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Posted: 3/11/2012 5:50:55 AM EDT
[#1]
Quoted:
Do they think it is what most of us think it is, or do they think its the ghetto, movie star, etc shit that they see on TV? have you never seen the "meanwhile in america" posters ? look no further. 
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Posted: 3/11/2012 5:52:32 AM EDT
[#2]
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Posted: 3/11/2012 5:53:16 AM EDT
[#3]
Growing up in France, I expected cowboys and Tom Sawyer. The strip malls and undereducated people had me very disappoint.
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Posted: 3/11/2012 5:54:04 AM EDT
[#4]
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Posted: 3/11/2012 5:55:31 AM EDT
[#5]
Fatties and guns.
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Posted: 3/11/2012 5:57:18 AM EDT
[#6]
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Posted: 3/11/2012 5:58:05 AM EDT
[#7]
I travel all over Europe and the only question that always comes up is "why are so many Americans fat?" or something along those lines.
So I think they believe somewhat we have a lazy/over indulgent society. |
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Posted: 3/11/2012 5:59:59 AM EDT
[#8]
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Posted: 3/11/2012 6:02:36 AM EDT
[#9]
Quoted:
I travel all over Europe and the only question that always comes up is "why are so many Americans fat?" or something along those lines. So I think they believe somewhat we have a lazy/over indulgent society. I always love that line, considering Britons and Australians are just as fat as Americans are, and many other countries are within a few percentage points. If I remember correctly, I think Australians may even have a higher percentage of obese people now, depending on what source you read. As to the original poster: American pop culture is huge pretty much everywhere on Earth. American movies and music sell better than native movies and music in many places. So, there's your answer for the most part. |
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Posted: 3/11/2012 6:06:11 AM EDT
[#10]
When I lived in France over 20 years ago it seemed a good chunck of the women over 40 were fat. I'm not sure what the stats show, but I've never had a problem finding a fat european.
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Posted: 3/11/2012 6:06:30 AM EDT
[#11]
They like Star Wars.
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Posted: 3/11/2012 6:10:35 AM EDT
[#12]
Quoted:
Quoted:
I travel all over Europe and the only question that always comes up is "why are so many Americans fat?" or something along those lines. So I think they believe somewhat we have a lazy/over indulgent society. I always love that line, considering Britons and Australians are just as fat as Americans are, and many other countries are within a few percentage points. If I remember correctly, I think Australians may even have a higher percentage of obese people now, depending on what source you read. . Brits are the same as Americans for the most part lifestyle wise. Aussies definitely aren't Europeans. Netherlands, Belgium, luxembourg, Italy, France, Germany, Spain, Austria, Switzerland all are much much different than the US size wise. |
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Posted: 3/11/2012 6:36:56 AM EDT
[#13]
Quoted:
Quoted:
Quoted:
I travel all over Europe and the only question that always comes up is "why are so many Americans fat?" or something along those lines. So I think they believe somewhat we have a lazy/over indulgent society. I always love that line, considering Britons and Australians are just as fat as Americans are, and many other countries are within a few percentage points. If I remember correctly, I think Australians may even have a higher percentage of obese people now, depending on what source you read. . Brits are the same as Americans for the most part lifestyle wise. Aussies definitely aren't Europeans. Netherlands, Belgium, luxembourg, Italy, France, Germany, Spain, Austria, Switzerland all are much much different than the US size wise. Incorrect for some of those countries, I've done a bit of reading on this in the past. And I'm quite aware Australia isn't in Europe, I was just saying. And Germany is bad, too. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Obesity_in_Germany Some interesting facts there: The German obesity rate is considered at the same level as with the American obesity rate.[4] Only 14% live a "completely healthy" life.[5] In Germany, 60% of men and 43% of women are considered overweight while in France, 38.5% of men and 26% of women are considered overweight. |
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Posted: 3/11/2012 6:37:43 AM EDT
[#14]
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Posted: 3/11/2012 6:40:38 AM EDT
[#15]
They hate us because we are great and successful.
They hate us because we are beautiful. They hate us because we are a Christian nation, or more specifically, not their religion. They hate us because we are a democratic republic. They hate us because we are powerful. They hate us because we stand up and defend the weak. They hate us because they want to be us and can't. |
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Posted: 3/11/2012 6:41:46 AM EDT
[#16]
Quoted:
Do they think it is what most of us think it is, or do they think its the ghetto, movie star, etc shit that they see on TV? I think that's what arfcom thinks American culture is |
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Posted: 3/11/2012 6:45:40 AM EDT
[#17]
Quoted:
Growing up in France, I expected cowboys and Tom Sawyer. The strip malls and undereducated people had me very disappoint. You realize you live in LA right?
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Posted: 3/11/2012 6:49:05 AM EDT
[#18]
Quoted:
They hate us because we are great and successful. They hate us because we are beautiful. They hate us because we are a Christian nation, or more specifically, not their religion. They hate us because we are a democratic republic. They hate us because we are powerful. They hate us because we stand up and defend the weak. They hate us because they want to be us and can't. 
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Posted: 3/11/2012 6:50:26 AM EDT
[#19]
Quoted:
They hate us because we are great and successful. They hate us because we are beautiful. They hate us because we are a Christian nation, or more specifically, not their religion. They hate us because we are a democratic republic. They hate us because we are powerful. They hate us because we stand up and defend the weak. They hate us because they want to be us and can't. Relevance to the OP's question: Zero. This shit doesn't even make sense for Europe. |
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Posted: 3/11/2012 6:58:51 AM EDT
[#20]
Most of the Germans I've worked with over the years thought we were ultra violent and looking for an excuse to shoot people. They had the cowboy image also.
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Posted: 3/11/2012 7:09:01 AM EDT
[#21]
Quoted:
Quoted:
Do they think it is what most of us think it is, or do they think its the ghetto, movie star, etc shit that they see on TV? I think that's what arfcom thinks American culture is I actually think American culture is hunting, fishing, working, growing a garden, living in the boonies, etc. Well, maybe its redneck culture, but its how I was raised. Now that I live closer to cities or larger towns, I can say its straight up ghetto. No wonder everyone hates us. |
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Posted: 3/11/2012 7:20:56 AM EDT
[#22]
I've been living and traveling through SE Asia and the Middle East for about 17 years. Generally most uneducated folks believe we are completely obsessed with sex and violence. I suppose they base this belief on our chief cultural export which is modern pop culture (movies, music, and TV). Basically they believe it's like Baywatch, porn, rap music video and Cops all rolled into one.
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Posted: 3/11/2012 7:22:26 AM EDT
[#23]
I don't even think that Americans know what American culture is. I'm not sure that there is one. |
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Posted: 3/11/2012 7:22:35 AM EDT
[#24]
Yankee go home (and take me with you)
America does a relatively bad job of communicating freedom / its constitutional theory to the rest of the world. US Conservatives have very little idea how to communicate to the general Euro public in my experience. |
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Posted: 3/11/2012 7:25:20 AM EDT
[#25]
Quoted:
Quoted:
They hate us because we are great and successful. They hate us because we are beautiful. They hate us because we are a Christian nation, or more specifically, not their religion. They hate us because we are a democratic republic. They hate us because we are powerful. They hate us because we stand up and defend the weak. They hate us because they want to be us and can't. http://ryortho.com/images/upload_images/article_images/2010-03-22_Hammer_Striking_Nail.jpg You must have woke up in 1964 this morning. 
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Posted: 3/11/2012 7:25:27 AM EDT
[#26]
Quoted:
They hate us because we are great and successful. They hate us because we are beautiful. They hate us because we are a Christian nation, or more specifically, not their religion. They hate us because we are a democratic republic. They hate us because we are powerful. They hate us because we stand up and defend the weak. They hate us because they want to be us and can't. This pretty much nails it. Add in the scourge of rap music and it's pretty much complete. Countries that have been around for hundreds if not thousands of years (and are still crapping in a hole and wiping with their hand) don't understand/believe that the American system of government and capitalism enabled us to achieve far more in far less time than any previous country. We are somehow a fluke (now pronounced "fluck" I guess) and won't last "long". Short answer: we're the ones they love to hate. |
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Posted: 3/11/2012 7:31:13 AM EDT
[#27]
Quoted:
Most of the Germans I've worked with over the years thought we were ultra violent and looking for an excuse to shoot people. They had the cowboy image also. For grins let's consider what the average American thinks of Germans.
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Posted: 3/11/2012 8:06:54 AM EDT
[#28]
Quoted: They hate us because we are great and successful. They hate us because we are beautiful. They hate us because we are a Christian nation, or more specifically, not their religion. They hate us because we are a democratic republic. They hate us because we are powerful. They hate us because we stand up and defend the weak. They hate us because they want to be us and can't. Pretty much this. Having lived in the USA for 11 years now, I can attest that most of the rest of the world is envious of America so they need to invent reasons to ridicule us. Truth is, for the most part, they want what we have. But they know they can't get it. |
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Posted: 3/11/2012 8:09:22 AM EDT
[#29]
Anyone else notice that DanTSX's Avatar keeps near perfect time with the song? 
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Posted: 3/11/2012 8:12:37 AM EDT
[#30]
On the subject of obesity, I was in the Netherlands a few years ago. When I returned home, the first thing that came to my mind after getting off the plane. Where did all
the slim, pretty young women go. |
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Posted: 3/11/2012 8:17:14 AM EDT
[#31]
Quoted:
I don't even think that Americans know what American culture is. I'm not sure that there is one. My lady is originally from Brazil (she's been here since she was 11, so she's more American than Brazilian). Every concept of America that her family members have (provided by exported pop culture, of course) is either wrong or applies only to a very narrow segment of society. I'm inclined to say there is no "American" culture. The fact is that we are much too diverse to have any one particular, identifiable culture to rise to prominence over the rest. If there's one thing that links true Americans, it's a sense of individualism, but I wouldn't go much further than that. |
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Posted: 3/11/2012 9:07:29 AM EDT
[#32]
Quoted:
Anyone else notice that DanTSX's Avatar keeps near perfect time with the song? Yes! 
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Posted: 3/11/2012 9:10:20 AM EDT
[#33]
Quoted:
Most of the Germans I've worked with over the years thought we were ultra violent and looking for an excuse to shoot people. They had the cowboy image also. If a German said that in front of me I'd, at a minimum, beat his ass. Most likely I'd bust a cap in his ass... |
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Posted: 3/11/2012 9:20:52 AM EDT
[#34]
I travel quite a bit for work and I've also heard the obesity comment. It's not just from Europeans, it's from other areas of the world as well, particularly Asia.
It used to be that you could pick out Americans overseas by shorts and sneakers. Nowadays it's the waistline. Quoted:
Growing up in France, I expected cowboys and Tom Sawyer. The strip malls and undereducated people had me very disappoint. I've never been outside the big cities or resort towns in France (e.g. Paris, Chamonix) so I often wondered if there are strip malls in the "suburbs" in Europe. My hometown in PA, which used to be a small town of 5,000 people, now has a Walmart so I can officially say that we have been overrun and we're no longer a small town. 
N.B. While we Americans can be close-minded about certain things, we don't talk like Tom Sawyer. A lot of lines in Tom Sawyer and Huck Finn would get you banned from ARF. 
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Posted: 3/11/2012 9:29:54 AM EDT
[#35]
My dad told me back in the 50s tourists would come through NE Oklahoma and ask where the tipis (tee pees) were.
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Posted: 3/11/2012 9:48:01 AM EDT
[#36]
Quoted:
I've been living and traveling through SE Asia and the Middle East for about 17 years. Generally most uneducated folks believe we are completely obsessed with sex and violence. I suppose they base this belief on our chief cultural export which is modern pop culture (movies, music, and TV). Basically they believe it's like Baywatch, porn, rap music video and Cops all rolled into one. It's not? 
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Posted: 3/11/2012 10:05:52 AM EDT
[#37]
I went to college with a woman from England. She was very disappointed to find out Kansas wasn't like the old west movies. She was expecting Dodge City, gun fighters and horses.
I later worked briefly with a Austrian engineer. He impression was that Americans were slow and lazy and would never be able to find work in Austrian factories. Which I found hilarious at the time since we were working 48 to 50 hours a week at the time in +100 heat. The Austrian factory produced X number of units a week and that was it, regardless of demand. They worked Mon-Thur and half a day Fri. |
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Posted: 3/11/2012 10:10:44 AM EDT
[#38]
They think we're all fat, lazy, and soft.
They're about 80% right. |
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Posted: 3/11/2012 10:11:57 AM EDT
[#39]
Quoted: Quoted: Most of the Germans I've worked with over the years thought we were ultra violent and looking for an excuse to shoot people. They had the cowboy image also. For grins let's consider what the average American thinks of Germans. My dad was in Berlin/Germany during the occupation and spoke fondly of his time there and of Germans in general. I had a very favorable opinion of Germans and still do after working with them. I had a misconstrued idea that German women were hairy and that sexual watersports was a fairly routine thing for most sexually active Germans. Most of them denied it when called on it but I think they were lying. Those freaky Germans. |
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Posted: 3/11/2012 10:16:52 AM EDT
[#40]
Quoted: Quoted: Most of the Germans I've worked with over the years thought we were ultra violent and looking for an excuse to shoot people. They had the cowboy image also. For grins let's consider what the average American thinks of Germans. I love Germany! Best time of my life that I'll never remember. Hope to take the family there in a few years. |
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Posted: 3/11/2012 10:18:30 AM EDT
[#41]
Wait till you drag one to a specific state. I've seen British tourists vaporlock when they found out that they cannot drive all over Texas in a three day stay.
They actually bought plane tickets and reserved a car without ever looking at a basic map. It was funny as hell. They wanted to see San Antonio, Dallas and Abilene in one day. 
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Posted: 3/11/2012 10:20:43 AM EDT
[#42]
Almost everyone in this thread is talking about how jealous the rest of the world is. Honestly guys, I've traveled all over the world and most people are too wrapped up in their own business to care. Those that do look outward usually are very appreciative of US culture and think its really neat. Our media likes to act like the whole world hates us but I've encountered really friendly people almost everywhere I've gone. Almost everyone wants to know the American and have a party. I don't detect jealousy, I detect a wistful desire to join our culture.
I don't want to attack my fellow arfcom buds, but just how many of you are speaking from experience here? Foreign war vets excepted of course. |
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Posted: 3/11/2012 10:21:05 AM EDT
[#43]
I bet most of you don't realize that the cultural image America projects is one of Jersey Shore, Paris Hilton, 16 and Pregnant, and the rest of the MTV reality gag.
Such a public image might at least partially explain some of the prejudices that non-Americans feel towards you. Just sayin'. 
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Posted: 3/11/2012 10:23:27 AM EDT
[#44]
A cross between Baywatch, Dynasty and The Warriors.
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Posted: 3/11/2012 10:24:48 AM EDT
[#45]
Everyone in Spain seems to think the US is one big NYC.
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Posted: 3/11/2012 10:25:38 AM EDT
[#46]
Quoted:
Anyone else notice that DanTSX's Avatar keeps near perfect time with the song? That's what I noticed before stopping the video...
Then I wanted to block the avatar because I hate moving avatars. I find them too distracting. Usually just scroll past those responses. |
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Posted: 3/11/2012 10:26:04 AM EDT
[#47]
They think its all money and bitches.
Posted Via AR15.Com Mobile |
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Posted: 3/11/2012 10:36:38 AM EDT
[#48]
Quoted: I went to college with a woman from England. She was very disappointed to find out Kansas wasn't like the old west movies. She was expecting Dodge City, gun fighters and horses. Same here, of course I was overseas in 82-82, the Italians, Spaniards some Brits and all the people from other countries I talked to thought Americans had gunfights at high noon in the middle of the street like in the cowboys/old western movies Some thought we were still like Davey Crockett and were 'weirded out" when I explained I hunted in my home state, listening to these people's views made me say WTF many times and the Lebanese just plain hated us when we did have the opportunity to talk to them Foreign countries, a nice place to visit for a week but I sure as hell don't want to live in them |
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Posted: 3/11/2012 10:53:07 AM EDT
[#49]
Quoted: Fatties and guns. you too |
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Posted: 3/11/2012 12:01:12 PM EDT
[#50]
Quoted: Quoted: Most of the Germans I've worked with over the years thought we were ultra violent and looking for an excuse to shoot people. They had the cowboy image also. If a German said that in front of me I'd, at a minimum, beat his ass. Most likely I'd bust a cap in his ass... I'd just ask him how many jews his relatives sent to the ovens. And then bust a cap in his ass. |
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