Thread: American Bashing

Originally Posted by imdusty

What's up with all the bashing? I just want to hear and talk about woodworking, that's why I joined here. Perhaps I should move on to different forums. I didn't know I wasn't welcome.

I think that you will find that it the Australian way of having a bit of fun. There is more about woodwork here than any other forum like this in the world and you are welcome!!

P.S. Don't get to distressed, we talk like that to each other sometimes too!

Originally Posted by Wood Butcher

we talk like that to each other sometimes too!

Whats this sometime bit.....

Originally Posted by imdusty

What's up with all the bashing? I just want to hear and talk about woodworking, that's why I joined here. Perhaps I should move on to different forums. I didn't know I wasn't welcome.

When particular people stick out their necks and tell us how good they are, we tend to bite.

All reasonable people are welcome to this forum. A few of the finest contibutors to this forum are American.

A lot of us (as well as most the balance of the world) dont care for your country's foreign policy nor our governments support of it. This has nothing to do with woodwork. But you'll notice that we have a forum with just such a title and it tends to draw a lot of interest and response.

If you dont have the stomach for some healthy debate then you might not enjoy it here. You are from the land of the brave so I guess youll be right.

Hey dusybloke!

Read this thread, kicked off by one of your own, and a much loved membeer of this joint when he was new to the forum and looking for a hiding! http://www.woodworkforums.ubeaut.com...ad.php?t=14788

Just enjoy yourself, it could be a lot worse, you could come from Tasmania!

Is it true that Americans think irony is stuff that comes from elephant's tusks?

Cheers,

P

Don't think it's confined to Americans, a few locals have managed to rub everyone the wrong way as well as a couple from the middle east and parts of Eorope.
Swan in with a holier than thou approach and duck for cover.
I read your other posts and don't think you need to purchase a flak jacket.
We just get a bit upset when one of your countrymen gloats about what a great system they have in place for education, the best recognised colleges etc, and displays considerable difficulty with punctuation spelling and grammar, what we are lacking by way of healthcare etc.
We all get a little peeved with that, if we wanted to live in US of A we probably would.

The world is a small place when you get online so why worry where a poster is from unless:

They are a Croweater, Banana Bender, Two-headed Taswegian, Sandgroper, New South Welshman etc they are all bad news.....

Carn the Vics!!!!!!!!

Originally Posted by bennylaird

Carn the Vics!!!!!!!!

But only from the right hand side of Melb
City by the bay, Westernport Bay

Originally Posted by imdusty

What's up with all the bashing? I just want to hear and talk about woodworking, that's why I joined here. Perhaps I should move on to different forums. I didn't know I wasn't welcome.

imdusty,

Boban has already put it pretty well, but I would like to emphasise that you are indeed welcome here, as are the great majority of the forum members who happen to be American. Unfortunately, there are a few - very few - who more or less conform to the caricature image of the 'Ugly American'. If you want to see what I mean, take a look at this thread: http://www.woodworkforums.ubeaut.com...ad.php?t=23719 .

I made the original post in the thread to raise a smile, and to poke a little good-natured fun at some of the eccentric measurements still in use in America, which despite its commitment, I believe in earliest colonial times, to adopt the metric system, has never actually got around to doing so. Much to my surprise, it provoked a wild response from an American forum member (in Post #18). In general, the Australian members' response to this outburst was remarkably restrained, but one or two may have been provoked into making unfair generalisations about America.

Nevertheless, we normally appreciate and value the American forum members, several of whom produce outstanding work, and give valuable input to the forum.

Rocker

I'm a bit disappointed that this thread isn't specially for American Bashing

Originally Posted by Rocker

In general, the Australian members' response to this outburst was remarkably restrained, but one or two may have been provoked into making unfair generalisations about America.

As you point out Rocker, the generalisations were indeed "provoked" by the same member, who has in the past been the perpetrator of EXTREME views of the truly obnoxious kind. Many of us were surprised to see him back!

Unfortunately, the way of this form of communication is such, that a newcomer can only judge by what is current, without the benefit of all that has gone before.

Some members (not just American ones) provoke negative responses, it's just that the American ones are then misconstrued as "country bashing".

Cheers,

P

A general rule here is "If you ask for it you will cop it" and not just any particular nationality. The forum members have very good judgement when someone is out of line for one reason or another.

This is speaking from personal experience.

Hey, don't blame us, it's television that's to blame. Just like you guys think all Aussies are Crocodile Dundee, we think you're all Archie Bunker

Stop being such a girl

We are all Crocodiles Dundee are'nt we?(Or should that be just crocs?)

Originally Posted by Iain

But only from the right hand side of Melb
City by the bay, Westernport Bay

You mean MOZZIE LAND don't you Iain