US - UK Differences
Discussion
Seems recently that Yank bashing is the current sport in a few threads.
We do appear to have different morals with Jim arguing that the likes of Gitmo is not territorial soil and therefore the constitution shouldn't be applied.
Jim and I at different ends of the spectrum regarding Wiki/Assange/Manning.
Reopening the question of the Iranian plane shot down. With inference that Lockerbie is explained by this.
The questioning of shooting people in your own home.
I recently caught something on QI about incarceration in the states which made me look it up. 5% of the worlds population but 24% of the worlds prisoners. With the inference that because they were put to work it amounted to slave labour.
It goes without saying that BarryO is a prick, but as it seems that feeling is the same both sides of the pond it's a bit irrelevant.
So are we falling out of step with the US generally?
So here we are, an opportunity to get it off your chest, what don't you like about the US and their policies? A two way street mind so expect to answer some difficult questions back.
And just as a note, we all do a bit of baiting in jest which is fine but respect the person even if you don't respect the country.
We do appear to have different morals with Jim arguing that the likes of Gitmo is not territorial soil and therefore the constitution shouldn't be applied.
Jim and I at different ends of the spectrum regarding Wiki/Assange/Manning.
Reopening the question of the Iranian plane shot down. With inference that Lockerbie is explained by this.
The questioning of shooting people in your own home.
I recently caught something on QI about incarceration in the states which made me look it up. 5% of the worlds population but 24% of the worlds prisoners. With the inference that because they were put to work it amounted to slave labour.
It goes without saying that BarryO is a prick, but as it seems that feeling is the same both sides of the pond it's a bit irrelevant.
So are we falling out of step with the US generally?
So here we are, an opportunity to get it off your chest, what don't you like about the US and their policies? A two way street mind so expect to answer some difficult questions back.
And just as a note, we all do a bit of baiting in jest which is fine but respect the person even if you don't respect the country.
MOTORVATOR said:
So are we falling out of step with the US generally?
We've always been out of step, I think we're closer now than we have been in the past. MOTORVATOR said:
So here we are, an opportunity to get it off your chest, what don't you like about the US and their policies? A two way street mind so expect to answer some difficult questions back.
And just as a note, we all do a bit of baiting in jest which is fine but respect the person even if you don't respect the country.
Oh yeah, this is going to end well....And just as a note, we all do a bit of baiting in jest which is fine but respect the person even if you don't respect the country.
Jim's not a Yank, he's an Acadian iirc - certainly lives in the area. Damn Cajuns ("skirt", my hairy, ample arse) 
Anyway, I think you slightly misunderstood the Constitution discussion - I was not disputing that Guantanamo was not US soil but I didn't realise that that was what Jim WAS saying. I was talking about rights applied to anyone on US land so we were at cross purposes. We agreed on the responsibility the Constitution places on the government, however.
To the wider point, no I don't think we're massively out of step. Certainly our respective governments appear to be less..."chummy", shall we say, in a stereotypical, public school boy fashion, than they were when Blair fawned over Dubya's every word. But the Joe Publics on both sides are probably closer in attitude than they've ever been.
Anyway, I think you slightly misunderstood the Constitution discussion - I was not disputing that Guantanamo was not US soil but I didn't realise that that was what Jim WAS saying. I was talking about rights applied to anyone on US land so we were at cross purposes. We agreed on the responsibility the Constitution places on the government, however.
To the wider point, no I don't think we're massively out of step. Certainly our respective governments appear to be less..."chummy", shall we say, in a stereotypical, public school boy fashion, than they were when Blair fawned over Dubya's every word. But the Joe Publics on both sides are probably closer in attitude than they've ever been.
Their lack of understanding of cause and effect, what goes round comes around. Their lack of understanding of the different shades between black and white. Their lack of humility.
That's what I don't like about the Americans if they are to be measured on the actions of their leaders.
That's what I don't like about the Americans if they are to be measured on the actions of their leaders.
Edited by KANEIT on Wednesday 23 February 20:33
KANEIT said:
Their lack of understanding of cause and effect, what goes round comes around. Their lack of understanding of the different shades between black and white. Their lack of humility.
Er, I think it might be helpful if everyone put their own nationality down in every post so we know which country they are talking about.KANEIT said:
Their lack of understanding.....
Their lack of understanding......
Their lack of humility......
That's what I don't like about the Americans if they are to be measured on the actions of their leaders.
Did you sleep through the whole 13 glorious years of New Labour?? My, how the rest of the world must look up to UK with its marvellous track record in international diplomacy and its booming economy! And they will all envy the way everyone in UK knows what it means to be "British" with a clear set of shared values.Their lack of understanding......
Their lack of humility......
That's what I don't like about the Americans if they are to be measured on the actions of their leaders.
Ozzie Osmond said:
Did you sleep through the whole 13 glorious years of New Labour?? My, how the rest of the world must look up to UK with its marvellous track record in international diplomacy and its booming economy! And they will all envy the way everyone in UK knows what it means to be "British" with a clear set of shared values.
Now where is that whoosh parrot when I need it?!????!!!!!! 
UK-US differences? Two countries separated by a common language - Oscar Wilde.
Actually that is one of the things that really gets me - the Americanisation (or should that be Americanization?)of the English language. If the US want to use Webster's dictionary instead of the OED, fine; but keep it there. I am getting wholly sick of British publishers printing z's where there should be an s.
How long before this spreads like the cancer it is to the OED?
Actually that is one of the things that really gets me - the Americanisation (or should that be Americanization?)of the English language. If the US want to use Webster's dictionary instead of the OED, fine; but keep it there. I am getting wholly sick of British publishers printing z's where there should be an s.
How long before this spreads like the cancer it is to the OED?
Take the time to get to know Americans and you might be surprised - they are merely people!
What still puzzles me though, is why people think they know America because they watch US crime TV programmes! Its fiction and its funny that we seem to lose the separation between this and reality.
I like America - there is a lot we can learn from them. What you see on the TV isnt necessarily the reality. I find Americans open, welcoming, friendly, keen to provide service and generally quite nice.
What still puzzles me though, is why people think they know America because they watch US crime TV programmes! Its fiction and its funny that we seem to lose the separation between this and reality.
I like America - there is a lot we can learn from them. What you see on the TV isnt necessarily the reality. I find Americans open, welcoming, friendly, keen to provide service and generally quite nice.
I spend a lot of time in the states and the Americans are generally a genuinely warm and welcoming people. I've been there with my children a few times and am always surprised at how strangers offer to help and pass on advice where in the UK people simply don't want or aren't willing to get involved.
Don't judge all Americans by US Foreign Policy.
Don't judge all Americans by US Foreign Policy.
radlet6 said:
UK-US differences? Two countries separated by a common language - Oscar Wilde.
Actually that is one of the things that really gets me - the Americanisation (or should that be Americanization?)of the English language. If the US want to use Webster's dictionary instead of the OED, fine; but keep it there. I am getting wholly sick of British publishers printing z's where there should be an s.
How long before this spreads like the cancer it is to the OED?
I don't think this is an Americanism. If I recall correctly, the ending should be determined by whether the word has latin or greek roots. Latin using s, and Greek using z. People in the UK often incorrectly use s when it should be z.Actually that is one of the things that really gets me - the Americanisation (or should that be Americanization?)of the English language. If the US want to use Webster's dictionary instead of the OED, fine; but keep it there. I am getting wholly sick of British publishers printing z's where there should be an s.
How long before this spreads like the cancer it is to the OED?
off_again said:
Take the time to get to know Americans and you might be surprised - they are merely people!
What still puzzles me though, is why people think they know America because they watch US crime TV programmes! Its fiction and its funny that we seem to lose the separation between this and reality.
I like America - there is a lot we can learn from them. What you see on the TV isnt necessarily the reality. I find Americans open, welcoming, friendly, keen to provide service and generally quite nice.
I don't know anyone who bases their opinion of the U.S and Americans on what TV programs they see. I think you are barking up the wrong tree there. I think most people base their opinions on real life. What still puzzles me though, is why people think they know America because they watch US crime TV programmes! Its fiction and its funny that we seem to lose the separation between this and reality.
I like America - there is a lot we can learn from them. What you see on the TV isnt necessarily the reality. I find Americans open, welcoming, friendly, keen to provide service and generally quite nice.
Pah, what a load of pussies \i give you the chance to slag off an American and you won't step up to the plate.
If you are feeling intimidated by Ernest's thread about his guns I can assure you he can't shoot that far.
Jim / Ernest talk to me about this prison population. They are incredible figures when you compare them to the rest of the world. You have 24% of all the prisoners in the world despite being 5% of the population.
Near 2.5 million locked up and another 5 million on parole or probation, one in eighteen men either locked up or monitored.
here's a graph that won't bloody embed
With that rate of growth I predict that by 2030 the prison population will be the majority.;)
If you are feeling intimidated by Ernest's thread about his guns I can assure you he can't shoot that far.
Jim / Ernest talk to me about this prison population. They are incredible figures when you compare them to the rest of the world. You have 24% of all the prisoners in the world despite being 5% of the population.
Near 2.5 million locked up and another 5 million on parole or probation, one in eighteen men either locked up or monitored.
here's a graph that won't bloody embed
With that rate of growth I predict that by 2030 the prison population will be the majority.;)
There I got it off my chest.
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