• @cmbabul@lemmy.world
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    2 years ago

    I just went through all the things I think Europe does well or is known for, and I can’t think of anything that doesn’t either originate somewhere else or has been made better elsewhere. With the exceptions of cars(which doomed us and is still debatable euro cars are the best), wine(depending on how you categorize Georgia), and olive oil. Someone correct me if I’m missing something

    Edit: does French bread count?

    • @neutronicturtle@lemmy.world
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      182 years ago

      How far back does it count? Humans originate from Africa so everything we do can be seen as Africans doing things with stuff from all over the planet. Or perhaps even that is not far enough. What’s the origin of the first mammal… The only contestant is change and life is good at mixing things up.

    • SirShanova
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      42 years ago

      Depends on you define best or known for when it comes to cars. Sure a BMW is nice but a Lexus will last twice as long for a fifth the price and is good.

      And bread, for invention, depends on whether or not you count leavened and unleavened separately. In terms of best, French bread is definitely S tier though.

      • @cmbabul@lemmy.world
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        32 years ago

        Those were definitely my thoughts on cars, although I give Germany some credit for inventing them. And yeah bread is tough since it’s been done all across humanity, the French do it best I think but i dunno if it should count

        • SirShanova
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          42 years ago

          Well, idk who invented sourdough or garlic bread but both of those should be examined as rivals. Baguette stills rocks heated and buttered though

          • @cmbabul@lemmy.world
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            22 years ago

            It’s either an Italian or New York Italian that invented garlic bread. Sourdough I think is Colorado but I have know idea where I heard that. But yeah you ain’t wrong

      • @cmbabul@lemmy.world
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        2 years ago

        Movies, jazz, and airplanes are still tops, even if movies are shit compared to ten years ago Hollywood is still the champ money and cultural impact wise, invention can be co-claimed by the French but the largest early exposition took place in Piedmont Park in Atlanta, Ga. Boeing and Lockheed have yet to be toppled despite both having serious issues recently and there being more competition. Jazz was invented here and while it’s good elsewhere I still thing it’s better along the Mississippi. Still amongst if not the largest exporter of food too.

        The US is fucked and shitty but it’s not like we don’t do anything well

        Edit: added a k to the end of took

        • SirShanova
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          32 years ago

          Large scale electrification, nuclear deterrents, continental cargo rail

          • @cmbabul@lemmy.world
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            22 years ago

            The first and last are for sure good but I think Japan has it better on the first and Europe on the third but I could be wrong. The middle one for sure but I dunno if we can count that considering we struck first and last in the nuke race

            • SirShanova
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              2 years ago

              Europe has better passenger rail. America has superior cargo rail. That’s why US passenger rail is inferior, the trains all have to run in cargo company’s tracks. Additionally, due to the ubiquity of power even of a country 26 times the size, I’d say America does it better. Plus, Japan has two grids and thus incompatible appliances between north and south, I do NOT consider that a win!

    • @peanut_boy@lemmy.world
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      12 years ago

      The whole world is interconnected, so it’s hard to find anything that is the exclusive domain of one continent. Europeans aren’t innately superior to the rest of the world, but they aren’t innately inferior either. And even if they were, the idea that something only “counts” if you never interact with and learn from foreigners is a bizarre and arbitrary rule that goes against most of the important innovations throughout human history.

      • @Bene7rddso@feddit.de
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        82 years ago

        Nikolaus Otto (inventor of the gas engine) was german. Carl Friedrich Benz (Inventor of the car) was german too