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The foreign perspective on the USA; ...what do you think?
Topic Started: Dec 19 2006, 11:13 AM (225 Views)
The 89th Key
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Well some of you may have heard about the annual survey of British childern under the age of ten, and here is the summary of this year's results:

http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/news/article...dren/article.do

George W. Bush is ranked the second most famous person in the world (behind God, of course).

I've never lived outside the USA, but how visible and discussed is the USA in other countries? Obviously it varies depending on the country, but it seems when we have an election, it's the leading story in France, England, Italy, Germany, and so on. When kids are polled, they list our president as the most famous person in the world. The reason I ask, and maybe it's just because Americans just dont care (dont take that the wrong way), is when France has an election, it doesn't make the news as much as the reverse. Or if American kids were polled, I dont even think 5% of them would know who Tony Blair is.

What say you?
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Daniel\
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Fulla-Carp
I have always wondered which is the more prestigious title- Queen of England or Pope. I think it is Queen of England. Maybe that's just me.

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Frank_W
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Resident Misanthrope
Agreed, Daniel. Queen Of England is a more prestigious and impressive title than Pope. Dalai Lama is pretty impressive too... Hrmmm.... :shrug:
Anatomy Prof: "The human body has about 20 sq. meters of skin."
Me: "Man, that's a lot of lampshades!"
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The 89th Key
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Daniel
Dec 19 2006, 02:15 PM
I have always wondered which is the more prestigious title- Queen of England or Pope. I think it is Queen of England. Maybe that's just me.

The Queen of England's real name is Peggy and lives in Florida!?! :baby:
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***musical princess***
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HOLY CARP!!!
How much do Americans talk about Britain?


I know personally, amongst my (scarily intimidating and intellectual :help: ) friends, we talk about politics quite alot so America pops up regularly.

I'm not sure how prevalent it is in most circles, however.

x
x Caroline x
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John D'Oh
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Daniel
Dec 19 2006, 02:15 PM
I have always wondered which is the more prestigious title- Queen of England or Pope. I think it is Queen of England. Maybe that's just me.

Well the Pope only has to work on Sundays, with overtime for Christmas and Easter, so the job's a lot easier. The Queen is running the Empire 7 days a week, although I think she's maybe hired a girl to sell ice cream in the intervals, so things aren't as bad as they used to be.

On the downside, His Holiness does have to put up with all those Evil Emperor photoshopped photos, which must get a bit wearing after a while.
What do you mean "we", have you got a mouse in your pocket?
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John D'Oh
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MAMIL
***musical princess***
Dec 19 2006, 02:32 PM
How much do Americans talk about Britain?


I know personally, amongst my (scarily intimidating and intellectual :help: ) friends, we talk about politics quite alot so America pops up regularly.

I'm not sure how prevalent it is in most circles, however.

x

Half the yanks I meet can't tell whether I'm Irish, South African or Australian. Does that answer your question?
What do you mean "we", have you got a mouse in your pocket?
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***musical princess***
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John D'Oh
Dec 19 2006, 07:33 PM
Well the Pope only has to work on Sundays, with overtime for Christmas and Easter, so the job's a lot easier. The Queen is running the Empire 7 days a week

Empire? These days i would hardly call it that...

(The evil pope comments made me chuckle ^_^ )

x
x Caroline x
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ivorythumper
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I am so adjective that I verb nouns!
John D'Oh
Dec 19 2006, 12:34 PM
***musical princess***
Dec 19 2006, 02:32 PM
How much do Americans talk about Britain?


I know personally, amongst my (scarily intimidating and intellectual  :help: ) friends, we talk about politics quite alot so America pops up regularly.

I'm not sure how prevalent it is in most circles, however.

x

Half the yanks I meet can't tell whether I'm Irish, South African or Australian. Does that answer your question?

As if there was a difference. :rolleyes:
The dogma lives loudly within me.
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Frank_W
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Just as Brits have no idea, based upon my accent, what part of the United States I'm from. :shrug: And, FWIW, I have many English, Irish, Scottish, Aussie, and Canadian friends. Fair dinkum I know the bloody difference, ya' cobber. LMAO
Anatomy Prof: "The human body has about 20 sq. meters of skin."
Me: "Man, that's a lot of lampshades!"
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***musical princess***
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HOLY CARP!!!
I could tell the difference from a NewYorker and a Californian but i would probably struggle telling apart all those states that are mushed together in the middle. ;)


Frank, can you tell apart any British accents? Liverpool? Birmingham? Newcastle... ? :wink: :P

x
x Caroline x
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Frank_W
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I can usually tell if someone's from London or not, but to my ears, it's pretty subtle. I'm not familiar enough with regions vis-a-vis dialects to be able to really nail it down.
Anatomy Prof: "The human body has about 20 sq. meters of skin."
Me: "Man, that's a lot of lampshades!"
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jazzyd
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Quote:
 
1. Being a Celebrity 2. Good Looks 3. Being Rich 4. Being Healthy 5. Pop Music 6. Families 7. Friends 8. Nice Food 9. Watching Films 10. Heaven/God


Time to emigrate. Films > families, defo.
One has a stronger hand when there's more people playing your same cards.
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taiwan_girl
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The 89th Key
Dec 19 2006, 02:13 PM

I've never lived outside the USA, but how visible and discussed is the USA in other countries? Obviously it varies depending on the country, but it seems when we have an election, it's the leading story in France, England, Italy, Germany, and so on. When kids are polled, they list our president as the most famous person in the world. The reason I ask, and maybe it's just because Americans just dont care (dont take that the wrong way), is when France has an election, it doesn't make the news as much as the reverse. Or if American kids were polled, I dont even think 5% of them would know who Tony Blair is.

What say you?

The US is very big news outside the US. I always thought that since we knew quite a bit about the US government, that people in the US would know about Taiwan, Taiwan-China relations, etc. It was shocking to me to find out this was not the case, though now I can understand it a bit better. I think that in general, most US people have a very poor understanding of world events.
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