The two generalizations are not equal in their probable and observable truth content. The one is utterly ridiculous while the other is by and large obviously true.


>Would I get a similar remark ("thou should not generalize") if I wrote that Americans are civilized people?
>
>>Asking someone if he is illiterate is an insult IMHO. Writing that all citizens of a country is childish in their behaviour based on a small group of peoples who attended a TV show is insulting.
>>
>>I'm not a citizen of the US and I'm not in love with them, but while they have stupid TV shows (like many other countries), I don't agree that you can generalize from there.
>>
>>I'm not sure what your intentions were by writing this message, but you won't make new friends, that's for sure.
>>
>>>Your anecdote makes clear to me that you were STUPID enough to perceive the question of the teacher as an insult. Apparently your arrogance, pride and self-esteem at that time were obscuring your thinking. And you apparently haven't learnt much since then, because you are still STUPID enough to preceive my remark as an insult. Did you also mention her a twit at that time? Who is/was insulting who then?
>>>
>>>Let it be the fact that some or many (you tell me!) Americans are not like the audience I wrote about. It is also a fact that it will be hard or impossible to bring together a similar audience in the Netherlands. When we watch such an audience the first impression is: "Those people are soo childish". I wanted to confront the Americans here with that observation and have their reactions.