"Cultural disconnect? Or just short term statistical?" Topic

Don't spend a lot of time checking the DH but the last series of offenders seemed to be almost 100% from the UK.

I would like to know if that has been a trend for a while or just a statistical blip?

Per capita are the UK members more prone to run afoul of the editors/rules? And is so, why?

The fine old British sense of humour just does not translate at all well over the airways or large bodies of water.

We are one but we're not the same.

Cultural disconnect …

Phil

Hi Glenn, this is a just my own opinion and I have no charts or graphs etc to back it up, however in my own experience the majority of British gamers tend to be either liberal or left wing in their politics ( there was a British geezer on here named Connard Sage ) but he was the excepton to the norm. The majority of posting American members on TMP, especially on the Talk board tend to be Right wing, there are exceptions of course Kyote Blue for example. When things get heated the powers that be tend to have a two tier punishment system, the lefties get doghoused or in extreme cases banned, the Right wingers usually get a PM from the boss, telling them to cool it. Added to this is the strange British sense of humour which does not travel well it has to be said. If you combine these two factors you probably have your answer. As I have
said this is only my opinion so please other readers don't start demanding evidence and such. Anyway Glenn just my two cents, all the best Dave.

'Cultural Disconnect' would be a generous analysis. It's been a very long time since there was a whiff of consistency or fairness when it comes to moderating the forums.

I'm British and I'm fed up to the back teeth reading on TMP about this unique sense of humour we have. Frankly this kind of special pleading is getting embarrassing. We are a country of 64+ million people. We don't have a "British sense of humour". There are lots of different senses of humour in this country as there are everywhere. This rather smu,g endless boasting of what a unique, gritty sense of humour we have is cringe-making.

Please stop…

DBDD

Bit of both I think – cultural disconnect accounts for some of it, and political differences a big chunk of the rest….

Not sure about currently, but there have certainly been cases of non-US nationals in the DH due to cultural disconnections.

Dave Arrowsmith nailed it.

Bill also won't even consider Dawghousing someone unless the complaint button is pushed (except in extreme cases), so another factor might be that the more conservative TMPers press the button more than the more liberal TMPers do.

I looked over the current group of inmates and did not see anything political in any of the comments.

It could be the result of naïve disappointment. Before the internet I (wrongly) expect all Brits to behave much like Michael Caine in Zulu. Now, I have found out some can be just as crude and rude as a drunken American hillbilly.

Cultural disconnect covers a whole range of things quite succinctly including both where the 'centre ground' politics might be considered on either side of the Atlantic, as well as the role of irony and sarcasm in everyday conversation.

IMO, Brits fly off the handle with little provocation and to spectacular degree, at least on the internet. Therefore, they wind up in the DH easily.

YMMV.
-Kle.

Klebert – WHAT DO YOU MEAN WE FLY OFF THE HANDLE. HOW DARE YOU INSINUATE………OH
(Just kidding, I'm actually a Paddy).

Darrell BD Day speaks with common sense.

I find it odd that wargamers who are aghast at the notion of assigning national differences to their metal & plastic forces cheerfully ascribe to such inanities as "the British sense of humour".

+2 for the hostile use of British humour: don't make me laugh.

As the Red Baron said…

"Ha! You English and your zense of humour. During your brief stay I look forward to learn more of your vit, your punning and your amusing jokes about the breaking of the vind."

I suspect it isn't so much a "British sense of humor" as it is some people being very sensitive about their political stances and cannot handle a joke about them, unlike the British people in the DH right now.

And as Dave Arrowsmith said, the conservative elements of the website are more likely to complain. Add in Bill being fairly conservative and you get what TMP is today.

Yes, the British have a sense of humour but the "British sense of humour" is a non sequitur.

Another of my favourites is the Australian concept that their sense of mateship is unique because, evidently, no-one else in the world has friends.

People from different countries are more alike than "unique", "special" or possessing their own, somehow superior, sense of humour.

>>>>another factor might be that the more conservative TMPers press the button more than the more liberal TMPers do.

You may very well be on to something there. It's been my experience that we on the Right are far more rules and structure oriented than our leftist counterparts. Thus we are probably more willing to push the button on a perceived rules violation.

Martin

I have known Buff Orpington for several years and he's one of the most inoffensive persons I know.

I was gobsmacked to see in the DH.

Well I got the clink for making fun of someones name (they had accused me of anti semitism and to be fair got a longer sentence than me) and the next time for repeating someone elses witty remark on the virtues of TW&T versus CoC.

Im trying to go straight but it can be difficult…

On the Uk/US thing, it does seem that europeans get more agitated over politics/violence and americans over "crude" language.

Maybe the Editors are still upset with the Redcoats burning down the WH in 1812 ?

The fine old British sense of humour just does not translate at all well over the airways or large bodies of water.

The same could be said about Yank humor to other Euros, including Limeys … My "warped" sometimes aggressive sense of humor has been misunderstood by Euros here before. In some case, causing a storm. With all going sideways etc. … Part of that IMO, is with many Euros all they know about Yanks is what they see in the media. With school shootings, race riots, Biker brawls, etc., etc. … The Euro may see the average Yank as a Right Wing, Gods, Guts and Gun totting looney. Which is far from true, believe me. I recently mentioned "carrying a big stick" on one thread. The 1/2 statement was based on a famous US statesmen and soldier, Teddy Roosevelt saying. And a Brit thought I was threatening violence … Really !? On another thread I objected to the way some of us here, me inparticular were berated, etc. by members of a primarily UK membership site. I made an over-the-top statement that I thought was so obvious as not to be taken seriously. Which was aggressive but threatened no one directly. And the storm that followed was blown waaaay out of context. But again, some Euros and even a few Americans were so preoccupied, paranoid and self involved with themselves, etc., plus having a distain for my "politics" and I as an American[and different from some other "Americas" !] that the verbal online chatter amazed me ! I still don't understand how some think about who and what US citizens are … Including some other Americans, remember we even had our own civil war, '1861-'1865 …

Relax Legion; I know youre kicked back in the paddling pool next to your trailer, eating hot dogs, drinking Bud and shooting at the postman before a hard day at salvage hunting and Bigfoot trapping.

Here in Scotland I myself am practising the caber, scraping porridge off my kilt and ironing the feather in my bonnet before I raid next doors wishing well.

Its the same the world over :)

I thought they got sent to the Doghouse for the unapologetic use of superfluous letter 'u's?

Isn't colour or armour a heinous violation of something?

Thats "heinos" to you, you, you godless liberal!

latto6plus2
Relax Legion; I know youre kicked back in the paddling pool next to your trailer, eating hot dogs, drinking Bud and shooting at the postman before a hard day at salvage hunting and Bigfoot trapping.

LOL !!!!! Now see !! That's very humorous !! Although the scenario you discribe I've run across more than once when doing fieldwork as a PI ! Sometimes I felt I was lucky to get out of there alive ! LOL !!

The solution is simple. DH anyone who thinks he's funny. No exceptions.

Btw, is the DH really punishment? Has it cured anybody's bad behavior ? Then why get upset about it? All it is is a timeout. With the tiniest bit of shame attached to it.

Sorry lefties, I disprove your persecution complexes. I'm an extreme right wing social conservative extremist. The tea party has a lot of nice people but they are way too pinko for me. I get dawghoused for simple satire on horrible figures. I'm in there all the time. Once not one day after I just got out.

I find it all rather humorous as Mexican Jack says, there's no consistency at all to the moderation, but that's like complaining about the air. There's little else to breathe.

I suspect part of it is the editors from the other side of the world who come from a different culture and do not know the tropes, metaphors, and context of the Anglo-American ecumene. Don't doubt this too much. I have a friend who came here from Germany at age 19. now she's 50. She still doesn't know who Johh Wayne or Mel Brooks is.

The best part was while I was in the dawghouse Bill came around schmoozing for more money to support TMP. Rather ironic. Yah! Check's in the mail.

Maybe I'll start a Yahoo Group called Dawghoused where those of us who are can go and talk while we wait parole.

She..doesnt know who John Wayne is?

Youve got a duty to fix that – its John Wayne for gods sake.

Bill also won't even consider Dawghousing someone unless the complaint button is pushed…

If I see something, I handle it then… but I'm not always able to prowl the forums.

It wouldn't hurt if the blessed Editor had someone outside his own cultural milieu to check things with. Someone who'd say, "That's not an insult. It's barely rude at all."

No, I'm not volunteering.

I note that after more than thirty years in N. America, I can still confuse some people with what – in my mind – is obviously a joke. This is more an internet issue than in real life (because our incredibly literal church secretary will say, "Wait! What? Is that a joke?" and I'll reassure her that, in fact, it was). The internet has no warm, friendly tone that indicates gentle sarcasm rather than bitter attack. And, if you leave a comment and go away for an hour, it's possible that a whole bunch of people have called you horrible things in the meantime.

Dear Latto6plus 2

I've tried. For ten years I've given it my best shot.

Doesn't "get" John Wayne Movies. "Get's" Jackie Chan movies where they fly through the air with the greatest of ease-- but not John Wayne."

She sees nothing funny in the Blind Hermit Scene in "Young Frankenstein."

She is the poster girl for Germans having no sense of humor.

Was visiting one time and I brought along "True Grit!" Never again. She TALKED all through the movie.

It's not her English, it's very very good. Also doesn't think Monty Python is funny.

Talk about Stranger in a Strange land.

She DOESN'T think Harlequen Romances are true, but she DOES think that they are accurate representations of 19th century England.

She's not stupid, she has an advanced Engineering degree.

I'm British and I'm fed up to the back teeth reading on TMP about this unique sense of humour we have. Frankly this kind of special pleading is getting embarrassing. We are a country of 64+ million people. We don't have a "British sense of humour". There are lots of different senses of humour in this country as there are everywhere. This rather smu,g endless boasting of what a unique, gritty sense of humour we have is cringe-making.

Please stop…

DBDD

See, I don't know what to do. Am I supposed to laugh or not laugh…Maybe I need to watch some Benny Hill to put thing in perspective.

Otto ! Someone who DOESN'T THINK PYTHON IS FUNNY??!?!?

Extreme measures seem to be called-for – what are you
planning ? A Marathon session of 'Morning, Noon and
Night….' (and I don't mean the musical composition)
might do the trick ?

There are even regional/cultural disconnects within the US, as they are in the UK. As a Welshman about the Sassenach.

I am from the Midwest but live in New Hampshire. A few years back, the Red Sox were playing the White Sox in some critical, late-season series. One of the Boston Sports Talk Radio was exchanging barbs live over the air with a Chicago station. Neither could understand the other's humor. I got both, which made the thing all the more amusing to me. Odd---they never did that again.

No point asking a Welshman about the Sassenach as he won't have a clue what you're on about…

Ask him about the Saes however….. and generally he'll shrug unless there's rugby involved.

As for the phenomenon – it's cultural and political as others have alluded to. As it happens, I'm on the right of British politics and still find the attitudes of some …. odd.

And yes, the American right-wingers are far more thin skinned.

And yes, the American right-whingers are far more thin skinned.

Can you blame them? Social conservatives were wrong about segregation, women's suffrage, interracial marriage, civil rights, and .

Dear Ed

Hopeless. I've given up.

But, she is a very nice person and has a good heart, and is very kind. Her lack of cultural sophistication or rather inexperience with the American cultural ecumene and tropes, endears. She's an honest soul.

I'll accept that she doesn't get John Wayne.

I'll accept that she doesn't get John Wayne.

That is somewhat forgivable, but what is her stance on Clint Eastwood?

Both liberals and conservatives have sacred cows and sensibilities that are easily bruised. Everyone loses when we try to reduce things and each other to absolutes.

PS the Dukes been gone for close to four decades, just saying

Dear Rebel Yell

She likes Clint Eastwood and his movies.

She understands them. She doesn't think they're funny, not that she should.

(I think), at least she seems to.

So she just cannot find humor in John Wayne's movies? Has she seen Three Godfathers or any of the more serious John Wayne movies?

That shold be "yo" not "you". Cos yo gys don't like the "yew"

Dear Rebel Yell

You misunderstand.

She wasn't raised on John Wayne movies so the name means nothing to her. It's not that she finds them humorous or not, it's that she doesn't know the whole cultural "Trope" or heritage that is packed into the term "John Wayne."

She understands and gets the reference to "Clint Eastwood Movies.

As for humor, as I said, she doesn't think either Monty Python or the Hermit scene from Young Frankenstein is funny. She also doesn't "get" the humor of Saturday Night Live, or anything.

She doesn't tell jokes.

COMPLETELY doesn't get self deprecating humor. When I do it it's like Robbie the Robot arcing out.

She also doesn't get humorous jokes which are part of serious movies.

The movie she thinks is hilarious is "Napoleon Dynamite".

It wouldn't hurt if the blessed Editor had someone outside his own cultural milieu to check things with.

Maybe some young women from the Philippines or something like that. The idea has merit.

Social conservatives were wrong about segregation

I assume you're talking about Southern Democrats?

I assume you're talking about Southern Democrats?

Yes, who later joined the Dixiecrats, and then formed the Southern branch of the Republican party.

"Hi Glenn"

This threw me -who is Glen?

Glenn Manning, hero of the Korean War?

Otto – East German sleeper agent maybe? I cant think of any other reason for not getting The Duke