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Let's see, my European stereotypes:
Germans: everything must be neat and orderly!
Russians: mostly drunks
Italians: pasta eating mobsters
French: arrogant, hirsute men who seduce all our women. will surrender at first opportunity.
Irish: redheads, mostly drunks

The American stereotypes so far are pretty close to what we have here. I guess I need to add the a-hole New Yorker up there as well (being from New York myself, this is at least partly true).
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Adokat: The teeth thing is definitely another stereotype- apparently we think Britain has no dentists, even though statistically the UK has among the world's best dental health. From what I understand, Americans place a higher emphasis on the cosmetic aspects of teeth, so we are more likely to get them straightened or whitened. Of course, having the appearance of healthy teeth is not the same thing as actually being healthy, but I think it may be from the cosmetic differences that the stereotype arises.
Really? Brits have among the best dental health? I thought we were having problems with not being able to get NHS dentists and news stories of people pulling their own teeth at one point, I'm actually quite surprised at that!

But yeah, I agree that it appears we don't go in as much for the whole teeth whitening thing (the idea gives me shivers). Teeth straightening tends to be if your parents can afford braces for you as a kid, if they can we do if not then tough luck it seems.

I do recall hearing that in some places in America the whole cosmetic thing is taken to an extreme though, like plastic surgery being considered 'maintenance' in Beverly Hills where apparently women go once a week to be operated on. I think that's actually a more specific American stereotype that many of us non-Americans have.
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Adokat: The teeth thing is definitely another stereotype- apparently we think Britain has no dentists, even though statistically the UK has among the world's best dental health. From what I understand, Americans place a higher emphasis on the cosmetic aspects of teeth, so we are more likely to get them straightened or whitened. Of course, having the appearance of healthy teeth is not the same thing as actually being healthy, but I think it may be from the cosmetic differences that the stereotype arises.
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FlintlockJazz: Really? Brits have among the best dental health? I thought we were having problems with not being able to get NHS dentists and news stories of people pulling their own teeth at one point, I'm actually quite surprised at that!

But yeah, I agree that it appears we don't go in as much for the whole teeth whitening thing (the idea gives me shivers). Teeth straightening tends to be if your parents can afford braces for you as a kid, if they can we do if not then tough luck it seems.

I do recall hearing that in some places in America the whole cosmetic thing is taken to an extreme though, like plastic surgery being considered 'maintenance' in Beverly Hills where apparently women go once a week to be operated on. I think that's actually a more specific American stereotype that many of us non-Americans have.
Yeah, I was reading an article some time back at it surprised me as well (bear in mind the article could be wrong). I can't find it again, but I think they were ranking dental health in terms where things like an overbite or crooked teeth didn't matter.
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sauvignon1: I have a question for Japanese members:

Do the Japanese history books mention Unit 731 and/or Nanking? If so, how are these events portrayed?
From what I've gathered, Japan heavily airbrushes things out of their history books. It would be interesting to hear from a Japanese GOGer just how bad that situation is there.
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.
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FlintlockJazz: Aside from the second world war it's like they picked the absolute least interesting parts of history to focus on as if they intend to make people hate learning about it(...)
That's political correctness, we have it here as well (surpriiiiise).
You shouldn't develope any patriotistic feelings about your country but should feel guilt for what your ancestors fucked up.
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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.
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.
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KneeTheCap: Russians: Warmongers and thieves, who should not be trusted
That´s what I call "Winter War syndrome".

70 years have passed, time to look forward :-)
Post edited December 07, 2010 by tejozaszaszas
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.
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AlexY: Well, I'm interested in the French school system. I have a cousin there, around 8th grade I believe, and they're doing Maths and learning English like we do in the 4th grade. It's astoundingly mindnumbing!

And his mom doesn't even know what his grades are! And she doesn't work and gets state help that's higher than my mother's full-time pay! Cuuuhraazy! :D
Without examples, I won't be able to talk about maths, but one thing is sure: the teaching of English, and other languages as well, in French schools and high-schools is a SHAME.

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...

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Adokat: French: arrogant, hirsute men who seduce all our women. will surrender at first opportunity.
Yes most of us are arrogant and hirsute. But I think that there are more men in France fantasising about women from beyond the Atlantic than there are American women being seduced by the French

And as for military cowardice, well, we have troops fighting in Afghanistan. And they're seeing more action than those sent by a certain European country, which I won't mention. ;)

And we have Camerone and Bir Hakeim.
Post edited December 07, 2010 by Wesker
Do you hear anything in <your country> from what happens over here (in Belgium) - with the missing goverment, the deficit etc?
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TheCowSaysMoo: Do you hear anything in <your country> from what happens over here (in Belgium) - with the missing goverment, the deficit etc?
About the public deficit and the debt, yes.
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TheCowSaysMoo: Do you hear anything in <your country> from what happens over here (in Belgium) - with the missing goverment, the deficit etc?
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tejozaszaszas: About the public deficit and the debt, yes.
ah, another member of the debt-triangle ;-) (srsly, the only thing we hear 'bout spain is the possible debt issues)
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TheCowSaysMoo: Do you hear anything in <your country> from what happens over here (in Belgium) - with the missing goverment, the deficit etc?
Not over here (Peru). I'm sure it must have been on some of the serious newspapers but not on the headlines.
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TheCowSaysMoo: Do you hear anything in <your country> from what happens over here (in Belgium) - with the missing goverment, the deficit etc?
As far as I remember, I haven't heard anything about it (but I don't watch that much news, since most of them are biased Fox News-ish shit anyways).

EDIT: typo
Post edited December 07, 2010 by klaymen