Traveling across the pond...

[Louis VI the Fat]

*Be quiet, BP. The adults are talking*

I suggest that cultural awareness is a double-edged sword. Were you Europeans to travel to America and spend some time here, you would recognize that the America you see on television, that you assume is us.... Gerry Springer, Beverly Hills 90210, reality TV, etc. is cartoonish. It's true, I mean, these are Americans on these shows portraying Americans, and these people do exist somewhere. But it's such a gross refinement of some extreme trends that I think you come off with a very cartoonish view of us.

We don't all live in trailer parks or mansions. Not all of us have been arrested. Not all of us believe in exposing ourselves on national television. Algunos de nosotros hablamos mas que una lingua, y aun mas que uno.

I swear, I'm not being defensive or setting you up.... how much time have you spent over here? How exactly did you reach your conclusion?

For crying out loud, three posts by me and a whole thread and I still didn't manage to answer your simple questions. Yes, I've been to the States and spend in all quite some time there. As you've gathered from my previous post. So my image of you guys wasn't formed from the media, nor did it change overnight once I actually visited America. It has gradually formed over the course of my life through countless interaction with Americans. Despite what you'd think from reading my countless provocative comments I do have a soft-spot for you lot.

So no I don't share a cartoonish view of America. Nor some more damaging image formed by an America that is omnipresent yet untangible.
But I know very well what you mean.
America, the Juggernauth amongst nations, permeates everybody's lives yet remains untangible to many. It's therefore easily turned into an object of hate, fear or desire. Projected hate, fear and desire, for it's based on an image of America that does not exist in reality.

The America in my mind is very real. As it is to many, maybe even a majority, of Europeans. I've known America and Americans ever since my childhood. I've met a few new ones today whom I played 'waterballoons' with in the park. (Don't ask)
I mean, It's not as if there's not an awful lot of you around.
But you know, when I meet an american in real life I go and shoot some pool with him, have a couple of beers together and watch some football. I don't discuss silly politics as I do here.
Oh well, I do, but at least we're both drunk then.

[Byzantine Prince]

*Be quiet, BP. The adults are talking*

It's funny that you think you are speaking about some profound "adult" themes, when in fact I've debumked this whole thing in the other thread.

PS. I'm 18.