Be honest Reddit, what do you *really* think about America?

kitd · 1 year

UK citizen here, but I lived in the US for a year.

3 things I love:

the genuine hospitality shown by the vast majority to strangers
the infectious "can-do" attitude, the lack of which stifles the UK without us realizing
social mobility based on merit

3 things I don't like:

political funding & lobbying (I think this is far more serious than most in the US appreciate)
political religion (like a new Mediaeval Papacy)
(speaking as a father) Disney Corp.

GimmeSomeSugar · 1 year

I think of America as being analogous to the internet.
In theory, it is an entity born of tremendous potential for freedom of all kinds and liberty for all.
In practice, you've got the majority of people who are perfectly intelligent, yet appear to be in the extreme minority because of being drowned out by the loud-mouthed, fucking rednecks on one side and beset by burgeoning corporate interests on the other.

borez · 1 year

From the UK, I toured America from Chicago to Venice beach, had a fantastic time and met a lot of incredibly interesting people.

However what I didn't like there were the authorities, we had five or six run ins with the law ( as one does touring coast to coast for a few months with a band ) just absolutely no leeway with them at all, all complete dicks. At least you can reason with a British policeman, even have a joke with them, not a chance in the US, they're just militant fuckwits IMO.

One example was some festival near Minneapolis, one of the band was drinking and smoking in the VIP area ( all open air FTR ) this cop ( not security, a cop ) came up, grabbed him by the scruff of the neck and marched him off-site, no reasoning, no explanation, no gig.

Turns out you couldn't drink or smoke in the area because of the minors but... the guy was British, how the fuck was he supposed to know? Smoking and drinking at festivals is second nature to us in the UK? Two minutes would have sorted it all out with an apology, but no, this cop just had to play the complete wanker card because he could.

But the normal people in general, yeah I had a great time.

olafthebent · 1 year

I've always found that as a Canadian I liken Canada/USA as a brother relationship... Canada being the younger brother.

You call us names, tease us, and yet, no matter what, we'll always have your back... we are "family" after all.

/My Mom was born in Flint Mi.

MDKrouzer · 1 year

I think you guys tend to have your hearts in the right place.
I admire what you stand for (or what you say you stand for).
The US is a very big place with a very varied population, so you obviously have your nutjobs (like everywhere else). However, your nutjobs have waaaay more ability to broadcast their nutjob opinions.
I think a lot of Americans suffer from the fact that they cannot travel to a completely different country as easily as most of the rest of the world (logistically speaking) and so their views become very USA-centric. What works in America "should" work everywhere else, right?
I dislike your obsession with corporations and making money (this is probably biased). That's not to say the UK isn't very much driven by capitalistic motives, but at least I do not feel like my job is in jeopardy if I want to take a holiday or need a few sick days.
I really dislike how in order to rise in your political system you need to have substantial financial backing which is vulnerable to corruption.

DiscursiveMind · 1 year

Since I've had a chance to live in several regions of the US (The Rockies, the Northwest, the South, and now the Mid West) and had a chance to live abroad for a short period of time, I'll share my experiences on the question at hand.

The US is both bigger than most people can imagine, and treated mentally as something much smaller. Meaning, a large majority of folks in the US believe that the rest of America is just like their hometown. That their definition of American life is what is shared by all. The truth is, we are a much more diverse group than that, and the failure to recognize this fact is one element that causes our recent polarization in politics and social beliefs. To take it one step further, it is contemplation of that diversity which I believe drives a large portion to fear that their perception of America is endangered, and they fear becoming a stranger in a strange land. This problem has been exacerbated by folks who figured out that fear sells, and it is a way to make hundreds of millions if you are good at it.

It bothers me to no end that political discourse has been hijacked in the US (by both sides) in order to demonize the other side. When I was living in the south, I surprised quite a few conservatives I worked with by pointing out that for the majority of the time, we actually agreed on the end result, but our disagreements came from the path we wanted to take to get there. The US has moved to a hyper-polarized state in our national discourse and the end result is more battle lines being drawn than solutions.

The world is an amazing place, and I wish more folks from the US would get out there and explore it. Once you have a few perceptions shattered, you really do begin to see there is more than one way to cook an omelet. I still remember being flabbergasted when I found out a flatmate in Nottingham had never been to Scotland, even though she only lived an hour away. Back in Montana, I used to travel six hours one way to play a soccer match in Kalispell. A twelve hour round trip driving, and I was still in the same state. I also recall being stunned by my flatmates being appalled by my Peanut Butter and Jelly sandwiches, a staple of American childhood, to them it just sounded gross.

I love the US, we've got some of the most beautiful places in the world in our backyard, and I'd be hard pressed to pick somewhere else to live. But, I do wish we would leave a lot more of our preconceptions at the door. I think the world would be a better place if more Americans shut up for for a few minutes, and actually listened to a rational explanation for an opposing view with an open mind. That and travel more, it is a lot harder to be all gun-ho for starting wars if you happen to have friends from different countries, or even better yet, friends in those countries.

KarmaKaiser · 1 year

Culturally there are AT LEAST 4 Americas, New England, South, Midwest, and Pacific with many more cultures that can be splintered off from there (Pacific Norwest is very different from Southern California, Appalachia is very different from the South). So when we speak of America, it is important to take into account things common to all, or at least most Americans.

But I will try to make a generalization about the whole of the country.

America is a proud nation, who revels in their opinion, whatever that might be. It might be fair to say that we have always been a smug nation.

Now we are engaged in a great civil war, testing whether that nation, or any nation, so conceived and so dedicated, can long endure.

Emphasis mine.

That line is from Lincoln, in the Gettsburg Address. We had no reason to think we were of any great consequnce at the time. A still upstart nation, not a great exporter of culture, media, or much other than King Cotton. But we have always seen our struggles as fundemental human struggles. America has always acted as if it was running for election for president of the World, even when it had a Ron Paul's chance in hell. Every struggle is the final struggle, the ultimate struggle. There has always been the dream of America and the reality of it. The idea that all men are free and the slaves that would like to kindly object to that idea, seeing as the State thought they were 3/5ths of a person.

We are a nation of extremes. We can be blamed and credited with the greatest ignorance and genius, the Second World War, and the Iraq War. We have therefore been in a state of identity crisis for some time.

We have a thing about big. Big cars, big houses, big pizzas. We have a thing about clean. And we have a thing about privacy.

All in all, I like this place, if it comes down to it, I may move one day. But for now, I am still an American, and I plan to be one tomorrow as well.

travisjudegrant · 1 year

New York is one of the most interesting places on Earth
Everyone should visit Northern California at least once in their lives.
The bar in the Minneapolis-St. Paul airport is great for sociological tourism.
Some of the kindest people I've ever met live in Phoenix, Arizona.
I would live in the US over Australia any day.
Museums in D.C. are freeeeeeeeee!
I would rather have a genital wart than try and find suitable parking in San Francisco.
Somedays, L.A. smells like a camp fire.
Overall, a very friendly country
Americans and American Politics are two completely different things.

I live in Canada

nunobo · 1 year

Its a big place. The size of it does not allow for social programs that are successful in europe to work without creating a lot of wasteful spending. But overall you cannot complain about the quality of life and the amount of opportunities presented to you. Some of the people sure are assholes though.

[deleted] · 1 year

I'm American and have visited a few countries in southern Europe. It seems like from what I've seen, read, and heard that the day to day lives of Americans and Europeans is pretty similar in a lot of ways, very comfortable and lacking in much danger for the most part. I get very frustrated with out politics here, but am pretty happy with the way our government was originally set up (it's pretty hard for one administration to make whole sale changes to our way of life). Some of our cities are just gorgeous places to be (Annapolis, MD, Leadville, CO, DC, etc), but admittedly aren't quite as grand as the cities I've seen in Europe (Split, Croatia and Venice, Italy). We have a very large variety of natural wonders here, beautiful chunks of unadulterated national parks that simply can't exist in Europe because of how long large civilizations have been developing there. I have a lot more of the earth to see for sure, but I'm pretty glad to call America my home base. :-)

modifiedafricanape · 1 year

I am an American who has permanently settled in the UK. In the US, I almost never felt unsafe walking around. I used to walk or bike home alone from work in downtown to the Virginia Highlands in Atlanta in the middle of the night without the slightest bit of fear. If I saw anyone sketchy, 99% of the time, a big smile got the same in return. I made a point not to look scared or victim-y. It worked. Maybe I was lucky.

Now I live in a big, industrial city in the North of England and I wouldn’t consider going anywhere that isn’t well lit and busy with people after dusk even when I’m out with my friends or my husband. If I’m alone, there aren’t many places I would consider going at all after dark. The same smile and self-confidence that served me so well in the states just seems to piss people off. Even these precautions about where to go and when aren’t a foolproof way to stay safe – my husband was mugged for his wallet by some kids with a broken bottle in a busy park on a sunny afternoon. He was in full view and there were people everywhere, some less than 20 feet away. Just the other day a big guy drinking cheap cider from a plastic bottle asked me for the time at the bus stop (it was about 7:30 am, I was on my way to work). ‘Sorry, I don’t have a watch’, I said. ‘Pull out your phone, then, love’ he said. I was lucky the bus turned up at that moment. I knew he just wanted me to get my phone out so he could snatch it. He knew I knew. He knew the other people at the bus stop wouldn’t do a thing to stop him.

There is a kind of malevolence and rage among a certain class of people here in the UK that is deeply frightening – and I am not the sort of person that is easily frightened. There are obviously poor, addicted, and mentally ill people in the States . They have it worse, in a lot of ways, because they don’t have the social safety net (such as it is) that the poor and disenfranchised have here in the UK. Maybe it’s the knowledge that anyone could have a concealed weapon that keeps people in check. I’m guessing that it’s more complicated than that, though I have no idea where even to begin trying to understand it.

All_Your_Base · 1 year

Just because I think we can do better doesn't mean that I'm not proud to be here.

crumpus1 · 1 year

I'm English and 90% of the American's I have met (not that many, but a fair few) have been really nice, usually a laugh and good to drink with. I think there is a really negative stereotype due to some Americans being weird as fuck. Things like that Glenn Beck rally were fairly well reported over here and that really reinforces it, as they are generally the only real Americans that find themselves and their opinions broadcast on our media. I've never actually been, but judging on the Americans I have met, I'd love to.

Also, if it weren't for them my views would probably be completely the opposite.

Another also, it looks like an absolutely beautiful country, with more natural wonders than I could ever see in a lifetime.

Angry_Caveman_Lawyer · 1 year

I'm an American; but I have visited ~30 countries around the world.

America is just like anywhere else, except with one very large difference:

Our media culture SUCKS. People in other countries look at our media to get a sense of what's going on in the country, when the reality is, our media uses two techniques: shock and awe. It's amazing to me that Euros think that our day to day lives are just like they see on TV. I mean, I don't think that all British chaps run around to different pubs drinking thick beers and singing futbol songs all day every day.

It's interesting to me, because if an American makes a generalization about England, then we're uneducated fools. If a Brit makes the same generalization, then we're supposed to just accept it as that's how they think we are. And that's shit, IMO.

People are people the world over. The US has some absolutely fantastic places to see, people, and ideals. Unfortunately, the world EATS up our morons, our draconian rules that get played up in the media, and things that do need to be worked on (and usually are). Rarely do you hear about all the money, time, and effort Americans put forth to help the world in general.

We're some of the most giving, loyal, and kind people you'll ever meet.

I wish I were back in the UK so I could buy you chaps who think the US sucks a drink and we could discuss it. I'd love to change your mind.

soccer_trekkie · 1 year

I think Americans are just like people from any other country. They are fed limited information and told to react in a certain way, and they do. The problem is the people in power. When you have (or had) people in power that incited violence and war and encourage the rich being against the poor you are going to have some major problems. Further, when you foster malevolence instead of benevolence, more problems.

I am from Canada.

atheistmil · 1 year

Growing up (in the UK) I was so pro-American I loved the idea of the place and really wanted to go work there. When I hit 17 I went to visit friends I'd made on-line in the US and had an awesome time, most of the people were amazing.

However, as I have grown older (and turned down 2 job offers in the US with companies who would have helped me get a green card) the life doesn't appeal as much. Things such as health care, gun ownership, religious extremism, corrupt politics that makes a mockery of the claim to be the land of the free have really put me off the place.

Also, I've grown to appreciate what Europe has to offer in terms of culture, history and many of the things the US doesn't have. Not to say the UK/EU is any better but for the time being at least I know that I'm not so likely to get shot at, made bankrupt by medical bills and hardly ever hear my elected representatives refer to God (in fact my MP is an outed atheist/agnostic).

Generally though, I have a positive image of many Americans and have many good American friends.

zerbey · 1 year

I've lived here for 10 years, I was born and raised in England though:

Most people here are friendly and approachable. This is the same everywhere in the world you go. There's a small percentage of assholes which the majority of the population ignores anyway.
Everyone has political opinions, and usually they're very passionate about them. For the most part they'll respect the counterpoint, and are happy to debate it with them.
The same with religion and sports, which is almost like another religion here.
Whilst most people care about the world, in reality many Americans are very ignorant about what's going on internationally. This is mainly because the news here doesn't report on it as much as it should.
Americans are very patriotic, they're proud of what they've accomplished in a short time but recognise they're not perfect.

TL;DR - People are people the world over.

iorgfeflkd · 1 year

As a Canadian, I love the restaurant portions.

TheBigPanda · 1 year

Never been to the States but I'll get there someday. I am from northern Europe from one of those semi-socialistic countries most Americans can't figure out if to love or hate. Growing up I always heard how great the US was in between listening to American music and watching tonnes of US movies, sitcoms and soaps ergo I've always felt that I could relate to you guys and your culture. Back when the US was our guardian against the big, red Soviet Union a vast majority of western Europeans adored the Yanks. I think we kinda understood that the bad things you occasionally did around the world fell into the category "It's a shit job but someone has to do it" so we were generally fine with it. The Americans were the good guys and everything was just swell.

Then the Soviet Union collapsed and everybody ran around confused looking for a new world order which to this day still isn't settled. Europe grew back together (although we still see the eastern Europeans as a bit off but it's getting better) and we felt as if a huge burden had been lifted from our shoulders. The European Union grew stronger and as a natural result the need for big brother across the pond faded. That is basically where we are now although we still feel strongly about our cultural and historical bonds. Most of us want the best for you guys and that's also why during the last decade more and more people have begun to shake their heads and think "What the hell is going on over there?"

I think things really took off when Gore "lost" the election to Bush on some very dubious actions. Remember that many European countries have electoral systems very different from that of the US, under those systems Gore would never have lost. It was mindboggling. Here are some of the things I dislike about America as of 2010. Some are perceived and some only refer to certain partitions.

The lobbying system
The influence of religion in society and government
The out-of-control corporate-consumer system
The general lack of empathy towards the poorest
The amount of guns and how easy it is to access them
The lack of interest in the World outside of the US (getting better)
The hardass police and their methods
The fact that you could elect a bafoon like Bush and then re-elect him
The blatant disregard for the threats of global warming (improving)
The fact that so many Americans have 2 or 3 two-ton cars.
The fact that the US jumped on Iraq and Afghanistan on questionable grounds and without clear goals resulting in the chaos we've seen the last 5 years.
The fact that so many Americans rant about Obama because he is a democrat and black and plenty seem willing to do something about it.
That so many Americans watch the "Fair and Balanced" utter crap that Fox lets out on a daily basis and that a fathead like Glen Beck can muster a 6 digit number of people for his rallies.

I think it bugs many Europeans that you seem to have so many issues these days because we still see you as allies. Unfortunately you've gone from the likable first cousin to the slightly off uncle that the family members always dread inviting over for Christmas.

We want to like you again America. Don't make it too hard please.

Baghdadification · 1 year

I'm an Iraqi who had to move out of Iraqi because of the war. I've met a lot of Americans here in Germany (and in my life), and here are my two cents:

I think that America, as a country, is a place too complex for me to generalize. On one hand I want to say Americans are awesome (which in some ways, they are), then I remember the rednecks, the racists and the dickfaces. Then I want to say that Americans are dickfaces, but I remember all the people who marched for peace, and all the pro-Palestinian rights groups. So I just shut up.
I do have the impression that a lot of Americans I met feel like they know everything. This is especially true when it comes to sports (soccer) and politics.
I am annoyed by how Americans always boast about how great and awesome America was/is, when they have no real history of their own, and when their country was founded, there was slavery and women had barely any rights.
Most (not all) Americans I have ran into seem to think that because I am Iraqi, I must have lived in a cave under Saddam Hussein. They fail to recognize that we played a significant role in forming civilization, and that pre-1991 we had the best Unis and educational facilities of the Middle East.
Even though many, many parts of me resent America for what it has caused me and my family, I do admire how proud Americans are.
I dislike how many Americans abruptly label something as bad and refuse to deal with it, such as socialism, communism, etc.
I dislike how many Americans thin Barack Obama is God's gift to mankind.
I dislike how (a few) Americans still believe that they brought us peace and democracy in Iraq. Moreover, I am infuriated at how when I tell them that that is not the case, that it was better under Saddam Hussein, I am vilified and attacked, when I am in fact the victim of the conflict. It gets me that they refuse to listen and believe that they have caused an absolute disaster and that America has blood on its hands.

I don't mean any of this personally. I still have quite a few American friends who I deeply respect and enjoy spending time with. I do not hate Americans as individuals, but I hate what they stand for in a group.

4AM · 1 year

I think that the information that I was raised with, things like patriotism, US history, and the American dream are all just propaganda tools to keep people placated and loyal to a complex interworking of government and industry (as well as military) in an effort to present a limited list of options for attaining happiness thereby making people forget that they truly are free to follow their own path and live life on their own terms.

What I learned in school depicted a great American society and that vision is indeed great. Strong cultural values of anecdotes regarding Washington, Jefferson and Franklin inspired and amazed me. Unfortunately, that world does not exist and it is all a lie. It is a mythological story now to be told to children in order to make them forget how limited their options truly are.

That's what I really think about America. I love the idea of America; The one in songs and stories of founding fathers. I may not hate America as it actually is, much in the same way that you cannot truly hate your mother; but let's just say that we have a very dysfunctional relationship and only one of us is trying to make the situation any better.

darkcity2 · 1 year

i was born in the US but spent 10 years abroad, so i think I have something to say.

there's a lot of dipshits and a lot of smart people. with a country so multicultural, it's impossible to generalize. unfortunately the dipshits tend to make the news.

before you criticize, think long and hard, and consider, do my people do the same thing, perhaps in a different way?

its human nature to take note of the assholes and let the decent ones slip under the radar. hating stupid americans is very en vogue and trendy, but also remember that there is a lot of good that is contributed to society, whether it be in the form of movies, books, or science.

you can scrutinize any country and find positives and negatives, depending on your own agenda. nowhere is perfect.

WWWEH · 1 year

A good few Americans come over to Ireland expecting to see people living in stone cottages eating potatoes and water for breakfast.

(But these are people who come over "searching for their roots." American multinationals have been great for Ireland)

EDIT: some people think I'm being negative. I'm not! Americans are lovely people and Ireland is a great place! It's just more modern than some Americans believe is all

funkme1ster · 1 year

I'm from Canada, and my perception of the US is more or less a country that has good intentions and sincerely believes they are helping, but was founded by people with short tempers and self-righteous mentalities which in turn spawned a country heavily divided on all subjects because they have embraced a two-party system, which encourages the population to think in stark contrast without considering alternate options.

It's not entirely their fault. They share a third of the world with two other countries, which they could try harder to understand, but they aren't forced to see as many different cultural views as you would be in Europe so they become self-centered as a result.

The cold war also left a solid two generations (possibly three) with the "us or them" mentality that helps guide the country down a path of myopic protectionism which won't change until everyone over 40 dies off. It's also left a bad taste in everyone's mouth about socialism (which is entirely different from communism) which prevents the country from making any groundbreaking advances in human rights.

Past experiences talking with 'patriotic' Americans have helped me understand what they mean by "freedom". Personally, I don't entirely agree but I can appreciate how their lack of an outside perspective and a unique constitution has led to the opinion that low taxation and gun ownership is more important than a high quality of living.

All in all, I know the average American isn't a redneck who believes the baby jesus wants him to own assault rifles to protect himself from the terrists, but their export culture is doing a horrendous job of convincing the outside world to the contrary.

[EDIT: I didn't mean the founding fathers themselves, I meant the populace that became the first generation of Americans.]

yeahhtoast · 1 year

It's a thinly-veiled plutocracy.

-I'm from Washington DC

English_Gentleman · 1 year

UK here, the American people are fine, except the self righteous bible and gun obsessed ones that aren't aware of any country outside of their own borders, but the majority are fine.

The polititics on the other hand, I hate. The fact that the U.S. government thinks it gets to decide how the rest of the world works, that fact that they think they should be able to police foreign politics and the fact that they have no problems invading other countries as long as it means a profit to them.

satisfiedsardine · 1 year

Put simply - it's a great place if you have money.

Thinktank58 · 1 year

I hate it for all the ironies.

I hate it for all the Extreme Christians.

I hate it for having a shitty healthcare system.

I hate our public school system. They always get shafted on funding.

I hate how the law favors big corporations instead of what is morally correct.

I hate how we bully other countries and hand them the shit end of the stick.

I hate how we don't get enough credit for helping other countries and getting the shit end of the stick.

I hate how we are trying to stop illegal immigrants from coming here. Don't try to make it sound nice Arizona, just say you don't want Mexicans, American or not.

I hate our rail network.

I hate how we can go to war at 18, but can't drink till 21.

I hate how wasteful our consumer culture is.

-That said, I still love this place. It's not perfect, but it's the best we can do right now.

Despite how many people hate working insane hours, I love our work ethic. (Keep your siestas Spain)

I love being able to own a gun, even though I don't have one.

I love the negligible amount of racism I get (I'm a minority).

I love how diverse we are.

I love how in any major city, you can find (and buy), almost anything.

I love being able to talk shit about the government and not 'disappear' in a few days.

I love unrestricted internet, tv, and telephone calls.

I love unrestricted travel.

I love being able to buy fresh food anywhere.

I love our technology.

I love how decisive and flexible our companies are. (When I deal with international companies, I always have to bullshit with them for about 15 minutes before getting to the topic at hand).

chadius333 · 1 year

American here.

I believe the past several generations in the U.S. are the equivalent of the spoiled rich children of a successful empire. We have everything we could ever want but no real sense of it's worth or what it took to achieve it. In general, I think most Americans take America for granted.

shaolin_style · 1 year

Honestly? When I first think of America I think fat, stupid and ignorant. I know it's a ridiculous generalisation but it's just what happens. It's even more ridiculous because I'd love to visit America, especially New York.

EDIT: Hey guys, I know that what I said is extremely hypocritical, but it's just the first thought that comes into my head. I know it's not true and that it's a massive generalisation.

stripesonfire · 1 year

Everyone from Europe seems to say the same thing: American media portrays us as arrogant, ignorant & crazy; but every American they've met has been the complete opposite and not much different from themselves.

Don't let the retarded media that you see influence you, that portrays such a small percentage of our population. Let your actual interactions with Americans shape your opinion. That is the real America, not the idiots on tv.

mahelke · 1 year

I'm American and here's my opinion:

The two-party system, more often than not, makes it more difficult to get important legislation passed. It does have its merits, for instance, when FDR attempted to stack the Supreme Court with Democratic judges, but nowadays, all it's good for is bickering about who's right and who's wrong.
Many American voters have become so disillusioned with voting for whomever is running for their political party just because they're of the same affiliation that they forget to examine the issues and what views each candidate holds concerning those issues.
Political debates amongst citizens seem to degenerate from topics that need to be discussed carefully to simple arguments about who's right and who's wrong based on skewed points of view and illogical evidence.
Religion is used for establishing as a counterpoint in a debate way too much in a country whose constitution emphasizes the separation of church and state.
The United States people and the government have become so disillusioned with maintaining the capitalist status quo that any mention of something like government-run heath care is shot down as being socialist and one more step on the road to Communism. This might also be because I live in the south.
Many United States media companies provide audiences with skewed or incomplete information, or stop covering things at all. Case in point: the media called the US Invasion of Afghanistan and Iraq a "War on Terror," leading people to believe we actually declared war on both countries. While I do agree that something needed to be done in that situation, I do not agree that invasion was the correct answer.

Tl;dr: Great concept, poor execution.

woodelf86 · 1 year

I am an American and I weep for the direction my country is headed, we are embracing a dumbing down of the culture and we continually cater to the lowest common denominator. It's depressing

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