Americans

[GLCQuantum]

It saddens me that I've actually brought myself to start a thread on this.

Over my eight years in Thailand I have made some awesome American friends in the workplace. They were normally outnumbered 5 to 1 at least but they became the life of the office in most instances. Never that 'loud obnoxious yank' we here about so much but, rather, a pleasant easy to speak to guy...

I am now wondering if this is all a false show due to being outnumbered . Over the past year I have been working in a place where, for the first time, I am the sole Brit surrounded by Americans and Canadians. I have been belittled, bullied, put down, argued at (not with - that takes two people), made fun of (yes we do that too) and basically just downright abused. Nothing I say ever rings with them even when I say how we pronounce a word in England "Your wrong" he bellows "I lived in England for 2 years and they don't say it like that" On trying to prove my 'correctness' the 'ol age card gets pulled out every time (again this happens with Brits) "You don't know what ya talking about....".

But the thing is, with the English it's more of a sarcastic laugh than a boiling hotpot when that card is played. A conversation on any sort of serious debate is impossible as... I'm a Brit, WTF would I know, yet I remember a table full of brits and the American friend being just as much a part of the conversation than anyone else

Is this why they are so hated around the world... that when their numbers overpower the other a sensible conversation with the minority is out of the question?

It's a bizarre turn of events for me personally. A people who I have always had the upmost respect for have seemed to 'maybe' show their true colours in regards to their social etiquette.

Anywho bla bla bla...

The reason I posted this was to see if anyone has ever encountered similiar circumstances. Good friends when the ratio of Brits to American was in our favour at the table but bullies when it wasn't.

Edit... forgot to mention the gossip, ooohhh the gossip. They stitch each other up with that one just the same, I've never seen anything like it.

[hhfarang]

That is exactly the way I feel living here with the majority of expats being from the UK. I have had the exact experiences you wrote about above so many times. I also have some good friends here from the UK but a lot of them treat me the same way you describe.

You mentioned Canadians along with Americans (from the U.S.). That really makes me think there is something wrong with you! Canadians are the nicest people I've ever met in the world (with the exception of the Quebec French Canadians) so if they don't like you, that says something about you, not them...

[richard]

GLCQ

I think you need to develop a Rhino/Water buffalo hide like mine.

I have many US, Canadian and Mexican (all American) friends and we have similar and different views just as displayed on this and many other forums

I have many Lancashire, Yorkshire and Southerner friends and we have similar and different views just as displayed on this and many other forums

I have many older and younger friends we have similar and different views just as displayed on this and many other forums

We all think we know better and my belief is if they try the horsesh1t 'you know nutting' It is they that have the hang ups.

Smile and feel sorry. Chill man

That is why I like 'face to face' contact instead of 'keyboard to keyboard'

SH1T man you are in Thailand. We farangs know nothing. Bite your tongue, smile and chill

ps. Don't forget the Yanks lost all wars in SE Asia but they still know better than all

[hhfarang]

Don't forget the Yanks lost all wars in SE Asia

But we bailed your asses out twice in Europe at a great cost to us, Richard.

[GLCQuantum]

Before I read the rest I'll quickly point out HHFarang...

I said I was surrounded by Americans and Canadians, and was the only Brit. I didn't say the Canadians were part of the problem otherwise they would have got their own little mention in the title.

You're right, the Canadians I've met have been nothing but sound.

[Dannie Boy]

But we bailed your asses out twice in Europe at a great cost to us, Richard.[/quote]

What was that on, all the nylon stockings?

Only joking HHF

[GLCQuantum]

Yes Richard... 'Sticks an stones' and all that.

The point I'm getting at is I have never felt so threatened within a group. I've sat with Thai's on many occasions, myself being the sore thumb. I've sat with french - only once mind but it was a group and I was the only. I've sat with mixtures and nothing's ever come to boiling point...

Maybe just a few bad apples... or maybe I'm nuts.

[GLCQuantum]

HHFarang said..

That is exactly the way I feel living here with the majority of expats being from the UK. I have had the exact experiences you wrote about above so many times. I also have some good friends here from the UK but a lot of them treat me the same way you describe.

Interesting. So maybe it's just the norm and I'd been lucky up till now.

Aint humanity a wonderful thing eh!

[richard]

Don't forget the Yanks lost all wars in SE Asia

But we bailed your asses out twice in Europe at a great cost to us, Richard.

I look forward to some support on this but you are wrong HHF if you read up global, not US history. We I understand took many years to repay our debt incurred by involving the US. You only arrived close to the curtain call. Churchill had to engineer that via a Pearl Harbour firework display to win the US voter over to going to war. Bush father and son learn't a lot about those political tactics

HHF, Let's have a beer together sometime and we can smack sh1t out of each other Last time we had a few I seem to remember was up the top end of the night market (during the day) listening to Sarge putting the world to rights I don't think either of us got a word in

GLCQ join us please

[GLCQuantum]

HHF, Let's have a beer together sometime and we can smack sh1t out of each other

In da blue corner... The Pride of yorkshire.......



... and in the red corner. The All Americ... hang on he's off...

[GLCQuantum]

GLCQ join us please

Would love to but in Twangcock till the end of the month. In all honesty would love to meet up for a few cold ones. As long as I aint outnumbered...

Maybe this thread shouldn't have been titled as it was. I'd only experienced this from this particular nationality but as HHFarang has said, I'm sure it's just the same for other groups too.

[kendo]

Don't forget the Yanks lost all wars in SE Asia

But we bailed your asses out twice in Europe at a great cost to us, Richard.

I look forward to some support on this but you are wrong HHF if you read up global, not US history. We I understand took many years to repay our debt incurred by involving the US. You only arrived close to the curtain call. Churchill had to engineer that via a Pearl Harbour firework display to win the US voter over to going to war. Bush father and son learn't a lot about those political tactics

HHF, Let's have a beer together sometime and we can smack sh1t out of each other Last time we had a few I seem to remember was up the top end of the night market (during the day) listening to Sarge putting the world to rights I don't think either of us got a word in

GLCQ join us please

Is that friendly fire Richard.

Kendo.

[kendo]

I drink with some of the Canadians in town at the U-Turn, one guy likes to rib me a little about being Brititsh but i always tell him "Canada is not a real country anyway"

To the open poster it comes across to me as more border line work place bullying, i have met many yanks and never really come across a real arrogant one, i have worked in some of the British American bases back here hauling explosives almost 20 years ago.

We also had an American storage and repair facility in Hythe near Southampton and every 3 years would be swamped with reservists.

Kendo.

[hhfarang]

All I can say is most of the expats here who have ripped me off or made my life miserable by trying to were transplanted criminals from the UK that are in the property business or otherwise. It seems that Thailand is the new Australia where the UK sends all its criminals. Ask Donald Whiting about the experience he had with a Brit here.

No matter where you live, if you are in the minority you will feel the way you do. I feel that way here. People like you (GLCQ) are one of the reasons I'm so unhappy here.

[GLCQuantum]

People like you (GLCQ) are one of the reasons I'm so unhappy here.

Excuse me...

Where the hell did that come from. Maybe re-read my first post before you go bashing me again. Christ (blasphemy he cries) I'm not at work till tomorrow.