Americans

To any Americans or anyone who has lived in the US for a signifying amount of time, do you think the media accurately reflects your county, film, TV, news media.

I have only ever been on holidays in the US, the sense of familiarity is unsettling particularly in New York, in fact New York felt more familiar that the UK our nearest neighbour.

Generic Dreadhead

*Grabs Popcorn*

Boom_Bap

*Grabs Twinkie, Hot Dog and 7-11 Big Gulp*

Ghost Buster

Cormac... wrote: »

*Grabs Popcorn*

To stop an obese Yank from eating it on you?

bodice ripper

moaning mick bastards.

Cunny-Funt

Its a good question, we are bombarded by America via the media throughout most of our lives.

I've never been but often wondered if it'd feel like I'm on the set of some TV show.

One thing I've found odd was meeting Americans in person, they're accent always sounds more harsh and grating compared to what we hear on TV.

endacl

Nah. You're bombarded with media by the media.

How dafuq can a continent full of hundreds of millions of people be represented by a movie or TV show?

BoJack Horseman

That 70's show is somewhat like Wisconsin, even today.

Except that more people wear jumpers bearing a massive wolf head or something equally terrible, in an unironic way.

Aenaes

Pew pew?

StormWarrior

On TV they're skinny. I went to Florida about 12 years ago and they were all so fat that most of them couldn't walk.

Wompa1

I'm living in the Southwest. Southerners are depicted as crazy, dumb, rednecks. Most are not. The comedian David Cross is from Georgia....he talks about it a lot. Billy Bob Thornton has talked about it too. Even within itself, the media depicts different regions of America in a certain light to it's own citizens.

It's a crazy place. But then again, every post about Ireland on here ends up in a p1ssing match between Dubliners and non-Dubs so maybe that's just everywhere.

I find the impression of Americans from people who have never been here to be pretty interesting. In reality. Americans are no different to anybody else in the world. The majority are just trying to work away, earn a living and live their lifes. Same problems, wants and desires as everybody else.

Adamantium

I lived there for a year recently, so not an American but I'll try to give my thoughts

First time I went to America I was shocked at how empty and vapid the culture is. It's like every city was thrown up overnight faster than a movie set, there's no sense of history, and the popular culture is inane. I'm not joking about being shocked. It disturbed me for days on end as I'd always secretly hoped something remained of the era of the Declaration. When I grew up in rural Ireland , years ago anything "big in America" was immediately cool, whereas now it's a millstone around the neck. For every 5 Americans I had meet, 3 are aggressively fronting a delusional self-image.

The GTA radio stations and coming true was truly the most surreal eerie dystopic thing I had encountered a long time. It was real and not just some absurd satire of the USA, that constant bombarding of advertising

Wompa1

StormWarrior wrote: »

On TV they're skinny. I went to Florida about 12 years ago and they were all so fat that most of them couldn't walk.

In New York city there's a lot less fat people, ditto most major cities in the country. The fat people are in places like Florida, in which everybody drives, everywhere. Also, in Florida, everywhere is air conditioned. They don't even burn as many calories when idle than others from cooler climates. The body is not trying to keep itself warm or cold.

Wompa1

Adamantium wrote: »

I lived there for a year recently, so not an American but I'll try to give my thoughts

First time I went to America I was shocked at how empty and vapid the culture is. It's like every city was thrown up overnight faster than a movie set, there's no sense of history, and the popular culture is inane. I'm not joking about being shocked. It disturbed me for days on end as I'd always secretly hoped something remained of the era of the Declaration. When I grew up in rural Ireland , years ago anything "big in America" was immediately cool, whereas now it's a millstone around the neck. For every 5 Americans I had meet, 3 are aggressively fronting a delusional self-image.

Which cities? Boston has a really cool vibe. Little Italy has a lot of history, ditto the harbor. Pennsylvania has a lot of history too. Ditto New York. The culture on the east coast is a mix of many different cultures. The culture where I am in the Southwest is very different. I'm living right beside a reservation. There's a bunch of Native American museums, restaraunts, concerts etc.

It's a big country...the culture differs depending on where you go...

Also, you could argue that popular culture in the developed world has been dictated by America, so if you don't notice a unique culture, it might be because it's not unique to America anymore...

Wompa1

Adamantium wrote: »

The GTA radio stations and coming true was truly the most surreal eerie dystopic thing I had encountered a long time. It was real and not just some absurd satire of the USA, that constant bombarding of advertising

I'll agree with you on that one. It's almost impossible to escape advertising. I don't listen to the radio any more. Got rid of cable.

The_Valeyard

Boom_Bap wrote: »

*Grabs Twinkie, Hot Dog and 7-11 Big Gulp*

You forgot the M16

looksee

I have only been to New England (Vermont) on a couple of vacations. I think it is a lovely place, I really liked the atmosphere, the people and the culture.

American tv would drive me insane, except I don't watch much tv anyway. 7 minutes of program, what you are going to see when you get back, 5 minutes of ads, a reprise of what you saw in the first bit, another 7 minutes of program.

American politics utterly baffle me so I don't even try.

I doubt whether my experience, limited as it was to NE is very representative, but I liked it!

Tokyo

endacl wrote: »

Nah. You're bombarded with media by the media.

How dafuq can a continent full of hundreds of millions of people be represented by a movie or TV show?

I've lived in developing countries where the ONLY exposure they have to America is action movies or Beverly hills 90210 style shows.

As such, EVERY american is wealthy and has a swimming pool in the back yard, everybody drives a sports car, and all American girls are easy. The last one in particular has had disastrous consequences at times.

CrazyRabbit

Some of the most generous, friendliest and craziest people on earth.

What I find different about a lot of Americans is that there's little middle ground with them. Either very liberal or very conservative, despise certain politicians or worship the ground they walk on etc. They've a very black and white view of things generally.

Then again, I've only met maybe 2000-2500, so I am just generalising.

Karl Stein

I get all I need to know about the US from watching 'Diners Drive-ins and Dives'.

Why can't we have wonderful establishments in Ireland like they have in the US with their fried chicken, waffles, hash, stone-oven pizzas etc?

Electric Sheep

Cunny-Funt wrote: »

Its a good question, we are bombarded by America via the media throughout most of our lives.

I've never been but often wondered if it'd feel like I'm on the set of some TV show.

One thing I've found odd was meeting Americans in person, they're accent always sounds more harsh and grating compared to what we hear on TV.

Irish accents are neutralized on Irish TV, and are generally much more indecipherable when you meet real life Irish persons.

NYC2013

I have lived in New York for the past 2 years and think the locals are sound. I remember the first thanksgiving I was here one of my co-workers invited me to his familys house for dinner becasue he knew I didn'nt really know anyone here

I lived in Australia for 3 years before that and didn't like the locals at all

Electric Sheep

Adamantium wrote: »

I lived there for a year recently, so not an American but I'll try to give my thoughts

First time I went to America I was shocked at how empty and vapid the culture is. It's like every city was thrown up overnight faster than a movie set, there's no sense of history, and the popular culture is inane. I'm not joking about being shocked. It disturbed me for days on end as I'd always secretly hoped something remained of the era of the Declaration. When I grew up in rural Ireland , years ago anything "big in America" was immediately cool, whereas now it's a millstone around the neck. For every 5 Americans I had meet, 3 are aggressively fronting a delusional self-image.

The GTA radio stations and coming true was truly the most surreal eerie dystopic thing I had encountered a long time. It was real and not just some absurd satire of the USA, that constant bombarding of advertising

Where did you live, and where did you visit?

I think that, coming from a small island, most Irish people are unaware of the great diversity of the US. Rather like the poster above who thinks he knows all about the US, having visited Florida:pac:

Wompa1

NYC2013 wrote: »

I have lived in New York for the past 2 years and think the locals are sound. I remember the first thanksgiving I was here one of my co-workers invited me to his familys house for dinner becasue he knew I didn'nt really know anyone here

I lived in Australia for 3 years before that and didn't like the locals at all

Ditto. I've been invited over to co-workers homes for Thanksgiving and Christmas due to being here alone for the first 2 years.

ManofStan

I was hoping I would not have to start a new thread. This seems of topic, but I'l give a go. Fresh in from Buckhead, ATL. Missing my Queen of Spades. Any of these in Dublin?

danslevent

I was so bemused when I went to America. I lived there for three months on a J1. My friends and I were always so happy when we saw things from "tv land", like proper mail boxes and the yellow school buses.

mikom

Wompa1 wrote: »

The majority are just trying to work away, earn a living and live their lifes. Same problems, wants and desires as everybody else.

*Sammy from Somalia wonders why the new season of "Better call Saul" is buffering on his 50 inch plasma.

Menas

The USA we see on TV tends to be new York and LA. The real america is very different to that. More religious, more conservative....

Aircraft Freak

I tell you what pisses me off about New York, the bogs fill to the brim, and you have to shíte in that pond with your nads in the water, whilst a few sweet corn paddle around your penis.

Who, the fcuk invented this?

DarkyHughes

Ones who like the Daily Show & The Colbert Report (ending soon ) = good Americans.

Ones who like Fox News & the NRA = Bad

Ones who like Alex Jones & the Tea Party - Ugly (well more crazy than ugly)

Wompa1

mikom wrote: »

*Sammy from Somalia wonders why the new season of "Better call Saul" is buffering on his 50 inch plasma.

Don't worry Sammy, it's worth it. The first episode is pretty slow but it's beautifully shot and the acting is great. It picks up by the latest episode too

Wompa1

Trigger Happy wrote: »

The USA we see on TV tends to be new York and LA. The real america is very different to that. More religious, more conservative....

Bullsh1t! When I decided to move to Phoenix, people in Ireland started telling me about the crazy rednecks and religious right wing here. It's BS. I've been to other states in the deep South, you might find pockets of the religious right wing out in the boonies but it doesn't necessarily reflect the majority

The people who vote usually aren't representative of the majority....because, sadly, not everybody bothers to vote.

Aircraft Freak

DarkyHughes wrote: »

Ones who like the Daily Show & The Colbert Report (ending soon ) = good Americans.

Ones who like Fox News & the NRA = Bad

Ones who like Alex Jones & the Tea Party - Ugly (well more crazy than ugly)

In fairness I hate alex jones, but as in the spirit of capitalism, the fecker has become a millionaire from a conspiracy market, he knows it, the world knows it and nutjobs pay him a subscription to hear endless rants about the CIA\ISIS\Mossad world war 3 operation with fake beheadings, then they changed to real beheadings, with Hollywood production.

The man knows how to make money.

Putin

mariaalice wrote: »

Americans

Is this thread about the real Americans = the various Native American Indian tribes. Or is it a about the murdering, colonial expansionists who eventually annihilated the natives who had helped to feed, cloth and shelter them through their intial years of hardship?

DarkyHughes

Aircraft Freak wrote: »

In fairness I hate alex jones, but as in the spirit of capitalism, the fecker has become a millionaire from a conspiracy market, he knows it, the world knows it and nutjobs pay him a subscription to hear endless rants about the CIA\ISIS\Mossad world war 3 operation with fake beheadings, then they changed to real beheadings, with Hollywood production.

The man knows how to make money.

You really think it's an act? I dunno I think he's just genuinely insane, if he's not he's an amazing actor. His BBC politic show was definitely a genuine crazy rant

Electric Sheep

DarkyHughes wrote: »

You really think it's an act? I dunno I think he's just genuinely insane, if he's not he's an amazing actor.

It's an act. Like Glenn Beck.

Wompa1

Aircraft Freak wrote: »

In fairness I hate alex jones, but as in the spirit of capitalism, the fecker has become a millionaire from a conspiracy market, he knows it, the world knows it and nutjobs pay him a subscription to hear endless rants about the CIA\ISIS\Mossad world war 3 operation with fake beheadings, then they changed to real beheadings, with Hollywood production.

The man knows how to make money.

Ditto Fox News...they aren't a news channel, they are entertainment. My fat hippy unemployed stoner uncle from New York watches Fox News every night. His views are the complete opposite but he seems to enjoy getting angered by it..

There's a reason why MSNBC and CNN are turning into the same thing but for the left. The entertainment aspect keeps viewers.

People looking for news have long since given up on Newspapers, radio or tv. I can read PBS news, Al Jazeera news, Irish Times etc. and just read stories that interest me, without sitting through fluff....why would anyone subject themselves to getting their news from any other form of media

DarkyHughes

Putin wrote: »

Is this thread about the real Americans = the various Native American Indian tribes. Or is it a about the murdering, colonial expansionists who eventually annihilated the natives who had helped to feed, cloth and shelter them through their intial years of hardship?

The murdering ones.

Yeah, that's other thing America comes of as an extremely militaristic society. Their attitude to war is so casual.

4zn76tysfajdxp

Putin wrote: »

Is this thread about the real Americans = the various Native American Indian tribes. Or is it a about the murdering, colonial expansionists who eventually annihilated the natives who had helped to feed, cloth and shelter them through their intial years of hardship?

The latter.

bodice ripper

you guys do know those are basically europeans, but over there, right?

Wompa1

Putin wrote: »

Is this thread about the real Americans = the various Native American Indian tribes. Or is it a about the murdering, colonial expansionists who eventually annihilated the natives who had helped to feed, cloth and shelter them through their intial years of hardship?

If you want to talk ill of Europeans, I think you better find another forum site, Mister! We hate Americans here!

Tokyo

bodice ripper wrote: »

you guys do know those are basically europeans, but over there, right?

Genetically, a good percentage may be, yes.

Culturally, no.

bodice ripper

mike_ie wrote: »

Genetically, a good percentage may be, yes.

Culturally, no.

its what happens when you take a bunch of europeans and give them lots of space and resources. so I wouldn't be getting on too much of a high horse.

Electric Sheep

mike_ie wrote: »

Genetically, a good percentage may be, yes.

Culturally, no.

It varies very much from region to region. There are places that stll are culturally scandinavian, italian, spanish, irish, etc. Again, probably not something most Irish would recognise.

Aircraft Freak

Electric Sheep wrote: »

It's an act. Like Glenn Beck.

Correct the man has made millions from conspiracy, his wife is also related to a Jewish billionaire, it does seem like his path was constructed for him.

If he was píssing the elite off, he would have been bumped long ago, not to mention he has a crew of 15 guards with him everywhere he goes, just so he can continue to lead people up the garden path, he's a terrible sham.

Tokyo

bodice ripper wrote: »

its what happens when you take a bunch of europeans and give them lots of space and resources. so I wouldn't be getting on too much of a high horse.

I'm baffled as to where you're getting your 'high horse' from.

Take any group of people from anywhere in the world, transplant them somewhere else and in a few generations they will have developed their own culture, or variation thereof. Nowhere has it been said that it's a bad thing.

Electric Sheep wrote: »

It varies very much from region to region. There are places that stll are culturally scandinavian, italian, spanish, irish, etc. Again, probably not something most Irish would recognise.

That's a fair point, but I'd argue that most of these people have held onto aspects of their native cultures, with the exception of the most devout. Again, not a bad thing.

bodice ripper

mike_ie wrote: »

I'm baffled as to where you're getting your 'high horse' from.

Take any group of people from anywhere in the world, transplant them somewhere else and in a few generations they will have developed their own culture, or variation thereof. Nowhere has it been said that it's a bad thing.

oh, I didn't mean you were on a high horse, sorry if it came across that way.

Wompa1

Electric Sheep wrote: »

It varies very much from region to region. There are places that stll are culturally scandinavian, italian, spanish, irish, etc. Again, probably not something most Irish would recognise.

True dat. One interesting thing I've noticed. The most right wing people I've met in the US were the Irish. I have a black friend who has lived in Chicago, Boston, Phoenix, Tuscon, New York and Washington DC and said the most racism she experienced was in Boston from the 'Irish'

I reckon the 'Irish' Americans here from a few generations ago were raised with the strict Irish upbringing from 80+ years ago and they cling to that as their heritage, no realising that Ireland has progressed as a country and the Irish are a much, much more progressive bunch than most. I'd bet if many moved to Ireland to live, they'd become disgusted very quick, when they see we are much more liberal than they might think.

Tokyo

bodice ripper wrote: »

oh, I didn't mean you were on a high horse, sorry if it came across that way.

No offense taken - was just confused as to how I'd been interpreted a minute

Wompa1

mike_ie wrote: »

I'm baffled as to where you're getting your 'high horse' from.

Take any group of people from anywhere in the world, transplant them somewhere else and in a few generations they will have developed their own culture, or variation thereof. Nowhere has it been said that it's a bad thing.



That's a fair point, but I'd argue that most of these people have held onto aspects of their native cultures, with the exception of the most devout. Again, not a bad thing.

How many generations? Becareful, you might p1ss off a lot of French Canadians...

Donkey Oaty

One of the mistakes people make about Americans is to assume that they have no sense of self-irony.

I mean, look at this...