usa USA - more stupidity from the land that gave us Country Western music

[Ric Miskimmon]

Watching the news this morning and I seen that some Obese amercians are suing Fast Food companies because...they are FAT.

 

Im amazed!

 

The spokesblob actually said that he couldnt believe that Maccy D's etc didnt put health warnings on the side of a BIG MAC!

 

Is it just me, or is the land of the free rapidly in need of becoming the land of the told what to do?

 

[Claire DC]

fookin hell...they should think to themselves..it aint so much the burger as opposed to the fact that they eat fookin 20 a day!!

FAT BASTARDS lol!!

[Wub Wub]

This from the country that brought us CrashinCarey....

 

I heard about those fat fuckers on radio1 this morning. Twats. That's like suing a water company for making you take a piss.

[Flakey Dove]

Here's 2 good examples of our friends across the ponds lack of awereness of things over here in blighty.

This,whilst I was over there;-

 

ME so,are we going the beach then?

HER yeah

ME good stuff,don't get to go so much back home

HER What,you have beaches in britain?

ME (incredulously) yeah! course we do,its an island innit!

HER englands in ireland!!??

ME NO,its an ISLAND.

HER what,britains an island,wow.

ME (muttering) for fucks sake.

 

Also had to gently explain to some small town yokel that,no it was'nt too difficult for me having to learn english on coming over,as indeed,most people in england actually speak english!

I [censored] you not.

Be afraid.

[Ric Miskimmon]

Mad isnt it?!?!

 

I smoke and yeah I know what it does to me BUT i wouldnt sue cigarette companies for making them too carcinogenic!

 

 

I can see america in 20 years being so ravaged by daft lawsuits that the land of the free will be the land of the regulated.

 

YOU CAN EAT ONE BURGER A DAY

 

YOu MUST WATCH 12 HOURS OF TV A DAY

 

YOU MUST GET DUMPED ON SPRINGER AT LEAST ONCE

 

MULLETS MUST BE REGULATION 5" LONG

 

Have a nice day

[Wub Wub]

*American Accent*

 

"I like my sisters pig. she's real pur-dy"

[Scream]

oooo this is a classic

 

an american telling a english person that they don't speak proper english. LMFAO how thick can one nation be???

 

Although there are some pretty smart people there. But they are drowned out by the thick idiots there.

 

I mean yesterday i had some program on it was on the kids tv on bbc one. Anyway they were in america and they were these kids (must of been around 13) and they were all so health orientated like eating and going to the gym. That's good but they way they were into it they should also know that it is bad for them to do that at such an age due to them growing.

 

It seems in america you are either you care about your health in an OTT sense or you don't.

[alasdairm]

hiya

 

obviously this one could run and run but i have a few comments:

 

- i think there is way too much generalisation in cases like this. people assume that because one (perhaps ill-advised) american citizen decides to chance their arm and sue somebody, that this is something every american would do, or even agree with. obviously, that's nonsense.

 

america is a huge country with a huge, diverse population. it's inevitable that once in a while some crazy story will emerge.

 

i read that a couple of years ago Jimmy Saville thought the lions at london zoo were unhappy so he played the bagpipes for them. this is ludicrous but do i think it's representative of all uk residents. of course not!

 

- personal responsibility is a problem for some people. i don't think it's a us-specific problem but you certainly get to hear about it occasionally because it gets to court (like the woman who was burned by a cup of McD coffee an sued because it was too hot. she won.)

 

i think part of the problem is that america seems to be a more litigious country that the uk which probably accounts for some of the bias.

 

- i'm saddened to see some of the people on the board referring to people in this story as "fat bastards" and "fat fuckers". we don't know anything about these people or their lives.

 

i do not automatically believe what the media wrote. i'm inclined to think this is a more complex or subtle story which has been hugely oversimplified and warped into a media friendly soundbite: "fat people sue burger joint"

 

i'm inclined to think that there is a lot more to it than meets the eye (although i'm open-minded enough to accept there might not be...)

 

perhaps it's just a pet issue of mine but there's so much negativity in the world, it's sad to see those kinds of insults traded here. one of the things that appeals to me about CTW is the generally open-minded, accepting nature of the community. if we see posts here about 'stupid americans' and 'fat bastards' then we've lost something of what makes CTW special.

 

that said, i'm not a zealot and if that's what people truly believe, then they should speak their minds. perhaps i just expected a little more in whcih case, it's definitely my problem.

 

i could write loads more but i'm conscious of rambling...

 

alasdair

 

[ 26 July 2002, 20:22: Message edited by: alasdairm ]

[Belle]

Hi Alasdairm....

 

In defence of my suing comment, this was not a generalization, I promise you! I'm a friendly neighbour and am well aware of the similarities and differences between our countries. Probably the most documented one is in fact the ability for Americans to sue their doctors, dentists, lawyers etc etc. This is not allowed in Canada. You use the McDonald's example. Classic. How about the malpractice suits I hear about on occasion? Or, hmmmm, the other month I saw a piece on watering holes, where children swim and play are being closed as parents are suing the owners when their children get hurt! An American tradition is being lost over money-hungry parents?!

 

I don't take offence I promise you to the Texans I've met who wondered if I've ever seen a watermelon! Or if the snow ever melts up here! Haha!

 

I've followed this string and noticed the slander worsening here. It is, we need to remember, after all a forum for opinions etc. I do wish tho' that participants would remember others' feelings when they post!

 

[alasdairm]

no problem belle - i didn't take your comments that way.

 

the generalisation comment i made was more geared towards people who read a story like that and react with "bloody americans" as if the actions or beliefs of one american is representative of the whole population.

 

i'm actually not a US citizen. i'm scottish - i just live in san francisco. as a brit abroad, i suppose i could argue that i'm uniquely placed to offer a perspective on subjects like this.(although some people probably think i'm an opinionated twat who talks shite). whatever.

 

example. it's common to hear that many europeans think americans are uncultured because they don't travel very much. i know this is a generalisation but i have heard it a lot (and i'm a hypocrite of course)

 

when i hear that, i ask people if they know that 2 weeks vacation time at work a year is standard for a lot of people in the US. think how much less most europeans would travel if they had only 2 weeks vacation instead of the 4 or 5 weeks which is common...

 

add to that the astonishing range of possibilites for travel within the US itself and it's not so simple an issue as it first appears. anybody who wants a 90 minute tour of lots of amazing sites (both good and bad) should watch Koyaanisqatsi - it was shot entirely within the US.

 

it is a beautiful, though-provoking film produced by the same people who produced baraka which you may have seen. if you have not seen baraka, you should see that too

 

a lot of comments on subjects like this are simply a function of ignorance - nothing more.

 

i see you live in montreal. that is a beautiful city. do you speak french?

 

have a great weekend (everybody)

 

alasdair

[Ric Miskimmon]

quote:

---

Originally posted by flakey dove:

Here's 2 good examples of our friends across the ponds lack of awereness of things over here in blighty.

This,whilst I was over there;-

 

ME so,are we going the beach then?

HER yeah

ME good stuff,don't get to go so much back home

HER What,you have beaches in britain?

ME (incredulously) yeah! course we do,its an island innit!

HER englands in ireland!!??

ME NO,its an ISLAND.

HER what,britains an island,wow.

ME (muttering) for fucks sake.

 

Also had to gently explain to some small town yokel that,no it was'nt too difficult for me having to learn english on coming over,as indeed,most people in england actually speak english!

I [censored] you not.

Be afraid.

---

Do you like, live near Buckingham palace?

 

Are you being ironic and sarcastic, you brits are sooo funny!

 

NO! Im Irish ! [censored] off Texas!

[Belle]

I think what's worse, is that us poor Canadians too often get lumped into that stereotype .

 

Buuuuut, I must defend Alasairm (sp - sorry babe!). He's a cool clubber from San Fran....so I think perhaps we're all generalising a bit!!!

 

I mean, the British have a couple of well-known traits around the world also, but we all know they're rubbish!!

[Belle]

And yes, I agree (and saw on CNN this morning) that's the STUPIDEST thing I have ever heard!! Thank god our laws on suing peeps aren't as loose!

[nice1bruva]

ZZZZZzzzzz ZZZZZzzzzz ZZZZZzzzzz ZZZZZzzzzz *shuffles* ZZZZZZzzzzzz ZZZZZZzzzzzz *coughs a little* ZZZZZzzzzz ZZZZZzzzzzz *farts* ZZZZZZzzzzzz

[Belle]

quote:

---

Originally posted by nice1bruvva:

ZZZZZzzzzz ZZZZZzzzzz ZZZZZzzzzz ZZZZZzzzzz *shuffles* ZZZZZZzzzzzz ZZZZZZzzzzzz *coughs a little* ZZZZZzzzzz ZZZZZzzzzzz *farts* ZZZZZZzzzzzz

---

Fu*cking astonished at the moment NIB!!!! If I say anything more, it might be rude!

 

Alasdairm: Good thoughts. I knew that the holidays were longer over there, but didn't put the two together. Besides the fact that it would take a week to drive across the US or Canada, which would cover most of Europe I believe!

 

Funny story from my old boss, a military man. He was stationed in Germany for a few years. After his return, one of his mates from Germany decided to pay him a visit in Halifax, Nova Scotia (speaking of Scotts!!). He hopped on a flight to Toronto and called my boss from the airport asking for directions to his house. He didn't account for the fact that it was a 2-3 day drive to get there!!!! hehe!!

 

I've heard alot about Baraka, when I unpack my DVD player I may go out and get it .

 

Yes, my mother's French Canadian. Born in Ottawa tho'. Moved here to Montreal a couple of months ago to open a restaurant! Not sure if that was the worst decision or best decision ever!! Either way, this is the biggest challenge of my life.

 

And in terms of beauty, there are some nice parts! And there are some dodgy ones too! Ottawa is a much nicer town in comparison, being the capital! Getting used to things is a tough one. Not too many friends! Okay, a couple, but not like at home! The main difference is going from conservative to liberal in one big leap!

 

What are you doing in SF?