So whats it like where your at? (Split topic)

[flaninacupboard]

Hmm, judging by your joke, is American Express not well accepted over the pnd either? i mean, hardly anyone takes it here, but, why would we? it's american. does it have poor acceptance over there too?

Another thing i meant to ask, i noticed in an episode of friends the other day that monica was describing furniture as "Victorian" (the dolls house episode) do you guys really call that period of history the victorian times? that seems a bit weird, naming a period of history after the queen in some other country....

[Will Hay]

Hmm, judging by your joke, is American Express not well accepted over the pnd either? i mean, hardly anyone takes it here, but, why would we? it's american. does it have poor acceptance over there too?

I see it all the time in Yorkshire, three stickers in a window...
...visa, mastercard and Amex

Another thing i meant to ask, i noticed in an episode of friends the other day that monica was describing furniture as "Victorian" (the dolls house episode) do you guys really call that period of history the victorian times? that seems a bit weird, naming a period of history after the queen in some other country....

I saw that too (I've seen them all I love them), man that's a good question.
I don't think I'd offend anyone by suggesting that the concensus is that the reason American's like the British so much is Britain is steeped in loads of history whereas the US = not so much.
Will

[flaninacupboard]

But it doesn;t make sense! they claimed independance in 1776, and Queen V was born some time in 1800's. we had no influence over them by then!

[pbhalerao]

I think they should be voted in by the members. Based on wit and humor I cast my vote for Will Hay, I love reading some of his posts.

Vote Will Hay for Prime Minister of UK.

Its time that Mr. Potter takes up a new job.

[tgpo]

do you guys really call that period of history the victorian times? that seems a bit weird, naming a period of history after the queen in some other country....

Victorian Age apparently was the term used in the UK, and it was adobted by the US as the "name of the period.

[Will Hay]

Its time that Mr. Potter takes up a new job.

Man, you are fast!!!!!!!!
I'm gonna have to think of something really obscure for you from now on
Will

[Tommyknocker]

Victorian Age apparently was the term used in the UK, and it was adobted by the US as the "name of the period.

You mean like the Elizabethan, Edwardian, ages. Or the Julian and Gregorian calendars?

[pacmania_2001]

Most small retailers (and some large) don't accept American Express because of the higher transaction costs (percentage fee per transaction that the retailer is charged) compared to Mastercard/Visa.

I believe it is like a flat 5% compared to Mastercard/Visa which is like 1% but I am not 100% accurate on those figures.

That is why if you have to buy from a place and they won't let you haggle the price down anymore you just pull out the AMEX so it ends up costing them slightly more.

[tgpo]

i prefer to use my bank card. It pays for it then and I dn't have to worry about it later.

[stiltman]

i prefer to use my bank card. It pays for it then and I dn't have to worry about it later.

There's problems with that. What if someone hijacks your card? Now they are draining your bank account (cash) and not a credit card. Sure, once you prove the fruad, you'll get your money. How long can you wait? 1 week? 2...3....

[flaninacupboard]

well unless they hijack my PIN number with some kind of brainwave detector (ala leeta alexander in B5) they'll have a job getting any money.

and look! 1002 posts! wooo!

[g_shocker182]

well unless they hijack my PIN number with some kind of brainwave detector (ala leeta alexander in B5) they'll have a job getting any money.

It's not hard to get use of the money backed by one of your cards. A theif just has to buy something and sign the receipt and boom! There goes money from your account.

[tgpo]

SImple. I don't have any money in my account. So I don't think they could steal from me.

[rhegedus]

well unless they hijack my PIN number with some kind of brainwave detector (ala leeta alexander in B5) they'll have a job getting any money.

If they clone your card, they can bypass the pin requirement by making up their own and having their card as a second user.

A friend of mine got stung for £3000 a month ago by this method. The worst thing was that there were at least three clones and the bank didn't react when withdrawals were being made in Malaysia, Mexico and Italy simultaneously.

[macleod]

yes, it had to offend someone

American's like the British so much is Britain is steeped in loads of history whereas the US = not so much.

What makes you think that American's like British people. And if they do, it is because y'all have loads of history???

Now, I am not saying this in a mean tone (I read it a few ways and wanted to make it clear that I am not saying it in a mean way, rather, a "HUH"???).

I probably wont be able to respond to your potential reply. I'll be out with the family, but your statement really made me do a double take. I know that this board is visited by folks all over the world and I often wonder what folks in other countries think about other folks in other countries. Me personally, I have never said to myself, "ya know, them British guys are awesome. They gave us Def Leopard !!!!!" I know, cheap shot.

From what I believe, other folks think that us Americans are full of ourselves and are a bunnch of mavericks off to do a hangin'. I have often wondered (and thought, what the hell after your comment) to ask what y'all think of us Yankees (actually yankees are in the Noth....but anyway).

I would really like to hear some responses from non US folks.

[g_shocker182]

From what I believe, other folks think that us Americans are full of ourselves and are a bunnch of mavericks off to do a hangin'. I have often wondered (and thought, what the hell after your comment) to ask what y'all think of us Yankees (actually yankees are in the Noth....but anyway).

I would really like to hear some responses from non US folks.

I've always believed the same way, too. What do you Europeans, Asians, Africans, Swedes, etc. think of us?

[lordsmurf]

the reason American's like the British so much is Britain is steeped in loads of history whereas the US = not so much.
Will

I was a history minor in college, and to be honest, the UK served as little more than a sideshow for most of history. The rest of Europe was where things were at. In fact, it really wasn't until the U.S. declared independence that the Brits got interesting. After that, the U.S. joined the rest of Europe and other parts of the world as the big-time history makers.

I think the only reason we like British history is that it is easier to understand given the common language. Although I barely understand them myself. In fact, I have a hard time understanding the fast-talking New Yorkers. I'm from down south too, where southern drawl comes from.

As far as bank cards, all you have to do is re-program the strip on back to match another one, though it takes a lot of knowledge. And is illegal as heck. (Used to work at a bank, only reason I know.) But it's far easier to steal a card and swipe it. Most stores don't check, especially Walmart.

Being a mod sounds cool. But not sure I have the time for it. Not now at least.

[flaninacupboard]

Well obviously there are always different opinons by different folk, but, i largely stand by what will says. A lot of americans find england interesting because of the history and quaintness we possess. ask your man tgpo, he wants to come see england with all it's castles! Or look at that episode of friends "we're going to London baby, Yeah!" and we make a lot of money from the tourist trade.
Lordsmurf,
Not sure how good your history couse was, but england's played a pretty big part for such a small island! ever heard the saying "the sun never sets on the british empire" ? well it used to be true! With the americas, australia, india, hong kong and a shit load of other places under our rule, we've been quite busy. plus there's all the suff with the royal family, the changes of religion leading to death squads and squablles in the family leading to beheadings. then there's all our different invaders! romans, vikings, normans, the scots, the french, we've had all sorts!

And we've got stone henge :P

[Laddydaddy]

to flaninacupboard,
It is not wierd to call the 1800's the Victorian Period. Since the U.S. was originally a British colony and the 1800's were just around the corner from 1776, most Americans at the time could still trace their ancestry to Great Britain. The furniture you speak of is furniture that was popular during the 1800's. Again this was a time when Queen Victoria ruled the Empire and most Americans claimed British ancestry.

To Will Hay,
Not all Americans love the British. Just ask any American of Irish or German descent. While many Americans enjoy British music and British TV, this doesn't necessarily translate to a love for the British per say.

[flaninacupboard]

ok, gotcha. So do you refer to other time periods br english monarch as well? Like the edwardian period? the georgian period? will our time now become known as the elizabethan period? or is it just now, victorian times and colonial times?

[Laddydaddy]

As far as the furniture, that particular style just happened to be popular during the "Victorian Period." I don't think we will see an Edwardian time period since we no longer have a majority British ethnic group in this country.

[lordsmurf]

With the americas, australia, india, hong kong and a shit load of other places under our rule,

True, but I never considered the colonies part of England. Most of the action happened there, not in England. I'm counting the UK's countryside moreso than the people. I just took a different take on the statement. And don't forget Canada in that list, they still worship the Queen up there too! I have nothing against Brits, in fact I feel the opposite. And I'd like to visit myself. But I don't have some sort of deep-down awe and wonder about the place, nor does anybody I know. That's all I was going after.

[ember]

Posted: Aug 20, 2003 23:54

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Will Hay wrote:
the reason American's like the British so much is Britain is steeped in loads of history whereas the US = not so much.
Will


I was a history minor in college, and to be honest, the UK served as little more than a sideshow for most of history. The rest of Europe was where things were at. In fact, it really wasn't until the U.S. declared independence that the Brits got interesting

To be honest the British Empire started prior to any English speaking people hitting the North American shores. By the time of the war of independence Britain had secured the seas "for itself" (Trafalger blah blah) and was the world's superpower. So it had done "interesting" things to get to that stage.

1815 was interesting in that Britain helped save Europe from a dictator. Something that both British and US returned to do 130 years later.

[gll99]

Oh...... I get it!!

To be a mod you need a good grasp of British-American history.



Sorry guy's..... I couldn't help myself

[Will Hay]

Okay, let me clarify my point.
I didn't expect nor want all you US folk to rush to post...
...."yes, we love all you British".
I didn't mean the British people.
What I said was...

.........the concensus is that the reason American's like the British so much is Britain is steeped in loads of history whereas the US = not so much.

The consensus is the US have an interest in our history, our way of wife and yes, they do lean towards appreciation rather than ridicule, on the whole.
Of course I can't speak for every US citizen, but as flanin.. quite rightly pointed out the sentiment is echoed in your TV shows, 'Friends' being a great example.
I'm not for one minute suggesting that the only reason the US like Britian is because we have more history so to speak, but it's simple a case that for some it's an added attraction.
To be honest my entire quote has been taken out of context, we were talking about the US adopting the phrase 'victorian'. It makes my quote sound like the only good thing going for the UK is it's history of Royalty

I probably wont be able to respond to your potential reply. I'll be out with the family

What, for ever? (there's no rush!)
Will

[Will Hay]

From what I believe, other folks think that us Americans are full of ourselves and are a bunnch of mavericks off to do a hangin'. I have often wondered (and thought, what the hell after your comment) to ask what y'all think of us Yankees (actually yankees are in the Noth....but anyway).

I would really like to hear some responses from non US folks.

I've always believed the same way, too. What do you Europeans, Asians, Africans, Swedes, etc. think of us?

I'm to say I wasn't particularly fond of the US citizen before I paid a visit.
I think I'd been fed a lifetime of drive-by shootings, gangs, consumer-ism, Vegas and excess by the British media for far too long.
I expected you all to be over-zealous, suffocating, mindless trigger-happy arrogant arsehols but found the entire opposite.
I've been to Vegas Maui, San Fran and Beverley Hills (I know, not a good example of the US way of life) and everyone I met was warm, friendly and the complete opposite of what I expected.
Don't flame me for my former opinion folks, I can't help the bullshit we're fed by the tabloids
Will

[pbhalerao]

From what I believe, other folks think that us Americans are full of ourselves and are a bunnch of mavericks off to do a hangin'. I have often wondered (and thought, what the hell after your comment) to ask what y'all think of us Yankees (actually yankees are in the Noth....but anyway).

I would really like to hear some responses from non US folks.

I've always believed the same way, too. What do you Europeans, Asians, Africans, Swedes, etc. think of us?

I have no problems with the Americans. I found Americans to be more open and forthcoming than the citizens rest of the countries I visited (UK, Australia, Holland, Finland, etc.) Now don't get me wrong, rest of the folks! I don't mean that the rest of you were rude or arrogant; just that the Americans were more open, that's all.

However, there are certain American attitudes, that I found were too closed (to put it mildly):

- For Americans, the world is America and foreign mean Canada or at most some NATO countries
- Most Americans neither know nor care what is happening in the rest of the world. Being in the IT field, I happen to meet well-read people and that was what surprised me. I wouldn't have expected much from the common man off the street.
- As posted in the recent post on the 'Football (soccer)' thread, Americans do not care for any foreign sport. I was shocked to find that even Wimbledon and the French Open Tennis, did not get live coverage most of the time (delayed coverage but not live).

But most Americans are nice people. The Americans I didn't like are the 'Used Car Salesmen' . But then I don't think even the Americans like them.

Just as the British love to understate, the Americans love to overstate (bless their warm hearts). However, I do think that Americans should watch their eating habits. They should cut down on the statement 'Supersize it'. America has become great because of its open culture and the infrastructure that supports the dream of every man to make it big. That should not be lost.

Regards,

[gmatov]

"our way of wife"

Yeah, Will,

A Brit book I read one time gave a rule of thumb that a husband should be twice + 7 years the bride's age.

I can endorse that. I don't know what I'd do with a 25, 26 year old, but....

The Victorian furniture is just the type of furniture prevalent in England in the reign of the Victoria from the turn of the century, or just before, just as there is Queen Anne, for the foot-leg, on a chair, Edwardian, for massive, masculine furniture, Chippendale, etc.

I build furniture, cannot do this kind of stuff ( well, maybe I could, but it would be prohibitive, time wise, as it's all for my kids, so I can't tool up for it; it's all one off, hand done.)

But, the English super aristocracy has always had the money to be patrons for artists and artisans. And, an artisan who had to produce a commodity product to keep bread on the table could not develop the svelte, and beautiful, elegant furniture styles that are on the showroom floors, today.

So, they have been given the names they have, styles of furniture, different interpretations, but basically, Victorian, Queen Anne, Edwardian, etc.

I think the only American style is Mission, which is actually stolen from the Spanish who ocupied California before it became a State, basically square, utilitarian, your kid is going to split his head open on it, furniture, or what we call rustic, which looks as though it is home made.

My son-in-law is a kitchen designer, and he just told me a company is trying to sell his company on carrying a line that looks as though the wood just came from the sawmill. He's supposed to take some digi pics for me.

I'll compress and send, or post one. You tell me if it's worth 3000 bucks for a sink base, what 2000 lbs?.

But then, if his clients are willing to spend 50 to 100,000 bucks for their kitchen, who am I to complain. He's on commission.

Go figure.

Cheers,

George

[gmatov]

Prasanna,

Thanks for your kind words.

We are not really any different from the rest of the world, except that we refuse to learn any other language. After all, it is well known that if you speak loudly enough, every one else will understand you.

Everyone says the English language is the most difficult to learn, and it must be, otherwise, why would we teach it in our own schools?

Seriously, it seems every country in the world teaches it, and most students study it. I know if this were a German, Japanese, Indian, whatever, site there would not be any Americans on it. But, we have many people from non-English speaking countries contributing, and, more likely than not, apologizing for their poor grasp of the English language.

Good God, most of them have better diction than the American posters!

Even our own, McCleod, for instance, has a problem. Yankees are us guys up North. Yanks is the Brit term for all of us, even those who are still unsure whether a 150 year old war was won or lost.

We are not a well read people, anymore. Once upon a time, even when literacy was at maybe 10%, those who could read read all they could, down to the label on a can of soup. Those who could not, were ashamed of it, and would do all they could to not let people know so.

Today, with so-called universal education, compulsory, our college graduates, in many instances, cannot read at a 5th grade level. Many large companies insist that they have to give remedial reading to the people they hire to fill any job whatsoever.

And we wonder why the software companies want to hire Indian programmers, or set up a tech support center in India.

As far as "supersizing", the whole of mankind's existence has consisted of getting enough to eat. Any organism will store calories for the lean times.

Today, supposedly, the food supply is so assured we can all eat 400 calories per day, knowing there will be 400 more tomorrow.
This is not an immutable law, as those on the Indian sub-continent well know.
There are such things as famines. There are millions in various African countries starving, not because there is not enough food in the world, but because of pricing, or malfeasance in moving donated foods to the people who need it. Foodstuffs rot because the proper bribes were not paid.

I don't know what you look like, but I'm 5'10", 145 #. I would last about 3 days in a famine. Cigarettes might get me through a 4th day, but then, kaput.

BTW, I also speak Serbo-Croat, which none of my cohort knows more than the swear words of. Of course, I'm running out of those to speak it with, so may lose it.

And you might be surprised to learn that "used car salesmen" rank just above politicians in the trustworthiness department.

Cheers,

George

[andydd]

I dont think Mr Bush's recent actions have helped the way the world views americans. I have to agree that they are on the whole very friendly people but unfortunatley the whole Iraq Way **** up has left a bad view of america (and therefore americans) for many people.

Living in the Uk a lot of people here are a bit pissed off with Tony Blair's attitude of following Bush into a rather stupid poorly thought out war and it's looking increasingly likely that its gonna be his downfall (along with a few other MPs no doubt).

As someone else pointed out...It wouldnt hurt americans to travel a bit more, in Europe ..its very rare to meet someone who hasnt travelled abroad..in fact most people would travel abroad at least once a year. I guess w are lucky though..in that travelling to Europe is both easy and cheap whereas travelling out of the US is expensive and of course the country is so huge to start with.