Page 2 of 3

Re: The countries: good or bad things

Posted: Fri Feb 17, 2017 9:09 pm
by emk
desitrader wrote:Since it was you who brought it up in the first place, and especially now that you have had your say, we must not discuss politics any more.

...because heaven fobid, what if someone expresses the opposite view and hurts some delicate sensibilities?

If you're curious why the moderators discourage the discussion of politics, you might be interested in re-reading the relevant section of the forum rules:

Religion and politics: Some families have a rule that says, "No political or religious arguments during holiday dinner." This forum has a similar rule year-round, for much the same reasons. We have people here from all over the world, with incredibly diverse political and religious views, and we all get along much better if we avoid these subjects.

If the politics or religion is genuinely related to language learning, then you have a small amount of leeway—as long as people remain respectful and refrain from fighting. But if a moderator asks you to stop, please stop. You can fight about politics and religion on almost any other site on the Internet. This site is for language learning.

Basically, political discussions on online forums are like kudzu in the southern US: Once it starts, it rapidly drives out everything else. For example, we've had discussions of language politics in the Baltic states turn into bitter 20-page threads. We've had forum members whose countries are at war with each other. Because of situations like these, the original HTLAL forum banned politics the better part of a decade ago. This rule probably reduces the time we need to spend on moderation by 80%.

I'm going to leave this thread unlocked for now, just in case people can find a non-political way to discuss "The countries: good or bad things". If this proves impossible, we can always lock it later.

Re: The countries: good or bad things

Posted: Fri Feb 17, 2017 9:47 pm
by desitrader
emk wrote:
desitrader wrote:Since it was you who brought it up in the first place, and especially now that you have had your say, we must not discuss politics any more.

...because heaven fobid, what if someone expresses the opposite view and hurts some delicate sensibilities?

If you're curious why the moderators discourage the discussion of politics, you might be interested in re-reading the relevant section of the forum rules:


My comment wasn't directed at moderators or forum policy. I understand why politics should be restricted to political forums only.

Re: The countries: good or bad things

Posted: Fri Feb 17, 2017 9:59 pm
by Bluepaint
vogeltje wrote:
I mean, I didn't have much culture shock, except british chocolate is low quality haha.


Is it Cadbury's that you've had? If it is, well, low quality is being polite :lol: Yeah Brits aren't exactly known for their chocolate skills. Even Thorntons (who were a huge brand at one point) are mediocre at best... We just import the good stuff from the rest of Europe and charge a fortune for it :roll:

(Disclaimer: I still eat Cadbury's sometimes)

Re: The countries: good or bad things

Posted: Fri Feb 17, 2017 10:19 pm
by DaveBee
Rhian wrote:
vogeltje wrote:
I mean, I didn't have much culture shock, except british chocolate is low quality haha.


Is it Cadbury's that you've had? If it is, well, low quality is being polite :lol: Yeah Brits aren't exactly known for their chocolate skills. Even Thorntons (who were a huge brand at one point) are mediocre at best... We just import the good stuff from the rest of Europe and charge a fortune for it :roll:

(Disclaimer: I still eat Cadbury's sometimes)
Tut!!

Terry's Chocolate Orange was invented with british chocolating skill!

Curley-Whirleys were invented with british chocolating whizz!

After Eights? British. Kit-kats? British!

On the continent they just manufacture commodity chocolate bars. In Britain they create confectionary!

Re: The countries: good or bad things

Posted: Fri Feb 17, 2017 10:30 pm
by Ingaræð
Rhian wrote:
vogeltje wrote:
I mean, I didn't have much culture shock, except british chocolate is low quality haha.


Is it Cadbury's that you've had? If it is, well, low quality is being polite :lol: Yeah Brits aren't exactly known for their chocolate skills. Even Thorntons (who were a huge brand at one point) are mediocre at best... We just import the good stuff from the rest of Europe and charge a fortune for it :roll:

(Disclaimer: I still eat Cadbury's sometimes)


About 5 years ago, I'd have said Cadbury's was reasonable chocolate (for Britain), but Kraft(?) have since ruined it with their cheap ingredients. I think the public outcry has shown that Brits do actually have some standards when it comes to chocolate, it's just that they've been hidden at the back of the cupboard, gathering an inch-thick layer of dust.

I think that Brits are very enthusiastic about adopting foreign foods, but the result is more like a 'Prada' bag you see on a market stall for a tenner. :D

Re: The countries: good or bad things

Posted: Fri Feb 17, 2017 10:52 pm
by Bluepaint
Ingaræð wrote:
Rhian wrote:
vogeltje wrote:
I mean, I didn't have much culture shock, except british chocolate is low quality haha.


Is it Cadbury's that you've had? If it is, well, low quality is being polite :lol: Yeah Brits aren't exactly known for their chocolate skills. Even Thorntons (who were a huge brand at one point) are mediocre at best... We just import the good stuff from the rest of Europe and charge a fortune for it :roll:

(Disclaimer: I still eat Cadbury's sometimes)


About 5 years ago, I'd have said Cadbury's was reasonable chocolate (for Britain), but Kraft(?) have since ruined it with their cheap ingredients. I think the public outcry has shown that Brits do actually have some standards when it comes to chocolate, it's just that they've been hidden at the back of the cupboard, gathering an inch-thick layer of dust.

I think that Brits are very enthusiastic about adopting foreign foods, but the result is more like a 'Prada' bag you see on a market stall for a tenner. :D


You only have to look at our Indian takeaways to see how true that last statement is. We have some real gems but so often it's tikka masala and chips hehehe

Re: The countries: good or bad things

Posted: Fri Feb 17, 2017 10:56 pm
by Bluepaint
DaveBee you have a point but I raise you Galaxy Caramel! I am also in a Twirl phase, good chocolate would make a Twirl too rich but the mediocrity of Kraft's version of Cadbury's chocolate is just right for it.

Vogeltje what you said about being able to be yourself in London I found interesting. I actually felt that way in Belgium!! Antwerpen was really quirky and laidback.

Re: The countries: good or bad things

Posted: Sat Feb 18, 2017 12:06 am
by Xenops
United States of America:

Good:
large middle class
freebies (companies just give things away)
humane societies
government aid for college
people get to vote
climates for all types

Bad:
everyone's fat
the FDA regulations are lax
expensive health insurance
confusing tax system
political unrest among the people
individualism comes before community

Japan
Good:
community-based
large middle class
reasonable health care system

Bad:
society expectations regulate everyone
food is expensive (especially fruit)
have to import most products

Re: The countries: good or bad things

Posted: Sat Feb 18, 2017 12:27 am
by Iversen
Like emk (and probably also other administrators/moderators) I have read through the messages above with some scepticism, and it seems to me that the thread hardly can't stay as friendly and tongue-in-the-cheek as Vogeltje presumably hoped, so even though we have let it continue it will be 'on probation' and quite possibly it will be closed down unless it miraculously steers clear of political themes (and religious ones too, though we have been spared to see those in the thread till now).

Re: The countries: good or bad things

Posted: Sat Feb 18, 2017 1:41 am
by Jar-Ptitsa
desitrader wrote:
emk wrote:
desitrader wrote:Since it was you who brought it up in the first place, and especially now that you have had your say, we must not discuss politics any more.

...because heaven fobid, what if someone expresses the opposite view and hurts some delicate sensibilities?

If you're curious why the moderators discourage the discussion of politics, you might be interested in re-reading the relevant section of the forum rules:


My comment wasn't directed at moderators or forum policy. I understand why politics should be restricted to political forums only.


If it was directed at me and you want to criticise me or be nasty then please shut up and leave my thread. thank you.




Rhian wrote:
vogeltje wrote:
I mean, I didn't have much culture shock, except british chocolate is low quality haha.


Is it Cadbury's that you've had? If it is, well, low quality is being polite :lol: Yeah Brits aren't exactly known for their chocolate skills. Even Thorntons (who were a huge brand at one point) are mediocre at best... We just import the good stuff from the rest of Europe and charge a fortune for it :roll:

(Disclaimer: I still eat Cadbury's sometimes)


I mean that in England you can't buy handmade chocolates from the chocolate maker. In Belgium, it's a profession and the chocolate specialists have shops in every town where they make the chocolates and you buy the individual chocolates which are fresh. this is normal in Belgium, but not in England, as far as i have seen. English chocolates are not fresh or handmade, but they are from the factories, and in packets, not individual with fresh ingredients.

Also, belgian chocolates are very decorative and you can buy special ones for example at Easter, Christmas, etc which are handmade and for example with fresh cream.

I've eaten some Thornton chocolates but they were really bad.

Then the chocolate bars, I know cadbury dairy milk, and galaxy etc but they don't taste as good as galler. Galler is a factory chocolate which is in packest in the supermarket:

Image
Image

I really like some factory chocolates though :) like DaveBee said: Terry chocolate orange, After Eight, kit kat, Mars, maltesas, etc they are yummy. But I don't consider these as chocolates, or at least I mean not to compare with the specialist chocolate shops. Confectionary then :)