Britain or America? Which country is more influenced by one other?

[poiuytrewq0987]

Basically which country do you think has had more of a cultural impact on one other? The reason why I'm asking this question is because when I was in Britain last year summer I noticed that a lot of cultural influences had carried over from America to Britain and thereby creating an atmosphere where the British feel less European and more British (i.e. American with European flavor).

[Joe McCarthy]

The answer is obvious - Britain has influenced us more. In some ways though it can be said that we're more British than the British as we retain the death penalty, gun rights, and haven't had our civil liberties dismantled in the way Britain has. Even in terms of pop-culture we got The Beatles, which I must say isn't my favorite British import.

[Adalwolf]

Vice-versa. The UK is easily the most Americanized out of all the European nations. Some of the older generation remain skeptical, but this generation fully embraces the MTV, capitalist way of life. Compare this to a country like Hungary, which remains more traditionalist and wary of external cultural influences.

[Simonsson]

Good lord! Please delete my vote - it's the second time I fail with a poll here (I merely saw Britain or America, and thus thought the question was regarding my personal preference)

[Germanicus]

The answer is obvious - Britain has influenced us more. In some ways though it can be said that we're more British than the British as we retain the death penalty, gun rights, and haven't had our civil liberties dismantled in the way Britain has. Even in terms of pop-culture we got The Beatles, which I must say isn't my favorite British import.

You have imported Football (soccer) and Canada has a Rugby Union national team.
America bought from us the designs of the Harrier jump jet.
Britain invented it's own missile system called blue streak, and we also developed our own nuclear deterant.
Our gun rights have been taken away from us that is true enough, but we still have gun deaths but not on the huge scale of America.
Yet again in the Oscar awards Britains acting elite once more proved who are at the top of the tree? :)

[Joe McCarthy]

Originally Posted by Adalwolf
Vice-versa. The UK is easily the most Americanized out of all the European nations. Some of the older generation remain skeptical, but this generation fully embraces the MTV, capitalist way of life

C'mon dude. Exporting capitalism to Britain?!

Those who dog on MTV seem unaware that it was trashy European, including British films, that helped undermine our censorship regime in the 50's and 60's. Europe was degenerate before we were, is still more degenerate, and the 50's generation in the US was hostile to French imports like Bardot.


Compare this to a country like Hungary, which remains more traditionalist and wary of external cultural influences.

If 'traditionalist' means comparatively backward and undeveloped, then certainly.

[Joe McCarthy]

You have imported Football (soccer) and Canada has a Rugby Union national team.
America bought from us the designs of the Harrier jump jet.
Britain invented it's own missile system called blue streak, and we also developed our own nuclear deterant.
Our gun rights have been taken away from us that is true enough, but we still have gun deaths but not on the huge scale of America.
Yet again in the Oscar awards Britains acting elite once more proved who are at the top of the tree? :)

You guys also gave us golf, of which I'm particularly grateful. :)

No country, including Greece or Rome, has left the mark Britain has.

[Eldritch]

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If 'traditionalist' means comparatively backward and undeveloped, then certainly.

That statement is either stupid or dishonest.

[Joe McCarthy]

That statement is either stupid or dishonest.

What exactly is 'traditionalist' about Hungary? It's a nation of atheists, like most of the former Communist bloc. America has far higher church attendance.

[Curtis24]

Basically which country do you think has had more of a cultural impact on one other? The reason why I'm asking this question is because when I was in Britain last year summer I noticed that a lot of cultural influences had carried over from America to Britain and thereby creating an atmosphere where the British feel less European and more British (i.e. American with European flavor).

I wouldn't say we influenced each other, as we both developed similar cultures due to existing in similar environments. Britain and America both have many resources, control of waterways, and defense from enemies. As a result, we've both developed internally competitive, individualistic societies.

Though obviously, this trend is much stronger in America than in Britain.

[Eldritch]

What exactly is 'traditionalist' about Hungary?

I dunno, you tell me. Since you know what traditionalism really is.


America has far higher church attendance.

Is America also more undeveloped than Hungary? That would seem to make sense, since Nigeria's church attendance rate, for example, is twice that of America.

[Joe McCarthy]

I wouldn't say we influenced each other, as we both developed similar cultures due to existing in similar environments. Britain and America both have many resources, control of waterways, and defense from enemies. As a result, we've both developed internally competitive, individualistic societies.

Though obviously, this trend is much stronger in America than in Britain.

So you don't think the American legal, political, linguistic, cultural systems, etc., were influenced by Britain?

[Adalwolf]

What exactly is 'traditionalist' about Hungary? It's a nation of atheists, like most of the former Communist bloc. America has far higher church attendance.

Are you kidding me? The Hungarians are known to be staunch dedicated Catholics. And the country is not underdeveloped, take a trip to Budapest and figure that out yourself.

http://www.budapesthotels.com/news/pictures/Beautiful-Budapest.jpg

[Adalwolf]

Religious demographics of Hungary(census-2001):

-51.9% Roman Catholic

-15.9% Calvinist

-3% Lutheran

-2.6% Greek Catholic

-1% other Christian

-11.1% unspecified

-14.5% Atheist

http://www.sacred-destinations.com/reference/religious-affiliation-by-country.htm

[Joe McCarthy]

Are you kidding me? The Hungarians are known to be staunch dedicated Catholics.

http://www.budapesthotels.com/news/pictures/Beautiful-Budapest.jpg

http://www.adherents.com/largecom/com_atheist.html


Top 50 Countries
With Highest Proportion of Atheists / Agnostics
(Zuckerman, 2005)



Hungary

% Atheist/
Agnostic/
Nonbeliever in God

32 - 46%


USA

% Atheist/
Agnostic/
Nonbeliever in God

3 - 9%


And the country is not underdeveloped, take a trip to Budapest and figure that out yourself.


Need we even start comparing human development stats between Britain and Hungary? :rolleyes:

[Adalwolf]

I never claimed that Hungary was as developed as Britain, but you make it sound like it is a third world country. Typical of a person that is completely ignorant to the region. And at less than 50% atheist/agnostic, that is hardly befitting of ''a nation of atheists'' like you titled them.

[Oreka Bailoak]

I don't like this question because there's just too much over generalizing going on.

Take economics for example. Adam Smith, a Scotsman, basically created the entire foundation for capitalism. Benjamin Franklin studied his book and used it to create the American economy after Adam Smiths ideas.

Our economy eventually created Coca-Cola, McDonalds, Disney, Hollywood, TV shows etc. that all got imported into Britain but were created in America using an imported Scotsman's free market idea. Without Adam Smith none of those things would have been created.

If you look at the basic ideas of America they all arose out of European thought; capitalism, democracy, work ethic, moral values etc.
But if you look at the origin of scientific creations alone; mass production, airplane, computer etc. they more than often came from America than Europe but were created out of an American environment rooted in fundamental European ideologies (many being British).

So it depends upon how much importance you give to the fundamental ideas that allowed American creations- to answer your question.

[Jack B]

What exactly is 'traditionalist' about Hungary? It's a nation of atheists, like most of the former Communist bloc. America has far higher church attendance.

This may hurt their traditional score for some, but some might also say it helps the case against their "backwardness" ;)

[Joe McCarthy]

This may hurt their traditional score for some, but some might also say it helps the case against their "backwardness" ;)

Possibly, though America scores better than Hungary in most human development variables.

[CelticTemplar]

I agree with Adalwolf, just as Anglo-Saxon culture greatly influence the Thirteen Colonies, Anglo-Zionist-American culture greatly influences England now.

[The Lawspeaker]

Possibly, though America scores better than Hungary in most human development variables.
After 40 years of communism and for now.

[SwordoftheVistula]

Those who dog on MTV seem unaware that it was trashy European, including British films

Also the latest symbol of MTV degeneracy, 'skins', is a copy of a British show. There's some talk amongst Christian groups of getting the show labeled 'child pornography' and removed from the air and its producers prosecuted, but this is unlikely since the show does not actually feature under-18s having sex on film afaik.

A lot of 'American' shows are copies of British shows, for example American Idol and 'The Office'.


take a trip to Budapest and figure that out yourself.

I've done that, and the place outside the small historical central city is pretty run down, full of scammy people, corrupt cops, graffiti, etc. The main reason it's even rebounded at all is west/central Europeans coming as tourists because it is cheap. It's not a bad country, and demographics may mean it wins out over western countries in the long run, but it's not a paradise by any means.


Anglo-Zionist-American culture

What the hell is that? A combination Subway/Weatherspoon's on a Kibbutz?

[poiuytrewq0987]

I've done that, and the place outside the small historical central city is pretty run down, full of scammy people, corrupt cops, graffiti, etc.

I suppose that is typical of anyplace poor without much money.

[The Lawspeaker]

Well.. Hungary cheap ? Budapest has a price level like Western Europe (http://www.budapest-tourist-guide.com/costs-prices-budapest.html).
When did you visit Budapest ? In 1989 ? The early 90s ?

[Cato]

What the hell is that? A combination Subway/Weatherspoon's on a Kibbutz?

I think it's a code phrase for "I don't know what the hell I'm talking about."

[Korbis]

We still have the genius and the flame, all what yanks can do is imitate us -and say later it was their original idea. ;)

[Treffie]

I think you're all missing the elephant in the room - the English language.

[Joe McCarthy]

I think you're all missing the elephant in the room - the English language.

No, clearly Reeboks and VH-1 have had more influence on Britain than English has had on the US. :cool:

[Adalwolf]

Reebok was founded in Bolton, England [1895]. :cool:

[Joe McCarthy]

Reebok was founded in Bolton, England [1895]. :cool:

Fair enough. In which case Nike has obviously had more influence on the UK than English has had on the US, and these dirty American capitalists have been corrupting the Brits with athletic footwear ever since.

[Germanicus]

No, clearly Reeboks and VH-1 have had more influence on Britain than English has had on the US. :cool:

Reebok International Limited, a subsidiary of the German sportswear company Adidas, is a producer of athletic footwear, apparel, and accessories. The name comes from the Afrikaans spelling of rhebok, a type of African antelope or gazelle. In 1890 in Holcombe Brook, a small village 6 miles north east of Bolton, England, Joseph William Foster was making a living producing regular running shoes when he came up with the idea to create a novelty spiked running shoe. After his ideas progressed he joined with his sons, and founded a shoe company named J.W. Foster and Sons in 1895.

In 1960, two of the founder's grandsons Joe and Jeff Foster renamed the company Reebok in England, having found the name in a dictionary won in a race by Joe Foster as a boy; the dictionary was South African edition hence the spelling. The company lived up to the J.W. Foster legacy, manufacturing first-class footwear for customers throughout the UK. In 1979, Paul Fireman, a US sporting goods distributor, saw a pair of Reeboks at an international trade show and negotiated to sell them in North America.

The rest is history as they say?

[SwordoftheVistula]

When I was a kid, Reeboks had a British flag type logo,maybe this is no longer the case.


When did you visit Budapest ? In 1989 ? The early 90s ?

2003 and 2004. It was still fairly rough, and the other parts of Hungary even more so.

[poiuytrewq0987]

When I was a kid, Reeboks had a British flag type logo,maybe this is no longer the case..

I always recognized Reebok as a British brand. Not sure why others saw it American. There's no Reebok where I live anyhow except a tiny retail store in a town with a pop of 40,000 50 miles north where I live, LOL.

[The Lawspeaker]

2003 and 2004. It was still fairly rough, and the other parts of Hungary even more so.
It has changed a bit over the times for what I hear. Budapest seems to be as expensive as Amsterdam.

[Cato]

I'd say that any influence that the mother-country had over its former colonies ended a couple of centuries ago.

[SwordoftheVistula]

It has changed a bit over the times for what I hear. Budapest seems to be as expensive as Amsterdam.

I suppose that's not surprising. There was a noticeable change from 2003 to 2004, more expensive restaurants, more [central/western] European tourists, etc. Danzig is another eastern city which had this, even more so.

[Cedric]

The basic foundation of the United States was obviously influenced by the British. Language, law, people etc.

Since after the 2nd world war American pop culture has influenced Britain.

It's a no brainer which one had the more negative impact lol.


edit: I accidentally voted for Britain when I meant to vote America.

[Bobby Martnen]

America by Britain