Gwyneth Paltrow, English are more Intelligent than Americans

*Sighs*

Tell me, is it really so wrong to dislike aspects of the US?

She has the right.

Lets break the bit down, shall we?

"I like living here [the UK] because I don't fit into the bad side of American psychology."

If that's what she believes, then I don't see what is so bad with that. I know some people who were born and bred in "BFE, hickville, usa," and now live in paris, or the like. It's where they feel they fit in. There's nothing wrong with that.

"The British are much more intelligent and civilised than Americans."

~Well, she does have a point there. The British did define civilized behavior, for the most part. (i.e. monarchy, aristocracy, nobles, kings,ettc..) They had a global empire, which was choc full of "civilized behavior." Intelligence, meh, not sure.

" I love the English lifestyle because it's not as capitalistic as America, people don't talk about work or money, we talk about other things at dinner."

~Again, she is correct. America is capitalistic. Does that necessarily make it bad, or such....? No, it doesn't.

I understand where you're coming from FS, I do.

Peace, ~L

Well sure Lucas, she has the right to say whatever she wants. I'm just tired of hearing them bad mouth the very country that helped to make them who they are now. It's just bad PR for the US we have enough people who dislike the very thing we represent and here's another from our 'belly' so to speak who is out there talking crap about us. It's just wrong no matter how you put it.

You can't blame the silly American hussy for stating the obvious.

She obviously sees a side of Britain that I don't when I'm visiting there: Rampant crime, yobs everywhere, excessive cost of living and expensive food.
Suppose those things don't worry her.

By the way, Sir Peter, why are you an anonymous user? Gone down in the World?

I will grant her part of her statement. They are more civilized. But then civilized does not mean intelligent. And that is why we are not English, but Americans. Most of us could not stand living such a dull and boring life as the nobility of England do. We would go stir crazy!

But I guess Gwyneth likes that - being dull and boring.

But I guess Gwyneth likes that - being dull and boring.

You're kidding right? I'd imagine that Gwennie has a very unboring life--after all she is married to hottie Coldplay frontman Chris Martin.

You can't blame the silly American hussy for stating the obvious.

Yea, I guess the hussy didn't have anything intelligent to say so bad mouthing brings more press! And blogging discussion!!

Rampant crime, yobs everywhere, excessive cost of living and expensive food.

See, it's everywhere, not just here!

I will grant her part of her statement. They are more civilized. But then civilized does not mean intelligent.

So we're just chicken feed now? Uh, wait, maybe like those Geico commercials, cavemen and cavewomen?!

I'd imagine that Gwennie has a very unboring life--after all she is married to hottie Coldplay frontman Chris Martin.

I guess she does at that! And being busy with the little Spoon too!

Well sure Lucas, she has the right to say whatever she wants. I'm just tired of hearing them bad mouth the very country that helped to make them who they are now. It's just bad PR for the US we have enough people who dislike the very thing we represent and here's another from our 'belly' so to speak who is out there talking crap about us. It's just wrong no matter how you put it.

So am I, but as long as there are humans, it's gonna happen.

Heh, the US never really has had 'good' PR. We're the most powerful nation in the world, and it's like PB & J, normal.

Eh, i don't care for it personally. I mean, I advocate speaking out against your gov't/country when you want to, as in...criticizing it (cause that can lead to chanegs, etc...).

Then again, if we want to get into technicalities, what is wrong and right depends on who you ask.

That seems to be something (no offense) that some individuals don't seem to be able to grasp.

Peace, ~L

lol, this is really rich. I'm sitting here imagining what people would have said if Mel Gibson had said that Americans were smarter than some other country. What would SilentPoet say if someone here blogged that Americans were smarter than Iraqi people, I wonder? I have a feeling in other circumstances degrading people based upon their nationality wouldn't be so hard to declare "wrong", but when it is America people tend to take a pass on their ideals.

I've seen several interviews with Paltrow, and she always struck me as being about as intelligent as a sack of wet hair. Given that, her estimation of what intelligent means doesn't strike me as very authoritative. Maybe she should run for office. I'd love to see her in a debate with a less intelligent American.

At least we dumb Americans have better teeth.

So we're just chicken feed now? Uh, wait, maybe like those Geico commercials, cavemen and cavewomen?!

Yep! And we are the ones that bring the wheel and fire to the world. So they can keep their civilized tookus warm and peddling!

Remember, Lucas, only SOME Brits are more intelligent than SOME Americans. How come whenever one of us on JU speaks in generalities you're the first one on the scene, wagging your finger and informing us that we are wrong to generalize, yet when some spoiled, bulimic, hollywood airhead asserts than an entire nation of people are 'more intelligent and civilized' than another, you agree she 'has a point.' Hypocrite.

*sighs*

Whip, whip, whip....don't you dare take my words out of context. I said the following:

FS Said: "The British are much more intelligent and civilised than Americans." My REPLY: ~Well, she does have a point there. The British did define civilized behavior, for the most part. (i.e. monarchy, aristocracy, nobles, kings,ettc..) They had a global empire, which was choc full of "civilized behavior." Intelligence, meh, not sure.

(cont...)

I said she had a point with the civilize part, because the british established themselves as the cultural, and civilized empire. They held honor, and civilized behavior to the extreme.

They were, at one time, 'the' kings of civilization, so to speak.

Think about this, "A civilization can refer to a city-dwelling human society, human culture in general, etiquette and sophistication, or the imperialistic act of 'civilizing lesser peoples'."

Culture wise, they were once the best.

Etiquette/sophistication, the were once the best.

Imperialism, yep, they were once the best. Their empire (See: British Empire), is the largest empire known to date, ever.

That is what I was talking about, etc...


So, Whip...read first, be an ass later.

I have a feeling in other circumstances degrading people based upon their nationality wouldn't be so hard to declare "wrong", but when it is America people tend to take a pass on their ideals.

So true Baker!

Given that, her estimation of what intelligent means doesn't strike me as very authoritative.

Obviously not, from what she's saying. The unfortunate thing is what she said is being played all over the world!

only SOME Brits are more intelligent than SOME Americans.

I agree with this one.

wagging your finger and informing us that we are wrong to generalize, yet when some spoiled, bulimic, hollywood airhead asserts than an entire nation of people are 'more intelligent and civilized' than another, you agree she 'has a point.'

! Point here too!

At least we dumb Americans have better teeth.

Most of us do anyway!

Yep! And we are the ones that bring the wheel and fire to the world. So they can keep their civilized tookus warm and peddling!

! Intelligent cavemen we are!

FS Said: "The British are much more intelligent and civilised than Americans."

I quoted what Gwyneth said. I didn't say it.

So, Whip...read first, be an ass later.

No need for that Lucas. Each of us is entitled to our opinion, calling it like we see it. Just as you did. OK?

I quoted what Gwyneth said. I didn't say it.

Granted, I was pointing out what was what...in terms of that was your side of the exchange.

No need for that Lucas. Each of us is entitled to our opinion, calling it like we see it. Just as you did. OK?

But it that was my opinion as well, and I called it like I saw it.

*coughs*

However, no matter how much I dislike her....it came out, and it was wrong, my apologies. I will respect your wishes and be nice.

Peace, ~Lucas

The Defamer has reported that she's retracted her statement and replaced it with something slightly less offensive, so all's well that ends well I guess.

WWW Link

Meh. She didn't think before speaking. Soo many groundless generalizations in that little statement that you could almost imagine it was written by someone who would put an at the end their sentences.

Here's another bit about her and what she apparently said.



WWW Link

Tell me, is it really so wrong to dislike aspects of the US? She has the right.

She has the right and we have the right to criticize.

Her comment really says more about the company she keeps than the country she lives in.  When I get together with friends, we don't sit around talking about money or whatever, we talk about all kinds of interesting things. I'd put the "intelligence" of the conversations my friends and I have up against hers any day. Pick a random transcript from either one and compare would be absolutely ideal.

What I suspect is her real issue is that she has no concept of geography.  How many places in the United States has she been to?  Talk about a clear case where "generalizing" looks ridiculous -- generalizing the people of the United States who live on a continent-spanning nation state with her experiences in an urbanized area of an island nation state.

 

If she had to live like the average Joe in England, perhaps she'd notice some of their HUGE social problems, like hopelessly high unemployment, a health care system in such dissarray that people DIE on waiting lists for surgery we could schedule next week if necessary, and a stifling nanny of a government that's stuck up their ass from the moment they're born until they're dust in the ground.

I still think it's amusing watching Silent Poet being oblivious to the fact that GP just generalized the entire United States and sees nothing wrong with that but had another actor said the opposite - that Americans are smarter than the British he would be the first to stand up and condemn it.

If I criticize Islam for very specific acts he's the first to make excusies and defend Islam. But if someone else criticizes the entire multi-cultural population of the United States he's the first to defend the person doing the criticism no matter how specious the rationale is.

One wonders if he is evne conscious of his reflexive anti-Americanism.

I still think it's amusing watching Silent Poet being oblivious to the fact that GP just generalized the entire United States and sees nothing wrong with that

Brad, I never said I liked it, or in fact, that i didnt like it. Truth be told, i don't. Perhaps, you could've asked me if i did, maybe?

It's simple. She is an idiot, and she is an American, so she thinks all Americans are as stupid a herself. She looks around her and sees equally moronic people and that (to her) proves her point.

She goes to England where she isn't surrounded by Hollywood elitist fools and thinks, "wow, these people are so much more intelligent".

So basically she is just saying that even the most intelligent people in Hollywood aren't as smart as the dumbest stump in England. So, for once, I'll agree with her.

"Brad, I never said I liked it, or in fact, that i didnt like it. Truth be told, i don't. Perhaps, you could've asked me if i did, maybe?"

No, you went a tad further and agreed with her. Post #1. Now she is even saying that isn't true. Will you agree with her retraction now?

SP - you applaud her right to smear Americans in a startling generalization but if other people generalize other cultures or nations you chide them.

No, you went a tad further and agreed with her. Post #1. Now she is even saying that isn't true. Will you agree with her retraction now?

If she truly means it, that she would "never...," etc... then yes, but...i don't think anyone will ever know.

So, to answer your question...no.

SP - you applaud her right to smear Americans in a startling generalization but if other people generalize other cultures or nations you chide them.

I was wrong in supporting the generalization, no matter what my intentions, the support of the right to criticize.

~L