worked there...

I still recall going down to breakfast in a motel near SF airport and thinking "Why is everyone speaking English with an American accent?" - I'd just spent a few months on the wing around the world (passport full of great stamps and visas, shame some scrote stole it in London - of little use as it was full and cancelled...).
US vs European cultural observations? Many Americans have never ventured from their home states never mind their home country, where as many Europeans travel a lot, even within Europe - the cultural difference between the Scandinavian countries and the Mediterranean ones is, I would say, as big as between the US and the UK...

Its not just about language. I've been visiting Canada for years before I finally moved here. I've struggled with the job market because there is a completely different culture when it comes to how people get jobs. I'm slowly figuring it out, but there are no places you can go to find out things you didn't even know you had to find out. If you ask people they don't understand the question because to them the answer is so obvious.

My first few weeks here were difficult because the transit system is totally different and not obvious to an outsider. There aren't even instructions for outsiders. I would never in a million years figured out that you get bus timetables from the library rather than the ticket station. My partner told me and was totally bemused that it wasn't obvious to me...because you know, where else would you get a bus timetable?

All these little things add up and make life just that bit more difficult if you aren't raised in the culture. I have huge respect for immigrants whose first language isn't English. They must be amazing people to be able to function and thrive in a different culture where they can't even communicate properly. Not to mention incredibly brave. I am not sure I could do it.
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Message 1476813 - Posted: 14 Feb 2014, 0:05:43 UTC

I have found that there is nothing like travelling to give you a true perspective on everything you thought was "normal" or "best". There are a dozen ways to do everything, from catching a bus to running a country. They all have pluses and minuses. None are perfect, the question you have to ask is "does it work here?". The answer is usually yes, when you consider that what counts is what the locals think.

I just wish more people got the opportunity to learn this.

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Message 1476831 - Posted: 14 Feb 2014, 0:43:57 UTC - in response to Message 1476605.  

Es you posted
Past discussions on seti have given me a powerful insight into the American Psyche that I never had before.

I am positive that the people who post on this forum for the most part are not representative of their respective cultures.
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Message 1476853 - Posted: 14 Feb 2014, 2:02:27 UTC

I am positive that the people who post on this forum for the most part are not representative of their respective cultures.


It's gOOd tO be pOsitive.

But Da Heeba Haaba Gooba Gabba mO fOin' Clan disagrees.

' '

May we All have a METAMORPHOSIS. REASON. GOoD JUDGEMENT and LOVE and ORDER!!!!!
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Message 1476859 - Posted: 14 Feb 2014, 2:31:28 UTC - in response to Message 1476831.  

Es you posted
Past discussions on seti have given me a powerful insight into the American Psyche that I never had before.

I am positive that the people who post on this forum for the most part are not representative of their respective cultures.

We have quite a cross section here. Not just in politics, but in the cafe etc. I'd say we have a sufficient data sample to draw some conclusions.
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Message 1476864 - Posted: 14 Feb 2014, 2:47:21 UTC - in response to Message 1476859.  

I'd say we have a sufficient data sample to draw some conclusions.

I disagree, the fact that all who post here, except ID, are interested in SETI which is not mainstream, therefore these posters are not representative.
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Message 1476870 - Posted: 14 Feb 2014, 3:07:01 UTC

Have to agree with Es. I've lived in the US for several years, and still travel there very regularly on business. It is a big complex country, with many points of view. Many of them are represented here on these boards.

Like any forum such as this though, some tend to stand out. In keeping with Chris' requests in starting this thread, I will say no more. ;)

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Message 1476873 - Posted: 14 Feb 2014, 3:16:39 UTC - in response to Message 1476870.  

Many of them are represented here on these boards.

That is the key point, is "many" representative?
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Message 1477046 - Posted: 14 Feb 2014, 11:05:22 UTC - in response to Message 1476864.  

I disagree, the fact that all who post here, except ID, are interested in SETI which is not mainstream, therefore these posters are not representative.

Actually, being interested in SETI means you are interested in hoping to find out if there are aliens out there. That is pretty mainstream. The only not mainstream about SETI is that people here take it a step further and actively try to help to find those aliens by letting SETI use their computers.

In any case, SETI is something that attracts people from the entire political spectrum, and could potentially attract people from all kinds of religions as well.
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Message 1477055 - Posted: 14 Feb 2014, 11:28:58 UTC - in response to Message 1477029.  

I've said right from the start that I don't think that those here are that typical of the average American.

Compared to the few Americans i've met in real life, those here are far more intelligent.
There are some round the university i wouldn't trust to sit the right way on a toilet seat. How the flipping trousers they ever got into university i don't know.
(Oh wait, yes i do, money!)
Life on earth is the global equivalent of not storing things in the fridge.
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Message 1477061 - Posted: 14 Feb 2014, 11:35:16 UTC - in response to Message 1477055.  

I think the Americans on the SETI forums are pretty diverse. And actually, on all the forums I've visited diversity was generally the thing that I noticed the most. Of course, it helps that the vast majority of forum users I've met are American so I get a much more representative sample than from other countries.
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Message 1477127 - Posted: 14 Feb 2014, 14:09:06 UTC - in response to Message 1477055.  

I've said right from the start that I don't think that those here are that typical of the average American.

Compared to the few Americans i've met in real life, those here are far more intelligent.


I was thinking that, but I'm far too polite to come right out and say it.

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Message 1477160 - Posted: 14 Feb 2014, 16:31:46 UTC - in response to Message 1477154.  


I was thinking that, but I'm far too polite to come right out and say it.

Er, I think you just did!


You know you have a clash of cultures when people cannot recognize your jokes.

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Message 1477945 - Posted: 16 Feb 2014, 12:22:10 UTC

I think we can say that the Americans that post here are probably some of the more intelligent if this report is accurate.

One in four Americans 'doesn't know the Earth orbits the Sun' and only half believe in evolution
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Message 1477959 - Posted: 16 Feb 2014, 12:47:48 UTC - in response to Message 1477955.  
Last modified: 16 Feb 2014, 12:57:08 UTC

A reply from an American

James Donaldson 21 minutes ago

If the earth Orbits the Sun then according to this hypothesis we are hurtling around the Sun at 63,000Mph. The sun is hurtling through space at 500,000mph so we are not in an orbit but a spiral to keep up with it, meaning eath is hurling through space at nearly 600,000 mph. Further we are at roughly a 23 degree angle for the seasons.
YET, YET if this is all true how is it that polaris is always over the North Pole never moving, because our angle would mean we the pole face outwards on one side on the sun and inwards on the other, Yet Polaris always is over head. The evidence of you own eyes tells you this in nonsense.
There us a lot more evidence proving we are NOT hurtling around the sun and following it at these speeds. We are anchored in one spot. I have asked many people with their telescopes for an answer and they have none, but to accept the regurgitated nonsense. Kingdom7Info


Oh dear me, you couldn't make it up .....

Makes you want to bash forehead against wall.

Isosceles triangle, with long sides 323 light-years, short side 300 million Km (186 million miles), angle at Polaris end = _______ degrees.

1 light year = 5.87849981 × 10^12 miles

edit]the answer to the calculation according to one site is 0.000005612632 degrees
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Message 1477969 - Posted: 16 Feb 2014, 13:25:37 UTC

I don't think thats typical American or anything. Dumb people exist all around the world. Go to the right place in any European country (or any country on the world for that matter) and I'm sure you'll find people who say dumb stuff like that as well.
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