It seems that you're using an outdated browser. Some things may not work as they should (or don't work at all).
We suggest you upgrade newer and better browser like: Chrome, Firefox, Internet Explorer or Opera

×
Community
General discussionRespectful questions to foreign GOGers(661 posts)(661 posts)
(661 posts)
Pages:
1
3
4
5
6
7
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
This is my favourite topic
Posted December 07, 2010
avatar
Toast_burner: I didn't learn about the American civil war in history and I dont know anyone who did.
They probably teach it in higher education.
avatar
Orryyrro: Come to think of it, we don't really learn about the American Civil War in Canada either, except in cases directly related to slaves escaping to here after Britain made slavery illegal.
That's interesting, since US history has a heavy focus on our Civil War-besides the American Revolution, it's arguably the most important event in our history. It would be very weird to imagine not learning about it. To be fair, very little mention is given to King Charles or Oliver Cromwell during the English Civil War.

If I may ask, what does Canadian history cover? It all seems kind of uneventful.
Posted December 07, 2010
avatar
Wesker: And yes, some people (not that many!) in France have stopped looking for a job, since getting one would not be financially rewarding. Yes, their pay for a full-time job would be inferior to what the government grants them if they don't work. Go figure why...
That's a part of our unemployment problem here in the US. Many of us have such specific training in specific fields, and when those fields turn to outsourcing overseas (or just layoffs due to lack of work), that leaves a lot of people out of work who made good money, but only know how to do a certain number of things. Its a matter of "Do I keep collecting my unemployment check while searching for a new job in my field, or do I just take a crappy paying job so I can get off unemployment?"

Its hard to say no to a significantly higher unemployment check.
Posted December 07, 2010
avatar
Adokat: If I may ask, what does Canadian history cover? It all seems kind of uneventful.
Here's a few things I remember covering back in my school days....

and [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lower_Canada]Lower Canada and (their respective rebellions).
French and Indian / Seven Years' War (and the Plains of Abraham).
War of 1812.
Confederation.
The Red River Rebellion.
Canadian participation in and [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Juno_Beach]WWII.
Independence from Britain.
Posted December 07, 2010
I don't read much on the forum or write much, don't get me wrong I'm not illiterate, just to dammed lazy. Just read a post from the wiley one, posted 15 hours ago. So I thought well what the heck I'll write something. So here goes. I'm an Englishman living in Germany, In January I'll be 52years young. Don't care much for history as the english built enough shit in the past same as any other land. Don't like being on the doal standin' in a welfare line, so learned how to use my hands. I've made some lovely solid wood furniture, can repair my own car it's cheaper that way , and just started a new job as a saddler / upholsterer, I like it and actually surprised the boss, turns out I use the sewing machine better than him
Post edited December 07, 2010 by moonlightgambler
Posted December 07, 2010
On the British teeth thing I think it's only partially to do with dental standards, it has more to do with the culture actors are raised in the respective countries. In the US people who want to be actors are usually groomed for the role at an early age. They look after themselves with various diets, they regularly go to gyms and appearance is almost as important as acting abilities. Just look at Ben Affleck. Teeth are important as one of the hallmarks of a good leading man is that winning smile with the little sparkle so they look after and craft their teeth just as fastidiously as they do their faces and hair.

British actors on the other hand usually learn acting in the theatre where the audience is not close enough to see an actors chops in any great detail. It's also seen as a benefit when the audience imagines an actor is the character and not the actor playing the role so you don't expect to see Nick Cage or Tom Cruise playing Hamlet. If you consider some of the best British actors like Pete Postlethwaite, Michael Caine, Patrick Stewart and Jim Broadbent then you will notice none of them have what American's consider an attractive mouth and most of this is due to the fact they all started on stage and not TV or Movies. Even David Tennant a favourite pin up of most SciFi fangirls looked to have a particularly grotty mouth when standing next to the immaculately dentured John Barrowman.
Post edited December 07, 2010 by Delixe
Posted December 07, 2010
avatar
Delixe:
very true indeed. and sad when you think about it.

Also, since when is Nick Cage considered an Actor? Your argument was so strong until that point. lol
Posted December 07, 2010
avatar
TheCowSaysMoo: Do you hear anything in <your country> from what happens over here (in Belgium) - with the missing goverment, the deficit etc?
Well, yeah. But we're neighbours, I suppose :P
Posted December 07, 2010
cage is a pretty good actor, look up his early carreer and you find some performences that arent jus tlike todays "the whatever guy tha starts being crazy randomly"
Posted December 07, 2010
avatar
karacho: cage is a pretty good actor, look up his early carreer and you find some performences that arent jus tlike todays "the whatever guy tha starts being crazy randomly"
I'll give you Raising Arizona.
Posted December 07, 2010
avatar
karacho: cage is a pretty good actor, look up his early carreer and you find some performences that arent jus tlike todays "the whatever guy tha starts being crazy randomly"
Agreed. The term seems to be mega acting for which he is now known. There is a good little interview linked in this article from on of my favourite movie blogs.

http://outlawvern.com/2010/12/01/life-can-be-mega/
Post edited December 07, 2010 by Cassidy
Posted December 07, 2010
avatar
Delixe: On the British teeth thing I think it's only partially to do with dental standards, it has more to do with the culture actors are raised in the respective countries. In the US people who want to be actors are usually groomed for the role at an early age. They look after themselves with various diets, they regularly go to gyms and appearance is almost as important as acting abilities. Just look at Ben Affleck. Teeth are important as one of the hallmarks of a good leading man is that winning smile with the little sparkle so they look after and craft their teeth just as fastidiously as they do their faces and hair.

British actors on the other hand usually learn acting in the theatre where the audience is not close enough to see an actors chops in any great detail. It's also seen as a benefit when the audience imagines an actor is the character and not the actor playing the role so you don't expect to see Nick Cage or Tom Cruise playing Hamlet. If you consider some of the best British actors like Pete Postlethwaite, Michael Caine, Patrick Stewart and Jim Broadbent then you will notice none of them have what American's consider an attractive mouth and most of this is due to the fact they all started on stage and not TV or Movies. Even David Tennant a favourite pin up of most SciFi fangirls looked to have a particularly grotty mouth when standing next to the immaculately dentured John Barrowman.
I'll say one thing. The dentists I had in england were all good ones, in the northeast "I'm actually from Middlesbrough" OK teeth a little bit crooked but still had the . Came to germany and yhe dentists here start poking and prodding your teeth until they have made holes all over, then they wait till you start getting pain and decide to fill them but they don't do a good enough job. Cut the story short I aint got a tooth left in me bloody mouth thanks to german dentists
Posted December 07, 2010
As a Finnish person educated mostly in the US, I can give a rough breakdown of what history at least california public schools covered 10 years ago.

Ancient Egypt, Mesopotamia, moving onto Greece and Rome (pretty heavily covered), then it kinda glosses over a couple hundred years of European dark ages in a few minutes, jumps to the Scientific Revolution and then Industrial Revolution, somewhere in there the French Revolution, and also covers every little minutia of US history from colonization, slave trade, independence, and civil war, then WW1/ww2 and heavy holocaust, and pretty much nothing after that. Each year was dedicated to a different portion of history, usually kinda vaciliating between US and world history, but I'd say US history was more developed. Asia mostly not mentioned except for a few points where the US came in contact (poppy trade in China, US forcing Japan's ports open), but Europe and Western civilization roots fairly well covered.

As for British history, there is a little in terms of kings, succession, etc, but not very much at all except for things like Magna Carta, etc. Oh yea, and Native Americans.
Posted December 07, 2010
avatar
Adokat: If I may ask, what does Canadian history cover? It all seems kind of uneventful.
avatar
ZamFear: Here's a few things I remember covering back in my school days....

and [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lower_Canada]Lower Canada and (their respective rebellions).
French and Indian / Seven Years' War (and the Plains of Abraham).
War of 1812.
Confederation.
The Red River Rebellion.
Canadian participation in and [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Juno_Beach]WWII.
Independence from Britain.
Pretty much this, with a lot about the Underground Railroad

Also some about the French and American Revolutions and how they led to the conditions in which Britain was able to take over New France.
Posted December 07, 2010
avatar
moonlightgambler: ... in the northeast "I'm actually from Middlesbrough" ...
A smoggy! (I'm in Newcastle at the moment)

No wonder you moved to Germany.

I'd just like to second Delixe's comment about the teeth, and add that the view of a particular nation can be shaped very much by television and cinema, and the "bad teeth" thing is a great example of this.

In the majority of US TV shows/films, the actors will have good teeth, so people extrapolate to thinking that all Americans have good teeth.

In reality, there is a similar proportion of Americans with bad teeth as there are British, they just don't usually get on the telly.
Posted December 07, 2010
avatar
shadesofdeath320: British-Pubic hair is not coarse but long and flowing like that of a lion's mane.

Australian-no matter the size can fight off anyone, including several martial artists at a time.

Canadian-likes pies and hockey.

American-what the hell do you think happens when you take all the poor people from around the world and put them together in a society, we're a melting pot of madness!! So yes, I'll ,confirm every stereotype of us is true but your forgetting something key, some of us are batshit insane. FWAHAHAHAHA

Eastern European-drinks vodka and when terrible things happen they have a "meh, such is life" attitude... and drink more vodka. Life is sorrow, and so is our bread. Sorrow dough.

Just pointing out stereotypes are ridiculous but can also be entertaining.
Hahahahahaha, never heard that one before.
Pages:
1
3
4
5
6
7
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
This is my favourite topic
Community
General discussionRespectful questions to foreign GOGers(661 posts)(661 posts)
(661 posts)