What's new
Fantasy Football - Footballguys Forums

This is a sample guest message. Register a free account today to become a member! Once signed in, you'll be able to participate on this site by adding your own topics and posts, as well as connect with other members through your own private inbox!

How the rest of the world views America (1 Viewer)

One of the more interesting comments in it was about the NHS. 

"I hear a lot of Brits complain about the NHS. I hear a lot of US citizens who’ve never been to the UK complain about the NHS. I’ve yet to hear a US citizen who moved to the UK complain about the NHS."

 
We have lots of faults and things to improve on but don’t we still have millions of people come here and many millions more that would if they were able to?  I mean I’m as vocal as just about anybody about some of our current issues and our current leadership but let’s not forget that there’s a reason people want to come to America and it’s not always that they are running away from something - there’s still many that are running towards something.

 
AAABatteries said:
We have lots of faults and things to improve on but don’t we still have millions of people come here and many millions more that would if they were able to?  I mean I’m as vocal as just about anybody about some of our current issues and our current leadership but let’s not forget that there’s a reason people want to come to America and it’s not always that they are running away from something - there’s still many that are running towards something.
Click to expand...
There's a lot of discussion of that in the thread. 

 
Few of us have any idea how the rest of the world sees the US.  It's eye opening how people react to you when they find out you're from the US.

 
Alex P Keaton said:
Sure.  Similarly, people in America like to pretend they know a lot about other countries - enough to claim American exceptionalism with confidence.
Click to expand...
This doesn't seem like a prerequisite....knowledge isn't very high on the priority list for those with puffed out chests claiming exceptionalism in my experience.  

 
And yet people want to come here...by the masses. Greatest country on Earth!

 
Last edited by a moderator:
Pretty lame rant, IMO.

Think about how the average American views the rest of the world.

That's about how much credibility I give to the average non-American's view of America.

 
This has been discussion since I was five. The same attitudes, same typical, trite complaints. Everything. People haven't liked America since its role as super power and Vietnam. 

 
Last edited by a moderator:
sho nuff said:
I was thinking about something that is more useful.
Click to expand...
Like some nice shrubbery?  Perhaps we could do with a nice hedge between us and Mexico, something tasteful, decorative, and capable of binding carbon and producing oxygen. Something that would not obstruct the view, but enhance it.  Something which would still allow wildlife a chance at their natural migration patterns.

Maybe some affordable housing or healthcare, perhaps mental health care.  Educational opportunities are always a consideration.

 
Ditkaless Wonders said:
Like some nice shrubbery?  Perhaps we could do with a nice hedge between us and Mexico, something tasteful, decorative, and capable of binding carbon and producing oxygen. Something that would not obstruct the view, but enhance it.  Something which would still allow wildlife a chance at their natural migration patterns.

Maybe some affordable housing or healthcare, perhaps mental health care.  Educational opportunities are always a consideration.
Click to expand...
I don't think this administration would approve since it appears easy to hide in the shrubbery.

But the last line makes more sense...

 
irish eyes said:
Oh no, people dont like the US. How will I go on...
Click to expand...


Murph said:
Pretty lame rant, IMO.

Think about how the average American views the rest of the world.

That's about how much credibility I give to the average non-American's view of America.
Click to expand...


rockaction said:
This has been discussion since I was five. The same attitudes, same typical, trite complaints. Everything. People haven't liked America since its sole as super power and Vietnam. 
Click to expand...


But don't you think its worth listening to their critiques of the US? See what they are saying and see if there is validity to their criticism? 

Even if you think the US is the greatest place in the world, surely we can agree its not perfect.

 
whoknew said:
But don't you think its worth listening to their critiques of the US? See what they are saying and see if there is validity to their criticism? 

Even if you think the US is the greatest place in the world, surely we can agree its not perfect.
Click to expand...
Sure, I think when people who generally share our values criticize us it's worth listening to.

My point is that I don't give much credibility to random Reddit posters, American or not. And this particular one is not especially insightful.

 
rockaction said:
This has been discussion since I was five. The same attitudes, same typical, trite complaints. Everything. People haven't liked America since its sole as super power and Vietnam. 
Click to expand...
I dunno.  The Irish have ALWAYS looked up to the USA.  I went there recently and people asking me why things are getting so out of hand the past couple of years.  They also don't have too high of an opinion of our current President.

 
Godsbrother said:
I dunno.  The Irish have ALWAYS looked up to the USA.  I went there recently and people asking me why things are getting so out of hand the past couple of years.  They also don't have too high of an opinion of our current President.
Click to expand...
The current President is definitely a roadblock to understanding when it comes to non-citizens. I'll grant that. They see him and can't understand how mindful people might have voted for him. I don't blame them for wondering about this. His temperament, demeanor, and outward intelligence are probably the lowest since any President this side of Ford (I'd put Carter, but Carter was a thoughtful man with a temperamentally "weak" foreign policy outlook and viewed this way by foreigners).

 
Went on a cruise out of Ft. Lauderdale on Celebrity last year during Thanksgiving. On the eve of the holiday we were at sea and were dining at a large circular table with 5 other couples we had just met, Brits, Aussies and Scots. After ridiculing Trump and Brexit they asked us what Thanksgiving was all about:

Me, "many years ago your ancestors discovered our land and nearly starved. The Native Americans saved them by providing a huge feast and educating on how to live off the land. To repay them the "guests" went to war and took their land. Now-a-days we give thanks once a year and celebrate by overeating and drinking while watching NFL football all day and snoozing on the couch."

Them, "that sounds like a lovely holiday!"
 

 
Joe Mammy said:
Went on a cruise out of Ft. Lauderdale on Celebrity last year during Thanksgiving. On the eve of the holiday we were at sea and were dining at a large circular table with 5 other couples we had just met, Brits, Aussies and Scots. After ridiculing Trump and Brexit they asked us what Thanksgiving was all about:

Me, "many years ago your ancestors discovered our land and nearly starved. The Native Americans saved them by providing a huge feast and educating on how to live off the land. To repay them the "guests" went to war and took their land. Now-a-days we give thanks once a year and celebrate by overeating and drinking while watching NFL football all day and snoozing on the couch."

Them, "that sounds like a lovely holiday!"
Click to expand...
Yeah, that sounds about exactly what Thanksgiving was. Nice work, Ambassador. 

 
In my experience, the current President is simply validating many of the stereotypes people observing us have come to create based on the actions of our citizens and what makes the "news" etc.  It would be interesting to hear the answers to the question "Do you think this president best represents the stereotypes you see the US through when compares to his predecessors?  If not, which President best fits those stereotypes?"

 
I thought these comments were interesting and worth considering:

"American propaganda is beyond North Korea tier. American children are brainwashed to do a hail America speech every morning at school, there's American flags everywhere, it gets spouted as the land of freedom, the anthem is literally inserted in every sport and bull#### event you can think of, and if you say anything about kt you get written up as "unpatriotic" etc etc.

When you learn about America from the outside it looks like a literal brainwashing machine. It's just the people within that can't seem to notice their country is a ####hole until they get hit by an unforseen circumstance themselves."

--

"The flags always surprised me. I remember going to the US as a kid and counting the flags I would see because it was unbelievable how many there were everywhere."

--

"Veterans boarding planes first was the weirdest #### I’ve ever seen. And then there’s military dudes just straight up flying around in full camo.

My city has Canada’s largest naval base and a massive Air Force base. I’ve seen someone in fatigues once in my day to day life. And they had a military vehicle parked outside.

In America it’s status. In Canada it’s a job."

--

"I wasn't even adding your border prison camps into that

Just your Gen pop private prisons that do nothing in the way of rehabilitation, make prisoners work for literally pennies just so it's not officially slavery

Show a Scandinavian prison system to Americans and they are shocked. It's more like a hostel where they rehabilitate and reeducate prisoners to get them ready for release into the real world instead of waiting for them to reoffend so you have your labor source back

 
whoknew said:
I thought these comments were interesting and worth considering:

"American propaganda is beyond North Korea tier.
Click to expand...
No offense man but this is garbage - there’s some small elements of things worth discussing but when your post starts with this I think most people will just ignore it.

 
whoknew said:
I thought these comments were interesting and worth considering:

"American propaganda is beyond North Korea tier. American children are brainwashed to do a hail America speech every morning at school, there's American flags everywhere, it gets spouted as the land of freedom, the anthem is literally inserted in every sport and bull#### event you can think of, and if you say anything about kt you get written up as "unpatriotic" etc etc.

When you learn about America from the outside it looks like a literal brainwashing machine. It's just the people within that can't seem to notice their country is a ####hole until they get hit by an unforseen circumstance themselves."

--

"The flags always surprised me. I remember going to the US as a kid and counting the flags I would see because it was unbelievable how many there were everywhere."

--

"Veterans boarding planes first was the weirdest #### I’ve ever seen. And then there’s military dudes just straight up flying around in full camo.

My city has Canada’s largest naval base and a massive Air Force base. I’ve seen someone in fatigues once in my day to day life. And they had a military vehicle parked outside.

In America it’s status. In Canada it’s a job."

--

"I wasn't even adding your border prison camps into that

Just your Gen pop private prisons that do nothing in the way of rehabilitation, make prisoners work for literally pennies just so it's not officially slavery

Show a Scandinavian prison system to Americans and they are shocked. It's more like a hostel where they rehabilitate and reeducate prisoners to get them ready for release into the real world instead of waiting for them to reoffend so you have your labor source back
Click to expand...
And yet people flocking to get into this country, go figure. Who cares what people like this think that dont even live here. Their opinion means exactly squat.

 
Last edited by a moderator:
rockaction said:
The current President is definitely a roadblock to understanding when it comes to non-citizens. I'll grant that. They see him and can't understand how mindful people might have voted for him. I don't blame them for wondering about this. His temperament, demeanor, and outward intelligence are probably the lowest since any President this side of Ford (I'd put Carter, but Carter was a thoughtful man with a temperamentally "weak" foreign policy outlook and viewed this way by foreigners).
Click to expand...
Watch it Buster.  Jimmy Carter was the greatest president of my lifetime.*

*On October 14, 1978, President Jimmy Carter signed H.R. 1337, which contained an amendment sponsored by Senator Alan Cranston (D-CA) creating an exemption from taxation of beer brewed at home for personal or family use.  This exemption went into effect on February 1, 1979, making homebrewing legal on a federal level in the U.S

 
The Commish said:
In my experience, the current President is simply validating many of the stereotypes people observing us have come to create based on the actions of our citizens and what makes the "news" etc.  It would be interesting to hear the answers to the question "Do you think this president best represents the stereotypes you see the US through when compares to his predecessors?  If not, which President best fits those stereotypes?"
Click to expand...
William Henry Harrison

 
As for the rest of those points - I have no problem with flags - most other countries have that same “issue”.  Anthem before sporting events - I’m indifferent on them.  Letting military board a plane first - no problem with that.  Our prison system needs a lot of reform and I’m firmly against private prisons.

 
Godsbrother said:
Watch it Buster.  Jimmy Carter was the greatest president of my lifetime.*

*On October 14, 1978, President Jimmy Carter signed H.R. 1337, which contained an amendment sponsored by Senator Alan Cranston (D-CA) creating an exemption from taxation of beer brewed at home for personal or family use.  This exemption went into effect on February 1, 1979, making homebrewing legal on a federal level in the U.S
Click to expand...
I absolutely know this. I love it. Carter's movement towards deregulation of lots of industries gives me pause when assessing the man (and his strengths and faults).

 
whoknew said:
Because they are potentially valid criticisms. I think there is a lot of truth in those critiques.

And I want the US to be better.
Click to expand...
None of them valid. When someone says veterans boarding plane 1st is weirdest @@@@ they've ever seen, I dont need to hear any other drivel from that person. 

 
AAABatteries said:
As for the rest of those points - I have no problem with flags - most other countries have that same “issue”.  Anthem before sporting events - I’m indifferent on them.  Letting military board a plane first - no problem with that.  Our prison system needs a lot of reform and I’m firmly against private prisons.
Click to expand...


I think the issues have to be taken together. And together they show that we are a highly militaristic society that glorifies the military and its members beyond a reasonable level. And if you make this point or criticize members of the military, you are somehow considered unpatriotic. 

So, for example, I hang a flag on the Fourth and Memorial Day. And I hate the National Anthem at sporting events but don't really care if you want to let vets on a plane first. Its just that all of this together paints a picture of a society that worships the military to an unhealthy level.

Also - I completely agree with you on the prison system.

 
whoknew said:
I think the issues have to be taken together. And together they show that we are a highly militaristic society that glorifies the military and its members beyond a reasonable level. And if you make this point or criticize members of the military, you are somehow considered unpatriotic. 

So, for example, I hang a flag on the Fourth and Memorial Day. And I hate the National Anthem at sporting events but don't really care if you want to let vets on a plane first. Its just that all of this together paints a picture of a society that worships the military to an unhealthy level.

Also - I completely agree with you on the prison system.
Click to expand...
Honestly didn’t cross my mind in my reply but I’m in complete agreement that we spend way too much on our military, don’t oversee it properly and get involved in too many wars.  The industrial military complex has way too much influence on our politics.  I don’t have a good solution other than to vote for someone who wants to do something about those items.  I don’t think the amount of flags really has anything to do with it though.  

 
If you want to talk about the role of the military in society I'll have that discussion all day long.

When you lead off with "America = North Korea and flags trigger me" that conversation is going nowhere.

 
Most are just going to over react to the OP and not read through a lot of the comments in that thread. 

Here are some based on folks actually experiencing the US first-hand:

"I was in the US in August/September last year for work. Was there a month. Was fkn terrified the whole lead up to it.. I had to travel through like 8 cities . Some of them ones I see on the news all the time for dodgy #### I never hear of in my home town; Sydney Australia.

I was shocked at how ###### nice everyone was. Like, I walked away thinking " I could live there".

I've always kept up to date with US politics and news . I can def see a huge increase in the crazy talk.

Even those I made friends with over there are anxious about where the country is headed."

"They are so approachable and friendly, and very willing to talk. When people here talk about the crazy Americans i always ask them if they’ve every actually been there and met an American in their natural habitat. 9/10 they haven’t and are just basing their opinion off the crazy #### they see on the telly.

I once had a kid in Texas ask me where I got my food from. I said the supermarket. He looked confused and said “don’t you just live off coconuts from the trees?”. So yeah, there is an element of ignorance of the rest of the world, but they are by far some of the nicest people I’ve encountered on my travels."

"Aussie here. I’ve been to America twice and visited California, Nevada, Kentucky, Indiana, and Texas, and where I can agree with the flaws in America my experience with Americans has been exemplary.

Blacks, whites, Hispanics, Asians, urban, metro, and country-bumkins, I’ve met hundreds of all of you. All on my own and knowing no one I’ve sat in dive bars and drank with you, played corn hole with you, walked the streets of San Diego with young Hispanics that I just met, chatted with cops in L.A, bought a blunt from one of you at 2am at a petrol station in Dallas, caught Uber’s over state lines with black drivers and had the best conversations. And never, ever have I met a bad person.

I think you guys are pretty ####### awesome. It makes me wonder, there’s like 300 million of you. Why can’t you collectively hug it out and dig yourselves out of this black hole of bull#### you’re sinking into? You’re all cool if you drop your tribal, us-vs-them-ism.

Good luck my American friends. My next trip is to Hawaii. I wanna look through that big ####### telescope if I’m allowed. Please don’t shoot me while I’m visiting ;)"

 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

Joe Bryant
  • Poll Poll
How To Know If You're The Problem With America...
2 3 4
Replies
156
Views
6K
Maurile Tremblay
Maurile Tremblay
GordonGekko
The Hill: Almost 20% Polled Say "Politics" Has Hurt/Ended Friendships & Family Relationships (10/18/22 19:43 PST)
Replies
2
Views
639
tymarsas
T
GordonGekko
NAACP Calls For NFL's Jack Del Rio To Be Fired/Resign After J6 Comments (6/10/22 03:12 PST)
2 3
Replies
146
Views
6K
GordonGekko
GordonGekko

Users who are viewing this thread

Total: 1 (members: 0, guests: 1)
Back
Top