Your view on America

[Exocet]

Of course,I know not everyone is like that,but you have to admit there are a lot more in the USA.

citation needed. This kind of statement annoys me. It requires zero information and relies only on innuendo. You have the impression that there are grossly more american hicks than there are hicks in other countries. Its possible that there are; america has states with larger rural populations than a good part of western europe. But it is stereotyping, and if you were saying such things about jews or gays, you would be run out of town.

I may annoy you,but I based it what I saw in the most densely populated state(New Jersey) during the 5 years I was there.

In addition,every part of that statement is true and required information:
I could only have said the first part if I were there at one point and seen people not fitting my description,which I have.

The second part I based off a slice of population I knew(a school) and compared it to another school in an other country.

I didn't ever talk about rural areas and never intend to until I go there personally

Well I stand corrected in part, but I must emphasize that you were in NEW JERSEY.

New jersey and its beleaguered children are hardly a uniform sample of america.

I admit I only used New Jersey,but I assumed it was a fair representation of the North East USA,which is the region most western Europeans can relate to the most.

Comparing Europe to Texas or California culture-wise is like trying to compare an cherry pie with a walrus,both are extremely different so you really can't do it.

 

[Tranka Verrane]

The best quote I ever heard about America, and I forget who said it, was that America was a land of extremes. Take any two extremes and they are in America, whether it be the fattest or thinnest, smartest or dumbest, best educated or most illiterate, bigoted or liberal, most generous or most selfish, you name it, they're all in the US. Unfortunately that means that in a democracy far too many fat, illiterate, selfish, dumb bigots get a say.

It may be incorrect but I also get the impression that because of the US cultural dominance of TV and Movies in particular the rest of the world, particularly the English speaking rest of the world, gets much more of an insight into the mentality of the US than the US gets of the rest of the world.

Some of the misunderstandings I hear from Americans still shock me. For instance I live in the UK, a country with around a fifth of the entire population of America crammed into an area about the size of Kansas, that still manages to have quite a lot of countryside. Yet I still talk to people who seem to be under the belief that all of Britain is quaint little villages, and start trying to inform me what living in a big city is like. I live in one of the larger sized UK conurbations (Britain isn't quite so discrete as the US, most places have merged) of around one and a half million people.

 

[TankCopter]

Americans are mostly nice people, but they do some odd things and they can be very rude in restaurants. They're used to more service, according to a teacher who used to live there, they're a very immediate, need-it-now society.

I've met some lovely Americans, and I've met some jerks. Same as every other nationality. The only difference is Europeans tend to be quieter, slightly harder to understand, and they don't ask you to 'say G'day' for them, or ask if you ride roos to school.

As a country, I think America is too sure of itself, and has a very ignorant populace. It thinks it will always be the superpower, and it's making enemies of everyone. Obama's giving a sharp kick in the correct direction, but I still don't like it's policies and general behaviour much, although I don't know quite enough to make a real judgement about it. They have some cool-ass ads though, Americans.

 

[systhicsfg]

Ignorant, intolerant, pig headed, prejudiced, and stupid.

 

[oneniesteledain]

The idea of countries is stupid. I used to be a patriot, then I grew up.

All patriotism does is get people killed.

Oh yeah, and, while I understand that cultures vary wildly, in my experience people are effectively the same no matter where you go. A study of history should also be able to show you this.

 

[RAMBO22]

As a proud American, I am happy we are a technological, cultural, political (usually but not right now), and economical (also usually but not currently) leader of all the world. However, I think our generation is stepping in the wrong direction and I think our world hegemony will soon come to an end.

 

[Woodsey]

Far too many anti-gays, racists and 'patriots'.

On the plus side, some amazing talent in the way of actors/directors/musicians,etc.
And Barack Obama.

I really can't stand the god-fearing nature in some places that you see on TV though, and the whole thing they have where they God is leading America and all that shit. But that's not everyone, they're the same as every other country. Some crazies, some normals.

I'm English btw.

 

[MajoraPersona]

I realize this is an international forum and that many people around the world hate America for our past and present situations. I think we get the short end of the stick because we are expected to police the world even though, at times we just want to be left alone and when we do get involved in something international crisis we have to deal with all these damn critics from Western Europe as if they were going doing something about it. But if we are so damn evil then why do these same countries who hate us always want our aid and help when there is a natural disaster or when one of their neighbors is acting aggressive? We don?t tell them to go to hell, no we help them.
I personally love America, I don't like what's being done by the government and my president at the moment but there isn't anything I can do about it.

Someone else already quoted this, but it's too easy to pass up.

Who asks for America's help? Who do you think you're policing? To be honest, I have little interest in either politics or history, but as far as I know, most of the 'help' America has given on the international scale has been in countries who they either attacked during wartimes (West Berlin supply drops, Japan) or who had a rival power with an interest in said country (Vietnam 'conflict').

Which isn't to say that's bad. It's just not entirely fitting what you wrote.

Again, I'd like to point out that there are likely numerous actions the United States government have taken since their inception as non-colonies which I have excluded. An example of one such peacekeeping activity was the gulf war, when America went to protect Kosovo from invasion. They had no reason except the kindness in their hearts to protect that empty desert.

Also, welcome to the forums.

My only experience with Americans is through a brief tour of a military base several years ago and through internet forums.

Basically, they're people in mainland North America south of the 49th and north of Mexico. No, Hawaii and Alaska don't count as Americans in my mind.

One last point: English is the new Latin.

 

[Toasty]

Btw....Im not of those "Oh yeah America is fucking awesome, fuck all you other ding dongs. My truck will run you over and my guns will kill you!!"

I try to be a world citizen, reading about issues in other places and seeing what the rest of the world is like.

We aren't the greatest or most liked. I think we do somethings right...but get a lot of shit wrong. A lot, and too many extremes are represented in our culture and politics.

I used to live in America, yet was called a terrorist when we couldnt renew our visas, had to return to the UK and some of our american 'freinds' found out we were not 'american'.

If you want to get a more accurate view of the world go and travel outside of America, my expectations were shattered when I left America.

 

[Kiutu]

We are the best country in the world, for we are every country. The rest of the world hates us, but it is yourselfs who made us and are us. We are not one race only found here, we are every race and people from every country. We are a rainbow, and for a loen color to say we are all crap, well your color is here too. To hate us is to hate yourself.

We have our problems, all countries do, but we are full of those who work to fix them, and have counters to everything. Plenty of countries dont have counters to the bad and have to deal with them, or hope we fix them.

 

[Judas-]

A country full of wankers with no word for wanker.

 

[kaziard]

work in a hotel so iv met a fair few if i was forced to make a generalisation it would be they DO seem to be overly loud but atill friendly... a damn sight frendlier than some of the other scots that come in

 

[lewism247]

The peoplen average, the nicest people i've met
Polititians:they're polititians, what more is there to say

 

[Sigel]

I'm Australian and I really want to visit America one day, especially Washington DC.

As a country I feel kinda sorry for you guys, your seen as the world's police because your the only people with the military power to do it. Yet, people spend half their lives saying your wrong for doing it and the other half telling you to keep doing it.

All the while the lack of money in your domestic sphere is beginning to show, with the insurance and medical issues your having.

I appreciate the foreign policy difficulties you guys have and I think you're doing a good job at it. So yeah, you're doing fine by me. I really want to see the White House in person ( though it's impossible to get inside, just to look at it from Pennsylvania Avenue would be enough.)

Wow. How...informed. That was very well put. Be careful of DC though. It may be the nation's capitol, but it's also the homicide capitol as well.

So true. It is literally good street-bad street-oh hell no street. Be very careful.

Topic wise-I like my country but fear my government.

 

[yankeefan19]

A fat country with Stupid politicians .

 

[DazBurger]

[generalization]
Alotta fat people, believe themselves to be gods chosen people, under-educated, overly religious, ignorant, overly proud, calling what really is extremism "patiotism".


I all too often hear americans talking about how they never lost a war, which is very untrue..


And that fraise "If it werent for The Us, you would be talking german right now", sickens me, because... No! I would be talking russian, and so would you!
After the soviet union had steamrolled Berlin, they would have gone after the rest of europe, and then the States.
[/generalization]

 

[DazBurger]

Oh yeah... And I dont like their policics either^^

 

[Davey Woo]

A big country, therefore allowing lots of space for different people to occupy it, meaning that interactions with Americans varies a lot, from complete and utter dickhead to generally very nice person.

America also brought me Mcdonalds and Subway. Amongst other things, so thank you.

 

[Zani]

Well it seems like being a socialist is a crime, they like to meddle with other countries' governments and of course all of the stereotypical things.