Tolerance

[SteveM]

... in response to Re: Tolerance, posted by Robert D on Sep 17, 2002

You can add:

Many doctors are not particularly interested in helping you unless it is a billable event.

Many common remedies that are over-the-counter there are prescription only here.

Health insurance and billing .... no more need be said.

My wife's and my worst fights have usually involved some illness/ailment or other need to interact with the health care system.

[MarkInTx]

... in response to Some More Shortcomings, posted by SteveM on Sep 20, 2002

Yeah, that "prescription only" thing bugs me too.

I remember when Advil was coming on the market and a Doctor friend of mine was really upset about it. He couldn't believe they would put such a powerful pain killer ont he market.

"Why," I asked. "Is it terribly addictive?"

"No. But Americans don't need to be able to buy something like that!"

I think about that every time my back goes out and I have to pop 800 MGs of the stuff. Used to be I'd need a doctor visit and perscription for that...

One thing, though, is that my fiance distrusts doctors tremendously. So, that maybe has something to do with your wife's hatred of our medical system...

[KenC]

... in response to Re: Tolerance, posted by Robert D on Sep 17, 2002

Robert,
Much of Lena's disappointment comes from the lack of socialization in Americans.  Most Americans live in suburban areas with little or no interaction.  Everyone comes home, hits the garage door opener and are never to be seen again until they leave in the morning for work.  Even in crowed stores there is little communication between people.  Everyone "respects" the other person's "space" so much that we are afraid of invading it with conversation.  A lot of the "problems" come from our affluent society and our ability to use our own cars instead of walking or public transportation.  We are alone quite a lot.  We value our privacy much more than our neighbors.
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Another area is our unhealthy eating habits.  Much has been said here about that, so I will not elaborate.
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The overall ignorance of Americans IS rather appalling.  Especially when it comes to world affairs.  I have experienced some very laughable (and ignorant) questions regarding Russia and Eastern Europe.
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The overall arrogance of Americans in general.
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The general lack of personal pride in our appearance in public.
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I am sure there are more, but that's enough to chew on for now.
KenC

[Ryan]

... in response to Tolerance, posted by KenC on Sep 17, 2002

I understand your point and think that your advice is good advice.  But I would like to understand how you deal with this without being considered a pushover.  Another words if your puzzy whipped and just take the criticism not really being a man or do you say something and if so what do you say to show that you also have points.  As for me I would probably put her on a plane and take her to see the Vietnam memorial or something like this to show her more of our history.  I don’t know I would enjoy knowing how you handle the situation.  Do you just shut up and take it and if so isn’t this not being a man something that you always talk about on this board as being important.  I guess you pick your battles right?

[KenC]

... in response to Re: Tolerance, posted by Ryan on Sep 17, 2002

Ryan,
I am not the type to "just shut up and take it" and neither is my wife.  There have been many a heated debate in this area.  I DO accept the criticism where it is justified though.  Her point of view has opened my eyes to more than a few things here.  I listen to her point of view, just as she does listen to mine.  As I said in the original post, her point of view has mellowed with the time she has spent here.
KenC

[MarkInTx]

... in response to Re: Re: Tolerance, posted by KenC on Sep 17, 2002

Hmmm... wonder if she would say that your point of view has mellowed?

Sounds like a marriage that is working to me :-)

[Del]

... in response to Tolerance, posted by KenC on Sep 17, 2002

after having lived in 9 different countries (domiciled there for more than 6 months!)including your country, I can understand her.
To read some of the 'counter attacks' to criticism (often justified in my opinion)posted here, I can only shake my head.
Be it known by all: "The sun DOES NOT rise and set on the U S of A!"   :-)
Truth is, it's CANADA that is the centre of the universe!!!

[MarkInTx]

... in response to Too True, and....., posted by Del on Sep 17, 2002

And even then you have to come to the USA to make money ;-)

[Del]

... in response to Only if you're a Hockey player , posted by MarkInTx on Sep 18, 2002

.

[NW Jim]

... in response to Touché        n/t  :-))))), posted by Del on Sep 18, 2002

n/t

[MarkInTx]

... in response to Touché        n/t  :-))))), posted by Del on Sep 18, 2002

Touche :-)

[Del]

... in response to Ahhh... so you're a french-canadian, eh?..., posted by MarkInTx on Sep 18, 2002

a little spanish, I can handle a little french,(Thank God for Cornflakes!!) because that's where many learn their french.  :-)))

[MarkInTx]

... in response to nope, but just as you can handle...., posted by Del on Sep 18, 2002

Ahhh...

I was in Toronto and Montreal for business a few years ago.

That was pretty funny. Toronto is just like being in the states except the money looks like monopoly money...

Montreal was like being in a completely different country! Still nto sure which one... not quite France... but they had the arrogance down!

It was just after the big vote for separation... so emotions were still high, and almost NO ONE would speak English!

[Robert D]

... in response to Too True, and....., posted by Del on Sep 17, 2002

but I thought Canada was just a northern province of the US.    (smile)  Just joking.   I love to get a rise out of our good neighbors to the north.  Once at a bar in Mexico I said that an almost got clobbered by a woman.    I  never saw anyone get so upset.   It was too funny when she figured out I was joking, after a 10 minute tirade from the lady.

too funny
Robert D.