How I feel now, after yesterday's racist.

[GomiGirl]

Interesting that you brought this up again. I guess what surprises me is that the assumption is that all people know the geography of the US as well as Americans do. I know basic stuff of course - east, west, texas etc etc but then again that is probably more than the average (and I stress average) american knows of the geography of my country. /good natured joshing.

[ttjereth]

[quote="GomiGirl"]Interesting that you brought this up again. I guess what surprises me is that the assumption is that all people know the geography of the US as well as Americans do. I know basic stuff of course - east, west, texas etc etc but then again that is probably more than the average (and I stress average) american knows of the geography of my country. ]

Most Americans probably do assume people will have a vague idea of at least the state. After having lived in Japan for so long, I no longer do, but I don't think it's trying to be arrogant or anything.

Myself, I figure if I say Philadelphia (which is maybe worse, since it's just the city and not the state) and they don't know that's in the U.S., then I can always add "in the U.S."

I admittedly don't have a great knowledge of, say, Australian geography (And Americans in general are notoriously bad at geography. I actually had to correct a community college geography professor about Japan!), but I do know where some places are (places where friends are from, like Gold Coast and Melbourne and such) and whereas I might not be able to immediately place them on a map I do know things about even more places that might prove useful/interesting to know when interacting with a person from those places (e.g. Sydney=City, Darwin=I can't even imagine what it's like living there ).

I don't know how it is in other western countries, but I know the U.S. in particular tends to be very divided along geographical lines. You can see a good example by looking at maps denoting what parties states tend to vote for in elections and such.

Like here at Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_state_vs._blue_state_divide

I just think a lot of Americans tend to strongly identify with their state/city of origin, even more than with their country of origin, although I know there are fairly ingrained differences in Britain as well, with people from say London, not wanting to be mistaken for being from some of the more northerly areas and such.

[GuyJean]

[quote="GomiGirl"].. that is probably more than the average (and I stress average) american knows of the geography of my country. ]We do. It looks like this:



GJ

[American Oyaji]

I think also the fact is that the U.S. is so freaking large that the states themselves are sometimes the size of small nations.

[ttjereth]

We do. It looks like this:


GJ

I fixed it to make it more "authentic"

[ttjereth]

I think also the fact is that the U.S. is so freaking large that the states themselves are sometimes the size of small nations.

Yeah, but so is Australia

[ttjereth]

BTW searching for Kangaroo led to this:




http://blogtown.portlandmercury.com/2006/09/24-week/#a011957

[Jack]

Most people avoid provoking me. Which is a good thing.

And I was thinking about the word 'nigger'. I was watching "Cars" and there was a character called mater as in tow-mater and maybe nigger is similar. Maybe an ignorant southerner who couldn't pronounce English properly mangled the word Negro and it morphed in into nigger in the same way that the long 'O' sound becomes 'ER' down south a lot.

Just thinking.

AO, I thought the first American slaves came from the African country of Niger and hence "nigger". Am I wrong?

[ttjereth]

AO, I thought the first American slaves came from the African country of Niger and hence "nigger". Am I wrong?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nigger#Etymology_and_history

[Iraira]

AO, I thought the first American slaves came from the African country of Niger and hence "nigger". Am I wrong?

Niger became a country in August, 1960. And the term for Nigerian people is "Nigerois "....this is unless Wiki lied to me...


oh, the word "nigger" has been around much longer than 1960.

(damn, ttjereth is fast on the web search)

[ttjereth]

Niger became a country in August, 1960. And the term for Nigerian people is "Nigerois "....this is unless Wiki lied to me...


oh, the word "nigger" has been around much longer than 1960.

(damn, ttjereth is fast on the web search)

Part of my job

Posting here is mostly avoiding my job, but hey...

[Adhesive]

[quote="GomiGirl"]Interesting that you brought this up again. I guess what surprises me is that the assumption is that all people know the geography of the US as well as Americans do. I know basic stuff of course - east, west, texas etc etc but then again that is probably more than the average (and I stress average) american knows of the geography of my country. ]

Well, I think if the assumption is being made it's because it is often correct. I've never met a foreigner who didn't know of California. They may not know exactly where it is, but they have knowledge of certain things that are, rightly or wrongly, attributed to it. Then again, maybe you are only assuming there is an assumption? I really doubt that most American's mentioning that they are from Utah expect you to know where Utah is...they simply identify themselves that way. if you really have run into an American who was shocked that you didn't know where their shit-hole of a hometown was, my condolences.

Personally, I ask foreigners where they are from specifically not because I think it matters or that I may know of their home town, but because I'm genuinely interested in finding out.

Also, I associate myself with my state, and sometimes city, because there are vast cultural differences between them. The difference between the San Francisco Bay area community and some community in Alabama is probably similar, if not greater than the difference between New Zealand and Australia. We are a democratic republic, with a lot of power reserved to the states, so it doesn't make sense to simply say, I'm from the U.S.

[jingai]

Most Americans probably do assume people will have a vague idea of at least the state. After having lived in Japan for so long, I no longer do, but I don't think it's trying to be arrogant or anything.

Myself, I figure if I say Philadelphia (which is maybe worse, since it's just the city and not the state) and they don't know that's in the U.S., then I can always add "in the U.S."

Philadelphia- Japanese people either reply Tom Hanks, Rocky, or cream cheese, and if they're not even that worldly you can always say it's between NY and DC, which they will have heard of : )

[zoznack]

New here. Hello.

Chan - Sounds like a bad train trip. You did the right thing, by walking away...no pride lost, no shame...because the alternative, if you had decided to fight him, might be a trip to the hospital, jail or both.

That said, however, from your very detailed description of the scumbag, it sounds like he was a totally pussy, regardless of his appearance. I find this a lot among Japanese men (and I'm generalizing here-this is based on my personal experiences and observations); they like to look cool and scary, and talk loud, but when push comes to shove and there is a possibility for a throw down, they will retreat. I can predict it just as I can tell you the sun will come up tomorrow morning. It's different if you're facing a group of them; the punks tend to get real brave when they know that their buddies will pile on.

In the end, you should be secure in knowing that most punks like the one you met, are complete and utter pussies. I'm not suggesting that you take them on, but just for future reference...the psychology of young J-men...when the choice is fight or flight, they will flee, every time.

[emperor]

Philadelphia- Japanese people either reply Tom Hanks, Rocky, or cream cheese, and if they're not even that worldly you can always say it's between NY and DC, which they will have heard of : )

there are probably plenty of Americans who wouldn't remember to think of
Joseph William "Smokin' Joe" Frazier

[ttjereth]

Philadelphia- Japanese people either reply Tom Hanks, Rocky, or cream cheese, and if they're not even that worldly you can always say it's between NY and DC, which they will have heard of : )

Pretty much.

I've never gotten Tom Hanks, but older people know rocky and everyone knows the stupid cheese (which is made all the better because I can't stand it).

When they ask where Philadelphia is I usually just say "below New York".

Occasionally I'll get someone who whips out a more rare reference (like the orchestra, sixth sense, Will Smith, Iverson or really obscure stuff like the name of some jazz club I'd never even heard of).

[ttjereth]

there are probably plenty of Americans who wouldn't remember to think of
Joseph William "Smokin' Joe" Frazier

Most Philadelphians would. Philly hasn't had a lot of recent big stars, so even people who weren't really all that famous still get touted in the city.

Hell one of the local radio stations still called themselves the "home of The Hooters" up until a few years ago, and who the hell remembers them

For being the 6th largest city in the U.S. Philly is alot like small towns in how they lay claim to anyone famous who comes from there.

"Kevin Bacon, yeah, he's one of ours"

[GuyJean]

:lol: Nice one!

GJ

[Charles]

Content deleted due to falling out of sequence due to moderator fiddling. Reposted later in the thread.

[ttjereth]

Now if I'd posted that, it would have been removed by the FG Pro-Ozzie Moderator's Faction. So I am entitled to one free pass.

They look kind of emo, is Australia infected with them too?

When we went back to the states for a visit last March, my wife would spontaneously burst into laughter as we walked around the mall and she saw all the young guys wearing girl's jeans and makeup

Oh and btw, I don't think there'd be any reason to remove GuyJean's image or my "recreation" since they're poking fun at (stereotypical) American views of Australia rather than at Australians?

[Greji]

[quote="GomiGirl"]I know basic stuff of course - east, west, texas etc etc but then again that is probably more than the average (and I stress average) american knows of the geography of my country. ]

You're quite right. Who the hell would want to know how to find out where your home town is anyway? Alice Springs isn't even on most international maps!

[Charles]

MOD EDIT: NO YOU ARE NOT ENTITLED TO ONE FREE PASS!!!

It seems counterproductive to protect the poor defenseless widdle ozzies from Thought Criminals like me, in a thread where everyone is mocking them. There is a time and place for everything, and this is it.

MOD EDIT - Zero tolerance Charles. You have been told repeatedly.

[American Oyaji]

It seems counterproductive to protect the poor defenseless widdle ozzies from Thought Criminals like me, in a thread where everyone is mocking them. There is a time and place for everything, and this is it.

MOD EDIT - Zero tolerance Charles. You have been told repeatedly.

[Samurai_Jerk]

As for what SJ said about Dominicans. He's right. I try to tell them that no matter what they say they are (they claim they are Hispanic) their wide nose, brown skin and thick lips brands them as "black" in the eyes of white America

AO,

Have you seen the PBS series Black in Latin America?

The episode on Haiti and The DR explains why Dominicans don't think they are black. It's pretty interesting.

[American Oyaji]

I didn't see it, but I heard pieces of it...(I withdrew from the world after watchimg my neighbor die recently)

[Coligny]

I didn't see it, but I heard pieces of it...(I withdrew from the world after watchimg my neighbor die recently)

Usually it's better for everybody if those who survive try to still act like if they were alive...

[sirwanksalot]

AO,

Have you seen the PBS series Black in Latin America?

The episode on Haiti and The DR explains why Dominicans don't think they are black. It's pretty interesting.

I'e been watching that series. It's very enlightening.

[Screwed-down Hairdo]

I didn't see it, but I heard pieces of it...(I withdrew from the world after watchimg my neighbor die recently)

Do they show that sort of stuff on the telly nowadays?

[Samurai_Jerk]

I didn't see it, but I heard pieces of it...(I withdrew from the world after watchimg my neighbor die recently)

Sorry to hear that but if you're withdrawing from the world shouldn't that include shutting yourself in at home and watching TV.

[cstaylor]

Sorry to hear that but if you're withdrawing from the world shouldn't that include shutting yourself in at home and watching TV.

Unless AO had something to do with his neighbor's untimely demise...