For Zlash et al

Here goes...

It was quite long ago that I started reading and then posting in these forums. I chose this name not because of Monty Python (its not bad, but not my cup of tea), but because of Worms 2. I was just too good at that game. I would trap my opponents (usually on an island) and then use one holygrenade with some super accuracy. Its a really good game for socialising. And the fact that they had bottle of beer in their hands while playing and that I don't drink had nothing to do with me winning all the time. If they have enough hand-eye co-ordination to move the cursor, they're sober enough.

Now, why I prefer living in the UK rather than the states. Don't think I said that because of pride. I hold my self to high regard but, I'm the first to know when i'm a hypocrite. I know I don't always practice what I preach. I'm also the first to criticise myself there. And I have said if a company came along and offered me huge ammounts of money to work for them in the US, I don't currently see a reason why I would refuse. However, that wouldn't for a second mean my opinion would have changed.

I like it here in the UK. The people are mostly indifferent, yet not ignorant. Everything is subtle. Except for a few, people are more or less accepting. People are comfortable with change and what is different. Everything is more or less implicit yet open.

The USA in my opinion is "less subtle". Everyone is opinionated, which is understandable but there is a general lack of respect for the opinion of others. People are media driven, dhlucke will probably disagree with me on this one. And there opinion is generated from there with a heavy bias on inception. Everything is to an extent, explicit. For example, unity. There is percieved need for inventing high PC terms that are supposed to show ones unicity, yet also bring out their similarity to others. e.g. the term African-American. This is a designer term. There is and explicit stance of freedom, yet it seems this freedom is in the hands of control-freaks who "know best".

Also, the judicial and legal system there scares me. I'd say the tone of your skin matters more than one would hope to admit. It does so too in the UK, but not as much. And people of all type will agree that there is institutionalised racism in the UK. But try that in the US...

As for someone calling himself a N!gger and then accusing others of being racist towards him. He has every right to do so. His choice of name has nothing to do with it. If he chooses a name like that, nothing says he gives up his rights. Although, nobody is likely to use that variation of the term as it was invented by the white slavemaster. Some africans also have used this term. N!gga is probably more likely to be used as in all those hiphop records. And besides, I have called my friend N!gger in public, but usually only in response to him calling me Paki. So, you also have to look at the context. Of course you'd watch out for the group of people in you'r presence before you make such a remark.

<font color=red><b>A man is only as old as the woman he feels</b></font color=red>

...........................................................................................

We got 4000 dead, not a slurpee, on ***9/11***!

The Cash Left In My Pocket,The BEST Benchmark

Sorry. Typo.

tomsmart: You are a braver man than I. I wouldn't have been in a situation where someone would have wanted to ask me that question.

<b><font color=blue>~ Oh flower of Scotland...da da de de dum dum doo doo.~ </font color=blue></b>

when I hear from someone bashing the US and they have never actually lived here I begin to look at the culture where they are from and how free from all prejudices etc it is from .. in this case 2 things spring to mind .. Sikhs and the caste system ..

lagger

<b><font color=blue>Checking under my North<font color=red> AND</font color=red> South bridges for <font color=green>Trolls</font color=green></font color=blue>

Granted, we've discussed most of this in part in several different threads, but I don't really think you needed to justify yourself. I think most of us understand where you stand and respect that.

Regarding my mention, I don't disagree with you really. It's just that a smart person will read several sources from several different parts of the world and an ignorant person won't. Both will make a decision, and will stand by it, but the ignorant person will have a stance based on less information. The media is only what you make it to be nowadays.

The judicial system here needs to revamped so that the loser pays the bill.

Regarding the word n1gger, if a white person called a black person that, all hell would break loose. Black people from certain areas might call themselves that though. It's like the word jewed that pissed me off. From where some of you are from it's common. Here it's not and it's considered a racial slur in all contexts. I had a friend who came back from the other side of America and he was using that term in every conversation. I made it very clear where I stood and he stopped using it, at least around me. It's just rude, degrading, gutter talk in my opinion. Some would think the same thing about the word n1gger, but not all. Depends who you are and where you're from. Nonetheless, both words aren't appropriate on a forum where there is a mixed crowd.

Yes, I'm opinionated, but I hope I at least base it on some worthwhile information. I've seen a lot in person that has influenced me to be very anti-racist for example. Racism in any form, subtle or not, will always get my blood boiling. I just consider it one of the lowest forms of ignorance and it leads to nothing but problems.

Why you should have to explain your preference for the UK over the USA I don't know. The USA is very diverse first of all, so for all you know there might be a special place over here that is just for you. But that's for you and only you to decide. When I lived in Europe I found that the ultimate solution for me would have been America in Europe's location with the European culture and the American job market. But that's never going to happen.

I also found, unlike you have in the UK, that people weren't handling the changing faces in Europe very well. People didn't like competing with foreigners for jobs, communities, or a spot on the subway. It really was sad. I hope it's gotten better since I was last over there. I'll be returning this summer for 3 months so I'll see then.


<font color=red>God</font color=red> <font color=blue>Bless</font color=blue> <font color=red>America!</font color=red>