I use instant messaging a fair amount to talk to people all over the United States and in Europe, mostly Austria, Germany and England. Why is it that smiley faces (as in =) and :X) are so much more prevalent in Europe (at least Northern Europe) than in America? It feels like one pops up every other line, sometimes twice in the same sentence. I should mention that I am young (18) and so are the people I talk to.
posted on May 28, 2008 - 14 answers

I came across a reference to the "Pillars of Hercules" and a notion that the old European pagan gods had never intended their followers to live beyond the Pillars of Hercules (so roughly, nowhere west of Spain, south of North Africa, and I am unclear on other boundaries). Does anyone know a source which expands on this notion? [more inside]
posted on Dec 5, 2007 - 4 answers

Partly inspired by this question, what are some examples of Europe's subtler disdains of American culture in the 60s and 70s? To put it differently and more focused on my research purposes , where can I find commentary on France's/Italy's anti-American response to the information gathered in Servan-Schrieber's The American Challenge ? [more inside]
posted on May 14, 2007 - 2 answers

What was the attitude toward Americans and America in East Germany and the former USSR? What are some interesting propaganda campaigns, or stereotypes? [more inside]
posted on May 13, 2007 - 21 answers

What are some books, essays, or maybe even films that assess Europe's view of America in the 20th century? [more inside]
posted on May 7, 2007 - 6 answers

Of Canada, Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Ireland, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, and the U.K.:

Who hates Americans least?
Who is the least conservative?
Whose language is easiest to learn?
posted on Nov 3, 2004 - 41 answers