A case in point ...

[blamebrampton]

So, there we were, having a chat on a friend's LJ about the differences between the US and the UK for purposes of a self-Britpicking list, with participants from both sides of the pond and beyond and frequent diversions into baiting and comedy from all sides, and apparently it has become a source of Flocked Drama.

Consider the argument very carefully: At least one American is very upset that British people prefer to be depicted in accurate ways.

And if you can't see why that's a bit dodgy, replace the word British with any other nationality.

I don't want to overstate the case, because really, it doesn't culturally oppress us the way that some other cultures have been oppressed by this sort of thing, since we don't deeply care and we had an Empire first. And while the original source of the complaint is a preference, it's certainly not a sine qua non, and we read heaps of stuff that gets us wrong, and some of it is good and some is crap, and really, at the end of the day we still pronounce and spell aluminium in ways that are scientifically logical, which in itself is enough. But, honestly ...

Interestingly, one of my points of difference was a tendency to soap-opera-like over-reactions in fiction. Clearly I drew the line too narrowly.

AND I left off the fact that it the entire United States has been the subject of mass-brainwashing to accept caffeinated flavoured beverages as coffee. Though I see Starbucks has dropped the word from their logo, truth in advertising at last!

Comments

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

I do know not to expect rationality. It's just that I find such a lot of it around and am lulled into a false sense of security in the good sense of people and then ...

Ah well. I wonder if I should customise my layout so that if people pop by to find the expected Baby Eating Bishop of Bath and Wells they will know they are at the right place?

[meredyth-13.livejournal.com]

I do know not to expect rationality. It's just that I find such a lot of it around and am lulled into a false sense of security in the good sense of people and then ...

THIS!

btw - I have ordered your fresh babies for collection when you're next down. Do you want me to make up a new batch of that nice marinade you like?

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

MERE! I am trying to be as vego as possible this year! You dreadful temptress, you!

[meredyth-13.livejournal.com]

Hey! They're milk fed, that's vego, isn't it?

*looks innocent*

I'm sure their mothers were vego, anyway. >.>

*twirls*

[drbunsen.livejournal.com]

I do know not to expect rationality. It's just that I find such a lot of it around and am lulled into a false sense of security in the good sense of people and then ...

And then you find someone on your Facebook wall getting their panties in a twist about the existence of a halal KFC in Sydney. OMG - someone serves KFC with no bacon??? SHARIA LAW!!!

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

Yet another reason to avoid Facebook! And I love the idea of that KFC, since I'm allergic to pig products. If I ever find an urge to eat chain junk food, I'll head there!

(Back in the 70s and 80s there was always a little knot of us at lunch, me, the Jewish girls and the Islamic girls, all able to swap lunch bits without fear once the Islamic girls were rigorous about the no dairy. Who says the problems of the Middle East are intractable? And that was years before this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3UO6YlkYNJQ)

[drbunsen.livejournal.com]

There's a halal pizzeria just opened up around the corner from me. I think it's the first one in Melbourne. It's packed, every night; people seem to drive from all over the city to come here. Marketing genius.

Imagine growing up in a halal household, and never having tasted KFC's greasy delights, ever. Or pizza FFS. Won't somebody think of teh childrens??

[meredyth-13.livejournal.com]

LOL


(and yet another good reason to NEVER have a F##kbook account. :D )