I share my wildest finds here, and I just found another pretty pickin’. 
The below “comment” is in response to a post called,
Are Americans Stupid? – Statistics, Studies and Research
“…I wouldn’t go as far as saying that they are just interested in getting wasted and taking drugs (which someone has posted earlier) but I would say that (sic) ones (sic) they leave work or school all (sic) the want to do is entertain themselves. That’s normal except that to an average American that means watching a football game or reading a gossip magazines. To most people in other countries, a well written history book or even a math book is considered a form of entertainment as well. PART OF THE PROBLEMSource: National Geographic…”
on 23 Apr 2008 at 12:13 amGetting wasted and taking drugs? The Canadians always use this as their “how we’re better than Americans” banter.
Ironic!!
Watching football games? How is this any different from watching European football in say, Europe? What do Americans do when Football is out of season? The author never bothered to fill in the blank. I guess that when football is out, we all sit around after school and/or work reading gossip magazines – that mind you, are just as popular – if not MORE in other parts of the world!!!!
(Psst – most Americans can’t even afford those magazines and most don’t give a hoot where Britney Spears is unleashing her shaved vagina at this time. Most Americans have a bigger life than that and frown upon the same celebrity crap that YOU do or at least pretend to!) 
Another example of what “Europeans” do as opposed to “Americans”:
Being able to work only 35 hours a week, enjoy sipping lattes over discussions of the classic philosophers, and take free public transportation to get their is awesome, of course. But, for some quality of life is: the “sky-is-the-limit” hope and optimism that comes with a more capitalistic economy, Hollywood and rock/pop music at its best (Godfather and Zeppelin) and worst (Jerry Spring and Spears),…
[SNIP]
Europeans value certain aspects of life more (secular education, international awareness, high culture) than most other people in the world (Americans included). Americans value certain aspects of life more (hard work and the pursuit of financial success, pursuing happiness even at the expense of knowledge, and a more democratic culture) than much of the rest of the world. But we are not talking about absolute goods here. We are talking about a European system of values versus a North American system of values.
Holy cow! They’ve duly taken my advice and are now comparing two continents instead of a country vs a continent! Sorry, Canada…. Oh so sorry. 
More from “Juan McDaniel” on the difference between the two cultures
Europeans value culture and knowledge in contrast to Americans who value celebrities and ignorance.
These themes are introduced and re-introduced religiously on this blog. To keep things interesting, the wording is changed around a bit, but the people are the same the statements are the same.
It doesn’t matter if you are a European, an Indian or a Tibetan Monk. Most Americanophobes really DO think that the “average American” spends their day obsessed with celebrities watching junk TV and trying to make more money than they need to as opposed to talking about Philosophers and reading well-written Americanophobic History and Math books. Hence, today’s post.
My question: How does one find time to be obsessed with celebrities and work hard simultaneously?
What an imagination some people have.
Only people that live here know WHAT people DO here. So, depending on what is said about us, you can easily tell if that person has had any valid experiences in the US. Furthermore, the US is so diverse that it is way too hard to pigeon-hole. Even some Americans themselves (mostly teens) have no grasping of how big and diverse we are.
Why don’t we now talk about what Americans really do in their leisure time? Surely watching sports and reading gossip magazines come into play, but that only makes up a tiny fraction of us when you realize how many people are living in the US. (some 300+ million from ALL walks of life)
The amount of activities American people partake in is endless (just like any other country out there). I will say that most Americans work full-time jobs, work more hours and have considerably less vacation time than the average non-American (who can choose to fall into the government’s erect nipple at any given time), and have more than two kids in the home to take care of. Some Americans are lucky to still have a spouse (and the spouse is also working full-time), and some are SINGLE talking care of kids and working a job and sometimes more than one job to make ends meet. Not to buy a Plasma TV. To make ends meet. HUGE DIFFERENCE, there! What do these people do after work? I don’t know. Ask THEM. My guess is that they’re too tired to watch sports and read anything! They probably eat and go to bed as soon as possible so that they have one eye open to start the day over again the next morning! (At least for those with kids!)
Depending on where in the US you live, the “what people do to entertain themselves is different“. It ranges. Here are some examples
- karaoke
- dancing
- going to a bar
- going to the movies
- reading
- going to the gym
- yoga
- meditation
- hunting
- television (*sighs* our TV is not just Jerry Springer and video-bites of Paris Hilton sex tapes- common mistake made my Americanophobes – read the middle of this post for more information)
- playing sports
- playing board games, cards, video games, computer games,
- spending time with their kids
- traveling
- sex
- going to the park
- shopping
- eating out
- enjoying the company of friends
- visiting family
- talking on the phone
- using the internet
- gardening
- sewing and/or knitting
- household chores
- cooking
- cleaning
- sleeping
- going to the beach
- get drunk or stoned
- listening to music
- art
- creating things in their garage (lots of American hobbyists like to build things)
My own experience over the last 40 years as an observer and a participant in life tells me that people (not Americans) like to wind down after a hard day and that people (not Americans) often find happiness in companionship.
The funniest part of this comment:
To most people in other countries, a well written history book or even a math book is considered a form of entertainment as well. PART OF THE PROBLEM
Source: National Geographic…“
That is an outright bold-faced lie. If I had never left the US or had never lived in another country before, I’d probably be gullible enough to believe that jacked-up can of mindless drivel.
Nope. Sorry. I refuse to be so stupid to believe that “most people in other countries” read math and history books AS PART OF THEIR ENTERTAINMENT / LEISURE TIME. 
This is the funniest shit I’ve ever read. And the funniest part of all is that the author sincerely believes that some people will buy this?!?!?!
One thing that this blog proves if anything at all, is that the Americanophobes are *NOT* internationally aware. And they do *NOT* value knowledge! Not even by a long shot!!
Greetings Earthlings,
Zontar was most fascinated by your latest entry. Zontar, however, must disagree with you on one point. Comrade Juan McDaniel was right in how non-americans spend their free time. When Zontar lived in Germany, France and England he noticed how all the pubs, football stadiums and movie theatres were empty.
Then Zontar discovered that they were indeed all reading history books and discussing Plato and Aristotle. Even the smallest of tots in pre-school did not waste their time playing childish games as American children do. Nay, they were discussing world politics with particular emphasis on the evil country of the United States!
Zontar was most touched by his observations. Zontar, too, likes nothing better after a hard day’s work as an intergalactic philosopher and raconteur, than to curl up with Nietzche and Schopenhauer. For a really good time, Zontar likes to play differental calculus equations with his friends.
Get a grip, Monkey girl! America is the only country in the world that watches television and reads gossip magazines. It is Zontar’s divine mission in life to rescue the “United” States from its cultural torpor. Look to England! Look to Germany! Look to Australia!
Zontar will put you on his prayer list.
Hail nation of cretins!
Hail cultured rest of the world!
Hail Zontar!!
Zontar, you interrupted me. I was just catching the latest update on Madonna’s divorce.
JUICY!
Aah! I just found it in the “UK Daily Mail”.
That can’t be…… *confused*
I think I’ll now go kill a few random people in the street, have a Big Mac, be mean to a few black people and Indians, and count my money.
I’ve lived in Europe for 4 years and know there are some differences in lifestyle but the idea that people *anywhere* sit and discuss philosophy like in a university lecture hall is ridiculous. More typical romanticizing of Europe as some sort of utopia (a foil to painting the US as dystopia).
There is a difference though that I like about Europe, and that’s that people are more traditional and like to spend time outside the home. Cafes, pubs, bars, etc and the streets in general are more full of people. Americans tend to have enough entertainment draws in home and stay there after work.
But, really, who cares? It’s a matter of personal preference. If you want to spend time in a cafe, go right ahead. If you’d rather stay at home, more power to you.
I noticed the same difference in Japan. I’ve never (to my memory) gave much thought as to why this is. I will speak for myself and say that in the US, after work I rarely go out due to the cost and being overly-tired. However, while I was living in Japan, I went out after work more often (Karaoke, pubs, public baths, etc.) as I was much stronger physically then and had much more money to spend on entertainment.
The streets are crowded in Japan too (well, I can only speak for Tokyo and its outskirts like Chiba, Saitama, Yokohama and etc.)
I will say this, though. If you live in Miami, and don’t go out (especially to places like S. Beach – Ocean Drive area / Collins Ave…) to socialize, you’re missing out on A LOT. It’s got to be one of the best places in the US to party. I should make a post out of that!
My week is spent mostly with family at home when I am not at school, and visits to nearby friends houses. On weekends we do different more active things, but to be honest during the week there really is no time. So I get home at 4, do some work around the house, eat dinner, and go to bed. I don’t know what it is like in Europe but it would be, for me, going out of my way for nothing to just sit and chill at some cafe. I’m sure it would be different if I lived in an urban area, that is where there is a big difference between Europe and the US. Europe has a more widespread Urban landscape so their activities and things they do in their leisure time will differ from most Americans. Like virgo said, when she was in Japan she did more out of home activites, but she was in an urban area, just like what she said about Miami.
I posted the following to the “Aby the Liberal” site regarding that famous video “proving” that Americans are stupid. Here it is again, for the esteemed readers of VM:
As an Australian who understands the Australian culture, I really feel the compulsion to comment about “that” video:
http://sorisomail.com/email/446/americanos-nao-sao-estupidos.html
That video, created by Australians, says more about Australians than it does about Americans. There is a part of Australian culture that is built on a “bullying” mindset, and this is reflected in various statistics such as the criminal victimization rates:
http://www.unicri.it/wwd/analysis/icvs/pdf_files/key2000i/index.htm
There is often the presumption that Australians are just “teasing” and having “fun”, for example, in this article about mateship:
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,24395618-5012694,00.html
Read this article. Notice the “testing”, like his American mate owes the Australian author an explanation for his silly vulnerability. In Australia, vulnerability is regarded as a weakness, irrespective of whether it is the vulnerability of a European or an American.
I say that there is something much less wholesome taking place in Australia, something more in keeping with the Cronulla riots of 2005 (google it). So people should stop looking to that Chaser video as proof that Americans are stupid, and look to it instead as proof that Australians are stupid.
So while both Europeans and Americans are fawning over Australians, Australians are out there making fun of everyone… and getting a free pass for it.
GWBush gets all the blame for invading Iraq. But where did he get his inspiration from? John Howard was prime minister since 1995, and he has been ramming through his brand of undemocracy long before Bush. And the Bush Administration was watching. Howard’s undemocracy is a child of Australia. Check out the “Silencing Dissent” website to note the parallels. The Patriot Act would have been inconceivable had John Howard not provided Bush with the inspiration:
http://www.silencingdissent.com.au/
Do we get it? Bush’s invasion of Iraq was John Howard’s invasion of Iraq. Howard provided Bush not only with the motivation and the enthusiasm, but, most importantly, with the realization that if his li’l Aussie buddy can get away with redneck conservatism, then so too can he. And yet again John Howard gets a free pass every time as a complete innocent…. whilst stealing Obama’s rightful place at the guesthouse across from the whitehouse. Ah, those wonderful Aussies, don’t we all love ‘em?
Now that I’ve had my say, let’s get back to bashing those horrible Americans.
Seems as though AbyTheModerator did not approve of my post. Oh well
BTW… does anyone have any opinion as to why the United Kingdom (as in England) continues to be included within that umbrella term “Europe”? There is a collectivist (secularist) mindset among the Anglos that is quite different to Continental (traditionalist) “individualism”. For example in England, the birthplace of soccer hooliganism, they are much less likely to get absorbed in questions of philosophy than the Continentals are. It might be analagous to the distinction that I seem to detect between Canadians and Americans – you know, “social obligation” and “civility” versus “indivdualism” and “freedom of speech”. Food for thought.
The UK is no doubt different from its continental peers, but the English Channel is only like 25 miles wide, and there are a LOT of similarities in values. Plus, English is a Germanic language heavily influenced by Latin via French.
Interesting point about individualism & collectivism, though. There is a stark contrast between the countries/regions you mentioned.
What values do the UK share in common with the continentals, apart from some historical linguistic artefacts associated with the Romans and Germans as you point out, and perhaps the hatred of the French?
Of course you do realize that I am trying to distill “essences”… that “something” whereby you can recategorize. To this end, the “axis of Anglo” (UK, Canada, Australia) may be a more appropriate subgroup to attach England to, even though they are thousands of miles apart, and not a mere 25. I’ve offen described Australians as “more english than the english” and in this I was alluding to what an American friend of mine disdainfuly dismissed as “social crap”.
So for want of a better phrase, what is this “social crap” that she was alluding to? It’s the ever-mingling, the mateship, the commitment to the collective, as manifests in “social obligation”. I think that neither the continentals nor the Americans are into “social crap” – you know, the hypocritical niceties that take precedence over truth. Politeness and respect have little to do with the “niceness” behind “social obligation”. The Americans belief in higher concepts such as “freedom of speech” suggests to me that Truth takes precedence over “social crap”. Of course it’s not perfect, but the fact that Americans are more upfront and direct with truth tells me what I need to know. The land of the brave and the home of the free… bravery and freedom are related to truth. What the Anglos often dismiss as arrogance might bear a relationship with truth.
Social obligation is about avoiding truth, because obligations to the group and keeping the peace within the group take precedence over the rights or truths that might otherwise upset the applecart. Soccer hooliganism, for example, safely quarantines unsociable conduct to soccer events and once concluded, society can safely resume its peaceful niceties.
It’s an interesting question, this essence that I am striving to get at. Is it related to secularism versus spirituality? Is the somewhat more religious continent (more direct with truth) more predisposed to viewing a much larger horizon of obligation that goes beyond immediate earthly commitments? Are Americans and continentals more “spiritual” in this sense than the Anglos? Where might the reserved Scandinavians fit onto this scale? Or do the Scandinavians have a “spiritual” component that precludes many of the excesses of “social crap”? VM, with Danish somewhere in her background, might have an opinion.
Or are these questions a bit “big” for an internet blog discussion on a lazy Sunday morning? Ok, I’ll go back to eating my cornflakes
There might be even more similarities between the UK and the “Anglosphere”, esp its direct colonies, than between the UK and the continental European countries, but that doesn’t make the UK not European. France and Germany are side-by-side and are very different from each other culturally (the Quebecois are more similar to the French in their culture and temperament than the Germans) but they’re both European. I think it’s hard to pinpoint one prevailing philosophy for a continent; you can always find significant differences. But there are also many similarities.
I take your point though about the “social crap” that binds the Anglosphere – UK, Ireland (really), Australia, NZ and Anglophone Canada…the latter three are basically English. I personally consider Canadians to be a hybrid of American and British culture, but I agree with you they ascribe to concepts of civility and social calm over individual liberty more than Americans, and this is something that binds them culturally to the British.
So what is it that lies at the heart of this “social crap”?
I speak several Euro languages – yes, it is true… I am a multilingualist
(though I am happy to admit to my imperfections). And in my experiences in Europe, I’ve sensed that Europeans have a stronger sense of the profound… or at least a sense that there is much that is undefined about life. I am reluctant to use the word “spiritual” for various reasons. And besides, the Germans are unlikely to consider themselves “spiritual” anyway, though in comparison with the Anglosphere, I’d have to disagree with them.
Nonetheless, in comparing my experiences with the Germans and the French (where I speak German and French), here are my conclusions:
1) I remember my first experience of waiting in a queue with an English-speaking American in front of me. In knowing what the Germans at the counter were saying about him in German while laughing at him, I was dreading my turn. But upon commencing my enquiry in German – and I was clearly indistinguishable from the American customer in any other way – their entire attitude changed. Since that first encounter, I can only ever remember the Germans as being most gracious and falling over themselves to be nice to me;
2) More or less same with the French. I’ve never had a problem with French “arrogance”, though they tended to be pickier with the imperfections in my spoken French;
I have to be careful with my words here, because in discussing the subtleties of cultural differences and language, no sooner does one person say one thing than another interjects with “but we have that too!” But anyway, I’ll give it a go. To wrap up my French/German (and other Continental) experiences, I agree that the French and Germans (and other Continentals) can be starkly different to each other in many ways, but their cultural terrain is more coloured and variegated than that of the Anglos. The Anglos dislike variety, and they like to compartmentalize everything within the context of “normal” and how one “should” behave (social obligation). It’s like the sheer size of the Anglosphere predisposes them to asserting anthropocentric absolutes – the shoulds and should-not of proper conduct that every human is obliged to observe. And while it is true that some of the Continentals appear to have an inferiority complex that has them reaching out to England in the hope of being accepted by them, the reality is that they are always likely to remain just a little too “quirky” for Anglo sensibilities.
So what is the essence of the Anglosphere that distinguishes it from Continental Europe? I think “anthropocentrism” might be a better alternative to “secular” or “unspiritual”.
Yes… maybe that’s it. Anthropocentrism. After all, within their sphere of influence (within the Anglosphere) it is perhaps in their interests to maintain the myth of the supremacy of the human condition and in so doing, to continue to assert their interpretations of what constitutes “proper sociable conduct” for all. It is in the interests of the Anglosphere to proscribe the boundaries of “proper conduct” for humanity because that is the dominion in which they have the greatest control.
I don’t think that the French or Germans are as anthropocentric. For example during WWII, German supremacy seemed to resonate more with the idea of “nature red in tooth and claw” (dominance in nature) than superiority in class or conduct. And French love of the arts and their readiness to express their opinions is quite at odds with the “proper conduct” that would otherwise seek to subdue them.
Similarly with the Scandinavians. For all their reserve and their adherence to Jante law (a kind of code of proper conduct), they are not as convinced as the Anglos are of the supremacy, the be-all and end-all, of the human condition.
So take your pick. What is this dimension that we are discussing? Is it spirituality? Is it anthropocentrism? Or is there a better one-word concept with which to interpret this core difference between the Anglosphere and Continental Europe?
The Continentals might have their flaws, but the reduction in “social crap” is always a welcome relief.
A less than perfect parallel, but here’s how I see it: Americans are to the Continentals what Australians/Canadians are to the English.
Hmmm… I’ve gone on a bit longer than expected. I’ll stop hogging this thread now.
You have completely and utterly lost me, Alex.
And I think that we’ve lost VM… has she been abducted by space aliens?
I’ve gotten a brand new job. It’s 6 days a week and it’s the graveyard shift to boost! It’s a job that I love very much, though. But my time online is unfortunately shrinking until I get used to this new schedule and my new job.
This should certainly piss off the abytheliberal.com brand of Americanohpobes, but maybe they should talk to my “in Japan” Japanese employer about this “American-style” schedule I have. In any event, it’s better than living in 3rd world India working in a sweatshop call center being yelled at by “American” customers all day long!