[Budoka]

Americans eat 50 times more than Indians in their lifetimes. Just an interesting fact. They also dump somewhere near 14million tones per year. Amazing what you learn in Geog....
Given those facts what do you think of the perceived necessity to create huge amounts of grain etc. through GM technology for those poor little countries like Africa?

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It's better to burn out than fade away�

[PandaX52]

we're fat americans!

I admit it!

it's our culture to CONSUME!

it's what we do....

[This message has been edited by PandaX52 (edited March 08, 2001).]

[Visionary]

This assault is not aimed at you Budoka.

I�m going to try to be nice about all this. I�m really tired of hearing about how horrible Americans are. Seriously, almost every history class I ever had somehow in someway reminds me of how my society is a bunch of raving pigs. You can find flaws in every country� we just stand out more because America is just considered �the prime power� in the world. Half the world would take our lofty position if given the chance.

Well here is the highlight for us� Americans happen to be the best survivalists. I mean look at us; we�ve developed into a country that�s lived through plagues, war, ect. ect. We were the travelers of the world. We explored everything. We might be pigs but we have an instinct for survival like none other. We are the country that stands for freedom � and if consuming is that � we are all guilty.

Now I�m not trying to take down anyone else. I�m speaking up just because I�m annoyed with all this degradation of my lovely country.

Land of the FREE!

-Visionary

[PandaX52]

*clap* *clap* *clap* *buuuurp*

[FatPenguin]

quote:

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Originally posted by Budoka:
...... through GM technology for those poor little countries like Africa?

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just thought i would point that Africa is most certainly not a 'poor little country'

[Count Zero]

And India could afford to build a nuke, but can't afford to feed its people. The world's a shitty place, deal with it.

[Budoka]

Visionary

This is nothing personal, just a fact I was told - I actually have a few American friends and they certainly don�t seem all consuming stereo types. I can understand how you might be sick of hearing negative things about the place of your birth (same for people all over the world - including me, here in the UK). The Americans have done and continue to do incredibly immoral things to others (going there in the first place and killing all the locals for a start), but it would be a little more than slightly hypocritical for me to judge (being British). The Brits were some of the first American settlers (popular view, discounting the ancient peoples already living there) and the British empire used to do awful things all over the world (killing off aboriginal of Australia for instance), but that is the country as it was and NOT as it is and those who did it all long dead along with their distorted view of the world (those who are not, should be!). You therefore have to treat crimes on an �individual� basis. You should be proud of your country (but only for its achievements) but at the same time have healthy opposition to those things that were truly awful.

�we just stand out more because America is just considered �the prime power� in the world. Half the world would take our lofty position if given the chance.�

This is the falsehood most Europeans criticise. America may be very powerful and a great influence to the rest of the world, but it seems disproportionate in comparison to the actuality.

America is BIG, Europe is BIGGER!

America would be truly powerful if it were to accept that diversity and individualism is greater than a blanket force. In Europe we struggle to be �one� at the same time is being �many.�

�Americans happen to be the best survivalists. I mean look at us; we�ve developed into a country that�s lived through plagues, war, ect. ect. We were the travelers of the world. We explored everything. We might be pigs but we have an instinct for survival like none other...�

Sorry mate, but here I again have to disagree. America has alot of experience of war (civil as well as international), some of plagues (don�t know much about this tho.) but other countries (modern civilisations being FAR older) have seen a great deal more. During the first world war Britain involved itself for moral reasons and basically faced it on our own, in the second it was again a moral that we fought for and America helped to a massive degree, but it should not have been for the British America fought (and since never let us forget about), but the same moral. Britain was absolutely devastated by the war and a massive proportion of our small population perished in combat with the Nazis, and we continue to fight as allies to this day - so we too know war. Do we also have an instinct for survival? (get out your atlas and look at the size of the uk in comparison to America, then look how close we were to the Nazis - pretty damned close!).
It is the arrogance (not a personal crit ) in your aforementioned comment which the rest of the world disagrees with

�We were the travelers of the world.�
Go look at a history book mate!

�we have an instinct for survival like none other�

Need I say more. (maybe!). It is just an uneducated and self important view typical of the stereotype you try to disassociate yourself with.

I really don�t want to start flame wars here, I stopped studying history four years ago and only did it to a basic level - and this is just my personal opinion. I also hope to visit America some day. I hope when I arrive the immature views I have seen so far are not only remedied but completely dispelled (damn that sounds bad ).


I�m happy to justify any of this or correct my views if I am convinced otherwise.

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It's better to burn out than fade away�

[[Shizo]]

Visionary: plaque? 2/3 all peoples were dead from plaque in Europe, what's with america and plaque that i missed out. Wars? Hmmmmmmm.. Dont remember any that really threatened USA. Civil war you meant?

[Budoka]

FatP.

'just thought i would point that Africa is most certainly not a 'poor little country''

I know, that's the point. (read above)

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It's better to burn out than fade away�

[above]

countries suck
your welcome

[This message has been edited by above (edited March 08, 2001).]

[Giant Hamster]

This isnt my usual aproach, but since it seems to be the only one that seems fitting at the moment.

wanna know why the USA is cooler than you?

because I said so. and with that attitude, things may be immoral, but we still own your ass. get over it and live with it. we rule. you suck.

sorry bout that.

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-JameZ the Giant Hamster-

The Hamster Alliance
AIM: Gianthmstr
Multimedia Producer/designer/all of the above.,overall guru :)...and music music music! weee!!

[Bradford]

The USA has such a large and diverse group of people it is impossible to make a single judgement on it as a whole.

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[email protected]
icq:3704871

[GreenPeach]

"must...eat...more...frenchfries."

-Mullins

[Ragnarok]

Visionary, don't you think that any country that has survived for around 2000 years has more "surviving instinct" than any that has 400 years?

Also, stop your nationalism. Nationalism has caused Kosovo's war, the Israel situation, the terrorism in europe. Hopefully you don't have many borders and any enemy lies manly on another continent.

[-- Transcendent --]

quote:

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Originally posted by Budoka:
Americans eat 50 times more than Indians in their lifetimes. Just an interesting fact.

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Americans just live about 16.6 days more than indians. 3 meals a day ... that amounts to 50 meals more than indians.

We eat 50 times more.

(sarcasm) amazing.

[Visionary]

Hey I was just trying to pep America here...
buddy Budoka here just took it a step farther than I had in mind

-- Transcendent -- - that was great

[FatPenguin]

quote:

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Originally posted by -- Transcendent --:
Americans just live about 16.6 days more than indians. 3 meals a day ... that amounts to 50 meals more than indians.

We eat 50 times more.

(sarcasm) amazing.

---

actually this is almost true in some cases. many indian babies living in poverty will die only having eaten 1 or 2 meals, which of course brings the average down significantly. so while there certainly are many fat americans, it's not like they eat 50 steaks a day or anything

[Budoka]

Bradford

�The USA has such a large and diverse group of people it is impossible to make a single judgement on it as a whole.�

Yeah, I know. Its the attitude I attack.

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Giant Hamster

�because I said so. and with that attitude, things may be immoral, but we still own your ass. get over it and live with it. we rule. you suck.�

hmmm... arrogance isn�t the word i�m looking for.... nor self-importance..... maybe just... WHATEVER.

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It's better to burn out than fade away�

[Nex]

Budoka: i agree to what you said- nothing to add there


Visionary: I understand that the anti american talk must get on your nerves, but you must understand that the "america's the greatest" talk gets on ours-
its not a personal thing.

[Count Zero]

Part of the fun of living in Finland.
When I tell someone where I come from, they go "Huh? Where the fuck is that?" The only (pre)misconception ppl have of my country is that we have polar bears roaming the streets.

[GreenPeach]

Ragnorok is right about nationalism. Really, think about it for one entire minute.

People have always been proud and violent in the name of 'their' land, but up until now, when technology gives even the smallest country the power to ruin us all, the damage has been local. Now, no one can afford to be so arrogant. Don't teach your children that shit. It's global whether you like it or not.

I'm off the topic, sorry.

GreenPeach



[This message has been edited by GreenPeach (edited March 09, 2001).]

[Budoka]

Socar MYLES

'England: Everybody's a pompous snob; everybody comes from London. (I don't know how many times I've had this conversation:
Person: You have a bit of an accent. Where are you from?
Me: England.
Person: Where in England? London?
Me: Well, yes....'

There's a satirical show on BBC radio 4 called "The Now Show" and it had a rough guide to In-ger-land for hollywood directors, which went something like;

"Guide to Lun-don, In-ger-land: Arrive at Heathrow, greet all passing gentlemen and ladies with distinguished smile and a tip of bowler hat. Turn left and arrive at Buckingham palace, watch the guard perform quaint marches and applaud gently. Turn right and arrive at Houses of Parliament, walk for twenty or so minutes and find yourself in the heat of the In-ger-lish countryside, greet the quaint peasant folk as they go about their simple lives...." - pretty good, huh

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It's better to burn out than fade away�

[Affected]

I think the real reason the US get so much flak is that, beside being powerful, you seem to have a nasty habit of blowing your own horn... If you can't see how calling your president the leader of the free world might invite people to poke a few holes in your national self-esteem, I guess you haven't quite thought the whole thing through.

Disclaimer: 'you' in this context is a generalization, that, while unfair, is how the media tends to portray things over here. And a lot of 'you' DO seem to really think your president is the leader of all mankind, if those of you on the internet can be thought to be a fair representation of the general US populace.

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Affected

Democracy is a lie

http://affected.xs.mw

[Jezebel]

Die, thread, die.

*grumbles angrily*

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Take off your clothes. It's OK - I'm an artist.

http://div.dyndns.org/FOO
http://div.dyndns.org/beth/photography

[GreenPeach]

What are you trying to say Jez?

[Nex]

lol@Socar MYLES

[Socar MYLES]

Finland? Hm...I think the biggest (mis?)conception I have about Finland is that everybody drinks lots of booze.... I've never been there, but I was told by many Swedish people that they used to go on the ferry over to Finland to get sloshed.

Socar's list of countries & misconceptions:

Sweden: Porno capital of the world; all the women are 5'9 gorgeous blondes.
Canada: Snows all year round; everyone says 'eh' and pronounces 'about' as 'aboot'.
Scotland: Men wear kilts all the time; 50% of the population are sheep farmers.
England: Everybody's a pompous snob; everybody comes from London. (I don't know how many times I've had this conversation:
Person: You have a bit of an accent. Where are you from?
Me: England.
Person: Where in England? London?
Me: Well, yes....
America: Everyone is fat; everybody talks like a Southern good ole boy.
Australia: They do things with sheep that ain't farming....
Germany: Everyone drinks beer & eats sauerkraut.
India: Cows walk around the streets & eat people's food.
Japan: People bow after every sentence & commit suicide if embarrassed.
France: They eat cats! And horses! And dogs! And...sheep! And centipedes! And then...they have sex.
China: Everyone's a martial artist.
Italy: Pizza in the mornin', pizza in the evenin', pizza at supper-time.... Oh, and everyone's a Mafioso.
Greece: Er...well...a certain sexual practice named after the country....
Russia: World fur-hat capital.
Austria: Everybody listens to classical music.

All right. This list was intended solely for joke purposes. I do not really believe any of these things. Just trying to lighten up the thread...

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My old man's a dustman
'E wears a dustman's 'at
'E wears gorblimey trousers...
AAAAAAAAND....
'E lives in a council flat!

Hey, I made up a joke:
Q: Why don't goths go to McDonald's?
A: They might get a HAPPY MEAL!

Heh, heh, heh.

[Giant Hamster]

BudokaAs If! Chea!



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-JameZ the Giant Hamster-

The Hamster Alliance
AIM: Gianthmstr
Multimedia Producer/designer/all of the above.,overall guru :)...and music music music! weee!!

[Count Zero]

Nah, that's actually true.
Partially anyway.

[Cooter]

Socar hit the nail right dead center on the head...

But we are still better 'cause

A) We've actually set foot on the moon.
B) Charles Shultz was American
C) Calvin & Hobbes - American
D) The first step of "Americanization World Domination Action Plan 22:4-3" is nearing completion, every country gets thier own McDonald's, every street corner, every city, every block the world over.
E) You invented that little Satan Worshippin' Antichrist bein' hooligan called Harry Potter...