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The International Misconception Show!
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Wed, 06 Jan 2010 09:25:04
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I'm interested in what you think is the worst (or best, same thing) misconception about your country of citizenship.

Since I am a dual citizen of both Australia and the U.S.A I get two:

US. The biggest misconception about the U.S. is that it is ultra-violent and crime-ridden.  This misconception appears to be formed mostly on films that people see.  In the 20 years I lived in LA I was never the victim of crime, nor was anyone I knew.  Think about that.

Also that Americans are fat.  I lived in California, so maybe it was not representative, but being overweight was not something that I got to see a whole lot of (Whereas here in Australia, most people I see over 25 are overweight).

Australia: I'd say the biggest misconception about Australia is that we live in the desert.  Most of us, in fact the grand majority, live in coastal areas.

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Wed, 06 Jan 2010 09:42:16
+1
That the Australian government is wonderful and that Australain society is problem free. Nyaa

Then again, that's generally in comparison to Americ and England, so...

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Wed, 06 Jan 2010 09:48:02
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Foolz said:
That the Australian government is wonderful and that Australain society is problem free. Nyaa

Then again, that's generally in comparison to Americ and England, so...

There is a lot of truth in that statement. It's a great place to live, but that does not mean it is perfect. I love the people though, they are genuine beyond belief.

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Wed, 06 Jan 2010 10:11:20
+1

That England is always raining and cold.

Get over it and stop putting it in TV shows and movies. Yeah, the UK is an island and has rainfall but we get all 4 seasons here and global warming means we're getting warmer and milder and hotter, especially in the summer.

Also, we dont have bad teeth.

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Wed, 06 Jan 2010 11:46:15
+1

I think the stereotype of violence that the US bears is mostly causes by their foreign policy. And that stereotype is sadly through in an international sense. The fatness is actually supported by numbers and is scientifically true also.


Foolz said:
That the Australian government is wonderful and that Australain society is problem free. Nyaa


 This one is really true, but the know you learn about Australia, the more you begin to hate the government.

Okay which one should I do. Serbia, Bosnia or Holland?

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Wed, 06 Jan 2010 12:15:31
+1

Iga_Bobovic said:

I think the stereotype of violence that the US bears is mostly causes by their foreign policy. And that stereotype is sadly through in an international sense. The fatness is actually supported by numbers and is scientifically true also.


Foolz said:
That the Australian government is wonderful and that Australain society is problem free. Nyaa


This one is really true, but the know you learn about Australia, the more you begin to hate the government.

Okay which one should I do. Serbia, Bosnia or Holland?

All 3 of course!

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Wed, 06 Jan 2010 12:47:43
+1
^don't be greedy you imperialist capitalist pig. Pick one!
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Wed, 06 Jan 2010 14:29:05
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Okay, Serbosnialand

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Wed, 06 Jan 2010 17:47:07
+1
^Never heard of it. I am intrigued tell me about it.
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Wed, 06 Jan 2010 18:06:32
Honestly, a lot of the things you're posting on a non-exaggerated level are in fact true.  The United States has one of the highest incarceration rates in the world in terms of percentage of its population, but that's still just around 1%.

As well, America IS fat, just not everyone.  Colorado was the only state in 2009 to have an obesity rate under 20%.  That's obesity, and not just being overweight.  That's pretty fat, speaking relatively.

Britain I'm not sure why it would be portrayed as cold, but rainy I understand if my understanding of climatology is up-to-date.  The north atlantic drift should moderate the climate somewhat, though potential increase precipitation.  You just can't extrapolate that to be a year-round rainfall.

And lastly, Australia is of course not perfect, but it did come in at number 2 in the world in the Human Development Index.

So I suppose the issue then is just exaggeration.  I couldn't say how ridiculous people take those ideas, then.

--

Anyway, onward to poor, misunderstood Canada.  I'd say the biggest one is thinking of Canada as one singular small little country with the same everything nomatter where in the country you go.  Canada is the second largest country in the world with a mountain range running through it, so you get places like Vancouver that are relatively warm year-round with plenty of rainfall, and Winnipeg which is out in the plains and because of that is the coldest city with more than 600,000 people in the world.  I've heard of Americans with skis and winter sports equipment across the border in summer to southern Ontario.

That and the supposed accent.  I don't hear a different between the average Canadian and the average American.  Of course the people out east sound a little weird, just like the people down south in the US.

The hockey thing is spot-on, except lacrosse is Canada's national sport...that noone cares about.

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Wed, 06 Jan 2010 18:29:02

I have one. Yoda said Canada is the Fedor of ice hockey.

According to Wiki, Russia+Soviet Union won more gold medals. 

Oh and to add more salt in your wounds

The Soviet Union, which began competing in 1954 and last competed in 1991, captured a medal in every tournament they entered.

And in the Olympics

The Soviet Union first participated in 1956 and overtook Canada as the dominant international team, winning seven of the nine tournaments in which they participated.

I must say Yoda, not very Fedor like.



Edited: Wed, 06 Jan 2010 18:30:56
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Wed, 06 Jan 2010 19:36:31
You do know that NHL players didn't compete in the Olympics until 1998, right?  That's like sending an 8 year-old cousin to fight on Fedor's behalf.  Congrats, you slightly beat minor-league players.
Edited: Wed, 06 Jan 2010 19:44:03

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Wed, 06 Jan 2010 19:48:47

Yodariquo said:
You do know that NHL players didn't compete in the Olympics until 1998, right?  That's like sending an 8 year-old cousin to fight on Fedor's behalf.  Congrats, you slightly beat minor-league players.

But the above chart is World Cup! And even so, that's not Russia problem. Nyaa

Oh my 8 year old cousin would probably last longer against Fedor that Tim Sylvia. 

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Wed, 06 Jan 2010 19:54:53
The World Cup didn't start until 1996 (before it was the Canada Cup, and it didn't have medals).  If you mean the World Hockey Championships, ok, some NHL players join that...the ones on teams who suck too much to make the playoffs.

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Wed, 06 Jan 2010 20:01:32

Yodariquo said:
The World Cup didn't start until 1996 (before it was the Canada Cup, and it didn't have medals).  If you mean the World Hockey Championships, ok, some NHL players join that...the ones on teams who suck too much to make the playoffs.

Still not seeing the Fedor analogy Nyaa

I am just playing with you Yoda, I was curious to see the ranking of the medal winners. Holy crap at the Soviet Union. Canada should just pick up small talented children and train them to be cold and calculated Hockey Machine. Democracy be dammed!

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Wed, 06 Jan 2010 20:10:08
Obviously, and of course that Fedor quip was a joke.  In pretty much every tournament you have Canada, Russia, United States and Sweden as the only real contenders in recent years.  Usually Czech Republic as well, but they've kind of dropped off for some reason.

In the 50s to early 80s, it's all just Canada vs Soviet Union.  Nobody else matters Nyaa

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Wed, 06 Jan 2010 20:20:18

Well Czech Republic used to be good in Football a few years ago too. And they kinda dropped off for some reason also. Well the reason actually was that the players got old and the new generation was not as good. Probably the same thing in Hockey.

P.S. do they still condone physical violence in Hockey in NA? In international competition it is forbidden. I don't mind though, I prefer fast technical hockey over brute physical hockey. 

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Wed, 06 Jan 2010 20:46:08
Jesus, I think practically all stereotypes about my country and people are actually true. LOL
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Wed, 06 Jan 2010 20:48:38

SteelAttack said:
Jesus, I think practically all stereotypes about my country and people are actually true. LOL

And you have even taken some of Columbia's old stereotypes. Greedy bastards Nyaa

 

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Wed, 06 Jan 2010 21:31:28
Iga_Bobovic said:

P.S. do they still condone physical violence in Hockey in NA? In international competition it is forbidden. I don't mind though, I prefer fast technical hockey over brute physical hockey.

What do you mean by physical violence?  In international hockey, there's still plenty of contact, though they do seem to make up penalties for landing a good hit.

Nearly every game in the NHL you'll get a fight; for better or worse, it's been part of the experience (5:00 minute penalty to each player; "instigation" is a 2:00 minute minor on top of it).  Seems like a waste of time to me, though.  A bigger problem was hooking, holding and general cheating slowing things down.  Honestly I haven't really followed the seasonal play for the last few years, so I'm not sure how that's changed, because that was something that was supposed to be cracked down on following the NHL lock-out.

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