Controversial The IMDF Conflict Zone!

[Mad-Pac]

OH, and by the way, Brazil is part of the CPLP (Comunidade dos Países de Língua Portuguesa), so in case we get a Manuel or Joaquim or Antonio from Portugal in the future, feel free to lump us together in the same team as well.

 

[ant-mac]

It's just a joke, OK? But oh, come on, you guys have the Union Jack on your flag, so let's say for this matter you guys count as Brits or you can also say I'm using the informal term "Brit" as, informally, referring to the country members of the Commonwealth of Nations, which has Queen Elizabeth as the Head of the Commonwealth and who is your country's Monarch.

But of course, jokes aside, in serious matters I would never assume anything like that, or call a Scot British, or something like that, since understandably people get very sensitive as far as nationalities issues are concerned and the entire situation of the UK, or Britain (I never know when to apply which) and its former colonies with which the country still has close cultural ties, is very confusing for non-British outsiders like me.

We certainly still maintain a strong link with Great Britain, but Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a sovereign country in its own right.

Since the end of WWII, our relationship to the USA through the ANZUS treaty has been just as important to us as our relationship to the UK. In more recent decades we've also sought to build stronger ties with China, Asia in general and all other nations in our region.

In any case, I was not condemning your previous post, simply clarifying one or two points. In principle, it's not all that different from the time you clarified the importance of the difference between Hispanics and Latinos.

 

[chainsaw_metal1]

And what about you, sir, where are you from? Not yet another Commonwealth member?

I am smack dab in the middle of the United States. Or, as I like to say, Don't blame me, I didn't vote for him!

 

[chainsaw_metal1]

OH, and by the way, Brazil is part of the CPLP (Comunidade dos Países de Língua Portuguesa), so in case we get a Manuel or Joaquim or Antonio from Portugal in the future, feel free to lump us together in the same team as well.

The most I know of Brazil is that Sepultura is from there, as well as my favorite character on Street Fighter. That, and the police can make anybody disappear for the slightest of infractions. Um, if the police are reading this over your shoulder, just say all is well. I'll send help.

 

[Mad-Pac]

We certainly still maintain a strong link with Great Britain, but Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a sovereign country in its own right.

Of, course, I would never suggest otherwise in a serious conversation. But, again, it was a joke, which was about your country's tight cultural links to England, the fact that you have the same Monarch, and ironically how that reflects in your choices for TV shows, which is quite telling. So, yeah, unless you start nominating "Mr. Squiggle," "Skippy the Bush Kangaroo" or "The Paul Hogan Show," I'll maintain, yep, Brits all the way! (Oh, boy, at this point even Mr. Squiggle sounds like a good alternative...)

In any case, I was not condemning your previous post, simply clarifying one or two points. In principle, it's not all that different from the time you clarified the importance of the difference between Hispanics and Latinos.

Sure, such distinctions are important. And in the beginning I did think you were English (again, because of the shows you pick, and I feel the trend is not likely to stop any time soon), but when I wrote that I was already aware you and Gavin are Australian.

 

[Mad-Pac]

I am smack dab in the middle of the United States.

Oh, an American Anglophile, I see.

 

[chainsaw_metal1]

@Mad-Pac , if I may, and please excuse my ignorance in this matter, but what is the difference between Hispanic and Latino? Here in the US, they seem to be a catch-all, like black, white, etc. (Technically, I'm mixed, but I don't have enough Native American in me to count for anything, so I get to put "white" on everything). I'm actually interested to find out something else my fellow Americans have been doing wrong.

 

[chainsaw_metal1]

Oh, an American Anglophile, I see.

You take that back! I thought that young lady was just sleeping! In a coffin. In a funeral parlor. And that she had a naturally low body temperature. Anybody could have made that mistake!

Oh, Anglophile! Not...Um, yes, yes I am.

 

[Mad-Pac]

The most I know of Brazil is that Sepultura is from there, as well as my favorite character on Street Fighter.

Definitely not my cup of cake. I mean, tea.

That, and the police can make anybody disappear for the slightest of infractions.

Yep, they do that all the time. Every single day. But at least they don't have the habit of executing British citizens in the subway for mistaking an innocent man for a terrorist ("Oopsie! My bad!") and the crime of DWB is not a thing.

Um, if the police are reading this over your shoulder, just say all is well. I'll send help.

Ha, funny guy. But don't send the police, as I wouldn't feel safe. Send the CIA instead because I'm sure they would never do anything illegal.

 

[chainsaw_metal1]

Yep, they do that all the time. Every single day. But at least they don't have the habit of executing British citizens in the subway for mistaking an innocent man for a terrorist ("Oopsie! My bad!") and the crime of DWB is not a thing.

Touche. We have a horrible problem with racism to this day in my country, and it shows no sign of ever getting better.

Ha, funny guy.

I have my moments.

Send the CIA instead because I'm sure they would never do anything illegal.

My dad, while in the navy, actually did some "off the books" missions for the CIA and NSA. He's never told me everything, but he's told me enough. Our government is full of bastards.

 

[Mad-Pac]

if I may, and please excuse my ignorance in this matter, but what is the difference between Hispanic and Latino? Here in the US, they seem to be a catch-all, like black, white, etc. (Technically, I'm mixed, but I don't have enough Native American in me to count for anything, so I get to put "white" on everything). I'm actually interested to find out something else my fellow Americans have been doing wrong.

When since that was brought up... These terms have a different meaning for us. Latino refers to anybody who speaks a Romance language, and refers especially to Spanish and Portuguese speakers. I speak Portuguese and I have an Italian background, but I'm definitely not Hispanic, because I wasn't born in a Spanish-speaking nation and I'm not a native speaker of Spanish. Funny thing, there are many more Spanish speakers in The United States than in Brazil. In fact I've known of Brazilians having to brush up on their Spanish to prepare for a trip to the US... Go figure.

What I find funny in the US as far as ethnicities are concerned is that, apparently, either you are White or Latino, or Black or Latino, and apparently you can't be both, which is ludicrous because there are millions of Black, White and Asian people from Latin America. Take Gisele Bundchen, (Tom Brady's wife) for instance. This part confuses me a little, but I think for some people in the US, White means descending from people from Northern European countries only. Or not. I don't know.

 

[Mad-Pac]

My dad, while in the navy, actually did some "off the books" missions for the CIA and NSA. He's never told me everything, but he's told me enough. Our government is full of bastards.

Ha, ha! And my uncle retired as an army captain and he made his career during the military regime during the 70s and 80s, so in the end we all do what we have to do, I guess.

 

[chainsaw_metal1]

This part confuses me a little, but I think for some people in the US, White means descending from people from Northern European countries only. Or not. I don't know.

For the most part, yes. Here, white catches all pale Europeans, as well as most Jews, unless they have a Middle Eastern look to them. Like I said, I am, for all intents and purposes, white (English, Irish, Scottish, Italian, French, German and Native American - a true mutt).

When since that was brought up... These terms have a different meaning for us. Latino refers to anybody who speaks a Romance language, and refers especially to Spanish and Portuguese speakers. I speak Portuguese and I have an Italian background, but I'm definitely not Hispanic, because I wasn't born in a Spanish-speaking nation and I'm not a native speaker of Spanish. Funny thing, there are many more Spanish speakers in The United States than in Brazil. In fact I've known of Brazilians having to brush up on their Spanish to prepare for a trip to the US... Go figure.

Interesting. I have learned something new today. Thank you, good sir.

 

[Mad-Pac]

Touche. We have a horrible problem with racism to this day in my country, and it shows no sign of ever getting better.

Actually, I sad what I sad more as a reaction to what you said, but, in fact, I support the work of the police and I disagree when political and social groups build a narrative to make the police the bad guys so many times (although that incident in London made me really, really angry). And speaking seriously, the police forces in Brazil do a formidable work considering how poorly equipped they are. Cops don't make much money in terms of salary, and that's an open door for corruption. I'm surprised policemen are willing to risk their lives for that salary.

And just for the record, no the police don't make people disappear, that doesn't happen at all anymore. It was a problem in the 1960s and 1970s, and the police had many extraordinary powers to do things considered illegal today, and that was all in the name of security. You see, during the military regime, which had some nasty Fascist overtones, there were also paramilitary Marxist urban guerrillas. And when Marxists and Fascists clash it's not a nice thing to see. But that was the 1970s and I never heard of anything anyway because people simply wouldn't talk about it and the Press would conveniently overlook such incidents as well.

But everything changed in 1988 and things are very different now. Essentially we're like any other industrial democracy, except that people in general have less money.

 

[chainsaw_metal1]

And just for the record, no the police don't make people disappear, that doesn't happen at all anymore.

That's a good thing. I remember reading an interview with Max Cavalera, and he talked about being a kid, and seeing the police burst into his house, take his father and he never heard from him again. He made it sound as if it were still an issue there. I'm glad things aren't as bad as I was led to believe.

Actually, I sad what I sad more as a reaction to what you said, but, in fact, I support the work of the police and I disagree when political and social groups build a narrative to make the police the bad guys so many times

I too support the work of the police, but here in the States, there is still so much rampant racism present in our police forces. For that, I support any social group who will bring attention to it.

 

[michaellevenson]

It's just a joke, OK? But oh, come on, you guys have the Union Jack on your flag, so let's say for this matter you guys count as Brits or you can also say I'm using the informal term "Brit" as, informally, referring to the country members of the Commonwealth of Nations, which has Queen Elizabeth as the Head of the Commonwealth and who is your country's Monarch.

But of course, jokes aside, in serious matters I would never assume anything like that, or call a Scot British, or something like that, since understandably people get very sensitive as far as nationalities issues are concerned and the entire situation of the UK, or Britain (I never know when to apply which) and its former colonies with which the country still has close cultural ties, is very confusing for non-British outsiders like me.

Even to some Brits it can be confusing knowing when to apply UK or GB.
Great Britain is England Scotland and Wales and nothing else. The islands off the coast of Scotland, e.g. Skye,Shetland etc, are part of Scotland. Isles of Wight, Scilly are part of England and Anglesey isle is Welsh.
But the Isle of Man is not GB and is a Crown dependency despite its closeness to England being situated in the Irish Sea. Crown dependencies have their own governments, laws, tax powers etc, but the British government pledges to protect them and pays for all defence expenditure and The Queen is head of State. Other dependencies are Gibraltar Channel Islands Bermuda, and Falklands of course and others. To add to the confusion there is a difference between Crown Dependency and British Overseas Territory, the difference is in the constitutional relationship to the Crown. Jersey, Guernsey in the Channel Isles and Isle of Man are Dependencies, Gibraltar Falklands and Bermuda and other small islands are territories.
The United Kingdom is simply Great Britain plus Northern Ireland, and NI plays a full part in British political affairs, sending members to parliament and is covered by all laws made there, and like Scotland and Wales has a devolved parliament which can introduce certain laws for it's own territory, though the Northern Ireland one is currently suspended because of difficulties between Unionists and Nationalists.
Incredible as it may seem some people I've met still think the Republic of Ireland is some sort of UK member, but is of course independent in every way. They could even invite Putin to place missiles in their country if they wish!!
However in GEOGRAPHICAL sense only , when studying an atlas for instance, all GB, UK, and Republic of Ireland territory is The British Isles.

 

[ant-mac]

I am smack dab in the middle of the United States. Or, as I like to say, Don't blame me, I didn't vote for him!

Name: Chainsaw Metal.

Gender: Male.

Age: Forty-something.

Nationality: I didn't vote for him!

 

[ant-mac]

Of, course, I would never suggest otherwise in a serious conversation. But, again, it was a joke, which was about your country's tight cultural links to England, the fact that you have the same Monarch, and ironically how that reflects in your choices for TV shows, which is quite telling. So, yeah, unless you start nominating "Mr. Squiggle," "Skippy the Bush Kangaroo" or "The Paul Hogan Show," I'll maintain, yep, Brits all the way! (Oh, boy, at this point even Mr. Squiggle sounds like a good alternative...)

Culturally, we are pretty evenly divided between the USA and the UK, with a smattering of Asian, European and homemade influences as well.

Growing up, I found myself drawn to some US, some UK and some homemade influences. To this day, you'll find those who prefer UK and European products, those who prefer US and North American products, those who prefer Asian products, those who prefer homemade products and those who couldn't really care less. Everyone's an individual.

For the record, I watched both MR SQUIGGLE and SKIPPY THE BUSH KANGAROO as a child. However, I never saw THE PAUL HOGAN SHOW - although I enjoyed some of his films. As for the Queen, I have no interest in the monarchy whatsoever.

Mind you, every time there's a referendum on the subject, I always vote to remain a monarchy, simply because I find monarchists less irritating than republicans. Besides, it's the cheaper and simpler option - not having to make any sort of change to anything - and it just doesn't affect me in my day-to-day existence. If it's not broken, don't fix it.

Sure, such distinctions are important. And in the beginning I did think you were English (again, because of the shows you pick, and I feel the trend is not likely to stop any time soon), but when I wrote that I was already aware you and Gavin are Australian.

I can only speak for myself, but I am perfectly prepared to nominate TV productions from the UK, the US and Australia. I can think of a few TV productions that would fit perfectly into the overall guidelines of the nomination process as it currently stands.

And don't worry, I'm perfectly aware of your attempt to inject humour into your posts.

 

[ant-mac]

My dad, while in the navy, actually did some "off the books" missions for the CIA and NSA. He's never told me everything, but he's told me enough. Our government is full of bastards.

Most governments are full of complete bastards, complete fools, or a combination of both.

The current mob running my country are so bloody useless, they couldn't get a blow job in a brothel with a $100 bill taped to their dicks.

 

[Gavin]

So, yeah, unless you start nominating "Mr. Squiggle", "Skippy the Bush Kangaroo" or "The Paul Hogan Show,"

Don't tempt me. Mr Squiggle is a classic that'd happily re-watch.

Fortunately for all of us Skippy is a multi-season show so it's outside the criteria.