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mister_wizzz
VIP
Joined: 27 May 2004
Posts: 582
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 Posted: Mon Mar 23, 2009 3:36 pm Post subject: |
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I went to Santo Domingo last February and the Americans I have met there were nice and correct. I also had long talks with Mike and his wife Susan from Iowa "in the middle of nowhere" like they said, very nice, clever, knowing European culture even better than I do.
One evening, Susan confessed that she always answer she's from Canada to people who ask because of the awful American reputation abroad and also her own experience with US tourists in Mexico.
Actually this made me laugh because the most rude, drunkard, stupid people there were Canadians...  |
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jo-jo-7
Just Starting
Joined: 16 Mar 2010
Posts: 6
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| Posted: Mon Mar 23, 2009 4:02 pm Post subject: |
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| I just think people are going to have bad experiences any where they go. It is funny that people will point out the bad over the good in most places. It's vain to tell people opinions before another has a chance to find out. Someone else might have a better time than the person who experienced a not so great time. |
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gaijin
Lounge Lizard
Joined: 03 Oct 2007
Posts: 155
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| Posted: Mon Mar 23, 2009 4:20 pm Post subject: |
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| Ender wrote: |
No. I was talking about bloodbath in South Ossetia. I wasn't aware of nationalistic coverage of olympic in China, however China-bashing by western press gives to me strong sense of disgust. |
Note to myself: forget any attempts at humour in the future, at least on this forum.
@jo jo 7: You remind me that one thing that bothers me a bit with Russians is their unability to accept any criticism. Almost all Russians I know take it way personnaly if I comment anything slightly negatively about Russia. Of course I try to avoid negative comments about the country where I live, but sometimes the disproportion between a trivial remark and the reaction is amazing.
You reminded me that this trait is not proper to Russians.
For example, considering vestimentary tastes, I told you that the way Americans dress hurt my eyes. If you were not blinded by nationalist emotions, you would be able to simply reply 'de coloribus gustibusque non disputantur'. It wouldn't make you a fashion advisor but you'd be right.
I don't want, and don't have to, justify my opinion, forged with the contact of hundreds of Americans. And the sample is biased, because I mostly met people from New England and West coast cities, pretty much places where you mould expect to find a higher proportion of highly educated people. Yeah some of them are very fine people, who I highly respect, they're just very few. All I met from the rest of the USA (which I haven't visited, fortunately) are pretty much folks who couldn't talk about anything besides Jesus. And loudly, of course.
I repeat, I don't have to justify the opinion I have of Americans. If my opinion displeases you, you should rather show me that there are more fine people in the USA than I think (to significantly change the stats built up so far, you'd better show me a big bunch of fine people). You are failing miserably at that.
I consider that the ability to accept criticism about ones own country (as I do accept criticism of France and French people) and calmly discuss it as a quality. You obviously lack this quality. |
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gaijin
Lounge Lizard
Joined: 03 Oct 2007
Posts: 155
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| Posted: Mon Mar 23, 2009 4:24 pm Post subject: |
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| jo jo 7 wrote: | | Someone else might have a better time than the person who experienced a not so great time. |
Oh I never said I had bad time in the USA. I always had great time there. Americans are pretty ignorant, and usually unable to dress properly, but a lot of fun. |
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jo-jo-7
Just Starting
Joined: 16 Mar 2010
Posts: 6
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| Posted: Mon Mar 23, 2009 4:39 pm Post subject: |
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| gaijin wrote: | | jo jo 7 wrote: | | Someone else might have a better time than the person who experienced a not so great time. |
Oh I never said I had bad time in the USA. I always had great time there. Americans are pretty ignorant, and usually unable to dress properly, but a lot of fun. |
Americans dress to be comfortable if you are talking down to a casual level, but most I know dress very nice in suits and dresses. Not everyone talks Jesus in some parts of the US. I think your character falls under the "Know it all" category. Your point on making us look bad is the usual garbage that we get which is an "uneducated statement", but we forgive you for your bad "judgment". Not everyone can visit all of America, scan the nation and come up with a bias opinion like yours. There are many college educated people in my country, may be if spent more time here you might have saw that. |
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Ender
WayToRussified
Joined: 23 Aug 2006
Posts: 498
Location: Urals
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| Posted: Mon Mar 23, 2009 4:49 pm Post subject: |
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| mister_wizzz wrote: | | Actually this made me laugh because the most rude, drunkard, stupid people there were Canadians... |
I think everybody have their bad expiriences. My last visit to Turkey was filled by rude Brits, drunk Brits, loud Brits, impertinent Brits... the list continues.
One of them got drunk and started to harass young turkish waiter. I mean harass in a homosexual way. Waiter tried to be patient but didn't stand too long and insolent Brit got a fist in the face. The scandal started. Half of an hour later I was in a hotel lounge and saw that Brit complaining to a manager how a crowd of waiters and cooks had been kicking him. Meanwhile there was no even sligthest sign of damage, blood or dirt on him. |
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darthvader
WayToRussified
Joined: 09 Dec 2005
Posts: 427
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| Posted: Mon Mar 23, 2009 8:01 pm Post subject: |
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| gaijin wrote: | | .......Russians is their unability to accept any criticism. Almost all Russians I know take it way personnaly if I comment anything slightly negatively about Russia........ but sometimes the disproportion between a trivial remark and the reaction is amazing....... |
Generally, I found/find this in Russia too. However, only with Russians who never have spent any amount of time abroad.
Its amazing how delicate you have to be sometimes, even with Russians you know quite well. Of course foreigners, when in Russia, should be delicate with their criticisms, however slight.  Politeness works wonders. |
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Ender
WayToRussified
Joined: 23 Aug 2006
Posts: 498
Location: Urals
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| Posted: Mon Mar 23, 2009 8:39 pm Post subject: |
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| gaijin wrote: | | You remind me that one thing that bothers me a bit with Russians is their unability to accept any criticism. Almost all Russians I know take it way personnaly if I comment anything slightly negatively about Russia. Of course I try to avoid negative comments about the country where I live, but sometimes the disproportion between a trivial remark and the reaction is amazing. |
It doesn't matter how badly and stupidly a Russian is blaming his country... but God forbid you to express your agreement with him. He will switch to defence mode automatically. Get used to it.
If other nations have same traits... Well... we'll respect it and use this knowledge in order not to anger these people. |
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Ender
WayToRussified
Joined: 23 Aug 2006
Posts: 498
Location: Urals
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| Posted: Mon Mar 23, 2009 8:43 pm Post subject: |
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| jo jo 7 wrote: | | I just think people are going to have bad experiences any where they go. It is funny that people will point out the bad over the good in most places. It's vain to tell people opinions before another has a chance to find out. Someone else might have a better time than the person who experienced a not so great time. |
Maybe people think "good expirience" is normal/usual/ordinary so why mention it? |
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Ender
WayToRussified
Joined: 23 Aug 2006
Posts: 498
Location: Urals
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| Posted: Mon Mar 23, 2009 9:04 pm Post subject: |
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| darthvader wrote: | | Generally, I found/find this in Russia too. However, only with Russians who never have spent any amount of time abroad. |
http://lyricsreal.com/ru/ddt/rodina-2.html |
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Ender
WayToRussified
Joined: 23 Aug 2006
Posts: 498
Location: Urals
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| Posted: Mon Mar 23, 2009 10:01 pm Post subject: |
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| gaijin wrote: | | Note to myself: forget any attempts at humour in the future, at least on this forum. |
Was that example of "lambent French humour"? May I ask you to provide some other examples? I'm just curious. |
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darthvader
WayToRussified
Joined: 09 Dec 2005
Posts: 427
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| Posted: Tue Mar 24, 2009 12:20 am Post subject: |
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Can't read it, I'm afraid. May have had it interpreted for me once  But, be assured I'm always on best behaviour in Russia (if one can be after all the polite vodka consumption)!
Of course I should add to my earlier comment, that sheltered nationals from any country, tend to get a bit defensive when foreigners make complaints. However, some nationalities "generally" do seem more defensive than others.
Having said this, our biased interpretations of the world are shaped by our own experiences.
Even so, the Brits that I've met often "enjoy" that I agree with them about apparent criticisms of Britain, or towards Britons. Maybe Britons really do undertstand that their glorious Empire is stuffed, so are more relaxed about things?
And, don't worry, Britons (and other nationalities) love poking gentle fun at my own national shortcomings too. |
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meagen1970
Frequent Guest
Joined: 18 Mar 2008
Posts: 29
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| Posted: Wed May 13, 2009 9:57 pm Post subject: |
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Related to what gaijin said: I'm American, I have both worked in the tourist industry and traveled abroad a lot and Americans can be very obnoxious and self- centered tourists. I've been embarassed many times by them. They don't take the time to learn local customs or even scraps of the language; they are loud about their dislike of foods or customs; they get frustrated when they speak english and no one knows what they are saying!
And conversly, French tourists can be pretty damn upity and have more than once ticked me off. But I luv ya all anyway! |
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meagen1970
Frequent Guest
Joined: 18 Mar 2008
Posts: 29
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| Posted: Wed May 13, 2009 10:01 pm Post subject: |
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| jo jo 7 wrote: | | gaijin wrote: | | jo jo 7 wrote: | | Someone else might have a better time than the person who experienced a not so great time. |
Oh I never said I had bad time in the USA. I always had great time there. Americans are pretty ignorant, and usually unable to dress properly, but a lot of fun. |
Americans dress to be comfortable if you are talking down to a casual level, but most I know dress very nice in suits and dresses. Not everyone talks Jesus in some parts of the US. I think your character falls under the "Know it all" category. Your point on making us look bad is the usual garbage that we get which is an "uneducated statement", but we forgive you for your bad "judgment". Not everyone can visit all of America, scan the nation and come up with a bias opinion like yours. There are many college educated people in my country, may be if spent more time here you might have saw that. |
Well I have traveled the US a lot and agree with many of gaijin's points. Oh, and speaking of educated, it's "seen" not "saw". |
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jo-jo-7
Just Starting
Joined: 16 Mar 2010
Posts: 6
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| Posted: Wed May 13, 2009 10:41 pm Post subject: |
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| meagen1970 wrote: | | jo jo 7 wrote: | | gaijin wrote: | | jo jo 7 wrote: | | Someone else might have a better time than the person who experienced a not so great time. |
Oh I never said I had bad time in the USA. I always had great time there. Americans are pretty ignorant, and usually unable to dress properly, but a lot of fun. |
Americans dress to be comfortable if you are talking down to a casual level, but most I know dress very nice in suits and dresses. Not everyone talks Jesus in some parts of the US. I think your character falls under the "Know it all" category. Your point on making us look bad is the usual garbage that we get which is an "uneducated statement", but we forgive you for your bad "judgment". Not everyone can visit all of America, scan the nation and come up with a bias opinion like yours. There are many college educated people in my country, may be if spent more time here you might have saw that. |
Well I have traveled the US a lot and agree with many of gaijin's points. Oh, and speaking of educated, it's "seen" not "saw". |
This is a old post, but to answer, I rather say saw or it could be, either or. Saw is used more than seen. Seen is past-perfect and saw is present tense. |
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