Quote: Matthew Stott @ March 25 2010, 9:13 AM GMTI did have the misfortune of living in Birmingham for a while though, yeah. Not great.
I saw Brazil vs Sweden in Birmingham in 1995. It was good. It was the first time that Juninho played in England and everyone was going "who is that young man with the fancy footwork?".
Quote: Matthew Stott @ March 25 2010, 9:11 AM GMTI find that a bit weird, to be honest. That whole over the top patriotism thing. It's a bit much.
Conversely, I find the suppression of patriotic feelings to the extent of near self-loathing to be a bit much. If you're proud enough to wave your country's flag during a football match you should be proud enough to wave it the rest of the year.
You always make The USA sound like some dream world, compared to the shitty way we have it over here! (It's not shitty really)
I know it's not shitty. One glaring difference between our countries - and it's been behind every instance of hostility that I've experienced in England - is the level of public intoxication. It's not tolerated here and will get you arrested, but that doesn't always seem to be the case over there.
Quote: Nogget @ March 25 2010, 9:27 AM GMT..I mean, it's handy to have so many people available in jail as a cheap labour force. Who needs slavery?
Too bad they don't actually make them work. Most of them sit in their air-conditioned cells and watch TV all day.
The actual percentage of the population who are inmates is just under 1%. Probation and parole don't really count, as they're free to live their lives - as long as they remain crime-free, of course.
Quote: DaButt @ March 25 2010, 1:23 PM GMTConversely, I find the suppression of patriotic feelings to the extent of near self-loathing to be a bit much.
I think you've got us mixed up with a cliche there. 
I say 'us', I have no idea if other people think the way you state.
I like my country, I wouldn't really want to live anywhere else, but I have no desire to stick a flag up and sing the national anthem; self loathing has nothing to do with it. At least, not in my case.
Quote: Matthew Stott @ March 25 2010, 1:42 PM GMTI like my country, I wouldn't really want to live anywhere else
I've always fancied Iceland because it's dark most of the time.
Quote: chipolata @ March 25 2010, 2:24 PM GMTI've always fancied Iceland because it's dark most of the time.
That's because they can't afford to turn the lights on any more !
Quote: Tim Walker @ March 25 2010, 12:35 AM GMTThen again, with the Union Jack considered somewhat divisive thesedays and with each of the four countries having their own national flags
Wales is not a nation, never was. It's a principality and as such has no national flag but an emblem.
Quote: Matthew Stott @ March 25 2010, 1:42 PM GMTI think you've got us mixed up with a cliche there.
I was speaking in generalities. There are plenty of self-loathing Americans.
Quote: SlagA @ March 25 2010, 2:50 PM GMTWales is not a nation, never was. It's a principality and as such has no national flag but an emblem.
What's the bit of material with a red dragon on a green and white background if it's not a flag?
Quote: DaButt @ March 25 2010, 1:23 PM GMTThe actual percentage of the population who are inmates is just under 1%.
The United States has less than 5% of the world's population and 23.4% of the world's prison population. They have the highest documented incarceration rate in the world.
Quote: Nogget @ March 25 2010, 7:10 PM GMTThe United States has less than 5% of the world's population and 23.4% of the world's prison population. They have the highest documented incarceration rate in the world.
Works for me; I'd rather have them in jail than on the streets. Crime rates are lower and law-abiding citizens are safer.
It bugs me a bit that when Americans and English people end up in a dialogue with each other they tend to spend the time defending their country or attacking the other - rather than trying to improve together.
Quote: DaButt @ March 25 2010, 7:20 PM GMTWorks for me; I'd rather have them in jail than on the streets. Crime rates are lower and law-abiding citizens are safer.
So why would you say murder rates are still so high, if the US locks up so many of the bad guys?
Quote: PhQnix @ March 25 2010, 8:06 PM GMTIt bugs me a bit that when Americans and English people end up in a dialogue with each other they tend to spend the time defending their country or attacking the other - rather than trying to improve together.
That's so gay it's French and Lib Dem at once.
Quote: DaButt @ March 25 2010, 7:20 PM GMTWorks for me; I'd rather have them in jail than on the streets. Crime rates are lower and law-abiding citizens are safer.
F**k me we're more violent than South Africa!
Ok that's it no more nice Sootyj. I say guns for all law abiding citizens hang burglars, and drown all tramps.
I know it's the Daily Mail but they can't be completely wrong. God I am getting sick of the persistent tolerance of minor violent crime, till it becomes major violent crime.
Quote: sootyj @ March 25 2010, 8:18 PM GMTThat's so gay it's French and Lib Dem at once.
That sounds like a fairly accurate description of me. 
Quote: Nogget @ March 25 2010, 8:11 PM GMTSo why would you say murder rates are still so high, if the US locks up so many of the bad guys?
You can't lock them up until the crime has been committed, right? And if murders are committed in high numbers then its logical to assume that the end result is a high numbers of prisoners.