Thread: Ten Things Americans Don't Know About America

I disagree with you, Eric! I think that criticism is the highest form of patriotism! Do not mistake patriotism, for nationalism. To blindly salute our flag and blab about how we are "the greatest country in the world" is Nationalism. Not to mention, just stupid. America DOES have some problems and it is high time we start accepting that, because in order to make things better we must first acknowledge that we have problems in the first place!

Just yesterday some idiot American made a "joke" to me about how "people are standing in line in Moscow to buy bread." When I corrected him and told him that actually Moscow has a higher standard of living than New York City, he got angry and called me a commie! These kinds of ignorant attitudes are really not helping our image.

Originally Posted by Deborski

Just yesterday some idiot American made a "joke" to me about how "people are standing in line in Moscow to buy bread." When I corrected him and told him that actually Moscow has a higher standard of living than New York City, he got angry and called me a commie! These kinds of ignorant attitudes are really not helping our image.

Did you ask him to specify the time first? Coz it HAS happened there

Originally Posted by Eric C.

Did you ask him to specify the time first? Coz it HAS happened there

He was talking about NOW -_-

And, sure it happened, but what western media also forgets to note is that people were given rationing coupons (талёны) - which I also received when I lived there...

Originally Posted by Deborski

He was talking about NOW -_-

And, sure it happened, but what western media also forgets to note is that people were given rationing coupons (талёны) - which I also received when I lived there...

But they only made things worse coz you had to have both money and those coupons to buy anything; you couldn't buy stuff just for bills; that was truly insane!

Originally Posted by Eric C.

But they only made things worse coz you had to have both money and those coupons to buy anything; you couldn't buy stuff just for bills; that was truly insane!

Eric, huh? I don't follow your reasoning at all.
Personally I think the rationing coupons were a huge help to people who otherwise had no money and no way to eat.
Maybe the US government should give талёны to all of our unemployed people? No, that would never happen in 'Merca.

Originally Posted by Deborski

I disagree with you, Eric! I think that criticism is the highest form of patriotism! Do not mistake patriotism, for nationalism. To blindly salute our flag and blab about how we are "the greatest country in the world" is Nationalism. Not to mention, just stupid. America DOES have some problems and it is high time we start accepting that, because in order to make things better we must first acknowledge that we have problems in the first place!.

I would accept one mentioning some real problems and possible solutions for them, but that "you're nothing so shut up" attitude isn't what I'm really fond of.

Originally Posted by Eric C.

I would accept one mentioning some real problems and possible solutions for them, but that "you're nothing so shut up" attitude isn't what I'm really fond of.

Funny, that wasn't what I got from the article at all! I saw a more-than-deserved smack-down of arrogant yet ignorant people who have deserved it for a long, long time!

By the way, Deborah, that American guy we met in Cyprus didn't know what a water pipe (hookah) is.

Do you mean that he heard the terms "hookah" or "nargile" or "water pipe" and he didn't know what kind of object was described by the terms?

Or do you mean that he saw a hookah and thought it was a marijuana bong, rather than a pipe that's generally used for tobacco?

Or do you mean that he saw a hookah and thought it was a vase for flowers (i.e., he had no idea that it was used for smoking something or other)?

These are three very different levels of ignorance!

Originally Posted by Throbert McGee

Do you mean that he heard the terms "hookah" or "nargile" or "water pipe" and he didn't know what kind of object was described by the terms?

Or do you mean that he saw a hookah and thought it was a marijuana bong, rather than a pipe that's generally used for tobacco?

Or do you mean that he saw a hookah and thought it was a vase for flowers (i.e., he had no idea that it was used for smoking something or other)?

These are three very different levels of ignorance!

I know what a hookah is, but only because I eat middle eastern food. I also know what a bong is, and that it is not the same thing as a hookah.
But I wouldn't assume someone is completely ignorant just because they don't know what a hookah is.

The kind of ignorance that really bothers me, is the kind like I mentioned previously, the guy who thinks people in Moscow, Russia are STILL standing in line to buy bread. That is a clear sign of someone who has been propagandized their entire life, and not only doesn't QUESTION the propaganda, but insists even when confronted with REALITY, that the propaganda is STILL TRUE.

Eric C.

Indeed, талоны сould come in various flavours.
I remember only "талоны на водку" (it was 1991 or 1992, I think).
People had to provide both талон and cash to buy vodka, and queues were long. Even citizens who did not drink alcohol stood in those queues. Just for the case
They were saying that vodka is a new "universal currency". I always stared with amazement at them while passing by (queues were outside the shop).

More attractive alternative was to sell Талоны to comrades who needed more than a couple of bottles per month.

Originally Posted by maxmixiv

Eric C.

Indeed, талоны сould come in various flavours.
I remember only "талоны на водку" (it was 1991 or 1992, I think).
People had to provide both талон and cash to buy vodka, and queues were long. Even citizens who did not drink alcohol stood in those queues. Just for the case
They were saying that vodka is a new "universal currency". I always stared with amazement at them while passing by (queues were outside the shop).

More attractive alternative was to sell Талоны to comrades who needed more than a couple of bottles per month.

LOL Maybe I should have sold mine? I bought most of my vodka at the little kiosks near the metro exits (black market I guess) and didn't even use my талони >.<

Reading these posts I see there is no shortage for arguments concerning foreign affairs. Personally, I don't think the article was all that great. A lot of good observations were brought up, but in the end, that is all they are. Having one person speak on behalf of an entire country regarding cultural upbringing, traditions, and social perspective is ridiculous. I guess that is why the article posted was just a random person's blog entry instead of in a prestigious journal. Many of the "facts" presented were skewed which causes more bias than needed. At the same time, I would say many of the author's observations hold some merit of truth. These same observations could be applied to other countries besides the United States. It is hard to discern whether the author is actually trying to address certain flaws about the U.S. or pointing out those flaws with the attempt to "fit in" or "gain approval" from other cultures. Of course, this is just my opinion from the "sheltered" life that I supposedly live in.

Also, I think the word ignorance is sometimes mistaken for stupidity. Stupidity being the lack of intelligence/reason while ignorance refers to simply being unaware of something which I think was the case with the Hookah incident stated above. However, As the saying goes: "ignorance is bliss" -->(Not knowing is better than knowing and worrying).

Matthew.T
Золотые слова! Меньше знаешь - крепче спишь!

That article was highly amusing. Welcome to reality America.

I have always found it quite funny, a a bit contradictory, how my people from the former Soviet Union, on the one hand, criticize the USA all the time and pretty much for everything, and on the other hand, love to make friends with Asmericans, watch American movies, wear American base-ball hats, play baseball, eat at Subway and McDonalds - and dream about winning a green card, or moving to the USA!

My dear Russian-speaking friends, when roads and bathrooms (туалеты) in the post-Soviet countries become as good as in the USA, or better, then feel free to criticize the IQ of Americans.

Originally Posted by Yulia65

I have always found it quite funny, a a bit contradictory, how my people from the former Soviet Union, on the one hand, criticize the USA all the time and pretty much for everything, and on the other hand, love to make friends with Asmericans, watch American movies, wear American base-ball hats, play baseball, eat at Subway and McDonalds - and dream about winning a green card, or moving to the USA!

My dear Russian-speaking friends, when roads and bathrooms (туалеты) in the post-Soviet countries become as good as in the USA, or better, then feel free to criticize the IQ of Americans.

Actually most of the Russians were standing up for America, while I (an American citizen) was criticizing it LOL ))) Paul G. being the obvious exception ))

Originally Posted by Yulia65

I have always found it quite funny, a a bit contradictory, how my people from the former Soviet Union, on the one hand, criticize the USA all the time and pretty much for everything, and on the other hand, love to make friends with Asmericans, watch American movies, wear American base-ball hats, play baseball, eat at Subway and McDonalds - and dream about winning a green card, or moving to the USA!

My dear Russian-speaking friends, when roads and bathrooms (туалеты) in the post-Soviet countries become as good as in the USA, or better, then feel free to criticize the IQ of Americans.

I can't say for sure, maybe I live some extremely weird way but when I make friends I consider the person as being the person her/himself but not an average US (or other country) person or a representative of the US (or other country) government. I can have different attitude to different persons from the same country. I even can have different attitude to different issues of the same government.

And just for your information there is still life in Russia: people live here, go to work, love each other and rise children, and do other "life things". I can assure you that not all Russians stand in line to win a green card. It can be hard to understand but there are some people who prefer to make things better in the place where they are living than just leave it for another "better life".

I also would like to ask those of you who think that all Americans are illiterate hill-billies:

- Are all your General Chat buddies here in MR from the USA illiterate and unable to think?
(Then why would they even bother to learn Russian? some of them speak two or nore foreign languages!)

- If they are, then why do you keep chatting with these miserable Americans who are way down below your IQ? And why is it that American members at MR get more attention and feedback to their posts and QQ than, say, people from Iraq, or India, or Kazakhstan?

- If hey are not, then why sweep generalizations and reduce all to the same level ?

I find many Americans ( just as many Russians) - in real life and here, at MR, - quite intelligent, well-educated and versatile people who reflect THE BEST of their nations and cultures. I also find some, on both sides, who, regretfully, reflect THE WORST (arrogance, chauvinism, foul language, absence of respect for those around etc.) whether they realize it or not.

So let us be wise in recognizing the strengths of each other, and merciful to the weaknesses of each other.
Treat others as you would like to be treated.

Originally Posted by Yulia65

I also would like to ask those of you who think that all Americans are illiterate hill-billies:

- Are all your General Chat buddies here in MR from the USA illiterate and unable to think?
(Then why would they even bother to learn Russian? some of them speak two or nore foreign languages!)

- If they are, then why do you keep chatting with these miserable Americans who are way down below your IQ? And why is it that American members at MR get more attention and feedback to their posts and QQ than, say, people from Iraq, or India, or Kazakhstan?

- If hey are not, then why sweep generalizations and reduce all to the same level ?

I find many Americans ( just as many Russians) - in real life and here, at MR, - quite intelligent, well-educated and versatile people who reflect THE BEST of their nations and cultures. I also find some, on both sides, who, regretfully, reflect THE WORST (arrogance, chauvinism, foul language, absence of respect for those around etc.) whether they realize it or not.

So let us be wise in recognizing the strengths of each other, and merciful to the weaknesses of each other.
Treat others as you would like to be treated.

Yulia, lighten up ))))) It was meant to be a humorous rant! None of the Russians was ripping on the USA (except Pasha, but we all know about him). But frankly, America *is* doing some really stupid things, and as a citizen of the US I feel it's my patriotic duty to speak out against it. Syria for example. Big mistake.

America *is* doing some really stupid things

Exactly. So many things, that they all have not be covered in South Park episodes so far.
America is magnificient without doubt, but I can see some disproportion between "things for body" and "things for soul".
We could discuss Russia's problems in an adjacent thread, but it's dark era in my country so there will be no balsam neither for Russian body nor for Russian soul. And yes, bathrooms (туалеты) are worse than ever.

Pleasant people live everywhere
But still... no, never heard of anybody willing to leave for America. Only for Germany, Finland, Korea, France, Canada, Australia, couple of other countries and "to somewhere" (как в КВНовской шутке - "Бразильский бы выучил только за то, что надо ж куда-нибудь ехать")