not everyone is American! gasp!

[Goldmund]

This is not a personal thing, just Arasan Nayamus' introductory thread reminded me of something that often caught my attention and I thought that I'd finally mention it. She writes:

"Runaway!" If you haven't got it, GO GET IT! Best Buy does not carry it from what I've seen. I have only found it at Circuit City so far. Go! Buy!

Why do you (the plural you=Americans, as always ) think that everyone on this forum knows what is "Best Buy" or "Circuit City"?
I've never seen Vel write, "I bought this game at Skleposlav Burszanta" or Andail saying "what do you guys think about Merry Shottbullar Raindeer line" without explaining what the hell the names mean.

There are three possible explanations of this behaviour common to Americans:
a) they write their posts only for other Americans to read;
b) they somehow forget that the world is a very complicated thing and countries differ along with shop names;
c) they think that everyone on this forum is American, only with funny nicks.

[Darth Mandarb]

Americans SUCK!!

When I first came here I didn't realize that 90% of the members here were you dirty, dirty foreigners!!  

The rest of the world has stolen McDonald's and Disney World from us ... so why not Best Buy or Circuit City??  Huh?  Huh?

I jest.

I'm sure she just didn't realize the 'world' reach these forums have.  I made the same mistake when I was a young AGS lass ... er lad.

** DM hopes this doesn't turn into another thread needlessly and ignorantly bashing Americans **

"Can't we all just get along??"

])]v[

[Goldmund]

Yeah, well, I don't want any bashing here, it's just somewhat quaint (and may be offensive, as most of the time you don't give any explanations about your cultural phenomena yet still mention it, as if everyone knew what they're all about).

[Darth Mandarb]

I understand what you're saying!

I just don't think only Americans do that type of thing.

But of course I'd say that ... I'm an American

])]v[

[Nine Toes]

UnitedStates-ian...  

*horrified, terrified gasp!*...
The people on these forums aren't all from the United States!??!11?!?!?1!!?!/1/1 :o

...Holy Crap!  Super Elf Bowling from TechTV!@  I must have it!

[earlwood]

It's us Americans fault that you don't have the coutesy to move to the U.S!  

[Timosity]

Yes, in general Americans tend to do this, but others are guilty of it too, I try to explain things sometimes if I think people in other countries won't understand what I'm talking about (but probably not always), but also It comes with experience of communicating globally, It's just a learning curve. Eventually everyone around here realises these things, and are more globally wise.

I also think it's strange we refer to the "Western World" to describe the developed world (if I can technically refer to it like that), Technically I'm from further East than the "Far East" yet still called a 'Westerner', mmmm, maybe that's American too, seeing as there is a lot of westerners, east of the GM (Greenwich Meridian [an invisible line that runs down the earth {180 degrees from the International Date Line <you can look it up on google>}]) Well technically The north pole is actually the south pole but I won't go into that, Also Electricity runs from negative to positive, Silly Northern Hemispherians not knowing that they are actually the ones that are Down Under.

It's a valid point, but I think we can help reneducate, eventually It won't be as common.

[Darth Mandarb]

When I first came to these forums it was really my first major contact with the world outside the US and as a result I bumped heads with a lot of people.  

So like Timosity said, "It's a learning curve" really.

I'm sure most people (not just we Americans) make the same mistake(s).

Speaking for myself, I've learn(t)ed a LOT since visiting these forums.

For instance:
- If I were to go to Australia I would not ask for Fosters beer (I wouldn't ask for it here either ... yuk!)
- If I were to go to College in any other country I would refer to it as "Uni"
- If I get hammered (drunk) in London I would be "pissed"

The list goes on and on ...

])]v[

[Chrille]

Merry Shottbullar Raindeer line!? You mean you DON'T know what it is!?

[Robert Eric]

Screw Circuit City, go to your local Wal-Mart.  You get things cheaper there.  What?  No Wal-Mart?  Then go to Electronics Boutique.

[MrColossal]

i think it just comes from not realizing that you're talking to people who don't live not only in the US [or whatever country you live in] but in your home town.

when i first got on the internet it's like "holy shit, i'm talking to people in Ohio!" but that didn't really mean anything to me. Then I got older and wiser and learned how to converse with people who don't know anything about me or my area.

and it isn't just americans that do it [not that we have a lot of south americans here but north america is pretty well covered] a lot of people do it to be jerks "You don't know what the Merry Shottbullar Raindeer line is?! What are you a stupid american?!?!!" and a lot of people do it on accident

and can't you guess what circuit city or best buy is? some sort of store for which to buy software, if it was something like "L0L! You guyz Hafto checkout the Ungsulate Repeater in the Richesdale!!! IT"S AZMZAIN!" then we have a problem

[Captain Mostly]

Forget pompous Americans! What about pompous Londoners!!!

"Capitol FM"?!?! Just another local radio station as far as I'm concerned. And I'll be spat-up if I'm going to accept some provincial radio broadcaster as a celebrity...

Come on Andail, you know what I'm saying! Yeah! Yeah?

ok. Guess not.

[shbaz]

Also Electricity runs from negative to positive, Silly Northern Hemispherians not knowing that they are actually the ones that are Down Under.

My Chemistry teacher in College (the COLLEGE of Engineering inside Oklahoma State University) has a map of the world in his office, it doesn't look peculiar, until you realize it's got New Zealand (his home country) on top and all of the words aren't upside down.   I thought it was funny.

I think the reason Vel doesn't refer to his local electronics store is because he realizes he's one of the only, or few, from his country. The US is the most wired country in the world, so most of the time when you talk to someone they probably are from the US. At least that's how I look at it. I live in America and there is neither a Circuit City or a Best Buy within 30 miles of me, but I don't complain. They're just trying to help, whether they realize who they're talking to or not.

[Matt Brown]

sometimes, with all of the globalazation in the world, and the american bussiness that are worldwide, us less cultured folk might forget which ones are only in the us

[evenwolf]

If you folks only knew... the future!

[edmundito]

Lol.

[Vel]

I agree with Goldmund. You Americans think that everyone knows what is best buy etc.

As a matter of fact, if anyone is wondering, I get my games from Slaveikov square. It is a place in the centre of the city where many booksellers and pirates are standing. And no, the police isn't doing anything about it.

[Pessi]

Totally. You americans do this and that. I are stupid.

Seriously, I think Goldmund has a point. However, I don't think it should be offensive or anything. I think it's pretty logical for anyone to assume that at a board where people speak the viewer's mothertonque, the other members are from the same country. Disregard the fact that AGS isn't made by an American. I'm just saying that it is normal for anyone to make that assumption.

If I am to join a forum where everyone speaks english, I realize they aren't from Finland. But it's easier for me to notice that. After all, I am one of those 'international' users.

PS. You Bulgarians are all inconsiderate.

[evenwolf]

Vel -  We americans are not quite as ignorant as you think. In fact,  I went to Slaveikov Square during a vacation a few months ago and took a photo:




Whose the uncultured one now, Mr. I Don't Know What Is Best Buy?

[scotch]

I'm not sure it's just a language thing though, the Brits don't seem to do the same thing, at least not to the same extent, I certainly never felt that people are going to understand what I mean if I start mentioning UK shop names or tv shows etc
Some US internet users have probably just gotten used to having heavily US dominated forums and chat rooms, many of them are.  AGS is more international than most places and the older amercian members of the community rarely use US specific things when talking to mainly foreign members on IRC.

When expressing money values we usually convert to US Dollars so everyone can work it out in their own currency easily, and I know personally I spell things in an american way or use the american word for something if I think the British will cause confusion.. so I suppose having one country we can assume everyone understands can sometimes be useful