10 things most Americans don't know about America

[MRG]

And, this is the absolute truth, I was thinking today what was the most important thing I learned while living abroad. And here it is: I finally realized just how dysfunctional my family is!

+1000

 

[pb4uski]

Like all good lies, there is an element of truth in what he writes. We can all find certain Americans who think the rest of the world is a dump compared to the USA, who think everybody else wants to be an American, who think little of value comes from anywhere but the USA, etc. But, we can also find people who understand and enjoy other cultures, other points of view and other lifestyles. And can do so without having to measure which is best and which is worst.

I think the author takes the same superficial view of Americans, that he thinks Americans take of others in the world. Not much difference in thinking between him and the people he is critisizing. My 2¢.

My thoughts exactly. The impression that I have is that the Americans that the author "knows" are more red-necky than the people I know (apologies to any red-necks out there).

 

[ERD50]

What I'm most interested in now is, the OP's response to these responses. I'm curious why he considered this a 'a nicely-written piece.'?

I have a hard time describing something so critical as 'nicely-written'. Subjectively, one might think it was 'well written', but IMO, it doesn't deserve that either.

-ERD50

 

[travelover]

Like all good lies, there is an element of truth in what he writes. ......

It is not a lie, it is just a broad brush exaggeration. You know, like opinion pieces in the newspaper or on the web.

 

[BigNick]

#7 - (We’re Paranoid)I don't think this reflects general paranoia. It is simply the news media trying to sensationalize things. If you want to generalize, how about "Mainstream 'journalism' in the US sucks"? I can buy that one. Is it better in other parts of the world? I would hope so, but here's a sample from the #1 circulation paper in the UK:

...

Pot calling the kettle black?

Well, it would be, if the article's author (or I) had invoked the quality of American print journalism, and attempted to assert that they do it better in Britain. Otherwise, it's just a straw man. Plus, even if the paranoia is created by the media, that doesn't mean that there aren't people building panic rooms, emptying Home Depot of duct tape to keep out terrorist nerve gas attacks, etc. If nobody consumed what the media produced, they'd produce something different. (Of course, I already knew that the alert readers of this forum are not taken in by media discourse. )

What I'm most interested in now is, the OP's response to these responses. I'm curious why he considered this a 'a nicely-written piece.'?

I have a hard time describing something so critical as 'nicely-written'. Subjectively, one might think it was 'well written', but IMO, it doesn't deserve that either.

Well, apparently my subjective opinion of the piece is different from your subjective opinion. That's kind of the nature of subjectivity.

Anyway, I used the term "nicely-written" because I thought it was written nicely. I liked the writing style, and I thought that the writer addressed some issues that many people might not have thought about, in a highly readable way.

 

[MichaelB]

The author's response to criticism is hilarious.

OK, I totally over-generalized and stereotyped. You got me. I even admitted it in the beginning of the article. But over-generalizing and stereotyping back at me doesn’t make it any better.

And look, you have to remember, I have to remember, we all have to remember, that even the fact we’re discussing this on the internet, on a blog that you found from Facebook, makes us all part of an elite minority. Only one-third of American citizens own a passport, and that’s an all-time high. 46% of Americans believe the universe was created in seven days. Most Americans believe global warming is a hoax. 22% of Americans think the world will end during their lifetime. So no, I’m sorry. I am going to generalize here: your internet buddies, your college buddies, your upper-middle class family and neighbors, they all may know better. But the majority of the United States does not.

IOW, I stereotyped and overgeneralized, but that's ok, because if you know I'm off base my article wasn't intended for you in the first place. This article was specifically intended for people who don't know any better.

At lease he's honest about it.

 

[veremchuka]

"OK like I know I over generalized you know but like I admitted it you know so like it's OK you know. So like we all get trophies now right?"

 

[Ed_The_Gypsy]

Geez, K,

Sad about your epiphany. Glad that you are in Pursuit of Happiness.

I always hope that Things Aren't As Bad as They Seem.

Be well,

Ed

I am friends with a travel blog writer who runs a profitable site and these are the kind of controversial, suggestive posts that get lots of hits and feedback. My friend can fine tune almost any post and predict the amount of feedback he will get and he will do that sometimes even if he does not agree with the post.

You see, even awesome, ultra-well-traveled Gen Y's who are more enlightened than the rest of us have to demean themselves to make some money to keep the game up.

In my personal experience, after having lived abroad twice as long as the blog writer in the OP, it would be much easier to write 10 things I appreciate about America.

And, this is the absolute truth, I was thinking today what was the most important thing I learned while living abroad. And here it is: I finally realized just how dysfunctional my family is!

 

[Ed_The_Gypsy]

IOW, I stereotyped and overgeneralized, but that's ok, because if you know I'm off base my article wasn't intended for you in the first place. This article was specifically intended for people who don't know any better.

When I do this, I get warned about being banned. Maybe I should start a blog?

 

[Letj]

I think for most people who have spent much time abroad would realize that much of what the blogger said is correct. You don't have to go far to realize that If you spent time in Canada, for example, you'd recognize the criticisms are valid. While the author does make generalizations, they are valid cultural observations even though it's not always true. The commentary about emotional insecurities and obsession with safety are not hard to spot; not even in war torn countries are people so paranoid. I just returned from an overseas trip where I stayed with a local family. It was a pleasure to see children running errands alone and not always supervised, people taking 4 and 5 am walks alone, doors unlocked, etc. While there are great things about our culture, we tend to get very sensitive about any sort of criticisms. Even in our own personal lives we get quite perturbed by what we consider criticisms and insults. In many places, people don't care or they just give it right back and don't need therapy later; ask the Italians how they do it.

 

[kcowan]

A lot of the criticisms here were the kind he received and addressed in the follow up post here if anyone is interested.

Hint: type over the **** with a word for excrement to make the link work!

Also have a look at his relationships with women programs to better understand the guy and his background.

(As a general rule, Americans don't fit into any general rule. But do the exceptions prove the rule?)

 

[Arifriekinel]

Hint: type over the **** with a word for excrement to make the link work!

Oh, I didn't even notice that!

 

[Peter]

I think for most people who have spent much time abroad would realize that much of what the blogger said is correct.

Agreed. Seems we are in the minority, though, Letj!

I have to say that some of the comments in this thread tend to confirm much of what was said in the article.

 

[Letj]

Agreed. Seems we are in the minority, though, Letj!

I have to say that some of the comments in this thread tend to confirm much of what was said in the article.

Don't mind being in the minority. I've spent much of my life living abroad so I am coming from a different perspective.

 

[Bestwifeever]

The author's response to criticism is hilarious.

IOW, I stereotyped and overgeneralized, but that's ok, because if you know I'm off base my article wasn't intended for you in the first place. This article was specifically intended for people who don't know any better.

At lease he's honest about it.

Many people back off when challenged with a "Surely you didn't take me seriously" response. More of the same imho.

And don't call me Shirley.

 

[NW-Bound]

With the interweb, a person can post anything and finds that he has readers, and may even be able to make some money on the ads. Ain't technology grand?

 

[Larro Darro]

There were some truths in each of his points. But he was going for clicks, so it is all over the top.

As a history buff, I find most of what we were taught in school isn't what really happened. Or it doesn't mean what we were taught it meant. I love the WWII guys. My father was shot twice and spent time in a German POW camp, so I know the sacrifices they made. But the truth is the USSR won the war. Every other country lost land or colonies. The US of A included. Russia was the only country to gain land or colonies. And 9 out of every 10 German soldiers killed were killed by the Red Army.

The same with the Spanish American War. My grandfather went to Cuba to fight the Dons. While all the newspaper men were down there making Teddy and the Rough Riders into heroes, the real war happened on May 1st 1898 in Manila Bay. We sank all the wooden ships of the Spanish Navy while they were at anchor. [the wisdom of this kind of attack was not lost on the Japanese. They used it to good effect 43 years later]

Most of us don't know much American history and even less world history.

A funny story about geographical knowledge. My friend's dad owns a construction company here in my county. They had hired a fellow from Honduras. During their lunch break they were all sitting around talking, and they ask the guy how he had got America. He responded that he had drove all the way. My friend said, "you can't get here from there. I've looked at the weather map on TV, and there is nothing below Texas."
And this was from the man who would inherit his father's company.

 

[Letj]

A funny story about geographical knowledge. My friend's dad owns a construction company here in my county. They had hires a fellow from Honduras. During their lunch break they were all sitting around talking, and they ask the guy how he had got America. He responded that he had drove all the way. My friend said, "you can't get here from there. I've looked at the weather map on TV, and there is nothing below Texas."
And this was from the man who would inherit his father's company.

Are you sure this was not meant to be a joke? Surely, everyone must know Mexico borders Texas and it's contiguous territory. How could anyone miss the stories on border crossings?

 

[MRG]

Are you sure this was not meant to be a joke? Surely, everyone must know Mexico borders Texas and it's contiguous territory. How could anyone miss the stories on border crossings?

My Sister lives in Austin, I'll check with her, but I don't think she believes there's any place south of Texas.

 

[aja8888]

My Sister lives in Austin, I'll check with her, but I don't think she believes there's any place south of Texas.

Actually, south Texas and what's below it are starting to blend together.

 

[bolt]

Actually, south Texas and what's below it are starting to blend together.

No Habla English Since we americans stole "upper Mexico" is slowly being repatriated to lower Mexico.

 

[BLS53]

On further review of his rather extensive website, it seems he fashions himself as some sort of Dr. Phil for the under 30 crowd. Essentially, for those whose early adulthood, hasn't turned out like their entitlement upbringing told them it would.

 

[veremchuka]

As a history buff, I find most of what we were taught in school isn't what really happened. Or it doesn't mean what we were taught it meant. I love the WWII guys. My father was shot twice and spent time in a German POW camp, so I know the sacrifices they made. But the truth is the USSR won the war. Every other country lost land or colonies. The US of A included. Russia was the only country to gain land or colonies. And 9 out of every 10 German soldiers killed were killed by the Red Army.

So maybe I'm missing something here and you can straighten me out because I'm confused. The USA did not lose anything other than bodies and monies protecting the world from the Nazis and Imperial Japanese. Actually I think that is something, however, you said the Soviets won the war. How did that happen, I thought the Allies won the war? Also you say that every other country lost land or colonies, the USA did not loose land to my knowledge and we don't have colonies. We do have territories such as PR and Guam.

Want to clarify for me?

 

[youbet]

Most of us don't know much American history and even less world history.

Don't despair. Now that you've admitted your area of weakness, you can begin a program to address the deficiencies. Reading, a class at the local jr college, even some programs on public TV can help.

 

[Gatordoc50]

Sounds like the rest of the world, according to the author, is getting along fine. That's nice. Keep us posted.