Where are Brits getting their information?

[DngrMse]

Well...this is just astounding. I have no idea where Brits are getting these ideas...other than through whatever news sources they prefer. If so, they need to find other sources of info.

• A poll of nearly 2,000 Britons by YouGov/PHI found that 70 per cent of respondents incorrectly said it was true that the US had done a worse job than the European Union in reducing carbon emissions since 2000.
• More than 50 per cent presumed that polygamy was legal in the US.
• The survey showed that a majority agreed with the false statement that since the Second World War the US had more often sided with non-Muslims when they had come into conflict with Muslims.
• Asked if it was true that "from 1973 to 1990 the United States sold Saddam Hussein more than a quarter of his weapons," 80 per cent of British respondents said yes. However the US sold just 0.46 per cent of Saddam's arsenal to him, compared to Russia's 57 per cent, France's 13 per cent and China's 12 per cent.
• Almost a third of Britons believe that "Americans who have not paid their hospitals fees or insurance premiums are not entitled to emergency medical care".

British anti-Americanism 'based on misconceptions' - Telegraph

[boedicca]

Must be all that great publicly controlled and funded media.

Vive the internets for the real deal:

The Command Post - Iraq - The Facts Stand Alone

[Vautrin]

I am not trying to justify, but hope to arrive at an understanding of the points:

1. In case of the carbon emission redcutions, the fraud in accounting makes Enron seem like best accounting practice. It is so ridiculous I don't believe any number that is presented by any government on this matter, and am skeptical when an environmental NGO does so. Are (domestic) flights included or excluded in that figure? Air travel contributes about 25% per capita of carbon emissions, in the UK. What is the corresponding figure in the US? The perception is that Americans make use of domestic flights more than in the UK, and drive heavier vehicles to boot.
Psychologically speaking, if something is perceived to be worse, then even an improvement of say 30% may mean the reduction is bigger, but the capita emission remains higher as well. The last seems to be supported by research, the former I would not know, because of the nature of the figures (Kyoto excluded air travel, for instance).

2. Blame Utah.

3. What conflicts are actually included? Are we including Central America, are we including regime changes in Iran, Iraq, South Korea, Vietnam and a host of other countries, where only different factions of the same religion took control? Such a statement is vague to say the least.

4. That is probably true. But I am skeptical about weapon sales numbers. The Dutch pride themselves on being pro-democracy, but little do they know that they are big weapon exporters ... Van Amraat is currently being tried for helping Saddam get chemical weapons.

5. Must be the lack of national insurance for health care that gives rise to this perception.

Well, apparently a large portion of the Americans believe the Netherlands are a province of Germany. Now if you want to insult a Dutch person, you just have to say that ...

I am actually astounded by the number of people, both from the US as from Europe, who claim that the US intervened in Europe because Hitler was naughty; while it was Germany that declared war on the US days after the attack on Pearl Harbour.

Ignorance exists on both sides of the pond. Americans are not doing better or worse than the Brits, or the Dutch, or the French, or the Germans.

[PepsiChic]

vautrin...i could kiss you!!

as a brit im a little annoyed to find "anti-americanism" on this website, seeing as not only am i engaged to marry an american, im moving to america.

America has some rather weird, wacky, stupid ideas about the EU, funded by the media. so its only natural the EU is the same way also caused by the media.

so we british are getting our information from the same damn place the Americans are.

[Vautrin]

Originally Posted by PepsiChic

vautrin...i could kiss you!!

Nah, give the kiss to FB.

I am a believer in truthiness. Media are guilty of creating a lot of that.

[Scott]

Originally Posted by Vautrin

2. Blame Utah.

Well, apparently a large portion of the Americans believe the Netherlands are a province of Germany. Now if you want to insult a Dutch person, you just have to say that ...

Ignorance exists on both sides of the pond. Americans are not doing better or worse than the Brits, or the Dutch, or the French, or the Germans.

Yes, HAHAHA....ignorance does exist everywhere........


1. In Utah, Polygamy is Illegal

2. Everyone should know Teh Netherlands is a province of Belgium.

[Vautrin]

Originally Posted by Scott

1. In Utah, Polygamy is Illegal

I knew. But the perception of Utah, is that it is filled with these funky Mormons who do practice polygamy.

2. Everyone should know Teh Netherlands is a province of Belgium.

Now, that is better.

Americans seem to believe that French Fries are from France (remember the notorious "Freedom Fries"). Not true. French is just a verb with some vulgar meanings, but it related to the method of baking.

[Mondo]

I don't think you'll find anyone in Europe who is anti-average Joe American. What you will find is allot of people who are anti-current Bush/current administration. Please don't confuse them.

Originally Posted by boedicca

Must be all that great publicly controlled and funded media.

The BBC is public funded but is independant of the government which has caused some problems in the past. As news services go its not bad but you can never watch too many news channels to get that balanced view.

[SundayGirl]

Probably from the same source(s) as their "Amy Winehouse nightmares".



http://www.contactmusic.com/news.nsf...20poll_1077233

[Meanon]

How ironic that knee jerk anti-British sentiment finds it's way to LS under the guise of criticism of anti-Americanism.

[caddis]

Originally Posted by DngrMse

Well...this is just astounding. I have no idea where Brits are getting these ideas...other than through whatever news sources they prefer. If so, they need to find other sources of info.

• A poll of nearly 2,000 Britons by YouGov/PHI found that 70 per cent of respondents incorrectly said it was true that the US had done a worse job than the European Union in reducing carbon emissions since 2000.
• More than 50 per cent presumed that polygamy was legal in the US.
• The survey showed that a majority agreed with the false statement that since the Second World War the US had more often sided with non-Muslims when they had come into conflict with Muslims.
• Asked if it was true that "from 1973 to 1990 the United States sold Saddam Hussein more than a quarter of his weapons," 80 per cent of British respondents said yes. However the US sold just 0.46 per cent of Saddam's arsenal to him, compared to Russia's 57 per cent, France's 13 per cent and China's 12 per cent.
• Almost a third of Britons believe that "Americans who have not paid their hospitals fees or insurance premiums are not entitled to emergency medical care".

British anti-Americanism 'based on misconceptions' - Telegraph

Britons??? I know of many rabid leftists and conspiracy nuts that believe the same

[Scott]

Originally Posted by Meanon

How ironic that knee jerk anti-British sentiment finds it's way to LS under the guise of criticism of anti-Americanism.

Does knee jerk anti-American sentiment usually find its way here under the guise of critisizing anti-Anglicanism?

[Meanon]

What, you don't get the irony?

OK, maybe I was a TAD irritable. I don't like this style of debate, which seems to me to be more about political/nationalistic point scoring than canvassing and discussing opinions. But it is rife on all forums I've visited, including (in the past) this one. Others enjoy it, I'm sure. I'll click over