⭐️ Social ⭐️ Get to know your neighbo(u)rs from across the pond

[Tommyboy]

The NASADD and EADD staff have agreed upon having a common thread in which our forum members can ask each other questions.

So let's use this thread to ask any burning questions we may have about each others culture, and to iron out any questions about stereotypes. Questions don't have to be drug related, but that certainly is allowed. We can have a lot of fun with this, but let's keep in somewhat civil.

So Europeans, ask us Americans about our ignorant, oxycontin loving, fast food eating selves.

And Americans, feel free to ask the Europeans about the best way to make tea and crumpets.

Cheers!

 

[Tommyboy]

So I have a question about beer.

Is Budweiser expensive in the UK? In the US, imported beers are more expensive, but I can't see Budweiser as being in the same class as imports. I doubt anyone in Europe drinks bud, but I would think that someone could answer my question.

 

[felix]

budweiser is very popular in the UK, every pub and shop sells it. i wouldn't class it as expensive though - people wouldn't pay a premium for american beer, sorry! belgian beers like Duvel and Leffe are much more expensive here.

on the subject of beer, i'll head this one off at the pass: most beer in the UK is served COLD!!!


/in before someone brings up the standards of british teeth.

 

[Bomboclat]

Who in any country wants a warm beer?

 

[purple_cloud]

^ Apparently they like them in some? Seems odd to me...although I've had a Stella at room temperature and didn't hate it, I'd have to say.

And, I was talking to a EADDer...you guys are really all about instant coffee in the UK? That depresses me, since I imagine you all as warm beverage snobs in general.

 

[Chainer]

wasn't budwiser bought out by a french parent company? I don't think you can honestly still call it an american beer.

nbd;js.

 

[ChrisTribeSector9]

^ Apparently they like them in some? Seems odd to me...although I've had a Stella at room temperature and didn't hate it, I'd have to say.

And, I was talking to a EADDer...you guys are really all about instant coffee in the UK? That depresses me, since I imagine you all as warm beverage snobs in general.

All I know is that they serve beer at "basement temperature" typically in Germany from my experience. Not COLD, but not warm also--it actually tastes pretty good if you ask me.

My question, though, is: MEOW. What's the big fucking deal? Only been offered it once here in the States at a rave, and I turned it down in favor of good old Molly in a heartbeat.

 

[az5000]

To Americans : what are your perceived stereotypes about British people? Which do you think are true and which aren't?

 

[Tommyboy]

To Americans : what are your perceived stereotypes about British people? Which do you think are true and which aren't?

Perceived Stereotypes

• Bad teeth
• Drinking a lot of tea
• Smoking a tobacco pipe
• Everybody plays football (American soccer)
• Men (in indie rock bands or into that music) wearing make-up

I would think (and hope) that the 1st and 3rd on the list are outdated.

 

[Chainer]

Honestly the only stereotypes I have for the brits are their love of soccor, and the love for destroying what would otherwise have been a perfect amount of weed by mixing in tabaccy. The accent does make it sound like you're trying to be more intelligent then you really are, but I can't hold that against anyone, really.

The bad teeth one is a classic obviously. I imagine that is just as deeply tied to the brits as fast food consumption by Americans is. FYI, I haven't had fast food in over a month. In any form.

 

[Myshkin]

Right, since I've never visited your fine, fine country (which I intend to rectify once social phobias ease up or I find a suitably understanding and patient chaperone) I've only seen it represented either through Hollywood (which I suspect to be fantasy) or the arts (and Neil Young wasn't even American, Kerouac was wired and drunk all the time and Swans were / are... well, there may be children around so I'll leave that alone).

I don't even suffer from the delusion that you're all overweight morons either, before I ask the question, and I'm also aware the US is a vast, vast and pretty diverse place. Just one thing though:

What's the deal with the flagpoles? How many of you actually have one and insist on hoisting up 'Old Glory' proudly on whatever weird occasions you Americanese commemorate?

Or is it like here, where national flags are only usually displayed by marginalised racists, damaged veterans, civic buildings or the clip-on versions that people who drive family saloons like to stick to their cars during football tournaments (soccer to you).

Come on, enlighten us. Please.

 

[Tommyboy]

^ I have a large American flag in my closet, and I usually only take it out on Flag Day. I would say that almost every American has one, since you will see one outside of almost everyone's house on holidays.

People go around on holidays and hand out the little flags, which I think are just plastic. Not sure who, maybe the neighborhood realtor that is trying to get you on her side, bit I recall them showing u with the coupons and other stuff in the mail.

Our fire departments are one of the main places that always have the flag out.

Confederate flags are owned by some racists still, and it really depends on location. They are mostly in rural areas I guess, or down south.

And ahh, speaking of budweiser and flags. They made their cans have the design of the American flag for the summer holidays I guess.

 

[debaser]

I've seen porn films with a big Budweiser flag just behind the "actors".

 

[Jabberwocky]

My question, though, is: MEOW. What's the big fucking deal? Only been offered it once here in the States at a rave, and I turned it down in favor of good old Molly in a heartbeat.

its popularity coincided with heavy restrictions on the importation of an mdma precursor. was legal, and possibly relevant, fucking cheap in the middle of a recession.

for sex it is a lot better imo, its fucking rotten. for everything else mdma is better.

i have one- in the northern states are you really expected to work > 12 hours per day if you want to 'make it' career wise?

 

[mashmetaller]

Who in any country wants a warm beer?

Proper british real ale (buitter) should be served at or just below room temperature (as someone else said cellar temperature, just a few degrees colder than room temp).

The taste of bitter is a lot stronger, more complex, and well, more "bitter" than lighter beers. If you over chill it the cold can slightly numb your palette so you don't appreciate the full flavour. (and yes "flavor" is actually spelt "flavour" thanks very much...)

Same with red wine. If you get a good red then you want to drink it at around room temperature to really appreciate it. (certain oddities e.g. beaujolais excluded)


Real ale is like the red wine of the beer world. It tastes better at slightly higher temperatures. Certainly not warm, but you don't have to super chill it to hide the horrendous taste of it like you have to with amerian "beer"

Come and have a pint of proper bitter at around room temperature in a country pup in and English summer and I'll convert any of you!

 

[Vader]

Yeah, real ale actually tastes good enough that you don't have to chill it to near-freezing to make it halfway palatable.

The accent does make it sound like you're trying to be more intelligent then you really are, but I can't hold that against anyone, really.

No, the accent makes us sound exactly as intelligent as we actually are. A Southern accent, that is; I'm sure if you heard SamhainGrin's accent pseudointellectualism would be the last thing on your mind.

I have one perceived stereotype to share:
Americans can't roll decent joints to save their lives

 

[debaser]

certain oddities e.g. beaujolais excluded

Man, you've never tasted the REAL Beaujolais Nouveau, not the piss they give to the foreigners and to a lot of the French too. The real one is a nectar beyond belief, and that's coming from someone who doesn't really like alcohol

 

[Vader]

What's with pickup trucks? It's like a van except all your shit gets wet if it rains.

for sex it is a lot better imo, its fucking rotten

Oh, it makes for some rotten fucking alright. Throw in a couple ml of G and you've got an instant pornstar kit.

 

[felix]

The accent does make it sound like you're trying to be more intelligent then you really are, but I can't hold that against anyone, really.

that right there is an american stereotype - thinking that we all speak like the Queen. I bet there's a wider variety of accents in the UK than there is in the entire US. we nearly all speak English of course, but you really wouldn't believe it if you heard some of the weirder accents. and that's without even going into dialects...

oh, and when I've been working in the US, and told people I'm Scottish, i LOVE it when they say 'oh wow, you speak really good English!'

see here: http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/UsefulNotes/BritishAccents?from=Main.BritishAccents :D

 

[Vader]

'oh wow, you speak really good English!'

Are you serious? My god.

Ooh, I have stereotype:
Americans can name every US state, and its capital, nickname and official flower, but cannot find any other country on a map