Languish.org

General Category => Off the Record => Topic started by: Martinus on November 03, 2016, 05:16:32 AM

Title: Embarassing customs, behaviours and habits of your compatriots?
Post by: Martinus on November 03, 2016, 05:16:32 AM
What are some of the common behaviours, customs and habits of your fellow nationals that you are embarassed about?

For Poles: clapping when their plane hits the tarmac. This is (thankfully) much less common on scheduled flights, but on charter flights, especially tourist ones, it is almost ubiquitous - apparently Poles consider it a great achievement for a pilot to land the plane safely and applause.  :Embarrass:
Title: Re: Embarassing customs, behaviours and habits of your compatriots?
Post by: Brazen on November 03, 2016, 05:28:59 AM
It's an unwritten rule that when someone drops a tray of drinks in a pub a loud cheer, round of applause and calls of "Sack the juggler!" occur.
Title: Re: Embarassing customs, behaviours and habits of your compatriots?
Post by: dps on November 03, 2016, 12:53:09 PM
Quote from: Martinus on November 03, 2016, 05:16:32 AM
What are some of the common behaviours, customs and habits of your fellow nationals that you are embarassed about?

For Poles: clapping when their plane hits the tarmac. This is (thankfully) much less common on scheduled flights, but on charter flights, especially tourist ones, it is almost ubiquitous - apparently Poles consider it a great achievement for a pilot to land the plane safely and applause.  :Embarrass:

Well, that's more a poor reflection on the Polish pilots than on the Polish passengers.
Title: Re: Embarassing customs, behaviours and habits of your compatriots?
Post by: Syt on November 03, 2016, 12:57:35 PM
Quote from: Martinus on November 03, 2016, 05:16:32 AM
What are some of the common behaviours, customs and habits of your fellow nationals that you are embarassed about?

For Poles: clapping when their plane hits the tarmac. This is (thankfully) much less common on scheduled flights, but on charter flights, especially tourist ones, it is almost ubiquitous - apparently Poles consider it a great achievement for a pilot to land the plane safely and applause.  :Embarrass:

Only flight I experienced that was to and from Thessaloniki where the Greeks all applauded.
Title: Re: Embarassing customs, behaviours and habits of your compatriots?
Post by: Valmy on November 03, 2016, 01:35:06 PM
I have been on US planes that did that when the landing was unusually rocky.
Title: Re: Embarassing customs, behaviours and habits of your compatriots?
Post by: Grey Fox on November 03, 2016, 01:38:44 PM
Naming our francophone children using Anglophones nicknames.
Title: Re: Embarassing customs, behaviours and habits of your compatriots?
Post by: HVC on November 03, 2016, 01:41:09 PM
Quote from: Valmy on November 03, 2016, 01:35:06 PM
I have been on US planes that did that when the landing was unusually rocky.

My cousin, who has a fear of flying to begin with, was on a particularly rough flight (multiple aborted landings) and waited for the pilot to give hi a hug :lol:  the more entertaining part is that he's the stoic unemotional type.
Title: Re: Embarassing customs, behaviours and habits of your compatriots?
Post by: Eddie Teach on November 03, 2016, 02:21:32 PM
NASCAR.
Title: Re: Embarassing customs, behaviours and habits of your compatriots?
Post by: Valmy on November 03, 2016, 02:23:32 PM
Celebrating ignorance and considering thoughtfulness weak and effeminate. But since the invention of the internet I notice that is not nearly as culturally unique as I once thought.
Title: Re: Embarassing customs, behaviours and habits of your compatriots?
Post by: Admiral Yi on November 03, 2016, 02:23:58 PM
Getting fat.
Title: Re: Embarassing customs, behaviours and habits of your compatriots?
Post by: Zanza on November 03, 2016, 02:28:54 PM
Quote from: Eddie Teach on November 03, 2016, 02:21:32 PM
NASCAR.
I saw a race on the Telladega Superspeedway in 2014 and loved it. Probably one of the most American experiences I've had.  :alberta:
Title: Re: Embarassing customs, behaviours and habits of your compatriots?
Post by: Zanza on November 03, 2016, 02:29:36 PM
My countrymen occasionally commit genocides and start world wars. That's a bit awkward.
Title: Re: Embarassing customs, behaviours and habits of your compatriots?
Post by: Admiral Yi on November 03, 2016, 02:30:17 PM
 :D
Title: Re: Embarassing customs, behaviours and habits of your compatriots?
Post by: The Minsky Moment on November 03, 2016, 03:18:14 PM
And we have a winner!
Title: Re: Embarassing customs, behaviours and habits of your compatriots?
Post by: derspiess on November 03, 2016, 03:20:25 PM
Quote from: Martinus on November 03, 2016, 05:16:32 AM
What are some of the common behaviours, customs and habits of your fellow nationals that you are embarassed about?

For Poles: clapping when their plane hits the tarmac. This is (thankfully) much less common on scheduled flights, but on charter flights, especially tourist ones, it is almost ubiquitous - apparently Poles consider it a great achievement for a pilot to land the plane safely and applause.  :Embarrass:

Argentines do that when they land at JFK.
Title: Re: Embarassing customs, behaviours and habits of your compatriots?
Post by: derspiess on November 03, 2016, 03:21:04 PM
Quote from: Valmy on November 03, 2016, 02:23:32 PM
Celebrating ignorance and considering thoughtfulness weak and effeminate. But since the invention of the internet I notice that is not nearly as culturally unique as I once thought.

Wuss.
Title: Re: Embarassing customs, behaviours and habits of your compatriots?
Post by: Valmy on November 03, 2016, 03:22:00 PM
Quote from: derspiess on November 03, 2016, 03:21:04 PM
Quote from: Valmy on November 03, 2016, 02:23:32 PM
Celebrating ignorance and considering thoughtfulness weak and effeminate. But since the invention of the internet I notice that is not nearly as culturally unique as I once thought.

Wuss.

See!
Title: Re: Embarassing customs, behaviours and habits of your compatriots?
Post by: Malthus on November 03, 2016, 03:23:24 PM
My countryfolk apologize when you step on their toes.  :P
Title: Re: Embarassing customs, behaviours and habits of your compatriots?
Post by: HVC on November 03, 2016, 03:31:20 PM
Quote from: Malthus on November 03, 2016, 03:23:24 PM
My countryfolk apologize when you step on their toes.  :P

That's a translation error. When we say sorry we mean fuck you.

Title: Re: Embarassing customs, behaviours and habits of your compatriots?
Post by: Eddie Teach on November 03, 2016, 03:32:32 PM
Quote from: HVC on November 03, 2016, 03:31:20 PM
That's a translation error. When we say sorry we mean fuck you.

Bless your heart.
Title: Re: Embarassing customs, behaviours and habits of your compatriots?
Post by: HVC on November 03, 2016, 04:36:53 PM
Quote from: Eddie Teach on November 03, 2016, 03:32:32 PM
Quote from: HVC on November 03, 2016, 03:31:20 PM
That's a translation error. When we say sorry we mean fuck you.

Bless your heart.

That's southern for the same thing, isn't it? :P
Title: Re: Embarassing customs, behaviours and habits of your compatriots?
Post by: Eddie Teach on November 03, 2016, 05:33:39 PM
According to people on languish anyway.
Title: Re: Embarassing customs, behaviours and habits of your compatriots?
Post by: The Larch on November 03, 2016, 05:47:44 PM
Quote from: Syt on November 03, 2016, 12:57:35 PM
Quote from: Martinus on November 03, 2016, 05:16:32 AM
What are some of the common behaviours, customs and habits of your fellow nationals that you are embarassed about?

For Poles: clapping when their plane hits the tarmac. This is (thankfully) much less common on scheduled flights, but on charter flights, especially tourist ones, it is almost ubiquitous - apparently Poles consider it a great achievement for a pilot to land the plane safely and applause.  :Embarrass:

Only flight I experienced that was to and from Thessaloniki where the Greeks all applauded.

Italians applaud when landing as well.
Title: Re: Embarassing customs, behaviours and habits of your compatriots?
Post by: Ed Anger on November 03, 2016, 05:48:32 PM
About as retarded at clapping at the end of a movie.
Title: Re: Embarassing customs, behaviours and habits of your compatriots?
Post by: The Brain on November 03, 2016, 05:55:26 PM
Quote from: Ed Anger on November 03, 2016, 05:48:32 PM
About as retarded at clapping at the end of a movie.

:yes: I clap at irregular intervals during a movie.
Title: Re: Embarassing customs, behaviours and habits of your compatriots?
Post by: garbon on November 03, 2016, 07:54:02 PM
Quote from: Valmy on November 03, 2016, 01:35:06 PM
I have been on US planes that did that when the landing was unusually rocky.

:yes:
Title: Re: Embarassing customs, behaviours and habits of your compatriots?
Post by: garbon on November 03, 2016, 07:54:32 PM
Quote from: The Brain on November 03, 2016, 05:55:26 PM
Quote from: Ed Anger on November 03, 2016, 05:48:32 PM
About as retarded at clapping at the end of a movie.

:yes: I clap at irregular intervals during a movie.

I clap back.
Title: Re: Embarassing customs, behaviours and habits of your compatriots?
Post by: CountDeMoney on November 03, 2016, 07:56:51 PM
Quote from: HVC on November 03, 2016, 04:36:53 PM
Quote from: Eddie Teach on November 03, 2016, 03:32:32 PM
Quote from: HVC on November 03, 2016, 03:31:20 PM
That's a translation error. When we say sorry we mean fuck you.

Bless your heart.

That's southern for the same thing, isn't it? :P

No, that's southern for "you're retarded."
Title: Re: Embarassing customs, behaviours and habits of your compatriots?
Post by: Tonitrus on November 03, 2016, 08:07:58 PM
Quote from: Ed Anger on November 03, 2016, 05:48:32 PM
About as retarded at clapping at the end of a movie.

I think the last time I recall seeing that was at the premier of the original Independence Day.  The crowd was really into the movie. 
Title: Re: Embarassing customs, behaviours and habits of your compatriots?
Post by: KRonn on November 03, 2016, 08:41:24 PM
Quote from: Tonitrus on November 03, 2016, 08:07:58 PM
Quote from: Ed Anger on November 03, 2016, 05:48:32 PM
About as retarded at clapping at the end of a movie.

I think the last time I recall seeing that was at the premier of the original Independence Day.  The crowd was really into the movie.

That's fun when the theater goers feel so into a movie that they applaud.   :)
Title: Re: Embarassing customs, behaviours and habits of your compatriots?
Post by: Zoupa on November 03, 2016, 09:53:40 PM
Quote from: Tonitrus on November 03, 2016, 08:07:58 PM
Quote from: Ed Anger on November 03, 2016, 05:48:32 PM
About as retarded at clapping at the end of a movie.

I think the last time I recall seeing that was at the premier of the original Independence Day.  The crowd was really into the movie.

Wtf  :lol:
Title: Re: Embarassing customs, behaviours and habits of your compatriots?
Post by: Valmy on November 03, 2016, 09:56:14 PM
Quote from: Zoupa on November 03, 2016, 09:53:40 PM
Quote from: Tonitrus on November 03, 2016, 08:07:58 PM
Quote from: Ed Anger on November 03, 2016, 05:48:32 PM
About as retarded at clapping at the end of a movie.

I think the last time I recall seeing that was at the premier of the original Independence Day.  The crowd was really into the movie.

Wtf  :lol:

That was the right movie for the right time. It is so 90s it hurts, which is part of the reason I thought it was incredibly silly to do a sequel so many years after it was culturally relevant.
Title: Re: Embarassing customs, behaviours and habits of your compatriots?
Post by: CountDeMoney on November 03, 2016, 09:58:57 PM
Our pre-9/11 innocence.   :(
Title: Re: Embarassing customs, behaviours and habits of your compatriots?
Post by: Valmy on November 03, 2016, 10:00:46 PM
Quote from: CountDeMoney on November 03, 2016, 09:58:57 PM
Our pre-9/11 innocence.   :(

Yep. It was that short period of time when we thought we were awesome. I miss those days.
Title: Re: Embarassing customs, behaviours and habits of your compatriots?
Post by: CountDeMoney on November 03, 2016, 10:02:35 PM
Quote from: Valmy on November 03, 2016, 10:00:46 PM
Quote from: CountDeMoney on November 03, 2016, 09:58:57 PM
Our pre-9/11 innocence.   :(

Yep. It was that short period of time when we thought we were awesome. I miss those days.

Go watch Fight Club and let it wash over you, like a nice warm pre-9/11 blankie.
Title: Re: Embarassing customs, behaviours and habits of your compatriots?
Post by: Razgovory on November 03, 2016, 10:19:43 PM
My country men have an annoying habit of going completely bonkers and shooting up schools, offices, and businesses. 
Title: Re: Embarassing customs, behaviours and habits of your compatriots?
Post by: The Brain on November 04, 2016, 02:49:02 AM
Swedes probably clap on charter flights, at least they did in '82 the last time I flew charter.
Title: Re: Embarassing customs, behaviours and habits of your compatriots?
Post by: celedhring on November 04, 2016, 04:31:52 AM
Quote from: Valmy on November 03, 2016, 09:56:14 PM
Quote from: Zoupa on November 03, 2016, 09:53:40 PM
Quote from: Tonitrus on November 03, 2016, 08:07:58 PM
Quote from: Ed Anger on November 03, 2016, 05:48:32 PM
About as retarded at clapping at the end of a movie.

I think the last time I recall seeing that was at the premier of the original Independence Day.  The crowd was really into the movie.

Wtf  :lol:

That was the right movie for the right time. It is so 90s it hurts, which is part of the reason I thought it was incredibly silly to do a sequel so many years after it was culturally relevant.

The audience I saw it (the 90s one) with clapped at the end of Pullman's speech. Although it was ironic.
Title: Re: Embarassing customs, behaviours and habits of your compatriots?
Post by: dps on November 04, 2016, 04:54:09 AM
Last time I remember a crowd clapping in a movie theater was actually during the previews.  They ran a preview for the Terms of Endearment sequel, and the crowd applauded when Jack Nicholson's character showed up on screen.  It was a bit odd, really.
Title: Re: Embarassing customs, behaviours and habits of your compatriots?
Post by: celedhring on November 04, 2016, 04:58:57 AM
Last time I had clapping in a theater - outside film festivals where that happens a lot - was on The Force Awakens, when the "A long time ago..." caption showed up.
Title: Re: Embarassing customs, behaviours and habits of your compatriots?
Post by: Duque de Bragança on November 04, 2016, 05:32:13 AM
Same here. Happens a bit more often at the Cinémathèque though.
Title: Re: Embarassing customs, behaviours and habits of your compatriots?
Post by: Barrister on November 04, 2016, 10:46:35 AM
Quote from: celedhring on November 04, 2016, 04:58:57 AM
Last time I had clapping in a theater - outside film festivals where that happens a lot - was on The Force Awakens, when the "A long time ago..." caption showed up.

I remember clapping at a midnight screening of Phantom Menace when the green Lucasfilm logo showed up.

Of course at that point we hadn't seen the movie yet...
Title: Re: Embarassing customs, behaviours and habits of your compatriots?
Post by: Admiral Yi on November 04, 2016, 10:50:16 AM
People started clapping during Last of the Mohicans when Daniel Day Lewis showed up in the opening credits.  Might have been a chick thing.
Title: Re: Embarassing customs, behaviours and habits of your compatriots?
Post by: derspiess on November 04, 2016, 10:57:23 AM
Quote from: Barrister on November 04, 2016, 10:46:35 AM
I remember clapping at a midnight screening of Phantom Menace when the green Lucasfilm logo showed up.

Of course at that point we hadn't seen the movie yet...

Hopefully you remember *the* clapping and don't remember that you clapped :P

But yeah, that happened in my theater as well.  The only other time I can remember is the final scene in Karate Kid.  Several idiots got up and clapped, including my older cousin.  Never looked at him the same after that.  And he had seen the damned movie already :huh:
Title: Re: Embarassing customs, behaviours and habits of your compatriots?
Post by: Siege on November 04, 2016, 11:00:38 AM
No embarrassing customs or habits to report.
Title: Re: Embarassing customs, behaviours and habits of your compatriots?
Post by: Barrister on November 04, 2016, 11:02:12 AM
Quote from: derspiess on November 04, 2016, 10:57:23 AM
Quote from: Barrister on November 04, 2016, 10:46:35 AM
I remember clapping at a midnight screening of Phantom Menace when the green Lucasfilm logo showed up.

Of course at that point we hadn't seen the movie yet...

Hopefully you remember *the* clapping and don't remember that you clapped :P

But yeah, that happened in my theater as well.  The only other time I can remember is the final scene in Karate Kid.  Several idiots got up and clapped, including my older cousin.  Never looked at him the same after that.  And he had seen the damned movie already :huh:

I wouldn't have gone to a midnight showing on my own, but a buddy of mine stood in line to get tickets for a whole bunch of us.  And clapping is fairly infectious, so of course I clapped as well. :P

Walking out of the theatre we all thought it was a pretty good movie.  Anticipation and nostalgia can be powerful forces (though nobody liked Jar Jar for even one minute).  I think it was only on repeated viewings that I realized it was a POS.
Title: Re: Embarassing customs, behaviours and habits of your compatriots?
Post by: celedhring on November 04, 2016, 11:04:01 AM
Oh my first screening of The Phantom Menace was pretty cringe-worthy on retrospect.

Lucasfilm logo - clapping
Opening crawl - clapping
Lightsabers are first lit - clapping
C-3PO shows up - clapping
R2-D2 shows up - clapping
Duel of fates scene - clapping
Yoda shows up - clapping
End credits - clapping

And I probably joined in at least half of them  :Embarrass:

As BB says, pent-up nostalgia masked how shitty the film was.
Title: Re: Embarassing customs, behaviours and habits of your compatriots?
Post by: Valmy on November 04, 2016, 11:08:49 AM
Quote from: Barrister on November 04, 2016, 11:02:12 AM
Walking out of the theatre we all thought it was a pretty good movie.  Anticipation and nostalgia can be powerful forces (though nobody liked Jar Jar for even one minute).  I think it was only on repeated viewings that I realized it was a POS.

I honestly could not believe what I had just seen. I was like 'wait they thought it was a good idea to have a kid accidentally save the day? They had this cool villain and gave him no speaking lines or development at all before killing him off? Midichlorians?' Hell Jar Jar didn't even register that much.

It was just so different from what I expected. Like you it took me awhile to come to the conclusion of how bad it was.
Title: Re: Embarassing customs, behaviours and habits of your compatriots?
Post by: derspiess on November 04, 2016, 11:16:56 AM
Quote from: Valmy on November 04, 2016, 11:08:49 AM
Hell Jar Jar didn't even register that much.

I think I've posted this here before, but about 3 or so months before the movie came out I was in KMart and saw a Jar Jar poster.  One look and I knew the movie would be shitty.  I tried to warn my friends but nobody would listen.  My expectations were so low that the movie actually exceeded them slightly.
Title: Re: Embarassing customs, behaviours and habits of your compatriots?
Post by: CountDeMoney on November 04, 2016, 12:31:22 PM
Quote from: Siege on November 04, 2016, 11:00:38 AM
No embarrassing customs or habits to report.

:lol:
Title: Re: Embarassing customs, behaviours and habits of your compatriots?
Post by: Savonarola on November 04, 2016, 01:24:41 PM
I was in Morocco in February of 2011; a few months into the Arab Spring.  While CB were out at a cafe we saw a series of images of battles on Al Jazeera.  I looked on line to try to find out what was going on, but found nothing; the news was dominated by the ongoing Wisconsin protests and there wasn't room for much else.

It turns out the battles we were seeing was the beginning of the First Libyan Civil War.  I think that's the most embarrassing behavior of Americans: not caring about anyone other than ourselves.  (On the other hand, Al Qaeda and their successors are doomed to failure.  Not only can't they change us, they can't even get us to care about the Arab world.)
Title: Re: Embarassing customs, behaviours and habits of your compatriots?
Post by: Savonarola on November 04, 2016, 04:10:25 PM
Quote from: Martinus on November 03, 2016, 05:16:32 AM
For Poles: clapping when their plane hits the tarmac. This is (thankfully) much less common on scheduled flights, but on charter flights, especially tourist ones, it is almost ubiquitous - apparently Poles consider it a great achievement for a pilot to land the plane safely and applause.  :Embarrass:

The Colombians did that as well.  Also on flights going to the smaller cities they'd get their picture taken with the plane, pictures of themselves in their plane seats and pictures taken with them and the stewardesses.  (To be fair, even among the middle class, in the fire lands of Colombia traveling by plane was a rare luxury.)
Title: Re: Embarassing customs, behaviours and habits of your compatriots?
Post by: dps on November 04, 2016, 07:18:28 PM
Quote from: CountDeMoney on November 04, 2016, 12:31:22 PM
Quote from: Siege on November 04, 2016, 11:00:38 AM
No embarrassing customs or habits to report.

:lol:

Well, it takes some level of taste and sophistication to be embarrassed by something.

Plus it's not like he'd rat out the embarrassing habits of his Chinese employers anyway.
Title: Re: Embarassing customs, behaviours and habits of your compatriots?
Post by: crazy canuck on November 04, 2016, 09:02:08 PM
Quote from: Zanza on November 03, 2016, 02:29:36 PM
My countrymen occasionally commit genocides and start world wars. That's a bit awkward.

:lol:
Title: Re: Embarassing customs, behaviours and habits of your compatriots?
Post by: CountDeMoney on November 04, 2016, 09:04:02 PM
Quote from: dps on November 04, 2016, 07:18:28 PM
Quote from: CountDeMoney on November 04, 2016, 12:31:22 PM
Quote from: Siege on November 04, 2016, 11:00:38 AM
No embarrassing customs or habits to report.

:lol:

Well, it takes some level of taste and sophistication to be embarrassed by something.

Plus it's not like he'd rat out the embarrassing habits of his Chinese employers anyway.

I was thinking more along the lines of the smaller print in Deuteronomy.  :lol:
Title: Re: Embarassing customs, behaviours and habits of your compatriots?
Post by: Valmy on November 04, 2016, 11:56:15 PM
There is nothing weird or embarrassing about turning red cows into magic potions.
Title: Re: Embarassing customs, behaviours and habits of your compatriots?
Post by: Sheilbh on November 07, 2016, 07:34:38 PM
Inability to use suncream or handle their drink in a warm climate (sadly guilty).

Caring about Christmas adverts (occasionally guilty).

Red trousers (never).
Title: Re: Embarassing customs, behaviours and habits of your compatriots?
Post by: mongers on November 07, 2016, 07:38:04 PM
Quote from: Sheilbh on November 07, 2016, 07:34:38 PM
Inability to use suncream or handle their drink in a warm climate (sadly guilty).

Caring about Christmas adverts (occasionally guilty).

Red trousers (never).

Shelf, Welcome back, just in time for the Trump 'fall-out'. :cheers:
Title: Re: Embarassing customs, behaviours and habits of your compatriots?
Post by: Sheilbh on November 07, 2016, 07:43:27 PM
I am looking forward to his Downfall inspired concession.