suddenly, i'm respectable;

[rocknload]

Forgot to mention! I've got my old cell phone number back, so everyone who still has that number, text me! I'll add ya back. My contact list, it's empty, almost.

Edit: God, English Only pisses me off so much.

"Double standards suck ass. As Americans, we'd get so much shit if we went to another country and didn't bother like some of them do here. But vice versa? OH NO, WE HAVE TO CATER TO THEM!!!"

Jesus Christ, fuck you. Why do people say this every time the subject comes up? I can count on one hand--two fingers, in fact--the people I've met who were actually rude to me because I didn't speak their language very well while in their country.

Comments

[unicorn]

I love that icon. I forget who made it, but I love it so much.

[rocknload.livejournal.com]

mccoy did! I don't know who that is, though, I stole it from tyrannicalalien.

[unicorn]

A lot of people I know have it; I had to look twice to see that you weren't alba_aulbath. IT IS STILL A GOOD ICON.

Edit: But... wait, don't many non-US countries teach their kids to speak English compulsorily from a young age? Unlike our treatment of foreign languages? I'm so confused.

[rocknload.livejournal.com]

I COVETED IT FOR SOME TIME. SO I FINALLY GOT IT.

Many countries do! However, unless these people speak to English speakers on a regular basis, it doesn't really make a difference. A lot of people speak English around the world, but unless you're visiting an English speaking country, you can't count on finding them everywhere you go.

[unicorn]

I fail to see why it matters so much...

[rocknload.livejournal.com]

What I meant was, people who bitch endlessly about how people must speak English in this country often say that they would be expected to speak the language of any country they visit, when that's absolutely not the case.

This doesn't have much to do with why I hate English Only politics so much, it's just an argument I'm sick of seeing.

[unicorn]

I meant why the English thing matters so much to them, but yeah.

[rocknload.livejournal.com]

Well, sometimes they're offended that they can't understand what people are saying, or they're offended at the inconveniences that sometimes arise when you're forced to interact with someone who doesn't speak English all that well.

Or they're a little racist.

[unicorn]

I think the last is possibly it. Though I agree that it'd be useful for people to learn some English, the fact that there are large communities of those who don't kind of indicates that it's not absolutely necessary.

[shati.livejournal.com]

Omg, seriously. Can't people try to use arguments that bear at least a passing resemblance to reality?

[rocknload.livejournal.com]

Of course not! If you use logic, it gives people a chance to have a rational discussion with you.

[pretzelcoatl.livejournal.com]

I found an appropriate macro for the English Only people!

[theeternalmind.livejournal.com]

Uhhhh... That's completely the opposite. I wonder if this person has ever actually been to a foreign country? I mean, I'm sure it's not that way all over the world, but Japan and many European countries are usually quite cool with trying to communicate with English-speakers in English, or at least don't give them flack about it (to their faces).