On 2009-01-13 14:55, spacecop wrote:
Wow I don’t know weather to start with the ignorance or arrogance. I have lived in several foreign countries and visited others. I have spent time abroad with other Americans and have never found this to be the case. For one person to say that he knows that 99% of people, in a crowd that he has never met, will think a certain way is amazing.

Are there rude, stupid and insensitive people in America? Sure. Just like every other country I have been. Are there polite, sensitive and intelligent people in America? You bet; Danny himself is one judging by his story. Furthermore it is my experience that these people are the vast majority. That is the American way. It floors me that the people that would never stereotype people from another country or culture would so quickly stereotype Americans. When you insult Americans you insult me because I am an American, my children are mostly American (one is a duel citizen) and most the people I love are Americans. I’m sorry if this is seen as flaming but I believe it is still on the original topic. Was the woman unknowingly insulting, yes. Was the other 100 people that past by that day insulting? It does not sound like it.

On 2009-01-13 15:42, John Bowlin wrote:

One story comes to mind for me. I walked into a bank and noticed the teller looked as though she might be due to give birth in a month or so. I looked at her...smiled and said...when are you due? I just wanted to acknowledge what I thought was a joyous and anticipated event. She turned bright red and in a very angry voice said.."I'm not pregnant". All I could say was "oh..I'm sorry".

On 2009-01-14 08:40, John Bowlin wrote:
I remember the violinist experiment. He also stated that most to all of the money dropped in his case seemed out of pity as opposed to appreciation of his music and talent. The majority that dropped money in didn't even stop to listen. I wonder if we could get Copperfield to go for a busking experiment.

On 2009-01-14 12:44, rockwall wrote:
Boy, that didn't take long. I just blew one of my New Years resolutions not to waste time on argumentative posts. Dang!!

BTW, my son always finishes off the leftovers that we bring back from the restaurant. Does that mean that he is no better than my dog???

On 2009-01-14 14:54, rockwall wrote:
... Should we be disgusted by people who inadvertantly offend or should we be more interested in their intentions?

On 2009-01-14 15:04, Tony Iacoviello wrote:

Quote:

On 2009-01-14 14:54, rockwall wrote:
... Should we be disgusted by people who inadvertantly offend or should we be more interested in their intentions?

Can't we have both?

On 2009-01-13 13:29, Danny Hustle wrote:

Quote:

On 2009-01-13 11:39, spacecop wrote:
so you are going to lump all Americans into one class because one old woman thought she was doing a good thing but was actually insulting?

Well...yes, that's the American way!

Reminds me of the story of the Mexican taxi driver and the American tourist

The Taxi driver tells the American he can speak 4 languages Spanish, English, Italian and Japanese.
The American is amazed and upon asking why Japanese is told that in Mexico there are many Japanese tourists and it became neccessary for his job.

The taxi driver then asks the American " What do they call you if you can speak 3 languages?"

The American replies " Trilingual."

The Taxi driver then asks " What do they call you if you can speak 2 languages?"

The American answers "Bilingual."

The taxi driver then asks " What do they call you if you can only speak 1 language?"

The American has no idea.

The taxi answers "American , and then goes on to say that Americans think if you can't speak English, you must be stupid."

God bless the U.S.A.
.



I'll tell you a funny story. A couple of weeks ago I was working pre game for the Boston Celtics. there was a HUGE group of Japanese girls that I called over to see a card trick. I said, "HI" They all said "HI" I asked if they were enjoying the game and they all said, "Yes, very much" they said ALL of this without a hint of a hesitation or accent so I ASSUMED they might be American college kids.

Well, I start doing card to pocket and it becomes fairly obvious that I have a HUGE language barrier. As a guy who grew up in a multi cultural neighborhood and a guy who started his street performing career at a multicultural tourist mecca this wasn't a huge deal.

I say to the group, "No matter how bad your English is, it is MUCH better than my Japanese. To this they all started clapping and laughing. They got it. I then said, "So together I think we can have some fun are you ready? " They all said, "Yeah!"

And so I took a very professional position and said, "Konbanwa" (good evening) and they laughed hysterically. With just a few words, holding out the deck and saying, "Dozo" (please take one) and "Wakarimasu Ka" (Do you understand). I was able to do a 15 minute set for these kids that they loved. As a matter of fact, a pretty big crowd gathered and when I would say, "Warkarimasu Ka?" the girls would ALL respond with, "Warkarimasu!" (I understand!). By the end of the show the rest of teh audience were calling it out as well like it was the magic word.

After the show they all came up and thanked me and took pictures with me, etc ( I even got a couple of kisses on the cheek thankyouverymuchdon'ttellmywife! )

After they all walked off teh woman who hired me came up and said, I didn't know you spoke Japanese? I said, "I don't! I know like four words. but they are the right four words! )

Now you may be wondering why I bring this cute little story up... Let's put the shoe on the other foot and a group of American Tourists are in Canada and a French speaking performer is doing his show and realizes that he has an American speaking crowd and tries to pull off a show using the only four or five words of English he knows to bring them along for the ride. Within moments 99% of the people in the croud are going to think he's stupid because he doesn't speak english. When he mispronounces something he will be corrected like he is an idiot, and before too long they will become bored and move along. I've seen it happen.

How many times have you been standing in line to buy something and a person from another country is in front of you trying to make a purchase and is having problems but is really trying with the language. The cashier will often be frustrated and talking to that person like they are a moron when no matter how badly that person speaks english it is 1000 times better than the cashier speaks the other persons language. Now this person in line is probably NOT stupid. For all we know they may be a rocket scientist in their own country. Americans have no patience, a lot of ignorance, and tons of arrogance. It's the reason why a lot of other countries love us so much.

I may be totally off base here but I see it all the time, this is just my personal experience. YMMV

Best,

Dan-

On 2009-01-14 16:55, Kondini wrote:
...
I have found American audiences to be the most responsive, non offensive and truly generouse with the hat.
...

On 2009-01-14 04:51, Bill Palmer wrote:
During the Great Folk Music Scare of the 1960's, I told a friend of mine that I had met and played for Lightnin' Hopkins, who was one of the great blues guitar players of that era.