Notes on the Decline of a Great Nation

[sophie]

edit: And we have awful national music, but thank god it's not that toecurling tripe Country and Western mu-sick.

Umm...there's a big difference between Country, Western, and Country/Western (and Bluegrass) music. So which do you mean?

 

[Ziggy Stardust]

I mean the one most likely to get a rise out of VRWC

 

[bhsup]

I really don't know what Samantha Fox's "Touch Me" has to do with a thread about American exceptionalism.

 

[sophie]

I mean the one most likely to get a rise out of VRWC

That would be Country/Western. You won't get much objection from me in that case

 

[Ziggy Stardust]

I really don't know what Samantha Fox's "Touch Me" has to do with a thread about American exceptionalism.

It's a metaphor which tries to make the connection between America's cheap consumerism and ... oh I don't know either.

 

[Yeekim]

Couldn't tell, I didn't read the article.

Are you proud of it or do you just come off that way?

 

[hobbsyoyo]

Are you proud of it or do you just come off that way?

I guess both?

 

[Borachio]

Now I'm really confused....isn't an appropriate way to say hi or bye to someone you love to say 'I love you'? Man you Europeans are heartless.

It's not really a greeting or goodbye sort of phrase for me. And I suspect many Europeans.

It's more a once or twice in a lifetime thing between adults. Said to small children it might be more frequent.

I don't think it's a measure of heartlessness at all. Rather the reverse.

 

[hobbsyoyo]

I was half kidding when I said it was for hello's and goodbye's. Surely you are kidding it's a once or twice in a lifetime thing, right????

 

[Borachio]

I remember saying it twice, yes.

My Mum said it to me once as a joke. After seeing an American say it on TV.

But we were/are a particularly undemonstrative family.

 

[bhsup]

To this day the majority of conversations with parents, particularly over the phone, end with it being said.

 

[hobbsyoyo]

To this day the majority of conversations with parents, particularly over the phone, end with it being said.

Same here. I tell my spouse I love her 50,000 times a day and I mean it every time.

 

[Farm Boy]

I was half kidding when I said it was for hello's and goodbye's. Surely you are kidding it's a once or twice in a lifetime thing, right????

Immediate family for me almost always receives an I love you as good bye. Particularly close friends might get it once or twice. I can't help but think that particular sentiment wouldn't be a bad one to be spread around more frequently.

 

[Borachio]

Aye. And there we differ.

The principle here was that not saying it was because to do so was unnecessary as everyone knew it already; and also we feared cheapening the value of it by frequent use.

But remember, people and cultures differ.

Looking at members of my own family is like looking at myself.

 

[ace99]

Only the women get it, mother, sisters, girlfriend. Male relatives get a manly "We'll have a beer soon."

 

[Farm Boy]

Aye. And there we differ.

The principle here was that not saying it was because to do so was unnecessary as everyone knew it already; and also we feared cheapening the value of it by frequent use.

But remember, people and cultures differ.

Looking at members of my own family is like looking at myself.

True enough. I don't think "reserve" has ever really been a particularly... American value.

 

[Yeekim]

I guess both?

"Only in America...", I guess.

 

[kochman]

I tell my dog I love her every day.

 

[Phrossack]

I tell my dog I love her every day.

As do I. But I don't say this to people. Dunno why- I just don't.

 

[kochman]

As do I. But I don't say this to people. Dunno why- I just don't.

Your dog is probably nicer than most people.