There's good countries and there's bad countries

[Craic]

Nice try, but OG is right. You are a bit of a cretin.
On the plus side, you've come to the right place!

Old Greg and Shaunbho have just proved the old Maxim - that two half wits don't make a wit.

[snaw]

We all have pre-set ideas of what the people of different countries are like and whether it is a good country or a bad one and whether its people are good or bad.

Let me make a start.

Norway - good
Holland - good
Germany - OK
Australia - good
Argentina - bad
Italy - OK
Ireland - good
USA - good (except for the crazies)
Canada - good
New Zealand - good
Arab countries - bad (but improving a bit)
Saudi Arabia - very bad
Ghana - good
Nigeria - bad
Russia - OK
Sweden - good
Belgium - OK
Spain - OK
Poland - good

Have I got those right?

What about the people of other countries?

What a load of bollocks. I've met good people and arseholes from almost every one of those countries, and generally the ones you consider bad are only bad cause their governments are fcked, and the people in them usually recognize that ... (BTW What's wrong with Argentina, awesome country full of brilliant people - or you still bearing a falklands/maradona complex from the 80's)

[Mich the Tester]

We all have pre-set ideas of what the people of different countries are like and whether it is a good country or a bad one and whether its people are good or bad.

Let me make a start.

Norway - good
Holland - good
Germany - OK
Australia - good
Argentina - bad
Italy - OK
Ireland - good
USA - good (except for the crazies)
Canada - good
New Zealand - good
Arab countries - bad (but improving a bit)
Saudi Arabia - very bad
Ghana - good
Nigeria - bad
Russia - OK
Sweden - good
Belgium - OK
Spain - OK
Poland - good

Have I got those right?

What about the people of other countries?

There are some exceptionally fit women on Argentina's beaches.

[Craic]

What a load of bollocks. I've met good people and arseholes from almost every one of those countries, and generally the ones you consider bad are only bad cause their governments are fcked, and the people in them usually recognize that ... (BTW What's wrong with Argentina, awesome country full of brilliant people - or you still bearing a falklands/maradona complex from the 80's)

You are correct (and are able to put up a good argument unlike some others here who know only insults) but it doesn't answer the main point of the thread. You may argue that there are good Argentinians but can you argue that Argentina and Argentinians are very popular in the UK (and England especially)?

That was the question I was asking. I think that if you went through my list of the good and the bad most people in the UK would put them into similar categories that I put them into as regards good, bad and OK. There may be minor deviations. So, why would these pre-set perceptions exist in this country about whole countries full of people?

[snaw]

That was the question I was asking. I think that if you went through my list of the good and the bad most people in the UK would put them into similar categories that I put them into as regards good, bad and OK. There may be minor deviations. So, why would these pre-set perceptions exist in this country about whole countries full of people?

No it wasn't, you stated:

We all have pre-set ideas of what the people of different countries are like and whether it is a good country or a bad one and whether its people are good or bad.

Who's we? I think if you went around different parts of the UK you'd get wildly different answers. Most Scots don't mind the argeis and a lot of english do object to aussies ...

I think the premise is wrong anyway, what's the point of it? People have pre conceived perceptions about people from other countries, it's hardly original, and I don't get why you have to draw up a list for the approval (or not) of others. WGAF?

[TiroFijo]

There are some exceptionally fit women on Argentina's beaches.

You sir are correct!

[Mich the Tester]

No it wasn't, you stated:



Who's we? I think if you went around different parts of the UK you'd get wildly different answers. Most Scots don't mind the argeis and a lot of english do object to aussies ...

I think the premise is wrong anyway, what's the point of it? People have pre conceived perceptions about people from other countries, it's hardly original, and I don't get why you have to draw up a list for the approval (or not) of others. WGAF?

I've been to Argentina and I think they're, in a way, misunderstood. They do want the Falklands, but most are happy to let the diplomats deal with that and feel that the government should have other priorities. I didn't experience any hostility toward Brits, and although one or two people mentioned the 'Malvinas' in conversation, they weren't nasty about it. I think what actually annoys Argentinians is a feeling that they're seen by many in Europe as some kind of turd world country, and not seen or treated as equals, when they feel that their culture and way of life is essentially modern and European, and indeed it is. I think that if Britain were to offer them a route to doing business, studying and travelling in the EU as equals, perhaps with comprehensive free trade agreements etc, they'd feel somewhat happier, and some kind of economic cooperation to share benefits from the disputed areas would go a long way to ease tensions. It would probably benefit Britain as well as Argentina is a growing economy that can have a big future if their efforts to get corruption under control succeed.

[mudskipper]

Interesting fact:

An anagram of countries is cretinous.

[swamp]

I've been to Argentina and I think they're, in a way, misunderstood. They do want the Falklands, but most are happy to let the diplomats deal with that and feel that the government should have other priorities. I didn't experience any hostility toward Brits, and although one or two people mentioned the 'Malvinas' in conversation, they weren't nasty about it. I think what actually annoys Argentinians is a feeling that they're seen by many in Europe as some kind of turd world country, and not seen or treated as equals, when they feel that their culture and way of life is essentially modern and European, and indeed it is. I think that if Britain were to offer them a route to doing business, studying and travelling in the EU as equals, perhaps with comprehensive free trade agreements etc, they'd feel somewhat happier, and some kind of economic cooperation to share benefits from the disputed areas would go a long way to ease tensions. It would probably benefit Britain as well as Argentina is a growing economy that can have a big future if their efforts to get corruption under control succeed.

Argentina is a turd world country, but it should be as successful as Australia. Once it was one of the world's richest countries but it made a complete hash of the 20th century despite dodging the two wars. Even Russia is doing better than Argentina, and they had to cope with seventy years of communism.

[xoggoth]

So, why would these pre-set perceptions exist in this country about whole countries full of people?

We can all only go on what we read and experience but, assuming the press are not misleading us, if we looked honestly at public perceptions and reality there would be a lot of congruence. Ordinary people judge on actual effect, it is the intellectuals, driven by their unrealistic idealism and their ideas of what humanity should be, rather than what it is, who are deluded.

It is completely meaningless to talk about good and bad people. Outside of Hollywood serial killer movies almost everyone does what they thinks is right. The Norway Killer thought what he was doing was to our future benefit, extreme Ilsamists genuinely think Shariah will improve the lot of all, I expect even Hitler had good intent.

It is a nonsense to suggest that there is some huge disparity between reactionary government and enlightened people as Snaw seems to be suggesting. Take a look at the Arab dictatorships, they are a part of a culture of allegiance to the extended family and the tribe. All the "Arab spring" will bring about is a change of dictatorship because those societies are culturally 100 years away from being ready for democracy.

What is (statistically) true us that societies can have views and objectives that are totally contrary to our own.
People make their culture and culture makes the people and wherever they go they take their beliefs and attitudes with them.