Author Topic: Any other Americans (US) cringe while watching the Olympics? (Read 2431 times)

Igloo · « **Reply #30 on:** October 04, 2000, 05:56:00 PM »

There is one sport in Ireland (It may be in Britian too) and, although I can't remember the name, it is the roughest sport I have ever seen.

It is a mix between Rugby, Football (soccer), and field hockey. Full contact+

I have never seen such a rough sport. Was great to watch!

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Squadron Leader, Igloo.
C/O RCAF 411 Squadron - County of York

"Problems cannot be solved with the same awareness that created them" - Albert Einstein[/i]

Toad · « **Reply #31 on:** October 04, 2000, 05:56:00 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by AKDejaVu:
BTW.. notice how easy it is to get the Euro's going on "football" rants

Well, yeah, Deja...but you have to throw RAM back. He's way under the length limit!

Not bad for a little quick roll-cast though!

Igloo · « **Reply #32 on:** October 04, 2000, 06:00:00 PM »

Toad, who said it was Canadians who felt that way? In my experience, and I've done a lot of travelling, the world does.

BTW, I drink Guiness.

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Squadron Leader, Igloo.
C/O RCAF 411 Squadron - County of York

"Problems cannot be solved with the same awareness that created them" - Albert Einstein[/i]

Dowding · « **Reply #33 on:** October 04, 2000, 06:33:00 PM »

Igloo - I think you mean Gaelic football (except for the hockey thing - not sure about that

). I've heard it is rough. But then so is Rugby League, as opposed to Rugby Union; injuries from the former tend to be much worse because people are tackling opponents who are travelling much faster, because of the difference in rules.

BTW - Guiness is OK, but is overpriced (how much do you pay for it, over there?) and over-rated - there are some far better ales out there. 'Bishop's Finger' is a personal favourite of mine.

All american beers I've ever had are crap. Canadian beer is not much better - but at least they're not as bad as Aussie beer. Fizzy, belch and vom. inducing. You can't drink more than about 4 pints without spending most of your time belching. It's not really beer either (more like lager) - go to Germany or Britain if you want some real ale.

[This message has been edited by Dowding (edited 10-04-2000).]

StSanta · « **Reply #34 on:** October 05, 2000, 03:14:00 AM »

Ah, once again those wonderful cultural differences

After watching American athlestes in action (particularly boxing dudes and sprinters) I can only say that in the US, the philosophy is "if yo got it, flaunt it. And rub it in".

In Denmark, the opposite is true - we eve have a "law" of sorts for these unwritten laws of social interaction - called the Jante Law. basically says "Don't think yu're anything. Don't think you're better than anyone - you ain't" and it goes on. Was written by a Dane living in exile in Norway who got sort of pissed with this general attitude here. I am too at times.

Nevertheless, gloating and bragging is considered extremely bad practise here. Americans exhibiting such behavior will likely find themselves either with a very little group of like minded individuals, or completely frozen out. I don't know a place where humility is considered bad practise.

¨So, if any of you yanks havbe a beer with the average Dane in Denmark, my advice is not to boast and gloat too much. Might get away with it with teenagers, but most older people consider it very rude and will act accordingly (and kick yer American ass, now that you have no gun to weenie your way outta it).

Just HAD to add that last one

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StSanta
9./JG 54 "Grünherz"

funked · « **Reply #35 on:** October 05, 2000, 03:58:00 AM »

Santa, you are seeing a cultural split inside US society. A large group still adheres to sporting ethics similar to what you describe. Another group, which for whatever reason is more successful in sports on a per-capita basis, has popularized the "in-your-face" garbage. But don't get the idea that the majority of the US sporting audience approves of this roadkill.

Another thing to consider is that most of the international Olympic sports have very little meaning in the US. The most important sports to the US public are games like baseball, football, and basketball, where international competition is irrelevant. Sure some of these sports are played in the Olympics, but the rest of the world is not competitive at our national pastimes, and interest in the US is therefore tiny.

Track and field, soccer, winter sports, and most of the other Olympic sports are a faint blip on the radar screen. Not only are we unaware of who the best hurdler or rower or synchronized swimmer is, most of us don't care. A lot of hype about athletes in these sports is generated by the shoe and soft drink companies, but the guy on the street just doesn't give a toejam.

So maybe these Olympic idiots are acting out in an effort to draw attention and increase their profile in the US?

PS One nice thing about US sports like baseball, football, and basketball, is that the players can regulate behavior of other players. If you humiliate a pitcher by celebrating too much after a home run, you can expect some "chin music" in your next at-bat - a pitch near your face. If you celebrate too much after a touchdown, you might get knocked on your bellybutton like Terrell Owens a couple of weeks ago. George Teague interrupted Owens' lengthy celebration by applying a body tackle after a 50-yard sprint.

[This message has been edited by funked (edited 10-05-2000).]

StSanta · « **Reply #36 on:** October 05, 2000, 05:46:00 AM »

Copy that funked, glad I'd gotten the wrong impression.

No one likes a gloating smart ass, I guess. I sort of like these self regulating things, like what you described with baseball

.

You'll find it in soccer too - oh that tackle was just a "little" late, ooh, how bad.

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StSanta
9./JG 54 "Grünherz"

Igloo · « **Reply #37 on:** October 05, 2000, 08:06:00 AM »

Santa, I have traveled through Ireland, England, Scotland, France, Norway, Denmark, Egypt, Israel, Vietnam, Thailand, Peru, the Yucatan and some of Tibet.

In almost every one of these locations, the same impression, the one you describe above is prevaliant in regards to americans. I'm not trying to troll or insult anyone here or anything, but the arrogance and rudeness does get on people's nerves - world wide.

While I was in Egypt this past April (I lead tours there) I found 90% of the americans acting very rude towards the local people. If you see some moron in shorts and T-shirt walking down the street in Cairo, 95% of the time, you know where he is from. Egypt is an Islamic country and wearing shorts would draw the same attention as wearing underwear. The respect for local culture, in many cases, simply does not exist. In Egypt, men walk down the street holding hands as a sign of friendship. Sure enough some americans (yes they were american) were yelling out some very offencive statements towards them. Should the locals have been able to understand what they were saying, they would have been in A LOT of trouble.

The same attitude amongst american travelers exists world wide. And although you'll find the odd one that takes the time to educate him or her self about local traditions and customs, on the whole, they are a very ego orentated bunch and expect respect just because they are american.

Surly you would expect someone to walk down your streets with their shirt on, even though in thier country it doesn't matter? Surly you feel you deserve at least that much respect for allowing that individual to tour your country, right? Well, that same respect, in many cases, does not go both ways.

So it is not just the Olympics.

Sorry if my post offended anyone, but it's the truth.

Oh ya, a pint of Guinness here is $5.00 CDN, but it does get cheaper. Another good beer is Harp.

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Squadron Leader, Igloo.
C/O RCAF 411 Squadron - County of York

"Problems cannot be solved with the same awareness that created them" - Albert Einstein[/i]

[This message has been edited by Igloo (edited 10-05-2000).]

AKDejaVu · « **Reply #38 on:** October 05, 2000, 08:26:00 AM »

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If you see some moron in shorts and T-shirt walking down the street in Cairo, 95% of the time, you know where he is from. Egypt is an Islamic country and wearing shorts would draw the same attention as wearing underwear. The respect for local culture, in many cases, simply does not exist.

I won't argue with this Igloo. But I have to ask... are you American?

Would it be unusuall to see an Egyptian living in Los Angeles wearing a t-shirt and shorts? Americans are used to multiple cultures co-existing. Everyone with there own sets of beliefs that they adhere too. It has taken some time, but this is quite normal now.

Maybe most Americans just are not used to an environment where others views are so violently forced on others.

And.. just to clarify... I've done some world traveling myself. I've never been to a country where I felt hated. I've been the only American invited to an (almost) all Jewish wedding. We all laughed at how horrible the American Rabbi was.. not because of him being American.. just because he was an idiot.

I've spent quite a bit of time in intense situations where things were a bit tense and I was the only American in the group. I had to rely on people to keep me allive in their country when it would have been very easy for them to look the other way.

One observation I have about those that enjoy posting in threads like this: They enjoy "You see how bad Americans are!" statements whenever they see something like this on TV. Of course, they didn't see all 90 something medalists.. only the small group that everyone decides to champion as "Ugly Americans". Lets just say that there were not many people in America impressed with the 4x100 relay team (even before they won). And we are used to NBA folk acting like tulips all the time. Of course, I've seen soccer players and F1 drivers that put these guys to shame... but that's for another thread eh? We're only bashing Americans here.

AKDejaVu

Dowding · « **Reply #39 on:** October 05, 2000, 09:42:00 AM »

Quote

Originally posted by AKDejaVu:

Maybe most Americans just are not used to an environment where others views are so violently forced on others.

I've seen soccer players and F1 drivers that put these guys to shame... but that's for another thread eh? We're only bashing Americans here.

AKDejaVu

I'm not directing this at you, but if a person can't hack the local customs of a country, and respect their beliefs - then why the hell do they go? Stay at home if you want to follow your own way of life - travel if you want to experience someone else's. I would have thought that was obvious.

I only saw the relay team's debacle - they had no respect for the nation they came from, and they seemed to have no pride. I've never, ever seen athletes in any sport show such disrespect for their own country, from any other nation. At what point I thought they were going to dance to the tune of the Star Spangled Banner - it was so bad, it was almost funny. Most when they win a medal seemed very emotional - even the 6 foot 5 rowers.

What do you mean by the footballer comment? If you have ever been to an international, each team is very respectful of the other's national anthem, and many sing when they hear theirs. This was even true for the USA vs Iran grudge match.

Having said that, I'm sure not all the US athletes were like that, and were more proud of their country. I don't think people are bashing ALL americans, just those that act like arses in public. Every country has them.
I went to uni in a city that was always full of foreign visitors - Americans, Japanese etc. Don't think I ever saw them acting like dicks. But when you go to a country so alien to the West, you have to show respect and understanding. Any other approach is just plain ignorant. I've been to Tunisia, and we were told on the plane about how to behave, especially how women should dress.

Cobra · « **Reply #40 on:** October 05, 2000, 09:55:00 AM »

Quote

Originally posted by Dowding:
I'm not directing this at you, but if a person can't hack the local customs of a country, and respect their beliefs - then why the hell do they go? Stay at home if you want to follow your own way of life - travel if you want to experience someone else's. I would have thought that was obvious.

Dowding...are you kidding me??? Then you have never spent any significant time in Hong Kong. The some Brits (not all I agree, but a good portion) there are arrogant, obnoxious and disliked by the Asians as well as other Western Ex-Pats. My point is this, every group has its good and bad aspects. There are just as many Ugly-Europeans as Ugly-Americans. At least, that's what I've observed first hand from overseas business experience. I travel to Asia mainly, Hong Kong, China, Thailand, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Pakistan.

Cobra

funked · « **Reply #41 on:** October 05, 2000, 11:24:00 AM »

Igloo thanks for making sweeping negative generalizations about my country. Yes I am offended. I'm really surprised to see such a bigoted attitude on this board. Talking about athletes is one thing, slandering an entire nation is another. You can take your prejudice and shove it up your bellybutton pal.

Dowding · « **Reply #42 on:** October 05, 2000, 02:32:00 PM »

Cobra - my point was aimed at all people who act so ignorantly in foreign countries, and that sadly does include Brits. Some of us can't behave with civility in Europe (so called football 'fans' - or in my opinion, scum), nevermind an austere Islamic country.

AKDejaVu · « **Reply #43 on:** October 05, 2000, 02:51:00 PM »

Quote

my point was aimed at all people who act so ignorantly in foreign countries, and that sadly does include Brits. Some of us can't behave with civility in Europe (so called football 'fans' - or in my opinion, scum), nevermind an austere Islamic country.

Actually, Dowding.. that includes ALL COUNTRIES. I love it when threads seem to turn into an "Americans are all like this" sermon.

Guess what.. tourists are like this from all over the world. Some are bad.. some are good.. all are still tourists.

We get our share of the crazy/stupid/mean foreign tourists too. I'd like to think that when it happens, people realize that the PERSON is the problem and not the nation.

AKDejaVu

Dowding · « **Reply #44 on:** October 05, 2000, 03:20:00 PM »

That's what I said - i.e. 'all people'.