At least no harm done by such inane theories, the thread on health care and social system in Norway (and Europe) compared to the US gets me steamed especially the lies and misconceptions spouted there.
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Lies, misconceptions or pure, unadulterated ignorance, because we cannot have perspectives challenged by facts?
I remain in a state of stupefied awe at the colossal, magisterial all-embracing ignorance some US posters appear to have about Europe (history, politics, social conditions, culture, not to mention what they consider to be "communism" or "socialism" or "social democracy"), and no amount of gentle correction or recital of facts will serve to persuade them otherwise.
Inane or imbecilic theories are something else again; I am astounded that they still have some currency and traction, given the knowledge currently (widely) available on such matters.
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You're wasting your time, both of you. I've lived in America for a few decades now and I still can't get over certain Americanism, if that's a word, or some of the stuff they say. Sure, I'm a naturalized citizen now, but I still find some stuff incredibly stupid they think is clever.
I am not going into the PRSI material, but while in the US
1) I was asked if France is in Paris, or Paris is in France.
2) I was asked why Italians still speak the medieval Latin language instead of having their own language.
3) I was told that Hawaii is North of Alaska. While this revelation obviously shook my world and almost got me into the flat earth conspiracy, I found out that the woman that told me so was convinced of her theory due to those maps that cut Alaska and put it in a square below Hawaii, similar to this one:
I am not going into the PRSI material, but while in the US
1) I was asked if France is in Paris, or Paris is in France.
2) I was asked why Italians still speak the medieval Latin language instead of having their own language.
3) I was told that Hawaii is North of Alaska. While this revelation obviously shook my world and almost got me into the flat earth conspiracy, I found out that the woman that told me so was convinced of her theory due to those maps that cut Alaska and put it in a square below Hawaii, similar to this one:
The US doesn't have a monopoly on stupid people, although we certainly have our fair share
They exist in every country around the world
As people say in Italy, the mother of the idiots is always pregnant.
Yes, true. Idiots and ignorant people are everywhere. However, the level of ignorance in the US is inexcusable considering that we are the richest country in the world, and considering how much money we spend on education. Sometimes I am shocked by what I hear from people with Master's degrees.
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I am not going into the PRSI material, but while in the US
1) I was asked if France is in Paris, or Paris is in France.
2) I was asked why Italians still speak the medieval Latin language instead of having their own language.
3) I was told that Hawaii is North of Alaska. While this revelation obviously shook my world and almost got me into the flat earth conspiracy, I found out that the woman that told me so was convinced of her theory due to those maps that cut Alaska and put it in a square below Hawaii, similar to this one:
On my first election observation mission, in Bosnia, in autumn 1997, just under two years after the Dayton Accords had been signed, immediately before the election, we received several days of intensive briefings.
A Finnish colonel delivered an excellent and succinct briefing on security issues, and the audience, mostly Brits, some Irish, a good many Americans and a few from other nationalities, listened closely.
During the Q&A, an American - who opened by introducing himself as "a full professor of political science" (my heart sank, and my colleagues, mostly military and police along with some local authority employees who were experts in running elections, grinned at me, teasing, "is this what you will be like when you reach that position?") proceeded to ask, "Is it okay to go after a landmine with a screwdriver at an angle of 45 degrees?"
A silence descended on the room, a silence with the quality of thick, muffled, velvet. A sort of candle-snuffing, total, enveloping silence. The sound of silence brought about by bated breath, of well over a hundred trained military men (I was one of the very few women present) trying desperately hard to control an insane desire to burst out in guffaws of wild, uninhibited, uncouth, yelping, lunatic laughter.
I could see that the Finnish colonel was also struggling, struggling with language and with temper, both. His English was fluent and flawless, but it was clear he had difficulty digesting what had been asked, and was evidently questioning himself as to whether he had heard correctly, or had translated what he thought he had heard, correctly.
His reply was cold and precise when he had mastered himself sufficiently to deliver it.
When the next coffee break was announced, an older lady from the American group - with a cane - walked slowly over to us, where we, the Brits and Irish, sat together. We waited as she - an assistant DA from Alaska, as I later learned - approached. Without preamble, she announced - and her voice and accent together were wonderful, a low resonant rumble flavoured by scepticism - "Well, guys, I guess we won the prize for dumbest question of the day today, just like we won the prize for dumbest question of the day, yesterday."
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Ah! That is somewhat charming and horrible at the same time. I think that one of the issues (which is also a strength when needed) of the US is that there is no middle, average way. It's either 1 or 0. I can assure you that I found some of the most impressive people I've ever met, including teachers at different levels (K-12, College, University). At the same time, I found appalling individuals that have absolutely no clue on what they do or think, and to my surprise this ignorance is not linked to their education level. I met teachers that are completely obnoxious and oblivious, if not directly ignorant.
You could be deaf and make them out. It's the wanker flapping about like he's on speed. No offense. Italians aren't the only hand gesture culture.Well, if you go by decibel level you can spot Italians from miles away
At least the Irish, based on my experiencing coming across true Irish people, are rather reserved when they drink. Be it keeping to themselves, or passed out on a park bench.
Well, if you go by decibel level you can spot Italians from miles away
From what I have seen (or heard), the volume control dial has also been mislaid on occasion by voluble Spaniards.
Of course you would. Speaking of oddities, I can't be the only person who read the title of the "eating out" thread and thought hieveryone had stopped by to regale us with his latest feats in life and conquests, right?No, but we claim the Master level
Oh good lord you're right. I've known two Spaniards in life. Both brothers. Nice people. Many years ago. Reserved until they were a bit excited. Boisterous as a freight train running through your living room. And had this weird habit of dancing to flamenco music in public when there was no music to be heard. Often when there was an attractive woman nearby. Undergrad years if my memory isn't too bad. There's a specific term of catching a woman's attention. Parroting, I think. I wasn't friends with them but I'd often witness the antics they got up to. They were there for a year on a year abroad term.
I wasn't sure if my mind was in the gutter but it's also a term most people under 70 have heard in their life and it goes back to the second world war... I still find his probiotic thread funny. I don't think anyone figured out why he was advised to consume probiotics. He'd be better off taking mild laxatives. Everyone knows big shot lawyers or whatever he did do lines of cocaine each day and anyone with some medical knowledge knows that cocaine is a anticholinergic. Fancy talk for your stools will be rock hard. Clearly I'm going to feel bad if his absence is the result of impaction.
Yeah. Feel bad. That's it.
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Can you post the link to the thread? I feel like to pulling a few hairs out today. Thanks.
*Shudder* thank the gods it wasn't.
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Here you go, sorry you are so masochist.
https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/50th-anniversary-of-the-apollo-11-landing.2189947/
Here is my post you can find the response afterwards.
https://forums.macrumors.com/thread...pollo-11-landing.2189947/page-3#post-27619603
Being bald is not so bad...
But, it could have been such an interesting thread.
And, no, I suppose neither of you were alone in your.........thoughts.
But, others on these fora can also give loud voice to curious threads and thoughts.
Amazing.
You learn something new every day.
This, I didn't know.
Oh my goodness. That was impressive for all the wrong reasons!Here you go, sorry you are so masochist.
https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/50th-anniversary-of-the-apollo-11-landing.2189947/
Here is my post you can find the response afterwards.
https://forums.macrumors.com/thread...pollo-11-landing.2189947/page-3#post-27619603
Being bald is not so bad...
The most uncomfortable part about traveling is the restrooms/bathroom of the airplane. Gosh why do they make them so tiny?
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New stats report states US online grocery orders will exceed $100B/year by 2025 if not sooner, and major nations will be trailing and not far behind. Have to admit the world is getting weirder because the normal customs are being pushed out. From a green point of view, this is very good.
I spend a lot of time on the road. I talk to a lot of people, conduct interviews, gather information, observe people, visit out of the way places, all related to my job. Been doing it for 30 years. I have spent time in places I shouldn't have been or didn't fit in, talked to people from all walks of life. I have really enjoyed being welcomed into the homes of people from all different types of cultures. I am really fascinated to see how other people live. Tasted ethnic food, enjoyed southern hospitality, seen up close the gang culture of East LA. I have learned and experienced a lot. And I can find all this right here in the good ol' US of A. I even visited a place called Car Henge (Look it up). Whenever I travel I like to visit the local restaurants, see the local sites. I've spent time in cities with millions, and towns with a few hundred or less.
What I have noticed is some people have never been anywhere. I mean they have never left their home town. I have talked to people who have never ventured more that 50 miles from their home. Ever. I have met people from the midwest that have never seen or tasted an avocado. I talked to people who had no idea what a Tesla was. I talked to a girl who dreamed of going to the beach.
For many their opinions of other places and countries sometimes comes from TV or movies. Many have no interest in knowing what's going on around them and could not tell you who the VP of the United States was let alone where the Eiffel Tower was located.
I guess you could call it ignorance, but to some it was bliss. They had no desire to understand what else was out there. They were happy in their own little world.
What I have noticed is some people have never been anywhere. I mean they have never left their home town. I have talked to people who have never ventured more that 50 miles from their home. Ever. I have met people from the midwest that have never seen or tasted an avocado. I talked to people who had no idea what a Tesla was. I talked to a girl who dreamed of going to the beach.
For many their opinions of other places and countries sometimes comes from TV or movies. Many have no interest in knowing what's going on around them and could not tell you who the VP of the United States was let alone where the Eiffel Tower was located.
I guess you could call it ignorance, but to some it was bliss. They had no desire to understand what else was out there. They were happy in their own little world.