Americans Have No Culture

Dean wrote: I'm confused. Understandable I guess because I'm not getting the full story here. For example: I can't see that the one quote from him: "corrupt society" equates to the topic title of "Americans have no culture", or even to culture in general. However, since on first reading "Keep your sh*t to yourself" seems to be an aggressive and confrontational response then I guess there was more leading up to the exchange than simply that, and I assume the phrase "Americans have no culture" was uttered at some point in the overheard conversation.   - Yes, he'd made numerous negative remarks, and had done so in the past as well.   This included several comments about our 'corrupt society'.   What this guy really needs is a good pop in the nose.   It would improve matters immensely.  He's going to get his ass kicked someday.   All the better. American's tend to be quick on the defensive and intolerant of any criticism of their country, its people and, well... everything except their government really (but then only if you're essentially agreeing with whatever they are saying about the current administration). Americans are not unique in that respect, other nationals are also very defensive over any criticism of their native lands. That you would enter into a verbal confrontation over this does not surprise me, it's not something I (or most other Englishmen) would do, but then we are a self-deprecating nation and in the main we would agree with any critic, America is not and would not.   - I believe that about the English, and it's commendable.   The problem there is that though an immigrant might say "I hate English culture", which would be entirely tolerable, "The English have no culture (and are corrupt to boot)" is a different and far more ignorant observation.   It is something spoken by an adult man with the mind of a fifteen year-old, which is what I think we had here.

Yeah, I was a bit confused about what exactly the guy said. I assumed he subscribed to "Murica" stereotypes and that his definition of "culture" consisted mostly of interest (or disinterest, hehe) in European "high" art.


Edited by Polymorphia - May 23 2014 at 20:51

Atavachron wrote: Nogbad_The_Bad wrote: It's a pretty stupid statement but sounds like you need to work more on your anger issues. If something as trivial as that can get you hot and bothered maybe you should just back the f**k off.   Seriously who gives a flying F what someone else thinks. I've lived in the USA for 15 years, I'm a citizen, and have no plans to leave, but some yanks seriously get their panties in a bunch about mindless stuff. And yes I'm critical of my home country as well.   People have opinions, many of them mindless, grow a skin and live with it. I do need to work on my anger issues.   But at least I have a spine, a pair of balls to go with it, and can live with myself. "Who care s what someone else thinks" is such a tired old mindless attitude it no longer has any credibility.   Think up something new and get back to me.

Dear God, I just check still have a spine and my balls & I'm fine living with myself. Do you you have to prove your manhood to be comfortable in your own skin?

Since when did not caring what someone else thinks no longer have credibility? Guess I didn't get the memo. Why do I need anything new when the old stuff is still valid. Christ you just full of piss & vinegar aren't you?

I just returned from a two week trip to US and I would strongly disagree with such a statement based on my experience.  FWIW, I found the airport staff at American airports, including the busy O Hare and JFK, much more cheerful and friendly than the downright grumpy Heathrow.   Having lived my life in a third world country with a 'rich' heritage and culture, I place a lot more emphasis on those aspects of culture than certain kinds of fine cuisine or art forms which normal people may or may not like. 

Edited by rogerthat - May 23 2014 at 23:30

Anger = waste of time, energy and thought. 

Some people are just too stupid, too ignorant, too irrelevant, or too much a combination of these, to waste time, energy, and maybe even risking one's integrity, to prove them wrong.

The other day I was driving here in a major street when this moron in a pickup truck stops in the middle of everything, goes to the back of his truck, pulls out a gigantic confederate flag, stands it upright for all too see, and then gets into his car again. I felt the urge to just drive by and tell him something, maybe things I wouldn't write here because they would be politically incorrect, but then I said "what for? He is an ignorant with an attitude, he doesn't deserve my time, my energy, and on top of that, brave 'murican that he seems to think he is, he probably has one of 'em guns that are the banner of 'freedom' and goes all cowboy on me". And I drove on.

I say this because I've felt the urge to talk (or act) back to morons all the time, but morons are the way they are and they will never change.

The T wrote: Some people are just too stupid, too ignorant, too irrelevant, or too much a combination of these, to waste time, energy, and maybe even risking one's integrity, to prove them wrong. morons are the way they are and they will never change.

Quite the fact, sadly enough.
Oh, for the fool who stated Americans haven't got culture, he could've been a bit more diplomatic and say 'some folks' have no culture......

Edited by Tom Ozric - May 24 2014 at 01:38

^ That's the calm, rational response, and not at all what I was interested in.

^ Give us time.

Atavachron wrote: ^ That's the calm, rational response, and not at all what I was interested in.