Just came back from collecting my laundry..and maybe a few folkes will get annoyed at me for saying this..but I encountered a cultural cliche' (um should that be National or Country cliche's?)

Three American girls (around mid 20s or so i think) came into the laundry room to get some water. I knew they were American before I could even see them..before they even entered the room..in fact a short way away..because i could hear them ...the volume getting progressively louder as they approached.

..Went something like this:

"So, yeh we are, like, going to this, like, place, and like, its so cool...well, i-dunno- if-its-cool yet..but she says-its cool.."

"Oh wOow! You must be SOOOOO ex-CI-ted!"

".. Yeh, like, omg, Im really, like, SOoooOOO, excited..."

..and so on....wasnt paying too much attention..but hard not to hear what they are saying when its reverberating around the room.

Ive known a lot of Americans, some good friends are American, and not all talk at an amplified volume, but it does seem to be something Americans do more than other nationalities..? Why the need for volume?

Anyway...just got me wondering..what other cliche's about countries can you think of..that you think have some basis of truth?

Im not meaning this to turn into a put down and nastiness towards other countries or cultures, just general observations. Hopefully no one will take offense.

Btw..I was born in Scotland, so feel free to take a shot at me also..!

Anyway...just got me wondering..what other cliche's about countries can you think of..that you think have some basis of truth?

The Thais smile a lot?

Whenever I am out of Bangkok, especially when I am in the village or in Rayong, people are always asking you to join them with a smile.

Too many instances to mention but one comes to mind because of its wholly inappropriate scenario ( for me ) 6.00am- 6.30am and I am walking up to the local market and a family group are having a little get together, food is well established and I am called over.

They offer me the local whiskey in a long glass and for the sake of inter country relations I accept, take a small sip and hand it back, they all smiled, offered me food but would not take the glass.

The wife intervened and said, ' you can't hand the glass back', I had to finish it off. 6.30 in the morning!!

It was all smiles and they were so pleased I got involved and tried speaking a very little Thai.

Smiles, involvement and sharing, yeah that's a cliché I can live with.

You can give the glass back but it must empty.

Just came back from collecting my laundry..and maybe a few folkes will get annoyed at me for saying this..but I encountered a cultural cliche' (um should that be National or Country cliche's?)

Three American girls (around mid 20s or so i think) came into the laundry room to get some water. I knew they were American before I could even see them..before they even entered the room..in fact a short way away..because i could hear them ...the volume getting progressively louder as they approached.

..Went something like this:

"So, yeh we are, like, going to this, like, place, and like, its so cool...well, i-dunno- if-its-cool yet..but she says-its cool.."

"Oh wOow! You must be SOOOOO ex-CI-ted!"

".. Yeh, like, omg, Im really, like, SOoooOOO, excited..."

..and so on....wasnt paying too much attention..but hard not to hear what they are saying when its reverberating around the room.

Ive known a lot of Americans, some good friends are American, and not all talk at an amplified volume, but it does seem to be something Americans do more than other nationalities..? Why the need for volume?

Anyway...just got me wondering..what other cliche's about countries can you think of..that you think have some basis of truth?

Im not meaning this to turn into a put down and nastiness towards other countries or cultures, just general observations. Hopefully no one will take offense.

Btw..I was born in Scotland, so feel free to take a shot at me also..!

I'm not sure those were Americans you overheard or you would have quoted then saying amayyyzing several times.

Cultural cliches OK. British extremely class conscious. If their from the "working class" they wan to tell you about their "working class roots". If they happened to go to grammar school, somehow that gets slipped into the conversation 50 years after the event. If of a higher "class" shameless namedroppers. I've heard a couple, seemingly normal brits here refer to the locals as "fuc_king peasants" (when I responded that I thought that was a harsh judgement, I was told "it's just an expression"). I think they can't help themselves.

Japanese people with camera's.

Go to just about any tourist resort and should you see a group of Japanese tourists then I'll bet ya that at least 30% of them have a camera, carried by a thingamy around the neck.Just an observation. And why do they feel the need to do trips in groups as opposed to individually? Personally I try to avoid being shepparded (sp?) when on holiday.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Germans with the beach towels.

Another cliche' that is for the most part true. I have spent some time and often worked on resorts across Europe. During that time, along with experiences in Asia, I have noted that German people actually set their alarms before sunrise to book their place on the beach with their towels. Remember the carling black label advert? (That's one for the Brit's).

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Brits, alcohol and chav like behaviour.

Guilty as charged your honour.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Aussies/

See above.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

There are others but I forget now.

These are purely observations of course.

German people actually set their alarms before sunrise to book their place on the beach with their towels. Remember the carling black label advert?

I think the stereotype about Americans being louder is often true (until you see them side to side with Israelis), but the one about them being obnoxious is only half true. For every boorish yank on the vacation trail there are five others who are trying desperately to be anything but the stereotype.

Then there's the stereotype about Canadians being nice. While this is mostly true, we ruin it by being horribly smug about it. I cringe everytime I meet some self-congratulatory canuck going on and on about how well liked we supposedly are.

As for the Brits being unable to handle the booze, this is often true in holiday spots but it's been conditioned into them to binge drink since for almost a century the pubs closed ridiculously early so that a night out had to be compressed into a few short hours. Put those habits in a place where you can drink for much longer hours and trouble is going to happen. Hopefully this will become less of an issue now that the rules back home have been relaxed.

Back to the Israelis. Yes, they're loud, but they're also a lot of fun, and should you get into a tight spot, there's no better people to back you up. Even the women usually have combat training.

That's the one Moss.

"All Nigerian's are drug dealers"....

Well as it happens most of my....errrrm.

Never-mind.

I can't believe nobody's had a go at the Irish!

ps Moss that ad was fab, they couldn't make it today...

I can't believe nobody's had a go at the Irish!

We're waiting till the afternoon when they're all out of bed.

Just came back from collecting my laundry..and maybe a few folkes will get annoyed at me for saying this..but I encountered a cultural cliche' (um should that be National or Country cliche's?)

Three American girls (around mid 20s or so i think) came into the laundry room to get some water. I knew they were American before I could even see them..before they even entered the room..in fact a short way away..because i could hear them ...the volume getting progressively louder as they approached.

..Went something like this:

"So, yeh we are, like, going to this, like, place, and like, its so cool...well, i-dunno- if-its-cool yet..but she says-its cool.."

"Oh wOow! You must be SOOOOO ex-CI-ted!"

".. Yeh, like, omg, Im really, like, SOoooOOO, excited..."

..and so on....wasnt paying too much attention..but hard not to hear what they are saying when its reverberating around the room.

Ive known a lot of Americans, some good friends are American, and not all talk at an amplified volume, but it does seem to be something Americans do more than other nationalities..? Why the need for volume?

Anyway...just got me wondering..what other cliche's about countries can you think of..that you think have some basis of truth?

Im not meaning this to turn into a put down and nastiness towards other countries or cultures, just general observations. Hopefully no one will take offense.

Btw..I was born in Scotland, so feel free to take a shot at me also..!

[/quo

You might be mistaking "kids" for any nationality

Americans that know nothing about the rest of the world.

English that complain that the rest of the world isn't like England.

Lackadaisical Aussies.

Germans that don't wash. German women that don't shave their armpits.

Scotsmen and Dutch with short arms and deep pockets. I met one (only one) Isreali like that too. But all very sociable.

Pacific islanders that can't hold their booze and get aggressive.

Over-sexed Turks that screw anything.

Kiwis with Napoleon Complex.

I've met all of these stereotypes.

Just came back from collecting my laundry..and maybe a few folkes will get annoyed at me for saying this..but I encountered a cultural cliche' (um should that be National or Country cliche's?)

Three American girls (around mid 20s or so i think) came into the laundry room to get some water. I knew they were American before I could even see them..before they even entered the room..in fact a short way away..because i could hear them ...the volume getting progressively louder as they approached.

..Went something like this:

"So, yeh we are, like, going to this, like, place, and like, its so cool...well, i-dunno- if-its-cool yet..but she says-its cool.."

"Oh wOow! You must be SOOOOO ex-CI-ted!"

".. Yeh, like, omg, Im really, like, SOoooOOO, excited..."

I can't believe nobody's had a go at the Irish!

We're waiting till the afternoon when they're all out of bed.

ya' mean when the pubs open?

As for the Brits being unable to handle the booze,

I can't think of a nation that can handle the booze. I have seen people p1ssed from all colours, creeds from every corner of the globe. As for sterotypes, I thought it was the Americans who were known for not being able to handle it.

I suppose where i currently live, it is thought that they are all terrorists and sh4g Camels.

One of the above is false

I suppose where i currently live, it is thought that they are all terrorists and sh4g Camels.

One of the above is false

I suppose the term "humping" had to come from somewhere.

That reminds me of a joke....off to "Short Ones"....

Lackadaisical Aussies.

I think I might be pissed off at that description, but I can't be buggered.

Just came back from collecting my laundry..and maybe a few folkes will get annoyed at me for saying this..but I encountered a cultural cliche' (um should that be National or Country cliche's?)

Three American girls (around mid 20s or so i think) came into the laundry room to get some water. I knew they were American before I could even see them..before they even entered the room..in fact a short way away..because i could hear them ...the volume getting progressively louder as they approached.

..Went something like this:

"So, yeh we are, like, going to this, like, place, and like, its so cool...well, i-dunno- if-its-cool yet..but she says-its cool.."

"Oh wOow! You must be SOOOOO ex-CI-ted!"

".. Yeh, like, omg, Im really, like, SOoooOOO, excited..."

..and so on....wasnt paying too much attention..but hard not to hear what they are saying when its reverberating around the room.

Ive known a lot of Americans, some good friends are American, and not all talk at an amplified volume, but it does seem to be something Americans do more than other nationalities..? Why the need for volume?

Anyway...just got me wondering..what other cliche's about countries can you think of..that you think have some basis of truth?

Im not meaning this to turn into a put down and nastiness towards other countries or cultures, just general observations. Hopefully no one will take offense.

Btw..I was born in Scotland, so feel free to take a shot at me also..!

I'm not sure those were Americans you overheard or you would have quoted then saying amayyyzing several times.

Cultural cliches OK. British extremely class conscious. If their from the "working class" they wan to tell you about their "working class roots". If they happened to go to grammar school, somehow that gets slipped into the conversation 50 years after the event. If of a higher "class" shameless namedroppers. I've heard a couple, seemingly normal brits here refer to the locals as "fuc_king peasants" (when I responded that I thought that was a harsh judgement, I was told "it's just an expression"). I think they can't help themselves.

I'm not quite sure I buy this 'English class' thingy. Every country has its class system. It's just that ours is a bit more up front. I'm sure you'd differentiate between someone living in Pacific Heights and the inhabitants of a trailer home in South Carolina.

As an aside I went to a grammar school which is reputed to be the second oldest school in England

Warwick?

Derby

Ok.... SO now we have to guess who Endure is, from this meticulously researched and exhaustively compiled list of possibilities:

Born in the 16th century

* Blessed Edward James (1557-1588), Catholic martyr[2][3]

* John Cotton (1585–1652), New England Puritan[2][3]

Born in the 17th century

* John Flamsteed (1646-1719), England's first Astronomer Royal[2][3]

* Anthony Blackwall (1672-1730), classical scholar[2][3]

* Henry Cantrell (1684-1773), clergyman and religious controversialist[3][4]

* William Budworth (c. 1699-1745), schoolmaster[5]

Born in the 18th century

* Sir John Eardley Wilmot (1709-1792), Chief Justice of the Common Pleas[2][3][6]

* Joseph Wright (1734-1797), artist[2][3][7]

* Daniel Coke (1745-1825), barrister and member of parliament[2][3][8]

* Alleyne FitzHerbert, 1st Baron St Helens (1753-1839), diplomat[2][3]

* Joseph Strutt (1765–1844), cotton manufacturer and philanthropist[2][3]

* Sir William Gell (1777-1836), archaeologist[2][3]

Born in the 19th century

* Sir Francis Seymour Haden (1818-1910), surgeon and artist[2][9]

* Sir Henry Howe Bemrose (1827-1911), member of parliament for Derby[2][10]

* Unwin Sowter (1839-1910) maltster, cricketer and Mayor of Derby

* John Cook Wilson (1849-1915), philosopher[2][11]

* J. M. J. Fletcher (1850-1934), historian[2]

* E. W. Hobson FRS (1856-1933), mathematician[2]

* Richard Mansfield (1857-1907), actor[2]

* Hon. George Frederick Earp CBE (1858-1933), member of the Legislative Council of New South Wales[12]

* John Atkinson Hobson (1858–1940), social theorist and economist[2]

* Walter Weston (1860-1940), missionary and mountaineer[2][13]

* Lawrence Beesley (1877-1967), RMS Titanic survivor and author[2]

* Walter Greatorex (1877-1949), composer[2]

* Charles Tate Regan (1878-1943), ichthyologist[2]

* Sir George Simpson FRS (1878–1965), meteorologist[2]

* Geoffrey Shaw (1879–1943), composer and musician[2][14]

* William George Constable (1887-1976), art historian[15][16]

* Sir Robert Howe (1893-1981), last British Governor-General of the Sudan, 1947-1955[17]

Just came back from collecting my laundry..and maybe a few folkes will get annoyed at me for saying this..but I encountered a cultural cliche' (um should that be National or Country cliche's?)

Three American girls (around mid 20s or so i think) came into the laundry room to get some water. I knew they were American before I could even see them..before they even entered the room..in fact a short way away..because i could hear them ...the volume getting progressively louder as they approached.

..Went something like this:

"So, yeh we are, like, going to this, like, place, and like, its so cool...well, i-dunno- if-its-cool yet..but she says-its cool.."

"Oh wOow! You must be SOOOOO ex-CI-ted!"

".. Yeh, like, omg, Im really, like, SOoooOOO, excited..."

..and so on....wasnt paying too much attention..but hard not to hear what they are saying when its reverberating around the room.

Ive known a lot of Americans, some good friends are American, and not all talk at an amplified volume, but it does seem to be something Americans do more than other nationalities..? Why the need for volume?

Anyway...just got me wondering..what other cliche's about countries can you think of..that you think have some basis of truth?

Im not meaning this to turn into a put down and nastiness towards other countries or cultures, just general observations. Hopefully no one will take offense.

Btw..I was born in Scotland, so feel free to take a shot at me also..!

I'm not sure those were Americans you overheard or you would have quoted then saying amayyyzing several times.

Cultural cliches OK. British extremely class conscious. If their from the "working class" they wan to tell you about their "working class roots". If they happened to go to grammar school, somehow that gets slipped into the conversation 50 years after the event. If of a higher "class" shameless namedroppers. I've heard a couple, seemingly normal brits here refer to the locals as "fuc_king peasants" (when I responded that I thought that was a harsh judgement, I was told "it's just an expression"). I think they can't help themselves.

I'm not quite sure I buy this 'English class' thingy. Every country has its class system. It's just that ours is a bit more up front. I'm sure you'd differentiate between someone living in Pacific Heights and the inhabitants of a trailer home in South Carolina.

As an aside I went to a grammar school which is reputed to be the second oldest school in England

One might be able to draw wealth distinction between the people living in the areas you mention, but I wouldn't draw a distinction with regard to their "inalienable rights" or their human potential (or economic potential for that matter). I had an interesting discussion with a respected TV member once by PM. Unfortunately TV didn't save my messages. Here's what he had to say on this topic and it confirmed my own observations:

I am an American, but I was brought up for most of my life in the UK.

As such my family values and the insight I gained from my family background was to view UK society, sort of from the edge.

The idea that any of us may become what we want was the basis of my up bringing, but and here's a personal observation, it was also the cause of many problems for me growing up.

I constantly ran into problems with British people in positions of authority because they understood my challenge to be allowed to go as far as I can, but because of my accent (and that it might never occur to them) they did not see 'an American kid' behaving as he was brought up to behave, they saw a British kid who thought himself too good for his own station in life.

The British even have a term for this - a counter jumper (a shop assistant who sees himself on the other side of the counter).

The responses of British posters hear are straight out of their class based up bringing.

I then responded something about how those who DO rise above their station appear even more snobbish, which I thoug

I'm not sure those were Americans you overheard or you would have quoted then saying amayyyzing several times.

Cultural cliches OK. British extremely class conscious. If their from the "working class" they wan to tell you about their "working class roots". If they happened to go to grammar school, somehow that gets slipped into the conversation 50 years after the event. If of a higher "class" shameless namedroppers. I've heard a couple, seemingly normal brits here refer to the locals as "fuc_king peasants" (when I responded that I thought that was a harsh judgement, I was told "it's just an expression"). I think they can't help themselves.

I'm not quite sure I buy this 'English class' thingy. Every country has its class system. It's just that ours is a bit more up front. I'm sure you'd differentiate between someone living in Pacific Heights and the inhabitants of a trailer home in South Carolina.

As an aside I went to a grammar school which is reputed to be the second oldest school in England

One might be able to draw wealth distinction between the people living in the areas you mention, but I wouldn't draw a distinction with regard to their "inalienable rights" or their human potential (or economic potential for that matter). I had an interesting discussion with a respected TV member once by PM. Unfortunately TV didn't save my messages. Here's what he had to say on this topic and it confirmed my own observations:

I am an American, but I was brought up for most of my life in the UK. As such my family values and the insight I gained from my family background was to view UK society, sort of from the edge. The idea that any of us may become what we want was the basis of my up bringing, but and here's a personal observation, it was also the cause of many problems for me growing up. I constantly ran into problems with British people in positions of authority because they understood my challenge to be allowed to go as far as I can, but because of my accent (and that it might never occur to them) they did not see 'an American kid' behaving as he was brought up to behave, they saw a British kid who thought himself too good for his own station in life. The British even have a term for this - a counter jumper (a shop assistant who sees himself on the other side of the counter). The responses of British posters hear are straight out of their class based up bringing.

I then responded something about how those who DO rise above their station appear even more snobbish, which I thought was curious. His response:

Yes that would be right - the refer to this as 'pulling the ladder up behind them'. A more interesting aspect of the British class system is 'Self censure' where working class people exclude themselves from experiences and opportunities because they feel that those things are not part of their life - Education is the classic example.

It's probably a topic better suited for Outside The Box than Bedlam, and I apologize that it singled out Brits. That was just the most obvious example in the Western world.

My Irish grandfather, as lovely a man you'd ever want to meet, when he was sober, loved God, whisky and boxing. That may be a cliche. When he was able to work, he was employed by "One Nail MacGregor" a Scottish building contractor. There's a cliche in there somewhere too.

Born in the 19th century

* Sir Francis Seymour Haden (1818-1910), surgeon and artist[2][9]

* Sir Henry Howe Bemrose (1827-1911), member of parliament for Derby[2][10]

* Unwin Sowter (1839-1910) maltster, cricketer and Mayor of Derby

* John Cook Wilson (1849-1915), philosopher[2][11]

Born in the 20th century

* Endure (1949-) speaker of morse and sailor man

* Sir Henry Howe Bemrose (1827-til now), member of parliament for Derby[2][10]

Born in the 19th century

* Endure (1827-) speaker of morse and MP

Who are you trying to kid

( I know it is against the rules to play around with posts, but I plead sanctuary in Bedlam on the grounds of incomprehensibility )

* Sir Henry Howe Bemrose (1827-til now), member of parliament for Derby[2][10]

Born in the 19th century

* Endure (1827-) speaker of morse and MP

Who are you trying to kid

( I know it is against the rules to play around with posts, but I plead sanctuary in Bedlam on the grounds of incomprehensibility )

I'm not sure those were Americans you overheard or you would have quoted then saying amayyyzing several times.

Cultural cliches OK. British extremely class conscious. If their from the "working class" they wan to tell you about their "working class roots". If they happened to go to grammar school, somehow that gets slipped into the conversation 50 years after the event. If of a higher "class" shameless namedroppers. I've heard a couple, seemingly normal brits here refer to the locals as "fuc_king peasants" (when I responded that I thought that was a harsh judgement, I was told "it's just an expression"). I think they can't help themselves.

I'm not quite sure I buy this 'English class' thingy. Every country has its class system. It's just that ours is a bit more up front. I'm sure you'd differentiate between someone living in Pacific Heights and the inhabitants of a trailer home in South Carolina.

As an aside I went to a grammar school which is reputed to be the second oldest school in England

One might be able to draw wealth distinction between the people living in the areas you mention, but I wouldn't draw a distinction with regard to their "inalienable rights" or their human potential (or economic potential for that matter). I had an interesting discussion with a respected TV member once by PM. Unfortunately TV didn't save my messages. Here's what he had to say on this topic and it confirmed my own observations:

So what you're saying is that the American class system is predicated around wealth rather than birth. It's still a class system. We don't have 'inalienable rights' in England as we don't have a written constitution but we are all (regardless of our class) equal before the law.

Is Hiram from Missoula ever likely to be able to marry a Boston Brahmin?

What's the difference between a fuc_king peasant and trailer trash?