Anti-Americanism and Anti-Europeanism. - Page 2

Giovanni Wine · February 8, 2003, 15:54

Quote:

Coke?

You have a point here, but we Euros are open to "foreign" things, as long as it is good

Plus can you really call Coke a cultural achievment?

Saluti

Oerdin · February 8, 2003, 15:55

Sandman: Like the EU ignoring a quarter million muslims being executed helped in any way. Face it man. Europe was afraid to do what was necisary to stop the whole sale slaughter of people based upon their religion and something similar probably would have happened in Kosovo if Clinton hadn't forced the issue.

DinoDoc · February 8, 2003, 15:56

Quote:

Originally posted by Sandman
Does 'cookie dough' actually exist?

I would have sworn that cookies existed in the UK. Silly me.

Quote:

Plus can you really call Coke a cultural achievment?

It pales in comparison to the contribution that the Italians gave us: the pizza.

Drake Tungsten · February 8, 2003, 15:58

Oerdin: Don't forget that Germany aided the Croatians as much as the US aided the Muslims. More Muslims would've been slaughtered if the US hadn't stepped in...

Oerdin · February 8, 2003, 15:59

Quote:

Originally posted by Big Crunch
No they aren't, and no we aren't.

SD: Is that why Macdonald's is the most popular restaurant (in terms of numbers of people eatting there) in France, Germany, and Italy? It's only #2 in the U.K. behind Burger King but then again BK is another American fast food joint.

So do you want your Royal with or without cheese?

Imran Siddiqui · February 8, 2003, 16:01

Quote:

It's a left right thing. Leftists in Europe attack the U.S. since it is the most visable symbol of the political right while American rightists attack Europe for being the most visable symbol of the left.

Most people don't give a **** except to make the odd joke.

Spot on!

It's mostly a political thing, which is why you have such an proliferation of this sentiment on Poly.

Most Americans and Europeans actually like the other side and believe, that despite our minor difference, we are still on the same side.

Europe

USA

Giovanni Wine · February 8, 2003, 16:05

Oerdin: The reason of that is that because unlike in the Us most European countries do not have only chain restaurants, but have mostly famili owned restaurant, off course McDonald since it's in many places (mostly turistic places BTW ), all the many McDonalds added together do more than what just a single family owned restaurant, for as good it may be, can do.

DinoDoc:

Saluti

Oerdin · February 8, 2003, 16:15

I can't speak for places like the mid-west or the south but here in California most of the restaurants are family owned. Sure, all the chains are here too but the majority are single propriator type establishments.

Giovanni Wine · February 8, 2003, 16:22

Quote:

Originally posted by Oerdin
I can't speak for places like the mid-west or the south but here in California most of the restaurants are family owned. Sure, all the chains are here too but the majority are single propriator type establishments.

uhmm.. that's another good reason for me to go visit California sooner or later

Saluti

Dauphin · February 8, 2003, 16:25

Quote:

Originally posted by Oerdin

SD: Is that why Macdonald's is the most popular restaurant (in terms of numbers of people eatting there) in France, Germany, and Italy? It's only #2 in the U.K. behind Burger King but then again BK is another American fast food joint.

So do you want your Royal with or without cheese?

Having the largest consumer base proves nothing. What share of the market do they have? 5, 10, 20 per cent of sales? What percentage of total restaurants?

Drake Tungsten · February 8, 2003, 16:28

Burger King is British, BTW, albeit American styled.

Dauphin · February 8, 2003, 16:31

Quote:

Originally posted by Drake Tungsten
Burger King is British, BTW, albeit American styled.

It was founded in Miami. Florida.

Drake Tungsten · February 8, 2003, 16:33

It's owned by a British company though. Can't remember which one.

Bugs ****ing Bunny · February 8, 2003, 16:39

Quote:

Originally posted by Oerdin

SD: Is that why Macdonald's is the most popular restaurant (in terms of numbers of people eatting there) in France, Germany, and Italy? It's only #2 in the U.K. behind Burger King but then again BK is another American fast food joint.

Because the concept of the "big brand" eating chain is American. What's more, there are still far more traditional British chippies than there are of all burger outlets combined.

Oerdin · February 8, 2003, 16:40

Quote:

Originally posted by Big Crunch
Having the largest consumer base proves nothing. What share of the market do they have? 5, 10, 20 per cent of sales? What percentage of total restaurants?

I'm afraid I don't have those figures, but, someone is eatting all those burgers though.

BTW Didn't a British outfit buy up BK a few years back?

Kramerman · February 8, 2003, 17:05

Quote:

Originally posted by Imran Siddiqui

Quote:

It's a left right thing. Leftists in Europe attack the U.S. since it is the most visable symbol of the political right while American rightists attack Europe for being the most visable symbol of the left.

Most people don't give a **** except to make the odd joke.

Spot on!

It's mostly a political thing, which is why you have such an proliferation of this sentiment on Poly.

Most Americans and Europeans actually like the other side and believe, that despite our minor difference, we are still on the same side.

Europe

USA

yup

Oerdin · February 8, 2003, 17:08

Wow, so many people are agreeing with me.

Bereta_Eder · February 8, 2003, 17:09

One other mistake that americanski tend to make here in Poly and get excited is this:

We (those not amerikanski) will talk about movies and music that EVERYONE here is likely to know.

This is by far american or british music (since that's what global mass media distribution is).

And you think that that's all there is.

But that's your mistake.

i.e. in Greece 80% of music listened to is Greek.

Yet I'll not talk here about that 80% that everybody listens to but the other 20% or even less that citizens of Poly are most likely to know.

I think, maybe I am mistaken myself, that many Americans get enthousiastic from hearing us talk only about american films and music here (some of which are excellent) and get a rather biased impression of what goes on in each European country.

Cheers.

Kramerman · February 8, 2003, 17:09

Quote:

Originally posted by Oerdin
Wow, so many people are agreeing with me.

I agree

Rogan Josh · February 8, 2003, 17:33

Quote:

Originally posted by Drake Tungsten
It's owned by a British company though. Can't remember which one.

Grand Metropolitan (although this is not something the Brits should be pround of)

Most American 'culture' is stolen from Europe and repackaged in a rather crass and vulgar 'fast-food' style, before being shipped back to us. Compare US pizza with Italian pizza and you will see what I mean. The problem is that most Americans are brainwashed by US society into believing that their culture is really their own.

The only original US culture is 'black' culture (I am not sure of the correct expression, but you know what I mean) which definitely is a purely US acheivement.

And Californian wines aren't bad....

Oerdin · February 8, 2003, 17:41

Quote:

Originally posted by paiktis22
One other mistake that americanski tend to make here in Poly and get excited is this:...

Paiki: You know your going to be assimulated like the rest of them

Welcome to the collective.

Bereta_Eder · February 8, 2003, 17:45

Ah... illusion is a great painkiller, ain't it?

faded glory · February 8, 2003, 17:55

who gives a rats ass? Its all political. Left v Right. Europe and USA will always be best of friends. The tension now is pretty small when considering a range of issue's in the last 20 years. They will like us when they become more like us politically, or vice versa.

Thorgal · February 8, 2003, 17:58

Quote:

Is that why Macdonald's is the most popular restaurant (in terms of numbers of people eatting there) in France, Germany, and Italy?

The Mcdonnals´s, Burger Kings... are only considered a very cheap and quick form to eat. As it is logical, nobody in Europe is going to eat to a McDonald by gastronomic, but by practical reasons.

faded glory · February 8, 2003, 18:06

DanS · February 8, 2003, 18:27

" Yet I'll not talk here about that 80% that everybody listens to but the other 20% or even less that citizens of Poly are most likely to know."

Of the top 10 movies in Greece, not one is Greek and at least 6 are American...

http://www.boxofficemojo.com/intl/greece/2003/05.htm

One thing I don't like is the sometimes obsessive focus on the US in the non-US media. We don't have as much influence on the rest of the world as many non-Americans believe, which in turn creates a sense among many that they need to protect what is theirs. This creates a lot of misguided anti-Americanism.

Bereta_Eder · February 8, 2003, 18:46

That's because Greek cinema for the most part has to do with state funded "intellectual" pieces of garbage that only the director, his mom and his girlfriend will see.
Don't get me started with that.

Still there is a spectacular but marginal revival whereas the vast, unenlightened folks will dash to go see th last Hollywood crap

Drake Tungsten · February 8, 2003, 18:54

How come no one ever talks about Greek cultural imperialism? We don't want your damn wedding movies, you wannabe Turks!

DanS · February 8, 2003, 18:58

Alas, even their weddings are now American creations.

That's because Greek cinema for the most part has to do with state funded "intellectual" pieces of garbage that only the director, his mom and his girlfriend will see.

OK, but why not watch more French movies then?

Ramo · February 8, 2003, 18:59

Whoever coined words like "Anti-Americanism" ought to be shot.