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Poll: Opinion of the USA
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View Poll Results: How does your nation view the United States?
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Positively
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80 |
39.80% |
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Neutrally
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55 |
27.36% |
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Negatively
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66 |
32.84% |
Member Since: 4/28/2012
Posts: 1,659
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Quote:
Originally posted by YSL
I consider myself a New Yorker before I consider myself an American. I mean, I know I'm both but New York is like a whole 'nother world compared to the rest of America.
As far as the country goes, if NY didn't exist, I would have left a long time ago. I much rather live somewhere like France or Spain or Hungary where there's far more cultural and more open minded people. And the men >>>>> 
Anyway, looking at our country's history, it used to be an amazing place but now it's just a mess.  |
Dude I completely get what you're saying. If I didn't live in London, I would definitely want to live in NY or Hong Kong (in all 3 cases it feels like 'a different world' from the country surrounding them as you say...). Only certain cities have that buzz about them that make them stand out so you don't want to live anywhere else.
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Member Since: 6/22/2012
Posts: 26,585
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The reason I don't like the US is because they get music and video games before the UK 
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Member Since: 9/20/2011
Posts: 3,218
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I'm Australian but I have visited the US twice (California & Florida) as well as many places Europe and Asia.
Firstly, US media/entertainment industry >>>> the rest of the world.
Apart from that I have a lot of difficulty warming to the US. One of the main things I notice in the US is that everyone needs to let everyone what their opinion is about everything. From their religion to their sexual orientation (not shade, I'm gay). I know you all have free speech in your constitution but that doesn't mean we need to hear what is your opinion on everything every minute.
Not to mention the ****ery about 'the right to bear arms'.  I'm not even going to go into but but yeah.
The arrogance demonstrated by some in this thread is the message that is presented to non-US people, that you all are gun-toting, arrogent, uneducated people, which I know is not true but certainly makes up a big chunk of the population.
And being a politics major, the current political climate in the US is both fascinating and tragic. This once unstoppable nation, turning important issues into simple 2 sided Democrat v Republican issues - e.g. Climate Change, Gay Marriage, Immigration, the economy when in fact these are issues that are extremely complex and need cooperation rather than petty politics. E.g. the Chick-fil-a ****ery
And when I was over there, it was the week Obama said he was for gay marriage, my God, you would think that was the only thing that had gone on in the world that week. The hours and hours of coverage about such a small issue.
So overall, the media lover in me LOVES the US. But the politics major in me pities it.
That being said, NY is still a place I wanna visit, I just have no intention in moving there. I'll take Canada/UK any day.
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Member Since: 3/11/2012
Posts: 14,498
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Quote:
Originally posted by Auraeolux
I've heard of it if it makes you feel better. I know every country in Europe and can draw the region with borders without looking at a map  |
At least someone knows about us.
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Member Since: 12/15/2011
Posts: 1,698
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Quote:
Originally posted by mitch323
I'm Australian but I have visited the US twice (California & Florida) as well as many places Europe and Asia.
Firstly, US media/entertainment industry >>>> the rest of the world.
Apart from that I have a lot of difficulty warming to the US. One of the main things I notice in the US is that everyone needs to let everyone what their opinion is about everything. From their religion to their sexual orientation (not shade, I'm gay). I know you all have free speech in your constitution but that doesn't mean we need to hear what is your opinion on everything every minute.
Not to mention the ****ery about 'the right to bear arms'. I'm not even going to go into but but yeah.
The arrogance demonstrated by some in this thread is the message that is presented to non-US people, that you all are gun-toting, arrogent, uneducated people, which I know is not true but certainly makes up a big chunk of the population.
And being a politics major, the current political climate in the US is both fascinating and tragic. This once unstoppable nation, turning important issues into simple 2 sided Democrat v Republican issues - e.g. Climate Change, Gay Marriage, Immigration, the economy when in fact these are issues that are extremely complex and need cooperation rather than petty politics. E.g. the Chick-fil-a ****ery
And when I was over there, it was the week Obama said he was for gay marriage, my God, you would think that was the only thing that had gone on in the world that week. The hours and hours of coverage about such a small issue.
So overall, the media lover in me LOVES the US. But the politics major in me pities it.
That being said, NY is still a place I wanna visit, I just have no intention in moving there. I'll take Canada/UK any day. |
That was quite insightful. Thank you.
In response to the politics, you truly hit the nail on the head; I probably couldn't have summarized it any better. While it certainly is a shame that different parties (here) can't work together well, that honestly has been the history of American politics: Federalists vs. Non-federalists in the eighteenth century, Northerners vs. Southerners in nineteenth, etc. For that reason, I don't see change coming anytime soon.
Also, Obama's statement on gay marriage was a rather massive deal, as he was the first president to openly support it (additionally, he previously opposed it, so the change was surprising). It was a milestone step in the road to legalized same-sex marriage. Plus, Americans (as I've said before) don't really take much interest in the rest of the world, so any big domestic story is really all the daily news we have.
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Member Since: 4/22/2011
Posts: 5,090
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Australia.
In terms of living standards there, it's definitely very overrated. There are plenty of other countries that provide so much more for their people and the cost of living is much more affordable for EVERYONE. For example where I live, immigrants can come here with barely any money and the government gives them heaps of benefits, housing, health care etc to start them off. Even living here, the government still gives people plenty of benefits even if you're not dirt poor. There are no ghettos here whatsoever and it's cleaner and safer.
But the US is Australia's main ally and if any countries decided to attack us (eg. China, North Korea), we'd be ****ed without them. So I'm pretty neutral.
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Member Since: 12/30/2011
Posts: 15,778
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I live in the U.S.A and I love it.
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Member Since: 9/19/2011
Posts: 1,105
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To be honest I really don't like the Usa.
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Member Since: 10/14/2008
Posts: 14,986
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I'm from the Middle East. Granted, the U.S military has spawned the death of over 3 million Iraqis, 5 thousand Yemenis, etc. and the cherry on the cake is the U.S has labeled the ME as "terrorists." So clearly, you get it.
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Member Since: 11/7/2011
Posts: 1,063
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Member Since: 8/22/2011
Posts: 5,963
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I'm from Vienna, Austria and was born here.
It doesn't happen that often, but when the USA or US Americans are being brought up in a conversation, then my experience with it is that the connation is usually negative.
Most people realize and acknowledge that ofc it's not that simple, and ofc what I'm about to write is an ignorant view of Americans itself, but the stereotype of Americans over here is that of a rather cocky, ignorant and/or uneducated (and probably overweight) person that has peculiar opinions on politics, an equally peculiar and overtly patriotic or naive perception of his/her country, and might be a very conservative christian (which is not a compliment).
I have the impression that news sources report unbiased of the US and US politics when they do. However they usually only mention it when it has to do with foreign affairs that are of international relevance, for instance news on the Middle East, the capital market or UN affairs. Reports on domestic US politics rarely occur. I wonder if even quality news channels and news papers would still show no bias if they cared to report on US abortion laws, anti-LGBT tendencies, gun laws or just everyday politics in general. 
I personally think that (talking to Americans directly) some of the laws your government and some states pass and also some dim-witted people tend to cast a bad light on the entire country.
Also I should say that I have never been to the US myself, that's why I can't REALLY have a qualified opinion on it all. Everything I know I know from the internet, news and talking to others about it.
PS.:
About the stereotype thing: think of one of those people who happen to be interviewed on the street and asked to point their finger on the USA on a world map.... and they can't because they don't know where it ****ing is. 
Yeah, for many people here that's about the image that jumps to mind when thinking about Americans. My apologies to all smart, educated, openminded Americans.
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Member Since: 3/6/2011
Posts: 4,948
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I'm from the US and I'm not particularly fond of it. I can see why many other countries hate it.
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Member Since: 12/3/2010
Posts: 14,971
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I want to visit NYC so bad 
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Member Since: 6/22/2012
Posts: 26,585
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If I could live in the US rather than the UK I'd grab the chance...Apart from some peculiar laws like some about owning a gun being common I quite like the US
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Member Since: 7/21/2012
Posts: 50
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Rare to hear a negative word? You kidding me? It's like the cool thing to hate America here. Of course, that's how all teenagers are I suppose - rebels without a cause. Really, though, it's sad how many people think Great Britain is the best country in the world because they have Doctor Who and crumpets and a Queen.
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Member Since: 4/23/2007
Posts: 16,416
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I love how Americans are so threatened by what the world thinks of them and just as soon as somebody rationally criticizes something, they attack. Even if they agree...
How different from European countries where their citizens respect other views and also criticize their own political/cultural agenda.
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Member Since: 5/18/2012
Posts: 20,576
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Why won't people just let this thread die. Its long overdue.
I get it, everyone hates America, it sucks, everyone is fat, and Europe is better. Americans are ignorant and close-minded, and the rest of the world scorns us.
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Member Since: 10/28/2011
Posts: 6,626
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Quote:
Originally posted by Dancefloor
I love how Americans are so threatened by what the world thinks of them and just as soon as somebody rationally criticizes something, they attack. Even if they agree...
How different from European countries where their citizens respect other views and also criticize their own political/cultural agenda.
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Not us turning the Wold into a typical ATRL stan battle 
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Member Since: 8/1/2012
Posts: 8,763
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I appreciate the US music scene very much, also the entertainment. All Americans I know are well educated and nice, however, I need to add that I know most of them from projects where only university students participated.
The reason why we have negative opinion on USA in my country is their foreign policy - mainly their petroleum politics, military actions and operations USA iniciated in foreign countries, supported by NATO (including also my country, but the opinions on NATO and our membership worsened since we joined the alliance)
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Member Since: 7/21/2012
Posts: 64
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I'm from Argentina and people here usually hate everything from USA culture (especially Miami, where our famous stars go to live and spend their money)
I don't get the hate for USA, Argentinians are very envious sometimes
Brazil and UK win in terms of Argentinian hate though
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