Principia Discordia

Principia Discordia => Apple Talk => Topic started by: The Good Reverend Roger on February 20, 2014, 06:11:24 PM

Title: A very interesting view of America from the outside.
Post by: The Good Reverend Roger on February 20, 2014, 06:11:24 PM
http://mentalfloss.com/article/55140/10-japanese-travel-tips-visiting-america
Title: Re: A very interesting view of America from the outside.
Post by: Nephew Twiddleton on February 20, 2014, 06:48:30 PM
These are really fascinating. I also feel scrutinized now.
Title: Re: A very interesting view of America from the outside.
Post by: The Good Reverend Roger on February 20, 2014, 06:51:55 PM
Quote from: THE PHYTOPHTHORATIC HOLDER OF THE ADVANCED DEGREE on February 20, 2014, 06:48:30 PM
These are really fascinating. I also feel scrutinized now.

I feel better.

"Americans have very good manners."   :lulz:
Title: Re: A very interesting view of America from the outside.
Post by: Nephew Twiddleton on February 20, 2014, 07:09:21 PM
Clearly the writer hasnt been to boston :lol:
But id never have thought about say the laughing thing. But its true- it seems like someone is laughing at you if you do that here and barely containing it.
I wasnt aware though that we were a particularly sarcastic nation or that we used a lot of quote fingers.
Title: Re: A very interesting view of America from the outside.
Post by: The Good Reverend Roger on February 20, 2014, 07:11:46 PM
Quote from: THE PHYTOPHTHORATIC HOLDER OF THE ADVANCED DEGREE on February 20, 2014, 07:09:21 PM
Clearly the writer hasnt been to boston :lol:
But id never have thought about say the laughing thing. But its true- it seems like someone is laughing at you if you do that here and barely containing it.
I wasnt aware though that we were a particularly sarcastic nation or that we used a lot of quote fingers.

Americans INVENTED the horse laugh.  It's really our only justification for existing.
Title: Re: A very interesting view of America from the outside.
Post by: LMNO on February 20, 2014, 07:12:15 PM
Quote from: THE PHYTOPHTHORATIC HOLDER OF THE ADVANCED DEGREE on February 20, 2014, 07:09:21 PM
Clearly the writer hasnt been to boston :lol:
But id never have thought about say the laughing thing. But its true- it seems like someone is laughing at you if you do that here and barely containing it.
I wasnt aware though that we were a particularly sarcastic nation or that we used a lot of quote fingers.

Oh, I'm so sure.  No, "really".
Title: Re: A very interesting view of America from the outside.
Post by: Nephew Twiddleton on February 20, 2014, 07:24:07 PM
Quote from: LMNO, PhD (life continues) on February 20, 2014, 07:12:15 PM
Quote from: THE PHYTOPHTHORATIC HOLDER OF THE ADVANCED DEGREE on February 20, 2014, 07:09:21 PM
Clearly the writer hasnt been to boston :lol:
But id never have thought about say the laughing thing. But its true- it seems like someone is laughing at you if you do that here and barely containing it.
I wasnt aware though that we were a particularly sarcastic nation or that we used a lot of quote fingers.

Oh, I'm so sure.  No, "really".
Lol
I dunno i always got the sense that more often quotation marks were a way for old people and the media to talk about that thing those damn kids are doing and arbitrarily attach their own ideas to it. The high school i graduated from banned "gothic" clothing. Functionally this meant that if i wanted to wear a black shirt i had to wear tan pants. No real reason for that other than that one goth kid that was always getting in trouble. You know because the clothes make you do it. Oh. Theres that sarcasm thing. I see.
Title: Re: A very interesting view of America from the outside.
Post by: Cardinal Pizza Deliverance. on February 20, 2014, 07:58:35 PM
The laughing thing is interesting. As is the free time thing. No free time at all during the weekday. O.o When I was on the farm, that was true but dang. I feel so decadent and lazy now. :P
Title: Re: A very interesting view of America from the outside.
Post by: Cain on February 20, 2014, 08:18:47 PM
The linked one about Russia is very revealing....about Russians.
Title: Re: A very interesting view of America from the outside.
Post by: Nephew Twiddleton on February 20, 2014, 08:34:02 PM
Quote from: Cain on February 20, 2014, 08:18:47 PM
The linked one about Russia is very revealing....about Russians.
Wow... No kidding. Russians randomly show up at peoples houses?
Title: Re: A very interesting view of America from the outside.
Post by: hooplala on February 20, 2014, 09:21:50 PM
Quote from: Cain on February 20, 2014, 08:18:47 PM
The linked one about Russia is very revealing....about Russians.

Indeed... explains a lot about Ayn Rand.  Also, makes me wonder what "They do this thing with their legs that is so annoying." means exactly.
Title: Re: A very interesting view of America from the outside.
Post by: Nephew Twiddleton on February 20, 2014, 10:07:03 PM
Quote from: Hoopla on February 20, 2014, 09:21:50 PM
Quote from: Cain on February 20, 2014, 08:18:47 PM
The linked one about Russia is very revealing....about Russians.

Indeed... explains a lot about Ayn Rand.  Also, makes me wonder what "They do this thing with their legs that is so annoying." means exactly.
In some countries pointing your foot at someone is an insult. Middle eastern countries if i recall. Crossing our legs sometimes unwittingly makes this insult.
Title: Re: A very interesting view of America from the outside.
Post by: Reginald Ret on February 20, 2014, 10:23:49 PM
Quote from: THE PHYTOPHTHORATIC HOLDER OF THE ADVANCED DEGREE on February 20, 2014, 08:34:02 PM
Quote from: Cain on February 20, 2014, 08:18:47 PM
The linked one about Russia is very revealing....about Russians.
Wow... No kidding. Russians randomly show up at peoples houses?
You never do that?
For me it depends on the wishes of the one i visit, with some friends i can just drop by and vice versa. Others have asked me to call first.
Title: Re: A very interesting view of America from the outside.
Post by: Nephew Twiddleton on February 20, 2014, 10:42:40 PM
Quote from: :regret: on February 20, 2014, 10:23:49 PM
Quote from: THE PHYTOPHTHORATIC HOLDER OF THE ADVANCED DEGREE on February 20, 2014, 08:34:02 PM
Quote from: Cain on February 20, 2014, 08:18:47 PM
The linked one about Russia is very revealing....about Russians.
Wow... No kidding. Russians randomly show up at peoples houses?
You never do that?
For me it depends on the wishes of the one i visit, with some friends i can just drop by and vice versa. Others have asked me to call first.
Only as a teenager when it was expected out of routine.
Title: Re: A very interesting view of America from the outside.
Post by: Cardinal Pizza Deliverance. on February 20, 2014, 11:09:42 PM
Quote from: :regret: on February 20, 2014, 10:23:49 PM
Quote from: THE PHYTOPHTHORATIC HOLDER OF THE ADVANCED DEGREE on February 20, 2014, 08:34:02 PM
Quote from: Cain on February 20, 2014, 08:18:47 PM
The linked one about Russia is very revealing....about Russians.
Wow... No kidding. Russians randomly show up at peoples houses?
You never do that?
For me it depends on the wishes of the one i visit, with some friends i can just drop by and vice versa. Others have asked me to call first.

If people randomly showed up at my house they'd stay on the porch until they left.
Title: Re: A very interesting view of America from the outside.
Post by: Pæs on February 20, 2014, 11:11:12 PM
Quote from: Cardinal Pizza Deliverance. on February 20, 2014, 11:09:42 PM
Quote from: :regret: on February 20, 2014, 10:23:49 PM
Quote from: THE PHYTOPHTHORATIC HOLDER OF THE ADVANCED DEGREE on February 20, 2014, 08:34:02 PM
Quote from: Cain on February 20, 2014, 08:18:47 PM
The linked one about Russia is very revealing....about Russians.
Wow... No kidding. Russians randomly show up at peoples houses?
You never do that?
For me it depends on the wishes of the one i visit, with some friends i can just drop by and vice versa. Others have asked me to call first.

If people randomly showed up at my house they'd stay on the porch until they left.

Same here, but my Dad drops by his mates' places unannounced all the time, and they do the same to him.
Title: Re: A very interesting view of America from the outside.
Post by: Cardinal Pizza Deliverance. on February 20, 2014, 11:14:59 PM
"Far less booze." I need to invite these guys to one of my dad's family reunions. They ain't never seen a hillbilly keg-truck round-up.
Title: Re: A very interesting view of America from the outside.
Post by: Cardinal Pizza Deliverance. on February 20, 2014, 11:15:55 PM
Quote from: Pæs on February 20, 2014, 11:11:12 PM
Quote from: Cardinal Pizza Deliverance. on February 20, 2014, 11:09:42 PM
Quote from: :regret: on February 20, 2014, 10:23:49 PM
Quote from: THE PHYTOPHTHORATIC HOLDER OF THE ADVANCED DEGREE on February 20, 2014, 08:34:02 PM
Quote from: Cain on February 20, 2014, 08:18:47 PM
The linked one about Russia is very revealing....about Russians.
Wow... No kidding. Russians randomly show up at peoples houses?
You never do that?
For me it depends on the wishes of the one i visit, with some friends i can just drop by and vice versa. Others have asked me to call first.

If people randomly showed up at my house they'd stay on the porch until they left.

Same here, but my Dad drops by his mates' places unannounced all the time, and they do the same to him.

Whatever floats their boats! So long as they git awf mah lawn!
Title: Re: A very interesting view of America from the outside.
Post by: Cain on February 21, 2014, 11:19:37 PM
Quote from: Cardinal Pizza Deliverance. on February 20, 2014, 11:14:59 PM
"Far less booze." I need to invite these guys to one of my dad's family reunions. They ain't never seen a hillbilly keg-truck round-up.

At Polish weddings, everyone drinks vodka until no-one can stand up any more.  So normally about three days.

Russians think the Polish are pansies.
Title: Re: A very interesting view of America from the outside.
Post by: Chelagoras The Boulder on February 21, 2014, 11:57:41 PM
Quote from: Dirty Old Uncle Roger on February 20, 2014, 06:51:55 PM
Quote from: THE PHYTOPHTHORATIC HOLDER OF THE ADVANCED DEGREE on February 20, 2014, 06:48:30 PM
These are really fascinating. I also feel scrutinized now.

I feel better.

"Americans have very good manners."   :lulz:
Huh, i've spoken to a few foreigners on the subjects of american manners and they've generally had good things to say about us as a people. It's generally only on the subject of our politics that people visiting the states want to facepalm. It's almost as if the idea that the rest of the world hates us is a narrative we're fed in order to help support our governments blindingly stupid decisions. :p
Title: Re: A very interesting view of America from the outside.
Post by: rong on February 22, 2014, 04:13:08 AM
I was thinking about the impression that American's have good manners (with respect to driving) and I realized that we have such good manners, not because we are nice, but because we have strictly enforced traffic laws. 
Title: Re: A very interesting view of America from the outside.
Post by: Nephew Twiddleton on February 22, 2014, 04:52:00 AM
Quote from: rong on February 22, 2014, 04:13:08 AM
I was thinking about the impression that American's have good manners (with respect to driving) and I realized that we have such good manners, not because we are nice, but because we have strictly enforced traffic laws.

Here's a damned interesting thing I and my American coworker and my half American self kind of hit upon this today just in shooting the shit.

we are very, very big on assigned seating.

She is a Boston University student. She notices that non-Americans aren't picky about where they sit, but Americans are, since BU has a fairly nationally diverse student body. This came up because of seating at work quirks. I helped confirm this. My Gen Bio II class is in the same room as my Gen Bio I class. They're on entirely different days, at entirely different times, and with a different professor, but the commonality, aside from Gen Bio II following Gen Bio I, is that both classes I got are in room D301. I sit in the exact same seat as last semester, and I made sure of that. I am the ONLY person in Gen Bio II who sits in the back row, and I only chose the back row last semester because I screwed up the schedule and came a week later than most others.
Title: Re: A very interesting view of America from the outside.
Post by: Mesozoic Mister Nigel on February 22, 2014, 04:59:37 PM
Quote from: THE PHYTOPHTHORATIC HOLDER OF THE ADVANCED DEGREE on February 22, 2014, 04:52:00 AM
Quote from: rong on February 22, 2014, 04:13:08 AM
I was thinking about the impression that American's have good manners (with respect to driving) and I realized that we have such good manners, not because we are nice, but because we have strictly enforced traffic laws.

Here's a damned interesting thing I and my American coworker and my half American self kind of hit upon this today just in shooting the shit.

we are very, very big on assigned seating.

She is a Boston University student. She notices that non-Americans aren't picky about where they sit, but Americans are, since BU has a fairly nationally diverse student body. This came up because of seating at work quirks. I helped confirm this. My Gen Bio II class is in the same room as my Gen Bio I class. They're on entirely different days, at entirely different times, and with a different professor, but the commonality, aside from Gen Bio II following Gen Bio I, is that both classes I got are in room D301. I sit in the exact same seat as last semester, and I made sure of that. I am the ONLY person in Gen Bio II who sits in the back row, and I only chose the back row last semester because I screwed up the schedule and came a week later than most others.

It's the 3-class rule.

By the third class of the term, the seat most people are sitting in will be the seat they will remain in for the rest of the term. I have no idea how it is in other countries, but that's definitely a thing in the US. Most people feel super weird changing seats after the third class.

Psychology students may change seats just to make everyone uncomfortable.
Title: Re: A very interesting view of America from the outside.
Post by: Cain on February 22, 2014, 05:06:22 PM
I sat wherever the sun couldn't shine in my eyes and make my hangover feel even worse, and where the professor was least likely to look in order to ask a question from the reading I hadnt done.
Title: Re: A very interesting view of America from the outside.
Post by: Mesozoic Mister Nigel on February 22, 2014, 05:08:55 PM
Quote from: Dirty Old Uncle Roger on February 20, 2014, 06:11:24 PM
http://mentalfloss.com/article/55140/10-japanese-travel-tips-visiting-america

These read like satire. The fact that the author felt the need to talk about how things are done in Japan, to a supposedly Japanese audience, kinda triggered my bullshit meter.
Title: Re: A very interesting view of America from the outside.
Post by: Telarus on February 22, 2014, 05:51:28 PM
He links to the source. I think you're catching a whiff of "Google Translate garbled this badly, I have to re-phrase".
Title: Re: A very interesting view of America from the outside.
Post by: Cain on February 22, 2014, 05:59:36 PM
Yeah, although I checked the sources with another translator service (Bing) and while they indeed roughly corresponded to what was written down, there definitely seemed to be an element of "translated with comedic effect foremost in mind".
Title: Re: A very interesting view of America from the outside.
Post by: LMNO on February 23, 2014, 12:14:38 AM
Quote from: Cain on February 22, 2014, 05:06:22 PM
I sat wherever the sun couldn't shine in my eyes and make my hangover feel even worse, and where the professor was least likely to look in order to ask a question from the reading I hadnt done.

The first time through, I sat in back, nursing a hangover and thinking I knew more than anyone.

The second time, I sat in front and wrote down everything the professor said.


Guess which strategy produced more A's?
Title: Re: A very interesting view of America from the outside.
Post by: Mesozoic Mister Nigel on February 23, 2014, 04:34:53 AM
Quote from: Cain on February 22, 2014, 05:59:36 PM
Yeah, although I checked the sources with another translator service (Bing) and while they indeed roughly corresponded to what was written down, there definitely seemed to be an element of "translated with comedic effect foremost in mind".

That may be what I'm picking up on.
Title: Re: A very interesting view of America from the outside.
Post by: Mesozoic Mister Nigel on February 23, 2014, 04:40:10 AM
Quote from: Pæs on February 20, 2014, 11:11:12 PM
Quote from: Cardinal Pizza Deliverance. on February 20, 2014, 11:09:42 PM
Quote from: :regret: on February 20, 2014, 10:23:49 PM
Quote from: THE PHYTOPHTHORATIC HOLDER OF THE ADVANCED DEGREE on February 20, 2014, 08:34:02 PM
Quote from: Cain on February 20, 2014, 08:18:47 PM
The linked one about Russia is very revealing....about Russians.
Wow... No kidding. Russians randomly show up at peoples houses?
You never do that?
For me it depends on the wishes of the one i visit, with some friends i can just drop by and vice versa. Others have asked me to call first.

If people randomly showed up at my house they'd stay on the porch until they left.

Same here, but my Dad drops by his mates' places unannounced all the time, and they do the same to him.

This was a perfectly normal practice prior to the popularity of cell phones.