Do Americans get poorly treated in Ireland?

MrJoeSoap

I was watching Seoige and O'Shea yesterday (for shame) and they had a few Americans on talking about fairly random stuff it has to be said. One of the guests, however, mentioned how he had tripped up getting onto a Dublin Bus and said 'sorry' to a person he had fallen into and the driver. The drivers response was "The only thing you have to be sorry for is Bush". To be honest, I've lost count of the number of times I've heard American people living in Ireland blamed for GW.

As well as this, hardly a day goes by on boards without some sort of comment along the lines of "Those stupid Americans" etc...

Now in all fairness, I dislike Bush as much as the next Joe Soap, but to criticise someone from the States purely on hearing a voice etc... says more about the person criticising than it does the American! We don't really have any issues with British people, Pakistani people (apart from the occasional moronic racism) and so on, despite any opposition we might have to their governments.

Do other people see this as a problem/issue? Any anecdotes to back me up or oppose me?

Steyr

Im an Irishman and proud of it but this Anti Americanism really gets my goat, The Americans are not stupid whatsoever they have massive technological prowess and some of the finest minds on the Planet. I love the Americans as much as anybody else, id like to see someone else make this......




Nuff said.

godtabh

People don’t like ignorance and rightly or wrongly people associate Americans with been both ignorant and stupid.

Obviously this isn’t the case. You'll get different kinds of American.

Then you have their foreign policy. Most people would know it but would you know Pakistan’s foreign policy? I don’t

b3t4

MrJoeSoap wrote:

The drivers response was "The only thing you have to be sorry for is Bush".

In what tone of voice did the bus driver say this? He may have only been joking. Just a possibility mind.

A.

ziggy

This post has been deleted.

MrJoeSoap

b3t4 wrote:

In what tone of voice did the bus driver say this? He may have only been joking. Just a possibility mind.

Well it wasn't me so I don't know, but even if he was joking, he still said it and the mentality still exists in Ireland.

Dragan

I would say that American's get the same treatment over here as Irish people get over there?

A general lack of understanding and a lot of stereotyping.

MrJoeSoap

I spent a month in the States in 2004 and most people I met there were quite knowledgeable about Ireland, none of this "Dublin? Isn't that in Texas?" nonsense you hear about!

lodgepole

A guy I know from Kansas got an involuntary from some crusty hippy on Dame Street while he was in Dublin, as if he needed to be educated about his own country. Friends from New York were genuinely scared to leave their hotel when one of the large anti-war protests was taking place. The mentality certainly exists and is becoming more prominent. That said, the bulk of Irish don't treat the bulk of American people badly, from what I can tell.

The Irish don't get stereotyped in the US, certainly in none of the parts i've visited. You get a bit, but it's not common.

Ruu_Old

Dragan wrote:

I would say that American's get the same treatment over here as Irish people get over there?

A general lack of understanding and a lot of stereotyping.

Agreed, I've been in the US for over a year and get asked about "leper-chauns". Sure I wear a green bowel hat and have a mop of ginge hair but still like, down with the stereotypes!
Seriously though, agreed with the above point. Not every American is obese, a loudmouth or a warmonger.

humanji

Steyr wrote:

Im an Irishman and proud of it but this Anti Americanism really gets my goat, The Americans are not stupid whatsoever they have massive technological prowess and some of the finest minds on the Planet. I love the Americans as much as anybody else, id like to see someone else make this......




Nuff said.

Actually I think the B2 was designed by a german and only built in the states. And either way, it was a rip off of the german WW2 Horten Ho. Just to be pedantic

But yeah, the anti-american thing is getting out of hand. It must be something to do with the fact that it's not as popular to hate the british anymore, and people have felt the need to move their animosity onto eastern europeans and americans. Can't we all just get along *sniff*

Steyr

I have nothing against the British either those days are gone except for those shinners who give the rest of us a bad name, dont they realise its not the old days but that we are all together now in a place called Europe? Whats done is done and about the north **** it who really wants it, we all know tony would give it back asap but we dont want it, its a huge burden on the British Economy so why make things harder for us by giving it back?

phantom_lord

humanji wrote:

Actually I think the B2 was designed by a german and only built in the states. And either way, it was a rip off of the german WW2 Horten Ho. Just to be pedantic

you got there before me. Good ol' go 229

Without a doubt this aircraft was many many years "ahead of it's time" and demonstrates some of the aeronautical design brilliance that was present in Germany during the period. It certainly seems humorous to think that the Northrop B-2 Stealth Bomber that we see today of comparable design requires millions of dollars of computers to enable it to simply stay airborne. In contrast the Horten designed Go-229 performed perfectly well with conventional mechanical control linkages. Also it was designed without all of today's advanced design aids but rather on sound principles of aerodynamics.

See!! Stoopid americans...

drunkenfool

most big american engineering products have been thought out by international engineers.

they're always headhunting the best scientists

Steyr

drunkenfool wrote:

they're always headhunting the best scientists

Nobody else does so thats another point for them!

dr.bollocko

I hate racism. I hate that ireland is an inherently racist country. the cead mile failte bull**** is long since out the window.
But you know what? When it comes to america, they have to reap what they have sewn. They are a democracy, a government of the people, for the people, by the people. And their government has a whole ****ing lot to answer for. So so the **** what if we moan about bush? We weren't exactly delighted about Hitler were we? They illegally elected a president without a majority vote. They have started ****ting on the world, and invading countries willy nilly. Iraq? Afghanistan? Mother****ing Guantanamo man. They are still trying to ruin south american economic policies. They have agressively pursued drug crimes with policies that dont work, introduced manditory minimums and ridiculous hate crime legislation. They have ghettoised their entire country and throw those who cant afford health insurance on the street. A huge number of americans live in poverty. They are pushing out gay marriage and civil union, they are pushing out abortion and scaring muslims in their own country. They are wrongfully and illegally imprisoning people for no reason except the colour of their skin. They are attacking hollywood and free media agendas for being too left wing, they are pushing closeminded middle american white protestant agendas to a global scale. They refuse to sign up to any treaty involving reducing environmental emissions. They are consuming more resources per person than virtually any other country. They have created a ridiculous 1984 style culture of fear based on news flashes, media manipulation, terror levels and quotes from prominent politicians warning against terrorist attacks. They have demonised other world religions and systems of government and pushed their own agendas on other countries for far too long.

**** them. They should apologise for Bush.

Something I never understood about Bush getting re-elected is that when I was in America, the majority of the people I talked to hated his guts. And hated the Iraqi war. In fact, most of them dont want that war on.

I've heard stories of people who joined the Army because they thought it would be easy, and then suddenly this war happens and their forced into it.

I don't think that Ireland is necessarily that racist. And Ireland isn't the only country with anti-Amerian feelings.

bongo85

I went to school over in California for about a year and I must say they were a very sound bunch of people. They were very hospitable towards me when I was the new kid in the class and I got along great with everyone in the first week. Very sound bunch of people indeed!!

And anytime I meet an American outside America, I get talkin to them straight away and they're always very chatty and up for the craic!!

Their government is a load of ****e though and most americans would actually agree with this....except for the hill billy-fundamentalist christian-types, of course. They're all stupid !!!! Has anyone ever watched the God Channel??? Bunch of weirdos!!

dr.bollocko

MrJoeSoap wrote:

I spent a month in the States in 2004 and most people I met there were quite knowledgeable about Ireland, none of this "Dublin? Isn't that in Texas?" nonsense you hear about!

I was in LA bus station at two in the morning at one stage, on a j1 back in me good ole college days, not that long ago.
Well he had just bought a deck of cards released by the americans with pictures of the most wanted war criminals on it. U remember those cards?
We got to talking, and he called Bush a "total Meathead." I liked that. I told him I was from Ireland. He said. "Ireland, isnt that, like, part of England or something." I corrected him, but a RA head could have killed the poor guy!

Steyr

dr.bollocko wrote:

Mother****ing Guantanamo man. .

Guantanamo Bay is actually US Soil, Theres a USAF base there for God sake. <snip> NO PERSONAL ABUSE, YA MUPPET. </snip>

MrJoeSoap

dr.bollocko wrote:

**** them. They should apologise for Bush.

Only if you apologise for Bertie first. Why the American people living in Ireland should have to apologise for Bush stealing the election I have no idea.

Steyr

In February 1903, the United States leased 45 square miles of land and water at Guantanamo Bay for use as a coaling (fueling) station. The treaty was finalized and the document was ratified by both governments and signed in Havana in December of that same year.



A 1934 treaty reaffirming the lease granted Cuba and her trading partners free access through the bay

netwhizkid

dr.bollocko wrote:

I hate racism. I hate that ireland is an inherently racist country. the cead mile failte bull**** is long since out the window.
But you know what? When it comes to america, they have to reap what they have sewn. They are a democracy, a government of the people, for the people, by the people. And their government has a whole ****ing lot to answer for. So so the **** what if we moan about bush? We weren't exactly delighted about Hitler were we? They illegally elected a president without a majority vote. They have started ****ting on the world, and invading countries willy nilly. Iraq? Afghanistan? Mother****ing Guantanamo man. They are still trying to ruin south american economic policies. They have agressively pursued drug crimes with policies that dont work, introduced manditory minimums and ridiculous hate crime legislation. They have ghettoised their entire country and throw those who cant afford health insurance on the street. A huge number of americans live in poverty. They are pushing out gay marriage and civil union, they are pushing out abortion and scaring muslims in their own country. They are wrongfully and illegally imprisoning people for no reason except the colour of their skin. They are attacking hollywood and free media agendas for being too left wing, they are pushing closeminded middle american white protestant agendas to a global scale. They refuse to sign up to any treaty involving reducing environmental emissions. They are consuming more resources per person than virtually any other country. They have created a ridiculous 1984 style culture of fear based on news flashes, media manipulation, terror levels and quotes from prominent politicians warning against terrorist attacks. They have demonised other world religions and systems of government and pushed their own agendas on other countries for far too long.

**** them. They should apologise for Bush.

First of all I hate people who are no good at paragraphs As for americans can't say I blame them, the majority have rarely travelled outside their own state. I have encountered much anti-Americanism here generally from those shove a leaflet in your face types.

I do think (and hope) however that the Americans can soon be cut just a little slack the "Mid-Term's" will be over in a week and it looks as if the Democrats may edge control of the House of Representatives for the first time since 1994. The Republicans are trying every dirty trick in the book calling people terrorist's for not supporting the War in Iraq, I was watching Sky News last night and they are even now resorting to Xenophobic Racism to appeal to the Black/White Divide in the South.

Not to go to far off topic but if the Americans re-elect the Republicans this week they deserve every single torrent of abuse thrown at them. The Republican's are the most evil and corrupt party on the Planet any fool could see that, they even make Fianna Fail look good *shudders*

MrJoeSoap

dr.bollocko wrote:

He said. "Ireland, isnt that, like, part of England or something." I corrected him, but a RA head could have killed the poor guy!

Imagine you met an American person in Ireland and he happened to mention he was from Baton Rouge, or something similar. You're initial response might sound equally as ignorant as his probably did.

Its not his fault his education system didn't teach him about Ireland, the same way the Irish system doesn't teach us about US geography.

MrJoeSoap

netwhizkid wrote:

Not to go to far off topic but if the Americans re-elect the Republicans this week they deserve every single torrent of abuse thrown at them. The Republican's are the most evil and corrupt party on the Planet any fool could see that, they even make Fianna Fail look good *shudders*

Where is the logic there? Unless a vast vast majority of people vote for the Republicans you don't make any sense, why should we say even those who don't vote for the Republicans "deserve every single torrent of abuse thrown at them".

HelterSkelter

Steyr wrote:

Im an Irishman and proud of it but this Anti Americanism really gets my goat, The Americans are not stupid whatsoever they have massive technological prowess and some of the finest minds on the Planet. I love the Americans as much as anybody else, id like to see someone else make this......




Nuff said.

Yeah, I'd be proud of building a killing machine as well :-/

cushtac

b3t4 wrote:

In what tone of voice did the bus driver say this? He may have only been joking. Just a possibility mind.

Substitute and Irishman for the American and an Englishman for the driver, now have the driver suggest that the passenger apologise for the IRA - is it still only a joke?

0ubliette

lived in the states for a while with my gf, and to say that the people there were friendly was an understatement. In a small town called poulsbo in washington, and my god, not once did i ever feel in danger (even during a big 4th of july piss up, noone got rowdy or started fights), the people were nicer than here, friendlier, the town was cleaner, in just about every way imaginable it was a much more pleasant place to live than dublin. So i dont get why some irish are so high and mighty in attitude when it comes to americans. I love america, and if i get the chance, you better believe id leave this place in a heartbeat for there.

dr.bollocko

Steyr wrote:

Guantanamo Bay is actually US Soil, Theres a USAF base there for God sake. You nonce.

Why in the **** does that matter at all?
Well Im sure the prisoners there are sooooooo thankful that they are on US soil when they are listening to Metallica at 10000 dB with their heads in a black hood and their hands tied behind their back.

0ubliette

dr.bollocko wrote:

listening to Metallica at 10000 dB with their heads in a black hood and their hands tied behind their back.

\m/ (>.<) \m/

dr.bollocko

MrJoeSoap wrote:

Imagine you met an American person in Ireland and he happened to mention he was from Baton Rouge, or something similar. You're initial response might sound equally as ignorant as his probably did.

Its not his fault his education system didn't teach him about Ireland, the same way the Irish system doesn't teach us about US geography.

Yeah I know, Im not slagging the guy or anything, he was a nice guy. I dont really worry about the American educational system because of this either, I wasnt saying that. I just thought it was a funny thing to say, because he has no idea of the 800 years of history behind that statement and that some Irish people could get very offended.

Was it on the Daily show that it was said that you have to go to the coasts to meet intelligent people in America, everything in the middle is devoid of free thought?
I dont believe that either, im not really a fan of sweeping generalisations, Im just offering a counterpoint.

dr.bollocko

netwhizkid wrote:

Not to go to far off topic but if the Americans re-elect the Republicans this week they deserve every single torrent of abuse thrown at them. The Republican's are the most evil and corrupt party on the Planet any fool could see that, they even make Fianna Fail look good *shudders*

But they elected Bush.
And then re-elected him.
Didnt everyone say "Well, what ever happens now, they brought it on themselves" then as well?
See?
They brought it on themselves!
I wouldnt ever go up to an American and roar about Bush, or even bring up the topic, because america is a patriotic country and that would be offensive, even if they were anti-Bush.

NeMiSiS

Was in America for a good while too. I'd say 99% of the people I met were lovely, friendly people, great to talk to, and very accomadating. For the most part I found, you were made to feel welcome, and they took pride in the same. The muesems etc I was in were just incredable.

But I would say yes, Americans get poorly treated in Ireland. Lot's of people get poorly treated in Ireland, regardless of you nationality, includiing the Irish. That's what makes this country great, you don't have to be special to be trated like crap.

TK

MrJoeSoap

dr.bollocko wrote:

But they elected Bush.

Did they though?

Dinxminx

Americans are mostly very, very gullible. Some people might see this as stupidity. Apart from that, they elected George Bush, TWICE, and I would have no issue with any americans who had voted for him if it only affected them. But their electing Bush has affected Afghanis, Iraqis, and journalists and soldiers from a lot of countries. Their electing Bush means that right now there are people being held in Guatanamo, suffering, who may or may not be innocent, but are being tortured all the same.

Until they elect a decent president who can make coherent speeches and not completely f*ck up the world, I reserve the right to think any american who voted for Bush is stupid.

Democrat Americans are fine.

5starpool

There are idiots and racists everywhere, largely the whole 'I'm not racist but...' brigade. The famous Dublin 'wit' is not what it is cracked up to be.

I have spent quite a bit of time in America over the last few years and while there are certainly the really inward stupid people among them, there are also the insightful, intelligent and witty among them too, same as everywhere.

In a country that big and populous, it is quite common for people never to have experienced another country firsthand, and also never to have been exposed to any other media viewpoints which in fairness is where most people get their sense of morality and decency or otherwise from (largely becasue this is where their parents got it). If you are only exposed to one viewpoint you will only know one way. If I am ever anywhere and have the opportunity to talk to people from other nationalities, then Americans are about as decent as you can find.

free2fly

I visit Ireland 4 - 5 times a year and I have to say that I have never been treaed disrespectfully while there. For the most part people have been very friendly. Of course, I made no bones about the fact that I think GWB is a complete idiot.

To be honest, I think it is completely unfair to blame all Americans for what our government does. It may be a democracy, but my vote did little to stop what they were doing in Iraq, even though I was deeply against it. Now the people who don't vote here have no right to complain, but I did vote. And I also let my Congressman and Senator know how I felt. So I'd like to ask, knowing my feelings and what I have done to show my disapproval, would any of the posters here shout abuse at me and tell me that I deserve everything that is thrown at me?

MrJoeSoap

Dinxminx wrote:

Democrat Americans are fine.

You can't simply draw a line between Democrats and Republicans and say one group is stupid and one group isn't, its just not that simple.

Dinxminx

No of course not. Just the Bush-lovers. And the war-supporters. And those who believed in those elusive WMDs.

YOU we like very much.

Dinxminx

MrJoeSoap wrote:

You can't simply draw a line between Democrats and Republicans and say one group is stupid and one group isn't, its just not that simple.

I know. I'm not trying to make it so black and white. I'm sure there are very intelligent republicans and very smart Bush supporters, just as there are stupid democrats, but the fact that they support Bush means I just can't like them as much as I should because goddamit they're blindly following a complete idiot!

free2fly

Dinxminx wrote:

No of course not. Just the Bush-lovers. And the war-supporters. And those who believed in those elusive WMDs.

YOU we like very much.

thanks. I like you too.

Jimoslimos

dr.bollocko wrote:

He said. "Ireland, isnt that, like, part of England or something." I corrected him, but a RA head could have killed the poor guy!

I was asked a similar question a couple of years ago along the lines of "Ireland, what's the weather like over there in the UK this time of year?" However this wasn't asked down in redneck country or somewhere on the west coast but a town few miles north of Boston:eek: Hmm...now that I think of it maybe it a subtle attempt to get a rise out of me and see if the stereotype about the Irish having a temper was true

free2fly

Jimoslimos wrote:

However this wasn't asked down in redneck country or somewhere on the west coast but a town few miles north of Boston:eek:

Just curious...it wasn't Revere by any chance, was it?

Jimoslimos

free2fly wrote:

Just curious...it wasn't Revere by any chance, was it?

Nope, think it was in Kittery? Anyway not too bothered about Americans having poor geography when it comes to Uk/Ireland, sure there's a lot of English who are unable to tell the difference between UK/GB/England.

DublinWriter

Lodgepole wrote:

Friends from New York were genuinely scared to leave their hotel when one of the large anti-war protests was taking place.

Oh boo-bleedin-hoo. How you think 40 million Iraqis feel everyday stepping outside their own front door? They don't have the option of room service, unless they want to order a Cruise missle to go.

Yes, I've heard plenty of Americans criticise Bush, but it reminds me of that old story about Thatcher in the mid 80's. Millions of people voted for her, but very few would publicly admit it.

The question shouldn't be 'Do Americans get poorly treated in Ireland?' but should be 'Do Iraqis get poorly treated in Iraq?'.

wow sierra

Would really recommend Carole Colemans book Alleluia America - An Irish journalist in Bush country.

Its gives a really good look at modern US and the whole Democrat v Republican divide.

I would imagine the war in Iraq was very low down the list of reasons why people voted for Bush - or more to the point against the Democrats. Religion (abortion, stem cell research, gay marriage etc) is a huge issue there. As are issues like environmental legislation, taxation etc.

Back to the original topic - I am afraid I am guilty of slagging off Americans(I dont mean to their faces - I rarely meet any to be honest). I really must remind myself that my little life would be so much worse without Bob Dylan, Brad Pitt,The West Wing, CSI, Lost etc not to mention some of the greatest writers. To be honest I dont reckon Americans get poorly treated in one to one situations - but they must get tired of some of the comments in the media.

Tall Tom

Dragan wrote:

I would say that American's get the same treatment over here as Irish people get over there?

A general lack of understanding and a lot of stereotyping.

I think the Irish folks get treated very well over here.

Tall Tom

bongo85 wrote:

I went to school over in California for about a year and I must say they were a very sound bunch of people. They were very hospitable towards me when I was the new kid in the class and I got along great with everyone in the first week. Very sound bunch of people indeed!!

And anytime I meet an American outside America, I get talkin to them straight away and they're always very chatty and up for the craic!!

Their government is a load of ****e though and most americans would actually agree with this....except for the hill billy-fundamentalist christian-types, of course. They're all stupid !!!! Has anyone ever watched the God Channel??? Bunch of weirdos!!

Thank you!!!! You just summed the majority of us perfectly.

It you ever come to Philly, I'll buy you a pint.

NeMiSiS

HAHA, the God channel is crazy. Better still is the channel that shows.. mini programs about stuff like being gay and evolution. The teacher teaching evolution in the school was actully the devil hahahahahaha.

TK

Tall Tom

DublinWriter wrote:

Oh boo-bleedin-hoo. How you think 40 million Iraqis feel everyday stepping outside their own front door? They don't have the option of room service, unless they want to order a Cruise missle to go.

Yes, I've heard plenty of Americans criticise Bush, but it reminds me of that old story about Thatcher in the mid 80's. Millions of people voted for her, but very few would publicly admit it.

The question shouldn't be 'Do Americans get poorly treated in Ireland?' but should be 'Do Iraqis get poorly treated in Iraq?'.

Do you drive a bus in Dublin by any chance?

smallpaws

Yes, I've heard plenty of Americans criticise Bush, but it reminds me of that old story about Thatcher in the mid 80's. Millions of people voted for her, but very few would publicly admit it.

It's a funny thing, hindsight. I used to see TONS and tons of Bush-Cheney stickers on the backs of cars here, loads of them, and then after the second election and the red vs blue states fighting calmed down and the problems that the useless invasion of Iraq was causing (ex: people seemed shocked that when their kids went to war, they sometimes came back dead) became clear to all but most die-hard-in-denial Bush supporter the stickers began to.....disappear. There were less and less and now if you see one it is so odd and such a standout that you remark to yourself on it like it's you spotted a lump of coal on a white sand beach. I remember watching the Hurricane Katrina fcuk up and thinking , I wonder how many of Bush's supporters in those southern states are still adamant that Bush knows WTF he's doing with anything. These days nobody that voted for him is all that proud of it.

---

In my own experience, I have been to Ireland a few times and as soon as I speak and my American accent comes out, I get 'the look' then the inevitable "Darlin, WHO voted for Bush in your country?? WHat were they thinking??" and I always give the same response, "Sorry, I voted against him twice, it's beyond my control, Cappy." It never bothers me, it mystifies me too. I just sort of try and grit my teeth and not think much about it if I can, kind of like when you are at the dentists and you try and look out the window or at the wall and not think about how long the unpleasant procedure is taking.