What do ppl from other countries think of the U.S.?

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Medea

The Shadow Queen
Are you Canadian? Australian? British? French? Japanese? Chinese? Russian? Iranian?

What is your opinion of the U.S.A.?

As an American citizen of the United States, I feel like we have lost our way. Today, pop-culture and reality tv are destroying our society. Intelligent people are mocked and insulted, while ignorance and greed are praised.

Most of our reality programs now are centered around "southern redneck" lifestyles. Also, We worship rich, spoiled brat celebrities and applaud criticism of the less fortunate or the ugly.

If you don't know what kind of crap Americans are watching (and even worse, they believe it's all real) right now, I strongly urge you to look up shows like:

16 and Pregnant, Here Comes Honey Boo Boo, Real Housewives, My Big Redneck Vacation, The Littlest Groom, The Biggest Loser, Hillbilly Handfishin', Bayou Billionaires, Moonshiners, Redneck Island, Swamp People, My Big Redneck Wedding, Joan Rivers Fashion Police, etc. etc. etc....... Not to mention the idiotic, lame music we listen to now.

Our culture is being destroyed. Not by minorities. Not by Hip Hop. Not by illegal immigrants. It's being destroyed by the rich bastard producers that like to stick cameras in the faces of people who don't look like them, act like them, have near as much money as them, etc., while they snicker behind their backs. And the American public buys what they are selling. They get off on our ignorance. I've lost all hope for the people of the U.S., especially if they actually enjoy watching this crap and buying into the lie that this is how most of us live. :mad:

Now that I may have shed a little light on why Americans are so repugnant nowadays, what do you think?
 

Brizzle Kicks

Welcome To The Underground
I know what you mean I ask the same questions sometimes of the British culture. I mean X Factor, Pop Idol, Big Brother, Celbrity Get ME Out Of Here etc..... are truly awful programes that are so fake and pointless they really wouldn't be missed is they got axed. That moonshiners programe got put on our discovery channel they really are a different breed arn't they. We also get crap like gold rush, Ax men and two blokes buying and selling rusty things for profit I can't think of it's name, so it's infecting us over here as well.

The music scene is ok over here so many genres of music to dip into it's good I love music the first thing I do when I get up is listen to a few tracks and last thing I do at night I have over 300 vinyl records and 200 cds.

Iv'e only been to America twice and had a great time both times most of the people we met were always friendly and welcoming it seems a nice place to live. We went to Vegas for a mates stag doo and I met the fittest bird I have ever seen in my life she was half Costarican and half Spanish it was the best night of my life.
 

Clau

The Fateless One
My people (from the Philippines) see the United States as liberators and an allied nation with much intimacy in politics and clandestine military operations within the Pacific area. You were our savior from the invading Imperial Japan. Task Force 61, perhaps the greatest Armada ever assembled that was headed by USS Enterprise (CV-6) is much revered in the Philippine islands.

In the battle of Leyte Gulf that resulted into crippling losses for the Japanese, the natives cheered at the site of Lucky E and the famous beach landing walk of one of the Philippines' most celebrated hero: Gen. Douglas Macarthur. His declaration of his return after years of making a promise, roused morale from the remnants of the USAFFE and scattered native freedom fighters.

Eventually the second world war ended and the United States awarded us our sovereignty and since then, July 4 is celebrated as the "Philippines - United States friendship Day."


As for me, being born from the union of an American father and a Filipino / Chinese mother, I have always viewed the United States as a land of opportunity. It is a means of escape from a pre-determined fate. I was nurtured and fostered in a very conservative and chauvinistic clan. Women there were urged to study and earn a degree for the merit of attracting a husband from a well to do clan, bear children and be a good wife to tend the home.

From there on, traits such as chastity, submission and obedience should be observe. Even turning a blind eye towards any of hubby's indiscretions is encouraged.

Fact is, I never wanted that life. I wanted to pursue refinement and learning. Unfortunately, the elders and our patriarch were not so open minded. "How dare this bitch defy our wise counsel and try to be more than what we think is good for her?"

Thus I was banished and disowned. I urged my mother and brother to migrate into America and we did. MY gambit paid off. I run my father's enterprise now and I have the freedom to one day advance my learning with enterprise management.

Living in America has been... empowering. I pictured myself as a poor immigrant girl in a ship full of immigrants sailing to New York and seeing the statue of liberty. Those were my illusions of grandeur at first.

First two years have been a time period of adjustment. I never knew that several of your citizens do not take kindly to my physical appearance. I heard slurs, insults and threats from people that I never had any dealings with.

That is when I realized that America was constantly shifted and molded with the plight of civil rights. That is when I began reading more of this country's history. Started with the story of Native Americans and I am now in the Civil War phase. It was then that I felt alienated no more, as I learn, embrace and dig roots into this nation's story.

The past election lead me to believe that this country's traditional "White" supremacy is at an end. Traditional Republican bailiwicks are withering. Time is changing and this nation is being molded into a mega melting pot. For better or for worst, I am digging roots here. After all, when I swore the pledge of allegiance, those were not hallow words, I meant it.

I found my purpose here too. It is no longer about self discovery and refinement. I have orphaned boys in the St. Joseph Home of the Angels that I care for deeply. White, Black, Asian, Hispanic; it does not matter to them. They treat one another as brothers and they are family. All the more gives me hope for this nation's future.

P.S.

I watch Ice Road Truckers and American Chopper. I listen to contemporary country music like Willie Nelson, Neil Young and Johnny Cash.
 

EleanorUnicorn

Well-Known Member
I'm Scottish and have been to the U.S about ten times (to New York and Florida). I really like America and the majority of its people. I love shopping in the states as the clothes are great quality and cheaper than britain (also the American sizes have smaller numbers than British clothes :p), plus the make up and skin care is fantastic seeing as you guys can use chemicals and active ingredients that Europe can't, so the stuff actually works. Take Noxema for example, that stuff gets rid of spots and scabs within half an hour, and we can't buy it over here! I think most Americans are friendly and polite, when you say 'thankyou' they say 'youre welcome', which is unheard of in the UK, plus some of them called me 'maam' which I thought was hilarious. The food is amazing compared to Britain, so many different varieties and flavours of everything. I prefer British television, seeing as I have a British sense of humour, and America seems to have adverts every 5 minutes compared to everything 15 minutes here. At the end of the day, every country has it's idiots and scumbags, but look at how many good, educated, friendly Americans there are, plus the facilites of America are probably the best in the world, you have everything. Plus the actual landscape is amazing too, from desert to fields to forests to beaches :) I'd concentrate on the good aspects of the U.S.A rather than the bad ones, and remember that there are plenty worse places to live than the states! Try living in a third world country for at least 6 months (I used to live in Brazil, trust me) and you will appreciate your own, first world country!
 

Chowder138

Proud member of PAHAAA.
I can probably tell you what they all think:

"AMURIKANZ R SO FAT N DUM N DEY DO NUTIN AL DAE DATS WY DERE FAT LOL"

Don't get me wrong, you guys (The people on here not from the US) are pretty awesome usually But the worldwide view of America is inaccurate and really quite hypocritical.
 

mamali

Well-Known Member
i'm iranian and we all know relationship between iran and US government is not good . actually its very bad , iran government hates USA ( i don't know why ) , they burn USA flag in streets (well , they don't do that recently ) ...... but i always liked USA and many '' other '' iranians think the same way . many of iranians listen to american music , they watch american TV shows , they buy american stuff like computers or xbox360 . dark relationship between governments doesn't make iranian people hate USA . no . many iranians like USA very much . i have that problem with some americans . they think iranians are Arab terrorists who hate america . but truth is iran people are not like their government . they love america and they couldn't live without america (lets face it , we can't live without american videogames :p ) .
 

Chowder138

Proud member of PAHAAA.
i'm iranian and we all know relationship between iran and US government is not good . actually its very bad , iran government hates USA ( i don't know why ) , they burn USA flag in streets (well , they don't do that recently ) ...... but i always liked USA and many '' other '' iranians think the same way . many of iranians listen to american music , they watch american TV shows , they buy american stuff like computers or xbox360 . dark relationship between governments doesn't make iranian people hate USA . no . many iranians like USA very much . i have that problem with some americans . they think iranians are Arab terrorists who hate america . but truth is iran people are not like their government . they love america and they couldn't live without america (lets face it , we can't live without american videogames :p ) .

That's the problem with the world. Americans hate Middle Easterns because they think they're all terrorists. The Middle Easterns respond to this hostility in the same way.
 

mamali

Well-Known Member
That's the problem with the world. Americans hate Middle Easterns because they think they're all terrorists. The Middle Easterns respond to this hostility in the same way.

about iranians , american people mistake iran people and iran government . those two are different .
we iran people are actually modern , friendly and nice people . iran government is ... well ... you know ... i dont want to talk about it
 

Crooksin

Glue Sniffer
Being Canadian, our media is heavily influenced by American media, granted we are very close friends. Thats not to say its not independent but my general opinion on Americans is that they are relativity good people but ALOT of them are misinformed, hypocritical and self-centered.

I think the American government is a bully in today's world and I think America's society is petty, shallow and revolves around the media. In Canada, the media is just something to watch, to gather news from and the like but to me, from what I see, America seems to completely revolve itself around petty ideals (Paris Hilton, Religion, etc, etc)

While I give the benefit of the doubt to everybody I talk to, I guess you could say I never expect much from most Americans, in fact, I may expect less (informed, logical-wise) from Americans. That's not to say I dislike them or I think any less of them, after a while I lower my expectations, you know?

I came to this opinion from seeing any form of American media, whether it be Fox News, or the Comedy Network or even the Hollywood channels and I'm very interested in world politics, so I'm pretty informed on American politics as well. Talking to Americans through fb or any other social media, it just seems like there's a large number of them who are ignorant and this is just not the case for other countries I've encountered.

I do like America, and everything is has to offer my country but they seem misguided with ideals that I'm not so fond of and have their government have their focus on selfish and irrelevant things instead of focusing on domestic issues. I have seen some of these types of Americans even on this forum (I'm not talking about if anyone just disagrees with me, the illogical Americans, but its not exactly American exclusive here) If you are American I do not mean to offend you at all, I'm purely talking from experience and I give equal respect to everybody unless proven wrong.
 

Medea

The Shadow Queen
I don't want some of you to get the wrong idea about my OP. I like living in the U.S. too, and I believe in our government. I was merely criticizing the current pop culture, and how everyone buys into it. I'm not a big fan of commercialism. Songs used to be about fighting against what you believe is wrong, and not accepting a defeatist mentality. Television shows used to be scripted. The only good ones left now are shows like Breaking Bad and Walking Dead. But who needs writers when you have idiots to exploit? That was my main point.

That is when I realized that America was constantly shifted and molded with the plight of civil rights. That is when I began reading more of this country's history. Started with the story of Native Americans and I am now in the Civil War phase. It was then that I felt alienated no more, as I learn, embrace and dig roots into this nation's story.

It's funny. I am obsessed with many aspects of Asian history. I've studied feudal Japanese history and can tell you all about Oda Nobunaga, and many other of the daimyo (feudal lords) of the Sengoku era. I've read the Romance of the Three Kingdoms novel, and played the video game series of the same name. I've watched almost all of Kurosawa Akira's movies. And, I love pancit and pork adobo. :p

I think it's good that people learn sociology and about other cultures. Americans are often prejudiced for two reasons: Ignorance...and an over-abundance of pride for one's country (or skin color). But really, that's the way it is everywhere. I've been mocked by the Japanese on xbox live for my interest in their culture but it's all good, because I also have Japanese friends, Chinese friends, and Filipino friends on xbox. :)
 

ThriceHeart

Last Hunter of Toru-Manawa
As a Kiwi my personal opinion of the U.S.A varies depending on what they are currently doing, because a vast majority of New Zealand's culture today draws much of it from the US. From mainstream music and Gang related culture we follow the trends of what's hot and what's not. I myself recluse from such things, What I find most hard to accept is how zealous the US can become towards people who do not follow their way of thinking, but then everyone has their times of being pushy.

I still like things that have come out of U.S.A like Metal bands like Manowar and Metallica, video games like Skyrim and Fallout 3 and many other aspects as well but there a quite a lot to name.
 

Soloquendi

Pastor of Muppets
We don't really have "A" Culture. It's more like the facets of a gem. What you see depends on how you look at it.

Right now the US is going through a period that every Empire goes through. We eliminated our largest competition and became complacent. Thinking that we had reached the top and there was nothing left to strive for. Without a powerful outside force to push against, we've turned on each other. Multimedia and Fast Food has replaced bread and circuses.
 

Monolith

The Progeny of Vikings
I've lived in the States and Finland, so I have two cultural points of reference. However, my place of residence in the US was the Bay Area in California, an area known for its liberal atmosphere and open mindedness, so my perception of life in the US may be biased in a way. But hey, it was California! :cool: I was mostly focused on enjoying the laid-back, sun-drenched side of it, seeing the natural wonders, and yes, even the grandeur of its big cities. Of course I absorbed the mainstream culture and media as well, willingly or unwillingly, and through that medium my perception of America as a nation was shaped (that, and I visited a multitude of other states as well).

As a few posters above have already pointed out, the influence of American mainstream pop culture is very invasive; it's impossible to ignore or escape. I try to turn a blind eye to the distasteful aspects of it such as the quasi-religious idol worship of spoiled pop/movie stars, sports figures and other such individuals, and only absorb what I personally find appealing. That includes music (ignoring most of the mainstream flavor of the month crap), movies and video games.

Based on everything I've seen and read, the entertainment industry and media in the US exists mostly to keep people distracted from the things that are truly relevant, the big social changes that are slowly being ushered in by the powers that be. It's unbelievably easy for those in positions of power to get away with murder, real or figurative, when everybody is looking the other way, or more precisely, staring blankly with glazed eyes and not seeing what is going on right in front of their eyes. It's almost like they've managed to breed us into a new, inferior form of humanity, a collective hive-mind of brainless, sugar binging, idol worshipping, materialistic, instant gratification seeking human zombies. Makes sense when you think about it: a nation of enlightened, empowered people with a healthy sense of purpose and identity would be much harder to control than a drooling pack of mindless drones.

But I digress :p I find many flaws in the American way of life and its influence outside of its borders, but it's not all bad. If we put aside the crooked politics, media and pop culture, it is a place of great natural beauty and man made marvels.
Finland, in many ways, emulates everything America does. It's like America junior on ice :D There are innumerable things here I'd like to change, too.. it's far from a paradise. It's tolerable, but I sometimes entertain the thought of living somewhere else.
 

Chowder138

Proud member of PAHAAA.
I've lived in the States and Finland, so I have two cultural points of reference. However, my place of residence in the US was the Bay Area in California, an area known for its liberal atmosphere and open mindedness, so my perception of life in the US may be biased in a way. But hey, it was California! :cool: I was mostly focused on enjoying the laid-back, sun-drenched side of it, seeing the natural wonders, and yes, even the grandeur of its big cities. Of course I absorbed the mainstream culture and media as well, willingly or unwillingly, and through that medium my perception of America as a nation was shaped (that, and I visited a multitude of other states as well).

As a few posters above have already pointed out, the influence of American mainstream pop culture is very invasive; it's impossible to ignore or escape. I try to turn a blind eye to the distasteful aspects of it such as the quasi-religious idol worship of spoiled pop/movie stars, sports figures and other such individuals, and only absorb what I personally find appealing. That includes music (ignoring most of the mainstream flavor of the month crap), movies and video games.

Based on everything I've seen and read, the entertainment industry and media in the US exists mostly to keep people distracted from the things that are truly relevant, the big social changes that are slowly being ushered in by the powers that be. It's unbelievably easy for those in positions of power to get away with murder, real or figurative, when everybody is looking the other way, or more precisely, staring blankly with glazed eyes and not seeing what is going on right in front of their eyes. It's almost like they've managed to breed us into a new, inferior form of humanity, a collective hive-mind of brainless, sugar binging, idol worshipping, materialistic, instant gratification seeking human zombies. Makes sense when you think about it: a nation of enlightened, empowered people with a healthy sense of purpose and identity would be much harder to control than a drooling pack of mindless drones.

But I digress :p I find many flaws in the American way of life and its influence outside of its borders, but it's not all bad. If we put aside the crooked politics, media and pop culture, it is a place of great natural beauty and man made marvels.
Finland, in many ways, emulates everything America does. It's like America junior on ice :D There are innumerable things here I'd like to change, too.. it's far from a paradise. It's tolerable, but I sometimes entertain the thought of living somewhere else.

You'd think I'd find this offensive, but in reality I couldn't agree more.
 

Punz

Dark Lord of Skyrim
I love my country. Faults and all. I respect everyone's opinion(s) of the US, but it's interesting how they always vary. Soloquendi said it best:

"It's more like the facets of a gem. What you see depends on how you look at it."

We are the world's melting pot. Absorbing everything around us, good, bad and evil.

Many things about our "culture" here I find disgusting. Pop culture, TV shows, movies and don't even get me started on that noise they call music nowadays. Really, what the hell is a DubStep?! And why do I feel like I'm always at a club when I turn on my damn radio?! I listen to all sorts of music ranging from the 70's to now and today's crap is just that. Crap. Goodness, I sound old. lol!


Bottomline, they either love us or they hate us and that's ok, because as Rammstein said best, "We're all living in a Amerika, Amerika, Amerika!" ;)
 

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