Lost in transit

Hi, Sue. How ya doin?

And, if you're in a (stereo)typing mood, what are the other fourteen popular misconceptions about the US? Are they mostly negative or positive?

My favorite part about beliefs like this is how people generally let positive ones slide, especially, of course, if you're talking about their country, but get nervous about negative ones, even though they're as likely to be true. It's like astrology -- people believe the positive things ("Yeah! That's me, exactly! And love is coming my way?! Whoopie!") and reject the negative things, or would reject the negative things ("You're a born fool, and this will be a difficult week for born fools, though the rest of us will get along just fine. Do us a favor: take the week off, stay home, don't answer the door or phone, and stay away from sharp things.") if any astrologer were foolish enough to try to sell negative astrological profiles.

Why, hi there Eeksey. I'm just fine, fine and how are you doing today ?

The sub-title of the article is 14 reasons that the U.S. is a good example for Europe.

The article begins by saying that the hate that many Europeans feel toward G.W. has resurrected the old cliches about Americans being stupid, badly mannered and lacking culture. And so - as well as showing many graphs comparing such things as income per family, unemployment, export and import numbers - there are a series of short articles looking into these cliches.

For example, under 'Culture', the manner in which museums are funded and run in America is praised to no end. There is a piece comparing immigration policies, on the funding of AIDS research, articles questioning the validity of the Kyoto Protocol and the dangers of genetically manipulated food . Some positive aspects are found in a society which intermingles the church and state so much, for example the strong Protestant work ethic as well as the many displays of charity toward others.

Was Iraq a serious threat, the optimistic and dynamic mentality of Americans, the high level of research being promoted at American Universities, do harsher penalties lower crime rates.

In short, it attempted to look for the bright sides of America. On the negative side : gun control, treatment of workers, the 'sue you' climate, and public transportation.

I must say, I don't see the public transportation as being inferior to that in the Netherlands, but I have been gone a long time.

I found it interesting enough. It was like reading about yourself in a 'Slam' book.

"I must say, I don't see the public transportation as being inferior to that in the Netherlands, but I have been gone a long time."

My take on that is inter-city transportation sucks the hairy wazoo in the States, unless you only wish to visit places with populations over 100,000 AND can afford air fare. Buses leave an awful lot to be desired. No coastal steamers or river boats, no local or intercity trains to speak of anymore. If you haven't got a car or huge thighs and a bicycle, 2/3's of the country is inaccessible to a traveler.

I think as far as public transportation goes, it varies wildly from city to city. When I was living in San Francisco, I had no problems... same when I was bussing it in Santa Barbara (which really now, isn't *that* big of a city. However, Phoenix's public transportation system is more of a joke than anything else, and light years behind most cities of it's size/population. So yeah.

Here, I do quite well, bus-wise, but I'm also in the middle of town. Whenever we get to the point of buying a house, our choices will be limited to those within walking distance to a bus, ruling out quite a few of the neighboring towns, unless we have a car for me to be driving. Hmm.

As I elaborately cursed a fellow driver in traffic the other day, my wife asked me if vindictiveness were an American thing. I have often heard, "oh, how typically American" or "oh, how un-American," depending on whether or not what I do corresponds to a cliche.

As far as positive and negative cliches go, I tend to take both with a grain of salt now. America's negative image receives so much publicity, I'm still a little surprised when I see how positive an image many Austrians have of it. I'll be at a party going, "no health care to speak of" or "one week vacation" and someone will say, "yes, but you have (churches and) ATMs on every corner! Even in the smallest villages!"

Oh, I am simply curious, Mig. The only time the stereotype- thing comes up with me is when I'm using one to apologise for the way I mangle Dutch : "I'm an American, you know."

I've never had to clarify that statement.

One of the biggest "mistakes" about America is their supposed dedication to customer service, Living in the midwest ("Chicago") I've lost count of the times that I've been faced with the blank look of "So???" when you've noted some problem with an order

If you really want to experience hell, try having an accident in your rented car when you've not opted to take the insurance because your credit card offers that facility. I sincerely thought about just leaving the country as I tried to interface 'tween two organizations that each had a system and didn't see any reason why they should adapt to the other

The worst thing I can imagine is to communicate your way through a hellish dispute between large organizations in a foreign country. I particularly don't envy anyone who has to negotiate through a car accident or credit card dispute in the US. Some industries and large companies are known for being difficult. The value of giving great customer service is present in a number of large companies to their credit, but these days you'll mainly experience it in smaller, more customer-centric businesses that make it their pride and mission.

The situation that you describe also demonstrates why American have a reputation for aggressively demanding their "rights" when faced with any real or imagined injustice. This factor keeps many people in service industries working hard (to avoid "blow ups"). On the other hand, it tends to produce some cynical workers in miserable jobs who could care less about what customers think or say, and thus they are immune to such pressures.

As for me, I appreciate the observations about "oil for the social machine." I once read an extended discussion about comments like: "Have a nice day." Many foreigners, and a number of Americans, seem to despise this kind of language (and it's certainly made me more sensitive about using it). Speaking for myself, I think that most of the time there is genuine warmth behind such well wishing. People seemed particularly irritated at clerks who say this to customers, as if the only point were to "Have a nice day" them out of their money. But normal people in all walks of life talk this way. As the article says, it's much more pleasant than being confronted by a blank look or, worse, hearing sometimes what the person is actually thinking (e.g., Whadaya want? Please leave. Etc.).

I'm writing this as an American by the way. :)