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What Americans think about Europeans?

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Originally posted by: jonks
The majority of Americans have never left the country so what they think shouldn't matter all that much to anyone else.
Click to expand...

That might have something to do with our country being 3,794,066 square miles in total area, having a population of 320 million or so people and only bordering two other large countries. Americans can't hop a train to France. We have two huge oceans to cross to the East and West to get to Europe or East Asia. Just traveling across our country is a large effort. It isn't like taking a 30 minute train ride from the UK to France.

Compare those figures to the UK or Italy and it's easy to see why people living in those countries move around a bit. They are small and have small populations. It's much like Americans taking trips to other states. Keep in mind our states are their own little countries so to speak. They have their own locally elected Legislature, Executive Officer (Governor), Constitution, economy, law enforcement, education system, tax system, and even military.

Not to mention the US has more ethic and cultural groups than it knows what to do with. Just crossing our Nation's capital from North to South represents a huge cultural change (Baltimore on the north and Alexandria on the south).

However with you making completely ignorant remarks like the one you just did I think a better decision would be to not care what you think about just about anything. :thumbsup:
 
Originally posted by: tamaron
Thanks for your opinions, I have not read any negative answer... at least not much! To be honest
I am very attracted to Canada, but I think it's difficult to me to have a job there, I am a web developer and that occupation seems to be in low priority. What I see is what most of you have an open mind about the rest of us here in Europe, but here there is too many demagogy about the "evil USA". Of course there are things that I don't like, but I don't hate anyone and I am not a fun of anything (except girls, beer, R'n'r and little more). And I think about nationalism like a double edged strange thing.

And I like USA and all America as well...
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I think most of that is directed at our current administration and not at the people of this country in general. I've found that most Europeans are very open and friendly toward Americans even though they can't stand our idiot president nor can they understand why we voted him into office for a second term.
 
Originally posted by: IgorFL
Europeans:

The women, except for the British, are hot.

The men, except for some Germans, are annoying pansies who dress funny.
Click to expand...

that's because those men your were looking at were really women.


as for my opinion,

I love europe and europeans as a whole. I had a great time over there and wouldn't mind living there. hopefully something with my company opens up where I can make the transition. that would be sweet.
 
Originally posted by: God Mode
To be honest, not much. The only euro country that makes the news I watch is the UK. They seem to be exactly the same as the US but with more of a police nation and not as ethnically diverse.
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youve never been to the UK i can tell. its one of the most multi cultural countries on earth
 
Originally posted by: KIRBYEE
Originally posted by: tamaron
And of the spaniards specifically?
We are decadents? cynics?... posh? or what? (not only negative 🙂)
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I love you. :lips:
Click to expand...

wow... errr... Do you? I love you too... do you have webcam? (its a joke BTW)
 
Originally posted by: JulesMaximus
Originally posted by: tamaron
Thanks for your opinions, I have not read any negative answer... at least not much! To be honest
I am very attracted to Canada, but I think it's difficult to me to have a job there, I am a web developer and that occupation seems to be in low priority. What I see is what most of you have an open mind about the rest of us here in Europe, but here there is too many demagogy about the "evil USA". Of course there are things that I don't like, but I don't hate anyone and I am not a fun of anything (except girls, beer, R'n'r and little more). And I think about nationalism like a double edged strange thing.

And I like USA and all America as well...
Click to expand...

I think most of that is directed at our current administration and not at the people of this country in general. I've found that most Europeans are very open and friendly toward Americans even though they can't stand our idiot president nor can they understand why we voted him into office for a second term.
Click to expand...

Exactly! That is the most generalized feeling about USA here. I could not believe it when GWB was re-electe... it was very sad. But I have not nothing against any person, even he voted to Goeorge.

But what I don't like is the moron-opinion about "USA is bad and we are the coolest people because we live in Europe, wich is cool and.... uh... USA is bad..." But I don't like that in the opposite direction.

We are individuals too based in our differences rather in what we share. Sometimes I see this changing but I'm not sure. This sort of things (typing and communicating w people thousand of kilos away) are changing all forever, well this and the A-team here in Spain a few years ago 🙂
 
Hmm... well, what to say?

Generally speaking,

Northern Europe = Meh.

Southern Europe = Thumbs up.

Spain specifically? Good food, attractive women, friendly people. I do think of them as being somewhat racist, but not more than other countries in Western Europe. It's unfortunate, but I understand it given their current situation.
 
Originally posted by: God Mode
To be honest, not much. The only euro country that makes the news I watch is the UK. They seem to be exactly the same as the US but with more of a police nation and not as ethnically diverse.
Click to expand...

I guess things in the UK have changed alot since I was last there a couple of years ago. I lived in different places in the UK and found them to be very diverse. Much more diverse than most states I've lived in (except for HI).
 
What do you Spaniards think of us Americans (as you defined it)? Do you want your colonies back? Because you can't have them. Mexican independence day was yesterday, take that!

More seriously, I have never been to Spain, but it seems like an awesome place. You people have funny but attractive accents, but I wonder what would happen if I were to go there speaking Castillian with a Mexican accent, what with all this recent business of Spaniards and "cultural insensitivity." Would I be better off with American English? Which identity would serve me best?
 
Originally posted by: mrkun
I do think of them as being somewhat racist, but not more than other countries in Western Europe. It's unfortunate, but I understand it given their current situation.
Click to expand...

I am impressed about this... A few of you think we are racist.. Not me, even anyone I know. Could you tell me why do you think we are racist? Indeed we are very diverse, very blond to cuasi-NorthAfrican. Perhaps this last years some of us think we are "giving for free" our wealth, but many forget that we were immigrant people all of our history.
 
Originally posted by: PieIsAwesome
What do you Spaniards think of us Americans (as you defined it)? Do you want your colonies back? Because you can't have them. Mexican independence day was yesterday, take that!

More seriously, I have never been to Spain, but it seems like an awesome place. You people have funny but attractive accents, but I wonder what would happen if I were to go there speaking Castillian with a Mexican accent, what with all this recent business of Spaniards and "cultural insensitivity." Would I be better off with American English? Which identity would serve me best?
Click to expand...

Well, I think taht is always better to speak the language of the country you are in, but you could speak american english without problems. The young people knows english more or less... so try to ask to them
 
Originally posted by: iFX
Originally posted by: jonks
The majority of Americans have never left the country so what they think shouldn't matter all that much to anyone else.
Click to expand...

That might have something to do with our country being 3,794,066 square miles in total area, having a population of 320 million or so people and only bordering two other large countries. Americans can't hop a train to France. We have two huge oceans to cross to the East and West to get to Europe or East Asia. Just traveling across our country is a large effort. It isn't like taking a 30 minute train ride from the UK to France.

Compare those figures to the UK or Italy and it's easy to see why people living in those countries move around a bit. They are small and have small populations. It's much like Americans taking trips to other states. Keep in mind our states are their own little countries so to speak. They have their own locally elected Legislature, Executive Officer (Governor), Constitution, economy, law enforcement, education system, tax system, and even military.

Not to mention the US has more ethic and cultural groups than it knows what to do with. Just crossing our Nation's capital from North to South represents a huge cultural change (Baltimore on the north and Alexandria on the south).

However with you making completely ignorant remarks like the one you just did I think a better decision would be to not care what you think about just about anything. :thumbsup:
Click to expand...

nice little comparison map showing size of us vs europe
http://goeurope.about.com/od/e...ize-comparison-map.htm
crossing states in the us is like crossing countries in europe.

the uk for instance is about the size of oregon😛

and well, despite the supposed travel advantage, in the last century it was europe that f*cked up the world twice over. so i don't really see the advantage.
 
I've lived in Switzerland + France for awhile, but America is my home, so I'll add my input. Also, this only applies to the continental Europeans; the UK is what America tries to be but with a better military 😛

1) Your fashion sense is all fucked up.
2) Why is disco so popular? For that matter, why do so many clubs play 80s music?
3) Why is McDonalds and Starbucks so popular? You guys seem to like them a lot more than we do.
4) I love your cheese + wine + beer
5) Europe is a very expensive place to live 🙁
6) Too many places close on Sunday
7) You find it impolite if a waiter brings you the bill without you asking. I don't get it
8) :thumbsup: for including sales tax in the advertised prices. Tacking on sales tax like we do is bullshit and makes paying for things a much bigger pain in the ass.
9) Your public transport is excellent. German trains are amazing. The bus systems are all great everywhere that I've gone. I wish we had really awesome passenger trains like you guys
10) Most Europeans are very nice people and I get along with them. I really like that about you guys, although to my understanding a lot of Europeans find Americans 'too friendly' and loud. Please excuse us, we just enjoy being loud 🙂

One of my friends in Geneva is a Spaniard, he's a great guy.
 
Originally posted by: 0roo0roo
Originally posted by: iFX
Originally posted by: jonks
The majority of Americans have never left the country so what they think shouldn't matter all that much to anyone else.
Click to expand...

That might have something to do with our country being 3,794,066 square miles in total area, having a population of 320 million or so people and only bordering two other large countries. Americans can't hop a train to France. We have two huge oceans to cross to the East and West to get to Europe or East Asia. Just traveling across our country is a large effort. It isn't like taking a 30 minute train ride from the UK to France.

Compare those figures to the UK or Italy and it's easy to see why people living in those countries move around a bit. They are small and have small populations. It's much like Americans taking trips to other states. Keep in mind our states are their own little countries so to speak. They have their own locally elected Legislature, Executive Officer (Governor), Constitution, economy, law enforcement, education system, tax system, and even military.

Not to mention the US has more ethic and cultural groups than it knows what to do with. Just crossing our Nation's capital from North to South represents a huge cultural change (Baltimore on the north and Alexandria on the south).

However with you making completely ignorant remarks like the one you just did I think a better decision would be to not care what you think about just about anything. :thumbsup:
Click to expand...

nice little comparison map showing size of us vs europe
http://goeurope.about.com/od/e...ize-comparison-map.htm
crossing states in the us is like crossing countries in europe.

the uk for instance is about the size of oregon😛

and well, despite the supposed travel advantage, in the last century it was europe that f*cked up the world twice over. so i don't really see the advantage.
Click to expand...

I was just having a conversation about my friend who insisted that all Americans should leave the country at least once. He thought it was disgraceful that so many of us only travel within the country.

I told him he was being ridiculous. Most Europeans don't leave their continent, and that's less area than just the continental US! There is such an amazing array of cultures in America that you don't need to travel outside of the country to experience something unique. That's part of why I love America; Europe is still struggling to get to the point where you don't need a passport to cross country borders, and we have no such problem 😛
 
Originally posted by: Eeezee
8) :thumbsup: for including sales tax in the advertised prices. Tacking on sales tax like we do is bullshit and makes paying for things a much bigger pain in the ass.
Click to expand...

Sorry but I prefer the way we do it here in the US. It prevents the tax from being hidden so that the consumer thinks it is part of the price of the good or service.
 
Originally posted by: Linflas
Originally posted by: Eeezee
8) :thumbsup: for including sales tax in the advertised prices. Tacking on sales tax like we do is bullshit and makes paying for things a much bigger pain in the ass.
Click to expand...

Sorry but I prefer the way we do it here in the US. It prevents the tax from being hidden so that the consumer thinks it is part of the price of the good or service.
Click to expand...

Really, how is it any different? You're gonna have to pay the tax to make the purchase anyway...
 
Originally posted by: BoomerD
Originally posted by: Linflas
Originally posted by: Eeezee
8) :thumbsup: for including sales tax in the advertised prices. Tacking on sales tax like we do is bullshit and makes paying for things a much bigger pain in the ass.
Click to expand...

Sorry but I prefer the way we do it here in the US. It prevents the tax from being hidden so that the consumer thinks it is part of the price of the good or service.
Click to expand...

Really, how is it any different? You're gonna have to pay the tax to make the purchase anyway...
Click to expand...

Pretty simple really, if I don't like the price I am charged for a good or service I can take my business elsewhere or defer the purchase. With taxes my recourse is to either find a neighboring state with a lower/no sales taxes or political pressure on lawmakers to keep taxes in my state as low as possible. Politicians would love to be able to mask the tax in the cost of goods and services but fortunately Americans have been very resistent to this concept. That is one of the reasons Americans oppose VAT type tax schemes since it allows politicians to hide the tax costs.
 
Originally posted by: tamaron
Originally posted by: mrkun
I do think of them as being somewhat racist, but not more than other countries in Western Europe. It's unfortunate, but I understand it given their current situation.
Click to expand...

I am impressed about this... A few of you think we are racist.. Not me, even anyone I know. Could you tell me why do you think we are racist? Indeed we are very diverse, very blond to cuasi-NorthAfrican. Perhaps this last years some of us think we are "giving for free" our wealth, but many forget that we were immigrant people all of our history.
Click to expand...

http://edition.cnn.com/2008/SP...o.interview/index.html

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/4024167.stm
 
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