Originally posted by lmsw08233
Argh im not going to argue with certain stupid and arrogant americans any more.
How are we ignorant by stating the facts.
I hate to break it to you all but the USA has invented about as much as my mother - and improves about as much as my father (both completely hopeless people).
Can you read? I'm being serious, did you not see the list of inventions I had?
Heres the reason why no one from outside the US consideres the US to be a Civilization and why barely anyone outside the US can stand it!
The arrogance!
Arrogance and humility are not the defining traits of a civilization, so there must be other reasons.
Believe me if the USA retreated back into isolationism there would be world wide celebrations.
Prove it.
The US likes to take credit for the worlds accomplishments so we will be glad to get them back.
This is because alot (not all, by any means, but alot) of the worlds accomplishments were directly or indirectly linked to the US.
I will again point out the only thing the US provides to world research is funds, because most of the scientists and companies working on modern research are non-americans.
Doctor Wakefield and his research into the MMR vaccine and its possible repercussions is a good example - a Brit who has to use US money to fund his research.
The USA can not claim that they invented everything - which they do - just because they put up the money for it - but they will anyway.
We never claimed we invented everything. Where do you get this absurd fact?
And Nav i must have missed where American culture was permeating the world?
Lets see - lets go to Japan. American culture there? No thats Japanese culture thats everywhere there...
China? Nope its the Chinese/Taiwanese culture there...
India? Nope a combination of Indian/British culture is about there...
Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia etc? Nope no American culture welcomed down there...the only vestige of the West down there is the remnants of British culture...
Australia? No thats, Australian amazingly enough.
Anywhere in south America besides Puerto Rico and Panama? No they all pretty much hate the USA...
The Middle East? No again they pretty much hate the USA...and in Iraq where the USA is trying to force their way of life on the Iraqis it isnt going so well for the USA...
Former Soviet Union territories? Again no...they are moving more towards a pro-European Union anti-USA stance, American "culture" is rejected there too...
Anywhere in Africa? No the northern half is Muslim and they pretty much hate the USA...and the Southern half is too busy fighting amongst themselves, and worrying about AIDS, to care about the USA much...
Canada? No they pretty much have their own culture descended as a mix of British and French...
Europe? No the majority of mainland Europe pretty much seriously dislikes the USA also, Britain is the USAs only friend here...
Britain? The only place in the world where u could possibly claim to say that American culture is making inroads, but then we remember that the majority of the British people would just as soon abandon the USA so we werent seen as a poddle to Washington anymore, so you have to think the USA aint doing to well here either.
Yes, you definitely did miss where American culture was permeating the world.
Japan-BASEBALL!!! Also, many new American companies and restauraunts are investing in or opening branches in Japan.
China/Taiwan-Did you know there are hundreds of McDonald's throughout China and Taiwan? Sounds like American culture to me, and that's just one example from that region.
Southeast Asia-Not as much, but American cultural influence is still growing, especially in places such as Thailand, Malaysia, and Indonesia.
Australia-Lots of American companies and products here. For example, one of our Australian posters had a run-in with some bad KFC food.
India-While there is not much American culture here, certain aspects of modern Indian culture (such as movies) are influenced by American culture.
Latin America- Baseball is big here, especially in the Carribean and Venezuela. Also, more and more American companies spreading the culture all the time.
Middle East- One word: ISRAEL. This nation has a lot of American products and companies spreading American culture in it. Also, if you ever went to a mall in Kuwait or any other country on the Arabian Peninsula, you would find some form of American culture.
Former USSR/Communist Bloc-Actually, alot of this is the other way around (not all but alot). Many American things becoming a part of everyday life.
Africa-Not much here, but this continent is riddled with strife and disease, so there is not much of any outside influence, besides possibly in South Africa.
Mainland Europe-So many American movies here, especially in the west part, such as in France. Also, I can attest to there being McDonald's in Paris and alot of France, I have seen them. American rock star Bruce Springsteen? Big hit here, especially in Scandanavia.
Canada-We don't call it America junior for no reason. This is the country probably most influenced by American culture.
Britain- Much like Canada, alot of American culture, even our British posters acknowledge it.
So where is American culture influential?
Id say apart from in countries so poor that they cant do anything but be dependant on the USA, absolutely no where.
Only the USA believes it is a civilization with a strong culture.
The rest of the world pretty much disagrees and is pretty much getting sick of getting told what to do by the USA - and getting the USA trying to shove its ideas down our throats.
To answer your question, I'd say American culture is influential in alot of places. There are non-Americans who think that the USA has a strong culture, just because they aren't on CFC (which I highly doubt) it doesn't mean they don't exist.
That hardly seems influential and strong. It seems more like a bad joke.
Sure seems influential and strong to me and the evidence I have posted above supports that.
To be considered a civilization a country must have done something notable to impact the world in which we live.
And quite frankly the USA hasnt. You claim you have but as i said before all the USA does is put up money for other people to do things and then takes credit for it.
The USA most definitely has. The idea of an international peacekeeping organization. Developed by American president Woodrow Wilson. All those inventions. Mostly invented by people born and raised in America. There is no denying this. Saved your a$$es in WW1 and WW2. Americas men and production.
No the USA is not a civilization and does not deserve the space it takes up in Civ 3.
But again I will state that I would not remove the USA from the game simply because Civ 3 wouldnt be the same without a USA in it.
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It does, look at the evidence I have posted above.
Depending on the nation I play I do many things to a USA AI Civ :- if i am England I like to ally with them, just cos its convienient and they make pretty good cannon fodder during wars; if i am any other European nation I like to have trade wars with them and bully them into a secondary position; and if i am one of the rest of the world civilizations i like to destroy them completely.
This is relevant how?
So the USA would stay if only to serve as a lapdog, punch bag, or useful place to take over.
Or as a good and useful civ.
Most of this is fact, so don't even try to deny it. No matter how much you argue it, facts will not change.
More rebuttals to other arguments to come after dinner.
