The Botanical Gardens of the Mushroom Kingdom

[mountain_tiger]

I used to think that gay marriage was allowed everywhere. I remember I was very surprised when this was not the case. It also caused a bit of disappointment: I thought the world was more modern and open-minded than that.

Honestly I find it very sad to hear you saying that this is a good start... it's more like an extremely late start.

The fact that gay marriage isn't that big a deal for me - I don't see much point in marriage in general anyway.

BTW, completely off-topic, but I've heard that something like 80% of people in the Netherlands can speak English. Is that true? (I don't know any other languages, save for a tiny bit of French and Spanish from school days, but that doesn't really count)

 

[Smoom77]

Isn't English required in like all of Europe?

 

[DMG]

Short answer: no.

 

[Smoom77]

I dont care.

 

[Pikaville]

A huge number of Dutch, German, Swedish and Danish people speak english.

I believe they learn it from a pretty early age.

Like Irish over here, except no body remembers any of it.

 

[Meru.]

The fact that gay marriage isn't that big a deal for me - I don't see much point in marriage in general anyway.

BTW, completely off-topic, but I've heard that something like 80% of people in the Netherlands can speak English. Is that true? (I don't know any other languages, save for a tiny bit of French and Spanish from school days, but that doesn't really count)

Yes, that is somewhat true. It's likely even more than 80% percent. You will not always hear Queen English though and most of time, the people have a Dutch accent. Their English isn't always proficient either. However, they can nearly always make themselves comprehensible and although their use of grammar isn't always top-notch, they try their best to respect the language, which mostly results in them speaking slightly flawed, but very decent English. This also goes for even the most stupid people who have trouble spelling their own names.

Dutch people speak better English than the people in most other countries, and that's largely due to the fact that many programs here are English or American with Dutch subtitles. English music is also very popular. Basically there's a bit of an English language layer in a Dutch country.

This is especially favorable for children as they learn languages very easily. When they enter high school they already possess the knowledge of basic English. Teachers realise this and thus, English classes are on a higher level than both most other countries (this is an assumption, but I'm quite sure about it) and other language classes such as German and French where students start from the very beginning.

Having language problems in The Netherlands is very uncommon for tourists. Especially since when they hear you are speaking English, they actually want to start a conversation because they want to practise their own English. The same may also go for other languages they may have learned.

Isn't English required in like all of Europe?

Long answer: No, unfortunately this isn't true, but I can't blame you for thinking that. Frankly I used to think the same for some time until I travelled to other European countries, and I'm sorry to say that those who thought that English can save them anywhere without any trouble of a language barrier are wrong.

I have been to Germany, France, Spain, Italy and Turkey - this one isn't European (yet) but Im still adding it since it seems to be a attractive to tourists. Now the former wasn't that bad but in the others countries, the spoken English was atrocious. That is, if they can speak a word. More often than not, the people's English in these countries was the same level as the average American's Swahili. Mostly either they cannot or simply refuse to speak English. If you're lucky they can make themselves understandable with a bit of broken English. At last you will likely find someone whose English is decent but that may take a long time.

(Fortuunately this generally doesn't go for smashers; Kaos' and Staco's English are good, and Leon's is decent, just to name a few, more "popular" European smashers.)

 

[Veggi]

I just needed some veggi.... I tried to stay healthy

Funny guy.

 

[-LzR-]

Finnish are very good English speakers.

 

[Meru.]

A huge number of Dutch, German, Swedish and Danish people speak english.

I believe they learn it from a pretty early age.

Like Irish over here, except no body remembers any of it.

I'd replace German with Finnish though like LzR said (Norway maybe too? Dunno about them). Germans aren't bad at English though, they're just average. They do not speak as well as aformentioned people but they're certainly better than France and the like.

 

[-LzR-]

I don't really know anyone who cannot speak fluent English here.
Maybe it's just that English is soo easy compared to our language.

 

[Airgemini]

I have never experienced such angry drivers as I did today. **** got a little heated when I had to get l i v e at these dumb drivers.

Other than that, today was a good good day.

 

[ToferTheHuman]

Were you dancing in your car again?

 

[Pikaville]

Dancing in your car?!

Is this when you put your foot up over the wheel?

I can barely smoke while driving.

I hate being even a little distracted.

 

[Airgemini]

Hahaha, no I wasn't dancing this time.
I can have both my legs over my head and drive better than some of these fools in this state.


I'm guilty of horrible driving myself though. I've ended up on the wrong lane twice and hit a pole actually like three days ago.

 

[mountain_tiger]

Hahaha, no I wasn't dancing this time.
I can have both my legs over my head and drive better than some of these fools in this state.


I'm guilty of horrible driving myself though. I've ended up on the wrong lane twice and hit a pole actually like three days ago.

I still haven't passed my test. When I did my driving test, I mainly failed due to being in the wrong lane at two or three different points. Entirely my own fault - I was way too anxious at the time. I don't even really feel comfortable driving tbh, but since I've had... a lot... of lessons now, I figured I may as well see it through to the end.

That said, there are some absolutely terrible drivers out there - they even make me look good! For instance, a FB friend posted this status:

"So an Arab just shouted and swore at me from his car two lanes away after I shook my head at him for overtaking me on the inside, in a buslane."

 

[SupaSairentoZ7℠]

Too bad Japanese people aren't good English speakers.

 

[Elyssa Xey Hexen]

Well, how many people are ever great with their secondary language? You pretty much have to be speaking it your whole life or for a good number of years in an environment with other native speakers.

 

[_Keno_]

Oh it's not a random pairing for games? I thought you didn't know who you played.

And is the community really competitive? Do they have a tier list and stuff?

Yes and yes.

Mongols are God tier.

Are you guys talking about the new free-to-play online version or one of the older AoE games?

Its the actual games run through a server called "voobly." usually very little lag (1/4 second for me).

/aisightnamesearch

Why would you get a copy of AoEII if you already play Starcraft?

I bought SC2, then quit it after a month and went back to AoEII.

I believe Spanish and Japenese are top tier depending on the map
Their ships are unrivaled.

The Japenese have some really stupid tactics, and the Spanish would be the best if it didn't require an absurd amount of gold intake (120k+) to maintain an army. People don't play a lot of water maps sadly.

From memory, the tier list is like...

God: Mongols

Top: Turks, Persians, Spanish, Koreans

Mid: Japanese, Britons, Celts, Saracens, Mayans, Byzantines, Chinese

Low: Franks, Huns, Teutons

Bottom: Goths, Aztecs, Vikings.

It all really depends on the type of map and team arrangements though.

 

[Smoom77]

Teach me how to play!!!! PLEASE!!!

 

[Smoom77]

YESSSSSS!

 

[Queen B. Kyon]

I've ended up on the wrong lane twice and hit a pole actually like three days ago.

Good God XD

 

[FoxFireMage]

I win

 

[Smoom77]

More pictures/=/better

Better picture=better

I win.

 

[mountain_tiger]

YESSSSSS!

The middle picture on the top row - what the heck is that in his mouth?

 

[Smoom77]

Does it matter?!?

 

[mountain_tiger]

Does it matter?!?

Yes, because it's ruining a picture of a fairly attractive man.

 

[Smoom77]

Well, I have no idea.

 

[mountain_tiger]

BTW, how long until the thread gets another title change? This one is easily the worst yet.

 

[Rickerdy-doo-da-day]

Lulz, glad to see I'm not the only who noticed...step it up Meno

Also mt I've only just noticed your location and holy cow you are like, super south lol

 

[ToferTheHuman]

It's a ticket, Tiger.

Smoom, your pictures were better. Also I realized all those pictures were avi's of mine at some point.

I agree, you should change the title.

 

[mountain_tiger]

Also mt I've only just noticed your location and holy cow you are like, super south lol

Yep. Gotta love Bournemouth - not only does it have a great beach, it's also chock full of gay bars/pubs, and it has the only mens-only hotel on the south coast.

So the next time any of you non-English Peach mains decide to visit, you know exactly where to go.

It's a ticket, Tiger.

Oh. OK then.

 

[-LzR-]

I owned with peach today. Time to make dat money in next weekends tourney

 

[Rickerdy-doo-da-day]

Yep. Gotta love Bournemouth - not only does it have a great beach, it's also chock full of gay bars/pubs, and it has the only mens-only hotel on the south coast.

So the next time any of you non-English Peach mains decide to visit, you know exactly where to go.

I bet your beach's are nice and warm - you don't get any of that up North...and I'm going to presume that includes the gay stuff as well lol

 

[MechaWave]

I've decided to not go to the tourney. Sorry Peaches. </3

 

[Pluvia]

I bet your beach's are nice and warm - you don't get any of that up North...and I'm going to presume that includes the gay stuff as well lol

Bet I'm further north than you.

 

[Nicole]

man even the social is kinda dead...

 

[Two-Ell]

In many ways yeah lol

 

[MechaWave]

Yes, it suxx. :[

 

[Silly Kyle]

OMG!!!!

Results from tonight's tournament:
1) KiraFlax
2) Silly Kyle
3) DarkShifter
4) Darklink
5) Jard
5) MoonoNite
7) GV7
7) Yoshiken

2nd out of 26

 

[MechaWave]

Touch me.