Most Infuriating Myth about your Country? (Cultural Experiences in Foreign Languages) Language Learning Forum

Most Infuriating Myth about your Country?
Tags: Stereotypes
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Language Learning Forum : Cultural Experiences in Foreign Languages	( Topic Closed)

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Russianbear
Triglot
Senior Member
United States
Joined 6779 days ago
358 posts - 422 votes

1 sounds
Speaks: Russian*, English, Ukrainian
Studies: Spanish

Message 161 of 177

08 August 2009 at 11:52pm | IP Logged

pmiller wrote:

The problem here is that words like "socialism" and "capitalism" mean different things to different people. This is in part due to propaganda in all countries (not just Fox News in the U.S.), and also due to ignorance of the fact that there are different kinds of socialism, just as there are different kinds of capitalism. Or we can say that every country has a different mixture of capitalism and socialism.

What used to be called socialism is now better called social-democracy or democratic socialism. This is because the terms socialism and communism have become confused. This may have started when communist countries appropriated "socialism" to describe their countries, as in "Union of Soviet Socialist Republics" (not "...Communist Republics") or "Socialist Republic of Vietnam". They did this in order to confuse and co-opt the entire left-of-center spectrum in Western countries.

Not really. In Marxism, "Communism" implies lack of state/government. Yes, Marxism is actually about having LESS government, not more. So those so called "communist" states couldn't actually call themselves "communist", as that wouldn't make sense. It would be an oxymoron, like "an Anarchist government". The whole "social-democracy" versus "socialism" confusion is indeed there, but that is hardly the fault of the USSR and those countries. Mostly it is because the American media likes to label everyone they don't like a "socialist".

Edited by Russianbear on 08 August 2009 at 11:54pm
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cordelia0507
Senior Member
United Kingdom
Joined 5842 days ago
1473 posts - 2176 votes

Speaks: Swedish*
Studies: German, Russian

Message 162 of 177

09 August 2009 at 4:25pm | IP Logged

EDIT: I have censored myself and removed the offensive "map"

Edited by cordelia0507 on 12 August 2009 at 7:39pm
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Alvinho
Triglot
Senior Member
Brazil
Joined 6238 days ago
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Speaks: Portuguese*, English, Spanish

Message 163 of 177

09 August 2009 at 5:07pm | IP Logged

hehehe.....what a funny map, Cordelia!
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paparaciii
Diglot
Senior Member
Latvia
Joined 6340 days ago
204 posts - 223 votes

Speaks: Latvian*, Russian
Studies: English

Message 164 of 177

12 August 2009 at 6:30pm | IP Logged

Oh yeah, and 'Americans are dumb' theme goes on again..
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Lizzern
Diglot
Senior Member
Norway
Joined 5913 days ago
791 posts - 1053 votes

Speaks: Norwegian*, English
Studies: Japanese

Message 165 of 177

12 August 2009 at 6:48pm | IP Logged

Let's not get into politics again, guys. Every country, if you think about it, has its own set of stereotypes that could be hilariously summarised in a manner somewhat like the map above... Here's another version of the world: Europe according to Estonians.

Liz
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cordelia0507
Senior Member
United Kingdom
Joined 5842 days ago
1473 posts - 2176 votes

Speaks: Swedish*
Studies: German, Russian

Message 166 of 177

12 August 2009 at 7:32pm | IP Logged

Lizzern wrote:

Here's another version of the world: Europe according to Estonians.
Liz

Lies and propaganda! Swedes are just as good at skiing as Norwegians! Those Estonians need to be taught a lesson.
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couragepiece93
Groupie
United States
Joined 5772 days ago
77 posts - 78 votes

Speaks: English*
Studies: Norwegian, Latin

Message 167 of 177

12 August 2009 at 9:28pm | IP Logged

Rather than stereotypes about America, I'll post some stereotypes about the state I live in: Maine. (In New England)

1. Everyone speaks with a "Maine accent" (sort of a mix of Boston and Midwestern). For example: "yessah!" (yes) "nosah!" (no) "dirie!" (deary) "labstah" (lobster). The only people I've ever heard speak with a "Maine accent" are old farmers =P.

2. It's always cold and snowing. It does snow a lot (from November-April), and winters are FREEZING, but summers can be very hot.

3. It's all trees and moose. Actually, this one is true. About half of the people I know (including me) have had some sort of a car accident with a moose.

4. We are all hicks/hillbillies. This is actually true for a lot of the older generation! However, teenagers and other young people are for the most part just like a teenager anywhere else in America! Most teenagers in Maine do like to talk about trucks, four-wheelers, and snowmobiles, however (Not me).

Edited by couragepiece93 on 12 August 2009 at 9:29pm
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cordelia0507
Senior Member
United Kingdom
Joined 5842 days ago
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Speaks: Swedish*
Studies: German, Russian

Message 168 of 177

14 August 2009 at 12:47am | IP Logged

It's interesting to hear about the different states in the US. Maine and Washington seem the nicest so far...

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