The Cellar - An American Place? - Page 5

limey · 07-31-2008, 03:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DanaC

Y'know, I really don't understand what is so difficult to accept about a community which began as a Philedelphia affair and then grew into a wider community with members from far flung places, but the largest portion of which are still in America, being an American board. That doesn't mean it is exclusively an American board. It merely means that the dominant culture is that of America. This is not a bad thing. I do not believe members like myself, who post here from other countries, feel like they are any less a part of the community than the American members are.

London is a cosmopolitan city and there are people of every culture and background, cheek to jowl and living as citizens. It is still, fundamentally, an English city. An English city which has become more than that, a world city.

This is an American board, but it is an American board which has become more than that, a world board. It is both.

What she said.
As far as I can tell in this thread none of us non-US citizens have objected to the American flavour of this board, or said we feel excluded. It is simply a description, in the same way that another board I frequent is definitely a British board, because the majority of the content is contributed by a particular nationality/culture.

lookout123 · 07-31-2008, 04:13 PM

I'm deeply offended that you would see this as an american board. i call you a manc tart to make you feel at home afterall.

Undertoad · 07-31-2008, 04:16 PM

Quote:

AG online users right now:

United States of America (4)
Canada (4)

Awwk, that's too Canadian. Those northerners are a problem.

HungLikeJesus · 07-31-2008, 04:18 PM

What kind of beer is that in the tip mug? That should answer the question.

DanaC · 07-31-2008, 04:33 PM

Well it sure as hell doesn't look cloudy and warm..

Aliantha · 07-31-2008, 04:36 PM

I think limey put it best. The culture is American on this board regardless of how welcoming some members are.

It doesn't matter though. I don't know why some Americans are so upset at the assertion. Why does it matter?

Aliantha · 07-31-2008, 04:37 PM

It looks like a fourex, but that'd make it NZ nowdays.

Undertoad · 07-31-2008, 04:47 PM

It was actually a Sam Adams variety that I found I didn't like.

marjoj77 · 07-31-2008, 05:07 PM

I agree with SundaeGirl, DanaC and Limey. This board is an American board from my point of view but it's not a bad thing at all.

I haven't seen or read anything that would have bothered me because it is "too American" or anything like that.

Even though there are users from many other countries too, I don't think there would be nearly as much discussion of some local events of those countries compared to the things happening in the US. Maybe Australiand and Brits and some others could do that, but not so many other nationalities.

For example, I have no idea how many writers/lurkers from Finland keep coming here, but probably the discussion wouldn't be overwhelmingly active if I started a thread about some things happening here.

But I visit some Finnish forums where I can discuss about those things, or keep lurking there too and just read the discussion of the more active writers...

Undertoad · 07-31-2008, 07:07 PM

From my point of view, it's nothing less than thrilling that the Cellar becomes more and more international. In its first 8 years of operation, it was a local phone call to reach, and so we were guaranteed Philly people and nothing but Philly people. People would leave the Cellar because they moved away!

TheMercenary · 07-31-2008, 07:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by marjoj77

I agree with SundaeGirl, DanaC and Limey. This board is an American board from my point of view but it's not a bad thing at all.

I haven't seen or read anything that would have bothered me because it is "too American" or anything like that.

Even though there are users from many other countries too, I don't think there would be nearly as much discussion of some local events of those countries compared to the things happening in the US. Maybe Australiand and Brits and some others could do that, but not so many other nationalities.

For example, I have no idea how many writers/lurkers from Finland keep coming here, but probably the discussion wouldn't be overwhelmingly active if I started a thread about some things happening here.

But I visit some Finnish forums where I can discuss about those things, or keep lurking there too and just read the discussion of the more active writers...

Well tell us something from a Finish point of view that you would consider to be a prevailing view among your country men... I mean besides we all suck or how bad the US is, something interesting.

classicman · 07-31-2008, 07:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by marjoj77

I don't think there would be nearly as much discussion of some local events of those countries compared to the things happening in the US.

Give it a shot - I'd love to know whats going on there and I'm sure I'm not the only one.

lookout123 · 07-31-2008, 08:19 PM

Quote:

I don't think there would be nearly as much discussion of some local events of those countries compared to the things happening in the US.

but but but, that's cuz our stuff is actually important. being american and all.

monster · 07-31-2008, 10:03 PM

I was at a PTO meeting a few months ago, and -as usual- they were moaning that we are "too white". We're a magnet school, so our demographics differ from the neighborhood the school is in. Which is a pretty white area. As usual we debate why/how ..........the more culturally diverse sections of the catchment area are over an hour's schoolbus ride away.....
and at the last moment of the debate, a black mom and former chair of the PTO (who resigned mid-term) pipes up (paraphrased): You ain't ever gonna get equality in the school until you really address the equity issues. Y'all say you want more "minorities", but you keep running it the white way. You're all so polite with whose turn it is to speak and not getting mad with each other. That's not our way. We get mad and in your face and you won't let us do that. That's not how we do it and why we feel alienated.

I got her point. I didn't realise before that moment that there were different ways of doing these things. She wasn't bitter, she didn't expect any change and ahe still is a part of it and apparently enjoys it, but it has hit a nerve for me....
but pretty much the rest of the PTO thought she was hallucinating because they know they have no skin color issues. And they don't. They just don't have any friends who have a different skin color to set them straight on what it is and how it feels to be black. or brown. or coffee. or caramel.... or green........

but the point being, because I was in the majority and was very used to the way thins run, it never occurred to me that anyone could perceive the setup as being biased. But it was. That understood, the mom didn't want us to change it, she just wanted us to realize that it was like a foreign language sometimes.

And I think that's all we non-Americans want. We don't want to change the board, we' don't even need a nod to the fact that you know we're not on the same page. We love how it is, but it is an American board and you guys just can't see that because you are American.

xoxoxoBruce · 07-31-2008, 10:28 PM

Sure, turn the meeting into a Gansta Ho slapdown, to make them feel more welcome.

07-31-2008, 04:13 PM	#62
lookout123 changed his status to single Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Right behind you. No, the other side. Posts: 10,308	I'm deeply offended that you would see this as an american board. i call you a manc tart to make you feel at home afterall. __________________ Getting knocked down is no sin, it's not getting back up that's the sin

07-31-2008, 04:18 PM	#64
HungLikeJesus Only looks like a disaster tourist Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: above 7,000 feet Posts: 7,208	What kind of beer is that in the tip mug? That should answer the question. __________________ Keep Your Bodies Off My Lawn SteveDallas's Random Thread Picker.

07-31-2008, 04:36 PM	#66
Aliantha trying hard to be a better person Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Brisbane, Australia Posts: 16,493	I think limey put it best. The culture is American on this board regardless of how welcoming some members are. It doesn't matter though. I don't know why some Americans are so upset at the assertion. Why does it matter? __________________ Kind words are the music of the world. F. W. Faber

07-31-2008, 04:37 PM	#67
Aliantha trying hard to be a better person Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Brisbane, Australia Posts: 16,493	It looks like a fourex, but that'd make it NZ nowdays. __________________ Kind words are the music of the world. F. W. Faber

07-31-2008, 05:07 PM	#69
marjoj77 Layperson Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Finland Posts: 13	I agree with SundaeGirl, DanaC and Limey. This board is an American board from my point of view but it's not a bad thing at all. I haven't seen or read anything that would have bothered me because it is "too American" or anything like that. Even though there are users from many other countries too, I don't think there would be nearly as much discussion of some local events of those countries compared to the things happening in the US. Maybe Australiand and Brits and some others could do that, but not so many other nationalities. For example, I have no idea how many writers/lurkers from Finland keep coming here, but probably the discussion wouldn't be overwhelmingly active if I started a thread about some things happening here. But I visit some Finnish forums where I can discuss about those things, or keep lurking there too and just read the discussion of the more active writers... __________________ ... but maybe I'm only a figment of my own imagination.

07-31-2008, 04:33 PM	#65
DanaC We have to go back, Kate! Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Yorkshire Posts: 25,964	Well it sure as hell doesn't look cloudy and warm..

07-31-2008, 04:47 PM	#68
Undertoad Radical Centrist Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Cottage of Prussia Posts: 31,423	It was actually a Sam Adams variety that I found I didn't like.

07-31-2008, 07:07 PM	#70
Undertoad Radical Centrist Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Cottage of Prussia Posts: 31,423	From my point of view, it's nothing less than thrilling that the Cellar becomes more and more international. In its first 8 years of operation, it was a local phone call to reach, and so we were guaranteed Philly people and nothing but Philly people. People would leave the Cellar because they moved away!

07-31-2008, 10:03 PM	#74
monster I hear them call the tide Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Perpetual Chaos Posts: 30,852	I was at a PTO meeting a few months ago, and -as usual- they were moaning that we are "too white". We're a magnet school, so our demographics differ from the neighborhood the school is in. Which is a pretty white area. As usual we debate why/how ..........the more culturally diverse sections of the catchment area are over an hour's schoolbus ride away..... and at the last moment of the debate, a black mom and former chair of the PTO (who resigned mid-term) pipes up (paraphrased): You ain't ever gonna get equality in the school until you really address the equity issues. Y'all say you want more "minorities", but you keep running it the white way. You're all so polite with whose turn it is to speak and not getting mad with each other. That's not our way. We get mad and in your face and you won't let us do that. That's not how we do it and why we feel alienated. I got her point. I didn't realise before that moment that there were different ways of doing these things. She wasn't bitter, she didn't expect any change and ahe still is a part of it and apparently enjoys it, but it has hit a nerve for me.... but pretty much the rest of the PTO thought she was hallucinating because they know they have no skin color issues. And they don't. They just don't have any friends who have a different skin color to set them straight on what it is and how it feels to be black. or brown. or coffee. or caramel.... or green........ but the point being, because I was in the majority and was very used to the way thins run, it never occurred to me that anyone could perceive the setup as being biased. But it was. That understood, the mom didn't want us to change it, she just wanted us to realize that it was like a foreign language sometimes. And I think that's all we non-Americans want. We don't want to change the board, we' don't even need a nod to the fact that you know we're not on the same page. We love how it is, but it is an American board and you guys just can't see that because you are American. __________________ The most difficult thing is the decision to act, the rest is merely tenacity Amelia Earhart Last edited by monster; 07-31-2008 at 10:08 PM.

07-31-2008, 10:28 PM	#75
xoxoxoBruce The future is unwritten Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 71,105	Sure, turn the meeting into a Gansta Ho slapdown, to make them feel more welcome. __________________ The descent of man ~ Nixon, Friedman, Reagan, Trump.

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