Is it just me or have Americans been brainwashed to believe that they're s**t?

[JayKid]

Alright, after reading through the only 3% of Americans have passports thread, I've realized that some Americans have incredibly xenocentric, which is the opposite of ethnocentrism (preferring ideas and things from other cultures over ideas and things from your own culture). Basically, I feel like people almost think that Americans culture is inferior to other cultures.

Take the passport post for example. Although 3% is an obviously incorrect figure, even if it was correct, who cares. In that thread people thought it was pathetic because they didn't travel and experience other cultures. Why? I realize it can be exciting and interesting and you can learn, but is it really the end of the world if someone stays in America? Hell, travel is a relatively new invention, for thousands of years people didn't travel much... much less across seas and what not. So where they pathetic to because they stayed within their country?

The US is huge anyway, some subcultures within the US differ more than cultures of differing countries in Europe differ. Does it really make us pathetic because of that? I mean, come on, traveling is expensive anyway... and you can learn a lot without doing so.

Also, people seem to enjoy telling Americans they are lazy, fat, materialistic, lack class, etc...

Way to stereotype. Yet people begin to believe these stereotypes, just look at Gwenyth Paltrow... I think you guys remember her basically saying England was better than the US, right? I'm not saying a lot of Americans go to that level, but we are definitely being brainwashed to believe everything we do (as well as our government) is horrible.

And to end here's an analogy:

What's happening is similar to what would happen if say a black person got continually abused by racist comments and what not. Then, after a while, he began to believe it was actually true and that he truly was inferior...

It's similar here. I feel like with everyone hates on America, even Americans! Get some damn pride and stop listening to all the whiners complain about Americans and throw stereotypes at us.

What do you guys think?

CLIFF NOTES:

-Everyone hates on America and Americans have slowly began to believe what everyone says.
-For example, the fact that maybe not a bunch of Americans travel a lot... does that make them ignorant or pathetic (said on another post)? I don't think so. It's expensive and not everyone can do it. The stereotype is wrong anyway, yet everyone continues to say them and now Americans are being brainwashed to believe them.

[Pain Inflicter]

Colin fking Powell.

[Monkey Helmet]

Originally Posted by JayKid

It's similar here. I feel like with everyone hates on America, even Americans! Get some damn pride and stop listening to all the whiners complain about Americans and throw stereotypes at us.

I'm a 22 year old middle class white male. Nowadays I've basically been brainwashed to believe that I'm to blame for everything anymore. I just accept it.

[JuanDenver]

lol.

Calm down man. Just come to the realization that when youre #1, people feel the need to knock you down. The same holds true in social situations. You know, the bully who feels inferior so he feels the need to kick every ones ass to get them down to his level.

America will always be the wiping boy. Until we get nuked off the face of this planet and China or the muslims then take over, the rest of the world will finally realize how good they had it.

[JayKid]

Originally Posted by ndg v2

Colin fking Powell.

I edited in some cliff notes for you.

[MMA Superstar 2]

Whoa, whoa, whoa...slow down there buddy.

[JayKid]

Originally Posted by SeniorDiscount

lol.

Calm down man. Just come to the realization that when youre #1, people feel the need to knock you down. The same holds true in social situations. You know, the bully who feels inferior so he feels the need to kick every ones ass to get them down to his level.

America will always be the wiping boy. Until we get nuked off the face of this planet and China or the muslims then take over, the rest of the world will finally realize how good they had it.

I realize that, but what makes me angry is when Americans actually start believing this **** and think that other countries are better. I'm not saying America is better, but to have such little pride in your won country that you actually think that a foreign country is superior because they hate on you and you believe it?

And to those like that, if you really think that, then leave America because our country doesn't need people like that.

[Lloyd Braun]

Originally Posted by JayKid

It's similar here. I feel like with everyone hates on America, even Americans!

What do you guys think?

Because it's fashionable too. We're the top dog right now and naturally everybody wants to take their shot. For what it's worth, this country has problems but I'd rather have our problems than any other country's problems. Wouldn't want to live anywhere else.

[AConrad00]

Originally Posted by whatitbe223

It's just jealous euro-trash out there.

everyone tries to bring down the best

[povcity]

yet almost all the countries have mcdonalds and starbucks.

[JuanDenver]

Originally Posted by JayKid

I realize that, but what makes me angry is when Americans actually start believing this **** and think that other countries are better. I'm not saying America is better, but to have such little pride in your won country that you actually think that a foreign country is superior because they hate on you and you believe it?

And to those like that, if you really think that, then leave America because our country doesn't need people like that.

Maybe this guy will keep you sane. Hes helped me throughout the years:
http://www.homestead.com/prosites-prs/index.html

[Juic3]

Originally Posted by whatitbe223

It's just jealous euro-trash out there.

Moron. Negged+reported.

[fanatiX87]

fat rate is like 1 in 4 people down at texas though

[Vegeto]

Ego can be a tricky adversary. It makes you think you have reasons that you are better than someone, it makes you want to believe it.


Oh by the way, Colin Fricken Powel!!

[Rico83]

Don't complain about the obvious. When you're the most powerful nation in the world, you're always on the limelight, and whether or not you're better is not relevant. People see the world the way they are, and when people are pissed at USA, they look at it as if it was the worst thing in the world. And angry people are way louder than content people, therefore...
On another note,I personnally think USA is just like any other country, and despite what the stereotypes are, I've met some very good people in my short trips there. But like anywhere else, there's also crap.

[_ultraviolet_]

Why do Americans think the rest of the world is obsessed with them? All this "when you're #1, people feel the need to knock you down" talk.

You may find this hard to believe but we dont care as much as you think. I rarely hear any 'America bashing' on tv. Sure, maybe France hates the US, but the rest of us dont.

Ive found that online its usually the US members that start the insult trading (not just on bb.com) with the bad teeth, ugly women, bad food, bad weather, horrible accents etc and people just retaliate with the usual "americans are fat and stupid".

Just yesterday i was watching TV and they had an American author on promoting his book "Why Britain ruined the world" which was full of ludicrous claims such as the UK being responsible for climate change (since we started the industrial revolution)

The average person here doesnt care about the US, they go there on holiday but they dont waste their time bashing it. They are too busy getting on with their own lives.

[-->aDAM*<--]

Stereotypes are labelled on every country and they're usually very patronizing.
I live in ustralia so most other people think that I ride a Kangaroo to school, drink beer go surfing then throw my boomerang around and want to hunt crocodiles but it doesn't worry me.

[Rico83]

Originally Posted by -->aDAM*<--

Stereotypes are labelled on every country and they're usually very patronizing.
I live in ustralia so most other people think that I ride a Kangaroo to school, drink beer go surfing then throw my boomerang around and want to hunt crocodiles but it doesn't worry me.

WOOOOOOOTT????? It's only a stereotype???? *note to self: cancel tickets to Australia......

[KingSht]

Originally Posted by -->aDAM*<--

I live in Austria so most other people think that I ride a Kangaroo to school, drink beer go surfing then throw my boomerang around and want to hunt crocodiles but it doesn't worry me.

You mean you don't?

[CLK-GTR]

i dont think many americans really think they're inferior, just the opposite infact. i'll keep quiet on the subject anyway since my hatred levels for america are kind of high after sitting opposite a loud, obnoxious american whore in a bar last night for 2 hours who wouldnt shut up about her boyfriend. i dont understand that actually, why is it you can be in a room full of people all conversing with one another and cant hear any of them, but the american voice operates at such a volume and frequency that everyone in the damn place can hear every single word they say

[Adam228]

"America is a large, friendly dog in a very small room. Every time it wags its tail, it knocks over a chair."
Arnold Toynbee

Everyone is ethnocentric. Americans do have a tendency to tell everyone they are the greatest country in the world.....so what to you expect back.

I used to have a friend who was part of the royal blood line of Britian. Obviously he thought Britian was the greatest country in the world and could easily defeat any foe that knocked at it's door, despite history.

But America has had it's share of help as well.

The important thing is that we don't let this ethnocentrism get in the way when we need to bond together.

[JBDW]

Originally Posted by _ultraviolet_

Why do Americans think the rest of the world is obsessed with them? All this "when you're #1, people feel the need to knock you down" talk.

You may find this hard to believe but we dont care as much as you think. I rarely hear any 'America bashing' on tv. Sure, maybe France hates the US, but the rest of us dont.

Ive found that online its usually the US members that start the insult trading (not just on bb.com) with the bad teeth, ugly women, bad food, bad weather, horrible accents etc and people just retaliate with the usual "americans are fat and stupid".

Just yesterday i was watching TV and they had an American author on promoting his book "Why Britain ruined the world" which was full of ludicrous claims such as the UK being responsible for climate change (since we started the industrial revolution)

The average person here doesnt care about the US, they go there on holiday but they dont waste their time bashing it. They are too busy getting on with their own lives.

I have to agree with the main point here. Nobody I know really cares all that much about slamming America. Mostly people take it as just another country. I don't know why people here seem to think that they're deliberately being targeted by the majority of the world...?

[lacey23]

I don't know anyone really that hates Americans. I've got some freinds down in the states and there pretty cool. Some people might say they don't like Bush but that doesn;t mean they hate the states.

[replica_fun]

US GDP: 12.3 trillion
Second after that, Japan: 4.3 trillion

Yah, we make a lot of money despite not having the most people or even allegedly, that bright of a labor force. Yet we do have a bright labor force that is relatively well educated and capable of working.

[kalagan]

1) Travelling costs a lot of money and actually i think most people can't spend money for trips.

2) You can also lean a lot of things about others cultures by reading books, magazines, and watching report on TV.


And no, i don't believe that Americans feel "inferior" about their culture. It will probably make you laugh but everywhere on the planet everybody know who are Elvis, Madonna, Mickael jackson, Tom Cruise, Truman Capote, Bukowski, etc....

[kalagan]

Originally Posted by SeniorDiscount

Just come to the realization that when youre #1...

I lol'd !!!

[kalagan]

To the thread starter : i think you're nuts. Because that's completely the opposite. No offense, but i think that during a long time most Americans were sure they were the Best. Now things are changing. USa is a great country but there's no "better" country in this World. Usa isn't better than UK, France, Spain, Morroco, etc...

[kalagan]

Originally Posted by _ultraviolet_

maybe France hates the US

Absolutley not, that's just another lie from the Media. Nobody hate US here.

Negged for saying a load of craps.

[Colemans#1]

Originally Posted by _ultraviolet_

Why do Americans think the rest of the world is obsessed with them? All this "when you're #1, people feel the need to knock you down" talk.

You may find this hard to believe but we dont care as much as you think. I rarely hear any 'America bashing' on tv. Sure, maybe France hates the US, but the rest of us dont.

Ive found that online its usually the US members that start the insult trading (not just on bb.com) with the bad teeth, ugly women, bad food, bad weather, horrible accents etc and people just retaliate with the usual "americans are fat and stupid".

Just yesterday i was watching TV and they had an American author on promoting his book "Why Britain ruined the world" which was full of ludicrous claims such as the UK being responsible for climate change (since we started the industrial revolution)

The average person here doesnt care about the US, they go there on holiday but they dont waste their time bashing it. They are too busy getting on with their own lives.

i second that, reps on recharge

[kalagan]

Originally Posted by -->aDAM*<--

Stereotypes are labelled on every country and they're usually very patronizing.
I live in ustralia so most other people think that I ride a Kangaroo to school, drink beer go surfing then throw my boomerang around and want to hunt crocodiles but it doesn't worry me.

Wait ? You mean.... that's a myth ? OMFG !

NOooooooooooooooo !!!!