America vs EU?

[sir.rutthed]

I join these pissing contests when an American feels superior, mocks our accents, stereotypes etc.

I only start them when I hear somebody use the American version of a saying that makes no sense.

For example, holding down the fort, as opposed to holding the fort? I agree; when I hear some sayings that make no sense, I feel rather angry. But Americans speak a bastardised form of English, so anger is inevitable, is it not?
And please respond saying you weren't serious about Americans mocking our accents. There is nothing more fucking annoying in the world than a heavy American accent!

Depends on the situation. To me a heavy Swedish accent is the epitome of hilarious. As for American accents, I hear you on that. Nothing is more grating than a strong east Texas accent. Imagine the Beverly Hillbillies and Garth Brooks' voices got married and that's about right. On the other hand, the Southern US can be quite pleasing. I like watching stuff on the American Civil War to hear the letters the Confederate soldiers wrote home being read aloud. When reading aloud, that accent is really beautiful if done right.

 

[For.I.Am.Mad]

I don't know why the Brits or English or whatever are so worried about us when the Germans are playing games in that supposed union.

I don't mind the anti-Americanism it's just how things are. It gets kind of funny after a while. Except for Yahtzee since he owes a lot if not all of his success to Americans and that asshole can't keep his fucking mouth shut. Keep it to yourself you ungrateful bastard or at least make it funny. He's got it all figured out doesn't he, just like every other euro. You got America figured out, you're sooooo much smarter than us. Look at the dums-dums driving their big trucks and gobbling their food, we are sooooo much smarter than them.

 

[GeorgW]

I join these pissing contests when an American feels superior, mocks our accents, stereotypes etc.

I only start them when I hear somebody use the American version of a saying that makes no sense.

For example, holding down the fort, as opposed to holding the fort? I agree; when I hear some sayings that make no sense, I feel rather angry. But Americans speak a bastardised form of English, so anger is inevitable, is it not?
And please respond saying you weren't serious about Americans mocking our accents. There is nothing more fucking annoying in the world than a heavy American accent!

As opposed to the namby-pambies who added extra letters to make their writing look more French?
Then again, we don't expect anyone who talsk about an "American accent" to not have a voice grating to the ear.

Are you talking about words like neighbour/neighbor and colour/color? Because it was originally ou, but the Americans were too stupid to spell, so they had to change it.

I realize that I may be coming off as some nationalistic EU dumbass, but I want to assure you I'm not. I love the American culture, especially American TV and movies. I simply, for once, want to have a muture conversation about this topic, and see it as my duty to correct everyone like a damn factnazi.

 

[KeyMaster45]

I disagree: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Accession_of_Iceland_to_the_European_Union
I'm thinking you'll be in by 2012.
And the only reason you want in is to get euros since your currency is practically worthless.
The latest polls show that a majority want to join EU.
I'm not trying to start a fight with you, I'm just trying to have an intelligent, factual conversation

Dude, you just quoted Wikipedia. That's like quoting the psychotic scrawlings you find on bathroom stalls. (speaking of which; when I was in London over the summer I found the discussions taking place on the walls of the stalls by speaker's corner very enlightening.) Putting aside that wiki is about as useful in an argument as beating your opponent over the head with an actual encyclopedia let me get on topic.

Why do the differences really matter at all? All something like this does is foster animosity between both sides of the argument and in the end accomplishes nothing more than leaving everyone more pissed off than when they started.

 

[mr_rubino]

I join these pissing contests when an American feels superior, mocks our accents, stereotypes etc.

I only start them when I hear somebody use the American version of a saying that makes no sense.

For example, holding down the fort, as opposed to holding the fort? I agree; when I hear some sayings that make no sense, I feel rather angry. But Americans speak a bastardised form of English, so anger is inevitable, is it not?
And please respond saying you weren't serious about Americans mocking our accents. There is nothing more fucking annoying in the world than a heavy American accent!

As opposed to the namby-pambies who added extra letters to make their writing look more French?
Then again, we don't expect anyone who talsk about an "American accent" to not have a voice grating to the ear.

Are you talking about words like neighbour/neighbor and colour/color? Because it was originally ou, but the Americans were too stupid to spell, so they had to change it.

I realize that I may be coming off as some nationalistic EU dumbass, but I want to assure you I'm not. I love the American culture, especially American TV and movies. I simply, for once, want to have a muture conversation about this topic, and see it as my duty to correct everyone like a damn factnazi.

Open a history book sometime, spunky. Back in the day, England was big on sucking on every other European country's knob. (Of course, the Normans always were better at everything than the Albionianians.)
...The more things change, the more they stay the same, innit?

 

[The Austin]

EU>US

Do you want to know why?

Proper beer.

You call warm beer proper? We laugh at you! Ha-ha-ha!

 

[JaymesFogarty]

I join these pissing contests when an American feels superior, mocks our accents, stereotypes etc.

I only start them when I hear somebody use the American version of a saying that makes no sense.

For example, holding down the fort, as opposed to holding the fort? I agree; when I hear some sayings that make no sense, I feel rather angry. But Americans speak a bastardised form of English, so anger is inevitable, is it not?
And please respond saying you weren't serious about Americans mocking our accents. There is nothing more fucking annoying in the world than a heavy American accent!

Depends on the situation. To me a heavy Swedish accent is the epitome of hilarious. As for American accents, I hear you on that. Nothing is more grating than a strong east Texas accent. Imagine the Beverly Hillbillies and Garth Brooks' voices got married and that's about right. On the other hand, the Southern US can be quite pleasing. I like watching stuff on the American Civil War to hear the letters the Confederate soldiers wrote home being read aloud. When reading aloud, that accent is really beautiful if done right.

The Swedish accent can be rather funny. I'll agree with you there. And thank you for acknowledging how grating the Texas accent is; it has annoyed ever since I first heard it 11 years ago! However, if the accent is smoother, I have no problem with it. Indeed, a soft American accent can be almost comforting.

 

[Nikokvaj]

I join these pissing contests when an American feels superior, mocks our accents, stereotypes etc.

I only start them when I hear somebody use the American version of a saying that makes no sense.

For example, holding down the fort, as opposed to holding the fort? I agree; when I hear some sayings that make no sense, I feel rather angry. But Americans speak a bastardised form of English, so anger is inevitable, is it not?
And please respond saying you weren't serious about Americans mocking our accents. There is nothing more fucking annoying in the world than a heavy American accent!

As opposed to the namby-pambies who added extra letters to make their writing look more French?
Then again, we don't expect anyone who talsk about an "American accent" to not have a voice grating to the ear.

Are you talking about words like neighbour/neighbor and colour/color? Because it was originally ou, but the Americans were too stupid to spell, so they had to change it.

I realize that I may be coming off as some nationalistic EU dumbass, but I want to assure you I'm not. I love the American culture, especially American TV and movies. I simply, for once, want to have a muture conversation about this topic, and see it as my duty to correct everyone like a damn factnazi.

I don't really see how linguistic development equals stupidity. If anything, keeping nonsensical spellings in your language would be closer to stupidity in my book. I'm sure we can find plenty of words in the Oxford English that changed their spelling along the way, at least I can ensure you that I can find plenty in the Danish vocabulary, so it's not something unique to the US

 

[GeorgW]

Also, Iceland wants to join EU. They are practically begging EU to let the join since they have completely F*ed up their economy. EU are processing their application right now.

NO WE AREN'T.

Most of the population doesn't want to join. Chunks of our own government doesn't even want to join. The government doesn't have any platforms to stand on if they don't do something right now and thus they are trying to act like they are doing shit by starting EU talks that they know will probably never actually happen.

Take my word for it that if the nation had to vote on if it should join the EU or not (and matters would be settled that way) it would vote no.

Also, if we had been in the EU at the time of the economic collapse we would be even more fucked now then we already are, so your claim makes very little sense.

I disagree: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Accession_of_Iceland_to_the_European_Union
I'm thinking you'll be in by 2012.
And the only reason you want in is to get euros since your currency is practically worthless.
The latest polls show that a majority want to join EU.
I'm not trying to start a fight with you, I'm just trying to have an intelligent, factual conversation

Wikipedia only shows the official information that government and news sources provide. You have to actually live in Iceland to understand the "fakeness" of the whole EU discussion. Like I mentioned before, our current government (a considerable chunk of whom got elected on a anti-EU platform) doesn't want to risk going the way of our last government so that hold on to whatever gives then an excuse to stay in power. As for the polls, the wikipedia link only shows polls that favor the pro-EU crowd. There have also been plenty polls not shown on the wikipedia link that show the majority doesn't want to join. Seeing as wikipedia can be written by anyone, the article could have been written by a pro-EU person for all I know.

You say we will be in by 2012, and I say I will eat my own underwear and post an image of it on the forums if we do.

A simple search on google showed a bunch of more realiable sources, I just went to Wikipedia for the convienience. But you're right, I'm not from Iceland and I can't truly have the same insight as you. Nevertheless, I will hold you to your promise

I join these pissing contests when an American feels superior, mocks our accents, stereotypes etc.

I only start them when I hear somebody use the American version of a saying that makes no sense.

For example, holding down the fort, as opposed to holding the fort? I agree; when I hear some sayings that make no sense, I feel rather angry. But Americans speak a bastardised form of English, so anger is inevitable, is it not?
And please respond saying you weren't serious about Americans mocking our accents. There is nothing more fucking annoying in the world than a heavy American accent!

Depends on the situation. To me a heavy Swedish accent is the epitome of hilarious.

I'm Swedish, and I completely agree. But the question is, have you heard the satire version or the actual Swedish-moron version? (FYI, the Swedish chef does not speak Swedish and the furniture names from IKEA are (for the most part) not Swedish.)

EDIT:

I disagree: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Accession_of_Iceland_to_the_European_Union
I'm thinking you'll be in by 2012.
And the only reason you want in is to get euros since your currency is practically worthless.
The latest polls show that a majority want to join EU.
I'm not trying to start a fight with you, I'm just trying to have an intelligent, factual conversation

Dude, you just quoted Wikipedia. That's like quoting the psychotic scrawlings you find on bathroom stalls. (speaking of which; when I was in London over the summer I found the discussions taking place on the walls of the stalls by speaker's corner very enlightening.) Putting aside that wiki is about as useful in an argument as beating your opponent over the head with an actual encyclopedia let me get on topic.

Why do the differences really matter at all? All something like this does is foster animosity between both sides of the argument and in the end accomplishes nothing more than leaving everyone more pissed off than when they started.

The Wikipedia part is already answered above. And I'm in this conversation partly to teach and to learn, but mostly 'cuz I'm bored...

 

[Atmos Duality]

1) Pointless Vs thread about a very Trollfriendly topic. Lock it posthaste.
2) Even if 1 were invalid, wouldn't this fall more into the Religion and Politics Board?
The main criteria for discussion (what little there is that isn't purely subjective) involves political/social policies and statistics.

 

[JaymesFogarty]

I join these pissing contests when an American feels superior, mocks our accents, stereotypes etc.

I only start them when I hear somebody use the American version of a saying that makes no sense.

For example, holding down the fort, as opposed to holding the fort? I agree; when I hear some sayings that make no sense, I feel rather angry. But Americans speak a bastardised form of English, so anger is inevitable, is it not?
And please respond saying you weren't serious about Americans mocking our accents. There is nothing more fucking annoying in the world than a heavy American accent!

On a slight side note, before the end of the school term before summer I was bored and played aorund with google, typing in "Why do " and laughing at the suggestions which I can all assume were done mostly by Americans no matter what the nationality. The most popular suggestion for "Why do british people" used to be "Why do British people have accents?".

Why do British people have accents? I won't even comment on how funny I think that is! That's like asking, "what does purple taste like?" A bit of a weird one, I'll give you that.

 

[ThePirateMan]

EU>US

Do you want to know why?

Proper beer.

You call warm beer proper? We laugh at you! Ha-ha-ha!

I think that's more of a british thing, rather then european.
I might be wrong tho, not much of a beer expert.

 

[Danzaivar]

Europe: Rights are what the government will do.
USA: Rights are what the government can't do.

Know which I'd prefer, given the choice.

 

[MoeTheMonk]

I join these pissing contests when an American feels superior, mocks our accents, stereotypes etc.

I only start them when I hear somebody use the American version of a saying that makes no sense.

For example, holding down the fort, as opposed to holding the fort? I agree; when I hear some sayings that make no sense, I feel rather angry. But Americans speak a bastardised form of English, so anger is inevitable, is it not?
And please respond saying you weren't serious about Americans mocking our accents. There is nothing more fucking annoying in the world than a heavy American accent!

Depends on the situation. To me a heavy Swedish accent is the epitome of hilarious. As for American accents, I hear you on that. Nothing is more grating than a strong east Texas accent. Imagine the Beverly Hillbillies and Garth Brooks' voices got married and that's about right. On the other hand, the Southern US can be quite pleasing. I like watching stuff on the American Civil War to hear the letters the Confederate soldiers wrote home being read aloud. When reading aloud, that accent is really beautiful if done right.

I think all accents can get very grating if they are very heavy. Though I think it depends what you are exposed to; For example, half my relatives live in East Texas, and they all have an extremely thick accent, and it doesn't bother me too much because I got used to it. However, a British person with a heavy cockney accent makes me want to hang myself... Depends on what you are used to I suppose.

 

[GeorgW]

I join these pissing contests when an American feels superior, mocks our accents, stereotypes etc.

I only start them when I hear somebody use the American version of a saying that makes no sense.

For example, holding down the fort, as opposed to holding the fort? I agree; when I hear some sayings that make no sense, I feel rather angry. But Americans speak a bastardised form of English, so anger is inevitable, is it not?
And please respond saying you weren't serious about Americans mocking our accents. There is nothing more fucking annoying in the world than a heavy American accent!

As opposed to the namby-pambies who added extra letters to make their writing look more French?
Then again, we don't expect anyone who talsk about an "American accent" to not have a voice grating to the ear.

Are you talking about words like neighbour/neighbor and colour/color? Because it was originally ou, but the Americans were too stupid to spell, so they had to change it.

I realize that I may be coming off as some nationalistic EU dumbass, but I want to assure you I'm not. I love the American culture, especially American TV and movies. I simply, for once, want to have a muture conversation about this topic, and see it as my duty to correct everyone like a damn factnazi.

I don't really see how linguistic development equals stupidity. If anything, keeping nonsensical spellings in your language would be closer to stupidity in my book. I'm sure we can find plenty of words in the Oxford English that changed their spelling along the way, at least I can ensure you that I can find plenty in the Danish vocabulary, so it's not something unique to the US

You're absolutely right, and I apologize. I guess I just personally prefer not dumbing down spelling. I'm probably just influenced by a relatively recent change to Swedish where the words "you" and "me" got dumbed down. Those words are waaay too common to mess with just 'cuz a few kids are getting it wrong. I mean they're kids, of course they are wrong!

 

[Palademon]

I join these pissing contests when an American feels superior, mocks our accents, stereotypes etc.

I only start them when I hear somebody use the American version of a saying that makes no sense.

For example, holding down the fort, as opposed to holding the fort? I agree; when I hear some sayings that make no sense, I feel rather angry. But Americans speak a bastardised form of English, so anger is inevitable, is it not?
And please respond saying you weren't serious about Americans mocking our accents. There is nothing more fucking annoying in the world than a heavy American accent!

On a slight side note, before the end of the school term before summer I was bored and played aorund with google, typing in "Why do " and laughing at the suggestions which I can all assume were done mostly by Americans no matter what the nationality. The most popular suggestion for "Why do british people" used to be "Why do British people have accents?".

Why do British people have accents? I won't even comment on how funny I think that is! That's like asking, "what does purple taste like?" A bit of a weird one, I'll give you that.

The first result on that search was a yahoo answers where somebody asked. "Why do british people have such silly accents?" The number one answer was a british guy telling them our country had been founded earlier and if you find our accents funny it's because you screwed up our language XD

 

[JaymesFogarty]

I join these pissing contests when an American feels superior, mocks our accents, stereotypes etc.

I only start them when I hear somebody use the American version of a saying that makes no sense.

For example, holding down the fort, as opposed to holding the fort? I agree; when I hear some sayings that make no sense, I feel rather angry. But Americans speak a bastardised form of English, so anger is inevitable, is it not?
And please respond saying you weren't serious about Americans mocking our accents. There is nothing more fucking annoying in the world than a heavy American accent!

As opposed to the namby-pambies who added extra letters to make their writing look more French?
Then again, we don't expect anyone who talks about an "American accent" to not have a voice grating to the ear.

Okay. You started with the phrase, "namby-pambies." I'll assume you're Australian. And what precisely do you mean by, "added extra letters?" English is a huge canvas of sorts. It has borrowed from hundreds of other languages, and words from around the word are still being added to it every single day. Sure, French words have been added, but what existing English words have been altered to make them look more French? Please expand further on this. Moving on, I have an English accent, that is both well-pronounced and articulate. My voice is naturally deep, although I like to raise the timbre of it when happy, and/or excited. It's very melodic; not at all what anyone I have met has ever described as grating to the ear. Could you please message me back, telling me what you were trying to say in the highlighted sentence?

 

[BlumiereBleck]

Pretty much sums it up. But i do believe America will always be better

 

[JaymesFogarty]

I join these pissing contests when an American feels superior, mocks our accents, stereotypes etc.

I only start them when I hear somebody use the American version of a saying that makes no sense.

For example, holding down the fort, as opposed to holding the fort? I agree; when I hear some sayings that make no sense, I feel rather angry. But Americans speak a bastardised form of English, so anger is inevitable, is it not?
And please respond saying you weren't serious about Americans mocking our accents. There is nothing more fucking annoying in the world than a heavy American accent!

On a slight side note, before the end of the school term before summer I was bored and played aorund with google, typing in "Why do " and laughing at the suggestions which I can all assume were done mostly by Americans no matter what the nationality. The most popular suggestion for "Why do british people" used to be "Why do British people have accents?".

Why do British people have accents? I won't even comment on how funny I think that is! That's like asking, "what does purple taste like?" A bit of a weird one, I'll give you that.

The first result on that search was a yahoo answers where somebody asked. "Why do british people have such silly accents?" The number one answer was a british guy telling them our country had been founded earlier and if you find our accents funny it's because you screwed up our language XD

What a good response! I still don't understand how Americans can find the English, (sophisticated, obviously) accent in any way amusing. Does it show a lack of confidence in yourself, to find a well-pronounced speaker amusing?

 

[rokkolpo]

People you are all forgetting the major thing.

us Dutch have legalised weed!
yeah...sorry for that.

let's just all be happy with the country we live in or just move.
no need to convince others why your country is awesome.