Non-Americans: How do you view us?

[Ashannon Blackthorn]

(American here) I can understand completely why the rest of the world would have a general dislike or distaste, hell even downright hatred of Americans, but then I just take solace in the fact that they're just as ignorant and spiteful as Americans who are ignorant and spiteful of other cultures and countries just because they can be.

When it comes down to it, for me, every country has (to bring up another George Carlin quote), "a few winners and a whole lot of losers." You want to hate all Americans because of our media or because of the few assholes that we (sadly) let speak for us, fine, go for it. I for one don't hate anyone until I know something substantial about them.

Problem is the same weirdly enough with Islam... the good majority who aren't crazed loonbags or psychotics aren't firmly smacked down by the others. So, the world gets to see your Sarah Palin's or Rick Perry's and Rush Limbaugh's all yelling and carrying on. They show the inbred redneck backwater racists on TV, they show the cast from Jersey Shore...

So, when you combine that with American recent history, and lack of follow up in some cases, it shouldn't be a surprise.

 

[fenrizz]

i am canadian and currently i am sad for the usa. you guys are doomed.

you have a fairly ignorant, sheep like population that will always hold you back. about half of americans dont accept evolution. the greatest threat to your national security is the republican party and your broken congressional and especially senatorial system. you imprison more people (in terms of percent of population and absolute figures) that anyone else in the world and do so for borderline insane reasons (there are people in us prisons serving life sentences because they shoplifted some dvds and were convicted under your three strikes law). i heard that more than half of your population believes that jesus christ will actually return to earth in thier lifetime and raise them all to heaven in a rapture.

seriously, on my better days i feel sorry for you. on the rest of them i debate whether it would be more humane for the rest of the world to quietly press a pillow over your face while you are sleeping one night.

I got this impression of the Americans too.

It's sad really, you used to have such great potential.
But it's not too late though.

Stop having all these costly wars, stop fucking around in other countries affairs and for the love of science stop teaching unscientific religions propaganda in schools!

 

[Rawne1980]

And didnt the word "soccer" originated in the UK or something?

You are quite right. Somewhere in the 1800's.

We stopped using as a whole (except in some Universities still) but America took it as it's rightful name due to the confusion between Football and "American" Football. Thus the birth of Soccer and Football in American culture.

You'll have to excuse us Brits that are massive Football fans, the term "soccer" just gets our backs up but none of us can explain why.

The word "soccer" comes from the original name of the game "Association Football" or more precisely from its abbreviation Assoc. Assoc. was a slang term used in UK universities from about 1889. It later became socca, socker (1891) and finally evolved into soccer (1895).

The Football Association was founded in London in October 1863 by eleven clubs/schools. The Association agreed upon a standard set of rules prohibiting use of the hands or carrying the ball. The clubs which opposed this rule eventually broke away conceiving their own version of the game - rugby.

And there you see the birth of Rugby aswell. I'm too kind to you people I really am.

For those Americans that don't know what Rugby is, it's the same as your "Football" but with no cowards body armour.

 

[The_Vigilant]

This thread is a case-in-point of why Americans are disliked. The very question you're asking could not be more blind and narcissistic. For every one French, German, Egyptian, Chinese, or Brazilian saying "What do you think about my people?" there are a hundred Americans asking the same question. Like people sit around trying to organize their feelings about you. Forcing oneself to the center of attention is a despicable quality in any entity. If Americans would just mind their own business and let other people do the same, we wouldn't feel so detested.

By the way, I'm a Kentucky-born, white American studying in Virginia.

 

[Ashannon Blackthorn]

WOW......Im amazed at the short memory of peoples in other countries. How much american blood has been spilled since the 1940's for the liberation of nations in Europe, Asia, Africa, and the middle east. We were asked because we were the only ones who could help or had the power to. When the world asks you to be the cops, or cries upon you to say you have the power therefore you have the responsibility to help dont ***** when we do take action because were not helping your favorite cause. Step up and take charge yourself or sit down and shut up.

And this kinda flag waving apple pit eating claptrap is a big reason for the hatred. OK, shed a lot of blood in Europe? No... no you didn't. You want shed blood in Europe go talk to the Russians, or the French or the British. American came in 2 years after Adolph stomped about Europe only because the Japanese attacked and allied with Hitler.

Now, am I saying you did nothing in Europe? Hell no. How many battle were won by American armies? A lot, some of the biggest. But to even hint it was just America is total BS and arrogance up the keister.

Asia, yeah you guys did a lot of work against the Japanese. But I'm sure the Chinese would argue about you being the only ones there, so would the Australians.

Middle East and Africa? Erm... what? America hasn't liberated anyone there... they go in and attack countries that are deemed hostile to their interest but don't give two figs about "liberating" anyone. Iraq? If America was that interested in liberating the Iraqis they would have finished the job after Desert Storm... but no, they left it half done and Saddam got free reign to oppress the Kurds and Shi'ites who supported the Americans. Afghanistan? That place is a complete mess and only happened because the Taliban was hiding Bin Laden. If he wasn't there America wouldn't have gone near that place, no matter no oppressive the Taliban was to the Afghan population.

Thing is this. America has done good for the world. But to think that they are some benevolent, selfless international police is a fantasy created by the American public collectively to ignore the fact the government isn't playing nicely on the international stage for starters and to recapture the glory days of the country circa the end of WW2.

 

[electric_warrior]

You have very loud, powerful and rabid right who drown out everyone else in the country, giving the impression that, as a country, you're a bunch of paranoid, ultra-conservative, jingoistic bigots. The tea party and the reaction of some in your country to the Japanese earthquake does little to dispel that image, although I'm sure you're mostly decent people.

WOW......Im amazed at the short memory of peoples in other countries. How much american blood has been spilled since the 1940's for the liberation of nations in Europe, Asia, Africa, and the middle east. We were asked because we were the only ones who could help or had the power to. When the world asks you to be the cops, or cries upon you to say you have the power therefore you have the responsibility to help dont ***** when we do take action because were not helping your favorite cause. Step up and take charge yourself or sit down and shut up.

This is exactly the sort of shite I'm talking about. This sort of deeply warped, almost imperialistic view of America's role in the world is why people don't like you guys. You seem to think that imposing yourself on the world means that the world owes you something. Yes, you helped us out in World War 2, and we appreciate that, but everything you've done since then has been a massive, global PR disaster. You lost in Korea, you fucked up Cuba and the Bay of Pigs, you lost in Vietnam and bombed the hell out of Laos for no good reason, you supported far right authoritarian governments in Latin America, you sold arms to Iraq then declared war on them, you funded Israel's various immoral activities, you sent commandos into Mogadishu and made a hash of it, you invaded one country under false pretences and have done various awful things. Are we supposed to be grateful for the things you've done? Did the world ask you to be the police? Have you ever heard of Team America? I don't agree with their cause or their methods (definitely not), but I can really understand why muslims would be pissed of with you given your meddling in their region. The history of the USA in the second half of the 20th century is a tale of a country charging into where it shouldn't be and fucking everything up, so, no, the world is not grateful. I say this as a Brit, we know a little something about imposing ourselves on other countries then expecting gratitude.

edit: Jimmy Carter summed you guys just perfectly with the Malaise Speech. it really hit the nail on the head when it comes to america and the american dream.

I think this is it, I've only ever read extracts before

 

[rokkolpo]

You Americans just really like to show the rest of the world how crazy you can be.

While the rest of the world locks our crazy people away in the cellar.
''No bernie! no more food after 10, don't make me tranquillize you!''

 

[retyopy]

This thread is a case-in-point of why Americans are disliked. The very question you're asking could not be more blind and narcissistic. For every one French, German, Egyptian, Chinese, or Brazilian saying "What do you think about my people?" there are a hundred Americans asking the same question. Like people sit around trying to organize their feelings about you. Forcing oneself to the center of attention is a despicable quality in any entity. If Americans would just mind their own business and let other people do the same, we wouldn't feel so detested.

By the way, I'm a Kentucky-born, white American studying in Virginia.

Well, exscusssssseeee me, princess. Sorry.

I guess I can see your point. I can't argue. So... Yeah. I apologize for making this thread. I guess.

 

[Commerford]

WOW......Im amazed at the short memory of peoples in other countries. How much american blood has been spilled since the 1940's for the liberation of nations in Europe, Asia, Africa, and the middle east. We were asked because we were the only ones who could help or had the power to. When the world asks you to be the cops, or cries upon you to say you have the power therefore you have the responsibility to help dont ***** when we do take action because were not helping your favorite cause. Step up and take charge yourself or sit down and shut up.

Thank you for the example. Your country has only been economically stronger over the past century and abit because of your huge amounts of farmable land, which you, in fairness, used smartly to become a super power.

Liberation since the 40's? Thanks for the help in WWII seriously. Sarcastically, thanks for bullying nations because they have a strong belief in socialism, and a special thanks for almost ending the world with you and Russia playing, who can put nuclear missiles closer to each other.

All in all, done some good things, but done some horrific things.

OT: Almost every American I have met I liked.

Btw, you're not the worlds police man, you're the worlds community support officer, and not a very good one at that.

 

[Rayken15]

I don't really like you. Mostly because most of you americans think you are superior to everyone else, which irritates me.

We do? That's news to me. And I have another question: Do you consider yourself superior to Americans?

No I don't. I consider everyone an equal, except for french people. I HATE french people with a passion.

 

[Redlin5_v1legacy]

Kind of expected a thread like this today.

I like Americans but not American public figures. I like the country's values but not its foreign policy.

Mixed bag...

So, in the words of Yahtzee: "I don't think America is populated entirely by assholes and cowboys; I know that some Canadians live there, too."

 

[FreakSheet]

I believe that stupidity knows no cultural boundaries.

EDIT: but I will say this: DITCH IMPERIAL MEASUREMENTS ALREADY. Metric is so much better in every way, but America didn't want to change, and now were stuck with both in North America while most other places use metric.

 

[fenrizz]

WOW......Im amazed at the short memory of peoples in other countries. How much american blood has been spilled since the 1940's for the liberation of nations in Europe, Asia, Africa, and the middle east. We were asked because we were the only ones who could help or had the power to. When the world asks you ont ***** to be the cops, or cries upon you to say you have the power therefore you have the responsibility to help dwhen we do take action because were not helping your favorite cause. Step up and take charge yourself or sit down and shut up.

People like you are a brilliant example of why other people dislike Americans.

First off, you did not liberate Europe dg, might leuring the 2nd world war by yourselves.
Go look up the Eastern Front on wikipedia you might learn a thing or two.

Secondly, you did not come when we asked you for help.
You waited until you were attacked by the Japanese at Pearl Harbour and Hitler declared war on the US.

Liberation in Asia?
You mean fighting a proxy war with the Soviets using the Vietnamese as puppets?
All because you were scared of communism, domino effect and all that.

Or how you installed a right wing dictator in South Korea after the war, denying them free elections?

Not to mention the various dictators you have installed and supported in South America.

Now get the fuck down from that high horse.

 

[tokae]

WOW......Im amazed at the short memory of peoples in other countries. How much american blood has been spilled since the 1940's for the liberation of nations in Europe, Asia, Africa, and the middle east. We were asked because we were the only ones who could help or had the power to. When the world asks you to be the cops, or cries upon you to say you have the power therefore you have the responsibility to help dont ***** when we do take action because were not helping your favorite cause. Step up and take charge yourself or sit down and shut up.

While I'm not saying that your wrong, because your opening point is very valid.. I am however saying: Get your facts straight.
America didn't sacrifice itself so that other nations could survive. They got involved in the war because they realized that otherwise they would be alone against the third reich.
And to say that you ever were asked to police the world is just... Stupid.
But perhaps it's just a sample of your nations widespread ignorance you're providing?

Anyways, back to topic:
I don't hate America, quite the opposite. I do however hate some denizens of your country (aka. the religous fanatics, retarded "politicians" and the stuck-up, self obsessed bitching fucktards in general and the self-righteous rascists) but that's nothing personal at all. I just hate morons, simple as that, no matter where they are from.

 

[BlackStar42]

Well, since I haven't met any Americans personally, I can't comment there. I did hear a bloke with an American accent in Wolverhampton once, but I have no idea why you'd want to go there. Anyway, I don't have an opinion on the American people, but your foreign policy and your politics are fucked up beyond belief.

 

[confluxfighter]

Contrary to my views on the whole 9/11 thing I don't dislike America or the people dwelling there.

Quite the opposite, i've had 3 fantastic holidays there and never before have I come across a friendlier bunch of people than those I met while on my holidays.

Also during my time in the army I served with American soldiers and got on quite well with them.

I think America is the same as any other country. It has it's decent folk and it has it's dicks. You just find that the dicks in America tend to be twice as loud as the dicks anywhere else. It's a shame but thats how it goes.

British media doesn't paint a great picture of the states though. We do get a lot of your batshit nuts folks on our news. Mainly your incredibly insane politicians and some of your weird as fuck religious nuts.

While most of us know thats not the entirety of America there are people that view America as full of thick as shit crazy people.

But on the whole I do like America. You have your bad points and you have your good points but the people i've met and talk to have been friendly enough and thats all that matters to me.

I just want to thank you for this post and to apologize for people like Valkyr71. And Fox News.

 

[ELD3RGoD]

Americans are all big over a mic, but face to face and they stop being mouthy bastards and start kissing as much arse as possible. Your women however are easy. All I have to do is walk into an American bar and say, "Oioi, what's going on here then!?" and they come swarming! It's great!

Also for the guy who thinks America is the single fighting force on the planet - Let me guess, you think the Navy Seals are the best spec force on the planet, the marines are good at aiming and that Iraq was about WMD's?

 

[Laser Priest]

It's a nation with far too much of an ego.

It's got plenty of good people, but it's got plenty of idiots, including many of the people in power.

 

[Daystar Clarion]

The fact you made a thread asking how people view America is probably a strong contender.


Arrogance.