laurensuite

I will respond once to the replies that were not of course unexpected.

AS in all discussions, there are exceptions, and as adults, I assume we all are very aware of that without others having to remind us.

My comments stand. A small percentage of Americans enjoy other cultures, respect other cultures, understand that there ARE other cultures. The vast majority do not. Period.

The truth exists whether one wants to argue with it or not.

laurensuite

Spygirl,
Normally I will not respond to someone who violates the rules of this board and personally insults a poster, but there are exceptions, only if just this once.

I have travelled for a living over many years. I have travelled to the third world and the Venice's of the world. My comments are first person realistic. I see what I see, I tell my story without sugar coating. If you cannot accept the experiences of others, provide your own story. Usually individuals stop insulting people once they leave the early elementary grade levels of school behind.
Your response is a shining example of precisely the problem Americans have, which is sublimation of reality, denial of truth concerning their relationship with the mother countries, the wisdom of the millenia, the slow food places that the world loves to visit.

I hope for your sake that America is not on the verge of collapse, as was Rome in her heyday. All points to that downward trend at present.

Insults reveal more about the person making the insult than could ever hurt the intended victim. Remember that before you respond with an attack on the deliverer of philosophy that does not coincide with your concepts. Perhaps a suggestion would be to provide an alternative philosophy to the one that so enrages you to type an insult on a message board. Some small bit of information that may continue the thread, rather than blurting out things that only serve to reflect poorly on yourself.

And with that, I retire from any further response, as I have reflected all that I intended within these several postings.
I am sure that there will always be those that need to rail on, proving time after time the very premise I have posited regarding American attitudes toward other philosophies.
I would suggest taking some time to visit souteast asia, watch children take garbage off of a dump for their lunch. That might make one ponder.

Kayb95

<i>&quot;The vast majority do not. Period.&quot;</i>

You must personally know a <b>lot</b> of Americans to be able to make such a broad statement about millions of people. Your Christmas card list must be <b>huge!</b>

suze

larensuite's is the most ignorant and bigoted post I've read in a long time. Narrow minded, mean spirited, and to prove it up by claiming it to be the obvious &lt;truth&gt; is absolutely stunning.

Spygirl

&quot;I would suggest taking some time to visit Southeast Asia...&quot;-uh, have you checked the Asia board recently? (smile)

travelinwifey

Old troll that doesn't read the newspaper to know that 49% of the population did not vote for W. The comments are so backward so there's no need to say anymore. Oh well. Hopefully this can go back to being fun again

travelinwifey

I find it hard to adapt to adapters. We always bring the wrong kind or the ones we do buy blow a fuse or something. Then we leave it plugged in to the hotel wall and have to start with a new one over again! We still carry a heavy british adapter that we purchased about 7 years ago that blew it's fuse, but for sentimental reasons we can't let it go.

LoveItaly

That is why I never take anything electrical with me when I go to Italy travelinwifey. I just know I will not only blow a fuse but probaly burn the whole hotel down and since almost every building is attached consequently the whole street.

Neil_Oz

&quot;... it is not surprising that the death penalty is less popular in Europe considering that it was so egregiously abused there ... wars of religion and nationalism have made Europeans less religiously inclined and less comfortable with overt displays of patriotism.&quot;

smueller, maybe these cause-effect relationships apply to Europe, but they don't explain why Australia, e.g., which has experienced none of these calamities, has the same traits (no death penalty, widespread disinterest in religion, discomfort with flag-waving patriotism). I think something similar could be said for our Canadian and New Zealand cousins too.

If America differs from the rest of the Western world in these respects the reasons may lie elsewhere. I've got no theories, but like some other posters I'm wary of generalising about Americans or anyone else.

As for laurensuite - please try to write clearer, simpler English. Life's too short for us to have to digest pomposities like &quot;...the very premise I have posited regarding American attitudes toward other philosophies..&quot; (Oh, gawd...)

taggie

The discussions about tissues, ice, food quantities, etc. all tie in with what I see as a big difference between the European and NORTH American ways of life. We are so very wasteful over here. Tissues galore, huge servings of food, gas-guzzling vehicles, year-round air conditioning, enormous houses with big yards, luxurious bathrooms with endless amounts of hot water.... on the whole, we are very spoiled - which in many ways is really not good for us.

mousireid

Its very unfortunate but UK is a terribly expensive country and thank goodness for the USA! Almost everything purchased in Uk (food, clothing, baby items, gas, etc.) is ridiculously high priced and I love the USA for its bargains! Each country in Europe is certainly different and travelling from country to country is easy BUT the USA is beautiful, culturally diverse, the scenery and differences from one side to the other is astounding. Most people the world older will give a smile if you give one too

twoflower

This thread provided some interesting reading until laurensuite dipped her intemperate oar into the water. Then she teases us by saying she would respond only this once to her critics. Why oh why, laurensuite, did you not stick to that promise and spare us from yet more of your uneducated and ill-informed rants?

LoveItaly

twoflower, do you think it is possible that noone in Laurensuites life will listen to her hatefulness and her rambling on and on and on?

So guess she figures here is a place where no one can shut her up.

But what we can do is just not read her post and not respond. And maybe she will soon tire of her game playing and go play somewhere else. Hopefully

paula1470

LoveItaly - Don't think we will have to worry much about really responding to laurensuite's last message. After I read the first few words, it all became a blur, a bunch of gibberish that was giving me a headache. Honestly, who has the time to waste reading all those words nevertheless trying to figure out what she's rambling on about. And actually who really cares what she's rambling on about (I am sure I will get slammed for these comments!!)

travelinwifey - I agree with you about the adapters. It's not that I can't figure them out, it's more that they don't work. In Paris this past summer, the plug was in such a small place that the adapter wouldn't fit. Also everytime I've traveled, I've also blown up a hair dryer, even with the adapters it just doesn't work. My best investment has been the curling iron and hair dryer I bought in the Netherlands. I just bring the plug adapter for different countries but the voltage is fine-no more smoking hair dryers!

elina

The tissue issue (Lorac #2): I have never understood what people do with these thin Kleenex tissues. They are always in hotel bathrooms, but for what? There is already toilet paper. I take my make-up off with cotton wool, works far better. And when I need to clean my glasses or wipe my nose I use a lot softer and thicker paper hankies. So, what are tissues for?

cristine27

I am greek, have lived 3 years in Belgium and 1 year in England and i can say one thing. It's not only a matter of differences between Europeans and Americans but A LOT of differences between europeans themselves due to different history, different culture and mentality.

LoveItaly

Elina, not to sound ignorant but two questions. What is cotton wool? And are they disposable or do you wash them.

And where do you get paper hankies that are thicker then tissues?

Thanks.

elina

Loveitaly, you know cotton wool. This soft, fluffy, white stuff that nowadays comes in neatly pressed little round things. Dip one into water, squeeze and wipe your make-up off. Throw away.

Paper hankies are in every supermarket, gaz station, kiosk, everywhere. Sort of basic necessity. And they are way thicker and softer than tissues. Packed in plastic, not a box.

LoveItaly

Elina, duh, cotton wool I did not know that was the name but yes of course I know what you are talking about.

Now those paper hankies, honestly I don't. But I tend to buy the same things over and over and so guess I have never noticed them. But I will sure look for them know. They sound great.

Thanks for your help dear. Take care.

MissPrism

I had to grin at the UK lavatory door thing. It is certainly not done to leave the door open, possibly for aesthetic reasons. I have a male relation who drives me mad by leaving the lavatory seat up and by leaving the bathroom door open.
There was another post where people in the UK were amazed that electric kettles were so rare in the US. In the UK, they are absolutely essential and used several times a day.
Here, fridges with ice-making gizmos are available but not all that widely used.