Conversations with foriegners about US. - Page 3

**debdodd** · 03-05-2008, 09:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Katnip89

Aha!

A thread I can relate to!
I have lived in Ireland for a summer,

Happy St Patrick's Day

Two men were sitting next to each other at a bar.
After a while, one guy looks at the other and says, "I can't help but think, from listening to you, that you're from Ireland "
The other guy responds proudly, "Yes, that I am".
The first guy says, "So am I And where about from Ireland might you be?"
The other guy answers, "I'm from Dublin , I am."
The first guy responds, and so am I "Sure and begora, And what street did you live on in Dublin ?"
The other guy says, "A lovely little area it was, I lived on McCleary Street in the old central part of town."
The first guy says, "Faith & it's a small world, so did I.! So did I. And to what school would you have been going?"
The other guy answers, "Well now, I went to St. Mary's of course."
The first guy gets really excited and says, "And so did I. Tell me, what year did you graduate?"
The other guy answers, "Well, now, let's see, I graduated in 1964."
The first guy exclaims, "The Good Lord must be smiling down upon us! I can hardly believe our good luck at winding up in the same bar tonight. Can you believe it, I graduated from St. Mary's in 1964 my own self."

About this time, Vicky walks into the bar, sits down, and orders a beer.

Brian, the bartender, walks over to Vicky, shaking his head & mutters,
"It's going to be a long night tonight"

Vicky asks, "Why do you say that, Brian?"

"The O'Connor twins are drunk again."

**Skepticologist** · 03-05-2008, 05:06 PM

As an American, I've been fortunate to have travelled to several countries and to meet their people and become aware of their customs. And the conclusion I've reached is that there are good people and bad people in every country, and that they occur in roughly the same proportion regardless of the specific geography. In other words, the distinctions people draw based on their differences, whether racial or ethnic or cultural or nationalistic or religious, are essentially baseless.

We're all fellow inhabitants of one planet among billions scattered around the universe, and that distinction seems to have been lost or severely discounted.

On a microcosmic scale, I can focus on the differences between me and my next-door neighbor. I can be resentful of him or her based on the size of his or her house, or the make and model of the car he or she drives. On a machrocosmic scale, I can look down on people from other countries based on the differences in our cultures or our societies.

But we are all people, and despite the distinctions we draw among each other, we're much more similar than distinct.

Let's all try to accentuate our commonalities over our differences, and we may discover ways to come together as a global community.

**debdodd** · 03-05-2008, 05:59 PM

I think that all you said is a "no brainer" .... the crux of it is how does one get stereotypes changed in a timely manner?

Muslims fight it, Americans fight it .... hell even the French fight it ... negative perceptions. You can espouse rhetoric all day long that people are both bad and good but words are not going to change this. Exposure to culture and people is the only way that I believe the world is going to grow and become a cohesive society that cares about one another. Words need to be replaced by action.

I am not for a minute criticizing your words Skept ... my view is just from a different angle. I am guilty of doing only "word vomit" and no action plenty of times.

Bjarki Dalsgarð · 03-06-2008, 08:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by debdodd

I am guilty of doing only "word vomit" and no action plenty of times.

Aren't we all quilty of that?

Though I have taken action a couple of times, it doesn't seem to make any difference, and I think (going off topic again) that it is what will be our undoing of sorts, just letting things happen and not doing anything from making it stop, or doing something and not believing it will have any lasting effect.
Or the fact that the effort to change the place is too wildly spaced out and not concentrated.

Bah I need some coffee, I'm not making any sense here do I?

**debdodd** · 03-06-2008, 09:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bjarki Dalsgarð

Quote:

Originally Posted by debdodd

I am guilty of doing only "word vomit" and no action plenty of times.

Aren't we all quilty of that?

Though I have taken action a couple of times, it doesn't seem to make any difference, and I think (going off topic again) that it is what will be our undoing of sorts, just letting things happen and not doing anything from making it stop, or doing something and not believing it will have any lasting effect.
Or the fact that the effort to change the place is too wildly spaced out and not concentrated.

Bah I need some coffee, I'm not making any sense here do I?

No you make sense in your own un-caffeinated way ..... Actually I can say I know way, way to many that are "active" in politics and the whole betterment of society ... I'm the slacker that lives vicariously through them .... they are always at some damn meeting for this or that right to whatever is the chosen cause of the moment ... I prefer to sit still and watch the grass grow now and then .... I am the least lonely person I know ... I often choose solitude instead of the masses. I prefer to be in my own company than to be busy and bothered with stupid people ... sounds bad doesn't it but I cannot stand be be around my fellow females that babble on about silliness .... okay I will admit to babbling about my son but not about clothes and make-up and silly sh*t ... doesnt interest me in the least ... mostly I get tired of hearing about anything medical .... I want to tell them ... please don't bore me talking about your most recent illness ... I guess they think that I am a free sounding board for their ailments ... go to a doctor and complain they get paid to listen to your hypochondriac complaints.

I visit my parents only every other month just so I don't have to hear them complain .. my dad about the stock market and the damn democrats and my mom ... well I really don't know what she talks about because I've tuned her out for the past two years but I'm sure it is a worthless topic what ever it might be. Mostly trying to justify why she was such a lousy mother back then and her whole "it was a different time and people raised their kids differently" some lame BS excuse instead of ownership ..... I do enjoy screwing with my Dad and tell him I hope it's a Clinton/Obama white house .... hey he's got a lot of money .. he just might stroke out if I time it right .... Okay, Okay I know I am one sick puppy (see ... I even cal myself pup!

) Now I am just doing word vomit from too much caffeine .... tootles!

**Skepticologist** · 03-07-2008, 07:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by debdodd

I think that all you said is a "no brainer" .... the crux of it is how does one get stereotypes changed in a timely manner?

Muslims fight it, Americans fight it .... hell even the French fight it ... negative perceptions. You can espouse rhetoric all day long that people are both bad and good but words are not going to change this. Exposure to culture and people is the only way that I believe the world is going to grow and become a cohesive society that cares about one another. Words need to be replaced by action.

I am not for a minute criticizing your words Skept ... my view is just from a different angle. I am guilty of doing only "word vomit" and no action plenty of times.

So what "action" would you have me take? And what action do you plan to take beyond what you call "word vomit"?

**debdodd** · 03-07-2008, 08:31 PM

I have no wish to give you advice on what you should/could do to make a difference ... some times words are what impact certain demographics and that's all one can do. I spent numerous years as an activist and the past few years have been "burnt out" on it. I guess I just felt that the "difference" we were making was so minimal that I wanted to go another direction.

Right now my words are all I am willing to contribute .... sorry ... tonight I am cynical and not a good listener or participant for that matter in any deep thought process.

I did feel I should answer you tho'. In my posting to you I meant that you were absolutely right .... as citizens of the world we should do a much better job than what we are .... that's what I meant by a no brainer ... that what you wrote is such basic truth that it's a no brainer and that people should be looking at the big picture.

It's been a long, long week with work and life has sucked me dry ... so the world must be content with my well wishes and words as I have no energy for any actions .... you know how sometimes you just hit a wall and "uncle" is all you can say? well .... "uncle" I must go rest my fingers, my brain and especially my feet

and on the seventh day ... she said ... things sucks and I am shall call for a day of rest (maybe even two!)

I did a double shift at work and am crawling into bed to look for oblivion behind my eye lids .... wish I still drank ... nah, I don't have the energy to pour right now ..... G'night!

Skept you are right ... I can say no more .... Deb

**Skepticologist** · 03-08-2008, 04:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by debdodd

I have no wish to give you advice on what you should/could do to make a difference ... some times words are what impact certain demographics and that's all one can do. I spent numerous years as an activist and the past few years have been "burnt out" on it. I guess I just felt that the "difference" we were making was so minimal that I wanted to go another direction.

Right now my words are all I am willing to contribute .... sorry ... tonight I am cynical and not a good listener or participant for that matter in any deep thought process.

I did feel I should answer you tho'. In my posting to you I meant that you were absolutely right .... as citizens of the world we should do a much better job than what we are .... that's what I meant by a no brainer ... that what you wrote is such basic truth that it's a no brainer and that people should be looking at the big picture.

It's been a long, long week with work and life has sucked me dry ... so the world must be content with my well wishes and words as I have no energy for any actions .... you know how sometimes you just hit a wall and "uncle" is all you can say? well .... "uncle" I must go rest my fingers, my brain and especially my feet

and on the seventh day ... she said ... things sucks and I am shall call for a day of rest (maybe even two!)

I did a double shift at work and am crawling into bed to look for oblivion behind my eye lids .... wish I still drank ... nah, I don't have the energy to pour right now ..... G'night!

Skept you are right ... I can say no more .... Deb

Wrong again, debdodd! I am not "right", no more than any of us is "right". We're only right to the extent that we champion the cause of the greatest good for the greatest number of people. Nothing else really matters. We fart around on these forums, we make some good points, and we go to bed happy. But what have we done to make a real difference?

You're crawling into bed after putting in a double shift (with premium pay, I assume), and from my own experience I understand how physically exhausted your are. But there remain millions of people in the world who would go to bed exhausted and very happy to have put in only 8 hours at straight pay, but who don't have an opportunity to do so because the globalized powers that be can't separate themselves from their greed long enough to allow any "normal" person to get even the least bit ahead.

That situation has to change radically before I, even as a comfortably retired person, can crawl into bed and have a really good night's sleep.

**debdodd** · 03-09-2008, 02:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Skepticologist

Quote:

Originally Posted by debdodd

I have no wish to give you advice on what you should/could do to make a difference ... some times words are what impact certain demographics and that's all one can do. I spent numerous years as an activist and the past few years have been "burnt out" on it. I guess I just felt that the "difference" we were making was so minimal that I wanted to go another direction.

Right now my words are all I am willing to contribute .... sorry ... tonight I am cynical and not a good listener or participant for that matter in any deep thought process.

I did feel I should answer you tho'. In my posting to you I meant that you were absolutely right .... as citizens of the world we should do a much better job than what we are .... that's what I meant by a no brainer ... that what you wrote is such basic truth that it's a no brainer and that people should be looking at the big picture.

It's been a long, long week with work and life has sucked me dry ... so the world must be content with my well wishes and words as I have no energy for any actions .... you know how sometimes you just hit a wall and "uncle" is all you can say? well .... "uncle" I must go rest my fingers, my brain and especially my feet

and on the seventh day ... she said ... things sucks and I am shall call for a day of rest (maybe even two!)

I did a double shift at work and am crawling into bed to look for oblivion behind my eye lids .... wish I still drank ... nah, I don't have the energy to pour right now ..... G'night!

Skept you are right ... I can say no more .... Deb

Wrong again, debdodd! I am not "right", no more than any of us is "right". We're only right to the extent that we champion the cause of the greatest good for the greatest number of people. Nothing else really matters. We fart around on these forums, we make some good points, and we go to bed happy. But what have we done to make a real difference?

You're crawling into bed after putting in a double shift (with premium pay, I assume), and from my own experience I understand how physically exhausted your are. But there remain millions of people in the world who would go to bed exhausted and very happy to have put in only 8 hours at straight pay, but who don't have an opportunity to do so because the globalized powers that be can't separate themselves from their greed long enough to allow any "normal" person to get even the least bit ahead.

That situation has to change radically before I, even as a comfortably retired person, can crawl into bed and have a really good night's sleep.

not to get bitchy with you but please stop telling me I am wrong or to presume anything else about me .... no I got straight pay, no premium pay. I don't dance around uncomfortable issues and not say what I mean ... I try and be some what kind with the way I say things on forum just b/c some are young on this forum and I want them to stay around and find what they need to move forward on their self awareness path. Your so called "Right" was that I agreed with you ... why do you have to complicate the kudo's with the BS crap ..with you Zen no one is right blah, blah, friggin blah ... It was my first day on the job and my last .. so any out of work person that wants the job can have it ... you presume that my life is one of work and the accompanying leisure time ... you are clueless to what is going on but I will enlighten you so you will stop all your idiotic postulating!!! get ready tfor the PM...

romansh · 03-09-2008, 05:18 PM

One of my observations about foreigners in general is that they tend be a lot more palatable as individuals.

My first experience was a coachload of Americans disembarking in Stratford upon Avon. I can't put my finger on it but there was something about the 'group' that was disconcerting. I have noticed this with other nationalities disembarking coaches and similar. I can only hold my head in shame when it comes to English Lager Louts in Spain...

Of course nobody notices Canadians getting off on anything....