why do americans clap for themselves?

[bstard]

Hi
I know this is WAY off topic but I couldn't think of a forum that could give me an Antipodean slant of the question.
But have you ever noticed that Americans on TV always seem to clap for themselves ?
Way on down under if a group of people decide that you have done something that is deserving of a round of applauses then you take it with the appropriate humilitey...true.You don't clap for yourself along with the group..true.
I'm sure that it is the  same in Aussie.
So whats that all about ?
I promise that after this I will stay on topic...I might even write you guys a race by race run down of this years Drag racing season here in NZ.I mean my defense of my NZ Championship.
Thanks
Richard

[Sven]

But have you ever noticed that Americans on TV always seem to clap for themselves ?

You need to quit watching so many game shows!  That's where I have most noticed it...the host introduces a player, the audience applauds, and then the guest looks somewhat confused, and joins the applause.  My onlyguess it that our culture has a strong undercurrent of "belongingness" (despite all the overt talk about personal freedom), so you do what everyone else is doing, whether it seems logical or not.  You'll note that entertainers, who are used to being recognized publically, rarely fall into this habit.

[txbanditrydr]

...I mean my defense of my NZ Championship.

Sounds like someone is clapping for themselves.      

[JReviere]

Oh who knows? I do it with but my left hand. It's a ZEN moment when I atune to the sound of one hand clapping.

JR

[bstard]

Hi
Bugger...you caught me out on that one  
Richard
 

...I mean my defense of my NZ Championship.

Sounds like someone is clapping for themselves.      

[B6mick]

Hi
...I might even write you guys a race by race run down of this years Drag racing season here in NZ.I mean my defense of my NZ Championship.
Thanks
Richard

That would be cool, been crook as a brown dog, and have been thinking of getting the bikes down to the local strip for friday nights street legal races, hmmmmmm the term street legal, makes me laugh.........Yer right, oh yeh me tyres are. legal.
And of course, if the rain still keeps falling, one may need to be using a boat, to even have half a chance of doing the 1/4 mile

[Sven]

been crook as a brown dog

OK, that's a new one for me.  Can you give me the "American" for that?

[B6mick]

We have a saying down here, "kill a brown dog and make a black one sick", so , I've been bed bound for the best part of a week, and have feeling rather unwell.

[Sven]

We have a saying down here, "kill a brown dog and make a black one sick"

haha!  I would never have guessed that one.  Thanks for explaining it.

[aussiebandit]

We have a saying down here, "kill a brown dog and make a black one sick"

haha!  I would never have guessed that one.  Thanks for explaining it.

Banditalley - closing the cultural divide....

[txbanditrydr]

Banditalley - closing the cultural divide....

I'm still chuckling over the "dog's googlies" from last year.  

[Red01]

I thought it was 'danglies'  

[Sven]

Banditalley - closing the cultural divide....

Or at least the international date line....

[roogazza]

...I mean my defense of my NZ Championship.

Sounds like someone is clapping for themselves.      

      World famous in Taihape !!!!!!!!!    
(a very small town in central NZ.)

[slo coach]

Bstard..what date and where do these start,...thanks slo