Are Americans especially thick?
May 8th 2002, 10:21 am
#241
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Driving on the right (was Re: Are Americans especially thick?)
I espied that on 08 May 2002, "Jonathan Morton"
<[email protected]> wrote:
> "Harvey V" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
>
>>> The "mainland"??????????
>>>
>>> What on earth do you mean by that?
>>
>> That sort of went "CLANG" on my ear, too......
>>
>> I've never come across it, but maybe there's some region in the UK that says "the
>> mainland" when they refer to the countries on the other side of what the French
>> insist on calling "The Sleeve"......
>
> Not a regional thing as such, but just the thinking man's way of describing that
> part of Europe that isn't one of the two largish offshore islands. I could say "the
> continent" or "Europe", but both of those expressions imply that the UK isn't part
> of Europe.
I see your point, and am with you entirely on avoiding "Europe" for that reason.
I don't personally hear that with "the continent": in my mind's ear, I it's just a
useful term when one wishes to make a distinction between the "contiguous-country"
zone of the EU and our offshore islands.
Thinking this over, though, I can see the potential overtones, and perhaps will start
opting for "continental Europe".
Even "mainland Europe" sounds OK to me, but "the mainland" as an unadorned
description still goes "CLANG": it strikes me as an inappropriate description of the
UK/Ireland/Continental Europe relationship.
--
Cheers, Harvey
<[email protected]> wrote:
> "Harvey V" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
>
>>> The "mainland"??????????
>>>
>>> What on earth do you mean by that?
>>
>> That sort of went "CLANG" on my ear, too......
>>
>> I've never come across it, but maybe there's some region in the UK that says "the
>> mainland" when they refer to the countries on the other side of what the French
>> insist on calling "The Sleeve"......
>
> Not a regional thing as such, but just the thinking man's way of describing that
> part of Europe that isn't one of the two largish offshore islands. I could say "the
> continent" or "Europe", but both of those expressions imply that the UK isn't part
> of Europe.
I see your point, and am with you entirely on avoiding "Europe" for that reason.
I don't personally hear that with "the continent": in my mind's ear, I it's just a
useful term when one wishes to make a distinction between the "contiguous-country"
zone of the EU and our offshore islands.
Thinking this over, though, I can see the potential overtones, and perhaps will start
opting for "continental Europe".
Even "mainland Europe" sounds OK to me, but "the mainland" as an unadorned
description still goes "CLANG": it strikes me as an inappropriate description of the
UK/Ireland/Continental Europe relationship.
--
Cheers, Harvey
May 8th 2002, 11:21 am
#242
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Are Americans especially thick?
In article <[email protected]>, "Kenny Boylan"
<[email protected]> wrote:
> "ArtKramr" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
> > >I wouldn't say that Americans are 'thick'. They're just not as bright as
> > >Europeans. Then again, when their education system functions on the principal
> > >that the richest get the best education, that's hardly surprising.
> >
> > More Nobel prizes have been won by Americans than all other nations. combined.
> > Jealousy and backbiting are terrible things.
> >
>
> Not true.
I studied in Europe as a teen -- MOST of my fellow teens weren't even in school.
Europeans tend to compare those who complete the Abiture [sp?] or other elite
students with the average American high schooler. And of course, access to higher
education including Ivy League education is more open to the non wealthy in the US
than most other countries in the world. [I remember who dropped out at grade 10 in my
German Gymnasium and it wasn't the stupid -- it was the less wealthy for the most
part whose families expected them to get a trade and go to work] I realize things
have changed in Europe since then -- but the double standard comparisons still pit
the brightest Europeans against the average Americans. Even on the much vaunted
international tests of pre college education, suburban US students are quite
competitive with the elite students in other countries.
<[email protected]> wrote:
> "ArtKramr" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
> > >I wouldn't say that Americans are 'thick'. They're just not as bright as
> > >Europeans. Then again, when their education system functions on the principal
> > >that the richest get the best education, that's hardly surprising.
> >
> > More Nobel prizes have been won by Americans than all other nations. combined.
> > Jealousy and backbiting are terrible things.
> >
>
> Not true.
I studied in Europe as a teen -- MOST of my fellow teens weren't even in school.
Europeans tend to compare those who complete the Abiture [sp?] or other elite
students with the average American high schooler. And of course, access to higher
education including Ivy League education is more open to the non wealthy in the US
than most other countries in the world. [I remember who dropped out at grade 10 in my
German Gymnasium and it wasn't the stupid -- it was the less wealthy for the most
part whose families expected them to get a trade and go to work] I realize things
have changed in Europe since then -- but the double standard comparisons still pit
the brightest Europeans against the average Americans. Even on the much vaunted
international tests of pre college education, suburban US students are quite
competitive with the elite students in other countries.
May 8th 2002, 11:21 am
#243
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Driving on the right (was Re: Are Americans especially thick?)
On Wed, 8 May 2002 22:32:05 +0100, "Brian Smith" <[email protected]> wrote:
>Most 'island-dwellers' refer to a larger continental land mass (usually within the
>same country) as 'the mainland'. I must admit I haven't heard many Brits use the
>word to refer to the continental european land-mass - although since the creation of
>the EU it could be appropriate. The (Spanish) Canary Islands refer to the Spanish
>mainland as 'the peninsular'.
>
>Brian www.islalapalma.com
>
>
>"David Lewis" <[email protected]> wrote in message
>news:[email protected]...
>> In article <[email protected]>, Jonathan Morton
>> <[email protected]> writes
>> >Most people from the UK will tell you it's no problem taking their own
>car
>> >to the mainland on holiday, for example.
>>
>> The "mainland"??????????
>>
>> What on earth do you mean by that?
>>
FWIW, I was looking for some statistics to quote in another newsgroup and found an
official UK Government website which uses the term "Mainland Europe" . Germans use a
similar term (Europäischen Festland
- grammar [?]) Mainland Europe is a term I also use - what's the problem with this?
Keith Bristol UK
>Most 'island-dwellers' refer to a larger continental land mass (usually within the
>same country) as 'the mainland'. I must admit I haven't heard many Brits use the
>word to refer to the continental european land-mass - although since the creation of
>the EU it could be appropriate. The (Spanish) Canary Islands refer to the Spanish
>mainland as 'the peninsular'.
>
>Brian www.islalapalma.com
>
>
>"David Lewis" <[email protected]> wrote in message
>news:[email protected]...
>> In article <[email protected]>, Jonathan Morton
>> <[email protected]> writes
>> >Most people from the UK will tell you it's no problem taking their own
>car
>> >to the mainland on holiday, for example.
>>
>> The "mainland"??????????
>>
>> What on earth do you mean by that?
>>
FWIW, I was looking for some statistics to quote in another newsgroup and found an
official UK Government website which uses the term "Mainland Europe" . Germans use a
similar term (Europäischen Festland
- grammar [?]) Mainland Europe is a term I also use - what's the problem with this?
Keith Bristol UK
May 8th 2002, 11:21 am
#244
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Driving on the right (was Re: Are Americans especially thick?)
I espied that on 08 May 2002, Keith Anderson
<[email protected]> wrote:
>>>> Most people from the UK will tell you it's no problem taking their own car to
>>>> the mainland on holiday, for example.
>>>
>>> The "mainland"??????????
>>>
>>> What on earth do you mean by that?
>>>
> FWIW, I was looking for some statistics to quote in another newsgroup and found an
> official UK Government website which uses the term "Mainland Europe" . Germans use
> a similar term (Europäischen Festland - grammar [?]) Mainland Europe is a term I
> also use - what's the problem with this?
I don't have a problem with "Mainland Europe" at all -- I can even imagine using
that myself.
The unadorned description of the continguous-country part of the EU as "The
Mainland", though, just doesn't form part of any idiom I've come across.
--
Cheers, Harvey
<[email protected]> wrote:
>>>> Most people from the UK will tell you it's no problem taking their own car to
>>>> the mainland on holiday, for example.
>>>
>>> The "mainland"??????????
>>>
>>> What on earth do you mean by that?
>>>
> FWIW, I was looking for some statistics to quote in another newsgroup and found an
> official UK Government website which uses the term "Mainland Europe" . Germans use
> a similar term (Europäischen Festland - grammar [?]) Mainland Europe is a term I
> also use - what's the problem with this?
I don't have a problem with "Mainland Europe" at all -- I can even imagine using
that myself.
The unadorned description of the continguous-country part of the EU as "The
Mainland", though, just doesn't form part of any idiom I've come across.
--
Cheers, Harvey
May 8th 2002, 11:21 am
#245
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Driving on the right (was Re: Are Americans especially thick?)
"Keith Anderson" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> FWIW, I was looking for some statistics to quote in another newsgroup and found an
> official UK Government website which uses the term "Mainland Europe" . Germans use
> a similar term (Europäischen Festland
> - grammar [?]) Mainland Europe is a term I also use - what's the problem with this?
>
Ah, but would that include all of NL
news:[email protected]...
> FWIW, I was looking for some statistics to quote in another newsgroup and found an
> official UK Government website which uses the term "Mainland Europe" . Germans use
> a similar term (Europäischen Festland
> - grammar [?]) Mainland Europe is a term I also use - what's the problem with this?
>
Ah, but would that include all of NL
May 8th 2002, 11:21 am
#246
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Driving on the right (was Re: Are Americans especially thick?)
On Wed, 8 May 2002 23:18:49 +0100, "The Oik" <[email protected]> wrote:
>
>"Keith Anderson" <[email protected]> wrote in message
>news:[email protected]...
>> FWIW, I was looking for some statistics to quote in another newsgroup and found an
>> official UK Government website which uses the term "Mainland Europe" . Germans use
>> a similar term (Europäischen Festland
>> - grammar [?]) Mainland Europe is a term I also use - what's the problem with
>> this?
>>
>Ah, but would that include all of NL
Aw, sh.... caught me out again
>
>"Keith Anderson" <[email protected]> wrote in message
>news:[email protected]...
>> FWIW, I was looking for some statistics to quote in another newsgroup and found an
>> official UK Government website which uses the term "Mainland Europe" . Germans use
>> a similar term (Europäischen Festland
>> - grammar [?]) Mainland Europe is a term I also use - what's the problem with
>> this?
>>
>Ah, but would that include all of NL
Aw, sh.... caught me out again
May 8th 2002, 12:21 pm
#247
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Driving on the right (was Re: Are Americans especially thick?)
In message <[email protected]>, Harvey V
<[email protected]> writes
>
>I don't personally hear that with "the continent": in my mind's ear, I it's just a
>useful term when one wishes to make a distinction between the "contiguous-country"
>zone of the EU and our offshore islands.
>
>Thinking this over, though, I can see the potential overtones, and perhaps will
>start opting for "continental Europe".
>
>Even "mainland Europe" sounds OK to me, but "the mainland" as an unadorned
>description still goes "CLANG": it strikes me as an inappropriate description of the
>UK/Ireland/Continental Europe relationship.
"The mainland" sounds OK to me as it's fairly unambiguous (ignoring for the moment
that the main islands of both the Orkneys and the Shetlands are called "Mainland"!).
"Cross-Channel" I have some problems with - in the UK it means "the mainland", but I
sometimes read Irish newspapers and I think they use the term to mean Britain!
--
Arwel Parry http://www.cartref.demon.co.uk/
<[email protected]> writes
>
>I don't personally hear that with "the continent": in my mind's ear, I it's just a
>useful term when one wishes to make a distinction between the "contiguous-country"
>zone of the EU and our offshore islands.
>
>Thinking this over, though, I can see the potential overtones, and perhaps will
>start opting for "continental Europe".
>
>Even "mainland Europe" sounds OK to me, but "the mainland" as an unadorned
>description still goes "CLANG": it strikes me as an inappropriate description of the
>UK/Ireland/Continental Europe relationship.
"The mainland" sounds OK to me as it's fairly unambiguous (ignoring for the moment
that the main islands of both the Orkneys and the Shetlands are called "Mainland"!).
"Cross-Channel" I have some problems with - in the UK it means "the mainland", but I
sometimes read Irish newspapers and I think they use the term to mean Britain!
--
Arwel Parry http://www.cartref.demon.co.uk/
May 8th 2002, 12:21 pm
#248
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Are Americans especially thick?
David Lewis wrote:
>
> I have been unfortinate then. I have met many pleasant and friendly Americans, but,
> so far, never one who was knowledgeable on geography other than that of his or her
> own country.
In my travels in Europe, I have run into lots of Americans traveling around in rental
cars or on rail passes, rarely in bus tours. Not that they don't sometimes go on
tours, though not seemingly as much as other nationalities. Being famous for their
ignorance of geography outside of their own country, you'd wonder how they find their
way around on their own
>
> I have been unfortinate then. I have met many pleasant and friendly Americans, but,
> so far, never one who was knowledgeable on geography other than that of his or her
> own country.
In my travels in Europe, I have run into lots of Americans traveling around in rental
cars or on rail passes, rarely in bus tours. Not that they don't sometimes go on
tours, though not seemingly as much as other nationalities. Being famous for their
ignorance of geography outside of their own country, you'd wonder how they find their
way around on their own
May 8th 2002, 12:21 pm
#249
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Are Americans especially thick?
ArtKramr <[email protected]> schrieb in im Newsbeitrag:
> >I wouldn't say that Americans are 'thick'. They're just not as bright as
> >Europeans. Then again, when their education system functions on the principal that
> >the richest get the best education, that's hardly surprising.
>
> More Nobel prizes have been won by Americans than all other nations. combined.
> Jealousy and backbiting are terrible things.
No, I think you are wrong here. In the Number of Nobel prices won per capita
Switzerland beats the US beyond doubt.
Or how else would you like to compare nations?
Mastermix
> >I wouldn't say that Americans are 'thick'. They're just not as bright as
> >Europeans. Then again, when their education system functions on the principal that
> >the richest get the best education, that's hardly surprising.
>
> More Nobel prizes have been won by Americans than all other nations. combined.
> Jealousy and backbiting are terrible things.
No, I think you are wrong here. In the Number of Nobel prices won per capita
Switzerland beats the US beyond doubt.
Or how else would you like to compare nations?
Mastermix
May 8th 2002, 12:21 pm
#250
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Are Americans especially thick?
Kenny Boylan <[email protected]> wrote:
>"ArtKramr" <[email protected]> wrote:
>> More Nobel prizes have been won by Americans than all other nations. combined.
>> Jealousy and backbiting are terrible things.
>
> Not true.
You think they're good things?
miguel
--
Hit The Road! Photos and tales from around the world: http://travel.u.nu
>"ArtKramr" <[email protected]> wrote:
>> More Nobel prizes have been won by Americans than all other nations. combined.
>> Jealousy and backbiting are terrible things.
>
> Not true.
You think they're good things?
miguel
--
Hit The Road! Photos and tales from around the world: http://travel.u.nu
May 8th 2002, 12:21 pm
#251
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Are Americans especially thick?
Nara wrote:
>
> Someone once told me that they were asked by a couple of American tourists where
> the bridge from Australia to New Zealand is.
>
True story.... a guy from Detroit argues with my brother that Toronto could not
expand because of permafrost.
>
> Someone once told me that they were asked by a couple of American tourists where
> the bridge from Australia to New Zealand is.
>
True story.... a guy from Detroit argues with my brother that Toronto could not
expand because of permafrost.
May 8th 2002, 12:21 pm
#252
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Are Americans especially thick?
Lennart Petersen <[email protected]> wrote:
> "Miguel Cruz" <[email protected]> skrev:
>>> As for Hawaii there's a border line to the water territory of Kiribati about
>>> 1000miles away.
>>
>> Hawaii's border is 12 miles from the shore.
>
> But doesn't mean it's 12miles from Kiribati ?
Wait a few years...
Actually I guess in a few years there won't be any more Kiribati.
miguel
--
Hit The Road! Photos and tales from around the world: http://travel.u.nu
> "Miguel Cruz" <[email protected]> skrev:
>>> As for Hawaii there's a border line to the water territory of Kiribati about
>>> 1000miles away.
>>
>> Hawaii's border is 12 miles from the shore.
>
> But doesn't mean it's 12miles from Kiribati ?
Wait a few years...
Actually I guess in a few years there won't be any more Kiribati.
miguel
--
Hit The Road! Photos and tales from around the world: http://travel.u.nu
May 8th 2002, 12:21 pm
#253
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Are Americans especially thick?
L Mehl <[email protected]> wrote:
>> A hypothetical introduced by "if" is in the subjunctive mood, which would take
>> "were" rather than "was" - at least in American English.
>
> All this is really interesting to those of us who want to discuss and read
> about travel.
Really? I would think you'd find a pedantic discussion of grammar to be entirely
off-topic. To each his own, I guess.
miguel
--
Hit The Road! Photos and tales from around the world: http://travel.u.nu
>> A hypothetical introduced by "if" is in the subjunctive mood, which would take
>> "were" rather than "was" - at least in American English.
>
> All this is really interesting to those of us who want to discuss and read
> about travel.
Really? I would think you'd find a pedantic discussion of grammar to be entirely
off-topic. To each his own, I guess.
miguel
--
Hit The Road! Photos and tales from around the world: http://travel.u.nu
May 8th 2002, 12:21 pm
#254
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Are Americans especially thick?
"Dave Smith" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>
> Nara wrote:
>
> >
> > Someone once told me that they were asked by a couple of American tourists where
> > the bridge from Australia to New Zealand is.
> >
>
> True story.... a guy from Detroit argues with my brother that Toronto
could not
> expand because of permafrost.
>
True story; for reasons too complex etc etc, I'm in a village in Hungary talking to
the Hertz 24/7 call out centre in the US. I explain I'm in whatever village in
Hungary, about 100 km south of Budapest, Hungary, Europe (I know I'm on a looser
here, having ended up talking to the US - I don't *really* expect this guy to send a
tow truck). He says.. 'is that in Alabama?'
news:[email protected]...
>
> Nara wrote:
>
> >
> > Someone once told me that they were asked by a couple of American tourists where
> > the bridge from Australia to New Zealand is.
> >
>
> True story.... a guy from Detroit argues with my brother that Toronto
could not
> expand because of permafrost.
>
True story; for reasons too complex etc etc, I'm in a village in Hungary talking to
the Hertz 24/7 call out centre in the US. I explain I'm in whatever village in
Hungary, about 100 km south of Budapest, Hungary, Europe (I know I'm on a looser
here, having ended up talking to the US - I don't *really* expect this guy to send a
tow truck). He says.. 'is that in Alabama?'
May 8th 2002, 12:21 pm
#255
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Are Americans especially thick?
David Gascon wrote:
>
> > > You know, I keep reading this allegation here, but have no idea how many US
> > > dollars actually are going to the IRA. Can someone enlighten? Are there
> > > statistics?
> >
> > Do you question the allegation or the extent of (private)American funding for the
> > IRA. The US Department of State web site indicates that it is true.
>
> Extent. Please read the question again.
Do you honestly expect that there would be accurate figures on the funding of any
terrorists organizations? Is it not enough that the US State Department acknowledges
that it is happening?
>
> > > You know, I keep reading this allegation here, but have no idea how many US
> > > dollars actually are going to the IRA. Can someone enlighten? Are there
> > > statistics?
> >
> > Do you question the allegation or the extent of (private)American funding for the
> > IRA. The US Department of State web site indicates that it is true.
>
> Extent. Please read the question again.
Do you honestly expect that there would be accurate figures on the funding of any
terrorists organizations? Is it not enough that the US State Department acknowledges
that it is happening?
