The OH-SO FASCINATING ancestry or ethnicity thread. (country, irish, quote)

[Rabid Sea Turtles]

I could probably agree with each of those statements, though the ideas on why we do those things are occasionally wrong.
I don't think that Americans are attempting to force their views on anyone by speaking loud.
Sometimes in conversation I will speak loudly, simply so that what I say will be heard. Americans are, well, rude, and will interrupt you if they have something to say. I do it, and I get pissed when someone does it to me. Loud speech is just reassurance that what I am saying is heard, over all the other garbage people are saying.

I also think it is true, we will give our opinions on something, regardless of how popular ourt opinion may be.
Or, if we disagree with you, for the most part, we will let you know that we disagree.
We aren't insulting you, just giving our thoughts. Feel free to give your thoughts in return.

[Urban Hat€monger ?]

I just find it kind of strange that Americans seem to be one of the most patriotic nations around , yet they`re also the most likely to say something like 'I`m half Italian half Irish' or something along those lines.

I have ancestory in England , Normandy & India yet I never feel the need to mention it all the time , I just say i`m English to save time , even though i`m only actually half English.

[right-track]

Originally Posted by DontRunMeOver

Well, I've got to stress that this is based on the Americans I have met in person (of which there have been quite a lot - about 50 different Americans, I've spent a decent amount of time with at one point or another). What I'll tell you about is the way in which the Americans I met tended to come across in person, and from this I'll touch upon how this turns into a problem for them and how its makes their social/interpersonal adjustments difficult. These impressions were based on my own impressions and also the many, many comments which I'd received from other non-Americans on these same people. Most of the time these comments were freely offered, some of the time I asked for comments and was given them. Why? I'm very inquisitive, that's why.

1. Most Americans I've met speak at a volume which most other cultures would consider to be shouting. To many people of other cultures, this would appear that the American person is actually trying to intimidate or force their views upon them, even though the American is actually just talking like they've been talking their whole life.
2. ALL but one of the Americans I've met complain constantly whenever they get the chance. Coupled with the loud voice, this gives other people the impression that they're just being attention seekers, although I'd be pretty sure that its seen as perfectly normal by them to complain when there is a problem.
3. The Americans I've met generally came across as argumentative and aggressive to me and people of other cultures. As far as I can tell, the idea in American culture is to put your ideas and opinions out there and allow other people to criticise it, while you do the same with other people's opinions. Although these Americans were used to this argumentative behaviour, most other cultures aren't so directly argumentative, so people of this culture get very offended when their ideas are rudely shot down, with no soft-touches.

Sorry, I've got to get my dinner, so I'll leave you with this little firecracker. I've not answered the question yet, but I'm hungry...

So, there you have it. DRMO'S advice to an American abroad is to stop being a loud mouthed pushy Yank...and "when in Rome", chill the fuck out!

On the opposite side of the coin, this will probably explain why (in my understanding) Americans find the English so polite. Which is a misconception.

No right or wrongs here, just cultural differences...

[Rabid Sea Turtles]

Originally Posted by Urban Hatemonger

I just find it kind of strange that Americans seem to be one of the most patriotic nations around , yet they`re also the most likely to say something like 'I`m half Italian half Irish' or something along those lines.

I have ancestory in England , Normandy & India yet I never feel the need to mention it all the time , I just say i`m English to save time , even though i`m only actually half English.

If there is one thing that I can't stand about Americans in general,it is the fact that we are always displaying our flag. Seriously, there is no need to display our flag all over t-shirts, on posters, bald eagles all over the place, chill out on the symbols.

[DearJenny]

Originally Posted by DontRunMeOver

Well, I've got to stress that this is based on the Americans I have met in person (of which there have been quite a lot - about 50 different Americans, I've spent a decent amount of time with at one point or another). What I'll tell you about is the way in which the Americans I met tended to come across in person, and from this I'll touch upon how this turns into a problem for them and how its makes their social/interpersonal adjustments difficult. These impressions were based on my own impressions and also the many, many comments which I'd received from other non-Americans on these same people. Most of the time these comments were freely offered, some of the time I asked for comments and was given them. Why? I'm very inquisitive, that's why.

1. Most Americans I've met speak at a volume which most other cultures would consider to be shouting. To many people of other cultures, this would appear that the American person is actually trying to intimidate or force their views upon them, even though the American is actually just talking like they've been talking their whole life.
2. ALL but one of the Americans I've met complain constantly whenever they get the chance. Coupled with the loud voice, this gives other people the impression that they're just being attention seekers, although I'd be pretty sure that its seen as perfectly normal by them to complain when there is a problem.
3. The Americans I've met generally came across as argumentative and aggressive to me and people of other cultures. As far as I can tell, the idea in American culture is to put your ideas and opinions out there and allow other people to criticise it, while you do the same with other people's opinions. Although these Americans were used to this argumentative behaviour, most other cultures aren't so directly argumentative, so people of this culture get very offended when their ideas are rudely shot down, with no soft-touches.

Sorry, I've got to get my dinner, so I'll leave you with this little firecracker. I've not answered the question yet, but I'm hungry...

I think I'd do well then. I am abnormally softspoken, I complain very little if at all really. I believe there are people who have it worse, so I rarely complain about my life or the situations I happen to be in. Also, I am alarmingly passive-agressive. I'm as polite as possible. I'm humble. Unless directly confronted, in real life, I am incredibly submissive and passive. I believe I'd do really well.

[right-track]

Originally Posted by Urban Hatemonger

I just find it kind of strange that Americans seem to be one of the most patriotic nations around , yet they`re also the most likely to say something like 'I`m half Italian half Irish' or something along those lines.

I have ancestory in England , Normandy & India yet I never feel the need to mention it all the time , I just say i`m English to save time , even though i`m only actually half English.

I think this has a lot to do with the British feeling comfortable with their roots.
Much more ingrained and shared commonly with the rest of the nation.
Maybe 'American identity' is less defined due to the age of the nation, along with the mix of immigrants over the last few centuries?

[DontRunMeOver]

Originally Posted by Rabid Sea Turtles

I could probably agree with each of those statements, though the ideas on why we do those things are occasionally wrong.
I don't think that Americans are attempting to force their views on anyone by speaking loud.
Sometimes in conversation I will speak loudly, simply so that what I say will be heard. Americans are, well, rude, and will interrupt you if they have something to say. I do it, and I get pissed when someone does it to me. Loud speech is just reassurance that what I am saying is heard, over all the other garbage people are saying.

I also think it is true, we will give our opinions on something, regardless of how popular ourt opinion may be.
Or, if we disagree with you, for the most part, we will let you know that we disagree.
We aren't insulting you, just giving our thoughts. Feel free to give your thoughts in return.

Spot on. My deductions were correct!

The main thing I'd say for any American who wants to go and live, or just travel, abroad is to realise that these communication differences exist and that somebody has to take the step in making sure such differences don't cause a problem. Its sensible to assume that the other person won't be so aware as to the reasons for these differences, so its best to take the initiative and adjust your own behaviour to allow you to communicate better, and to got on with people of other cultures better in general.

Or, like Right-Track said, 'when in Rome...'. Yeah, that was a bit more succinct than my post...

[Expletive Deleted]

Originally Posted by Urban Hatemonger

I just find it kind of strange that Americans seem to be one of the most patriotic nations around , yet they`re also the most likely to say something like 'I`m half Italian half Irish' or something along those lines.

I have ancestory in England , Normandy & India yet I never feel the need to mention it all the time , I just say i`m English to save time , even though i`m only actually half English.

Well, since America is essentially a nation of immigrants, most of us tend to be as proud of our ancestry as we are of our nation.

[DontRunMeOver]

Originally Posted by PipersLabyrinthX

I think I'd do well then. I am abnormally softspoken, I complain very little if at all really. I believe there are people who have it worse, so I rarely complain about my life or the situations I happen to be in. Also, I am alarmingly passive-agressive. I'm as polite as possible. I'm humble. Unless directly confronted, in real life, I am incredibly submissive and passive. I believe I'd do really well.

Are you sure you're not English? Quiet and uncomplaining, until somebody pushes you and then BAM! Bottle over the head.

[DontRunMeOver]

Originally Posted by Expletive Deleted

Well, since America is essentially a nation of immigrants, most of us tend to be as proud of our ancestry as we are of our nation.

People most of their behavioural cues from other people, so I guess if everybody else has interesting ancestry then it becomes a conversation topic, because most people have something to talk about. In the UK, the majority of people are outright English, Indian, Pakistani, Chinese or West Indian and thus its pretty obvious where their descent lies. There's a comparitively small number of mixed-race people. The only real exception is those of Irish heritage, who (like Irish-Americans) do tend to blabber on about it.