Which misconseption annoys you more?

[Sovvolf]

I'll go with a British pet peeve of mine so I don't seem that racist.

Why is it that when Brits say 'Asian' it invariably implies Indian/Pakistani/Sri Lankan/Bangaldeshi and Chinese/Malay/Singaporean/Indonesian/Burmese/Thai etc. are pigeonholed as whatever the most popular term is at the time? I almost got in a fight back in school because an Indian denied the fact that I, as a Chinese person, was Asian.

OT: Out of the two, the first one... being European and all. Though both are equally idiotic, given thought.

Something similar happened around my area. Though the other way round sort of. Trying to be a little more P.C when referring to what the locals call the Paki Shop, I referred to it as "The corner shop"... They didn't understand what I meant. So I thought I'd say Asian shop to be a little better about it... Still didn't know what I meant saying "What you on about? a Takeaway?". Then eventually I had to just save time and simply say Paki shop, to which I got the reply "Paki's aren't Asians..." I retort with "Yes they are, what else did you think they were?" and his reply "Paki's are Paki's, Chinks and Japs are Asians..." argument went on for a while and I managed to convince no one.

I lose faith in my fellow Brits sometimes. So if you non-Brits have the other misconception that all us Brits are incredibly smart, snobby and sophisticated... Think again, we're just as stupid as many-a-ignorant American stereotypes.

 

[Sovvolf]

I'm not innocent of this though, as a kid I used to think Russia and Germany was the same Country.

Well, depending on when you were a kid, you might be forgiven for being half-right. After all, post-WWII, half of Germany (East Germany) and Russia were both part of the USSR.

Born 14/11/90 so the 90's were my kiddy times. That being said, I soon lost that misconception at around 9 when I learnt different in History but before then, if you were from Russia, the Netherlands and such... To me you were German.

 

[gillebro]

I think you mean vary (massive grammar Nazi over here). I can see how that would be annoying, and people know that most watchers of Fox News think up the most bizarre things. Apparently some viewers of Fox News think 9/11 was an elaborate stunt jointly planned by Obama and Osama. And Americans wonder why some countries don't take them seriously.

Why hello, fellow grammar Nazi! (Have you had friends telling you to stop correcting their grammar too? It's ironic really, since I make grammar mistakes all the time.)

Anyway, yes, you're right about a lot of the rest of us not taking you guys seriously - a move I consider unwise. You guys are the third largest nation in the world (in terms of sheer population) and still the most powerful. You'd think people would realise that that's nothing to be sneezed at.

To the OP: Erm, well not being from either of those general areas I can't honestly say one annoys me more than the other. I would say that I'm more surprised when people say that they think of Europe as one country. My surprise continues when people think that Europe could ever BE one country. Having the British and the French in the same country is not a good idea by any stretch of the imagination.

The US one, on the other hand... well, the thing is, there aren't many countries with states. And for that reason it's reasonable for people to not understand how a country made up of states works, and that states have their own governments and all of that. To many the term 'state' is possibly quite similar to 'county' or 'prefecture'. Personally I can't say I understand how countries WITHOUT states work in terms of government. It seems so much easier in countries with states.

 

[SilentCom]

People think Europe is one country? I have lost all faith in humanity.

Some people think Africa is one country... It's a frickin continent with many countries in it seriously...

 

[Thaluikhain]

The US one, on the other hand... well, the thing is, there aren't many countries with states. And for that reason it's reasonable for people to not understand how a country made up of states works, and that states have their own governments and all of that. To many the term 'state' is possibly quite similar to 'county' or 'prefecture'. Personally I can't say I understand how countries WITHOUT states work in terms of government. It seems so much easier in countries with states.

Although only about 7 nations have states[footnote]The US library of congress has a special cataloguing thing for "exception nations", such as the UK, US, Malaysia, Australia and I think one other, which are the ones to have states. Mind you, it's very western centric, doesn't mention the UAE for example[/footnote], a number of European nations contain semi-autonomous provinces, though.

The misconception I really, really hate is that whatever system shown on TV shows from other nations will also apply to your own nation. Mostly this applies to US shows, due to their being so many of them, but not exclusively.

 

[Marmooset]

Everyone posting in this thread(myself included) has or has had misconceptions that have made others shake their head, and just don't realize it. You can smell it in their statements.


Mote in thy neighbor's eye and all that.

 

[SckizoBoy]

Something similar happened around my area. Though the other way round sort of. Trying to be a little more P.C when referring to what the locals call the Paki Shop, I referred to it as "The corner shop"... They didn't understand what I meant. So I thought I'd say Asian shop to be a little better about it... Still didn't know what I meant saying "What you on about? a Takeaway?". Then eventually I had to just save time and simply say Paki shop, to which I got the reply "Paki's aren't Asians..." I retort with "Yes they are, what else did you think they were?" and his reply "Paki's are Paki's, Chinks and Japs are Asians..." argument went on for a while and I managed to convince no one.

I lose faith in my fellow Brits sometimes. So if you non-Brits have the other misconception that all us Brits are incredibly smart, snobby and sophisticated... Think again, we're just as stupid as many-a-ignorant American stereotypes.

Huh, who'd've guessed... I thought the reverse situation (the one you gave) was an American thing... shows what I know! *hrk*

I'm not innocent of this though, as a kid I used to think Russia and Germany was the same Country.

Heh, despite being Hong Kong Chinese, as a kid, I thought HK was where Shanghai is. I'm a white guy... honestly.

 

[Frozen Donkey Wheel2]

I really don't care what people in the States think, it's just not worth it. The ignorant yahoos can have their own little world as long as they stay on the other side of the big lake.

I can't tell if you're serious or not. By the way, if you are....That's about as stupid as saying that Europe is a country. American here, by the way. If you couldn't tell.

OT: I think the most annoying misconception is that Americans think Europe is a country. Because we don't. Seriously, it's....VERY common knowledge that Europe has more then one country in it. I mean..really? OP, did you just make that up? Who the HELL thinks Europe is a country?

 

[FaithorFire]

Anyhow, which misconception annoys you more, the fact that some people think Europe is all one big country or the that some people think or don't realize laws very state to state in America?

I think you mean vary (massive grammar Nazi over here). I can see how that would be annoying, and people know that most watchers of Fox News think up the most bizarre things. Apparently some viewers of Fox News think 9/11 was an elaborate stunt jointly planned by Obama and Osama. And Americans wonder why some countries don't take them seriously.

And a staggeringly larger group of "progressive", "intellectual", MSNBC viewers believe 9/11 was a plan cooked up by Bush and Cheney to extract imaginary oil money. What's the point of your Fox News attacks?

 

[Arisato-kun]

Animation is for kids. Being an animation major it kind of pisses me off when people tend to cite live action shows as being more mature over animated series.

People have honestly tried to tell me that Jersey Shore is more mature than Cowboy Bebop and Waltz With Bashir. Seriously?

 

[Jodah]

That all heavy or obese people are that way because they are lazy. Sometimes it really IS caused by medical reasons.

 

[Tsalmaveth]

the one that really grinds my gears is when people think that we live in the most horrendous time ever, and that things are just going from bad to worse now a days, when they are clearly not. no major wars since WWII, no major epidemics since WWI (Spanish Flu), longer average life span, higher average education, better medicine, the internet, plenty of cultural exchange, plenty of freedom of speech, less discrimination... the list is very long.

between the misconception of europe being a single country, and the US having only federal law, europe being a single country bothers me more. France and the germany are very obviously separate countries for example.

 

[Moonlight Butterfly]

What gets on my nerves more is when Americans don't know that the laws vary from state to state.

Its your own fucking country. Learn about it a little. You're the reason that the rest of the world hates us.

Lol I know that and I'm English.

I hate it when people think that all gaming is for kids :/ and we are always portrayed on TV as sad losers with no life.

 

[Sovvolf]

Huh, who'd've guessed... I thought the reverse situation (the one you gave) was an American thing... shows what I know! *hrk*

Could also be an American thing too but up here where I live, it very common. I live in a pretty ignorant area of Briton so that might explain it. Honestly was surprised to know that China and Japan weren't the same thing when I mention Asian. Sadly that fell flat with the whole "Tokyo is in China" speech it turned into.

I'm not innocent of this though, as a kid I used to think Russia and Germany was the same Country.

Heh, despite being Hong Kong Chinese, as a kid, I thought HK was where Shanghai is. I'm a white guy... honestly.[/quote]

Honestly I don't think thats too harsh of a misconception. I mean, unless you really know your geography of that area then I doubt its going to be common knowledge .

 

[fundayz]

Scientific Theories are not Fact.

 

[undeserving]

I find it more annoying when British people call the European mainland just 'Europe', as if they aren't part of it. Sure they may be an island but that really doesn't make them any less European.

The UK got dragged into two massive conflicts by "mainland" Europe in recent history.
Since then we've had more going on with the US in terms of economy and politics, 53rd state and all that.
In the last 10years our military and logistic support of the US hasn't won us any friends in Europe either.

For the UK to become and completely feel like part of Europe, i guess we'd have to cut a few diplomatic/economic/military/political ties to the US so the rest of the continent could clearly see which side we were really on.

 

[curty129]

I find it more annoying when British people call the European mainland just 'Europe', as if they aren't part of it. Sure they may be an island but that really doesn't make them any less European.

To be honest, as we aren't part of the mainland, and we refer to ourselves as 'British' far more often than 'European', no matter the situation, (as I expect any other citizen in another country would do) it's easy to think of ourselves as seperate. People, unless they're uneducated, obviously know we're part of Europe, but the idea is still alien to most of us. With all the media attention surrounding the rejection of currency conversion to the Euro, that's also enforced the idea of 'independency' - And I bet that's what actually grinds your gears, imagining that we are independent, due to silly little things like our different currency and, as you said so yourself, that we're not part of the mainland.
It sounds like a pet peeve of yours. A bit hypocritical, and irrational.

OT: The misconception of when people believe that the majority of humanity are 'idiots' (You know: the ol' "I've lost my faith in humanity." phrase).
I feel like I'm also having the misconception in assuming that a lot of people believe this.

 

[Agayek]

I don't feel like adding a poll, just starting a discussion.

Anyhow, which misconception annoys you more, the fact that some people think Europe is all one big country or the that some people think or don't realize laws vary state to state in America?

Both get on my nerves when I am having a discussion where those are relevant. And they are somewhat connected and usually are in conversations about why are Americans/Europeans like this or that.

Wait a second....

You mean European states are actually countries?!

I am shocked I tell you.

Yes, you can, but it's inherently less accurate to refer to the CONTINENT than to the country.

It's really not. The diversity and population within the US is roughly equivalent to the whole of Europe. You can no more claim to know the whole US by visiting a single city than you can claim to know France because you've been to Rome.

 

[eggy32]

I'd say the one about Europe only being one country annoys me more.
What annoys me more than that, however, is the misconception that Britain and England are the same and people don't realise that there are othr countries in Britain.