American-British Q&A

[Jazoni89]

American question for the Brits.

Is Dr. Who, like, "mainstream" over there?

Because here, almost no one's even heard of it, and that's really a shame.

Yes it is, it's shown on the bbc weekly.

it also has a load of repeats on bbc 3 as well.

 

[Limie]

American question for the Brits.

Is Dr. Who, like, "mainstream" over there?

Because here, almost no one's even heard of it, and that's really a shame.

Yep, the public actually pay for it to be made. The new series starts this Saturday.

Edit: ninja'd

 

[JDKJ]

Why do some American (90% of those I've met) either assume I'm either extreamly posh or some kind of anti-social, chavish dick? Is it how us Brits are depicted on Tv or is it just something Americans tend to assume unless they get to know someone from England?

Because your average white-bread American don't know too much of shit beyond their own culture. They aren't exactly "worldly." If they do travel, they stay at Club Med or Breezes or some similarly sanitized generic vacation spot for overweight, pasty-skinned Mid-Westerners, sit by the pool all day drinking piss-water American beer (e.g., Budweiser), while slowly turning lobster red.

 

[Valkyrie101]

Alright so my question is this? What is a Chav? I've been called this on occasion and I don't think it's anything good, would someone care to explain?

Ever seen Ali G? That minus the sarcasm.

Only real chavs tend to be far less good-natured.

 

[Lionsfan]

And I'd imagine the reason a lot of people don't like it is because there's so much stuff going on and so little result from it. Its watching a bunch of guys running around for several hours making little to no progress. Its boring. I'm a baseball fan, which many people decry as one of the most boring sports ever (besides cricket, which I also like)... so I have a large tolerance for low-scoring games... but soccer makes me want to beat my head off the wall for something to do. :\

That's true too, I grew up watching College Hockey, and it was nothing like the NHL at the time (with the huge hits everywhere) so I got used to having a lot of movement and scoring chances but never getting high scores.

Wrong. Go to any park in Queens, NYC on a Sunday and there's not a field that isn't being used by an amateur league full of Central and South Americans who take that shit seriously. Very seriously.

If you're interested, check out the PBS documentary, "The Golden Age." From PBS's website:

The Golden Age documents a season in the life of the Golden Age League, a soccer league in Corona Park, Queens, New York. Not just any soccer league, the highly competitive Golden Age League is made up of middle-aged former World Cup players from mostly Central and South America. With muscles creaking, hairlines receding, and waistlines expanding, these incredibly skilled players compete at a level never before documented. During the week, these men are window washers, traders, and electricians -- but the weekend is theirs, and the passion for the game remains.

Yeah but outside of the major markets which tend to either an MLS or have a lot of immigrants support for soccer is pretty low. Sure in Queens soccer is big, but what about in Atlanta? Or in Chicago? Or Detroit? Or Nashville? Or Boston? Or Iowa? etc etc you get the point.

 

[Valkyrie101]

American question for the Brits.

Is Dr. Who, like, "mainstream" over there?

Because here, almost no one's even heard of it, and that's really a shame.

Yes, very mainstream. It's a cultural icon.

 

[JDKJ]

And I'd imagine the reason a lot of people don't like it is because there's so much stuff going on and so little result from it. Its watching a bunch of guys running around for several hours making little to no progress. Its boring. I'm a baseball fan, which many people decry as one of the most boring sports ever (besides cricket, which I also like)... so I have a large tolerance for low-scoring games... but soccer makes me want to beat my head off the wall for something to do. :\

That's true too, I grew up watching College Hockey, and it was nothing like the NHL at the time (with the huge hits everywhere) so I got used to having a lot of movement and scoring chances but never getting high scores.

Wrong. Go to any park in Queens, NYC on a Sunday and there's not a field that isn't being used by an amateur league full of Central and South Americans who take that shit seriously. Very seriously.

If you're interested, check out the PBS documentary, "The Golden Age." From PBS's website:

The Golden Age documents a season in the life of the Golden Age League, a soccer league in Corona Park, Queens, New York. Not just any soccer league, the highly competitive Golden Age League is made up of middle-aged former World Cup players from mostly Central and South America. With muscles creaking, hairlines receding, and waistlines expanding, these incredibly skilled players compete at a level never before documented. During the week, these men are window washers, traders, and electricians -- but the weekend is theirs, and the passion for the game remains.

Yeah but outside of the major markets which tend to either an MLS or have a lot of immigrants support for soccer is pretty low. Sure in Queens soccer is big, but what about in Atlanta? Or in Chicago? Or Detroit? Or Nashville? Or Boston? Or Iowa? etc etc you get the point.

Don't sleep on Chicago. Huge Latino population. And they've got an MLS team. But Nashville? Yes, I see your point.

 

[StBishop]

American question for the Brits.

Is Dr. Who, like, "mainstream" over there?

Because here, almost no one's even heard of it, and that's really a shame.

It's pretty big in Australia too.

(Just because we're not included in the discussion doesn't mean we're irrelevant. You just hate us because we're all convicts. We're like your brother America, the less rebellious brother who still lives at home.)

 

[Verlander]

American question for the Brits.

Is Dr. Who, like, "mainstream" over there?

Because here, almost no one's even heard of it, and that's really a shame.

It's huge, which is odd. I thought it was pretty big over there though?

I'm a Brit who lived in Atlanta, Georgia for a while, so I know most of the things I would ask questions about. Here's the main one-how ready are you for when oil and petrol run out???


(oh, and that stuff you put in cars, y'know "gas" isn't a gas. It's a liquid, called petrol. And don't give me no crap about "gasoline" either!!)

 

[Dr Snakeman]

.

I have a question for American's, how many of you have visited the UK?

I haven't, but I'd like to if I can get the chance. I might try to study abroad next year, so there's that.

Just how big is football (soccer) in America?

Not very. At least, not in the parts of the country I've lived. The South prefers the other kind of football. Soccer is kind of just that sport little kids play.

People do start to care during the World Cup, though, since it's such a huge event. But it's really just a casual interest for most.

Edit: Oh, right, question.

Um... I already know a lot about British culture. It's one of the reasons why I want to visit.

Ooh, wait! I've got one!

What, exactly, is the difference between a "biscuit" and a cookie? Do y'all even use the word "cookie"?

[sub][sub]Huh. I guess that makes two.[/sub][/sub]

 

[Sebster 105]

How are you guys for Pool in America?

 

[JDKJ]

American question for the Brits.

Is Dr. Who, like, "mainstream" over there?

Because here, almost no one's even heard of it, and that's really a shame.

It's huge, which is odd. I thought it was pretty big over there though?

I'm a Brit who lived in Atlanta, Georgia for a while, so I know most of the things I would ask questions about. Here's the main one-how ready are you for when oil and petrol run out???


(oh, and that stuff you put in cars, y'know "gas" isn't a gas. It's a liquid, called petrol. And don't give me no crap about "gasoline" either!!)

I love when Americans try to correct my English. They speak American. I speak English. There's a reason it's called "English," like because it's closely related to England.

 

[JDKJ]

How are you guys for Pool in America?

Good. It's skittles you'll never find. Unless you're looking for bite-sized candies. And what you won't find, if you are, is "Smarties." They have "M&Ms."

 

[Frozen Donkey Wheel2]

American question for the Brits.

Is Dr. Who, like, "mainstream" over there?

Because here, almost no one's even heard of it, and that's really a shame.

It's huge, which is odd. I thought it was pretty big over there though?

I'm a Brit who lived in Atlanta, Georgia for a while, so I know most of the things I would ask questions about. Here's the main one-how ready are you for when oil and petrol run out???


(oh, and that stuff you put in cars, y'know "gas" isn't a gas. It's a liquid, called petrol. And don't give me no crap about "gasoline" either!!)

1. But that's why we call it that! It's short for "gasoline"!

2. In answer to your question: We aren't. Not at all. We are pretty much fucked.

 

[lolmynamewastaken]

i have a question for America,
Why do you do your dates backwards? as in MM/DD/YY opposed to the way the rest of the world with the DD/MM/YY, smallest unit FIRST so today is 21/05/11 in most of the world but Americans have it as 05/21/11.
i just had a minor rant on another thread about this and felt i should probably get some enlightenment.

 

[JDKJ]

American question for the Brits.

Is Dr. Who, like, "mainstream" over there?

Because here, almost no one's even heard of it, and that's really a shame.

It's huge, which is odd. I thought it was pretty big over there though?

I'm a Brit who lived in Atlanta, Georgia for a while, so I know most of the things I would ask questions about. Here's the main one-how ready are you for when oil and petrol run out???


(oh, and that stuff you put in cars, y'know "gas" isn't a gas. It's a liquid, called petrol. And don't give me no crap about "gasoline" either!!)

1. But that's why we call it that! It's short for "gasoline"!

2. In answer to your question: We aren't. Not at all. We are pretty much fucked.

But since it's derived from petroleum and not natural gas, "petrol" just makes so much more sense.

 

[DrVonTrap]

i have a question: are american schools similar to how they're portrayed in movies and TV?
i mean, do they have such separated 'cliques' and do cheerleaders real spend their whole lives in their uniform?

 

[JDKJ]

i have a question for America,
Why do you do your dates backwards? as in MM/DD/YY opposed to the way the rest of the world with the DD/MM/YY, smallest unit FIRST so today is 21/05/11 in most of the world but Americans have it as 05/21/11.
i just had a minor rant on another thread about this and felt i should probably get some enlightenment.

Took me about five years to quit reversing them. Who knows? Why is "colour" spelled "color?" And "cheque" spelled "check?" Why is a "bonnet" called a "hood?" Who knows?

 

[Frozen Donkey Wheel2]

American question for the Brits.

Is Dr. Who, like, "mainstream" over there?

Because here, almost no one's even heard of it, and that's really a shame.

It's huge, which is odd. I thought it was pretty big over there though?

I'm a Brit who lived in Atlanta, Georgia for a while, so I know most of the things I would ask questions about. Here's the main one-how ready are you for when oil and petrol run out???


(oh, and that stuff you put in cars, y'know "gas" isn't a gas. It's a liquid, called petrol. And don't give me no crap about "gasoline" either!!)

1. But that's why we call it that! It's short for "gasoline"!

2. In answer to your question: We aren't. Not at all. We are pretty much fucked.

But since it's derived from petroleum and not natural gas, "petrol" just makes so much more sense.

Well, alright, you've got me there, but what about this:

Why do you spell (for example) the word "Doctor" when you are clearly mispronouncing it as "Doctah"?

EDIT: Wow,this thread a fucking minefield. I am literally getting messages with this one faster then I can read them. It's been answered, thanks guys.

 

[Fangv2]

How are you guys for Pool in America?

Good. It's skittles you'll never find. Unless you're looking for bite-sized candies. And what you won't find, if you are, is "Smarties." They have "M&Ms."

What is "Pool"? I can gather it's some type of candy.