Topo lessons... USA the European way

[Maarten Otto]

Show a map of Europe to an american tourist in Amsterdam or London and ask him if he has any idea where he is.... Don't be surprised if they come up with something in the middle of the Spanish desserts or somewhere in Norway or Sweden.

So... Lets do the same thing back.... This is the map of the USA... the European way.
http://www.dumpert.nl/mediabase/foto/b07ebef3_amerika.jpg

[Curse]

Hm, there is no map or image in your post...

[Tujue]

Hm, there is no map or image in your post...

Click on the link and then refresh, it worked for me

[RushmoreAir]

I'm forbidden to access the server, apparently.

[Curse]

Click on the link and then refresh, it worked for me

Pah, there was no link at first 

[swiftus27]

To begin, screw you!  I really mean it this time.  Don't come on this forum and start bashing my nation.  Do you have any idea how ignorant you sound?   What you have posted here is nothing but complete flaming nonsense.  If you want to start a fight, so be it.   This is probably the most disrespectful thread I have EVER seen on this site.

[ucfknightryan]

Now I'm kinda curious what I'm forbidden from seeing...wondering if I'll be similarly outraged...

[RushmoreAir]

Now I'm kinda curious what I'm forbidden from seeing...wondering if I'll be similarly outraged...

I'm curious too.

But Swiftus, even we Americans poke fun at ourselves sometimes.  Take a look at any American comedy show or comedian and they somehow will always put us Americans down  (e.g. SNL, Dave Barry, etc).  It's kinda a running joke.  I'm a South Dakotan, and even I can look at this objectively and find it funny.

I'm not saying all Americans do this, but the lowest of the low Americans do attract a LOT of attention when traveling in Europe.  If a 500 lb guy wearing an athletic warm-up suit on vacation in Italy asks their Tuscan waiter if they serve hamburgers, you can be pretty sure it's an American.  Just calm down, Swiftus.    It can be funny if you take it the right way too.  We all know that everyone on AWS would know exactly where they are, and what the nearest airport's ICAO code is, but the truth is a disproportionate amount of Americans don't.

[swiftus27]

It is bulls*** like this thread that makes the term 'Being American' what it is today. 

You know what... fine.  Hate us.  Make fun of us.  We know who you will all turn to AGAIN when the s*** hits the fan.

[SACEO]

Obviously without being able to see what is posted on that link I have no idea how "inflammatory" it is, but I doubt that it was intended to incite a riot.  Rushmore is right, just look at any American sit-com and see how we poke fun at other countries and ethnic groups - all in the name of humor, of course.  Does anyone remember the Seinfeld episode where Elain and Putty are flying back from Norway and she had to sit next to the Norwegian man that she called "vegetable lasagna"?  Case in point.  It's only right that if we are going to dish it out we be able to take it in return (assuming the link wasn't truly meant to be mean-spirited).

[swiftus27]

Here.  See it for yourself.  It isnt hard to find and I DONT speak Dutch..

This is NOT the place for anything that could upset another. 

[attachment expired]

[RushmoreAir]

Some of it is kinda mean, but some of it is funny.  The Cali insults are tough, so are the Idaho and Nevada.

If you edited out the racist stuff, it might be funny.

Still...  

Swiftus, I can understand some of your rage now, but I still think that you are getting a little worked up.

Maarten, why did you post this in the first place?  

[mideg]

Well, I am not American, but I think this is meant to be humorous.

No one will ever take any statement on this "map" seriously.

So, relax, everybody, and I will get my Weisswurst and Bier and my Lederhosen and relax, too, here in "Old Europe". (Point taken?)

[NorgeFly]

Go back to the original poster's comments... now that we can see the image, it appears that he is poking fun at Europeans and their misplaced American stereotypes rather than actually making fun of Americans.

He basically pointed out that many Americans don't know a lot about Europe and many Europeans don't know a lot about the US... and it's true in many cases. I don't think my Dad would have a clue where to plot Denver or Los Angeles on a map, just like an American guy I know thought that Cardiff was the capital city or Ireland  

[RushmoreAir]

The more I think about it, this probably wasn't intended to be of any offense.  There is probably some American making fun of Europe in the same way.

This is one of the most heated threads I've ever seen on AWS.  I bet that come tomorrow, Sami will have put a big padlock on it.  And he probably should.

[mikk_13]

Lol, hey at least the europeans have an idea where america is.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WhJhZt_GOqk

this is what makes america great!

We know who you will all turn to AGAIN when the s*** hits the fan

Yeah ok......... your assuming the usa didn't create the s*** in the first place. wonder how long till brave obama attacks persia.

[mikk_13]

swiftus, which one are you from? My guess is texas

[swiftus27]

swiftus, which one are you from? My guess is texas

I don't think it is relevant what state I was born in.   And, no, I am not from Texas.

Oh, and it is super you go and find a clip from a TV show that looks for the dumbest people on earth hosted by a comedian whose claim to fame is his "You might be a redneck if"...   really intellectual. 

[SACEO]

I like the one for Oregon (next to Salem, OR) "Hate Witches".  That's funny because whoever wrote it TRULY didn't know what they were talking about.  The Salem witch trials were in Salem, Massachusettes - not Salem, Oregon!  LOL  

[ucfknightryan]

The more I think about it, this probably wasn't intended to be of any offense.  There is probably some American making fun of Europe in the same way.

This is one of the most heated threads I've ever seen on AWS.  I bet that come tomorrow, Sami will have put a big padlock on it.  And he probably should.

This.

Go back to the original poster's comments... now that we can see the image, it appears that he is poking fun at Europeans and their misplaced American stereotypes rather than actually making fun of Americans.

He basically pointed out that many Americans don't know a lot about Europe and many Europeans don't know a lot about the US... and it's true in many cases. I don't think my Dad would have a clue where to plot Denver or Los Angeles on a map, just like an American guy I know thought that Cardiff was the capital city or Ireland  Grin

And this.  Some of the things on that map ARE pretty offensive in isolation, but the thing as a whole seems to be a joke poking fun at Europeans' stereotypical views of parts of the US, like NorgeFly said.  I don't doubt there's a map somewhere of Europe with Americans' stereotypical views, which has things that would be as offensive to them...