Weird or Humorous Foreign Customs

[Dunenewt]

*Cracks knuckles*

From an American perspective,

So would that be from Cuba, Belize, Trinidad and Tobago, Chile?  Or maybe Canada.  As you say American, I'm confused, are you refering to the Americas as a whole?

the people who eat in that manner are generally from Europe, therefore it appears to be a European custom.  It is not required that all Europeans eat that way, just as with any stereotype just enough of them need to do it to make an impression. 

But here you have a two so-called "Europeans", who don't eat that way, and are saying that most people they know don't eat that way, so surely that would mean a lot of them don't eat that way, making it a "European custom" not to eat that way.

If I saw someone using chop sticks, I

[chatfsh]

Don

[Timenn]

You don't offend me if you call me an European.

While we're at it, a weirdness of the English is how they still seek to distance themselves from the "continentals" while they are more mixed up in European business then some European countries are.

For the sake of syntax: "Americans" usually refers to inhabitans of the USA unless the context says otherwise.

[nemafakei]

"Further eating in that formal manner is still more European than any other culture."

Here is the crux of the matter.

"Round here we might say, "How continental"  refering to those on Continental Europe. "

While we *should* do that, we generally don't - we quite often use Europe to mean 'EU minus Britain' or 'Everywhere from the Volga to the Atlantic but England'. Apart from in the context of breakfast, when 'Continental' croissants and cereals are juxtaposed with 'English' fry-ups (What do the Scots and Irish eat?).

[Edric O]

I wasn

[chatfsh]

Okay

[Dante]

Ireland fought for centuries to regain its independence from England (later Britain), and in the twentieth century managed to get most of it back. As far as I can tell, Eire (the Republic of Ireland, or Southern Ireland) is far more keen to associate with the EU than with Britain, and really who can blame them? Nothern Ireland is still part of Britain, and most of it doesn't seem to mind.

Thing is, while 'Britain' is viewed as a whole by most of the world, there in fact quite sizable factions from each of our respective countries that wish to see a complete separation. Scotland, England, Ireland and Wales. Not big enough to be an actual majority mind you, but still quite large.

• Cold milk. Always.
  
• American tourists are friendly and enthusiastic for the most part, but you would have to be blind and deaf to be unable to identify one in a crowd.
  
• The English have strange, foreign ways. I hear they eat their young.
  
• Pizza is eaten with utensils when it is too hot, otherwise hands will do. Burgers are impossible to take a knife to, and therefore are generally eaten by hand.
  
• We did eventually beat Napoleon, with some help from Prussia, and it's not like he conquered us.
  
• Britain copies the US in a lot of things. Unfortunately. But a direct result of that is that the fashion will be a bit behind because it takes a while to imitiate.
  
• The metric system is almighty.
  
• 'America' should really mean the two continents, but is generally taken to mean the USA. I try to let the context indicate the meaning, but some Canadians get darn grumpy when you casually imply that they're in America.
  
• Canada is part of America, people. Just not part of the United States.
  
• I don't actually dislike the English. It's just wonderful fun to pretend I do. The concept of 'England' is a little more problematic.
  

Whee.

[Dunenewt]

We beat Napoleon. Waterloo anyone?

The problem with being called European is that it is refering to a geographical entity, not a cultural one.  The cultures of England, Iceland, Greece, and Russia are all very different, much more different than the culture differences between Canada and USA, but we are all lumped with the same geographical name tag. 

Here's a solution to the USA/America problem:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adjectives_for_U.S._citizens

My personal favourite which I use for Americans on other boards when they call me European is USian.

[thesnake]

i heard that the old Greek  high life peapol used to join in public bathrooms and discuss important things like social life and politics while they do it lol...i dunno if it is true or not

maybe she is Greek....its strange u had double thoughts about it chatfish i would have left with an angry face the moment she took her clothes off and later i would have attacked her action in front of other Friends.....its totally perver...

[Timenn]

I'm sorry Dunenewt. There are cultures within Europe which are more different than the English one. Mediterranean, (North) Scandinavian, Russian and so on...

Referring to a wiki article that has been marked as unimportant, lacking sources and messy for solutions is usually not a good idea.

[Andrew]

No such place as America, unless Americas (north + south). Canada is part of North America. America = USA.

Is everyone wearing clogs or crocs shoes? Seems everyone is wearing them here. Look tacky, but they say they are comfortable.

Here's a crappy pic of the type I am talking about:

http://www.aawakenings.com/wp-content/IMG_0560%20(Medium).JPG

[Barbarossa]

No such place as America, unless Americas (north + south). Canada is part of North America. America = USA.

Is everyone wearing clogs or crocs shoes? Seems everyone is wearing them here. Look tacky, but they say they are comfortable.

Here's a crappy pic of the type I am talking about:

http://www.aawakenings.com/wp-content/IMG_0560%20(Medium).JPG

Those things absolutely HORRIFY me. There is nothing scarier than seeing a Gorrilla-like, Forty-five year old man, walk by in a Lime Green pair of those. 

[Dunenewt]

I'm sorry Dunenewt. There are cultures within Europe which are more different than the English one. Mediterranean, (North) Scandinavian, Russian and so on...

You're just proving my point! There is no European culture! The closest we have to that is the Eurovision Song Contest. *shudders*.

[Timenn]

There are similarities, that's all indeed. But that is no reason to fanatically deny to be an European. Europeans = inhabitants of a European country.

As for culture, there are enough similarities to include England to Europe. To begin with, England has been under foreign influence by "continentals" from before the Roman Empire. True, more non European countries are, but not in the same order of importance.

[Dunenewt]

But its just geographical.  In the same way you can call a Canadian American, because they are part of the Americas.  I am not European.  Some people might say that I live in Europe, but I also live in Gloucester, England, UK, Eurasia, the World etc. 

[Dante]

Making you English, British, earthling and... Gloucesterian? :P

Britain is, both politically and geographically, part of Europe. Thus to be British is to be European.

[Timenn]

But its just geographical.  In the same way you can call a Canadian American, because they are part of the Americas.  I am not European.  Some people might say that I live in Europe, but I also live in Gloucester, England, UK, Eurasia, the World etc. 

Precisely, when telling where you are coming from you adapt to the other person's location.

Like I can say I'm a Terran, an European, a Dutchman, a Hollander and a Diemenaar. Since we are all Terrans (we are, right?) I don't have to mention that. To other Europeans I introduce myself as a Dutchman, and as Hollander/Amsterdammer to other Dutch and so on. Ofcourse that doesn't mean I can't introduce myself as an Amsterdammer (though technically not true, but that is something else) right away.

I'm all of it, as you are both an Englishman and a European.

[Dunenewt]

Not really, its just a geographical location.  How is Britain part of Europe politically?

[Timenn]

First, it is a member of the European Union.

[Dunenewt]

Yes, but Norway isn't.  Does that mean Norway isn't a part of Europe.  And Turkey wants to join, and Turkey's not European.

[MrFlibble]

Since we are talking about customs, I think the term "European" can be referring to a set of generalized cultural standards that is shared by, but not limited to, societies of countries located in Europe. This set of standards can be found across the world in multitude of varieties, but "Europeanity" of the USA is much more close to that of the UK (or any [other] European country for that matter) than to the one found in Japan - because for the former it is a long-lasting tradition, and for the latter a relatively recent borrowing.

[Timenn]

Yes, but Norway isn't.  Does that mean Norway isn't a part of Europe.  And Turkey wants to join, and Turkey's not European.

However, Norway is a member of the Schengen agreement, what is still a typical European agreement.

That, among other things, makes Norway politically bound to Europe.

But define your definition of "belonging to Europe". For as of now you have rejected geographical, political and cultural definitions.

Turkey may want to become a member of the European Union, but it is no part of Europe geographically, and (although it may be questioned) not part of it culturally.

[Dunenewt]

However, Norway is a member of the Schengen agreement, what is still a typical European agreement.

Yes, but neither the UK, or Eire have signed the Schengen Agreement.  Nor have most of Europe.

That, among other things, makes Norway politically bound to Europe.

No it doesn't.  It has just ratified a treaty which contains European members.  Norway is also a member of NATO, which therefore would make it politically bound to the North Atlantic.

But define your definition of "belonging to Europe". For as of now you have rejected geographical, political and cultural definitions.

No, I'm saying Europe is purely geographical, so we shouldn't refer to Europeans, unless we refer to anyone from the Americas as American.  Although personally I never want to be called European.

Turkey may want to become a member of the European Union, but it is no part of Europe geographically, and (although it may be questioned) not part of it culturally.

And here you have proved my point.  E.U. will not just be "European" if Turkey joins, so you wouldn't be able to call someone European on the basis that their country is a member of the EU, if a non-European (in the geographical, and right meaning) country is admitted to the EU.

A split and move to the PRP is in order I believe. :P

[Timenn]

Every reason I give, you return as: that alone doesn't make it Europe.

Now I have given a few reasons why England is European:

England's strongest foreign influence in culture has always been (till the 20th century at least) Europe.

England is part of the continent Europe. (as is the entire UK + Ireland)

England is part of the European Union.

It is not that one reason would define England as European, but all of them together will.

The Schengen agreement doesn't define Europe, true, but it does give Norway more political connections to other European countries. Norway is also politically bound to the North Atlantic, but I can't see how that makes it less politically European.

Calling everyone from the Americas American is correct, but "American" can refer to both inhabitants of the USA as to inhabitants of the Americas.

Again, Turkey would only be European on some political grounds, but not geographically and not culturally. If they would join the European Union wouldn't just lose its status as European political body.

As for you not wanting to be adresses as European; ok, I won't do it, but I can't stop others from doing it.

The discussion could be split, but as long as we are not bothering anyone I don't mind. :)

Can you tell exactly where this started?

[Dunenewt]

Reply 45 is where it starts.

Anyway, UK is closer to USA, Canada, and the rest of the Commonwealth, except on geographical grounds.

These guys have the right idea:

http://www.fcsworld.com/main.htm

Also, as regards to Turkey, I <b>really</b> hope they're not let in.  And quite a few people seem to agree with me:

http://rayezlaturquie.com/

And as for the EU, hopefully that wont be around for much longer, as I have discovered that facists and communists are both taking it over!

Facist flags are unveiled!

Meanwhile, the Communists reveal their intentions.