Do you think your life would've more exciting had you grown up in America?

Killer Wench · 19-07-2011 04:17PM

southsiderosie wrote: »

Oh look, another thread about Americans.

Sigh.

It seems these bash America type threads consistently draws in over a 100 replies. Rather sad that there are so many threads on the subject, makes me wonder.

the_syco · 19-07-2011 04:20PM

If I grew up in the USA, I'd probably be in Afghanistan right now. I'd also be a gun nut, and would probably (if I grew up in the right state) be more interested in computers.

Mr. Denton · 19-07-2011 04:27PM

Tubsandtiles wrote: »

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=18sP_ccDw_E
we were out of tune that day

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cOABSpt6euA

zuutroy · 19-07-2011 04:31PM

Life in America is awful. Chase the almightly dollar or waste away. I can stand it less and less every time I go...down to about 4 hrs before I get fed up there at this stage!

karma_ · 19-07-2011 04:32PM

the_syco wrote: »

If I grew up in the USA, I'd probably be in Afghanistan right now. I'd also be a gun nut, and would probably (if I grew up in the right state) be more interested in computers.

Syco, you should have grown up in Scandinavia circa 900AD and waltzed around Europe in a longship, pillaging with a shield and a large axe.

Saila · 19-07-2011 04:37PM

dvpower wrote: »

We've got the Alps:rolleyes:

do we :eek: fuck! and there was me going to france all these years :mad:

Mr. Denton · 19-07-2011 04:40PM

zuutroy wrote: »

Life in America is awful. Chase the almightly dollar or waste away

I was always looking for a movie that summed up American psychology and I finally found it with Dinner for Schmucks. It's a comedy that not only is culturally bereft and lacking in any signs of intelligence or humour (just like most Americans) but its script is a key indicator to how Americans think and what is important to them.

You see it turns out Dinner for Schmucks is actually a remake of an earlier French movie/play called Le Dîner de Cons. Both movies share the same central idea (ie find a really stupid person and bring him to dinner so you can have a good laugh at them). However whilst in the French version this is done merely for the sake of amusement itself, in the American remake it's actually done in order to curry favour with your boss and get a job promotion. It's a rare treat to find a really awful movie that really explains the American way of life.

Latchy · 19-07-2011 04:58PM

We could all pick hundreds of American films to sum up how we see Americans or view America and most will cover all the various sterotypes but to choose one of top of my head , then Glengarry Glen Ross with it's strong / weak characters and it's storyline of ' dog eat dog ' while holding each other in mutal contempt is a classic example .

Some memorable quotes from the film .

Blake: We're adding a little something to this month's sales contest. As you all know, first prize is a Cadillac Eldorado. Anybody want to see second prize?
[Holds up prize]
Blake: Second prize is a set of steak knives. Third prize is you're fired.

Shelley Levene: What the hell are you? You're a ****in' secretary. **** you. That's my message to ya: **** you and you can kiss my ass and if you don't like it baby I'm going across the street to Jerry Graff, period, **** you.

Ricky Roma: They say that it was so hot in the city today, grown men were walking up to cops on street corners begging them to shoot them.

InTheTrees · 19-07-2011 05:17PM

Killer Wench wrote: »

It seems these bash America type threads consistently draws in over a 100 replies. Rather sad that there are so many threads on the subject, makes me wonder.

Its not serious.

Dangerous Man · 19-07-2011 05:20PM

man.about.town wrote: »

its a shame irish people dont visit landmarks and our many points of interest throughout the country, i regularly do and i really appreciate how beautiful and steeped in history ireland is.

last year, i took three days off and was a tourist for a day in dublin, did as many museums i could, i even did the open top bus and viking splash tour. it was great, since then, ive seen just about everything in dublin, its soo interesting. every dub should do it

I did the tour of Dublin Castle. I wouldn't have gone only the GF's parents were over from Canadialand and it was decided that I should tag along on some local sight-seeing. It was bloody brilliant. I have a fairly good knowledge of Dublin's history but was surprised at how much of it I had forgotten. It really was fascinating and gave me a renewed appreciation for my city.

InTheTrees · 19-07-2011 05:28PM

Dangerous Man wrote: »

I did the tour of Dublin Castle. I wouldn't have gone only the GF's parents were over from Canadialand and it was decided that I should tag along on some local sight-seeing. It was bloody brilliant. I have a fairly good knowledge of Dublin's history but was surprised at how much of it I had forgotten. It really was fascinating and gave me a renewed appreciation for my city.

Funny. I had a friend from the states visit for her first time and we went to Dublin Castle. My first time too. fantastic. The old underground section of wall was fascinating too.

I also took her to Cashel Rock and it as my first time too.

I think it gives an added appreciation when you can see these places through a visitors eyes.

Hellm0 · 19-07-2011 05:45PM

I grew up living in Ireland but visiting the states pretty frequently; depending on where you grew up it could certainly be more or less exciting but ultimately I am glad I grew up mostly in Ireland. Access to education is better, people are nicer, less chance of being shot, better food, national health care, a slightly more honest media, higher life expectancy and lower infant mortality, less aggressive/inane culture. Granted, I grew up in the good years back home(and I currently live in the US) but I honestly still think Ireland is the place I want to eventually raise my kids.

Tarkus · 19-07-2011 05:52PM

Life would basically be as exciting as it is in your life now.

You'd still have your freedom of choice, find your own personal tastes, be as good or bad a person as you strive to be now. Location may offer different experiences/settings but it's still the person's character strengths/flaws that come out in the end.

There's good & bad across the world. Just a matter of what you choose to see...

FloatingVoter · 19-07-2011 06:18PM

Imaginary American thread about being born in Ireland instead...

I'd be two foot tall
Say "begorrah" a lot
I may or may not have a pot of gold.
I'm constantly drunk
I have red hair

This is how ignorant some of the replies / stereotypes sound. With 300,000,000 people the US has produced a few nutcases - agreed. However to classify them all as obese and geographically stupid is blinkered.

the_syco · 19-07-2011 07:13PM

karma_ wrote: »

Syco, you should have grown up in Scandinavia circa 900AD and waltzed around Europe in a longship, pillaging with a shield and a large axe.

This sounds rather awesome!

Hellm0 · 19-07-2011 07:23PM

FloatingVoter wrote: »

Imaginary American thread about being born in Ireland instead...

I'd be two foot tall

Say "begorrah" a lot

I may or may not have a pot of gold.

I'm constantly drunk

I have red hair

This is how ignorant some of the replies / stereotypes sound. With 300,000,000 people the US has produced a few nutcases - agreed. However to classify them all as obese and geographically stupid is blinkered.

Not really, its mostly true.

bnt · 19-07-2011 07:55PM

I grew up in South Africa (from 6 on). Mostly fine, but when I got to my late teens, I was ready to do just about anything for some action, and eventually moved to London.

southsiderosie · 19-07-2011 10:40PM

Hellm0 wrote: »

Not really, its mostly true.

No it's not.

Boston, New York, and San Francisco are comparable to most European cities in terms of the people, services, and public transport, and frankly outdo most of them in terms of sheer brainpower, entrepreneurship, and heterogeneity. Even the 'secondary' cities of the US have surprising pockets of innovation: Huntsville, Alabama has a huge community of aeronautics engineers. Austin, Texas is home to Dell. Pittsburgh has made the transition from industrial giant to high level research; GoogleAds is based there as are several major universities and medical research centers. Miami is a huge commercial and financial center for the Americas, and I take it from your obesity comments that you have never been to Miami Beach.

Really, I know it's AH and everyone wants to have a laugh, but the more I read about how fat and stupid Americans are the more I get the sense that not only do people not have that much experience with the US, but that they are pretty blinkered when it comes to their country and Europe in general.

FTGFOP · 20-07-2011 03:59AM

Hellm0 wrote: »

I am glad I grew up mostly in Ireland. [...] better food [in Ireland]

What are your experiences to make you see it that way?

talkshop · 20-07-2011 04:28AM

I find that American people in general are more interested in 'us' when we're over there - and when they're' over here too...
I think that says a lot on being blinkered - or 'we're' just not as open as 'we' in general think 'we' are...?

Just a thought ... while I was thinking :cool:

Richard Hillman · 20-07-2011 04:34AM

America is 3rd world compared to most of this country. I wouldnt live anywhere else in the world other than South East Dublin or Monte Carlo.

keith16 · 20-07-2011 05:06AM

Reverse ignorance - if I put a blank map of the US or Africa in front of you, how many states/capitals could you name? Fcuk all if you're being honest.

HavingCrack · 20-07-2011 05:31AM

Travelled and lived quite a lot all over America and the one thing I simply do not understand is why people think Irish people are far more friendly and welcoming, it simply is not true in my experience. With the exception of the Jersey Shore (which has possibly the biggest concentration of assholes and scumbags in the US) nearly all Americans I've met will go so far out of their way to help you and make you feel welcome compared to your average Irish person that it's incredible.

Richard Hillman wrote: »

America is 3rd world compared to most of this country. I wouldnt live anywhere else in the world other than South East Dublin or Monte Carlo.

Even for a trolling attempt this is just pathetically sad.

Hellm0 · 20-07-2011 03:45PM

FTGFOP wrote: »

What are your experiences to make you see it that way?

The average quality of food here is abysmal, save the extremely expensive likes of "whole foods". Everything is greasy, fatty(and yet low fat?!) and/or sugary. Practically every clothing store stocks only Medium and above, and those that do stock small seem to think that "small" actually means short and fat anyway.

Killer Wench · 20-07-2011 04:14PM

Hellm0 wrote: »

The average quality of food here is abysmal, save the extremely expensive likes of "whole foods". Everything is greasy, fatty(and yet low fat?!) and/or sugary.

Eh, of course, this is all subjective what you wrote. But the last part about sugary food is actually not true.

Hellm0 · 20-07-2011 04:17PM

Killer Wench wrote: »

Eh, of course, this is all subjective what you wrote. But the last part about sugary food is actually not true.

I've lived here a few years, I can only speak from my own experience.

Biggins · 20-07-2011 04:23PM

whiteboy wrote: »

Do you think your life would've more exciting had you grown up in America?

...I would have probably killed a few more people.
Opps, said too much. I'm outa here.

southsiderosie · 20-07-2011 05:56PM

Killer Wench wrote: »

Hellm0 wrote: »

The average quality of food here is abysmal, save the extremely expensive likes of "whole foods". Everything is greasy, fatty(and yet low fat?!) and/or sugary.

Eh, of course, this is all subjective what you wrote. But the last part about sugary food is actually not true.

After a few years living in Europe, I'd actually agree with the sugary food part - it's in everything, and stuff like cake which is supposed to be sweet is disgustingly so in the US.

Chuck Stone · 20-07-2011 06:10PM

I noticed this sugar thing too. Apparently they load our foods in Ireland and the UK with sugar, salt and fat.

I bought a bottle of Fanta Orange in Switzerland a couple of years back (it was the only non-cola drink I recognised) and, unlike the radioactive syrup you get in Ireland, you could actually taste the orange in it.

Way less sugar in the continental drinks for sure.

Latchy · 20-07-2011 06:11PM

I wanna taste real Mamma's , all American apple pie .Not the stuff they sell in Tescos

Do you think your life would've more exciting had you grown up in America?

Comments