Curse

Elythor · Jul 08, 2005, 07:43 PM // 19:43

I've ran with both european and american guild groups in Tombs (and held the hall while with european group too!)

On the general skill level Europe & American guilds are comparable. I couldn't really tell how well their coordination is cuz I ran with a Finnish group. (didn't bother getting on their Vent server cuz I wouldn't understand anyway) So on the whole I believe the European players are getting much better.

Gaele · Jul 08, 2005, 07:45 PM // 19:45

I think you missed my gist, I said theory, not a stated fact. Besides, this is my own theory and not one I wish to push onto others. I even clearly stated I didn't mean to over-generalize or generalize at all, with my text being theory-based only.

What I meant by primal is mainly their defense mechanisms, and how they respond so hastily toward feeling threatened, much like you have, hydrak. You didn't notice how I said I didn't mean to generalize or that I said these were some things to be considered in my own mind.

catharsis · Jul 08, 2005, 07:51 PM // 19:51

Quote:

Originally Posted by hydrak

Well... you've just edited your post after reading this.

Yeah, it IS a stupid assertion, but it's also not the main point of the post, and doesn't invalidate the idea that hopping onto another server may lead to a different gameplay experience.

If it makes you feel any better, most logical people with half a brain - especially those who have.. y'know... actually MET an American once or twice - recognize that, like any other country, the US has its fair share of wonderful people and complete idiots.

*flamebait suit on*

Of course, when a good number of those complete idiots are sitting in the hallowed halls of your government, you can't help but expect people to draw the wrong conclusions

catharsis · Jul 08, 2005, 07:53 PM // 19:53

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gaele

What I meant by primal is mainly their defense mechanisms, and how they respond so hastily toward feeling threatened, much like you have, hydrak. You didn't notice how I said I didn't mean to generalize or that I said these were some things to be considered in my own mind.

I think you seriously underestimate the amount of sheer anti-American hatred there is in the world. If I were American, I too would be a little sick of everybody assuming my country is full of nothing but gun-toting, biblethumpers with no concept of the world outside. Defensive reactions don't occur in a vacuum.

Gaele · Jul 08, 2005, 08:04 PM // 20:04

I'll repeat it again for new joiners in the thread who've missed it. I do not doubt the existance of many fantastic Americans. But it seems that for every one great person I meet, 3 more call me a stupid canadian then proceed in making fun of my pet beaver, Jimmy, my 3 storey igloo with internet access and mispronouce Touque.

catharsis · Jul 08, 2005, 08:19 PM // 20:19

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gaele

I'll repeat it again for new joiners in the thread who've missed it. I do not doubt the existance of many fantastic Americans. But it seems that for every one great person I meet, 3 more call me a stupid canadian then proceed in making fun of my pet beaver, Jimmy, my 3 storey igloo with internet access and mispronouce Touque.

I'm European-born, mostly Canadian-raised. I've lived in 4 countries, and I travel a LOT. I've gotten the same "So do you have polar bears roaming Toronto?" thing from Americans, French, Germans and plenty of other people. Believe me, stupidity is by no means an American problem - in fact, it's probably the one thing ALL people all over the world have in common

Gaele · Jul 08, 2005, 08:28 PM // 20:28

But for some reason their hilarity just seems bland, like they're assuming the unprobable for kicks or to see how you respond to idiocity. Some people use tactics like that in forum arguments, take Playful Kitty for one, who's dynasty is koput, and good riddance to that! *breaks out a pint*

Devts-Waver · Jul 08, 2005, 09:14 PM // 21:14

Quote:

Originally Posted by smitty-gw

Not a fair estimation of the US of A. All societies have generational problems. The sheer size of America and the over-exposure of every incident by our national media system makes us seem worse in every negative regard.

Are we the best, or morally perfect in the world political spectrum? Hell no. But this is still a damn good place to live. man it burns me to hear Americans slam America. This isn't Cuba. If you are upset or ashamed you know what you can do.

I expect scorn of the United States by the French. That's obvious. But internal scorn is tough to stomach. We have systems set in place to protest what you do not like in this country. Use them and quit bitching.

Sometimes it takes scorning to get people to open their eyes. And no, I am not scorning our country. I am scorning the people who are responsible for this problem. I'l give you an example. Gamefaqs.com recently had a poll that asked whether or not your parents were careful about what you played. Do you know what the results were? Over 80% picked 'they don't care'. THAT is why America is the way it is today. And that is why I said what I said. And I mean every word of it.

Devts-Waver · Jul 08, 2005, 09:16 PM // 21:16

Quote:

Originally Posted by catharsis

If I were American, I too would be a little sick of everybody assuming my country is full of nothing but gun-toting, biblethumpers with no concept of the world outside.

That is becuase 75% of of us are. And that needs to change.

Crix Lionheart · Jul 08, 2005, 10:03 PM // 22:03

Quote:

Originally Posted by Devts-Waver

That is becuase 75% of of us are. And that needs to change.

Ah exactly. Let's start a revolution.

Mister Pie · Jul 09, 2005, 02:04 AM // 02:04

Sometimes I want to slap my fellow Americans.

Today in the random arena, there was this guy who's character name was something like "AFK guy" (I changed the name from the original) and he'd just join and then sit there for the entire round. I ran into him multiple times, so he was clearly NOT afk since he had to be clicking on "enter mission".

Then again, there are some pretty cool players too, so it's hard to say. Like other posters were suggesting, perhaps the tightness of the community might have to do with the fact that it's less populated overall. Plus, if you're an American playing on a European server the hours are different too so you might be playing when their teens are in school.

sino-soviet · Jul 09, 2005, 06:12 AM // 06:12

IMO, Americans need a sense of humility. The way I view American districts are people thinking its fine to make screen names like "Sir nigs a lot" and I slayj ews"

DiAnna · Jul 12, 2005, 03:54 PM // 15:54

Ah, yes. The smug and pompous strike again. Yes, yes, Europeans are so far superior to Americans, and rarely miss an opportunity to point that out in that clever, dry-wit, mean-spirited manner of which they are, oddly, so proud. Of course a Brit calling America aggressive and colonializing is truly a pot/kettle kind of experience!

Speaking of which, if the word "black" was substituted for the word "American" on boards like this, people would be horrified at the mean-spirited racism and hate-mongering. But hey, it's okay to insult Americans. It's not like they are human or anything. Folks who brag about their superior manners while gleefully hurling glib insults against an entire country should look up the word hypocrite in their Funk & Wagnels. There is little difference in intent between the child who says, 'joo sUck, d00d', and the supposedly mature adult who strings together multi-syllable words with clever grammatical syntax to hurl insult.

As for Americans who would like to see our country go a different direction politically, count me among them. I also feel like our children are running wild, and need to be reigned in... but this is hardly an American-only experience, or Brits wouldn't be hand-wringing about "happy-slapping", banning "hoodies", and putting desperate civilians in jail for waving an airgun at juvenile thugs who are terrorizing neighborhoods with impugnity. Every country on earth has its "rebellious youth", it's political maelstroms, and disagreement amongst its citizens. Immigration has become a major point of tension in most European nations. It's less of a problem here... at least legal immigration is less of a problem... because we are a nation of immigrants. So bigotry in Europe against Muslims, Gypsies and others are quite prevalent in Europe, so wow. Maybe Europeans aren't quite as perfect as they pretend to be!

I'll confess that sharing a gameworld with adolescents is not a particularly enlightening experience, but it's no worse than sharing a gameworld with the smug and self-righteous, who constantly put others down to validate their own sense of superiority.

Bigotry and country-bashing (or race-bashing, or religious-bashing) is wrong, whether comes from outside the borders or inside. Although those who bash their own country confound me. I don't like the current political climate either, but the country is split between conservatives, liberals and moderates, and I don't think I can support wholesale slaughter of 2/3 of the country just to get my politics into power. But generalizing and insulting one's own country just because my group isn't on top at this moment? Makes no sense. This country was founded on freedom and tolerance. That means freedom for everyone to believe what they wish, and tolerance of those who disagree with us. If it's really that awful, it's not like the door is locked and one cannot depart for more agreeable shores. Unless one merely resents the lack of ability to shove everyone who doesn't share one's viewpoint out, and slam said door behind them.

I belong to a lot of international forums, and I have had a belly-full of this kind of this gloating, bullying, self-aggrandizing racist pap. To say that I'm dreadfully disillusioned to see it here is an understatement.

[/rant] I've said my piece. Bluster and sputter in indignation at will. I won't be responding. This is supposed to be my escape from the mean-spirited nastiness of real life, not a reinforcement of it. Nothing like a big dose of "shatter enchantment" with my morning coffee.

john little · Jul 12, 2005, 04:36 PM // 16:36

It's not whether there are delinquents, it's whether they have internet access that matters...

smitty-gw · Jul 12, 2005, 05:55 PM // 17:55

Quote:

Originally Posted by catharsis

*flamebait suit on*

Of course, when a good number of those complete idiots are sitting in the hallowed halls of your government, you can't help but expect people to draw the wrong conclusions

tsk! tsk! tsk!. Bush may be a cowboy, but at least we don't change our whole government in a subserviant fashion following a terrorist attack, a la Espana.

Thank God for those political US morons during WW II or else,

1) All of Europe would be speaking German, and united under German culture.
2) The Jews would be no more.

Really folks, you Europeans should establish a holiday commemorating honoring the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, because without that The former just might have happened.

smitty-gw · Jul 12, 2005, 05:57 PM // 17:57

Quote:

Originally Posted by sino-soviet

IMO, Americans need a sense of humility. The way I view American districts are people thinking its fine to make screen names like "Sir nigs a lot" and I slayj ews"

An Anti-American Israeli Jew. Now I've seen and heard everything.

smitty-gw · Jul 12, 2005, 06:06 PM // 18:06

Quote:
Originally Posted by catharsis
If I were American, I too would be a little sick of everybody assuming my country is full of nothing but gun-toting, biblethumpers with no concept of the world outside.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Devts-Waver

That is becuase 75% of of us are. And that needs to change.

OMG, Devts- if you think that some pretentious little 14 year old from Georgia is going to convince any educated man that the drivel coming out of your mouth is true, you are greatly mistaken.

Where on God's good Earth do you get your percentages from? The last US presidential election would be proof enough that 75% is a ridiculous number.

Stay in school, listen more and speak less. Please confine your philosophical theories as to the degeneration of the US until you at least read "Animal Farm" in high school.

hydrak · Jul 12, 2005, 06:51 PM // 18:51

Quote:

Originally Posted by smitty-gw

tsk! tsk! tsk!. Bush may be a cowboy, but at least we don't change our whole government in a subserviant fashion following a terrorist attack, a la Espana.

Thank God for those political US morons during WW II or else,

1) All of Europe would be speaking German, and united under German culture.
2) The Jews would be no more.

Really folks, you Europeans should establish a holiday commemorating honoring the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, because without that The former just might have happened.

You shouldn't hold your breath expecting this kind of logics from these anti-american people who start or support this kind of threads. In their simple and narrow minds, Americans are unconditionally bad. They post without coherent thoughts. They make generalizations left and right without any real fact. Any non-American who can think just a little wouldn't be making this kind of threads.

Andy_M · Jul 12, 2005, 08:08 PM // 20:08

Wow, the context of this thread has changed a tad since I last peeked in...

Yamat · Jul 12, 2005, 08:43 PM // 20:43

So to bring this thread back on track...

I'm English, and I live in the US. I'm in a guild with my English friends, and we play in the International districts (although some have moved to American because they were fed up with Europe never having favor

). I'm not going to generalize, and while I agree with many posts that today's youth needs reigning in, it has nothing to do with GW.

So, here's my solution to the problem with idiots in your region. Play on the International districts; I've never had a bad experience there. True, it's tough to find a PUG in some areas, but when you do, it's fun.