Question for Bill - folding footpegs ...... why?

[Linegeist]

Superb!!!!

[Old Dog]

I wouldn't worry too much, Bill is right, ignorance and obnoxiousness knows no cultural or racial boundaries. I remember spending a charming morning with a delightful young German woman wandering the garden of Isolda Bella, we discussed all manner of things; literature, life, etc etc, but from time to time she would look troubled and we would have to move to avoid German tourists who, she generally found insufferable.

[Bill Jurgenson]

avoid German tourists who, she generally found insufferable.

tell me about it!

For me it is all too often the same with Americans as well. I do not have the same problems with English, perhaps because they don't speak my English ( or King Jame's English, either); they are part of a different culture where I have not lived for any length of time. Foreigners. For a similar reason I see the Austrians and the german-speaking Swiss, the Luxemburger and the real Alsacians as foriegners altho they all speak German. At the Austrian and their zenophobia one can as a German only laugh since they are the ultimate Germans. The west Swiss are only a little better. The fact that the Germans in fact reflect only their best parts is what makes them hate the Germans so much. It has nothing to do with Hitler and goes much farther back.
With the others which we try to understand but possibly do not have the actual insight that comes from living there for prolonged periods, we are amused or befuddled. We find them sometimes quaint, often too, just strange as with most far east Asians whose mindsets are in no way similar to ours. With them we run the danger of completely misinterpreting what we see.

Actually speaking (not just schoolbook knowledge long since forgotten) a foreign language goe a long way to understanding and gaining real insight.

[Linegeist]

I do not have the same problems with English, perhaps because they don't speak my English ( or King Jame's English, either)

Oh boy! Isn't that true!!

I've lived in the UK on and off now for nearly 30 years - I haven't really spoken my native German in anger for nearly 20 ............ so English is now my first language practcially speaking (sic). But English is changing faster than I can keep up!!!

For instance, what's with this thing of white kids speaking like dey wuz Jamaican 'gangstas' for Pete's sake? And the new words that keep cropping up and seem to be known only to people under the age of 20???? Why is something that's in fact excellent referred to as 'Wicked' - I thought that meant it was really bad ......... "Hey Man, dat's a wicked dude bike you'se got dare!" was a comment I got last week from a spotty youth lounging outside the newsagents. Was I supposed to smile and say "Thank you" - or upend him and spank his rear end for being cheeky?

And Txt Spk! Wts all tht abt then??? My daughters both do this stuff - they can type on a mobile phonbe with their thumbs faster than I can with both hands on a proper keyboard!!!

I must be getting old.