Dry sense of humour?
Oct 7th 2005, 10:12 am
#61
@matthewb76
Joined: Jul 2003
Location: Missouri
Posts: 21,886
Re: Dry sense of humour?
Originally Posted by RoadWarriorFromLP
It's best to accept a place for its benefits and faults,
you buy a house, and 3 weeks later the electricity goes on the blink, do you
A) call an electrician
B) live with the faults.
Oct 7th 2005, 10:12 am
#62
Bloody Yank
Joined: Oct 2005
Location: USA! USA!
Posts: 4,186
Re: Dry sense of humour?
No, Britvic, I've only heard about Milton Keynes from Google. As you may have read in the Guardian, only seventeen Americans have passports, and all of them are currently invading countries somewhere in the Middle East, so that couldn't possibly be me.
I wouldn't knock Swindon, that's home to the Magic Roundabout, evidence of what happens when traffic engineers have a few too many pints at lunch.
I wouldn't knock Swindon, that's home to the Magic Roundabout, evidence of what happens when traffic engineers have a few too many pints at lunch.
Oct 7th 2005, 10:13 am
#63
CA to TX to Jamaica
Joined: Jun 2003
Location: Location, Location.
Posts: 4,887
Re: Dry sense of humour?
Originally Posted by RoadWarriorFromLP
As a Yank, allow me to educate you about my people:
We are taught from an early age to be "nice" and friendly, above all else. Sarcasm in the US is often used as a passive-aggressive method to insult others, rather than as a vehicle for humor strictly for humor's sake as is the case in the UK.
The reason Americans may not seem to "get it" and/or may appear to be offended is they are trying to decode the insult in your comment, and determine the degree to which you intended offense. (Notice our generous use of the "I'm kidding" qualifier for those of use who do use sarcasm just for fun.)
Since we use often sarcasm as a way of communicating nastiness, we are expecting the same from you. Accordingly, Americans tend to believe that every comment uttered has some degree of truth or seriousness intended in it, and equate your sarcasm with you either being arrogant or unfriendly. Therefore, popular humor is more "obvious" and less "subtle" so as to offend as few people as possible, or to make it clear when offensiveness is intended. It's simply a cultural difference, you can decide for yourselves whose cultural spin you prefer.
We are taught from an early age to be "nice" and friendly, above all else. Sarcasm in the US is often used as a passive-aggressive method to insult others, rather than as a vehicle for humor strictly for humor's sake as is the case in the UK.
The reason Americans may not seem to "get it" and/or may appear to be offended is they are trying to decode the insult in your comment, and determine the degree to which you intended offense. (Notice our generous use of the "I'm kidding" qualifier for those of use who do use sarcasm just for fun.)
Since we use often sarcasm as a way of communicating nastiness, we are expecting the same from you. Accordingly, Americans tend to believe that every comment uttered has some degree of truth or seriousness intended in it, and equate your sarcasm with you either being arrogant or unfriendly. Therefore, popular humor is more "obvious" and less "subtle" so as to offend as few people as possible, or to make it clear when offensiveness is intended. It's simply a cultural difference, you can decide for yourselves whose cultural spin you prefer.
Oct 7th 2005, 10:14 am
#64
CA to TX to Jamaica
Joined: Jun 2003
Location: Location, Location.
Posts: 4,887
Re: Dry sense of humour?
Originally Posted by gruffbrown
Excellent.... 3 posts and going for the jugular already 
Oct 7th 2005, 10:15 am
#65
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 30,102
Re: Dry sense of humour?
Originally Posted by CaliforniaBride
Care for some of mine? It's suited to all tatstes.
Oct 7th 2005, 10:17 am
#66
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Jan 2004
Location: Northern California
Posts: 872
Re: Dry sense of humour?
Originally Posted by RoadWarriorFromLP
.....It's best to accept a place for its benefits and faults, and try to enjoy it as best you can, rather than seethe about it while being nostalgic for a place about which you'd probably complain about if you lived there, anyway.
Oct 7th 2005, 10:18 am
#67
Account Closed
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 8,271
Re: Dry sense of humour?
Its my God given birthright as Brit to moan luck ***** about where I live whereever that may be.
Oct 7th 2005, 10:18 am
#68
Account Closed
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 22,220
Re: Dry sense of humour?
Originally Posted by gruffbrown
Oooh ta, very racey popcorn....vroom vroom
Oct 7th 2005, 10:19 am
#69
@matthewb76
Joined: Jul 2003
Location: Missouri
Posts: 21,886
Re: Dry sense of humour?
Originally Posted by Angry White Pyjamas
Its my God given birthright as Brit to moan luck ***** about where I live whereever that may be.
Oct 7th 2005, 10:20 am
#70
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Oct 2004
Location: Mother Land.
Posts: 14,858
Re: Dry sense of humour?
Originally Posted by RoadWarriorFromLP
No, Britvic, I've only heard about Milton Keynes from Google. As you may have read in the Guardian, only seventeen Americans have passports, and all of them are currently invading countries somewhere in the Middle East, so that couldn't possibly be me.
I wouldn't knock Swindon, that's home to the Magic Roundabout, evidence of what happens when traffic engineers have a few too many pints at lunch.
I wouldn't knock Swindon, that's home to the Magic Roundabout, evidence of what happens when traffic engineers have a few too many pints at lunch.
And I personally love them over trafficlight's.
Oct 7th 2005, 10:21 am
#71
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 30,102
Re: Dry sense of humour?
Originally Posted by Angry White Pyjamas
Its my God given birthright as Brit to moan luck ***** about where I live whereever that may be.
Oct 7th 2005, 10:24 am
#72
Bloody Yank
Joined: Oct 2005
Location: USA! USA!
Posts: 4,186
Re: Dry sense of humour?
Rushman, you're not a very good sport and more than a bit off-track. (Not sure how you confused my comments for flagwaving, guess I'll blame the beer.)
Nice to see that one can be an expat whilst living in his mother's basement. If I need advice about living with my parents into old age, I'll be sure to contact you.
Nice to see that one can be an expat whilst living in his mother's basement. If I need advice about living with my parents into old age, I'll be sure to contact you.
Oct 7th 2005, 10:28 am
#73
Account Closed
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 22,220
Re: Dry sense of humour?
Originally Posted by RoadWarriorFromLP
Rushman, you're not a very good sport and more than a bit off-track. (Not sure how you confused my comments for flagwaving, guess I'll blame the beer.)
Nice to see that one can be an expat whilst living in his mother's basement. If I need advice about living with my parents into old age, I'll be sure to contact you.
Nice to see that one can be an expat whilst living in his mother's basement. If I need advice about living with my parents into old age, I'll be sure to contact you.
Hmmm..... I get the feeling that you are not who you say you are. Your (lack of) wit seems strangely familiar in its immaturity.
Oct 7th 2005, 10:30 am
#74
@matthewb76
Joined: Jul 2003
Location: Missouri
Posts: 21,886
Re: Dry sense of humour?
Originally Posted by RoadWarriorFromLP
Not sure how you confused my comments for flagwaving,
if you joined the forum to offer serious debate then welcome,
if you joined up to troll, piss off
if you joined up to find out about healthcare and schooling then you came to the right place apparently.
Oct 7th 2005, 10:43 am
#75
Account Closed
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 8,271
Re: Dry sense of humour?
Originally Posted by Manc
People are fighting the terrorists in Iraq to uphold that right. fighting for your freedoms they are.
