So I have noticed a trend in Taipei. There seems to be a lot of anit-USA sentiment. Now I have complained about taiwan to my Taiwanese gf and she has taken the observations so personal that I was at a loss for words. I told her in return that my country the USA gets slammed, commented on, made fun etc… a lot more. So what is the deal with the anti- USA/ American sentiment. Oh and when the fuck did Canadians become Americans lol.
uh…maybe that title should be…“Reasons to poke fun at the USA…”
And I’m certain the usual suspects will show up with ample ammunition to toss in their limp-wristed manner.
Some people are far more sensitive to criticism than others.
I’m told that “The Ugly American” was once unofficially recommended to US diplomats heading abroad, while “The Ugly Chinaman” made its author a social leper.
Being reasonably secure, self-reflective and powerful tends to help people take (or rise above) criticism. In Taiwan, the number really secure, powerful people isn’t all that great.
(edit: I should add that local self-reflection often strikes me as more – and very differently – self-conscious than what’s typical back home. It’s one of the things I find most interesting here.)
Taking a poke at the king of the hill tends to be funny because it’s harmless: you ain’t going to hurt him.
Taking a poke at anyone closer to the bottom looks and feels a whole lot more like contempt.
Make sense?
And so how should we characterize those who cannot take criticism, but rather feel the need to insult in advance as ‘limp-wristed’ anyone who might even consider criticizing their country?
Oh, now you’re asking about a specific individual, and having never met the gentleman in question I really shouldn’t hazard a guess. I’d need some reasonable basis to alter my generalization.
[quote=“Jaboney”]Some people are far more sensitive to criticism than others.
I’m told that “The Ugly American” was once unofficially recommended to US diplomats heading abroad, while “The Ugly Chinaman” made its author a social leper.
Being reasonably secure, self-reflective and powerful tends to help people take (or rise above) criticism. In Taiwan, the number really secure, powerful people isn’t all that great.
Taking a poke at the king of the hill tends to be funny because it’s harmless: you ain’t going to hurt him.
Taking a poke at anyone closer to the bottom looks and feels a whole lot more like contempt.
Make sense?[/quote]
Yeah, that makes good sense.
Thanks. I’d take credit for the smarts, but it’s not much more than memory. I just plagiarized Nietzsche’s take on Don Quixote.
Thanks. I’d take credit for the smarts, but it’s not much more than memory. I just plagiarized Nietzsche’s take on Don Quixote.[/quote]
You’re welcome. I hate to reveal my ignorance, but I didn’t know Nietzsche had a take on Don Quixote. I’m off to Google Land to check that one out.
Edit: I’m back. Wow, Nietzsche has a page on MySpace!
profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fu … D=22467762
Oh, almost forgot about the topic:
[quote]Sir, they are a race of convicts and ought to be grateful for anything we allow them short of hanging.[/quote] – Samuel Johnson (1709-1784)
[quote]Knavery seems to be so much the striking feature of its inhabitants that it may not in the end be an evil that they will become aliens to this country.[/quote] – King George III
Not exactly a surprise! What were you expecting, hugs and kisses?
[quote=“Jaboney”]Taking a poke at the king of the hill tends to be funny because it’s harmless: you ain’t going to hurt him.
Taking a poke at anyone closer to the bottom looks and feels a whole lot more like contempt.[/quote]
Well said indeed. This is something that for too many people don’t seem to understand.
Not exactly a surprise! What were you expecting, hugs and kisses?[/quote]
Oh yes, I was expecting the royal treatment.
The funny thing is that so many people spend time talking about the USA when they are drinking or otherwise.
Mean while Americans spend their time talking about other things. At least in my realm of the world when I am with other expat Americans we don’t spend our time criticizing other nations.
[quote=“TainanCowboy”]uh…maybe that title should be…“Reasons to poke fun at the USA…”
[/quote]
good point
I think one of the reasons why people have a go/ take the piss out of the US is simply because they haven’t really met any.
We also get to see the worst examples of idiocy on American TV shows such as “America’s dumbest criminals” and so on. The irony is not lost on me that people who enjoy those shows are often the the lowest common denominator, and THEY enjoy calling people dumbasses… hmmmm
Sure there are probably a good number of dicks in the US, but there again it has a large population. I’m sure proportionally, the idiot to normal ratio is equal to everywhere else.
[quote=“TainanCowboy”]And I’m certain the usual suspects will show up with ample ammunition to toss in their limp-wristed manner.[/quote]I’m here! But I forgot to bring my ammo 
Oh… Americans are silly.
Please don’t poke my country with your spoons.
[quote=“Dr. McCoy”]Please don’t poke my country with your spoons.[/quote]There isn’t a spoon big enough to contain all the fun in your country.
Straighten that wrist out right now young man!
Is that a real poncho or a Sears poncho?
Not exactly a surprise! What were you expecting, hugs and kisses?[/quote]
Well they did think their invading army was going to be slowed by the all those flowers tossed in their path.
I recently heard a description of how America is the great modern experiment, in which all people in the modern world are stakeholders. I think it comes as a surprise to many Americans how much influence that country has on so many non-American lives. It’s a bit like having an elephant in your loungeroom, you can’t ignore it, no matter how much you’d like it to just go away, and of course, you will have an opinion about what it does.
HG
And so how should we characterize those who cannot take criticism, but rather feel the need to insult in advance as ‘limp-wristed’ anyone who might even consider criticizing their country?[/quote]Hairy-scalped pant-wearing food-eating homosapiens