http://users.lmi.net/zombie/europe_in_2015/Europe_2015.gif

Master Damoiel Mindbend
Retired Enchanter of the 60th Season

rofl :)

haha the british isles

How could Switzerland and Sweden get off the hook? :/

Oh a good note, it would mean the Americans got their arse kicked.
Wahoo!

Oh a good note, it would mean the Americans got their arse kicked.

More like, we let Europe solve their own mess.

/yawn

So, the evil moslem conspiracy manages to overthrow the secret Zionistic Occupation Government?

Whatever. |I

You'd expect me to believe you Yanks could resist an Arab arse kicking?
Pull the other one.

Halo's got a point. =p

Look.. the Vatican survived!

I see Ireland is still in tact, that's all that matters to me. :p

OMFG that is funny!!

Heh.
Could someone explain what's supposed to be funny about this paranoid map? :rolleyes

Oh lighten up Edeina, Sweden is still there... with new neighbors! :rollin

I'm serious.
Can you tell me what the hell is supposed to be funny about it? In my eyes, it's exactly like showing a map of the USA or the world or whatever, and display it as occupied by the niggers and the secret jewish conspiracy.

It's not like I take it personally, it's more like I think it reeks, mkey.

thread #2 derailed by Ed the Serious.

*tries to find Swedens new neighbours on the map* Ok none of the countries around Sweden are new I'm afraid. I'm speaking immediately around them.

It's not particularly funny since it's extremely badly anchored to reality, I understand why americans find it funny since I have yet to find one that has any overall good knowledge about Europe...

Please.

Everyone had a ball with that one about America with the "here be the sea monsters" thing on it.

Lighten up and have a few beers with the Greater Chechnyan rebels.

I understand why americans find it funny since I have yet to find one that has any overall good knowledge about Europe...

Huhu, you sure got our number! MY GOD YOU ARE ORIGINAL.

Pretty damn funny; would make more sense if the Brits were stuck on the Hebrides (sp?) instead of the Balearics though.

The point wasn't to be original. It was a statement that *I* personally have yet to run into someone who was born and living in America that has any extensive knowledge about Europe.

The map would be funnier if it followed some kind of logic, it doesn't.. which just makes it.. stupid.

//Izzie

It's not particularly funny since it's extremely badly anchored to reality

Yeah ok you have a penis and pretend to be a woman in a video game so all the horny prepubescent guys will give you free shit. Reality is what you're worried about.

Master Damoiel Mindbend
Retired Enchanter of the 60th Season

'Pretty damn funny; would make more sense if the Brits were stuck on the Hebrides (sp?) instead of the Balearics though. '

- We got off better than the Russians :P

Yeah ok you have a penis and pretend to be a woman in a video game so all the horny prepubescent guys will give you free shit. Reality is what you're worried about.

*laugh* ok =) It's good that you know me ;)

//Izzie

*laugh* ok =) It's good that you know me

Hmmm so you mean it's a mistake for me to make blanket generalizations about people I don't know?... Hmm.... Go figure. Well I guess you're right that IS a bad idea.

As I said in my explanation to Marz, I was judging from my personal experiences. Wasn't making a generalization. If you feel like I did *shrugs* it wasn't my intention.

//Izzie

hey im from europe...and its pretty damn funny .)

Greater Chechnya and Albanian federation rocks .)

- We got off better than the Russians :P

Hey, at least we retained some of our own soil. And a major port like Kaliningrad beats the hell out of your little resort islands :)

Long as they still make my vodka...

Never underestimate tiny resort islands in the face of global economy!!!

At least the "here be dragons" map followed some logic. It was a parody, and it was clear what attitudes it was making a parody of. This map...
/shrug

If it even HAVE a point, it's about the islamophobia of certain rightwing extremist groups. For example, Le Pen's Front National in France might display it as a example of how Europe will become unless people give them their vote. I'm sure Vladimir Zjirinovsky and his russian "nationalist" party (whatever it's called) would be thrilled as well. We have had our share of that kind of lunatic fringe political parties here in Sweden as well, and I'm not at all fond of them.

<blockquote><strong><em>Quote:</em></strong><hr> I understand why americans find it funny since I have yet to find one that has any overall good knowledge about Europe... <hr></blockquote>

That's funny, I have yet to find a European that has a good knowledge base about America. Other then Taino of course. He knows all about us because he watched over 1000 American movies!

'That's funny, I have yet to find a European that has a good knowledge base about America'

- Eh, who in the world would want knowledge of the New World?
Here be California, with lots of celebrities.
Here be Texas with cowboys and stuff.
Here be New York with Sarah Jessica Parker.

Who cares?

(I predict Yanky-outrage, and I'm excited!)

Does it worth to know anything about a country that has da Terminator as governor for on of its state?

:)

Does it worth to know anything about country that would be letting Europeans hold the important office??? OmG Kekeke!!!111 ^_^

>Does it worth to know anything about a country that has da Terminator as governor for on of its state?


does it help to know hes really NOT a terminator?!?!

i still think its too early to claim this is a big plubicity stunt, the dude is puting up some pretty crazy ideas to help out the budget

and man, you have no idea how right you are halo, about small resort islands

I'm always right, dear boy :P

<blockquote><strong><em>Quote:</em></strong><hr>Here be California, with lots of celebrities. Here be Texas with cowboys and stuff. Here be New York with Sarah Jessica Parker.<hr></blockquote>

Eh, good enough. That's more then most of today's youth knows. 8(

Economic status
Currently (February 2004) the EU, considered as a unit, has the largest economy in the world, with a 2002 GDP of 8,447 billion euro. The US economy, classified as the second, has a GDP of 10,450 billion dollars, that calculated by the current rate 1.28$ for euro gives 8,170 bilion euro.

The EU economy is expected to grow further over the next decade as more countries join the union - especially that the new States are usually poorer than the EU average, and hence expected fast GDP growth will help achieve the dynamic of the united europe. However, GDP per capita the whole Union will fall over the short-term.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_Union (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_Union)

Europe > all (including all of them colonials)

Btw, part of the Balearics were briefly under British rule after the end of the Spanish war of succession in the 1710's.

/wishes he was in Ibiza right now

www.lonelyplanet.com/dest...istory.htm (http://www.lonelyplanet.com/destinations/europe/balearic_islands/history.htm)

Thanks for that tidbit of info.

I like the way you have to lump yourselves together to give the appearance of superiority, but GOD FORBID a damn American refers to you as a collective or fails to distinguish from East and West Buchachecneystan. Whew that'll get your leiderhosen in a bind.

Damn, can't flame my old Damoiel.
BUT! That's about as sensible as saying Britain shouldn't be recognized as a country :P

he was getting pissed that he was using "europes economy" statement, when i guess its made up of many economies?, to make the..

>Europe > all (including all of them colonials)

statement

something you have been pissed about in the past

Damn, can't flame my old Damoiel.
BUT! That's about as sensible as saying Britain shouldn't be recognized as a country :P

Sure you can lover, dont want the denizens here to think youre going soft ;)
But yeah I think we were on 2 different pages in regards to what I was talking about - I simply meant that its super gay to be making comparisons of all of Europe vs. the US, when Euros get so uppity if an American dares to lump you guys together. At least get your argument straight Iamsici - you either are homogenous or you arent.

Master Damoiel Mindbend
Retired Enchanter of the 60th Season

I simply meant that its super gay to be making comparisons of all of Europe vs. the US
Can't agree more. |I
Euros get so uppity if an American dares to lump you guys together
Not all Euros are from Sweden and UK ya know. :b

It may not be the case that most europeans know so damn insanely much about the US, but 90% of the US people don't even fucking find europe or its countries on a world map!

And yes, what's the funny thing about the map again?
I am not insulted nor in any way negatively "touched" by the map. I just don't get the joke about it at all.
You know, getting ridiculed about my statement (that I still find pretty ok actually) about having seen lots of US movies is at least some kind of humor I understand. Of course one can understand that there's DAMN much to learn about the US and the attitude and how they think and live by seeing so many movies. Simple example: Healloween. I know what Halloween is and what you US people celebrate and why you do it. BUt this doesn't exist in europe AT ALL. Still I know about it. How? From movies. Its just a tiny example. Anyways, of course I understand how the whole thing can be taken very humorous, since it makes me look as if I would believe everything I see on a movie. You have real indiana jones in the US, you really have an ET there and the X Files are real in fact. ...

So anyways. whats the fun part about this map again?
I don't get t.

To say Halloween doesn't exist AT ALL in Europe is as silly as your post Taino.

Wait... Superman ISN'T REAL?!

I actually found the aforementioned map quite funny. But it didn't have a scratch on the American one :P

It may not be the case that most europeans know so damn insanely much about the US, but 90% of the US people don't even fucking find europe or its countries on a world map!


Oh, please. Europe is easy.

Africa can be difficult because the revolutions result in name changes every few years, it seems.

BUt this doesn't exist in europe AT ALL.

So you've forgotten that it originated in Europe, I guess.

My biggest problem remembering who is where in Europe is that I learned the geography during the height of the cold war. When I was in school, Yugoslavia and Czechoslovakia were intact. Now we have all the successor states plus the various ex Soviet republics to remember. Not that hard, but I still catch myself lumping Slovaks with Czechs, etc. It's harder for me to remember all the ex-Soviet states.

Anyone remember the board game Risk? That was a great educational game for learning at least ballpark geography.

It is hard. I don't think you can find many people who could, perhaps, name every nation in the world.
I know I couldn't name every American state, and I'd assume Joe Yanky couldn't name every European country.
But I think it's important at least, and so quite embarassing if not, to have at least a moderate knowledge of foreign places.
I'd expect Joe Yanky to name at least 20 of the larger European powers, as I would hope Mr.Europe could name at least 20 US states.
But I hate not knowing every country. It feels completely ignorant. I do think it's important to know about the rest of the world as much as your own part of it.

Hell, even I have trouble with those ex-communist states Gulor :p

Uhm Halloween does exist in Sweden atleast, well the translation of the Swedish word for it would be "all saints night". We just celebrate it in another way, it's the same day with the same meaning, just that the Swedish one is aimed at remembering and honoring the dead. By lighting candles on their graves and so on.

Not to mention that alot of people under 30 these days does also celebrate Halloween the American way..

//Izola

Taino and whoever else insults our collective knowledge, I challenge you to a geographic geek duel on AIM or IRC or such. No cheating via web or atlas, of course :) If you lose, you have to quit badmouthing our geographic knowledge. If I lose, I will insert "I have been owned by ______" in my sig for a month. Fair enough?

that is so a trap

I think what Taino meant was that the American traditions of costumes, "Trick or Treat," pumpkin carving and the like don't exist in Europe.

The map would be better if the countries that remained had reasons given for the Muslims not marching in there.

Sweden: Too goddamn cold!
Ireland: Hell no, we wanted out of the Middle East.
etc...

example: Healloween. I know what Halloween is and what you US people celebrate and why you do it. BUt this doesn't exist in europe AT ALL.

I think what Taino meant was that the American traditions of costumes, "Trick or Treat," pumpkin carving and the like don't exist in Europe.

Isn't that why its an American tradition? Please ship over more movies with European traditions so we can know what they are too. Or stop watching American movies so much. Not like they are holding you hostage and screaming "Watch these movies and learn US customs!!", while sticking you in front of a TV with blinders.

'Isn't that why its an American tradition?'

- Uhm, no. Are you not reading this thread?

The principle of Halloween would be completely unknown to me îf not for american movies. That's the whole point. The only reason why it is being practised more and more with us aswell (you know the trick and treat, the kids putting on costumes and asking around for candy and such) is because we all see it on TV.
It may be that Halloween origins in Europe, no clue about that. My one and only point is that I learned from it from american movies that I by now learned something about american culture by it. And my point about the whole thing is that many thousands of little details like this are being shown in american movies which do end up in people like me knowing quite a lot about how american society works. of course I don't know everyhting, of course its just movies and much of it is pure fiction. Still. I don't think that you guys even remotely have any accurate idea baout how life works in switzerland unelss you have visited the country or have for some reason shown a special interest in it in the past.

And it may be that some of you have a way deeper geographical knowledge then I do. However, I doubt that the average american has it. In fact, it has been proven many times.

Oh and Vinre, I was never in any way attacking the fact that you ship american movies to us. I watch them. I like them. I prefer french or after all, chinese movies, but american movies are good. understand my point and don't just blindly bash. The fact that US movies are shown on TV here is appreciated and welcome. In fact my whole point was that I learned a lot about the US by watching them.

You seriously didn't know about Hallow's Eve?
We celebrate here. Not much, but the kids go around trick or treating, and there are usually a few good keggers to attend.
But hell, we at least know about it :P
I'm sure it originated in the Netherlands.. maybe some Dutch people can enlighten us.

Well, I am sorry, but that doesn't (or didn't) exist here.
Did you know about the so called Alp Honrs being blown on Juli 31st all over the country with huge traditional feasts and such?

no? Well maybe its because it doesn't exist with you! :P
Smartypant!

Die you uncultured swine!!

I was mostly responding to the points that Americans may not know as much about European culture and Europeans do about American cultures. I assume that American movies are more mainstream over there than European movies over here, hence the knowledge gap, as Taino pointed out he learned alot from the movies. Its just silly that people complain that they know more about 1 group of peoples, than said group of peoples know about them. If you want to actually do something other than complain, then take a step and educate. I'd love to hear about customs from other places.

Am I able to point out on a map all the countries in Europe? Heck no. Closer to maybe 35%. The big ones mostly. However I can point out around 80% of African countries and 80% of South American countries. And thier capitals. (Yay for Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego!) Why do I know more about those continents? Because somewhere along the line I heard/read something that interested me, and I took the time to pursue it. Or someone took the time to educate me instead of calling me a dumb American.

Just a few quick facts: I'm from Michigan, near Detroit known as the car capital of the world. If you put your hand in front of you like you were wearing a mitten thats how Michigan is shaped.
Michigan has the longest freshwater shoreline than anywhere in the world. The first soda pop created in the Unites States came from Michigan. Michigan State police created the first state police radio system in the world.

Alp Honrs

Nothing Google I'm afraid, what does this custom mean or stand for?

Thats a typo..I'm sure he meant Alpine Horns. Just watch a Riccola commercial.

Actually I had heard of the Swiss custom, but did not remember the date. Seemed like a good excuse to party.

Riccola commercial

I learned everything I know about the Swiss from that commercial.


Ibudin

:rollin

I know the US foolks likes to make Eurotrash happy when they visit eachother and when they sit down can actually see eye to eye on things because they don't get the You are against us if you are not with us statement from people on this board.
I also know a lot of racist fucks are out there tryong to get this world in Chaos. I also know it's thanks to the US that the rest of this world isn't already in a state of chaos and I know that it is thanks to Europe that the Palestinians at least get a little support for a right but lost cause .. what else is there to know?

better that map than every kid in the US thinking Europe was this. (http://music.onino.co.uk/music/final_countdown_the.html)

I still listen to that tape every now and then...:rolleyes In fact I have all there tapes. :( That was along time ago though....:lol