Americans and their media

The MaDDeSTMaN · 09-09-2005, 10:44 PM

I heard on the radio the other night something that I thought was interesting. The DJ said that apparently the media in the US is made up of 98% US content, compared to here in Australia where close to 50% of the content in our media is from overseas.

They then went on to talk about how many Americans believe that we have kangaroos bouncing down every street, and how it's because they are exposed to very little about anything beyond their own borders.

I thought that was very interesting, and would like anybody who has spent time in the US to comment on this and tell me how true this is and what their experiences were in the US and how many American citizens knew much, if anything, about Australia and Australians.

P.S. Please don't turn this into an anti-America thread - I think that would be in very bad taste right now with what has happened to New Orleans...

Shonky · 09-09-2005, 10:56 PM

Haha yeah.

When I went to America, I took great pleasure in replying to the question, "sah howe ded yoo guys get ovr heer?" with:

"We swam over."

Some were fooled, others weren't. All in all it was fun though.

**Falcon Coupe** · 09-09-2005, 11:41 PM

That would be part of the reason the next generation of aussies seem to embrace American culture in front of ours.

pauljh74 · 09-09-2005, 11:44 PM

My sister told some American kids when she was a summer camp counsellor over there that we had a Koala for a pet

Black XR6 · 10-09-2005, 12:00 AM

Bugger off Cruizin. The US funding the war would have been out of their spare change.

I recently got back from the US and found the people quite nice and pretty knowledable on Australia. In fact the majority of people we spoke to about it knew someone here or atleast had been here. I found them to be very helpful people and fairly polite. Not counting the side of the road vendors in New York.

The MaDDeSTMaN · 10-09-2005, 12:16 AM

REMINDER:

Quote:

Originally Posted by The MaDDeSTMaN

P.S. Please don't turn this into an anti-America thread

Blue Oval Mopar Man · 10-09-2005, 01:38 AM

My fiance is American , so I may be little biased , but I fing the US is A hugely interesting place for me . I am planning to be over there for Christmas this year . My girl seems to know a fair bit about some of the stuff going on over here , so they seem to have a fair amount of international content !

Black XR6 · 10-09-2005, 07:08 AM

They probably have more international content than we do.

M14A-Mclaren · 10-09-2005, 09:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The MaDDeSTMaN

They then went on to talk about how many Americans believe that we have kangaroos bouncing down every street, and how it's because they are exposed to very little about anything beyond their own borders.

How many Australians think that there is sheep in New Zealands cities?

klawsterfobik · 10-09-2005, 09:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by M14A-Mclaren

How many Australians think that there is sheep in New Zealands cities?

Isn't that your red light district?

gozza · 10-09-2005, 09:55 AM

ive been to america
west coast..LA..vegas..pheonix....they all seemed interesed in you when they found out u were aussie...most were nice and kind...only thing is we(was in a touring music group) sat down for breakkie the 1st couple fo days and all you could eat was sugury croissaints and mud cake things....were like damn..you got any bread or weet bixs?

buickman · 10-09-2005, 11:41 AM

If I had my way I would live there 6 months & Australia for 6 months of the year I"ve been there 8 times & driven around the whole country in 2002 & 2004. The upper east coast states & Montana are the most scenic parts.

My biggest grip is TIPPING for everything over there.

Worst cities L.A, Alanta, New orleans ( sleaze with a capital ) Dallas & the worst city in the states is Gary Indiana where Micheal Jackson grew up.
No wonder he has issues.

The biggest problem is their schooling & media coverage is mainly about the U.S so only if something major happens here most that have not travelled would not have a clue about Australia

By the way most people that bag the Bush goverment on the Katrina disaster. Should look towards pointing the finger at the Mayor & Governor of Louisianna. A interesting artical from the Wall street journal about it.

http://www.opinionjournal.com/extra/?id=110007219

buickman

Kapn_Kiwi · 10-09-2005, 11:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by M14A-Mclaren

How many Australians think that there is sheep in New Zealands cities?

Nah mate, we've got Kangaroos too, remember, we're one of the smaller bits of Australia :yeees:

megsy · 10-09-2005, 12:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by M14A-Mclaren

How many Australians think that there is sheep in New Zealands cities?

im an aussie and i wouldn't imagine any (or very few) sheep in the actual city. but go for a cruze out of the city and i'd prolly find a few.

about 2 years ago when i was in yr 12 we had a couple of canadian chicks over here as exchange students and before they arrived they did actually think there was kangaroos everywhere (in cities) and we had them as pets n stuff. So it makes a lot of sense that the US think the same thing.

Sourbastard · 10-09-2005, 01:34 PM

I lived over there for years, and in regards to the media you are correct, and the smaller the city, the more focused the news is on local content. It also depends on what you are watching. CNN and PBS are the best to watch for international content. Canada was the same in regards to local content.

In the larger cities, you would get the old dope who thought australia was part of Germany, but mostly people had a basic idea of what australia was about(Even if they couldnt point to it on a map, and thought you could drive across it in a day)

In the smaller cities and towns though, noone knew jack. In canada i was always confused with a "newfie"(From Newfoundland) and was often referred to as that "F^%*ing Newfie Bouncer" when I was working in the bar.

MustangNicko · 10-09-2005, 10:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by klawsterfobik

Isn't that your red light district?

BAAAAAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

M14A-Mclaren · 11-09-2005, 10:36 AM

I read this really interesting book which covered the American media called True Lies, by a independent news organization exposing the mainstream American media, like the 2000 Election (no, not like Michael Moore did) and the 9/11 events, good read.

Black XR6 · 11-09-2005, 12:47 PM

Quote:

My biggest grip is TIPPING for everything over there.

Isnt it what. for people who have never been there. You land in the US, and either take a cab or shuttle to your hotel. Thats your first tip, if you take a shuttle the tip is usually $1 per bag of luggage, if you take the taxi I worked off %10. You arrive at your hotel and the bellhops (not sure if thats their technical name) load your bags on a trolley and push it into the foyer for you to sign in, then they push it to your room. Another tip here, usually $1 per bag is the expected amount. You get settled in your hotel room and decide its time to enjoy a meal at a restaurant. You catch a taxi to the restaurant and its another %10 tip. At the end of said meal your up for another expected tip of %10-20 depending on the meal and service. Most places if you have a larger group automatically include the tip in the bill. You catch a taxi back to the Hotel and yet another %10 tip. You hit the sack tired after your flight and dinner. In the morning you leave the room to go sight seeing and even then, it is customary to leave a $3 tip on the pillow for the maids. And then it all starts again.

Tipping can get expensive. And if in a situation where you dont tip and its expected they will even ask for it.

ImpulseTaco · 11-09-2005, 12:55 PM

yes, our media is insane. thats why I don't even watch mainstream much anymore. The internet is an awesome new alternative for news.

460cixy · 11-09-2005, 01:58 PM

the misses went over there and some chick on a bus asked if we have t.v and live in houses and like "normal" ppl. wtf? and tipping? what dumb **** came up with that. and its prety rude to ask fo it too.

Black XR6 · 11-09-2005, 02:40 PM

Tipping came about because wages just havent gone up there over time. They have stayed around the same, yet the cost of living has increased. So they get tips to supplement their wages.

I heard whilst over there that in some posh restaurants, the serving staff actually pay the restaurant to work there because the tips are so good it is all the wage they need.