Why Amsterdam is so cool

I just visited Amsterdam and I am trying to figure out why it is such a
cool place.It is so cool because it fits in with our current modern
western european socio-political beliefs. It has an non-elitist roots -
no great monolithic spires and castles of princes and kings. It has a
very "protestant work ethic" based city built by merchants and traders.
Much like the people we admire in modern cultures. It has a liberal
attitude which we currently believe in. So I think we like Amsterdam
because that's what we are now and that's what we want to be. It is
like liking ourselves for better or worse.

Martin wrote:
> On 26 Aug 2005 09:23:04 -0700, catched22@ wrote:
>
> >I just visited Amsterdam and I am trying to figure out why it is such a
> >cool place.
>
> Maybe it's something to do with global warming giving A'dam a miss
> this year?
> --
> Martin

is it the drugs and hookers :)

No. It has nothing to do with the drugs and hookers...

michaelnewp...m wrote:
> Martin wrote:
> > On 26 Aug 2005 09:23:04 -0700, catched22@ wrote:
> >
> > >I just visited Amsterdam and I am trying to figure out why it is such a
> > >cool place.
> >
> > Maybe it's something to do with global warming giving A'dam a miss
> > this year?
> > --
> > Martin
>
> is it the drugs and hookers :)

> The emperor's canal and the princes' canal and the whatsit canal? The
> fancy merchants' houses? There are elites and elites, isn't it?

The merchant elite are the elite we worship in our modern society. They
represent the aristocracy. We have to like Amsterdam because if we
don't then we don't really like ourselves. It is narcissus looking at
the reflection.

catched22@ writes:

> > The emperor's canal and the princes' canal and the whatsit canal? The
> > fancy merchants' houses? There are elites and elites, isn't it?
>
> The merchant elite are the elite we worship in our modern society.

You originally said, "It has an [sic] non-elitist roots". This strikes me
(and now apparently you) as less than true. And I wish to apply from
exemption from this "we" of yours, since I worship no such something.
Even if I did, New York and London better reflect those values today.

> They represent the aristocracy. We have to like Amsterdam because if
> we don't then we don't really like ourselves. It is narcissus
> looking at the reflection.

I will not buy this idé, it is fixée.

Des

catched22@ wrote:

>michaelnewp...m wrote:
>> Martin wrote:
>> > On 26 Aug 2005 09:23:04 -0700, catched22@ wrote:
>> >
>> > >I just visited Amsterdam and I am trying to figure out why it is such a
>> > >cool place.
>> >
>> is it the drugs and hookers :)
>
>No. It has nothing to do with the drugs and hookers...
>
I think it does, but perhaps not in the way you might think of it. The
social mores which make Amsterdam what it is also create the
conditions in which you have the drugs and hookers.

--
PB
The return address has been MUNGED

Des Small <des.small@bristol.ac.uk> wrote:

>I visited Amsterdam a couple of weeks ago and didn't like it at all.
>I haven't liked a Yoorpean capital as little since Dublin, and I was
>expecting not to like Dublin.
>
Two questions:
Why didn't you like Dublin?
Why did you go there if you expected not to like it?

--
PB
The return address has been MUNGED

On 26 Aug 2005 09:23:04 -0700, catched22@ wrote:

> It has an non-elitist roots - no great monolithic spires and castles of
> princes and kings. It has a very "protestant work ethic" based city
> built by merchants and traders.

But many people visit Europe to see great those monolithic spires and
castles of princes and kings.

--
-BB-
To e-mail me, unmunge my address

Padraig Breathnach <padraigb@MUNGEDiol.ie> writes:

> Des Small <des.small@bristol.ac.uk> wrote:
>
> >I visited Amsterdam a couple of weeks ago and didn't like it at all.
> >I haven't liked a Yoorpean capital as little since Dublin, and I was
> >expecting not to like Dublin.
> >
> Two questions:
> Why didn't you like Dublin?

It was over Christmas, the weather was shite, everything was shut, the
hotel was out in the suburbs and largely full of stinky old women, I
was vegetarian and the food largely wasn't, I don't care for large
volumes of Guiness and there wasn't much else to be had, I loathe
traditional Irish music and I detest Irish pop, I am taciturn by
nature and the ambient eloquence, or at least loquacity, ("Blarney")
made me suspicious and edgy, the popular culture seemed to lack any
bit or sense of generation gap -- everywhere there was this horrible
bland Irish pop! Everywhere! Except on Christmas Eve, when I went to
the longest and most unbelievably boring and obviously Catholic church
service the universe could possibly hold, only to find out afterward
it had been Anglican all along. Out of boredom I got staggeringly
drunk on Christmas evening (not eve) and then smoked dope with my
sister and threw up everywhere, and then passed out at the races on
Stephen's Day.

> Why did you go there if you expected not to like it?

It wasn't my idea, of course. After my father died, we had something
of a family tradition of going away for Christmas; that year me and my
sister lobbied vigorously for (ironically) Amsterdam, but my mother
had the final say and she chose Dublin. If I'd had a veto beforehand
I'd've used it, for sure, but I wouldn't boycott a family Christmas
just because I disapproved of the venue.

Des

Des Small <des.small@bristol.ac.uk> wrote:

>Padraig Breathnach <padraigb@MUNGEDiol.ie> writes:
>
>> Two questions:
>> Why didn't you like Dublin?
>
>It was over Christmas, the weather was shite, everything was shut, the
>hotel was out in the suburbs and largely full of stinky old women, I
>was vegetarian and the food largely wasn't, I don't care for large
>volumes of Guiness and there wasn't much else to be had, I loathe
>traditional Irish music and I detest Irish pop, I am taciturn by
>nature and the ambient eloquence, or at least loquacity, ("Blarney")
>made me suspicious and edgy, the popular culture seemed to lack any
>bit or sense of generation gap -- everywhere there was this horrible
>bland Irish pop! Everywhere! Except on Christmas Eve, when I went to
>the longest and most unbelievably boring and obviously Catholic church
>service the universe could possibly hold, only to find out afterward
>it had been Anglican all along. Out of boredom I got staggeringly
>drunk on Christmas evening (not eve) and then smoked dope with my
>sister and threw up everywhere, and then passed out at the races on
>Stephen's Day.
>
Case made. I am persuaded.

>> Why did you go there if you expected not to like it?
>
>It wasn't my idea, of course. After my father died, we had something
>of a family tradition of going away for Christmas; that year me and my
>sister lobbied vigorously for (ironically) Amsterdam, but my mother
>had the final say and she chose Dublin. If I'd had a veto beforehand
>I'd've used it, for sure, but I wouldn't boycott a family Christmas
>just because I disapproved of the venue.
>
One does things for one's family.

I'm sorry it was a bad experience for you.

--
PB
The return address has been MUNGED