LJ Idol // Week 26 // Grip

[serpentpixie]

Posh British.I have a confession to make: I don’t understand America at all. I’m generalising, of course, but speaking in general, this is true. I don’t understand America. There’s a vast cultural wall somewhere in the middle of the Atlantic, and I’m not sure how to look through it

Comments

[alephz]

I can only say that that particular American sounds frightening. 'Cause it's not just the British who keep a stiff upper lip, lemme tell you.

I think it's just that we have an absurdly exaggerated popular culture, specifically "reality shows" wherein every last emotion is cranked up well past eleven to make sure that everyone REALLY AND TRULY understands what's going on.

[serpentpixie]

Oh she was TERRIFYING. Don't even get me started.
Mind you, I had another American creative writing tutor who grew a hilarious beard because he genuinely believed all the best writers had beards. But they were friends, so maybe that's got something to do with it!

[comedychick]

I like that you wrote some nonfiction this week! And cultural differences between different English speaking countries is something I have a particular interest in :D

[serpentpixie]

I came across some hilarious differences when I was in Australia. The biggest, most intimidating difference was the vastness of the coke cans: They're HUGE.

An Australian guy also said to me, "we're much more like the British than we are like the Americans."
I was like "........."

[comedychick]

If you think our cans are huge, you should see some of the ones I found in America: link.

I think it might depend what part of Australia you go to whether you find them more similar to Americans or British. Personally I think we're closest to Canadians ;)

[serpentpixie]

Wow, those are like, beer cans! To be fair though, we have energy drinks that come in cans like that (like, Monster or Relentless), but not fizzy pop, as it were.

I just thought Australians were most like Australians, and you all sound as though you're from New Zealand... *ducks* ;)

[dana1130]

I know you said you're generalizing, which is very true. It was probably just that particular individuals opinion. Just because we're American doesn't mean we carry on like babies.

Honestly, I don't think that Americans are so hard to understand. We find it very hard to understand British ideals as well sometimes. It's just personal opinion and such.

[serpentpixie]

Oh, I know I'm generalising :)
Meanwhile, the British are impossible to understand, and have hearts of STONE. Seriously.
;)

[hellboy]

. . . what was that woman on? Seriously? Disregarding the British v. American argument, different people handle grief differently. It's a perfectly valid characterisation for someone who is more self-contained rather than flamboyant, direct, whatever you want to call it.

She shouldn't have made that criticism. Especially about something creative. Telling you you're wrong in how you display grief is an atrocity. /raaaaage

(and lol, po-tay-to po-tah-to, let's call the calling off off~~~)

[serpentpixie]

Shhhh, no rage allowed. But you can laugh at her, if you like ;)

(BUT, no one actually says po-tah-to! Surely?!)

[teaberryblue]

That's not an American thing; that's a bad teacher thing. I had a professor like that here in New York.

The thing with Americans is that the US is such a giant country that we mostly don't understand each other. I have much, much more in common with the people I've met in England than the people I've met in Minnesota, for example.

[serpentpixie]

:) Oh, I know ;) I was "stirring" as my mother would say.

I have much, much more in common with the people I've met in England.

Is that, in fact, because you fed them many cocktails?! ;)