Why are all future human heroes American?

[Peanut Butter]

yes with your prison population twice the size of your army America rocks. secondly im surprised that you Americans dislike the french so much because wouldn't exactly be very independent if you wasnt to them ?

in the american war of independance the americans fought alongside the french german and belgians(? i think) against the english and yet of all the native american tribes not one fought agains tthe british....looks like the native americans, or indjuuns to you americans, saw how things were going to turn out...

 

[murphy7801]

not quite sure where you were going with this

 

[Imat]

I just finished taking a class in English linguistics, and this is true; what most people think of as an "American" accent is considered technically unaccented, even by the experts, because it's the closest vocal approximation of words as they appear when written. For instance, we pronounce the final /r/ sound in the word "better" whereas a speaker from England wouldn't. So maybe a better term would be "neutral" rather than "unaccented."

But I don't buy that we "send people throughout the world to promote the American way of life." That's retarded; it makes us sound like freakin missionaries, like we're trying to convert everyone else. Even English teachers from countries other than America are encouraged to teach using an "American" accent, simply because it's easier to teach according to a standard. Saying things like that just reinforces the stereotype of Americans as pompous assholes, and I'm starting to wonder if the rest of the world doesn't maybe have a point.

But that's what the government wants us to be. Always has. America is constantly trying to convert others to our ways of life. Every culture thinks theirs is superior, and America takes that and the fact that we want to appear like we don't want to take over the world and tries to convert the world instead. I'm not sure how that reinforces that particular stereotype, unless you then apply the same stereotype to EVERY country/religion/culture/language on this planet. Everybody wants to come out ahead, cultural domination is one way of doing so. Not as obvious as military domination, and not as hard as economic domination. So don't tell me that we aren't doing this, to not do this would be to commit suicide in the overall race for world supremacy.

 

[dantheman931]

I just finished taking a class in English linguistics, and this is true; what most people think of as an "American" accent is considered technically unaccented, even by the experts, because it's the closest vocal approximation of words as they appear when written. For instance, we pronounce the final /r/ sound in the word "better" whereas a speaker from England wouldn't. So maybe a better term would be "neutral" rather than "unaccented."

But I don't buy that we "send people throughout the world to promote the American way of life." That's retarded; it makes us sound like freakin missionaries, like we're trying to convert everyone else. Even English teachers from countries other than America are encouraged to teach using an "American" accent, simply because it's easier to teach according to a standard. Saying things like that just reinforces the stereotype of Americans as pompous assholes, and I'm starting to wonder if the rest of the world doesn't maybe have a point.

But that's what the government wants us to be. Always has. America is constantly trying to convert others to our ways of life. Every culture thinks theirs is superior, and America takes that and the fact that we want to appear like we don't want to take over the world and tries to convert the world instead. I'm not sure how that reinforces that particular stereotype, unless you then apply the same stereotype to EVERY country/religion/culture/language on this planet. Everybody wants to come out ahead, cultural domination is one way of doing so. Not as obvious as military domination, and not as hard as economic domination. So don't tell me that we aren't doing this, to not do this would be to commit suicide in the overall race for world supremacy.

Hawhat? This may sound offensive, but I don't know how else to say it: What planet are you living on? I've been an American all my life, and I've never gotten the impression that Americansa are actively attempting to convert the rest of the world to our way of life. If that were the case, why would every high school in the land require their students to study at least one foreign language, and why would we have Mexican/Chinese/Japanese/Indian restaurants all over the place? These seem like bizarre actions for a nation hell-bent on converting the rest of the planet; it would be like trying to open a Chinese restaurant in Nazi Germany. (Here I'm surely invoking Godwin's law, but that's the best analogy I can come up with.) Again, at the risk of incurring moderator wrath, I have to say that it sounds like you're talking out of your nether regions, but feel free to offer some species of proof if you've got any.

 

[toapat]

because we fucking got onto a different planet first, thus all lead space heros must be american

you have not landed on another planet its a moon you haven't landed on mars yet and Russians where the first in space so why shouldn't they all speak Russian or really bad comedy star trek one

the earth isnt so massive that it sits perfectly still in space while the moon hurtles around it, they both orbit each other, and the russins only got to space, not the moon.

because we fucking got onto a different planet first, thus all lead space heros must be american

The probe crash-landed on Venus on March 1, 1966 becoming the first spacecraft to land on another planet's surface.

That was a russian one.

That aside, I'm of the belief that if we ever manage to form up into a single nation the national language'll be english anyway. That and I really don't care that much what language is spoken in a game.

2 problems: A: crash landing? doesnt count B: Probes do not carry genetic code

 

[Imat]

I just finished taking a class in English linguistics, and this is true; what most people think of as an "American" accent is considered technically unaccented, even by the experts, because it's the closest vocal approximation of words as they appear when written. For instance, we pronounce the final /r/ sound in the word "better" whereas a speaker from England wouldn't. So maybe a better term would be "neutral" rather than "unaccented."

But I don't buy that we "send people throughout the world to promote the American way of life." That's retarded; it makes us sound like freakin missionaries, like we're trying to convert everyone else. Even English teachers from countries other than America are encouraged to teach using an "American" accent, simply because it's easier to teach according to a standard. Saying things like that just reinforces the stereotype of Americans as pompous assholes, and I'm starting to wonder if the rest of the world doesn't maybe have a point.

But that's what the government wants us to be. Always has. America is constantly trying to convert others to our ways of life. Every culture thinks theirs is superior, and America takes that and the fact that we want to appear like we don't want to take over the world and tries to convert the world instead. I'm not sure how that reinforces that particular stereotype, unless you then apply the same stereotype to EVERY country/religion/culture/language on this planet. Everybody wants to come out ahead, cultural domination is one way of doing so. Not as obvious as military domination, and not as hard as economic domination. So don't tell me that we aren't doing this, to not do this would be to commit suicide in the overall race for world supremacy.

Hawhat? This may sound offensive, but I don't know how else to say it: What planet are you living on? I've been an American all my life, and I've never gotten the impression that Americansa are actively attempting to convert the rest of the world to our way of life. If that were the case, why would every high school in the land require their students to study at least one foreign language, and why would we have Mexican/Chinese/Japanese/Indian restaurants all over the place? These seem like bizarre actions for a nation hell-bent on converting the rest of the planet; it would be like trying to open a Chinese restaurant in Nazi Germany. (Here I'm surely invoking Godwin's law, but that's the best analogy I can come up with.) Again, at the risk of incurring moderator wrath, I have to say that it sounds like you're talking out of your nether regions, but feel free to offer some species of proof if you've got any.

I had a big long post which proved my post succinctly, but some error caused it to disappear forever. So, I will do my best to respond with much the same post for your pleasure:

First, there's tons of proof. Look at the time period between WW2 and today, what exactly has America been doing: Korea, Vietnam, Afghanistan, Iraq. And what were we doing there? Spreading Democracy, Capitalism, Freedom, and sometime even Christianity. These are the ideals of the United States. So don't go telling me there's no proof of America spreading it's culture and ideals, because that simply isn't true. And, because for irony reasons this needs to be said, what planet have YOU been living on that you've missed all of these? Back in the days of Sphere's of Influence and Imperialism we announced a Policy of non-intervention with the development of Western Hemisphere countries. This wasn't for us, it was for Europe and Asia. We could interfere all we wanted. Why did we do this? It was an attempt, a rather blatant one at that, to spread our influence over these countries before they solidified their cultures and ideals. And we almost succeeded. Unfortunately the countries in question didn't take too kindly to being manipulated as they were. Cuba is one great example of this. They've had posters depicting America's attempts to spread it's culture for many years. That's a fact. I consider myself radially Pro-American, but you've taken that to a whole new level: The level which is just as Pro-American without knowing what exactly it's supporting. To quote Excel Saga, you continue the stereotype of the "Ignorant Masses." Show me proof of America NOT spreading it's culture and I'll consider you otherwise.

Second, and this one I woulda thought goes without saying, allowing foreigners in is a simple ingratiation tactic. By allowing workers to practice their own cultures here, we subtly force them into our own culture. They tell their families back home how great America is, how they're accepted for who they are, and suddenly everybody sees America as a better place. The "American" dream is shared by the rest of the world, they just never claimed a right to it. We then teach foreign languages in an attempt to ingratiate ourselves with foreign nations by showing them respect. We're willing to learn their language, we must be good people who lead good lives, right? This seems obvious to me, I must ask once again how you missed this?

 

[ChromeAlchemist]

Because our lack of accent means that the main character can be understood by EVERYONE and the game won't have to be localized 20 different times.

Oh, and America is the largest single market for the games.

I swear I'm going to make a game and find voice actors with the thickest southern drawl I can understand just to hear people around the world whine about not being able to understand them.
AND I'm not going to have an option for subtitles.

Last I checked, Europe is the largest market for games.

Oh and no need to make that game, Red Dead Redemption and Call of Juarez are coming out soon, although I guess the accent could get a bit thicker on those two if they tried a bit harder.

Also how could you have a lack of accent? Obviously it's only to yourself.

 

[dantheman931]

I just finished taking a class in English linguistics, and this is true; what most people think of as an "American" accent is considered technically unaccented, even by the experts, because it's the closest vocal approximation of words as they appear when written. For instance, we pronounce the final /r/ sound in the word "better" whereas a speaker from England wouldn't. So maybe a better term would be "neutral" rather than "unaccented."

But I don't buy that we "send people throughout the world to promote the American way of life." That's retarded; it makes us sound like freakin missionaries, like we're trying to convert everyone else. Even English teachers from countries other than America are encouraged to teach using an "American" accent, simply because it's easier to teach according to a standard. Saying things like that just reinforces the stereotype of Americans as pompous assholes, and I'm starting to wonder if the rest of the world doesn't maybe have a point.

But that's what the government wants us to be. Always has. America is constantly trying to convert others to our ways of life. Every culture thinks theirs is superior, and America takes that and the fact that we want to appear like we don't want to take over the world and tries to convert the world instead. I'm not sure how that reinforces that particular stereotype, unless you then apply the same stereotype to EVERY country/religion/culture/language on this planet. Everybody wants to come out ahead, cultural domination is one way of doing so. Not as obvious as military domination, and not as hard as economic domination. So don't tell me that we aren't doing this, to not do this would be to commit suicide in the overall race for world supremacy.

Hawhat? This may sound offensive, but I don't know how else to say it: What planet are you living on? I've been an American all my life, and I've never gotten the impression that Americansa are actively attempting to convert the rest of the world to our way of life. If that were the case, why would every high school in the land require their students to study at least one foreign language, and why would we have Mexican/Chinese/Japanese/Indian restaurants all over the place? These seem like bizarre actions for a nation hell-bent on converting the rest of the planet; it would be like trying to open a Chinese restaurant in Nazi Germany. (Here I'm surely invoking Godwin's law, but that's the best analogy I can come up with.) Again, at the risk of incurring moderator wrath, I have to say that it sounds like you're talking out of your nether regions, but feel free to offer some species of proof if you've got any.

I had a big long post which proved my post succinctly, but some error caused it to disappear forever. So, I will do my best to respond with much the same post for your pleasure:

First, there's tons of proof. Look at the time period between WW2 and today, what exactly has America been doing: Korea, Vietnam, Afghanistan, Iraq. And what were we doing there? Spreading Democracy, Capitalism, Freedom, and sometime even Christianity. These are the ideals of the United States. So don't go telling me there's no proof of America spreading it's culture and ideals, because that simply isn't true. And, because for irony reasons this needs to be said, what planet have YOU been living on that you've missed all of these? Back in the days of Sphere's of Influence and Imperialism we announced a Policy of non-intervention with the development of Western Hemisphere countries. This wasn't for us, it was for Europe and Asia. We could interfere all we wanted. Why did we do this? It was an attempt, a rather blatant one at that, to spread our influence over these countries before they solidified their cultures and ideals. And we almost succeeded. Unfortunately the countries in question didn't take too kindly to being manipulated as they were. Cuba is one great example of this. They've had posters depicting America's attempts to spread it's culture for many years. That's a fact. I consider myself radially Pro-American, but you've taken that to a whole new level: The level which is just as Pro-American without knowing what exactly it's supporting. To quote Excel Saga, you continue the stereotype of the "Ignorant Masses." Show me proof of America NOT spreading it's culture and I'll consider you otherwise.

Second, and this one I woulda thought goes without saying, allowing foreigners in is a simple ingratiation tactic. By allowing workers to practice their own cultures here, we subtly force them into our own culture. They tell their families back home how great America is, how they're accepted for who they are, and suddenly everybody sees America as a better place. The "American" dream is shared by the rest of the world, they just never claimed a right to it. We then teach foreign languages in an attempt to ingratiate ourselves with foreign nations by showing them respect. We're willing to learn their language, we must be good people who lead good lives, right? This seems obvious to me, I must ask once again how you missed this?

I still think you're wrong. For one thing, I seem to recall something about some buildings and/or airplanes that precipitated the second war in Iraq; I'm a little fuzzy on the details, because it's not like it was on the news or anything, and I'm not going to argue whether invading Iraq made any damn sense at all (it didn't), but it sure as hell wasn't borne out of a desire to "spread American ideals." As for Vietnam: http://www.pbs.org/battlefieldvietnam/history/index.html Now I only scanned this, but as far as I can tell, it was an attempt to maintain a democracy that already existed. Same thing in Korea: http://www.korean-war.com/TimeLine/1950/06-25to08-03-50.html And nowhere in any of these wars was America attempting to spread Christianity; I'm pretty sure the last of the Crusades was a couple thousand years ago, back before there was even an America.

(Also, protip: most of Europe lies within the western hemisphere.)

Anyway, you're using Cuban propaganda as your proof for American foreign policy? Really?

But all of this is beside the point anyway, because we're talking about video game characters with American accents, and I do believe you'd have to be retarded to think that that's an attempt to make the rest of the world more American.

 

[Imat]

I still think you're wrong. For one thing, I seem to recall something about some buildings and/or airplanes that precipitated the second war in Iraq; I'm a little fuzzy on the details, because it's not like it was on the news or anything, and I'm not going to argue whether invading Iraq made any damn sense at all (it didn't), but it sure as hell wasn't borne out of a desire to "spread American ideals." As for Vietnam: http://www.pbs.org/battlefieldvietnam/history/index.html Now I only scanned this, but as far as I can tell, it was an attempt to maintain a democracy that already existed. Same thing in Korea: http://www.korean-war.com/TimeLine/1950/06-25to08-03-50.html And nowhere in any of these wars was America attempting to spread Christianity; I'm pretty sure the last of the Crusades was a couple thousand years ago, back before there was even an America.

(Also, protip: most of Europe lies within the western hemisphere.)

Anyway, you're using Cuban propaganda as your proof for American foreign policy? Really?

But all of this is beside the point anyway, because we're talking about video game characters with American accents, and I do believe you'd have to be retarded to think that that's an attempt to make the rest of the world more American.

Narrowing down my entire argument to Cuban Propaganda are we? Really? I'm using it as some proof, yes. Because it has truth in it.

And we fought for Democracy, an essentially American ideal in this day and age because we're the most vocal about it. And perhaps I was talking about the first war in Iraq, I didn't specify because it's essentially the same war with a different name. And you're telling me religion never ever came up? None of the Christian soldiers said anything even vaguely religious to anybody they met on the streets? I find that extremely hard to believe.

Also, protip: Most (By which I mean all) of Europe is DEVELOPED!

And finally, once again you've missed the point. This wasn't about video games as a catalyst for the spread of American culture. No, what I said is that America spreads it's culture more than most, and that American English is basically seen as accentless because of this. Don't try to make the issue different from what it was because you know I have an excellent point.

 

[dantheman931]

I still think you're wrong. For one thing, I seem to recall something about some buildings and/or airplanes that precipitated the second war in Iraq; I'm a little fuzzy on the details, because it's not like it was on the news or anything, and I'm not going to argue whether invading Iraq made any damn sense at all (it didn't), but it sure as hell wasn't borne out of a desire to "spread American ideals." As for Vietnam: http://www.pbs.org/battlefieldvietnam/history/index.html Now I only scanned this, but as far as I can tell, it was an attempt to maintain a democracy that already existed. Same thing in Korea: http://www.korean-war.com/TimeLine/1950/06-25to08-03-50.html And nowhere in any of these wars was America attempting to spread Christianity; I'm pretty sure the last of the Crusades was a couple thousand years ago, back before there was even an America.

(Also, protip: most of Europe lies within the western hemisphere.)

Anyway, you're using Cuban propaganda as your proof for American foreign policy? Really?

But all of this is beside the point anyway, because we're talking about video game characters with American accents, and I do believe you'd have to be retarded to think that that's an attempt to make the rest of the world more American.

Narrowing down my entire argument to Cuban Propaganda are we? Really? I'm using it as some proof, yes. Because it has truth in it.

And we fought for Democracy, an essentially American ideal in this day and age because we're the most vocal about it. And perhaps I was talking about the first war in Iraq, I didn't specify because it's essentially the same war with a different name. And you're telling me religion never ever came up? None of the Christian soldiers said anything even vaguely religious to anybody they met on the streets? I find that extremely hard to believe.

Also, protip: Most (By which I mean all) of Europe is DEVELOPED!

And finally, once again you've missed the point. This wasn't about video games as a catalyst for the spread of American culture. No, what I said is that America spreads it's culture more than most, and that American English is basically seen as accentless because of this. Don't try to make the issue different from what it was because you know I have an excellent point.

It interests me that you haven't tried to back any of this up with verifiable documentation. Where, for instance, do you get the idea that democracy is "an essentially American ideal"? Plus, you're absolutely right, you didn't specify which war you were talking about, which might have helped.

Anyway, I don't care what the individual soldiers were saying to the random people they met on the streets of Baghdad. You're claiming that a large part of why America as a political entity goes to war is to spread Christianity, which is absurd.

I'm beginning to suspect that there's no way in hell we're ever going to convince each other. So: Truce?

 

[iain62a]

When people are referred to as having a lack of accent in english, they aren't talking about speaking like a Brit, they are talking about speaking like a mid-western American (there are people here with regional accents, and when you hear one of them you think badly of the person.)

Good work not reading my next post.

Ok, I've read the next post, and I have some things to say about it.

Yes, maybe people in the Midwest talk about themselves not having an accent, but every other region would refer to themselves as not having an accent.

Either way, I don't care about the accents in games.

Well, generally Scottish accents in games are really dire.

Take the Age of Empires series as an example. The Scottish accents in the second and third games really made me cringe.

 

[Imat]

I still think you're wrong. For one thing, I seem to recall something about some buildings and/or airplanes that precipitated the second war in Iraq; I'm a little fuzzy on the details, because it's not like it was on the news or anything, and I'm not going to argue whether invading Iraq made any damn sense at all (it didn't), but it sure as hell wasn't borne out of a desire to "spread American ideals." As for Vietnam: http://www.pbs.org/battlefieldvietnam/history/index.html Now I only scanned this, but as far as I can tell, it was an attempt to maintain a democracy that already existed. Same thing in Korea: http://www.korean-war.com/TimeLine/1950/06-25to08-03-50.html And nowhere in any of these wars was America attempting to spread Christianity; I'm pretty sure the last of the Crusades was a couple thousand years ago, back before there was even an America.

(Also, protip: most of Europe lies within the western hemisphere.)

Anyway, you're using Cuban propaganda as your proof for American foreign policy? Really?

But all of this is beside the point anyway, because we're talking about video game characters with American accents, and I do believe you'd have to be retarded to think that that's an attempt to make the rest of the world more American.

Narrowing down my entire argument to Cuban Propaganda are we? Really? I'm using it as some proof, yes. Because it has truth in it.

And we fought for Democracy, an essentially American ideal in this day and age because we're the most vocal about it. And perhaps I was talking about the first war in Iraq, I didn't specify because it's essentially the same war with a different name. And you're telling me religion never ever came up? None of the Christian soldiers said anything even vaguely religious to anybody they met on the streets? I find that extremely hard to believe.

Also, protip: Most (By which I mean all) of Europe is DEVELOPED!

And finally, once again you've missed the point. This wasn't about video games as a catalyst for the spread of American culture. No, what I said is that America spreads it's culture more than most, and that American English is basically seen as accentless because of this. Don't try to make the issue different from what it was because you know I have an excellent point.

It interests me that you haven't tried to back any of this up with verifiable documentation. Where, for instance, do you get the idea that democracy is "an essentially American ideal"? Plus, you're absolutely right, you didn't specify which war you were talking about, which might have helped.

Anyway, I don't care what the individual soldiers were saying to the random people they met on the streets of Baghdad. You're claiming that a large part of why America as a political entity goes to war is to spread Christianity, which is absurd.

I'm beginning to suspect that there's no way in hell we're ever going to convince each other. So: Truce?

That last statement's been true since the beginning, unfortunately...But yeah, that sounds good.