Brazzil

The attitude that you get from the people who are in almost any service position in Brazil is that they are doing you a favor by being there. This is a huge problem because the locals accept it as the way it is. Why? Is it because of the carry over of the slave mentality that the master is paying me the same amount whether I work hard or not, so the only way to improve my situation is by working less? Why doesn't anyone care when they are being maltreated? Are they afraid of the violent response that is typical whenever you question why something is wrong? Why do Brazilians invoke the notion of "honor" whenever they don't have a rational arguement?
Any response addressing these issues would be appreciated.
Thanks

You say that Brazilians do not like foreigners criticizing their country but fee free to do it themselve. What is so strange about that? Almost everyone feels the same way about their country, children and spouses.

How would you feel if someone wrote that Scotland is a land of penny-pinching, sour-faced scrooges, crouching in the rain? Or that Glasgow is one of the dirtiest, stinking towns on earth?

Yes, you have deve,oped the Paulista attitude that the world begins and ends there. I have a suggestion, stay they in the crime, graffiti, and dirt. Leave the real Brazil to people that can appreciate it. For sure, never come back to João Pessoa, we don;t want your sour Scots snoot here.

You obviously don't really know anything about the city and it is doubtful you were ever really here. It is more probable that you read a few tourist brochures and then made up the rest.

Scotland is a land of penny-pinching, sour-faced scrooges, crouching in the rain. Glasgow is one of the dirtiest, stinking towns on earth.
So what.
Address the issues

I think Brazilian are among the most courteous people. They are also generous with visitors, so maybe we've been to different countries. Brazilians are very welcoming and I never felt unappreciated there. I've been to Brazil several times, I love it and find it hard to identify with what is in this article. When I'm back home, yes, then it's hard to get your driver's license renewed, dealing with public service in this country is hard, then I feel like they're doing me a favor, etc.

This is shocking and has gone too far!!!!

This man has basically tried to point out the potential-failings of this part of Brazil and should not be slated in this way.

Everyone is entited to his or her opinions and Brazil is not the only country in the world which is criticized as I could name many.

I do not think John Fitzpatrick has intentionally tried to tarnish Brazil in any way shape or form, as he was only trying to given an outside view of what he has seen and experienced and that is his job as a writer.

Yes the North East region does need a vast amount of investment in the infastructure naming... good roads, ports, lighting, water, gas, and different kinds of businesses...but if John Fitzpatrick only gave a distorted picture of this area and said it was wonderful and nothing was wrong....how would investment be forthcoming?

Could you try to look at this situation from an objective point of view so you can get a clearer picture and see where he is coming from without being so sour and aggressive.

Bye the way, I am not Scottish....I don't know who this man is or have ever met or seen him. But I was taught that constructive criticism can be extremely benefical and hope this will Prompt the government to invest in the North East of Brazil as soon as possible.

There is no need for this kind of hostility on this website and will not help Brazil in the slightest as it shows that Brazilians are incapable of a proper debate.

It's easy to always find fault with those who have so little. How about we talk about the biggest income spread between rich and poor in the world. The sense of entitlement that those who have the money and the arrogance in their actions is what troubles me after two extended stays in Brazil. You can see it becoming progressively worse in the upper class kids that are the product of generations of old money. That is what sickens me about Brasil.

After just two 'extended' stays in brasil you can come to the conclusion its getting worse through the generations? Ulness you are a vampire and lived for a couple of hundred years already this statement is pure speculation of your interaction with a few rich kiddies... But I do agree with the sentiment, and maybe its getting worse, if thats possiable.

the arrogance, bad manners and lack of any redeeming features at all is ime a charateristic of a significant portion of rich brasilians. Thank goodness I have also met, many nice considerate ones too...

I dont remember Fitzpatric being so defensive before, has somone hit a nerve?

Its good to know that the Portuguese treated Africans the indigenous poopulation well after all, thats a weight of my mind Simon! Now I can spit on the lazy begging f**kwits when I see them in good concious now.

thats from the old joke, do you know the two happy Sottish gay boys?

no who?

Simon Fitzpatric and Patrick Fitzsimon

Ya dina like the service, then wipe your own arse you haggis eatin pile o guts. Ya aint worthy of the real Brasil ya little boy.Seriously, this idiot serves doesn't even have the balls to do his own dissing of Brasil, he has his buddies do it for him, how F***ing lame.

If you don't tell the situation as it is and call a spade a spade, how can anyone know what is needed....or how can changes take place?

Some of you guy's are just being hostile and negative and is the wrong way of tackling this sensitive topic!!!!!

I don't want to diss anyone because I am more than capable of thinking for myself. We all have our own opinions and are entitled to make up our own minds.

Anyway, I hope that shortly there will be a turnaround so the right kind of investments will flood into the North-East region of your country... coupled with entrepreneurial skills which are taught to the locals.

Hopefully this should create decent jobs- opportunites for the inhabitants of this area?

Its all in the hands of Brazilian lawmakers.

Being a frequent reader, I often read statements from Lula himself, his Ministers or high rankings politicians very very rude and harsh against Bush directly or the Americans in general.

Have you ever read something similar from
Bush, or high ranking U.S. politicians, even in a U.S. newspapers.

Sorry but not to my knowledge.

And do you think that things are going better in the U.S.A. or in Brazil ? Economically or politically speaking !

By the way I am European residing in Europe.

Talking about what is wrong here or there or wherever, I have a stupid question, sliced in 2 parts :
- how many POOR Brazilians are dreaming of having a new life either in the USA or Europe ?
- how many POOR Americans or Europeans are dreaming of having a new life in Brazil ?

And then WHY ?

In my city, Geneva/Switzerland, with 500'000 population there are thousands and thousands of Brazilians. I know a few of them ! Things are simple : they dream of being able to end their live in......Switzerland ! And the same is true for many Brazilians residing all over Europe.

Why do you think it is so ?

Answering these simple questions will answer many of your critics.

The same can be said for the U.S.A :
why are brazilians even paying US$ 10000.- to enter illegally in the country that is apparently the devil in this planet ?????

Another important point where confusion abound is between the critics of Brazilians for other countries and the critics for other countries against Brazil :
Simply stated, I have never ever heard from anyone or myself said something negative against Brazilian society. In fact there are only compliments.
But there is a difference between the Brazilian society and the Brazilian government and politicians.
You have been brainwashed by them that all your problems are because of rich nations.
Our view is that THEY, your governments and politicians, have dilapidated, raped and abused YOU ! They have only one goal is to enrich more themselves at the expenses of their own society.
It happens that your Senators and Congressmen have a higher salary and perks than those in France, the USA, UK, Spain, just to name a few.
And this doesnt include yet all the money they receive through their corruptions to the roots.

But reading the Brazilian critics, there is no difference between foreign governments of rich nations and their population.

And that is what surprise me the most in reading either your government published cricism or critics from readers of this site.

Cheers !

My family and I love visiting Brazil and have traveled to many other places in the world. I never compare Brazil to the U.S.A but more to certain countries in Africa, and Asia etc. You have so much to offer and be proud of but in a different way. You don't need to try so hard to be like the U.S

Has poorely failed the country; but when I'm there in the good hotels and restaurants many they looked at me top/down with an attitude of superiority.I love the Brazil but I do not know where these upper class idiots (not everybody for sure)get their arrogant nationalistic attitude from.
Please some Brazilian explain that to me.

Fitzy has gotten it completely right. brazilians are lazy vindictive petty minded arrogant bastards and shouldn't be helped until they learn some humility and accept the fact that they NEED our help. at the moment countries - IMF - give brazil money and ask for nothing in return except that they try not to embezzle it all. that usually fails as well. the idiots are also chopping down their most priceless resource so that they can plant the soya plant to feed the goddamn chinese. the land will bee useless after 20 years. brazilians think they have it tough now, but without foreign help it would be a black hole. it's time they showed some gratitude.

hey numb nuts, nobody gives money without strings attached, so let's cut the "we only want to help you" crap. Why is it always assumed that all countries want to be "westernized", and if they don't their "black holes" . You want gratitude a**wipe, then stick your head up your black hole.

Maybe my first reply was a little too much 'sunshine' but i am still very confused as to how people have such a negative experience in JP.

I went there understanding that this is not North America or Europe and that infrastructure would be poor and the amount of poor people, crime would be greater.

The point I am arguing, and i don't think 5 weeks is an insignificant amount of time, is that with these negative aspects, I still found it very enjoyable due to the many positive aspects inlcuding climate, physical beauty and the people I met.

It is neither better or worse than North America/Europe but DIFFERENT and different in a way i find more peaceful and enjoyable.

I suspect the other Canadian either has different values than I do as to good quality of life or is just negative in general.

By the way, i really resent the fact you think you know what type of person I am or what my views are because of a couple of paragraphs written about my good experience in JP.

I also don't blame Brazils problems on the IMF, etc, but on their own lack of stable government. I sure as hell don't see Brazilians as helpless or broken.

Whether someone has spent five weeks or one year does not make the experiences any more or less valid, but only number of experiences.

By the way, I am moving to JP in the summer so I will let you know how I feel about it after the required 'year of stay' to validate my opinion.

There is a lot of potential in Brazil but Brazilians have a very distorted view of reality and of themselves.

Just look at what you have done to your own people but still you like to judge others.

Brazilians like to judge everyone else but does not like to be judged!!!!!!!

This colonial thinking has f...ked up your brains.

:It's easy to always find fault with those who have so little. How about we talk about the biggest income spread between rich and poor in the world. The sense of entitlement that those who have the money and the arrogance in their actions is what troubles me after two extended stays in Brazil. You can see it becoming progressively worse in the upper class kids that are the product of generations of old money. That is what sickens me about Brasil".

its irritating to see so many brazilians say they don't want to be westernised WHO USE A COMPUTER TO TELL US. brazil wants to be westernised but can't do it properly. They're like the fat kid that wants to be good at running but doesn't want to eating 6 hamburgers a day either. Brazil would like nothing more than to be a copy of France. And it could be except that it's populated with lazy thieving complaining wankers who think that they know best. Nobody in brazil is brave enough to say that BRAZIL is the problem, not just the current regime. Brazil must completely change from the ground up. A new way of boverning and new economics. However, that would only spark a revolution of lazy people so it looks like the black hole will be with us for another 100 years.

Anyone who doesn't dance to the fast clock of a westerner is lazy and a "black hole". Your arrogant and irritationg beyond belief. Revealing your place of origin would only reflect badly on it, so best that you don't.

money and arrogance goes together and not only in Brazil. it happens in the here too, just talk to people in the upper east side in new york. upper classes are so alike, nomatter where. as for you who is so sick of brasil, maybe you never really understood the spirit of that country. or saw the beauty in its fine essence. maybe you should just stay right home.

i'm not wealthy and it is brazilians who are arrogant. unfortunately, it's impossible for a pig to understand what it really is or that it's disgusting to live in its own filth - it knows no better. brazil is a corrupt country, but i wouldn't mind that if the people were genuinely good. they're not. they're selfish and ruthless. brazilians are also obsessed about how they look - they spend more on cosmetics and plastic surgery than most countries spend on true health care. and of course they are obsessed about sex - it's all about looking good in brazil. maybe that's why nothing gets done and everybody seems so stupid. as for that idiot who used the phrase "spirit of the country" and "beauty in its fine essence" he is exactly the type of person i am talking about. people like him are a disease in brazil. they think that they are spiritual poets who are making the world a better place. in fact, they image-obsessed losers who will never be anything and ensure brazil will always be nothing.

brazil has a lot of image obsessed people it is true, more than thier fair share, but there are also a lot of genuinely good people in brazil who dont give a s**t about what they look like. There are many places that are just as obsessed about thier looks california, italy, ect. It is amazing how much people generalize about one of the largest most diverse countries in the world. I agree however, that there are a lot of people who gloss over this and feel brazil is some kind of paradise when in reality it is a human country with good and bad.

This guy calling all Brazilian's idiots and swine, either ( I'll assume it's a he and not a she ) got dumped by his Brazilan girlfriend ( poor woman ), and/or is in more need of a blow job than any white man in history. A little bit of edumacation probably wouldn't hurt either. It's ok son most of the world is obsessed with looks and being selfish, Brazilians have no export market for that.

Well i think that being naturally beautifull people (a lot of the times surgically enhanced, if they can aford it - why not) not to mention sensual, brazilian people are the envy of the slobs from europe and america. the person who wrotte brazilians are sef obsessed people must be an ugly bastard that should be put down, an eye sore blob, pasty faced, ugly gringo. He must have been scorned by a brazilian beuty and is just feeling resentfull. I bet he does not pull anyone, not even a pasty faced, blotchy eye sore. Keep on wanking you wanker!!!! You shag nobody hahahaha

i'll say a few points. yes, there are bastards in every country. it's genetic. there are also vain image-obsessed people in every country. But some countries emphasis how you look more than others. In the US, Californians and New Yorkers are probably the worst but the entire country is pretty bad when it comes to what they view as the most important thing in a person. And no one but Americans actually likes Americans. I can't respect the half of america that voted for Bush - it shows that they dont care about the environment, unfair taxes and the fact that the US war machine is out of control. But when I see brazilians I see a poor man's version of californians. You're image obsessed beyond belief and so superficial. Just like americans you can't see beyond the fact that a girl has big tits or a guy has muscles. it's the clearest sign of stupidity.

BTW No one from the west wants to be a brazilian you idiot - we just think that it's one of the biggest disasters for the world that a country with such precious resources is entrusted to a bunch of monkeys who act like like moody teenagers all the time. your country has yet to grow up. enjoy that fat ass macaco - brazil needs more hopeless kids to sell nuts on the beach.

Nerd geek shag no one hahahahaha

So much negative attitude from people that really don't know anything about the country. Maybe they were once in Rio or São Paulo for a week or two and think that makes them an "expert". They know about as much as that Scottish idiot JF. They should get to know some real Brazilian people from somewhere other than the big cities.

If I formed my opinion of the USA from NYC or Miami, I'd tell you that it's the a*****e of the earth. You all know that is not true, that there are beautiful places in a large, diverse, country and people that are genuinely kind and generous. So lighten up and learn something.

it takes so much effort to argue with an idiot. of course there are some nice people in brazil but my message was about many s**t people and things there are in your f**ked up society. why should i say brazil is a nice place if only 5 % of the people are nice. I'm saying that your AVERAGE brazilian is a s**t. Your AVERAGE american is dumb, your AVERAGE Frenchman is pretentious. we don't say scotland is a country of drug addicts simply because a small minority are druggies. but it is fair to say that brazil is full of ugly arrogant pretentious people because the MAJORITY are like that - just look at who you elect, look at how your rulers treat you, look at your favellas and the human s**t that comes from them - 70% of your population would have no problem killing a tourist for a few dollars. your country is the closest thing to a hell on earth.

Your such an expert on the world, where you from? Ashamed to say? It wouldn't matter, because I'm sure most of your countrymen are NOT like you, and would be generally good people. You call everyone else a s**t,dumb or pretentios, but you come across as all that, and worse. Have a nice conversation with yourself in the mirror.

Scotland is beautiful country, mountains lakes, cliffs, some of the best and cheapest herion in Europe,....highest death rate of heart disease in the UK, in a nut shell s**t loads of social problems, London is full of Scots looking for a better life, and some have even made it to Brasil.

Brasil is also a a beautiful country with s**t loads of social problems, sometimes with out the veil of nationalism easier to see by an outsider.

To the guy who said how many poor people in Europe want to go and live in Brasil, 100,000's the problem is they are f**king poor so have stay where they are!!!! numpty

OK, let' s stop all the bs and call it like it is. In the U.S. thousands of people are STILL homeless as a result of Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans. All of the dead have yet to be accounted for.
These are people of all races and religious faiths. No one seems to reconize this fact as you rip in the country of Brazil calling the people who live there
all kinds of negative names. Would this be the response of the people of Brazil if one of their cities had a similar disaster? I don't think so. Therefore if one wants to clean up the backyard of a neighbor, make sure yours is in order first

True, only the victims of Katrina are victims of an unpredictable natural disaster whereas the Brazilian government is a predictable natural disaster.

GIVE PEACE A CHANCE.

This bloke is a Hitler! Bet he comes from a s**t hole

I really don't want to perpetuate this any more, but jesus, you must be a total puss bag, if you think brazil is the biggest hell hole on earth. There are a lot of other countries much worse off that brazil. That is not to say brazil doesn't have a lot wrong with it. And doesn't have c**ky arrogant people (although mostly in rio) Was going to brazil your first experience with a third world country? Did you get robbed there or something? It's amazing how many europeans go to a third world countries for the first time and are just completely shocked at the conditions. It's the third world of course it's f**ked up. My advice to you would be to stay out of 3rd world countries (or go to an all inclusive resort so you can say you went to a third world country when you really just went to a warmer extension of your home country) if you think everybody is out to rob you. By the way I lived in Brazil for many years and look about as anglo saxon as you can get and was never robbed, nor did I feel that 70% fo the population wanted to kill me. But of course I didn't blindly trust everybody either. Of course there are a lot of thieves in brazil, it's poor. There must be something in your past for you to be so upset that you spend your free time on a website about brazil, while you hate them so much. Why do you waste your time? What happened on your visit there?

That was about the dumbest thing I've ever seen brought up on this site, which is dedicated to BRAZIL. Why would anyone bring up Hurricane KAtrina and what happended to New Orleans? It makes no sense, and his/her stupidity is really quite mind boggling. Probably just a dumb American or Westerner. Seriously, Hurricane KAtrina?! Do you know what web site you're on? Do you see that people are talking about Brazil's politics and sociology? I feel sick with disbelief. I mean, I'm really f**kin' annoyed. THe dumbass brings up Hurricane Katrina on www.brazzil.com. Ughh.

Seriously, Hurricane KAtrina?! You loosely compared it to a similar possible event happening in Brazil and the potential reaction of outsiders?! Are you an American crack addict? It makes no sense, and proves that you are so uninformed that you should never post on this site ever again. You use a big news story that everyone knows about and try to construct some kind of argument with it. Your argument is bunk. Please consider never posting on this site again because as you can see you've really upset me with your stupidity. Unbelievable.

The only inteligent comment I read here was the one from Switzerland. It really makes sense. If you're not part of the 15% of Brazil's population which is rich you'll jump ship at the first opportunity. You'll trade all that tropical; scenery, friendly people and rich culture for a life anywhere you can have a good job, security and balanced living conditions. Of course you'll miss Brazil and the good times with your friends and family but at least you'll be able to afford travelling and visiting. Brazil is a great place to spend a vacation !
OK, now you Brazilians who never got a chance to get out of the country can start bashing my comment. Please use the regular foul language. Make me feel at home !

any brazilian with two brain cells ( a considerable minority of the population) must accept the truth of the last poster's comments. brazilians are dying to get out of their futureless favella and join the first world. i thank the lord that passport control exists otherwise europe would be overrun with lazy mulatos complaining about the food and the weather yet still taking our money.

ALL THIS IS SOUL-DESTROYING, IT IS NOT A JOKE AT ALL!!!

fter a while you just have to take a break from this site and realize that most of the opinions are expressed by people on the extremes...

Yea, really pay it no nevermind, most of the posters here either aren't serious, are mentally impaired, or just bored. .You gotta wade thru a lot of s**t to find a nugget of gold.

all my posts are seriously intended. i really do think that brazilians are f**ked up in the head. i really do believe that they are mentally defective - not by much but I'd say there average IQ is around 85 or so. so when i guy like me goes to brazil i get very frustrated looking at and talking to the local people. they just seem so simple. i like to think of brazil as a zoo - sometimes it's fun to visit and throw the monkeys a banana! but after a while it gets boring and it's fun poking a stick at the animals. unfortunately, the wild animals of brazil sometimes turn crazy!

ok so your serious, but your spewing s**t not gold.

cheers for your one line comment macaco. now get back into the kitchen and clean the dishes for the customers!

I'm sorry to say this, but after living and working here (Sao Paulo) for ten years there is something a little peculiar about Brazilian attitudes. I'm sure that, quite naturally, they want a first world life-style, with all the first world toys, but it's almost doomed to total failiar; they don't have what it takes to carry it off. Take cars, for example: they want them, but then can't be bothered to drive or maintain them properly. They complain about bad pavements, and then happily dig up the street to solve their perfectly hopeless plumbing problems and then pave over the street again with totally shoddy materials.Some think owning a dog gives them status, and then they: 1) drive with it on their lap so they can't see the road, 2) let it s**t all over the street, 3) bark day and night, 4) go insane because it lives in a 49sq.m. flat.
Just to let you know, I have lived in a few countries (Italy, France, and Spain) and visited many more European and third world. So I write with some perspective on Brazilians.Also, I'm English by the way not Scottish.

Are you kidding! White house spokesman, Condi Rice, all the cabinet secretaries speak for Bush! Mostly American Imperialist views. What Brainwashing American School were you manufactured in?

If you accept bad service, that is generally what you will receive. In my experience, however, the attitude of those behind the tills in Brazil can be surprisingly manipulated to one's advantage by being insistent and showing, quite clearly, who is in control. If you're the customer, that's the kind of attitude you should have no matter where you are in the world. I don't wish to get into a pissing contest with Mr.Fitzpatrick over who is more Brazilian or not - I make no claims - but maybe he should stop for a moment and observe, next time an opportunity arises, the way in which a shrewd Brazilian operates. In no situation is the 'jeitinho brasileiro' shown better than when money is changing hands. I have lost count of the times I have brushed off pathetic attempts at extorting money, or attempts to levy silly, mysterious charges or sent a waiter off to do his job PROPERLY and though the chap might give you a sullen look, you can bet he'll scurry off and do as he's told. Generally, because I didn't let it be otherwise, my experiences in Brazil have, for the greater part, been good. Worldwide, however, I have encountered nowhere with service worse, more miserable and surly than in the author's home country of Scotland, a depressing, dark and desolate hole, where a smile is as elusive as Scottish generosity.

What's amazing to me is how easily foreigners can come onto a website devoted to things Brasilian, and trash Brasilians. If Brazilians went onto Scotland ( for example, could be any other country )centric sites, identified themselves as Brazilians and trashed Scotland, they'ed be rightly told to shove it. Well non Brazilians with your unhelpful gratuitously trashing comments, go shove it! While were on the subject of Scotland, don't the Simpson's have Scot's pegged, I mean isn't that Willie just so typical of the Scottish.

The Simpsons have everyone pegged. That TV show is further proof that the best comedy in the world comes from the US of A.

finally, someone who is living in brazil and thus can be considered neutral posts a messagee. he was rather generous in his comments but what he basically was saying is that there is a culture of laziness in brazil. everybody is trying to do less than their neighbour but still get enough money to drink booze. their whole attitude is live life as if there won't be any government tomorrow which ensures that nothing gets done properly. it's a really selfish attitude. i've hung out with brazilians and their favourite pasttime was talking - talking about nothing, talking about s**tty events in their life at the supermarket or with their landlady which i would have forgotten about instantly. instead they make a 20 minute discussion out of it
THEY ARE THE MOST BORING PEOPLE I HAVE EVER MET. this is a fact which people overlook but it's true.

I've met Scots and although i wouldn't want to live in scotland, at least the people have a great sense of humour and the roads are smooth. in brazil the roads are washed away when it rains!

I woudn't say it is laziness so much as craziness.....but overall I actually like brazil and most of the people despite the fact that many are illogical, and do talk about nothing for hours on end. Especially cariocas.

The best comedy does come frm the US, if only because it houses some of the strangest people ( just watch America's Funniest Home Videos sometimes ).

Ever heard of the saying birds of a feather flock together?. If the only kind of person your hanging out with is the lazy,selfish,blabermouth,boring, low life type, then well pal maybe that's YOU! It wouldn't take much effort to find a better group of people, but then you wouldn't have anything to whine about.
So Brazil isn't Germany, so if you want the Autobahn, then you took a wrong turn somewhere's back.

Americans are the most burned out unhappy people on earth trying to convince the rest of the world that our big fat flabby asses is happy and we take more anti-depressants and illegal drugs than probably every other nation combined yet Brazilians we want YOU to believe that you should be like us! Yeah be like us Brazil -fat, ugly, stressed and half bald with worry.

Brazil may not be a picnic but neither is America. Just because the rest of the world is not running around like a chicken with its head cut off does not mean that they are lazy. Whatever you do Brazil - don't copy the American way of life or you will end up fat, ugly and miserable like 99% of Americans in the "richest" country on earth!

I've been here for 8 years, have family and a business here, and I can identify 100% with the author of this article. I pay ridiculously high taxes, participate in the community, and have a child that was born here, but am a foreigner. Why is it when I criticize things here that MANY get upset? Do I not have the right to complain in an attempt at making positive changes simply because I wasn't born here? The typical brazilian response to a criticism of brazil is just as you've seen here. People start slinging mud at the U.S. or Europe as if that has anything to do with the topic at hand. Brazilians are the MOST selfish people I have ever encountered in my life! In most places where "freedom" exists, your freedom ends where my "freedom" begins, in other words, people MUST RESPECT the freedom of others....but here in Brazil RESPECT is ONLY a word in the dictionary!!

TO THE LAST COMMENT:

YOU ARE INDEED COMPLETELY CORRECT!!!

NOTHING IN BRAZIL WILL EVER CHANGE IF BRAZILIANS KEEP ON BEING DEFENSIVE, OR ARROGANT.... WITHOUT TRYIING TO UNDERSTAND ANYONE ELSES POINT OF VIEW.

FREEDOM OF SPEECH SHOULD DEFINATELY BE ENCOURAGED, AND ALSO THE RIGHT TO EXPRESS ONE'S OPINIONS.

BRAZILIANS SHOULD LEARN HOW TO SHOW RESPECT AND RESPECT WILL BE GIVEN BACK IN RETURN. IT WOULD BE ALOT EASIER.... LESS STRESSFUL.

THIS SHOULD BE TAUGHT IN YOUR SCHOOLS, GOVERNMENT INSTITUTIONS AND ALL PUBLIC PLACES.

AT LEAST, THIS WOULD BE A START!!!

As a resident of Brazil, you have every right to voice your criticisms of Brazil. Those who have never been, or only come as tourists, have opinions which carry little or no weight. That said, you shouldn't expect that the country you expaitriate to, conform to your view of how things should be, whether right or wrong.Many American's are fond of saying "America, love it or leave it". What is expected of newly arrived immigrants to America, but to conform and blend in as quickly as possible. This is even more true in other countries. Don't frame Brazil as being somehow different in that respect. As for Brazilians being the most selfish people you've ever encountered, my reply is, you need to get out more.

i love it when john writes for this site the comments are great. and im surprised that john was suprised at what he found in the north east i thought he knew brazil better than that. as for my self i have just moved back to my homeland so i can give my brazilain daughter a decent life. couse she aint going to get a chanch of a decent future in brazil. and i think thats how most gringoes feel about brazil enjoy it while you can then get the f**k out

hey buddy, i'd like to point out to you that your consumption of anti-depressants is nearly as bad as America's. that's because your country is just like america in most ways, except that it's poor, smelly, dangerous and with way fewer good looking women. Women in both countries are equally s**t mentally, i'll admit that, but at least the ones in america aren't going to prostitute themselves to get food.

If your going to be a prostitute, then I can't think of a better reason than to get food to eat if your going hungry. American women will f**k for a good meal, or a promotion, or whatever. Is that somehow superior?

Disclosure: I'm Canadian. I've visited Brazil only once for several weeks. My girlfriend and her family are Brazilian. Comment: In my very limited experience, I have learned two important things about the people of Brazil. (1) Not all of them want to leave their country for the "riches of the north". (2) The vast majority of them are as decent as anyone I have ever met anywhere else in the world. So why is there so much negativity on this discussion board?

You must have just started reading this discussion board, its all about negativety. I suggest you stop your reading before you become dangerously addicted to the miserable s**t that is put on here, like me.

No, it's not just about that. It's about editing out 90 % of it which is crap and checking out a few intelligent opinions. Brazilians arrogance is a point, everyone seems to know everything over there. But actaully getting to work to change the country and making it a better place ? No thanks, you see we're way too smart to engage in such a back breaking effort. We're about enjoying our resources, food and women and enjoying life, you know ? Who cares if the country is in the s**t and 90 percent of the population has yet to learn how to write and read correctly ? You don't want ME to change any of this, do you ? I don't have time for this. The fact that I'm here, typing in English, with enough time to chat on this board shows clearly that I'm a privileged type of Brazilian that WILL not engage in any type of serious activity to better my country. I've got better things to do, thank you. I'm sorry but i gotta go now, there are some cool songs I need to download.

the last post shows that not all brazilians are blind to who they are and how they act. he knows that the gangsters who run the country will never change it and the rest of the country is too preoccupied with sex, samba and soccer to care about their country. the few radicals who exist in the country quickly adapt to the life of corruption once they are in power e.g. Lula.
I'd also like to know what class most brazilians on this message board come from. I'm guessing they would have to be privileged - most have gone to university and probably spent some time in america or the UK learning the english they need to make deals with english companies. it's not in their interest for things to change in brazil - the price of a girl might go up!

does any brazilian or any foreigner on this board get really frustrated and annoyed speaking to brazilians? does anyone else feel like they have the irritating ability to talk non-stop about nothing and that they have the crazy belief that the ability to talk for hours about nothing shows that their life is interesting and that they're more of a man than others who say small about, but which is intelligent?
i thought the fact a brazilian loved hearing his own voice was cute at first, but now i hate it. if you've got nothing to say, then say nothing!

yep brasilains talk loud and say nothing. its a wonder they dont get on better with americans

yep brasilains talk loud and say nothing. its a wonder they dont get on better with americans

Americans are from Mars, Brazilans are from Venus. Why expect one to be like the other? Now go back to doing something productive, like banging your head against a wall.

you meen like reading the coments on this site

We sure talk loud, but at least we talk. The hardest thing about having a conversation with an American is the fact that a lot of times they don't even want to have a conversation with you in the first place. Being born and raised in America and growing up watching their TV shows, they get brainwashed into thinking that no foreigner will ever have anything valuable or intelligent to say (and if it's said with an accent, forget it, they won't even consider the content of what you're saying). No one from outside will ever say something that they didn't know already because they believe America is the center of the universe, so if you're not American they think it's impossible to come from outside and ad anything to the subject. The funny thing is, their universe being ruled by TV and movies makes it possible for someone like Arnold Schwarzenegger to become the governor of California. Because in this case, they're not looking at a "foreigner", but at the "Terminator", a character that they think they know in person.
It's also ironic that their country is in great part being taken over by ethic communities like latinos, asians, etc, a great number of which are as interested in getting along with white Americans as the white Americans are interested in welcoming them ( even though they welcome latinos to do their lawn though).
Americans are from Mars, indeed. It seems that only when they get older and start realising they've been had by all this "culture of show and illusion" they become a little more open to conversation. At this point in their life they're a little easier to get along with and generally a little more open to different ideas/people. That's when they realise that they have a better relationship with their latino servant than they do with their white neighbor who they've known for 10 years.

I am an american who has lived in a few other countries including brazil and would mostly agree with the above comment. Of course I would have to add that this is a generality, there are americans open to conversaton and in some regions of the country it is more so than others, but overall I get your point. The thing is that it is not just anglos who are like this and only think of the US as being the center of the universe, but take the kids of many immigrants from latin america and most don't know anything about where there parents are from nor do they care.

I think that each contributor should read what the other writes. Take a look at what each of you want. Some want gratitude from Brazilians, what does this mean? Does it mean you want them to kiss your ass and behave like a dirt poor Peruvian (Si Jefe, Si Jefe) or the GOOD south african blacks (Yes, massa)? Its not going to happen, so stay in therapy and come back when you grow up.

Do you want the lacking infrastructure for tourists to bloom overnight so that your stay might be more comfortable?

Do you want Brazilians to share your negative outlook on life so that you might have more in common with them?

Do you think that Brazilians don't deserve to be content or happy until you think they should be content and happy?

Look at yourselves people. You have sparked the worst of reactions from each other with your downgrading of a country with people not better or worse than the countries from which we all come. Everything you say about Brazil can be said still about our own countries or was said at one time during our rise to being a people who can afford to go to other countries to piss and moan about, ungrateful, poor, unsupported, corrupt people and governments. Most of us come from countries that have done well as we have done well personally, sometimes in the very countries that we are criticizing such as Brazil.

Quit the complaning and help somebody for crying out loud. You sound like a bunch of bloody idiots. You too Fritz, exactly what are you doing to make things better? I don't think you are because when things get better you will have to go somewhere else since you make your living by bringing up this kind of useless banter.

ALL OF YOU GET OFF YOUR BEACH CHAIR AND DO SOMETHING POSITIVE BESIDES PISS AND MOAN.

I do something positive: I employ people in my company, pay frighteningly high taxes, have three servants in my house on very good salaries. In return I get: bad roads (almost everywhere), bad pavements (almost everywhere), shoddy service (almost everywhere), beggers trying to tap me up for cash (every day), and told to f**k off (always on internet sites) by Brazilians (coloured I suspect) when I dare to complain. Of course, as most of you lot never pay taxes in your entire life, you wouldn't understand my dissatisfaction. In my country if you don't pay taxes you're classed as a criminal to be shunned, not as a person to be respected, and you go to prison for around five years -- pity it doesn't happen to a few of you. You're just a bunch of wasters. I suggest that, on the contrary, you lot f**k off and leave the Anglo Saxon to build Brazil for you. You buggers obviously can't do it to save your lives. Just keep on drinking the beer and complaining about the politicians and the police. It's about about the only thing you're good at.

Dear amigo "From poster of 'Sorry to say this....'
Written by Guest on 2006-03-02 08:09:09", I could not have stated my case any better than you just have. I am an American in Brazil and the bad roads are bad for me too, but I am not consumed by the deficiencies to the point that I have become a grumpy sour grouch. I reckon you have spouted this crap in more than one country. Thats ok, I will not pay attention to you again and I think that nobody else does either.

Hope your days get better pal.

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Things don't get better by always accepting situations as they are. Mainly they improve because there is a critical mass of dissatisfaction surrounding them.I'm just contributing to that, because I want to see things improve. I take your point about cash being a big factor in this, however, the amount of inertia in Brazil is just soul-sapping at times. As for complaining in other countries, yes, I moaned once or twice in Spain (quite rightly) about great holes in the roads. And I mean great hole--you could have stood inside them if you'd wanted! If you look over the postings here, you'll see that the 'man in Sao Paulo, the grumpy sour grouch' is not without his supporters.Just to be clear, my last post was not aimed at you, but to an earlier commentator who thought that non-Brazilians (even the tax-payers) should shove it and keep quiet. Well I don't think so!

Hi,

I am English, I have visited Brazil 20 times over 5 years, a total of 15 months in Brazil. Eu falo Portuges muito bem.

OK, principally, I will say the following :-

Apathy
Laziness
Arrogance
Poor Education
Poor morals
Drugs
Corruption
Greed
The African Effect

these are the cause of Brazil´s problems

Cheers,

Buff.

The blame game as usual...huuuum.

You being English should be the last person to comment.

Kindly reveiw your own history respectively including the legacy which remained
and, keep your imperialistic mentality out of Brazil and let them sort out their problems.

Btw, how did the African presence appear in Brazil?

John, you must love to be hated. Sitting in your confortable chair sipping a wisky and looking over avenida paulista trying to understand the minds of 190 million people. Your negativism is tiresome.

Pehaps you forgot that 1 in 5 adults in Scotland are living in poverty. Do you want to start talking about this?

The African Effect?
Written by Guest on 2006-03-10 05:30:58

WHOEVER WROTE THIS POSTING ABOVE IS VERY RUDE AND KNOWS ABSOLUTELY NOTHING ABOUT BRAZIL´S HISTORY.

Eu tenho muitos duvidas que voce fala Portugues. Eu acho que voce é muitissimo burro.

I think that I will quit trying to offer my advice on this board because this website is very clearly full of ignorant, stupid americans who know nothing about Brazil. 50% or more of the comments are factually incorrect.

Before you comment, pass much time in Brazil and learn fluent Portuguese. Then you will have the authority to judge this country. Just because I am English does not mean I cannot comment. I have more right than any America, a country with only 300 years of history, populated by immigrants, mostly European. AMerica simply has no culture.......or if you can count fast food, MTV and junk TV.... get a life.

To the Euro what do you mean by the African Effect?

To the American what's wrong with someone being talkative? I thought Americans thought some French people weren't talkative enough, so what's the problem now? Go to a house in the American South see if you don't find yourself moseying in for a long day talking about nothing in particular for hours on end. Go to Wachovia Bank in North Carolina and see if the teller doesn't start a conversation with a line behind you. It's hospitality, politeness. Obviously America is WAY more developed, but that doesn't mean all Brazilian people are losers!!

To the American about bad service? For one thing there is MUCH STRONGER class tension than in America. And rich people are more snobby there because class is more mutable here. You can't so strongly tell where they are here, you could be talking to the next Bill Gates. They BETTER be acting rude if this is a silent PROTEST. Like the French "Greve du Zele". Maybe schoolteacher's salaries would be befitting of a bachelor degree holder in the US if people didn't take it assume they mysteriously succeeded without someone else's counsel.

What he means by the 'Africa Effect' is that too many blacks makes for touble of all sorts. Got it, stupid. I've been working in Brazil for ten years and I can testify to the absolute truth of ther 'Africa Effect'!

I took a while to read all the posts. First of all, as a Brazilian, shall I say thank you for all your criticism and time dedicated on writing it... this shows at least that you are not indifferent to Brazil or Brazilians.
Let me give you an example. I work for a north-american company in São Paulo, managing long-term projects... in USA. At the beginning I was affraid on how to handle the differences, but when things started to move I saw, Brazilians are not lazy at all. People work hard here. Hard enough to afford our livings and the livings of some corrupts that plays with our taxes. That's true: there is corruption here. Let's assume this. Hiding will not help us to solve our problems.
If you go the some international airport in Brazil, try to take a look at the brands of the suite-cases or shoes etc. When you see Louis Vuiton, Gucci, Prada, believe me, it is 90% of chance that the guy is Brazilian. My wife is French and it was she who first told me that. I haven't noticed this before :-)
The Brazilian upper class, in most cases not all, are heirds of an old mind set... from the times that employee was something alike servants or even slaves.
By the way, when slavery ended, all the black people, whom the arms planted and build up all the country was simply kicked out the gates of the farms, and lived in the streets without no assitance at all... this is how the favelas (slums) was born mates. Then, what our imperour decided to do? Well, he hired immigrants from all abroad, mostly Italy, Japan, Spain, Partugal, and Germany, like my grandfather... they worked hard and most of them mixed among the population creating a very nice diversity.
But again in our history, our problems have been put under the carpet... millions of former slaves were roaming on the streets searching for food, and of course, poverty brings all the sorts of problems.
But time is going by. I remember when I was a kid, in dictatorship times things where far worse than now. It was in the past a common sense that you should give a bribe to an road officer instead of being fined. Now you still can do that, but most people I talk, feel ashamed of doing that... but they do.
Things will change. We need to do our jobs, to make the changes in the day by day, in the little things, but time will help us either by allowing the generations to change the mindset here. Well, I rather be fined than to bribe an officer. My father didn't.
Time will help us to purge the old colonialist mentality of the old farmers, racists and money maniacs, to real entepreaneus we have a talent to be - who can survive our everyday here, can be a good entepreaneur
I hope I have helped you all with a little more information about our background. And for the Brazilians like me (I am proud to be Brazilian), what I have to say is: Wake up fellows. This is time to face our problems, this will help us to solve them and thus make a better society, a better country for our sons. And by facing our problems we have more moral the talk about the good things we have too.
Cheers!