A matter of perspective

[TheLoveBandit]

I served time in EADD (another corner of BL, but they make you take drugs if you want to be social ), and they let me out for good behaviour. However, one of the more interesting discussions I recall was in trying to address the different mindset between stereotypical "Americans" vs "Europeans". Some of it hinged on the fact that they can drive 3 hrs and have visited 2-4 different countries, each with their own established history and different cultures or languages. To survive, you have to be more tolerant and open minded approach to others. Whereas Americans could drive for 3 days and still be in the same state, all of our history is written BY Americans and how we've done so well for the rest of the world leading by example. A lot of us grow up not considering there IS another view to history or the world around us other than the one we're fed in school, and as such we often have trouble relating to others and are frequently found expecting the world to accomodate US (speak english, no...American english; if not appreciate us and all we do then at least be polite; etc). Again, these are very 'general' statements, but it serves the point - how you are raised, and what the environment is like, greatly shapes how you approach the world - for better or worse. The thread has long since been deleted, but it came to mind as I'm spending time in here these days.


What are your perceptions of Americans? Any questions we could try to answer for you? Any defining statements of yourselves as a "Regional" forum that you wish others would be aware of when coming here? Take this as seriously or as lightly as you wish. I'll be back to beat you down with some seemingly ridiculous questions shortly?

 

[Beatlebot]

I think the main thing for me is that we experience such a cultural invasion from the US and the idea of a unique Australian cultural identity gets washed away because the majority of our television, films and music come from the US.

For example, there is an ad on TV right now for a men's deoderant. A foreign visitor accidentally gets sprayed by the deoderant and as a result, a sexy young woman becomes turned on by him, says, "Bom-chica-wow-wow" and tears off his clothes.

His response is, "God bless America."

Companies don't even bother to change their ads to make them specific to us. We're expected to identify that closely with America now. Just another one of the states.

 

[MazDan]

Excellent topic.

My first visit to the States was in 1992 from memory. A year or so earlier I had some interaction with a team of soccer players from America that changed my view of the place.

Prior to meeting them I was firm in my belief that the US was chock full of loud rude business men who had no time for anyone else in the world bar themselves and there big ass cars.

I was so surprised that i vowed to find out more about this place.

I organised to take my team over there and we stayed for 17 days in the San Diego and Long Beach areas. Visited all the usual stuff such as Magic Mountain and Disneyland etc etc and won a local soccer tournament.

I was shocked at just how much the States was like an overgrown Australia.........apart from the accent, Australia was a mini me of the US. Sure there was a few other weird bits like you have to open a box to get your paper and the toilets scare the bejesus out of you cos it looks like the water is going to overflow out the top, and there is basketball played live on christmas day. People drive on the wrong side of the road and call Utes pickups. And even weirder was that one of the parents we met over there was happy for his 13 year old daughter to spend the night with our team of 13 year olds at the hotel.

Yeah its a weird joint but the people were just so god damn friendly, they were falling over themselves to look after us and thanks to that I now have a great love for the place and the people.

And just like us they have beautiful people and ass hats.

I do think its sad that there is something so fundamentally wrong in your teaching sustem that allows even grown ups to believe that Australia is a state of America and can be found somewhere down South..........and to be so quick to believe that we all ride Kangaroos to school and keep Koalas as pets. Not to mention that the harbour bridge is taken over by spear weilding aboriginals at night.


The other thing I notice is that its hard to engage Americans in any serious quality conversation............in this regard there is a huge gulf between us...........the perfect example is the difference between the lounge (predominantly American users) and Aus social (predominantly Aussie).

Aussies seem to have a better ability to mix serious with ramblings while socialising.


There is heaps more I could add but that will do for now.

Bottom line..........I really like the States and there people.............I like Europeans to but I find there countries like visiting an old peoples home.........its all gloomy and clutterred.

 

[Samadhi]

Great topic, TLB.

Firstly, i'd really like this to keep on topic, and i don't want any overt negativity towards America here... absolutely - if you have "negative" perception of America/Americans, voice it, but in a mature way. I'll be editing any overtly derogatory remarks, as i think this thread has the potential to open up a good dialogue.

I don't have an overly negative view on "all" Americans. I know quite a few US citizens, and I certainly don't think that all Americans are puppets who blindly believe everything that their administration tells them to believe. There are millions of Americans that are breaking away from that train of thought, to search for their own truth.

Look, i've seen the obnoxiously loud American tourists here in Brisbane, with their bumbags and their chewing gum, but to anyone who paints all Americans with the same brush... how do you think we, as Australians, are portrayed overseas? Have you seen us overseas? We suck... we are loud, obnoxious, more often than not, drunk... We have our quota of bigoted rednecks here as well, it's just that America is SO much larger than us, there are more of them.

I believe that we follow America very closely with trends, etc... hell, we have our own "Australia's Next Top Model", "The Outback Bachelor" or whatever it's called, and again, as BB said, our own identity is slowly being lost. But that's not America's fault... we're not being forced to follow suit, it's our media heads, etc that are allowing this to happen.

Americans tend to be more patriotic (or are taught to be from a young age), when most Australians don't even know the second verse to our national anthem.

 

[eggman]

I lived in the US for almost a year on student exchange and then a further 12 months with a temp work visa so the perception that I have now when ever I interact with Americans, read about them or hear about them is firmly based on those 2 years. However, just to add to the dialogue I can relay my attitude before I left and how that drasticaly changed not long after I arrived.

Before I left home I was expecting to go to this country where everyone dressed like they where from a commercial or a movie - rich kids dressed all hip, black kids in hip hop livery and the latino's just acting all cool. Everyone drove either muscle cars or european sedans. The cities where big and exciting, the suburbs where clean and polished. The Californian beaches where wall to wall beef cake and hard bodies and in land it was all lush rolling green fields and snow capped mountains. Practically everyone was college educated and worked professional jobs. Sure, I thought there was some nasty stuff - but as long as i stayed out of south central loas angeles, I was going to get done in a drive by.

The day I flew back in to Sydney though, my attitude was a million miles away. The majority of people where down to earth, worked blue collar jobs, drove older normal cars and lived in modest dwellings. The majority of people where overweight and hardly anyone looked like a movie star. There where signs of homelessness and desperation in places where you wouldn't expect. Pollution was everywhere and choked the air. There where plenty of different races living and working together, but the racism and OPEN racism was everywhere. The other main difference was the permiation of religion into the American culture. I was amazed at how much of the population would stop everything to attend church.

As far as the people though, people where so down to earth and nice. There was a lot of narrow mindedness about the country and culture I came from, but still people where keen to hear the real side of the story.

Obviously having the experience of living there makes it hard for you to guage the response your looking for, I can give you my $0.02 on how the majority of Australians think. Generally its a big mixture and tainted with a lot of hypocrisy. You can easily speak to someone who is expouting the evilness of the USA, about how they are all a part of the war machine fighting to steal oil and repress the population worldwide. Theh at the same time their absorbed in US pop culture... they speak the same, listen to the same music, eat the same foods, watch the same films and tv programs.

There was a situation here in Sydney a few months ago where there was a house fire in which a mother a daughter died. The neighbour was running around outside shouting "Call 9-11... Someone Call 9-11!" and he himself was trying to call 911 on his mobile.... no wait, or should that be cell

In Australia I think I can safely say that the majority of those pushing the Anti-American agenda are just swallowing and spitting out someone elses rhetoric.

Lastly, I want to agree with Samadhi's point about Australians overseas and in particular Asian countries. Some people behave absolutely disgusting in those places. Check out Bali during schoolies or Ko Samui at new years. Or just the general banter upon return "aaawwww check out these bracelts i bought for [insert cheap price to us here], I talked them down to just one tenth of that!"

 

[college_dropout]

What are your perceptions of Americans? Any questions we could try to answer for you? Any defining statements of yourselves as a "Regional" forum that you wish others would be aware of when coming here? Take this as seriously or as lightly as you wish. I'll be back to beat you down with some seemingly ridiculous questions shortly?

Well for starters I'm sick of hearing:
"USA is the greatest country on earth." 8) 8) 8) 8) 8) 8) 8) 8) 8) 8) 8)
It would be okay if there were clear evidence to support this claim...

Oh and another one that pops up from time to time: "America...the freest country the world has ever known."

I hate US imperialism. In effect, I hate right wing Americans. I don't doubt that in their hearts most of them are nice genuine down to earth people, but they're severely misguided about the realities of their country's place in this world.

I think dictators around the world would look at the blind patriotism many US citizens have and think, "Damn, that's pretty f**king impressive."

Oh & I'm one of those Australians who doesn't know all the words to our national anthem When it gets to certain bits I know what sounds to make, but I've forgotten what the words actually are...if that makes sense. So I sort of just hum along.

 

[pantsonfire]

I'm going to go on a different angle here, but hopefully still on topic.

I think the general rule of thumb here is that who ever has the power is the right. There isn’t actually right or wrong, but who ever can exert his power the most is the person who is right. You just have to look through out world history.

I'm going to get absolute blasted here for my next part, but eh it’s what I believe.

I'm an Australian, first generation Aussie, and my parents are European, so I am no way an American Citizen, and I love my country whole heartedly and would defend our shores at the drop of the hat, so to continue what I was going to say is that,

The world I believe does need to thank America in allot of ways, because if it really wasn’t for America then we would be under a different regime to this date. Most Australian’s dont remembers the up hill battle Australia faced in world war two, and how the Japanese where almost at our shores, and who was there for us? Not England, But America, hypothetically speaking if it wasn’t for America you can say Australia as we know it and was back then. Would have been truly in doubt.

You look at the world politics, and basically there are two sides to the coin, you have your westernized cultures, and the others, Now if you look at the others most of there leaders are just in it for them self’s, and not for the people. Which side of the coin would I rather live on? Well I could easily say then American Side because if it really wasn’t for them, then I wouldn’t be able to get into my car and drive to my uni degree, or study the degree I am doing and when I want a mandarin that’s not in season, guess where it comes from?

This comes back to my original statement about America and its place in world politics, America and say England have ensured that the way there foreign polices have worked, has created this life we know it as.

If there wasn’t oil, how are you going to get to work, to pay for your food, pay for the roof over your head, by the things you want, and go to holidays you want?

Is this right attitude? Hell no but it would have been totally different if the Japanese and Hitler won WW2, look at the social hierarchy you see this type of behavior everywhere, from schools to the policies your work place enforces.

Say in other 50 - 100 years time, china comes out of the industrial boom, the largest population on the earth... what will world policies be like then... who knows.

But for us to true Essence of being Aussie what does that really mean? we are a multi cultured nation, so whats Aussie?

A obese bloke in a pair of stubbys , wearing a blue wife beater and flips flops holding a VB, and every second word is fuck or cunt?

I think not..

 

[Samadhi]

wearing a blue wife beater

Don't you mean, a "Jackie Howe"?



My main beef is when i hear blanket statements of any kind. I hate sweeping generalisations... about my country and its citizens and about other cultures and countries.

 

[pantsonfire]

Sweeping generalizations maybe so, But thats a matter of one's opinion and I feel the same way as you do, because its my country as much as it is yours.

 

[Infinite Jest]

There was a situation here in Sydney a few months ago where there was a house fire in which a mother a daughter died. The neighbour was running around outside shouting "Call 9-11... Someone Call 9-11!" and he himself was trying to call 911 on his mobile.... no wait, or should that be cell

Here in NZ, we were running the US TV show Rescue 911 for a while. They started running voiceovers saying "the emergency number in New Zealand is 111". Then (I think) they changed the name of the show to Rescue 111. Then they set up the phone system so that 911 diverts to 111. An interesting example of how permeated we are by US culture.

As a general point: non-USAians probably feel that we have an understanding of American culture, because we're so exposed to it (whereas the reverse isn't true, not even for a larger country like the UK, never mind Aus or NZ). But then, again, as others have mentioned, TV ain't reality, Friends and the Sopranos are not documentaries

 

[Rated E]

As a general point: non-USAians probably feel that we have an understanding of American culture, because we're so exposed to it (whereas the reverse isn't true, not even for a larger country like the UK, never mind Aus or NZ). But then, again, as others have mentioned, TV ain't reality, Friends and the Sopranos are not documentaries

This is true. I mean, what do people overseas think of us when they watch Home and Away... that we're a bunch of beach bums who suck at acting?

 

[Samadhi]

^ And every week, our communities suffer tragedies such as the beach club catching on fire, key members being lost in the bush, or tricking us into thinking they're good people when they're secretly embezzling funds from the surf club, or pretendnig to be people's siblings but are, in fact, imposters. Yep, that's an everyday occurence here in the land down under.

 

[katmeow]

Here in NZ, we were running the US TV show Rescue 911 for a while. They started running voiceovers saying "the emergency number in New Zealand is 111". Then (I think) they changed the name of the show to Rescue 111. Then they set up the phone system so that 911 diverts to 111. An interesting example of how permeated we are by US culture.

I think there has also been some suggestion of doing the same thing here (diverting 911), but at the moment there is a bit of an advertising blitz to make sure everyone knows the right number. I remember 000 being drummed into us from a pretty early age. We did our school excursion to the local police and fire stations in year 1.

 

[breakyaself]

I recently went to America, and I assumed that they would be as my friends described them to me while in their travels. Apparently Americans are rude, arrogant, selfish cocks out of their own country. While in the States, I met nothing but the most generous, selfless, warm , hospitable people I have ever met in my life. It was so refreshing it made me question how I treat other other people.

 

[Klue]

Firstly, I have an Argentinean friend and she hates how people call the USA 'America' or how they are refered to as 'American'. She said something once about them thinking they own the whole continent. So since then I try and call it the US or the USA. Makes sence really. The America's are more than just the United States.

I have a bit of an affinity for the US. I love wearing my stars and stripes bandana, it makes me feel 'Easy Rider' tough. But I reluctantly talk about it because of so many Australians anti US attitude.

I cant really put my finger on it... It could be because every movie or TV show I watched growing up was from there. (Mr T was my absolute idol).

I particuarly like buying things from the states. Pocket knives and clothing from there just seem to be really good quality. And US ebay kicks Aus ebay's butt.

So im trying to say really, that I like the USA. WOuld love to spend time there.

:D

 

[eggman]

As a general point: non-USAians probably feel that we have an understanding of American culture, because we're so exposed to it (whereas the reverse isn't true, not even for a larger country like the UK, never mind Aus or NZ). But then, again, as others have mentioned, TV ain't reality, Friends and the Sopranos are not documentaries

So true

For example when I was in the US I was asked a plethora of stupid, ignorant questions. From memory these included -

1. Do they have roads in Australia?
2. Do you have coca-cola in Australia?
3. Do you have tv's in Australia?
4. Are the kangaroo's in Sydney tame?
5. Speak Australian for us?

And the all time classic....

6. Is it dangerous and scary when the Tasmanian Devil comes and spins around at you, eating the trees? Do they all do that to your house also?

 

[eggman]

Firstly, I have an Argentinean friend and she hates how people call the USA 'America' or how they are refered to as 'American'. She said something once about them thinking they own the whole continent. So since then I try and call it the US or the USA. Makes sence really. The America's are more than just the United States.

well I could understand why she would have that beef if she was a Canadian rather than South American

 

[Benefit]

So true

For example when I was in the US I was asked a plethora of stupid, ignorant questions. From memory these included -

1. Do they have roads in Australia?
2. Do you have coca-cola in Australia?
3. Do you have tv's in Australia?
4. Are the kangaroo's in Sydney tame?
5. Speak Australian for us?

And the all time classic....

6. Is it dangerous and scary when the Tasmanian Devil comes and spins around at you, eating the trees? Do they all do that to your house also?

Stupid people will ask stupid questions no matter what country they are from.

 

[Klue]

My Grandad hated all things USA, even though he fought alongside them in the war. My dad suspects it was because he was jelous of US soldiers here on shore leave dating(?) his girlfriend (my Granma)-(although she was waiting for him to come home.)

Dad wasnt even allowed to buy and wear a pair of jeans becuase it was just an American trend. The sort of haircut his kids were allowed to have, Elvis and music in general and pointy toed shoes were all strictly regulated.

Aside from my family, I have heard of other angst againts the US during the war. There is a famous fight that happened between Aussie and US troops during the war. (Although I cant reference it.)

 

[taita]

Stupid people will ask stupid questions no matter what country they are from.

I agree... I get asked several stupid questions daily... is it ignorance, im not sure. But in the words of the guys from the Blue Comedy Tour. Bill Engvall to be exact ..."Heres your sign!"

I must say theat i enjoyed my time in the states when i was 21. Got well looked after and had a blast.. The only bad thing bout the whole trip was being held up after we came out of a nite club in New York. Wasnt my money anyway!