Do Americans see the world in Black and White?

That is fair enough. I think you hit most of the bases.

 

When you are looking for a debate its usually more interesting to start at an edge and work your way towards the middle...

 

nevermind edit

 

I'm just saying that when I'm looking to gain some insight beyond whatever view i have currently developed.. I want to hear either a passionate or an intellectual argument. That's the kind of motivation that will move me/open my eyes to an evolution of individual thought...

Not to mention that when someone is making their passionate argument its likely to be raw.. Fundamental to their way of thinking without all the effort to beautify it and obscure the personal aspect of their position.. Allowing you to learn as much about the person as you can about their perspective.. Sometimes sympathy for someones perspective is more compelling than the argument itself..

 

I don't think hip forums is exactly a good representative of the general population. in fact i think it's a really small niche of personality types here.

 

Glad this got bumped.. Cool thread, though they never really went anywhere.

And my view on swine flu after looking into it was, "hmmm... I guess this could happen man, but it isn't right now, and there's a pretty good chance that this is just the media flipping the fuck out over nothing again. So, until anything actualy starts happening... I'm not gonna worry too much about it man."

...and nothing fuckin' happened man

 

I could certainly be persuaded to believe that...
It would seem that there isn't alot of individual expression going on in some of the threads.. It eerily reminds me of that saying about being "unique just like everyone else" at times..

 

welcome to the world...

 

Sometimes its more the journey than the destination...
I missed this train the first time around, but hoped to get on it now...

 

I think the internet is a really horrible place to try to get a representative of a whole.

I also think the stereotypical overweight and ignorant mid-western or southern american personality has been entirely too played out in the media and I really hope the rest of the world doesn't truly view the entirety of the US population that way.

There are open minded people everywhere. People surprise me everyday. People also disappoint me, but even when someone fits a bad stereotype, you can generally dig below that and find something good.

Odon, are you showing your prejudices?

 

No.
I have been even handed, fair-minded and the epitome of good taste...

 

I agree...
I have been told that I might enjoy your perspectives/style of debate..
I read through a few of your threads and found this to be the most likely source of a good argument..

How do the Brits feel about Americans snatching the rains when it comes to world domination? Is it more a relief or source of animosity?

 

I was flattering myself a little, but I do try.

If I asked the next 20 people I met that question most would say: "Er,...." I'd probably have to load the question: "Should Britain have it's empire back"...etc etc. I just don't think the intricacies of a nations power balance weighs on the minds of most people here.
Obviously there are extremes too...fairly racist/nationalistic extremes.

Personally, I don't think the reigns of power are quite the same.
Economically America is reliant on others. Militarily, it is too.
It can't just wade around the world like Britain did once upon a time.

 

I'm a little surprised you didn't point out the irony of the question in scope of the thread... I totally set that one up for you....

Times had changed a bit from the beginning of the British rule to that of America's..

So what occupies the thoughts of your fellow countrymen?
Whats the atmosphere like? I have never had the privilege to visit your neck of the woods...

 

I did kinda see the irony. But, I was asking a question rather than jumping to conclusions. So I was being fair...(Did I get away with that?)

True. But we do still have what is called "Super-Powers", I guess.

Relationships.
Football.
Money.
Jobs.
Holidays.
TV.
Abstract thought.

I'm not too sure in what order, though.

Where I live the "atmosphere" is ok...

You might here about Leicester soon:
http://www.englishdefenceleague.org/
(We are the most diverse city in Europe)
These idiots will try and cause trouble, but we'll have non of it.

 

Ignorant thread is ignorant.

 

Why?

 

nah.. its interesting...

I'm American and pretty interested in the foreign views of my country and fellow countrymen..

Perhaps we sit too close to see a larger picture?
I sometimes wonder how how we get off criticizing developing countries (in Asian and South America) for their irresponsible use of resources when we had in fact done far worse on the way to where we are today..
Hell we weren't even bright enough to learn from London's pollution problems instead went and recreated the same thing here..
Then we get upset that nobody will listen to us...

We want to lead the world, just not by our own example..
We dwell in a Chrystal palace yet are quick to cast stones..

Don't get me wrong, I'm a patriot even served in the military, but i am somewhat open minded too.. If someone is willing to offer me a broader perspective, I'm willing to give them a listen..

 

Odon:
Your link seems to be down.. been waiting for it to work but its been over an hour and a half... why i hadn't responded to your last message yet...

So whats the economy like over there?

 

The site is undergoing maintenance. You can still view their forum.

The English Defence League (EDL) is an English far-right single issue group formed in 2009.
Its stated aim is to oppose what it considers as the spread of Islamism, Sharia law and Islamic extremism in England.
Its far-right status, however, has been challenged by the British Labour MP, Jon Cruddas, who compares it with the American centre-right Tea-Party.

The EDL uses street-based marches against Muslim extremism.
It presents itself as being multi-ethnic and multi-faith,and states that it opposes only "jihadists", not all Muslims.
Nevertheless, EDL members were reported to have chanted "We hate Muslims" at pro-Palestinian demonstrators in London on 13 September 2009.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/English_Defence_League

Basically, this is what we had to look forward too:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r93xAqUreY4&NR=1&feature=fvwp"]YouTube - Violent clashes at EDL demonstration in Dudley

But in the last 40 minutes:
Home Secretary bans EDL march in Leicester
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-leicestershire-11465502

That's anybodies guess.
The bulk of our structural deficit is supposedly being tackled over the next 5 years.
Which I think it will be.
The trouble is, to cut it fast (over five years) will be painful, immediately.
To cut it slow (over 10+ years) will increase how much we will have to pay back (borrowing more now to spend our way out).
http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2010/oct/03/george-osborne-cuts-conservative-conference
This is true in America too, as far as I aware.
The difference is how much families have to spend aside from their taxes.
It's economics, though, a whole other country as far as I am concerned.
I would say we are out of the woods.