A question for the American fellows: how much the Roman Empire is covered on the history school program?

In most of the european nation, because the Roman Empire brought literally "civilization" (non offense intended for the Celts or the German: simply, they didn't built much ;-) ), it's a very important historical period (it usually defines the very beginning of the spreading if Western Civilization).

Though, I heard that in USA schools, usually the history "begins" with the American Revolution. What happened before is "european stuff". Is it true?

Really? I remember reading stuff about several notable victories but I was left with the impression that they were the only ones. Shall have to do some more reading

Interesting topic. I studied tons of Roman History, but I was in a private school, so that may not be typical. I suspect that it gets a mention in world history, but is quickly moved on after that. US history classes generally give some background to the American Revolution, so the colonization of the Americas by the various powers and the 7 Years War are covered.

Vietnam is instructive for how important the public's will to fight can be. The Tet Offensive was in many ways a military disaster for the North, but the way it was perceived in the US sapped public support.

OK, here's a question: what is the 'stereotypical' American like in your country? Do different countries have different views? Is it sort of a cowboy with a big hat shooting a gun, or fat guy in an obnoxious Hawaiian T-shirt? It could be multiple things. For example, the British stereotypes can be the prim and proper aristocrat type, or sort of a rough and tumble Cockney guy. I tend to watch a lot of British shows, so I may be more aware of British culture than most Americans, but those tend to be the impressions I think most Americans have.

Our stereotype of Australians comes mostly from Crocodile Dundee, Steve Irwin, and Fosters commercials (and TF2, in my case), so it would be appear you're a nation of beer drinking, croc punching, mustachioed men. God that sounds awesome.

That's pretty much the same stereotype us Brits have of Aussies too, I think there's more truth to the matter than the Aussies would like us to think, and I too think it's an awesome prospect. Wouldn't surprise me if Aliasalpha has to keep his internet going by punching a croc every five minutes while keeping his moustach groomed by pouring beer on it. Then again, I know a guy from New Zealand and apparently they all think of Aussies as sheep fiddlers (pretty much the same way way English view the Welsh, must be a borders thing, do Americans view Canadians as sheep fiddlers too?).

Just got one question regarding the American view of Brits: What's with the teeth thing? I saw an episode of Family Guy where all the brits have weird teeth and Peter goes on about British teeth, and I realised that in other programmes there seems to be, especially with cockney characters, a tendency towards bad teeth, and was wondering if that was an actual American belief and where it came from.

*Starts to get paranoid about his teeth*

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

I think with all the rationing and the fact Britain was flat broke after the war dentistry took a back seat and we got saddled with the bad teeth sterotype. I think that's were it comes from anyway.

That probably does explain it. I guess the complete lack of NHS dentists also doesn't help either...

No not anymore. They show re runs on a Sat/Sun morning with kids programmes. It stopped being a prime time hit about 9 or 10 years ago. We are usually one or two weeks behind current US shows, depending on the station showing it. Walking Dead finale is this week on FX i think.

I've heard the sheep stereotype about the Welsh, but generally Americans don't really know much about them. The jokes I've heard about the Welsh (Cardiff more particularly) paints them as a mix between West Virginia and New Jersey. Our impression of the Scots you can probably guess. My view of Canada is sort of like they're a more restrained, polite version of Americans. We generally withhold the sheep fiddling stereotype for West Virginia.


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.

Aaaah - Stereotypes.....theres hundreds, all patently untrue...

us English have the following American Stereotypes to go at....please don't take offence, these are NOT my personal beliefs...

Most Americans are fat, or Health Nuts.
Texans - you must wear a massive cowboy hat and smoke a cigar.
From the Deep South? - Denim Overalls are a must, and you probably have some form of speech impediment.
Californian? Bronzed Adonis's (men) or sexy ladies - with no brain. Also body enhancement hell.

Theres probably hundreds more, but thats some to go on....like I said, all bloody ridiculous, but used all the same.....

Pretty common stereotypes from wherever I hail (and like the poster above, not my personal opinions, and some of them might be specific with the region where I live):

Swedes: Men are gay and all of the women are beutiful goddesses
Germans: Big moustaches and socks that reach their knees.
Americans: Overweight and slightly low with their intelligence
Russians: Warmongers and thieves, who should not be trusted
Italians: Cool looking men who live with their mother and have lots of girlfriends
Aussies: Easy going peole, "surf dudes" and slackers
Japanese: Workaholics

These spring to mind. Please note that they are (I think) meant to be humorous. At least some of them :)

Not by choice.

Holy crap, did this thread explode overnight! Glad I could give everyone stuff to think about & talk about. :-D

Here in the US...and maybe its because we're such a large nation land-wise, and thus have a large diversity of cultures...we carry alot of those stereotypes ourselves about our fellow Americans. I'd say you're pretty much dead-on, except for Texas. I don't know where the cigar came from, but it needs to be replaced by an oversized belt buckle either in the shape of Texas or depicting some historical event that took place in Texas.

Bansama, would you mind answering this question?

I think you're right about the teeth thing. I have perfectly healthy teeth, never had any kind of cavity. I did have braces of a sort when I was younger, to make sure my top front teeth go in front of my bottom front teeth. My teeth aren't totally straight, but they all meet in the correct way. Generally only the health and functional aspects are bothered with here.

Another thing is, it's not as common to get things like a dental plan with a job here. Combine that with the way the NHS handles dentistry and you end up with lots of people who can't afford to go to the dentist very often.

In the meantime, a question for any Japanese GOGers, something that I've always been curious about... I understand that Japan is a fairly formal culture, but it's hard for me to gauge how much. In other words, how seriously do people take the social rules? Especially among the younger population. How much of it is basically mandatory and how much is more like politeness?

You'd really need a Japanese who has grown up and lived this all their lives to answer that. I merely live here. All I can tell you is that Japanese appear to be taught and expected to conform and not to ask why. At least, once they leave university and "join society proper by getting a job".

Of course the ever increasing number of NEETs might also say that a lot of young do not want to conform, or at least, don't want a job and would rather continue leaching off their parents -- in cases to disastrous and tragic results; such as the guy who murdered his entire family simply because his parents finally had enough of paying his internet bills (and everything else) while he refused to leave the house.

The only other thing I can say is that I worry about how my daughters will be treated when they start Junior High/High school simply due to the fact that Japanese are expected to have black hair. My daughters do not naturally have black hair. And I am not going to allow the schools to bully them into dyeing their hair black simply to conform (as has been rumored to have been demanded in the past).

So make of that what you will but I can't really offer up better insights as I tend not to question my Japanese friends about this sort of stuff.