Kevin Connolly's take on America
 

He has an interesting take on American culture, and indeed on Americans in general. I think he got remarkably close for only being here three years. Scratch the three years, he got remarkably close.

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humm, Seems like a sketchy impression. I wonder what he did the other 1094 days. :)

Reinforcing his initial impression.

Excellent, thanks Bruce.

I routinely read articles/ comments/ books written by Americans in Britain, and generally judge them fair and/or amusing (usually both, as with Bill Bryson).

Or sometimes just correct - grudgingly.
Paul Theroux's Kingdom By The Sea was about an England already disappearing when it was written (I was 10) so I had to take it in a historical context. And also accept it was not designed as a puff piece for tourism, but was a real experience. In that way I came to enjoy it, and accept the criticisms. I did bristle a bit initially. Like when outsiders criticise the Cellar because they're not fitting in :)

In fact it was at Theroux's recommendation that I read Cherry-Garrard's The Worst Journey in The World which is in my Top Ten and sparked a real interest in the Antarctic, so for that reason alone I'm so glad I read it.

I was thinking the stereotypical, British polite. Come on Keven, tell us how you really feel. It read like an old time silent black and white reel.

Yes, I am used to the American shoot from the hip and take no prisoners kind of journalism.After being here for three years, I would have expected something with a little more teeth in it.

That said, I do read UK articles and find them interesting. I am only referring to this article.

That was a nice piece. One of Pete's step-sisters married a self-styled expert on America travel writer from Britain who enjoys looking down his nose at Americans, it is nice to get a clear eyed view. To some extent we'll find what we want to find, but a real journalist can take off the filter.

I think it's because firstly he is writing for a British readership, and those unfamiliar with real American life will actually find it quite critical by our standards. And secondly he is not intending to criticise the country, but point out differences that the average Brit is unaware of.

Before I came here I had no understanding of the issues surrounding gun control, the role of religion in politics, American manners. Well, okay - I encountered Americans when I was waitressing but I thought then quite rude, only redeemed by their tips - it took me a while to realise we have different ideas of polite and they were behaving politely by their standards. And that in fact the opposite was true - I'm sure many Americans have been appalled by the lack of manners of our shop staff, while we consider them perfectly polite.

And after all, people can look down their nose at anyone.
We even have a specific word for them in this country.
Cunts.

:)

You were obviously disappointed by the lack of criticism, maybe hoping he would shore up criticisms of your own? C'mon skysidhe, tell us how you really feel. :haha:

I was looking for a real critique from experience instead of vague impressions, some borne of old stereotypes, like the possible reason for the tea party movement.

Come on! :P

and no, again, I wasn't looking for unwarranted criticism for criticism sake. I was looking for some revelation. sheesh I love America!
I think I could love a lot of other countries too, like Britain. I just don't mind the unvarnished truth. Like what SG said.

SEE! The unvarnished truth!

You'd definitely need a book for that Sky - if not a couple of volumes.
And I mean that to apply to any country.

Perhaps, you are right. Harold Stephens has spoiled me.

"...it would just be Britain with bigger portions and better weather."

I love it.

To bad that is such a rarity in our own journalism.

You're asking for the impossible, libraries have been written, since de Tocqueville, about what America is or isn't, and none are accurate or complete. Partially because it's a moving target.
What Connolly found, was a key trait to the American character, that is more telling than all the pissant criticisms compiled. You can criticize the tea baggers, but you know what, half the country disagrees with you, so is your criticism valid? The same for Connoly, would any criticisms from him be valid, if half or more of 300 million people disagree?

Ha! I just made the mistake of googling the cunt. Based on his website the USA is only one item of many he has contempt for.

I've learned a lot from you as well Sundae. The British contingent has helped me look at America differently.

Beautiful post. I agree completely. I have similar views about the Brit journalists. I follow the BBC on-line regularly and watch their evening news as well. I love my subscription to The Economist for their insightful views as it adds to the views of other commentators I enjoy.

The expression for this is "whistling past the graveyard". Dear Europe: we regret to inform you that endless criticism of the US will not actually help your financial crisis in any way. It turns out that having no aversion to paying taxes does not really lead to financial security. It's not working out for you, are we the first to point this out?

In fact a portion of the Ireland bailout money comes from the IMF, which means US taxpayers and capital is now heavily involved helping you get your sorry asses back into a responsible debt position.

It didn't work for them because their bankers/governments were lured by the promise of big returns and no risk, by the cocksuckers on wall street.

Wait, I apologize for the unintentional slight to cocksuckers.

I do believe they have their own wall street. Oh, that and Irelands promise to have their government back every loan 100% may have contributed to that countries own woes.

Their wall street, was buying derivatives from our wall street... dumb fucks.

i know, right? they can get so sniffy about everything. Yikes! Who was that curmudgeon who wrote for the op/ed pieces...some London guy...really HATES us...Gywnne Dyer. That's the guy.

funny - the local paper doesn't carry him anymore. Wonder if that's because Bush is no longer in????

Who are 'they'?

Everyone but you, Dear. :love:

Only the Europeans who trash talk us, Dana.

;)

They always know who THEY are.

Heh. In 2004, I made the big jump over the pond and visited your fair country. Mum and I visited a local pub near our hostel at King's Cross (yeah, I'm a cheap traveller - who needs a fancy hotel room when all I'm going to do in it is sleep?).

Anyway, after a fine supper of bangers and mash, washed down with a few pints and followed by a nice smoke INSIDE AN EATING ESTABLISHMENT (WOW! Awesome!), I took a fancy to the pub's big glass ashtrays which had the pub's large logo imprinted on it. Asked the waitress politely if I could buy one to take home with me.

She gave me an odd look and said she had to ask the manager.

???

She came back with a brand new ashtray, set it on the table and said, "The manager said you can have it for (I don't remember the actual price - it came to about $5 USD). But, you know, most people just steal them."

I suspect I gave her a much different impression of us Yanks, and for that I'm proud. We're not ALL ugly Merkins. :)

Yeah Glinda, now they think we're stupid for buying what other people get for nothing. :lol2:

Just kidding, you done good, I'd have done the same.

^ I was gonna say! "Stupid Americans just asked if they could buy our ashtray!" "Fucking cunts have too much money! Tell them it's a fiver and an additional pound if they want a bog roll."

Erm, hello?

The attitude would have been "American's are SO honest! Unlike our thieving regulars!!" Which I think is probably the reponse Glinda is trying to portray.

As before, I do have a little itch on this subject.
The vast majority of Brits (I cannot speak for all Europeans, but then I can't speak to most Europeans, given that English too widely spread for me to have to) are not anti-American. There are some journalists or bloggers who like to suggest we are, but as a Brit, living here, and living previously in a tourist part of London I refute that this is a widespread or general issue.

So where this chip on the shoulder comes from I don't know.
I've already said that personally I accept and even appreciate criticism as part of an outsider view, what I've read instead is that "they" are wrong and snooty and haven't got it right. No we haven't. I can't remember any time when non-Americans on this board have suggested that their country is all correct and never wrong. We all (and I include Americans in this) know there are many things we could change and many things that are wrong.

Of course, as this board is a global community, I can happily say that everyone criticises everything and there is no malice intended.
And therefore can people please refrain from making general comments about "they" and "them" unless they have a real quote. Unless that person is simply a complete arse you have met. I haven't met any arsehole Americans, but given the population, I figure there are plenty out there to meet. I sincerely hope I never will, and if I do that I'll never associate him/ her with all the amazing people I know here.

Lighten up, we weren't serious, just goofing with Glinda.
We love Brits, 'cause there, but for the grace of god, go we. :biglaugha

Very sorry for that post.
I let myself drink last night and some sort of hideous monster came out.

Somehow I managed to miss the beam in my own eye while trying to point out the mote in everyone elses.

So big apologies.

No problem, you may have been a mite serious, but not necessarily wrong.;)

Meh. I think the Ugly American is alive and doing far better than he/she should be. And it's embarrassing.

I mean, I've lived here all my life, and I'm regularly disgusted by the pinheaded, asshole-ish loserhood of so many of my countrymen, both at home and when I'm travelling.

I can't say if the waitress in my story was commenting on tourists or locals - and it doesn't really matter; I took her remarks to apply to just about anyone from whatever country. (But, we Merkins can be pretty damned self-important and oblivious, let's face it.)

Bottom line? People just generally suck. So I try hard not to suck, whenever possible. :)


P.S. What's a "bog roll?"

toilet paper roll.

bog = toilet

most cloesley equivalent to john on the offensive scale -a little crude but not really a bad word.

bogroll ....well you don't hve an equivalent slang term. TP is the closest, but, please.....

Brit slang is all about the bathroom and the nookie. 'Merkin slang is all money and murder. Eskimo slang is all snow. You go with what you know....