What are some strange American customs?

[Nazi Flower Power]

If you call crisps "chips," then what you get with fish & chips are called "fries." I've never heard of anybody calling them both "chips."

....I call them chips.

Both kinds? Wouldn't that get confusing?

[Costa Fierro]

....I call them chips.

Both kinds? Wouldn't that get confusing?

Nope. Chips are chips. You just call them fries, much in the same way lollies are "candy", nappies are "diapers", dummies are "pacifiers" and the footpath is a "sidewalk".

THEY'RE THE SAME DAMNED THING. THEY'RE MADE FROM POTATO, COVERED IN CONDIMENTS AND DIPPED (OR IN MY CASE, NOT DIPPED AT ALL BECAUSE I HATE TOMATO SAUCE).

[Dakini]

Both kinds? Wouldn't that get confusing?

Nope. Chips are chips. You just call them fries, much in the same way lollies are "candy", nappies are "diapers", dummies are "pacifiers" and the footpath is a "sidewalk".

THEY'RE THE SAME DAMNED THING. THEY'RE MADE FROM POTATO, COVERED IN CONDIMENTS AND DIPPED (OR IN MY CASE, NOT DIPPED AT ALL BECAUSE I HATE TOMATO SAUCE).

You can dip chips. Plain ruffles dipped in French Onion dip are excellent for snacking or parties.

Granted, you can also enjoy ketchup chips without dipping French fries in ketchup (but only if you live in Canada).


edit: tag fail.

[Nazi Flower Power]

Both kinds? Wouldn't that get confusing?

Nope. Chips are chips. You just call them fries, much in the same way lollies are "candy", nappies are "diapers", dummies are "pacifiers" and the footpath is a "sidewalk".

THEY'RE THE SAME DAMNED THING. THEY'RE MADE FROM POTATO, COVERED IN CONDIMENTS AND DIPPED (OR IN MY CASE, NOT DIPPED AT ALL BECAUSE I HATE TOMATO SAUCE).

Do you have an actual point other than you hate ketchup?

I feel the same way about ketchup. I just don't get what the purpose of the conversation is supposed to be at this point. If you just wanted to tell me that fries are called "chips" in your dialect of English, well, OK -- to each his own, but that's not exactly a revelation. I am well aware that there are dialects where they are called "chips."

[Nanatsu no Tsuki]

Something I don't exactly find weird, rather taxing at times depending on the level of vitriol from the speaker, a situation with which to draw parallels with my country, is the schism that some keep alive down here, in the South, regarding being a part of the union. There's a certain nationalism down here, and I often think that the mentality is ''we're unified but separate, so don't you Yanks forget it''. (I doubt anyone really wants to secede, they may say so loudly, and it is more prevalent in some areas and not others, but I'm not sure that deep down the sentiment is real) A sentiment that seems to be mirrored up North, although I think that most people north of the Mason-Dixon line would rather the page was turned. It's been way more than a century since the end of the Civil War. Why is the grudge kept alive?

Southern and Northern perspectives welcomed, in TGs if you don't want to discuss it openly.

Because we did a shitty job of Reconstruction and a lot of the ideological differences and racial divisions that created the Civil War in the first place were not corrected. There is also the fact that American schools are mostly controlled by the states rather than the federal government. I think recently there have been some efforts to move toward a more standardized system, but there is still a lot of inconsistency from state to state. If people are starting with different "facts," then of course they will come to different conclusions.

That makes sense. But wouldn't pushing for a more standardize system cause a backlash?

[Nazi Flower Power]

Because we did a shitty job of Reconstruction and a lot of the ideological differences and racial divisions that created the Civil War in the first place were not corrected. There is also the fact that American schools are mostly controlled by the states rather than the federal government. I think recently there have been some efforts to move toward a more standardized system, but there is still a lot of inconsistency from state to state. If people are starting with different "facts," then of course they will come to different conclusions.

That makes sense. But wouldn't pushing for a more standardize system cause a backlash?

Yes, there are people who oppose it.

[Nanatsu no Tsuki]

That makes sense. But wouldn't pushing for a more standardize system cause a backlash?

Yes, there are people who oppose it.

Guess there's no easy way to fix it.

However, thanks for offering your perspective.

[Benuty]

That people believe an author of fiction uses historical evidence to support the idea that Christopher Columbus thought the world was flat.

Which of-course would have made them an embarrassment to anyone at the time who knew about Aristotle.

[Nazi Flower Power]

Yes, there are people who oppose it.

Guess there's no easy way to fix it.

However, thanks for offering your perspective.

Those sorts of long-running conflicts are never easy to fix, no matter what country you're in.

Here in Massachusetts, the opposition to Common Core is mostly, "It ain't broke; don't fix it! We have the best schools in the country so why should we let anyone from out-of-state have a say in how we run them!" Massachusetts legitimately does have good schools, though.

[Nanatsu no Tsuki]

Guess there's no easy way to fix it.

However, thanks for offering your perspective.

Those sorts of long-running conflicts are never easy to fix, no matter what country you're in.

Here in Massachusetts, the opposition to Common Core is mostly, "It ain't broke; don't fix it! We have the best schools in the country so why should we let anyone from out-of-state have a say in how we run them!" Massachusetts legitimately does have good schools, though.

I hear that your social programs works quite well too,

[Soldati Senza Confini]

Okay, I know that as an 11 year immigrant I shouldn't have any gripes nor should I find any customs weird, but I do. I'm sorry.

I do not get what is the fascination with the religious. I simply do not get what is the deal with most religious people coming up with the most backward-ass ideas on how to implement their policies in a secular government.

Maybe it's because I come from a developing country where people have other shit to do than being religious and we're not that religious to begin with (or we realize religion is private).

[Yumyumsuppertime]

Okay, I know that as an 11 year immigrant I shouldn't have any gripes nor should I find any customs weird, but I do. I'm sorry.

I do not get what is the fascination with the religious. I simply do not get what is the deal with most religious people coming up with the most backward-ass ideas on how to implement their policies in a secular government.

Maybe it's because I come from a developing country where people have other shit to do than being religious and we're not that religious to begin with (or we realize religion is private).

No, no, you're right on target with that.

[Confederate Ramenia]

Okay, I know that as an 11 year immigrant I shouldn't have any gripes nor should I find any customs weird, but I do. I'm sorry.

I do not get what is the fascination with the religious. I simply do not get what is the deal with most religious people coming up with the most backward-ass ideas on how to implement their policies in a secular government.

Maybe it's because I come from a developing country where people have other shit to do than being religious and we're not that religious to begin with (or we realize religion is private).

Developing country less religious than US? What country is that? Anyway, "public" religion is only in some places. The US is more diverse than most foreigners think.

[Zeinbrad]

It is understood quite well. Maybe not by you, with your penchant for making a fuss about everything regarding English, but hey, who the fuck cares.

And, again, "doesn't mean that it actually does make sense", "that doesn't even make sense" =/= "not understood".

What I am saying is that "breaded" is a totally inaccurate description of what happens because a) it would suggest that it you've made something into bread and, more importantly, b) the crumbs are not always bread crumbs (as your source points out). The argument deploys the logic: because the term is inaccurate, the term lacks sense. It is not, as you seem to think, "because the term is inaccurate, people cannot make sense of it". They obviously can (as I have pointed out: "Obviously it's what people say and find meaning with."), but because the term is inaccurate that shouldn't be the case.

tl;dr, there are multiple meanings of sense, you've run with the wrong one.

Welcome to different regional dialects. Here in America we have five hundred different words for Pop/Soda/Cola/Coke.

[Nazi Flower Power]

Those sorts of long-running conflicts are never easy to fix, no matter what country you're in.

Here in Massachusetts, the opposition to Common Core is mostly, "It ain't broke; don't fix it! We have the best schools in the country so why should we let anyone from out-of-state have a say in how we run them!" Massachusetts legitimately does have good schools, though.

I hear that your social programs works quite well too,

In some ways, yes. In other ways, no. We have more social programs than most states, but we still have a lot of homelessness (at least compared to the states north of us) because of the large population and high cost of living. Sometimes it's difficult for the state government to keep up with everything.

[Nazi Flower Power]

And, again, "doesn't mean that it actually does make sense", "that doesn't even make sense" =/= "not understood".

What I am saying is that "breaded" is a totally inaccurate description of what happens because a) it would suggest that it you've made something into bread and, more importantly, b) the crumbs are not always bread crumbs (as your source points out). The argument deploys the logic: because the term is inaccurate, the term lacks sense. It is not, as you seem to think, "because the term is inaccurate, people cannot make sense of it". They obviously can (as I have pointed out: "Obviously it's what people say and find meaning with."), but because the term is inaccurate that shouldn't be the case.

tl;dr, there are multiple meanings of sense, you've run with the wrong one.

Welcome to different regional dialects. Here in America we have five hundred different words for Pop/Soda/Cola/Coke.

You mean tonic?

[Forsher]

And, again, "doesn't mean that it actually does make sense", "that doesn't even make sense" =/= "not understood".

What I am saying is that "breaded" is a totally inaccurate description of what happens because a) it would suggest that it you've made something into bread and, more importantly, b) the crumbs are not always bread crumbs (as your source points out). The argument deploys the logic: because the term is inaccurate, the term lacks sense. It is not, as you seem to think, "because the term is inaccurate, people cannot make sense of it". They obviously can (as I have pointed out: "Obviously it's what people say and find meaning with."), but because the term is inaccurate that shouldn't be the case.

tl;dr, there are multiple meanings of sense, you've run with the wrong one.

*sigh* http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bread_crumbs#Breading
http://www.thefreedictionary.com/breading
I'm not going to enter into an idiotic argument with you because there no sense in it. I'll just let the definitions talk.

How many times do I have to explain that you're not understanding what you're reading? That is not what I am saying. And if you think it is, your English isn't as good as it appears.

Welcome to different regional dialects. Here in America we have five hundred different words for Pop/Soda/Cola/Coke.

Same goes for you, genius.

"doesn't mean that it actually does make sense", "that doesn't even make sense" =/= "not understood".

"Obviously it's what people say and find meaning with."

For yet another time, it's like talking to a God damn brick wall, breading is inaccurate. People understand it and use it in their every day lives but, as a word, it objectively isn't as appropriate as crumbing when you consider what is actually involved and that the crumbs AREN"T NECESSARILY BREAD CRUMBS. I mean, for Christ's sake, it's not Latin. Ever heard of a misnomer? Same bloody principle.

The incredibly deadly snake. They know what it is. They also see that the word is inappropriate and inaccurate. Doesn't mean that people don't understand and find meaning with the word (i.e. it has sense for people), doesn't mean that the name makes sense. Breadind/breaded = the incredibly deadly snake.

I think I'll chuck another one of these in, just to drive home the enormous failure to understand a very simple idea:



p.s. a very angry 13000th post. I mean, Jesus... *shakes head*

[Edgy Opinions]

People think Brazilians speak something really alike Spanish (if not Spanish itself), but they think we're Russian based on our accents. Which despised ethnic category do we belong to in the end?!

Okay, I know that as an 11 year immigrant I shouldn't have any gripes nor should I find any customs weird, but I do. I'm sorry.

I do not get what is the fascination with the religious. I simply do not get what is the deal with most religious people coming up with the most backward-ass ideas on how to implement their policies in a secular government.

Maybe it's because I come from a developing country where people have other shit to do than being religious and we're not that religious to begin with (or we realize religion is private).

This, the US makes Brazil look progressive sometimes and I really love them for that because it's a black hole of a logical contradiction!

Nevermind we just banned giving alcohol to minors with quite high prison sentences, in the country that insists on focusing on arresting people due to violation of property or drug-related crime rather than crimes against life. Right-winger politicians are why people can't have nice things everywhere.

[Nanatsu no Tsuki]

I hear that your social programs works quite well too,

In some ways, yes. In other ways, no. We have more social programs than most states, but we still have a lot of homelessness (at least compared to the states north of us) because of the large population and high cost of living. Sometimes it's difficult for the state government to keep up with everything.

I often think homelessness, no matter how good the social safety net is, is not something that a state will be able to completely stamp out. It can be reduced, but since not every homeless person out there is in that situation because they're jobless (there are many homeless people out there who are also mentally ill), there will probably be people living in the streets always.

[Nanatsu no Tsuki]

*sigh* http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bread_crumbs#Breading
http://www.thefreedictionary.com/breading
I'm not going to enter into an idiotic argument with you because there no sense in it. I'll just let the definitions talk.

How many times do I have to explain that you're not understanding what you're reading? That is not what I am saying. And if you think it is, your English isn't as good as it appears.

Welcome to different regional dialects. Here in America we have five hundred different words for Pop/Soda/Cola/Coke.

Same goes for you, genius.

"doesn't mean that it actually does make sense", "that doesn't even make sense" =/= "not understood".

"Obviously it's what people say and find meaning with."

For yet another time, it's like talking to a God damn brick wall, breading is inaccurate. People understand it and use it in their every day lives but, as a word, it objectively isn't as appropriate as crumbing when you consider what is actually involved and that the crumbs AREN"T NECESSARILY BREAD CRUMBS. I mean, for Christ's sake, it's not Latin. Ever heard of a misnomer? Same bloody principle.

The incredibly deadly snake. They know what it is. They also see that the word is inappropriate and inaccurate. Doesn't mean that people don't understand and find meaning with the word (i.e. it has sense for people), doesn't mean that the name makes sense. Breadind/breaded = the incredibly deadly snake.

I think I'll chuck another one of these in, just to drive home the enormous failure to understand a very simple idea:



p.s. a very angry 13000th post. I mean, Jesus... *shakes head*

You're the only one who has gripes with that word. Get over it. It is understood and as Zeibrand said, dialects. Get over it.

[Atlanticatia]

In some ways, yes. In other ways, no. We have more social programs than most states, but we still have a lot of homelessness (at least compared to the states north of us) because of the large population and high cost of living. Sometimes it's difficult for the state government to keep up with everything.

I often think homelessness, no matter how good the social safety net is, is not something that a state will be able to completely stamp out. It can be reduced, but since not every homeless person out there is in that situation because they're jobless (there are many homeless people out there who are also mentally ill), there will probably be people living in the streets always.

Utah is ending homelessness.

But obviously a much more urbanized, densely populated state like Massachusetts will obviously have more trouble.

Ending urban homelessness would almost definitely require the federal government to help out, as they have the funds. We'd need some sort of unconditional rent assistance benefit, or a massive increase in the amount of social housing. And we'd actually need a welfare system in the first place.

[Nanatsu no Tsuki]

I often think homelessness, no matter how good the social safety net is, is not something that a state will be able to completely stamp out. It can be reduced, but since not every homeless person out there is in that situation because they're jobless (there are many homeless people out there who are also mentally ill), there will probably be people living in the streets always.

Utah is ending homelessness.

But obviously a much more urbanized, densely populated state like Massachusetts will obviously have more trouble.

Ending urban homelessness would almost definitely require the federal government to help out, as they have the funds. We'd need some sort of unconditional rent assistance benefit, or a massive increase in the amount of social housing. And we'd actually need a welfare system in the first place.

Last I read, they had reduced it by 75%.

How do you figure the feds can go about establishing a good welfare system?

[Forsher]

You're the only one who has gripes with that word. Get over it. It is understood and as Zeibrand said, dialects. Get over it.

And this is where you reveal you either don't understand or haven't been reading anything I've written. I am not saying, for the umpteenth time, that people do not understand what breaded means. If you think that there are either two options. One, you don't understand what this means: "Obviously it's what people say and find meaning with." Two, you've literally not bothered to read any of my posts and have, instead, arrogantly decided that you know exactly what I've written and have, in your hubris, decided to respond to what you think I've said. And, as a result, you have time and time again repeated the same thing back like some two year old who's just learnt a new word (namely, "But people understand it! Look at me I'm so incredibly clever!").

Zeibrand would be correct if we were talking about crips, chips and french fries or bonnet versus hood, because those are literally just examples of two different words being used. In those cases we don't have a situation where a name is inaccurate. Crisp, chip and french fry all make sense (note, again, that different meaning of sense - although I think again is inaccurate following that you either didn't note it before or didn't read it) because a crisp is crispy but it's also a chip. And a chip is fried and, I believe, originally invented/popularised in France or some such so French fry is pretty accurate. A bonnet is similar to a hood, and in this context the bonnet is that thing that covers the engine of a car (which is sort of like the car's head).

So, if you want to create a rebuttal to something I've said, it really would help if the rebuttal is, in any way, relevant to what I am saying. You can't do that because the only defence of breading, as a term, is that people already use it. It, as your links have pointed out, quite simply not as accurate as crumbing due to not all crumbs having come from bread. I also have the further argument that breading suggests adding bread, as opposed to crumbs, when you just consider the word, removed from the context of knowing what either means in the first place.

[Nanatsu no Tsuki]

You're the only one who has gripes with that word. Get over it. It is understood and as Zeibrand said, dialects. Get over it.

And this is where you reveal you either don't understand or haven't been reading anything I've written. I am not saying, for the umpteenth time, that people do not understand what breaded means. If you think that there are either two options. One, you don't understand what this means: "Obviously it's what people say and find meaning with." Two, you've literally not bothered to read any of my posts and have, instead, arrogantly decided that you know exactly what I've written and have, in your hubris, decided to respond to what you think I've said. And, as a result, you have time and time again repeated the same thing back like some two year old who's just learnt a new word (namely, "But people understand it! Look at me I'm so incredibly clever!").

Zeibrand would be correct if we were talking about crips, chips and french fries or bonnet versus hood, because those are literally just examples of two different words being used. In those cases we don't have a situation where a name is inaccurate. Crisp, chip and french fry all make sense (note, again, that different meaning of sense - although I think again is inaccurate following that you either didn't note it before or didn't read it) because a crisp is crispy but it's also a chip. And a chip is fried and, I believe, originally invented/popularised in France or some such so French fry is pretty accurate. A bonnet is similar to a hood, and in this context the bonnet is that thing that covers the engine of a car (which is sort of like the car's head).

So, if you want to create a rebuttal to something I've said, it really would help if the rebuttal is, in any way, relevant to what I am saying. You can't do that because the only defence of breading, as a term, is that people already use it. It, as your links have pointed out, quite simply not as accurate as crumbing due to not all crumbs having come from bread. I also have the further argument that breading suggests adding bread, as opposed to crumbs, when you just consider the word, removed from the context of knowing what either means in the first place.

And you need to get over yourself. Or keep griping. Either way, irrelevant.

[Forsher]

And you need to get over yourself. Or keep griping. Either way, irrelevant.

Thanks for admitting that you were wrong.