When I travel to Europe I just say I'm Canadian. Then I get sympathy for having to live next to the US.
Ah, the Lisa Simpson stratergy
I tell them I'm an American when asked.
People are fundamentally the same regardless of where they live, and anyone that judges anyone else based on their nationality is being an ignorant jackass. I handle it as such with the appropriate tact for the situation -- most people are cool.
The ones that aren't are morons and not worth wasting time on.
Swede here, I worked at an American/Global company's internal IT helpdesk for 4,5 years, and I can't say that I have ever met an american I have actually disliked, at worst I felt ambivalent, but for the most part I just felt generally positive towards them.
Worst users I have worked with based on nationallity tend to be people from UK, it was not unusual for them to act slightly superior to us lowly IT servants, don't get me wrong, most Brits I have met are great guys, but when working with some of them, they seem to be stuck in a strict classist society and be very much aware of that we were below them, which does not work in Sweden.
Very similar experience with Americans. I've spent about 6 months in the country over my life so far. Lovely folks generally. We get loads of American tourists here and they're all lovely.
Obviously there's the occasional cunt but sure everywhere has those.
That has been my (limited) experience as well. For me as an extremely introverted European, visiting US was quite a culture shock.
All the American people I’ve met have been very kind, easy to approach and hold a conversation with, and ready to help out a stranger in need. Honestly the last part was what stick out with me the most. Here in my country, I have no doubt that if I collapsed on the street, there would be 10 people stepping over my body before someone decided to check if I needed help.
I'm going to Spain again next year, and mostly what I've read is that the Brits are the least liked tourists there, and I'm so thrilled. I mean, I've never had issues anywhere because I know how to behave myself and don't really travel with the intent to party, but it'll be nice not to to be starting from so far behind this time.
Spain is one of the cheaper holiday destinations for brits. A lot of our worst holidaymakers are making their holidays in Spain.
We truly are cunts as a group when given a warm evening and decently priced alcohol.
I have had similar experiences on a personal basis, but my American colleagues have such an unhealthy attitude about work that working alongside them becomes very trying. No hate to them - they're trapped in an awful employment system that leaves them little choice.
The protestant work ethic is one hell of a drug. It was eye opening to learn just how much more vacation and time off European coworkers had. It would make me jealous when I needed a response from them on something but they were on holiday yet again. The joke at the office was that nothing could get done in the summer because all the Europeans were on vacation.
Personally, I would much prefer the European system, and it seems that's something young Americans generally agree on. If people prefer to make more money/pay less in taxes but have less time off , then let them. Just give us a choice.
Hmm I've worked several customer service jobs (I am american) and always felt like the non-americans were nicer to me.
Aww. All the Swedes I have met have been somewhat preternaturally nice people with somehow a better grasp of English than me.
This made me remember a call I had with a American VIP at the company I worked at, he had put me on speaker as I helped him with his laptop while he was working at home, and his wife broke in at the end of the call complementing my English.
They were both surprised to learn that I was Swedish since I have managed to train myself to loose much of the classic Swedish accent when speaking English.
German here.
I dislike the US government and their imperialist politics. The focus on being a "superpower" just makes you look like super-assholes.
I like the people from the US. They are generally honest and friendly, albeit a bit loud. Your concept of private space and mine differ greatly.
I would have agreed with you 20 years ago but seeing the current alternative to the US being team America, superpower of assholes. I kind of want to go back in time.
Americans being loud and shouting private stuff in the cafeteria for everyone to hear is a thing, but what would life be without these comedic moments?
So, you're essentially saying that Europeans have the ability to distinguish reality from fantasy?
Fantasy?
It's based on the daily life of Florida Man. Just like Far Cry 5 used real life footage from Montana.
Honestly, it almost feels like the main characters are more normal than the common Floridian.
because it's hilarious, letting go of social rules for once in your life in a space where you can hurt no one but some bits in your RAM. haha handheld minigun go brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr
Just saying there are places you can pay to fire a mini gun.
Not at cops, but it's pretty fun.
Yes... in the US.
That's kind-of the point. Europeans get to play at being a slightly-exaggerated version of an American, living out their fantasies about letting go of all their inhibitions. But, they wouldn't want to actually live in a place like that. Americans can put down the game, but then have to live in a place where an average Joe can go pay to fire a mini gun, then go to Wal*Mart and buy an AR-15 just for funsies.
How is this a political meme?
Everything is politics. Everything.
I vote for this guy
Are we really back to this, essentially, video games cause violence.
Untrue
You could argue it's the opposite -- video games provide a healthy outlet for aggression. When I'm angry at the state of the world I'll go shoot space rhinos and space bugs and hivemind robots. I'll roleplay a feel good setting where I'm the indisputable good guy with all the power to kill the indisputable bad guy.
And sometimes I just want to see shit blow up and break
The majority of us eat hamburgers, watch NFL, fly to NY and know the American pop culture better than the history of our own countries.
Is this majority in the room with us right now?
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLj-th81xdZwitfvsxpNIB_AZ9UF6eAMPt&si=mhmOdqpdtJQFC18H
Basically this but in video game format.
