View Full Version : A theory on cultures and newspapers in public transportation
Kadagar_AV
12-04-2013, 15:46
From my travels, I have come to build this theory that you can tell a LOT from a culture - just from the way newspapers are handled in public transportation.
Sweden
A sign says: "Thank you for bringing your newspaper with you as you leave."
England
A sign says: "Please do bring the newspaper with you as you exit."
Germany
A sign says: "Attention! Bring the newspaper with you when you exit!"
Singapore
You get fined a hefty amount if you leave your newspaper behind.
USA
Minorities clean the area of newspapers every so often.
Romania
Some gypsy hold up a newspaper as distraction, as his friends tries to empty your pockets.
Russia
People fold it nicely for the next one to read.
Just an observation... Any intelligent and generally non-fragonian thoughts?
Yeah, that your hate for Americans is kinda tiring. Makes me wonder if your travels ever brought you there
Kadagar_AV
12-04-2013, 16:00
Yeah, that your hate for Americans is kinda tiring. Makes me wonder if your travels ever brought you there
I don't mind Canadians, and I have had a blast both in Mexico and Colombia... So where the **** did you get that from?
I don't mind Canadians, and I have had a blast both in Mexico and Colombia... So where the **** did you get that from?
You could as well tattoe it on your forehead, saves you the trouble of saying anything, and have a nice latté instead.
Kadagar_AV
12-04-2013, 16:12
Well, the way I read that list.. Singapore, Romania and Germany comes off as the least pleasant experiences...
None of them an American nation, hence I have no idea what you blabber about, or why you choose to do it here.
Well, the way I read that list.. Singapore, Romania and Germany comes off as the least pleasant experiences...
None of them an American nation, hence I have no idea what you blabber about, or why you choose to do it here.
Sure mia muca. You asked for thoughts, and that's exactly what you got. Don't spend it all on candy.
Kadagar_AV
12-04-2013, 16:22
Fair enough, my bad.
OP edited, it now asks for intelligent and generally non-fragonian thoughts.
That's ok, going downhill is what's providing your living right? I fully understand that it once started out as a hobby. I also have hobby's, hobby's are awesome.
Noone here really cares what you do with your newspaper on a train. People either sit elsewhere instead of touching the dirty newspaper or brush it away/place it elsewhere. And since we do not like total surveillance, any authorities on the matter will usually not notice and I do not remember seeing any signs like that either.
Montmorency
12-04-2013, 17:06
There are signs for this sort of thing? :inquisitive:
We get plenty of announcements on the NYC subway system to keep track of our belongings, but I've never heard anything that holds newspapers in special regard...
When I was living in NYC, my reaction to finding an abandoned newspaper in the subway was "score." Free paper. I would then read it.
Didn't seem like a big issue, though. People rarely left a perfectly good newspaper behind.
Kadagar_AV
12-04-2013, 17:39
That's ok, going downhill is what's providing your living right? I fully understand that it once started out as a hobby. I also have hobby's, hobby's are awesome.
On the planet Earth, man had always assumed that he was more intelligent than dolphins because he had achieved so much - the wheel, New York, wars and so on - whilst all the dolphins had ever done was muck about in the water having a good time. But conversely, the dolphins had always believed that they were far more intelligent than man - for precisely the same reasons.
HHGTTG FTW.
Did you REALLY just try to in some way diminish me by referring to me having had an absolute blast - transferring my love of skiing to others and having a party... And get paid for it...
Alas, I'm back on a shirt and tie job for now... Have a dog to support! So you even err there...
Debating with you reminds me of a game of whack-a-mole.
Montmorency, Lemur >>> In quite some countries there are free newspapers handed out in the stations. Different countries handled the sudden explosion of newspapers lying around quite differently.
Montmorency
12-04-2013, 17:58
In quite some countries there are free newspapers handed out in the stations.
Oh, they do that here - it's just that I didn't imagine anyone actually took and read them besides the elderly, the non-native, and the homeless...
Nope, it should be pretty obvious that I am mocking you. But don't worry intelligence looks really good on you, even I would admit that tiger.
Kadagar_AV
12-04-2013, 18:08
Oh, they do that here - it's just that I didn't imagine anyone actually took and read them besides the elderly, the non-native, and the homeless...
Oh, it's quite a hit in many countries... I guess it depends on the quality of the magazine though.
The one in Stockholm actually had quite a good journalistic standard back when I read it, and the format was very friendly to a reader on his way to uni/work in the morning before the caffeine kicked in :)
USA
Negroes clean the area of newspapers every so often.
~:rolleyes:
You obviously haven't been to the US. We don't have public transportation, and if we did I'm sure the cleaners would be illegals.
Kadagar_AV
12-04-2013, 18:15
~:rolleyes:
You obviously haven't been to the US. We don't have public transportation, and if we did I'm sure the cleaners would be illegals.
Oh, you do have one.
Granted, it absolutely ***** as culture dictates that having a car is the new having a penis... but it is (barely) existent.
The Stranger
12-04-2013, 18:34
That's ok, going downhill is what's providing your living right? I fully understand that it once started out as a hobby. I also have hobby's, hobby's are awesome.
that may be the best pun i ever saw frag make :P no offense (or should i say insult) to KAV, but that was just hilarious XD
~:rolleyes:
You obviously haven't been to the US. We don't have public transportation, and if we did I'm sure the cleaners would be illegals.
So you live in some podunk hillbilly hamlet with no bus, trolly/light rail, or subway service? Cause those things are public transportation.
And the bus service in HRM has no signs about taking your newspaper with you. In fact you can almost always find a metro paper lying around.
Kadagar_AV
12-04-2013, 19:07
So you live in some podunk hillbilly hamlet with no bus, trolly/light rail, or subway service? Cause those things are public transportation.
Confucius say: When you try to be smart, first make sure that what you write isn't stupid :bow:
...So you live in some podunk hillbilly hamlet with no bus, trolly/light rail, or subway service? Cause those things are public transportation...
Most of America doesn't have that. Because we don't need it.
Kadagar_AV
12-04-2013, 19:33
that may be the best pun i ever saw frag make :P no offense (or should i say insult) to KAV, but that was just hilarious XD
I know the pun was unintentional.
Just like a broken watch is right two times a day, even Frags will once in a while (by pure happenstance) misuse words in a way that thinking individuals appreciate.
Montmorency
12-04-2013, 19:36
Most of America doesn't have that. Because we don't need it.
Other way around.
I think the pun was unintentional.
Just like a broken watch is right two times a day, even Frags will once in a while (by pure happenstance) misuse words in a way that thinking individuals appreciate.
He who knows his enemy and himself well will not be defeated easily. He who knows himself but not his enemy, will have an even chance of victory. He who does not know himself and his enemy, is bound to suffer defeat in all battles.
Sun Tzu :bow:
Kadagar_AV
12-04-2013, 20:17
He who knows his enemy and himself well will not be defeated easily. He who knows himself but not his enemy, will have an even chance of victory. He who does not know himself and his enemy, is bound to suffer defeat in all battles.
Sun Tzu :bow:
Cool, you quote the USAnian version of 孫子.
But fair enough. I edit the post and switch "I think the pun was unintentional" to "I know the pun was unintentional."
Cool, you quote the USAnian version of 孫子.
But fair enough. I edit the post and switch "I think the pun was unintentional" to "I know the pun was unintentional."
Please don't, that would really hurt my feelings, and we could end up in the same group-sessions because of it.
Kadagar_AV
12-04-2013, 20:57
Please don't, that would really hurt my feelings, and we could end up in the same group-sessions because of it.
Group sessions are for normal people.
Me? I have a whole TEAM of councilors, psychiatrists and doctors working on my (severe lack of) mental health. I am considering giving them matching team hoodies as christmas present.
Group sessions are for normal people.
Me? I have a whole TEAM of councilors, psychiatrists and doctors working on my (severe lack of) mental health. I am considering giving them matching team hoodies as christmas present.
Well I am not actually in any therapy, me being a bit crazy isn't a bug it's a feature. My favorite historical character is the Marquis de Sade for a reason; perfectly harmless but with a twisted mind.
Kadagar_AV
12-04-2013, 21:36
Well I am not actually in any therapy, me being a bit crazy isn't a bug it's a feature. My favorite historical character is the Marquis de Sade for a reason; perfectly harmless but with a twisted mind.
Oh? And here I thought it was Humpty Dumpty all along.
Perfectly harmless if you remember he has an egg for a mind.
And as perfectly harmless goes, you claiming MDS being perfectly harmless - just for the umptheens time refer to books you haven't actually read.
Please try to remember that some of us do actually read books. You can't just willy nilly refer to them hoping everyone around is as clueless.
Oh? And here I thought it was Humpty Dumpty all along.
Perfectly harmless if you remember he has an egg for a mind.
And as perfectly harmless goes, you claiming MDS being perfectly harmless - just for the umptheens time refer to books you haven't actually read.
Please try to remember that some of us do actually read books. You can't just willy nilly refer to them hoping everyone around is as clueless.
He was just a writer, he never harmed anyone. Are you sure you read books yourself.
Kadagar_AV
12-04-2013, 22:22
He was just a writer, he never harmed anyone. Are you sure you read books yourself.
:wall: slowly beats head against the wall :wall:
Please. No. Stupid. Where. I. Post.
Pretty please with sugar on top don't post STUPID where I post. I know you have some great ideas. I know you are more intelligent than the norm. So please act like it.
You do some great things around here Frags, it's just that at other times you make STUPID things making your actual supporters want to distance themselves.
Do more of the smart well read up you have within you, and less of the **** we could all be without... And I for one would love you.
I'll take that as a compliment. But what I say isn't untrue, the guy had a wild lifestyle for sure, but he was disgusted by the actual violence that happened in the real world. If you read a novel by Michel Houellebecq like Les Particules élémentaires you will find pretty sick stuff as well. But it are just books. The Marquis made a mockery out of everything that was acceptable at the time, he was a very interesting guy.
HoreTore
12-04-2013, 22:40
Beyond the obvious frag-baiting, does this thread actually have a point...?
It's not just Frag baiting! It's also blanket criticism of the USA, coming from a profound well of ignorance about our reality and culture. It's a twofer!
I thought it was something to do with culture and disposal of newspapers, but KAV spoiled any chance for a real convo in his first post.
Most of America doesn't have that. Because we don't need it.
That sounds like urban Americans are actually proud of standing four hours in traffic jams every day.
What a great achievement! People here are not too different though.
Kadagar_AV
12-04-2013, 23:55
It's not just Frag baiting! It's also blanket criticism of the USA, coming from a profound well of ignorance about our reality and culture. It's a twofer!
I thought it was something to do with culture and disposal of newspapers, but KAV spoiled any chance for a real convo in his first post.
WHAT!?
OK Lemur, an open challenge here.
EITHER show me and the world how my post could possibly be interpreted as criticism towards the USA (more than any other country on that list)...
OR show me and the world how well you would look with a clown nose.
I dare you.
The Stranger
12-05-2013, 00:02
https://i.imgur.com/tHw0b.gif
Kadagar_AV
12-05-2013, 00:10
https://i.imgur.com/tHw0b.gif
I feel it :)
Am still looking forward to Lemur explaining how having black people doing a honest job is worse than having people actually rip your wallet off of your pocket.
Kadagar_AV
12-05-2013, 00:28
Janitorial staff are generally well paid, unionized, and come from all races.
Maybe nationwide.
But from what I saw, if you had the chance to throw a negroe on a shitty job, the negroe got the shitty job.
I have only been to NYC, Washington DC and Mississippi (Them folks fo' sure love them consonants). Yes indeed, I am making grammar up as I go at times.
Aaaanyway, a popular trend seemed to be just that. Throw the negroes at the shitty jobs.
Still though, I much prefer a negroe doing a good job to a gypsy stealing my wallet. I don't mean to flame here, I am just describing reality as I see it.
Gregoshi
12-05-2013, 00:45
Oh good. I found the comics section. :coffeenews:
Kadagar_AV
12-05-2013, 01:07
Oh good. I found the comics section. :coffeenews:
Nah, you found the "this is the world you ACTUALLY live in" section. Sorry if it disturbed your Disney vibe.
Kadagar_AV
12-05-2013, 01:21
Well you're not only laughably wrong, but also a poor observer in your travels.
Janitor is not a shitty job. Its one of the few living wage careers you can get without a college degree, and union membership can be greedily guarded in most cities.
When, in fact, there are truly shitty jobs to hand out they are handed to latinos. Some states are much worse than others, and the mass employment of illegals is something our corporations do, and is generally to the detriment of the average American.
Europe has this problem too, and some places are worse than others of course. Isn't Sweden dealing with some kind of secret police scandal involving illegal survelliance and profiling of Roma?
You may be right that latinos are treated more human waste (seriously mods, we have to put up this charade?) than negroes. As I understood it, you make the outmost out of any braincell black people have to desperately try to get them in to college, and sure janitor is not a shitty job.
I for one would, though, prefer if my job was not cleaning toilets with faulty equipment.
And as to the Swedish "scandal"... I for one (and many with me) applaud if Swedish police put gypsies in a register. The only scandal, in most peoples view, is that this register only hold like 1/50 of the troublemakers.
Gregoshi
12-05-2013, 01:59
Sorry if it disturbed your Disney vibe.
Ouch. I don't like Disney, so that is a really low blow.
Kadagar_AV
12-05-2013, 02:05
Ouch. I don't like Disney, so that is a really low blow.
DOH!! That is what I do around here mate. Slap them up and I will "accidentally nudge" you.
Mercury713
12-05-2013, 03:32
From my travels, I have come to build this theory that you can tell a LOT from a culture - just from the way newspapers are handled in public transportation.
Russia
People fold it nicely for the next one to read.
Just an observation... Any intelligent and generally non-fragonian thoughts?
Russia sounds amazing. Seems like a bunch of nice people.
Seamus Fermanagh
12-05-2013, 04:26
Been a while since I used mass transit to commute (Orange line to Red line to Union Station). When I did, the paper was read, folded, and left for whomever followed. Read a few papers that I'd picked up as well. Only thing I didn't leave was the Sudoku -- unless I had finished it.
Janitorial tended toward Americans of African descent in DC, in NYC it was seldom Caucasian but otherwise a panoply, Texas tended toward Mexican descent or Mexican born.
That sounds like urban Americans are actually proud of standing four hours in traffic jams every day.
What a great achievement! People here are not too different though.
Urban Americans aren't the majority. Most people live in the suburbs.
a completely inoffensive name
12-05-2013, 06:39
I'm just tossing the thanks all over in this thread.
Urban Americans aren't the majority. Most people live in the suburbs.
And those people never drive into cities and stand in traffic jams?
Gregoshi
12-05-2013, 13:20
And those people never drive into cities and stand in traffic jams?
Watch and learn Husar. We've conquered the traffic jam seventy plus years ago. ~;)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tNhKMWGVfPU
And those people never drive into cities and stand in traffic jams?
Drive to cities? Yes. Often.
Stand in traffic jams? Sometimes.
There's basically nothing that would make me ditch my car for mass transit. I'll be driving for as long as I'm capable of physically doing so.
OK Lemur, an open challenge here.
EITHER show me and the world how my post could possibly be interpreted as criticism towards the USA (more than any other country on that list)...
OR show me and the world how well you would look with a clown nose.
You seem to believe this will be an epic battle or something like that, but the terms are so minor, I'm kinda disappointed.
Easy-peasy: Only two countries in OP get singled out for ethnicity and/or race: USA and Romania. Now, the terms of your challenge are that I must show how your flaccid jabs at the USA are worse than any other of your limp noodles, but in fact, I need do no such thing. I will point out, correctly, that your criticisms of the USA are founded in near-total ignorance; I did not say anywhere that you criticized us more, or more unfairly. So even when you throw down your gauntlet and stalk off to the ski chalet in high dudgeon, you're getting it wrong.
Anyway. The people who clean the subways in the USA are generally the same people who maintain and operate them. These are always unionized (http://www.atu.org/work/transit), well-paying (http://www.glassdoor.com/Salary/Chicago-Transit-Authority-Salaries-E10056.htm) positions, in major urban areas, which are almost always more liberal than the rest of their state. Reference: New York City, Los Angeles, Chicago, San Francisco, Boston, DC. The ethnic makeup of public employees (and management (http://www.mta.info/mta/leadership/board.htm)) in these cities is typically more brown and black than, say, the floor of a stock market, but it's not exactly a Black Person Preserve. The jobs are usually too valuable (http://www.glassdoor.com/Reviews/MTA-Metropolitan-Transportation-Authority-Reviews-E4499.htm) (as some of the best-paying jobs that require no particular certification or degree) to be completely dominated by one ethnic group.
So yeah, your angle on criticizing the USA in OP was founded on a slow-moving glacier of ignorance. I find it hard to believe you have spent any real time here. There are thousands of legitimate criticisms you can make of the USA, and yet somehow you miss them, wasting your considerable special forces ski instructor strength on outdated cliches and overextended copy-of-a-copy jokes that wouldn't make it in a third-rate stand-up bar.
To really make fun of something, you have to understand it. Intimately. You simply lack the depth of understanding of the USA to mock us effectively.
It's not us, it's you.
Greyblades
12-05-2013, 16:16
Oh, yay, yet another thread I couldn't give two sausages about yet is hotter than a 30 yr-old Ian Mackellan.
[...] hotter than a 30 yr-old Ian Mackellan.
You rang?
https://i.imgur.com/Z6hK0Gu.jpg
The Lurker Below
12-05-2013, 17:06
Sorry, am too poor to get to those other countries in anything other than books. As for America, if you're in a place where you need mass transit, you're doing it wrong. We're a bigass open country with plenty of room for 8 lane highways and 2 acre yards with stupid monster houses and fatass carbon footprints. When I visit the city in my oversized SUV I don't see anybody leave a paper on the train, since if they were cosmo enough to get on the train they were getting all the info they cared for off a phone or tablet.
Seamus Fermanagh
12-05-2013, 18:44
Oh, yay, yet another thread I couldn't give two sausages about yet is hotter than a 30 yr-old Ian Mackellan.
This Ian bloke doesn't do much for me, even with the pic, but I have nothing against a 30 yr-old Macallan.
11364
vBulletin® v3.7.1, Copyright ©2000-2025, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.