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Author Topic: "Americans" this....
Wes
Over 20 years here? Holy cow.
Member # 212

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I have been a frequent registered �lurker� of the forums for years now and have been frequently (well, frequently for me) posting the last year or so. There is something I would like to address. There has been a constant negative stereotype of American culture on this board for some time. These incidents can range from a slightly suggestive American inferiority, or a complete bashing of an aspect of American culture or American culture itself. An example of the past couple incidents I�ve noticed include:

∙ The stereotype that the American education system is a chain of prison-like schools which promote or accept murder as a way of life, based on the stereotype that all school districts in America run under the exact same policies and post-Columbine propaganda/paranoia.

∙ The stereotype that all Americans have a superiority complex and think of themselves as being higher or more important then those from other countries, rooted in the belief that America is in fact the �most powerful and greatest country of them all�

∙ The stereotype that all Americans are divided into extreme Liberals and Conservatives, and take on the extreme believes of either one or the other.

∙ Stereotypes of Americans� interests. Such as purchasing power and economic balance. Such as stating that �Americans own too many of X.�

∙ The stereotype of American attitude towards sexual behavior and maturity.

And these are only a few of the one that come to mind. I recognize that it is possible that the offenders do not even know of their stereotyping, but it is apparent that some are creating these stereotypes on propose. I wonder if it�s really that hard to try not to stereotype any race/gender/religion in these forums. I know it exists in real life, but I also know that those who stereotype people in real life are look down upon, at least in my area/social circle. I would really like to see the extreme cases of stereotyping disappear on these forums to make everyone�s visit more enjoyable.

Please give me feedback� examples of when you may have experienced any sort of stereotypes on these forums. We all may or may not of experience it in real life, but why bring it here?

Thanks

Wes

[ June 28, 2001: Message edited by: Wes1701E ]


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Malnurtured Snay
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Well, gee, could it be that a large portion of this BBoard be from Europe or Australia or even (GASP!) Canada which are not part of the United States of America? Naaaaaaaaah ...

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www.malnurturedsnay.net

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Shik
Starship database: completed; History of Starfleet: done; website: probably never
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Or that it might be true. Truth's a bitch, ain't it?

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"The French have a saying: 'mise en place'—keep everything in its fucking place!"

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PsyLiam
Hungry for you
Member # 73

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You should invite Tachy back over. Then Europeans, Canadians, Australians, and people with US constitutions could unite against our shared enemy, the French.

Saying that, I haven't noticed much "US-bashing". I've noticed comments that point out the bad points of the US, usually from the Canadians. The British (being Me, Lee, and Orion), just tend to make bad jokes at their expense.

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Yes, you're despicable, and... and picable... and... and you're definitely, definitely despicable. How a person can get so despicable in one lifetime is beyond me. It isn't as though I haven't met a lot of people. Goodness knows it isn't that. It isn't just that... it isn't... it's... it's despicable.


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Daniel
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Er, but what about Americans that are saying the same because they're fed up or annoyed at their nation and it's systems? I know I complain about the US sometimes. I may be Korean, but I am full blooded American when it comes to "cultcha."
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Wes
Over 20 years here? Holy cow.
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quote:
Originally posted by Jeff Kardde:
Well, gee, could it be that a large portion of this BBoard be from Europe or Australia or even (GASP!) Canada which are not part of the United States of America? Naaaaaaaaah ...

Why is that an excuse to make stereotypes against americans, or anyone for that matter?


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Wes
Over 20 years here? Holy cow.
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quote:
Originally posted by PsyLiam:
...I've noticed comments that point out the bad points of the US, usually from the Canadians. The British (being Me, Lee, and Orion), just tend to make bad jokes at their expense...

Oh, ive noticed the jokes.. hell I find some of them funny as hell, the "bad points of the US" are represented incorrectly, just a little "some of..." before the statement or even "in my experience..." or "most [insert group here] i know..." turns an offensive stereotype into a harmless opinion, (which is what they are)


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Malnurtured Snay
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Well, they're usually NOT making stereotypes about Americans.

They're making stereotypes of CONSERVATIVE Americans.

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MC Infinity
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quote:
Originally posted by Wes1701E:

Why is that an excuse to make stereotypes against americans, or anyone for that matter?



Dear god man! What's wrong with you? Stereotyping is a deeply rooted part of human nature, we don't need a reason to stereotype, we just do it.

--------------------
Me- Hi Jen! What's up!
Jen- You again??!?! Listen kid, I'm not interested in you. Stop bothering me, I'm a lot older than you and I have a boyfriend. How did you find my ICQ number anyways?
Me- Oh, so just cuz you're a movie star now, and you're new album made millions, you think you're too good for me?
Jen- Yes!!! Get it thorough your head! I am a person, I am not Jennifer Lopez the hottest woman on earth that everyone wants to sleep with, I'm a person, leave me alone!!!
Me- Fine! Be that way!
Me- Jen.... Where'd you go.... I love you... please come back.... please....

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Shik
Starship database: completed; History of Starfleet: done; website: probably never
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If you're gonna have the biggest tits in school, y'gotta expect the comments to come in droves, especially when you show them off as much as we do.

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"The French have a saying: 'mise en place'—keep everything in its fucking place!"

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PsyLiam
Hungry for you
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Wes: "The stereotype that all Americans have a superiority complex and think of themselves as being higher or more important then those from other countries, rooted in the belief that America is in fact the �most powerful and greatest country of them all�"

Shik: "If you're gonna have the biggest tits in school, y'gotta expect the comments to come in droves, especially when you show them off as much as we do."

Hmm. No, I can't see where that stereotype comes from.

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Yes, you're despicable, and... and picable... and... and you're definitely, definitely despicable. How a person can get so despicable in one lifetime is beyond me. It isn't as though I haven't met a lot of people. Goodness knows it isn't that. It isn't just that... it isn't... it's... it's despicable.


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MC Infinity
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Dat's funny.... No comment, I just found it really funny, and I forgot to make a comment on it.

--------------------
Me- Hi Jen! What's up!
Jen- You again??!?! Listen kid, I'm not interested in you. Stop bothering me, I'm a lot older than you and I have a boyfriend. How did you find my ICQ number anyways?
Me- Oh, so just cuz you're a movie star now, and you're new album made millions, you think you're too good for me?
Jen- Yes!!! Get it thorough your head! I am a person, I am not Jennifer Lopez the hottest woman on earth that everyone wants to sleep with, I'm a person, leave me alone!!!
Me- Fine! Be that way!
Me- Jen.... Where'd you go.... I love you... please come back.... please....

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Jay the Obscure
Liker Of Jazz
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Don't forget these stereotypes:
  • All Americans all carry guns and that the US is the gun lovinist country that ever loved a gun.

  • Americans have a horribly antiquated prison system...they only warehouse the ones they don't kill off via lethal injection.

Stereotypes being what they are, I think that most American are still imbued with that old Manifest Destiny ideology and a certain City On A Hill belief system that seperates the world into easy "us vs. them" piles.

And some would argue about whether there really is such a thing a "American Culture." It might be just an amalgam of Britany Spears / N Sync songs, Cuban folk dances, African drum beats and Scotish poetry...or whatever was brought by those who came over.

Whatever it is, it is no longer dominated by white male hegemony. The recognition and acceptance of diversity angers quite a few people who no longer have the spotlight.

[ June 28, 2001: Message edited by: Jay the Obscure ]

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Great is the guilt of an unnecessary war.
~ohn Adams

Once again the Bush Administration is worse than I had imagined, even though I thought I had already taken account of the fact that the Bush administration is invariably worse than I can imagine.
~Brad DeLong

You're just babbling incoherently.
~C. Montgomery Burns


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bX
Stopped. Smelling flowers.
Member # 419

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quote:
Originally posted by Jeff Kardde:
...Canada which [is] not part of the United States of America...

Didn't we annex them, yet?

Seriously, I have seen some US-bashing here and there in the forums, but nothing to get too upset over. I would say quite a lot of it was done in jest. (and some of it quite funny) If anything, perhaps we should be proud of US bashing because as negative as it can be, it is an exercise of one of the more noble points of our Bill of Rights. I can participate in an online community and say that I think George W. is an incompetent spoon-fed buffoon whose short-sighted agendas and defiant ignorance will only bring suffering and death. Cops will not come to my house and take me away from my family.

(Incidentally, If I should stop posting in the next few weeks, I'd just like to retract everything I said above except the part about GW.)

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"Nah. The 9th chevron is for changing the ringtone from "grindy-grindy chonk-chonk" to the theme tune to dallas." -Reverend42


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BlueElectron
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Hate to break this to you pal:

STEREOTYPE ARE THERE ONLY BECAUSE THERE ARE A LARGE POOL OF EXAMPLES.

Blonde jokes didn't just "pop-up" all of a sudden one day because people randomly decided that we should make fun of blondes.

Same apply for "American" stereotyping, maybe you guys should consider changing your ways before pointing fingers.

[ June 28, 2001: Message edited by: BlueElectron ]

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"George Washington said, 'I cannot tell a lie.'
Richard Nixon said, 'I cannot tell the truth.'
Bill Clinton said, 'I cannot tell the difference.'"

-- comedian TOM SMOTHERS, from his latest stage act with brother DICK SMOTHERS.


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