Living in Europe, I do sometimes meet Americans, and I notice two extreme kinds: Either they are NOT very open - minded, most of them seem never ever been to any other country and i find them weird OR they are VERY open - minded and knowledgeable on almost everything...it's either black or white...never grey...I'm wonderig why it is so different o Europeans...does anyone else have similar observations fromt he past?...

OzlemUcucu said:

Living in Europe, I do sometimes meet Americans, and I notice two extreme kinds: Either they are NOT very open - minded, most of them seem never ever been to any other country and i find them weird OR they are VERY open - minded and knowledgeable on almost everything...it's either black or white...never grey...I'm wonderig why it is so different o Europeans...does anyone else have similar observations fromt he past?...

how many americans have you met, actually? you're judging all americans (hundreds of millions) based on your experience with _____?

I'm not judging, it's an observation..and I'm talkig about Americas living short or temp in Europe. The perspective might be different in USA, and also different on European attitudes..

OzlemUcucu said:

I'm not judging, it's an observation..and I'm talkig about Americas living short or temp in Europe. The perspective might be different in USA, and also different on European attitudes..

an observation based on meeting how many?

Enough obviously to have made an observation. Why else would I be posting this? If you are incapable of understanding this, you better not post, cause you may not understand what I'm trying to say here...

OzlemUcucu said:

Enough obviously to have made an observation. Why else would I be posting this? If you are incapable of understanding this, you better not post, cause you may not understand what I'm trying to say here...

oksher.

I think BlackAdder is just suggesting it's not altogether scientific to pin all Americans with characterizations of only that limited sample you may have met, Ozlem.

That said, I've heard your sentiment echoed by many non-American friends I personally know. Many of them have experienced us to be polar opposites. I don't altogether think that's accurate, but we apparently often "broadcast" that impression.

[Edited 2/28/11 17:52pm]

Lammastide said:

I think BlackAdder is just suggesting it's not altogether scientific to pin all Americans with characterizations of only that limited sample you may have met, Ozlem.

That said, I've heard your sentiment echoed by many non-American friends I personally know. Many of them have experienced us to be polar opposites. I don't altogether think that's accurate, but we apparently often "broadcast" that impression.

[Edited 2/28/11 17:52pm]

thank you, Lammastide for articulating what I couldn't, at least in language the OP would understand.

BlackAdder7 said:

Lammastide said:

I think BlackAdder is just suggesting it's not altogether scientific to pin all Americans with characterizations of only that limited sample you may have met, Ozlem.

That said, I've heard your sentiment echoed by many non-American friends I personally know. Many of them have experienced us to be polar opposites. I don't altogether think that's accurate, but we apparently often "broadcast" that impression.

[Edited 2/28/11 17:52pm]

thank you, Lammastide for articulating what I couldn't, at least in language the OP would understand. seeing that i am originally from planet zargon there are times when communicating with earthlings is difficult for me. to be clear, zzzzfppt ghehrhs ffftuis.

how many space degrees away is planet zargon? to be exact? i have vacation time coming up....

Lammastide said:

I think BlackAdder is just suggesting it's not altogether scientific to pin all Americans with characterizations of only that limited sample you may have met, Ozlem.

That said, I've heard your sentiment echoed by many non-American friends I personally know. Many of them have experienced us to be polar opposites. I don't altogether think that's accurate, but we apparently often "broadcast" that impression.

[Edited 2/28/11 17:52pm]

Interesting, very, very interesting...i vaguely remember having a convo face to face with an American a while ago...there were observations on Europeans that I never have thought existed..i do believe some are surely to be true..my observations can't be too wrong either..

OzlemUcucu said:

Lammastide said:

I think BlackAdder is just suggesting it's not altogether scientific to pin all Americans with characterizations of only that limited sample you may have met, Ozlem.

That said, I've heard your sentiment echoed by many non-American friends I personally know. Many of them have experienced us to be polar opposites. I don't altogether think that's accurate, but we apparently often "broadcast" that impression.

[Edited 2/28/11 17:52pm]

Interesting, very, very interesting...i vaguely remember having a convo face to face with an American a while ago...there were observations on Europeans that I never have thought existed..i do believe some are surely to be true..my observations can't be too wrong either..

if i were to take your research seriously, i might inquire as to you method of gathering input; where did these 'noticings' you refer to take place? could a specific environmental demographic have influenced your results ? i.e. university coffeeshop? pub/bar?...

OzlemUcucu said:

I'm not judging, it's an observation..and I'm talkig about Americas living short or temp in Europe. The perspective might be different in USA, and also different on European attitudes..

Different thinking and culture from European me thinks.

Well, one thing is for sure...US citizens sure fucking hate being told how they are or are not like.

JustErin said:

Well, one thing is for sure...US citizens sure fucking hate being told how they are or are not like.

That depends. My downstairs neighbor from France told me I was arrogant and haughty. I was offended... until she told me it was sexy.

^

I'll only add that I am not arrogant or haughty.

...Or sexy, I guess.

[Edited 3/1/11 17:33pm]

luv4u said:

OzlemUcucu said:

I'm not judging, it's an observation..and I'm talkig about Americas living short or temp in Europe. The perspective might be different in USA, and also different on European attitudes..

Different thinking and culture from European me thinks.

Of course, and I'm referring to those living temp in Europe, which is a completely different thing altogether than being on holiday. I tend to believe the situation with americans goes in two extremes..and so forth...

OzlemUcucu said:

Living in Europe, I do sometimes meet Americans, and I notice two extreme kinds: Either they are NOT very open - minded, most of them seem never ever been to any other country and i find them weird OR they are VERY open - minded and knowledgeable on almost everything...it's either black or white...never grey...I'm wonderig why it is so different o Europeans...does anyone else have similar observations fromt he past?...

So this characteristic is unique to Americans? I think not.

That being said ....

I find a significant percentage of my fellow U.S. citizens worldview to be, myopic. I blame this partly on our educational system and a decline in foreign coverage by our U.S. media: TV, radio, and newspapers. What's more troubling, most American don't have a basic understanding of their right's under our U.S. Constitution and how our goverment works. I wouldn't be shocked if many of us struggled with locating our nation on a World Atlas . . . let alone any other nation. Not to speak of our history, world history. . . .

Prior to his death the Senator from Illinois, Paul Simon wanted to fund a program for U.S. students to spend 12 to 16 weeks aboard over the course of their high school years. Such funding never got beyond the talking stage but it could've been a start in exposing our children to the possibilities. . . peak their curiosity about other viewpoints beyond our shores.

What I've discovered, people have their perceptions of what they think a place and people are like. As I've mentioned, I don't think Americans have a monopoly on this type of thinking or beliefs. Maybe we've become accustomed to sizing up everything up in 30 seconds or less; making up our minds and sticking to it. Subjects that are complex or have layers to them are dismissed or ignored.

=================

[Edited 2/28/11 19:23pm]

Well, the responses of the US citizens answers your question

The responses don't clarify anything, but rather reaffirm what I was thinking

Interesting.... there are very few Americans in America anymore...

It’s true. We only fall into 2 categories, extremely far apart from each other. No shades of grey, no middle ground. Red and blue. Right and left. Black and white. So on and so forth.

OzlemUcucu said:

Living in Europe, I do sometimes meet Americans, and I notice two extreme kinds: Either they are NOT very open - minded, most of them seem never ever been to any other country and i find them weird OR they are VERY open - minded and knowledgeable on almost everything...it's either black or white...never grey...I'm wonderig why it is so different o Europeans...does anyone else have similar observations fromt he past?...

No need to visit another country when you already live in the best country. No, but seriously, I can barely afford to visit Memphis in a neighboring state, let alone visit another country.

sag10 said:

Interesting.... there are very few Americans in America anymore...