[sungrass]

I used to go to school with an American and though she wasnt obnoxious she was VERY over the top in her opinions - once in an argument the whole bus her shouting, she wouldnt let anyone talk and was very rude and dissmissive - apart from those times she was charming and calm

[Ashley.]

Originally Posted by Visage

I can't work out whether I find this comment ignorant or offensive.

Being an American doesn't mean you are loud





I've travelled around many States right across the country and I've never met anyone like Farrah or Jenna.

I'm not being ignorant or offensive. I'm merely saying that Americans are naturally outspoken. I'm sticking up for them by saying that they aren't obnoxious, just they've grown up with different laws and social norms to us brits.

[Ashley.]

Originally Posted by lostalex

I don't think its necessarily a free speech thing, although that might be part of it. I think it's moe to do with the American spirit of individuality. I think in Britain, and most of Europe, there is a feeling that individuals don't matter so much, the good of the group is more important. but America is the opposite, America has a spirit of every Individual should have equal rights and everyone can do whatever they like and be as selfish as they like, along as they aren't directly hurting someone else.

I think it's more about Europe believing in the group being most important, but in America, it's all about the individual being most important.

It;'s hard to explain, but in America there is nothing wrong with being selfish, we believe that everyone has the right to be selfish and stand up for themselves. but it seems like in Europe people feel like they should be part of a group instead of being individuals.

in Europe they think it's more noble to sacrifice for the group, but in America it's more noble to stand up for yourself. It's just a very different mindset and ethos.

Very interesting point, Alex! I agree.

America & Britain are so different. We may find them loud or obnoxious and stuff, but to them, they are just being themselves. I don't think they realise that they sound obnoxious because that's just how they are. Like, I didn't realise how boring British people were until this series

[Kazanne]

There is good and bad in all , I like Americans on the whole , always found them very friendly , BB just picked Jenna and Farrah for the controversy and don't forget Tila , the guys seem ok to me.

[Ashley.]

Originally Posted by Kazanne

There is good and bad in all , I like Americans on the whole , always found them very friendly , BB just picked Jenna and Farrah for the controversy and don't forget Tila , the guys seem ok to me.

Yes I definitely don't think Austin is as bad as people make out. The only time I've been disappointed in him is when he nominated Gail..

[Kazanne]

Originally Posted by Ashley.

Yes I definitely don't think Austin is as bad as people make out. The only time I've been disappointed in him is when he nominated Gail..

I like Austin a lot,I don't think he was nasty nominating Gail.

[lostalex]

Originally Posted by Kazanne

I like Austin a lot,I don't think he was nasty nominating Gail.

I don't think he was being nasty, but he's definitely selfish. He would step on anyone that got in the way of his ultimate goals.

[Crimson Dynamo]

I worked for an American company in London and USA and in general the folks were lovely. I did meet a few Farrah types


But its like sticking towie characters in cbb USA and asking Americans to judge bbrits on them

[Chuckyegg]

Theres 315 million of them so I guess they have to turn up the volume to be heard above the rest. Also they are keen on talking about themselves and very often comparing themselves to other nations. I used to go on Yahoo Answers and one very very common question from americans was, "What do other nations think of America and Americans?" This question appears to occupy them greatly. Then again, it's unfair to shrink 315 million people into 1 personality.

[Niamh.]

Originally Posted by LeatherTrumpet

I worked for an American company in London and USA and in general the folks were lovely. I did meet a few Farrah types


But its like sticking towie characters in cbb USA and asking Americans to judge bbrits on them

Yeah exactly, I wouldn't judge a whole nation by the calibre of reality star they produce

[Livia]

Originally Posted by Ashley.

I'm not being ignorant or offensive. I'm merely saying that Americans are naturally outspoken. I'm sticking up for them by saying that they aren't obnoxious, just they've grown up with different laws and social norms to us brits.

So, have you spent a lot of time in the USA, Ashley?

[Ashley.]

Originally Posted by Livia

So, have you spent a lot of time in the USA, Ashley?

No, I did a degree in American Law & Politics.

[rionablue]

Originally Posted by Ashley.

It's because in America, they have freedom of speech. We, in the UK, have freedom of speech but with certain restrictions, which has lead our country to becoming more careful of what we say. Americans are allowed to be homophobic, racist and generally are allowed to speak out more so that's why there's that contrast.

This is why Austin, Farrah and Jenna are so loud. They are not obnoxious, they are American. That's how they are, always outspoken and honest and never holding back like us Brits.

just in case you wanted to know

Thank GOD for the Americans as the bunch of Brits they put in are the most boring celeb housemates ever. I think the Americans aren't afraid to speak their minds which makes good telly

[Livia]

Originally Posted by Ashley.

No, I did a degree in American Law & Politics.

So... no then.

[Kazanne]

Originally Posted by rionablue

Thank GOD for the Americans as the bunch of Brits they put in are the most boring celeb housemates ever. I think the Americans aren't afraid to speak their minds which makes good telly

So you liked Helen and KH then?

[Ashley.]

Originally Posted by Livia

So... no then.

Don't be so negative... You don't need to live in America to know how their law system works. They have freedom of speech whereas we don't.

[Livia]

Originally Posted by Ashley.

Don't be so negative... You don't need to live in America to know how their law system works. They have freedom of speech whereas we don't.

I am a lawyer, I've worked in the USA. I think you're overreaching on the Freedom of Speech thing, it's not like we're a repressed little dictatorship. Imagining the differences in our legal systems has any impact on the housemates' personalities is dragging it a bit too far.

[the truth]

there are far more rules on speech in the uk....were way too uptight and unable to express true emotions....to witness the dishonest bottled up pent up repressed rage in all the brits is a sad sight. none of them have the guts to express themselves and when they do try they are so out of practise, all they can say is, id chin the ****...sad

[Livia]

Originally Posted by the truth

there are far more rules on speech in the uk....were way too uptight and unable to express true emotions....to witness the dishonest bottled up pent up repressed rage in all the brits is a sad sight. none of them have the guts to express themselves and when they do try they are so out of practise, all they can say is, id chin the ****...sad

None of them? NONE of them?

I'm not in the least uptight and very able to express my true emotions. And look at your post, truth... aren't you a Brit? You don't seem to have any problem saying what you think.

People think because the US have less control on free speech we are in some way oppressed and repressed. This is not true. I have never had to curb my language or change what I was going to say because of free speech and I never felt like I had more freedom of speech in the US that I have here. Sadly I think you're colouring your judgement of all Brits by a few experiences you may have had.

[Ashley.]

Originally Posted by Livia

I am a lawyer, I've worked in the USA. I think you're overreaching on the Freedom of Speech thing, it's not like we're a repressed little dictatorship. Imagining the differences in our legal systems has any impact on the housemates' personalities is dragging it a bit too far.

Me too... I see where we are going to clash...

[lostalex]

Originally Posted by Livia

None of them? NONE of them?

I'm not in the least uptight and very able to express my true emotions. And look at your post, truth... aren't you a Brit? You don't seem to have any problem saying what you think.

People think because the US have less control on free speech we are in some way oppressed and repressed. This is not true. I have never had to curb my language or change what I was going to say because of free speech and I never felt like I had more freedom of speech in the US that I have here. Sadly I think you're colouring your judgement of all Brits by a few experiences you may have had.

and as lawyer you know that that is irrelevant. that's just because you've never said anything that ran afoul of the law... just because you've never had an opinion and spoken it against the law doesn't mean that there isn't a free speech issue in the UK...

as a lawyer you'd know that that has nothing to do with the fact that some people do get injunctions and super injunctions just for telling the truth in the UK. and it's completely unfair, and those people wouldn't be silenced in the US.

When you are not only threatened for telling the truth, but then threatened for even saying that you were threatened for wanting to tell the truth. that is a serious lack of free speech, and a shocking assault on people's freedoms. especially when it involves telling the truth about people in power. And that is what injunctions and super injunctions are in the UK. and there is no public transparent process of review.

a super injunction means you can be put in jail just for saying that you were silenced. that is a most despicable form of censorship, and it's legal in the UK.

[Livia]

Originally Posted by lostalex

and as lawyer you know that that is irrelevant. that's just because you've never said anything that ran afoul of the law... just because you've never had an opinion and spoken it against the law doesn't mean that there isn't a free speech issue in the UK...

as a lawyer you'd know that that has nothing to do with the fact that some people do get injunctions and super injunctions just for telling the truth in the UK. and it's completely unfair, and those people wouldn't be silenced in the US.

When you are not only threatened for telling the truth, but then threatened for even saying that you were threatened for wanting to tell the truth. that is a serious lack of free speech, and a shocking assault on people's freedoms. especially when it involves telling the truth about people in power. And that is what injunctions and super injunctions are in the UK. and there is no public transparent process of review.

a super injunction means you can be put in jail just for saying that you were silenced. that is a most despicable form of censorship, and it's legal in the UK.

Yes, I know all that. The bottom line is this: I do not think that Americans' right to freedom of speech has anything to do with Farrah and Jenna being a pair of ****s.

[Macie Lightfoot]

lmfao what is this thread, it has nothing to do with freedom of speech. It's just the type of Brits they cast versus the type of Americans they cast.

[lostalex]

Originally Posted by Livia

Yes, I know all that. The bottom line is this: I do not think that Americans' right to freedom of speech has anything to do with Farrah and Jenna being a pair of ****s.

well i agree with you on that, which is why i said so in my earlier post.

I am curious what you think about my other opinions about the difference between brits and americans concerning the culture of individuality vs culture of group-think/ tribalism.

[Livia]

Originally Posted by lostalex

well i agree with you on that, which is why i said so in my earlier post.

I am curious what you think about my other opinions about the difference between brits and americans concerning the culture of individuality vs culture of group-think/ tribalism.

Originally Posted by lostalex

I don't think its necessarily a free speech thing, although that might be part of it. I think it's moe to do with the American spirit of individuality. I think in Britain, and most of Europe, there is a feeling that individuals don't matter so much, the good of the group is more important. but America is the opposite, America has a spirit of every Individual should have equal rights and everyone can do whatever they like and be as selfish as they like, along as they aren't directly hurting someone else.

I think it's more about Europe believing in the group being most important, but in America, it's all about the individual being most important.

It;'s hard to explain, but in America there is nothing wrong with being selfish, we believe that everyone has the right to be selfish and stand up for themselves. but it seems like in Europe people feel like they should be part of a group instead of being individuals.

in Europe they think it's more noble to sacrifice for the group, but in America it's more noble to stand up for yourself. It's just a very different mindset and ethos.

Well, I'm not sure that I wholeheartedly agree about Americans being all about the individual and Brits (and Europeans) Europeans being all about the team. I see much more of a cohesive team with the Americans than I do with the Brits in the house. Outside the house... it's an interesting question to which I will give some thought.

Originally Posted by lostalex

to be fair, the Osbournes are all American citizens now i think.

You're welcome x