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Non-US goons, with all the crazy stuff going on it has me wondering; what do you and your fellow countrymen think of the US? If I were to visit your country, should I mysteriously become a Canadian? What do you like and dislike about the US? I'd also like to hear about what major factions in your country think about the US (bonus points if you know what the general opinion in Academia is). Please start your post by noting your country and separate thoughts by faction like so: A poster posted:Generic Country goon here. I think the US is a strange place full of trees and so does my family.
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Feb 25, 2017 07:33
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Checking in from New Zealand to say my opinion and the general public consensus is that your country is full of screaming retards that inexplicably produce almost all of the good media in the world. Kids here are exposed to so much American media they think American laws are relevant to them (I saw a twenty year old posting about Trump taking away her right to have an abortion last week) and our emergency services had to add 911 to their actual number so retards didn't keep dying. This is a for real problem. Americans' desperate desire to gently caress yourselves and each other over because you're desperately afraid of an unrelated ideology that died thirty years ago is baffling as gently caress. American patriotism is both gross and hilarious, as is your constant desire to rewrite history and pretend you're an underdog when you're an empire. American politics is skewed so hard to the right that your left wing politicians are well to the right of any other countries right wing parties and the pursuit of capital at the expense of all else is a hugely damaging ideology inflicted on the rest of us.
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Feb 27, 2017 00:59
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CrazySalamander posted:Please start your post by noting your country and separate thoughts by faction like so: I can't think of many nationalities of people who would ask other people for their honest opinion of their country and then give them a list of rules on how to do so. Which pretty much sums up Americans to be fair
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Feb 27, 2017 02:25
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Eh, my thoughts were to make it a more useful thread as per the subforum rules. Anyway, a question for Wilco specifically: what are your thoughts on the illegality of home liquor manufacture in most of the rest of the world? Is that a right that people in New Zealand care about much? Or does basically no one care?
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Feb 27, 2017 02:55
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CrazySalamander posted:Eh, my thoughts were to make it a more useful thread as per the subforum rules. Anyway, a question for Wilco specifically: what are your thoughts on the illegality of home liquor manufacture in most of the rest of the world? Is that a right that people in New Zealand care about much? Or does basically no one care? It's legal here and no one really cares. Pretty much only new dads home brew to save money and have a hobby that's lowish effort.
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Feb 27, 2017 05:33
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CrazySalamander posted:Anyway, a question for Wilco specifically: what are your thoughts on the illegality of home liquor manufacture in most of the rest of the world? Is that a right that people in New Zealand care about much? Or does basically no one care? Yes, that's what I think is most important about America, too. Let me share my opinions on making your own liquor rather than anything else.
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Feb 27, 2017 05:58
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whiter than a Wilco show posted:Checking in from New Zealand to say my opinion and the general public consensus is that your country is full of screaming retards that inexplicably produce almost all of the good media in the world. Kids here are exposed to so much American media they think American laws are relevant to them (I saw a twenty year old posting about Trump taking away her right to have an abortion last week) and our emergency services had to add 911 to their actual number so retards didn't keep dying. This is a for real problem. whats it like to know there's a general worldwide consensus that no one knows anything or gives a poo poo about ur country lmao
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Feb 27, 2017 08:25
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your friend a dog posted:whats it like to know there's a general worldwide consensus that no one knows anything or gives a poo poo about ur country lmao It's pretty sweet, you don't have to get upset when people disrespect your flag and other dumb stuff like that.
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Feb 27, 2017 09:04
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whiter than a Wilco show posted:It's pretty sweet, you don't have to get upset when people disrespect your flag and other dumb stuff like that.
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Feb 27, 2017 10:22
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My brother was over there recently, (from Australia), and he said "people get easily infuriated by the slightest delay in traffic".
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Feb 27, 2017 11:40
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Sic Semper Goon posted:My brother was over there recently, (from Australia), and he said "people get easily infuriated by the slightest delay in traffic". Lol note the several examples of how dumb NZers are I gave in my response in this, the "what do other countries think of the US" thread. Any other amerigoons that are huffing their way in to go "no, you're a poopyhead country! America rules! USA!USA!USA!" might want to reread the bit about how hilarious your patriotism is.
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Feb 27, 2017 19:15
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Nah its a pretty retarded question. 'What vague, incorrect assumption do people in some tiny nation state with 1/66 of the population have that applies to the equivalent of 50 connected countries that covers roughly as much landmass as europe'. Who gives a gently caress?
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Feb 27, 2017 20:22
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your friend a dog posted:Nah its a pretty retarded question. 'What vague, incorrect assumption do people in some tiny nation state with 1/66 of the population have that applies to the equivalent of 50 connected countries that covers roughly as much landmass as europe'. Who gives a gently caress? You apparently do, very, very much. I am sorry I hurt your red white and blue heart.
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Feb 27, 2017 21:32
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your friend a dog posted:Nah its a pretty retarded question. 'What vague, incorrect assumption do people in some tiny nation state with 1/66 of the population have that applies to the equivalent of 50 connected countries that covers roughly as much landmass as europe'. Who gives a gently caress? No seriously look at this hilarious patriotism, it's right here. Gorilla chest pounding bullshit non-stop. Even as garbage trolling there is a vocal % who think this poo poo for real and sincerely. Scudworth fucked around with this message at 22:14 on Feb 27, 2017 |
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Feb 27, 2017 22:09
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But we are bigger and therefore better. Just don't tell him about India or China.
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Feb 28, 2017 00:34
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your friend a dog posted:Nah its a pretty retarded question. 'What vague, incorrect assumption do people in some tiny nation state with 1/66 of the population have that applies to the equivalent of 50 connected countries that covers roughly as much landmass as europe'. Who gives a gently caress? Why are you here?
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Feb 28, 2017 02:13
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whiter than a Wilco show posted:American politics is skewed so hard to the right that your left wing politicians are well to the right of any other countries right wing parties I think this point of view is pretty outdated unless you are trying to make some bizarre point and claim that Bernie Sanders or Keith Ellison are "to the right" of UKIP or Front National. I mean yes our government is conservative and the Democrats are far from being actual leftists, but the far right has grown a lot in many countries lately, and we had a presidential candidate openly calling himself a socialist that won a non-zero number of primaries for the first time since the 30's. Earwicker fucked around with this message at 05:42 on Feb 28, 2017 |
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Feb 28, 2017 05:39
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Bernie is a left centrist, calling him a socialist is why the US is perceived as somewhere to the right of Mussolini. The extreme right wing parties you mentioned have a handful of parliamentary seats between them and their leaders are about on par with your current president.
whiter than a Wilco show fucked around with this message at 06:23 on Feb 28, 2017 |
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Feb 28, 2017 06:12
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Quote isn't edit
whiter than a Wilco show fucked around with this message at 06:23 on Feb 28, 2017 |
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Feb 28, 2017 06:14
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That's not my label. My point was that he referred to himself as a socialist and was still allowed to participate in televised debates, let alone win primaries. That would have been political suicide for a presidential candidate in previous elections, the word only existed in the mainstream media as a smear until this decade. I agree Bernie is a left centrist. The governments of many other countries are now considerably to the right of that position and the trend seem to be increasing. You are right thare was a time when both parties in the US were completely dominated by moderate conservatives while much of the rest of the developed world was to the left, but that's no longer the case today. Earwicker fucked around with this message at 06:21 on Feb 28, 2017 |
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Feb 28, 2017 06:19
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DiHK posted:But we are bigger and therefore better. Like that had anything to do with the point.
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Feb 28, 2017 07:28
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You're the one bringing up population and land mass as a reason to dismiss the opinion of some kiwi. Even better, you did it with perfect American bluster and arrogance. Granted, you are just thread making GBS threads and trolling but the only thing you could have done to make it a more perfect representation American white trash is put a  at the end.if that wasn't clear, YOU are the point
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Feb 28, 2017 14:51
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Since Trump was elected I have been thinking a lot about the US, it's politics and it's citizens. Some things that are really perplexing to me as a German: This deep, deep divide in terms of political opinion and especially the immense hate that comes with it. So many people seem to actually despise and wish real harm on people just because they voted for the other major political party. The things I see are mostly examples of Republican voters expressing their extremely hostile attitude towards Democrats, but that is probably just because I mostly see these sort of things as screenshots or stories shared on pages like SA or Reddit and the hostility probably also goes the other way. People over here, of course, also have very divergent political opinions, but I just don't see the sharp divide and this strong "you are either with me or against me" mentality. The fact that in many states employees have basically no rights regarding their employer. How people just accept the reality that everyone can be fired for no reason at any time and often even think that this is a good thing because 'it creates jobs' or whatever. One of the most baffling things to me is, for example, that companies have the power to to forbid their workers from dating each other and similar things that concern only their private life. And that in the land of the free. Still, many people seem to have been led to the believe, that unions are a scam somehow. That many citizens, apparently even many of those that clearly have benefitted from it, still hate the idea of universal healthcare and actually believe that it ultimately leads to things like death panels and full communism, even though the people in pretty much every other western country seem to be universally happy about the fact that should they ever lose their job they won't have to die because they can't afford their diabetes medication. Also that apparently it is a defendable position for a politician to just straight up deny that human-induced climate change is real, which I think is a thing that would get you laughed out of the Bundestag. It's incredible to me that so many people in America just won't accept what seems to me to be an indisputable scientific fact. Of course, it's entirely possible, that there are more climate change deniers over here than I think, but I just don't see them. There's lots more stuff like the influence religion still has on politics, but those were the things that immediately came to mind and I am not even sure if the things I wrote fit OPs idea for this thread. Sorry for my English by the way, it is obviously not my first language. /e: Also, of course, everything that has to do with your new president and that he can get away with lying people in the face every day even though his lies are being debunked every evening on the news and comedy programs. skit herre fucked around with this message at 19:26 on Feb 28, 2017 |
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Feb 28, 2017 19:16
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DiHK posted:You're the one bringing up population and land mass as a reason to dismiss the opinion of some kiwi. Even better, you did it with perfect American bluster and arrogance. Granted, you are just thread making GBS threads and trolling but the only thing you could have done to make it a more perfect representation American white trash is put a Because his opinion is worthless, and the question posed by the op is too? Why would you assume that some average random kiwi, or anyone anywhere else outside the US, would hold an opinion that even scratched the surface of the reality of the situation? What insight is he expecting to gain? That the people of other countries have shallow understandings of millions of different and diverse people that they don't understand? Secondly, from a sort of 'real politik' view, why would anyone care what someone from another country thought about America? Their countries are small, and insignificant on the world stage, and the opinion of someone from NZ, or Australia, or Sweden or whatever does not matter in the slightest to the world's sole superpower.
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Feb 28, 2017 22:27
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skit herre posted:Sorry for my English by the way, it is obviously not my first language. At the end of a post in perfect English. your friend a dog posted:Because his opinion is worthless, and the question posed by the op is too? Hi welcome to ask/tell, I don't think this is a good place for you?
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Feb 28, 2017 23:32
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your friend a dog posted:Because his opinion is worthless, and the question posed by the op is too? Why would you assume that some average random kiwi, or anyone anywhere else outside the US, would hold an opinion that even scratched the surface of the reality of the situation? What insight is he expecting to gain? That the people of other countries have shallow understandings of millions of different and diverse people that they don't understand? Secondly, from a sort of 'real politik' view, why would anyone care what someone from another country thought about America? Their countries are small, and insignificant on the world stage, and the opinion of someone from NZ, or Australia, or Sweden or whatever does not matter in the slightest to the world's sole superpower. And what great role do you play in the world's sole superpower that you think your opinion matters?
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Feb 28, 2017 23:41
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we can all agree america is a better country than uganada right?
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Feb 28, 2017 23:46
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This is what happens when you make children grow up praying to a flag every day in school. They end up assuming the area they happened to fall out of their mum in as a key part of their self worth and identity, cry when someone says "please stop blowing up weddings in a country you're allies with because of an attack which killed less people than the CIA kills in an average month 16 years ago", and buy big fat truck nuts all day, every day. If anything my opinions more valuable than yours through supply and demand.
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Mar 1, 2017 00:43
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skit herre posted:And what great role do you play in the world's sole superpower that you think your opinion matters? that guy is our president, Donald J Trump
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Mar 1, 2017 01:43
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Earwicker posted:that guy is our president, Donald J Trump Hello. Sad!
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Mar 1, 2017 03:07
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whiter than a Wilco show posted:This is what happens when you make children grow up praying to a flag every day in school. They end up assuming the area they happened to fall out of their mum in as a key part of their self worth and identity, cry when someone says "please stop blowing up weddings in a country you're allies with because of an attack which killed less people than the CIA kills in an average month 16 years ago", and buy big fat truck nuts all day, every day. If where we're born isn't key to our worth or identity why should I care where we blow up a wedding?
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Mar 1, 2017 03:08
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your friend a dog posted:If where we're born isn't key to our worth or identity why should I care where we blow up a wedding? checkmate, liberals
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Mar 1, 2017 03:38
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your friend a dog posted:If where we're born isn't key to our worth or identity why should I care where we blow up a wedding? America.txt The answer is actually that you shouldn't blow up weddings because you're insecure, wherever they are.
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Mar 1, 2017 03:59
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skit herre posted:Since Trump was elected I have been thinking a lot about the US, it's politics and it's citizens. Some things that are really perplexing to me as a German: I think these are pretty valid thoughts for anyone who is from Europe about USA, can only confirm for Finland though. Especially the lack of healthcare, worker rights, almost cartoon like politics filled with hate and vitriol. I mean politicians in every country try to screw their people over for personal gain but rarely so blatantly. Peoples opinions of USA summed up: Definitely "center of western world and media" and great place to be if you are wealthy, but if you ask people in here if they'd like to live there a majority will probably say hell no, due to all of the issues mentioned
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Mar 1, 2017 06:30
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German grandma: "Of all the occupants the Americans treated us best of all. Just think of the "Raisin Bombers". And they're such a nice bunch of people: they even celebrated Thanksgiving in public and sold cooked, salted corn. The Russians on the other hand did not get involved with the Eastern German population at all." German parents: "Well, there was the Vietnam war, wasn't it? But I know a few American GIs who were stationed here and they're cool people. Me: "Reintroducing institutionalised torture to the Western world, spying on everyone, strongarming their allies and apparently attaching very little value to a Muslim's life, there is a lot to criticise. And yet somehow the US is still a country associated with positive values, not least to them constantly broadcasting this to others. The US is the empire that wears a smile on its face. With Russia or China we would be off worse."
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Mar 1, 2017 15:34
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lllllllllllllllllll posted:German grandma: "Of all the occupants the Americans treated us best of all. Just think of the "Raisin Bombers". And they're such a nice bunch of people: they even celebrated Thanksgiving in public and sold cooked, salted corn. The Russians on the other hand did not get involved with the Eastern German population at all." My dad's answer would pretty much be "fat people that love their guns too much". He's a simple man.
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Mar 1, 2017 15:43
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lllllllllllllllllll posted:German grandma: "Of all the occupants the Americans treated us best of all. Just think of the "Raisin Bombers". And they're such a nice bunch of people: they even celebrated Thanksgiving in public and sold cooked, salted corn. The Russians on the other hand did not get involved with the Eastern German population at all." skit herre posted:My dad's answer would pretty much be "fat people that love their guns too much". He's a simple man. Excellent answers- it's really good to see what people with differing levels of international involvement/awareness think. American schools don't teach much at all about other countries which has the unfortunate implication that other countries don't matter (which as you've seen in this thread, some people are only to happy to proclaim). That's part of why I made this thread- I wanted to show that some Americans actually do want to know what other countries think of their country.
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Mar 1, 2017 16:14
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I'm an American living in Germany so I can only speak secondhand, but the general view I get from my coworkers is that we are poorly educated, arrogant, loud, rude and cheap. Of course they always add "oh but not you though" which I don't believe at all.
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Mar 1, 2017 20:50
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Scottish goon here. My local county actually really loves Americans due to the fact there used to be a USAF base here. It was an awesome place, the soldiers were very friendly and quite a few of them even settled in Scotland with either families or starting new ones. I'm not sure how or why but maybe because of the money being invested into that base, our entire county profited really well and we got a lot of good revenue. The local village near the base has a bonfire night every November 5th, like many places in the UK obviously, and every year people would gather money to get fireworks and such. The Americans however were like "hahahaha, you call THAT a firework okay stand back", and well...if there's one thing people know about the US is that god you love to blow poo poo up and every year when I was a kid I was SO EXCITED for the local bonfire night because the Americans made it AWESOME. Stars and stripes, big-rear end boomers, loving POWDER KEGS with that poo poo, and since they were all trained professionals by default everything went pretty smoothly to the point that that village had the best bonfire show in the entire county and it brought hundreds of people. They even invited locals onto the base during July 4th to enjoy Independence Day with their fireworks and they had this little arcade to play at and it was just the absolute best. We were really sad to see the USAF go when the base was made redundant.  It was a pretty important base too, apparently it was one of the first defence points during the Cold War as being one of the closest points to the Iron Curtain in terms of latitude. But at least in terms of my local area, Americans are awesome warm and enthusiastic people, like pretty much ready to go for anything.Scotland in general understands that mentality a lot, and we appreciate America for having that sort of passion for anything they do for better or worse. It's like having that one friend who's always got the best stuff and has the absolute best parties and is always fun to be around, but you would never give him the keys to your car if that makes sense? My mum used to work as a window cleaner on that base too, so she has first-hand experience and constantly tells me about how Americans are generally very bold and hearty people that love to interact with others. Generally speaking, Scotland tends to be a rather left-wing country by and large and we do like the US a lot since it's very clear there are large swathes of people who share the same political leanings. Likewise there's probably a fair minority of right-wing people who also appreciate the US for its grassroots white supremacy being more vigorous than in other places I guess? Or that may just be the fact that American media is so huge that it always has the biggest face of any political strait shared by those in other countries.  It's a little complicated now since what with Trump being well, Trump, he's desperate to try and make Scotland his second home and we just want none of this or anything to do with him. Despite the massive outcry pretty much every time he came up here for the past six years (like that bullshit with making a third golf course and his unquestionable hatred for wind farms which Scotland is very proud of), we still love the US a lot because we feel just as uncomfortably responsible for his existence as the US does so there's that, I guess. v  vSo long story short, pretty sure Scotland loves the US.  
FinalGamer fucked around with this message at 22:34 on Mar 1, 2017 |
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Mar 1, 2017 22:27
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Earwicker posted:I agree Bernie is a left centrist. The governments of many other countries are now considerably to the right of that position and the trend seem to be increasing. You are right thare was a time when both parties in the US were completely dominated by moderate conservatives while much of the rest of the developed world was to the left, but that's no longer the case today. A left-wing party didn't win successive national elections in the UK until 2001, France was governed by right wing administrations until 1981 (and their brief flirtation with socialism ended in 1986), the centre-right Christian Democrat Party won most seats in all but one of every West German election since the end of the Second World War, the centre-right Christian democrats were never out of government in the Netherlands between 1914 and 1994 and Spain was governed by an actual literal real life fascist until 1979 (when the people elected a, you guessed it, centre-right Christian Democrat party). I'll let you take a wild guess which party governed Italy from 1946 until 1996, although here's a clue: it starts with "centre right" and ends with "Christian Democrat". The myth that the developed world had left-wing governments at the height of the motherfucking Cold War is preposterously inplausible.
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Mar 2, 2017 00:49
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