Re: otto von bismarck's english
Posted by: Anonymous User (---.hsd1.tx.comcast.net)
Date: July 31, 2005 01:53AM
Wow, this is better than fencing, or boxing, or wrestling. First it was an attack on the author of an amazing novel, then an attack on Germans, then on Americans, then just some general random discussion...amazing.
Being an avid Fforde ffan, I must say that I'm sure the good man would never portray a foreigner in a mean way; I believe that he was trying to add a bit of colorful colloquialism to give Bismark more character, and didn't mean anything by it!
Being half German/Swiss, I must say that the stereotypes aren't to be taken seriously. However, it is true that Germans don't take ice in their drinks. I know...shameful.
Being a native Texan and proud American, I must say that I find the stereotype against my homeland quite unfair. You used a stereotype instead of facts and numbers, which I find odd.
Since I live in Texas, I see people portray Texans in an archaic way. They talk like this: "I'm a hankerin to go kill me some vermin so the cowhands can eat good vittles tonight, ya'll! Whoopee!" And I think that it's hilarious! I don't have an accent (no more than Yorkshiremen or New Yorkers), but I understand that people have fun with colorful Western characters.
Yep. That's my opinion. Please don't take me seriously, because that could get dangerous.