Exploring Misconceptions About the USA

[Pengwuino]

In fact, http://www.answers.com/soccer+mom&r=67 are one counterexample.

Oh man, we're trying to give him reasons not to hate Americans

 

[honestrosewater]

I think arildno has made great observations. All Americans don't all think or act the same way. More than anything else, I think a sense of independence and freedom was instilled in everyone I grew up with. That is, as far as what it means to be an American. People fighting for their rights and freedoms was the theme running through all the history and social studies classes. I don't mean the US has a rosy past or that they taught us everything in school; We didn't learn much about the slaughter of the Native Americans, for instance. There was just always an emphasis on Americans being free. And I think this is one thing that holds true for most Americans. They know they have rights and aren't afraid to fight for them or demand their fair treatment.
This translates into us actually having- earning and retaining- a lot of freedoms. Being free to spend your money how you see fit, being free to look at porn all day if you want to, being free to get divorced if you want to, and so on. That doesn't mean everyone actually does these things. There's a great quote that I think sums up the situation: "I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it." -Evelyn Beatrice Hall, summing up Voltaire's thoughts.

I think it's also difficult to judge cultures that are very different from your own. For instance, polygamy, animal sacrifice, dowries, arranged marriages, living your whole life with your parents and extended family, and so on might seem strange, unnatural, or even plainly wrong to someone who didn't grow up where these were common and accepted practices. By the same token, monogamy, animal rights, divorce, the nuclear family, and so on might seem strange, unnatural, or even plainly wrong to someone else. Just something to keep in mind. I think people actually have more in common than it seems- most people just want to live and be merry.

Did you really get all of that from the media? Do people you know believe those things? Have you ever seen protests in the US? Or opinion polls?

 

[Pengwuino]

And an even greatest testament to American freedom in relation to what honestrosewater said, is that in elementary school, we spent about half a semester bad-mouthing the US in textbooks in regards to the Native Americans. We can say and do and study seemingly whatever we want. Some choose to focus on the good of America, some choose to focus on the bad but in the end, its allllll about choice.

 

[klusener]

For instance, polygamy, animal sacrifice, dowries, arranged marriages, living your whole life with your parents and extended family, and so on might seem strange, unnatural, or even plainly wrong to someone who didn't grow up where these were common and accepted practices.

Was this aimed towards India, because if it is, it is nothing more than the same sort of material that chound has put out.

 

[Pengwuino]

I doubt that was aimed at India. Being in hte US, the 'living with family forever' sterotype is associated muuuuuch more often with people in Mexico or south american countries.

Remember, i said stereotype, so its not necessarily true

 

[honestrosewater]

Was this aimed towards India, because if it is, it is nothing more than the same sort of material that chound has put out.

No, I was using it as a generic example. In fact, they all happen in the US, they just aren't common. In fact, there was a case in FL a while ago... there are laws against animal sacrifice in FL, and one group was trying to stop another from sacrificing animals. But the sacrifices were a main part of the group's religion, so the Supreme Court ruled that FL's law was unconstitutional (First Amendment) and FL had to make an exception. So animal sacrifice as a religious practice is actually legal in FL (if nothing has changed since then) and presumably would be in every state since it was the US Supreme Court and the First Amendment.

 

[goldi]

US has progressed on base of itself...it has its own traditions and qualities...
Just to say this all is not good is pointless...
and the way u are trying to find fault with US is indirect way to say they are gr8...
Because love to find fault with gr8 ppls
but on one hand if u will start to find problems in India and take its ratio with US it will be infinite...
India progress,,
u guys haven't been able to win any nobles,oscars,olympics,whatever and give lessons for free...
Grow up

 

[honestrosewater]

I doubt that was aimed at India. Being in hte US, the 'living with family forever' sterotype is associated muuuuuch more often with people in Mexico or south american countries.

Remember, i said stereotype, so its not necessarily true

Those weren't stereotypes; They're things I have seen and seen studies of. Some people do live with their families their whole lives. And some do sacrifice animals. And some people walk around completely naked and sleep in hammocks all in the same half-open shelter. And in some places marriages are arranged, or were within the last couple of decades, I think that particular lesson was from the 80s. I watch the anthropology telecourses from a local college. And pick up some anthropology books. I think it's much better to be able to actually watch and listen. I'm not making this stuff up.

 

[klusener]

US has progressed on base of itself...it has its own traditions and qualities...
Just to say this all is not good is pointless...
and the way u are trying to find fault with US is indirect way to say they are gr8...
Because love to find fault with gr8 ppls
but on one hand if u will start to find problems in India and take its ratio with US it will be infinite...
India progress,,
u guys haven't been able to win any nobles,oscars,olympics,whatever and give lessons for free...
Grow up

Are you saying that Indians haven't won any noble prizes or any medals in the olympics?

 

[honestrosewater]

And an even greatest testament to American freedom in relation to what honestrosewater said, is that in elementary school, we spent about half a semester bad-mouthing the US in textbooks in regards to the Native Americans. We can say and do and study seemingly whatever we want. Some choose to focus on the good of America, some choose to focus on the bad but in the end, its allllll about choice.

We learned more about slavery. The treatment was definitely critical, but there was also a focus on progress and, again, fighting for freedom. I'm just talking about K-12.

 

[BobG]

Those weren't stereotypes; They're things I have seen and seen studies of. Some people do live with their families their whole lives. And some do sacrifice animals. And some people walk around completely naked and sleep in hammocks all in the same half-open shelter. And in some places marriages are arranged, or were within the last couple of decades, I think that particular lesson was from the 80s. I watch the anthropology telecourses from a local college. And pick up some anthropology books. I think it's much better to be able to actually watch and listen. I'm not making this stuff up.

Yes, historically, marriage in the world has usually been more about economics, security, and social status than happiness and large extended families equals security in numbers. Marriages were arranged for the overall families' benefit, not the couple getting married.

In industrialized countries, marriage has evolved to be about happiness and the high divorce rates have been disappointing. It's also a comparison of apples and oranges. If marriage is about practicality, not happiness, people stay married even if they're not all that happy with each other. If marriage is about happiness, high divorce rates could mean that love is a silly reason to get married or it could just mean that more people don't put up with unhappy marriages.

Kind of like the scene in "Fiddler on the Roof", where, after 20+ years of marriage, the husband finally asks the wife if she loves him.

 

[honestrosewater]

BTW, I wasn't passing judgement about anything or anyone. In fact, that "normal" and "good" are different things in different cultures was the whole point of my bringing up those examples.

 

[moose]

Every country has it's bad points, America's are just shown and outlined by a bright green highlighter on every news station around the world. You have to live here to criticize it. Not to put down India, but if the media started outlining everything wrong with India, everyone wouldn't be too thrilled about it either. Most of the claims are stereotypical and do not apply to everybody. Saying 38% of americans this and that, is stating factual statistics, though stating "All americans are this and that" is stereotyping... America is truly a great country...

 

[klusener]

lol, this may come as a surprise to you, but the media has already been putting down India or stereotyping it for a half a century now.

 

[1123581321]

Seriously , US is like some master and slaves respect US just because of the fear within the people . Belonging to the biggest democracy on Earth , I can certainly assert that US will soon see the dusk.

The world knows UN is nothing but a slave of USA .

the US will only see its 'dusk' if people with your philosophy have any great power over the government.

and, if the un is a slave of the USA (which it is not), so what? we do more crap for them than they can repay. the korean war was a UN run war, and may i ask you who did most of the fighting? who gives the most aid?
look, the US dosn't need the UN, but the UN could sure use the US' help. If anything, the US is a slave of the UN

Fibonacci

 

[moose]

lol, this may come as a surprise to you, but the media has already been putting down India or stereotyping it for a half a century now.

I know ;)
The harsh difference is that the US has more power so more people pay attention to it and have severe expectations.

 

[Artman]

Americans are a very diverse people.

Are americans rude? Many of them are, they embarrass most of us.

Are all american women gladly willing to set up kissing booths, or act as porn stars? Most I find are even shy to discuss sex until they get to know a person very well.

Are americans all rich?

Rich Americans?

According to the Federal Reserve, in 1990 the richest 1 percent of America owned 40 percent of its wealth -- the greatest level of inequality among all rich nations, and the worst in U.S. history since the Roaring Twenties. Furthermore, the richest 20 percent owned 80 percent of America -- meaning, of course, that the bottom four-fifths of all Americans owned only one fifth of its wealth.

I'd say that's a no.

Are americans generous? This might interest you:

Stingy are we?

The data are sketchy, but by all accounts Americans are far more generous in terms of charitable contributions than the citizens of any other country. A 1991 study found the United Kingdom to have the second largest percentage of private charitable giving. But in 2003, charitable giving amounted to 8.6 billion pounds or 0.8 percent of GDP in the U.K., according to the Charities Aid Foundation, compared to $241 billion or 2.2 percent of GDP in the U.S., according to the American Association of Fundraising Counsel.

But even this estimate of charitable giving by Americans is low because it counts only cash contributions and omits volunteer work.

According to Independent Sector, in 2003, they contributed an additional $266 billion worth of their time to charitable enterprises. This is based on a value of $17.12 per hour of time. But even if one assigns a value equal to the minimum wage, this noncash contribution still comes to about $100 billion.

As I said in the beginning, americans are a very diverse people. We are black, white, hispanic, Indian, oriental, etc. We are Christian, Muslim, Jewish, Hindu, Buddist, etc. We are rich and poor and our middleclass is largely in dept. We are not perfect, but basically US citizens are generous, brave, kind, hard working, honest, moral people, much like you will find anywhere.

The exceptions are in the news and on TV making the rest of us look bad.

 

[Pengwuino]

Those weren't stereotypes; They're things I have seen and seen studies of. Some people do live with their families their whole lives. And some do sacrifice animals. And some people walk around completely naked and sleep in hammocks all in the same half-open shelter. And in some places marriages are arranged,

A stereotype is something you believe a majority of hte people do/are like simply because of their background/ethnicity. The key word is SOME people. If you think of say, southern people marry their cousins, its a stereotype because I am pretty sure nowhere near a majority of them actually do or even think about it.

Or well, that's how i define stereotype, hope we're not getting into symantecs... haha wait that's a software company... how do you spell it, symantics? I am lost... i need a nap

 

[Pengwuino]

We are not perfect, but basically US citizens are generous, brave, kind, hard working, honest, moral people, much like you will find anywhere.

whoa whoa whoa... let's not insult the guy for making unfounded generalizations by making our own generalizations. The only real thing we can say are we are all humans and certain % of people are black or white or asian or stuff like that. Its difficult to put numbers to people that are "kind" or "hard working". If i had to gauge the people i know, id say they were basically not hard working and not generous... but of course i know only a few dozen or a couple hundred people. Its hardly a majority but its still something to kinda take into account. Many generalizations stem from peoples personal views being extrapolated out to an entire population.

 

[hypatia]

Like Goldi saying there are no Nobel winners from India?
they should of Googled that one, because there are.

 

[whozum]

I figure since I'm a foreigner my insight would be interesting.

You marry someone on Monday divroce the person on Friday.

America has about a 50% divorce rate. My guess would be most of these would be within the first 5 years.

Americans use lots of unnecessary words like "****" "kick your ass" (I want to know what the real meaning of ass is" It is donkey right?) etc

It is common among teenagers, but adults are not as immature. Ass refers to the butt, where poop comes out of.

Americans have sex as early as 13 years and child marriage is allowed by law.

Its not just americans, but a 13 year old who has sex is definitely not a good thing in other peoples eyes. It is illegal to get married before you are 18. It is actually illegal to have sex before you are 18 also, but there isn't really any way to enforce this. People tend to begin having sex at 16.

Parents go to work and generally tend to forget their children.

You don't work in India? This one is just dumb.

People are willing to blow lots of money on things like tatooes, dates etc.

A date for someone younger than $18 years is probably no more than $50, which is about eight hours of work at a little over minimum wage. ($5 something)

Most Americans are crazy (I got this idea after seeing Ripley' Believe it or Not)

The people on Ripley's are retarded. Don't watch that show. What a waste of time.

They would do anything for money( I got this idea after seeing in a program where u could take anything in the store for free if u came naked and Fear Factor)

Who wouldn't do anything for money? Ofcourse social standards here and in India are different.

Most Americans don't have a good idea about the outside world.

Very true.

They are generally bad mannered.

Not really, again, different social standards. Things that are 'normal' here are not 'normal' there.

You can sue anayone for anything.(Like this guy who sued the parents of a teenager he killed)

Generally true. Winning is a different matter though.

The americans don't know that they are under a Republic government (I don't mean the four parties) i.e. they elect the head of the state directly.

American politics is dumber than watching Ripleys.

Women are mostly immodest.

Different standards (from a different culture). They are immodest to your standards, yes.

The women "gladly" set up kissing booths and act in porn movies.

Really? Show me where.

Porn is legally allowed in the US

Only if you are over 18.

USA is probably going to lose its superpower status within a century.

I would give them 50 years tops.

USA is the best example of the maxim "There are no friends in politics only interests"

Very very true, not only politics, but business.

US AID is like **** (this is becoz the grains that US sent to India a long time ago were full of worms and what not and the entire thing was thrown into the sea)

I wouldn't know.

US survives primarily on the money it borrowes from poor countries like Russia, China, India.

I wouldn't call China a poor country. Theyre on their way up really quick. I don't think this statement is true though, the US economy is impressive.

Though US supported Free Trade it does not do so now that the chineese textiles are flooeding its markets.

Free Trade is one of the pillars of the economy. It is still allowed.

U.S. is full of rich people who have gone mad in the name of eccentricsm.

Just a consequence of capitalism, however the rich people are a very very small minority.

Most music videos can't be distinguished from pron videos.

It is illegal to show breast, buttocks, or genitalia on TV except on premium (paid privately) channels. However, rap videos tend to push this.

 

[Adrian Baker]

The USA gets a bad press because much of the rest of the world is jealous of their success. Also, incompetent, corrupt or extreme religious Govts in countries around the world can help sustain their positions of power by painting the greatest free nation in the world (after England!) as a really awful place.

Before judging America, ask yourself where your sources of information come from.


I've been to the US many, many times. I love the place. The people tend to be friendly, kind and honest (like in most other countries!). Niaive about world affairs, yes maybe, insular, yes but how many countries offer such freedom to their own people?

Chound may not like quick marriages and divorce, porn or whatever, but in the US you are FREE to choose your own lifestyle. It is that freedom that many citizens of the world find scary or objectionable.
In the US you can live a quiet simple life like the Amish do, or as a promiscious metropolitan homosexual, or any other thing that you choose. In how many countries is that true?

Those who object to this tend to be those with a strong belief system that seems to want to rule others lives.

 

[Pengwuino]

How exactly did this idea that Americans don't know anything about world politics come from? Has there been studies to actually prove this? I've seen my fair share of idiots in this country but I've heard my fair share of idiots from around the world on the internet. My guess is that this is just another thing like chound says which are stereotypes associated with America that are 100% valid ( to even larger extent in many cases) in every other nation on earth.

 

[learningphysics]

I think everyone(including myself) was a little too quick to jump down chound's throat. He was pointing out the impression that media has given him, and was asking for clarification.

The USA is a media giant (movies, music television... that's popular worldwide). It is difficult for those outside the USA not to gain a skewed impression of the country.

 

[Smurf]

You people have been going on about this thread for 3 pages (in my browser anyway) and the original poster hasn't even replied once.

 

[whozum]

How exactly did this idea that Americans don't know anything about world politics come from? Has there been studies to actually prove this? I've seen my fair share of idiots in this country but I've heard my fair share of idiots from around the world on the internet. My guess is that this is just another thing like chound says which are stereotypes associated with America that are 100% valid ( to even larger extent in many cases) in every other nation on earth.

Just look at the amount of people who support the war, that should be evidence enough. Americans don't know **** about the outside. People sitll ask me where Sudan is. I still get "are you from iraq?"

Your average american probably couldn't draw you a decent map of the world. Actually I would be more confident in a 4th grader drawing the world than your average 30 year old. They are taught the stuff, they just are too absent-minded (as far as education goes) to care.

 

[Pengwuino]

Just look at the amount of people who support the war, that should be evidence enough. Americans don't know **** about the outside. People sitll ask me where Sudan is. I still get "are you from iraq?"

Your average american probably couldn't draw you a decent map of the world. Actually I would be more confident in a 4th grader drawing the world than your average 30 year old. They are taught the stuff, they just are too absent-minded (as far as education goes) to care.

Oh yes, the "war". Let me guess, "War for oil!". Hilarious. Most of the world is blinded by propoganda and think the UN has some sense of dignity when they put gross human rights violaters on human rights commissions! So I think the amount of people that support the UN shows how little the "international community" knows.

 

[whozum]

Oh yes, the "war". Let me guess, "War for oil!". Hilarious. Most of the world is blinded by propoganda and think the UN has some sense of dignity when they put gross human rights violaters on human rights commissions! So I think the amount of people that support the UN shows how little the "international community" knows.

Please don't mock me. I didnt mention anything about oil.

 

[Pengwuino]

hehehe :) Yet you mock the American public...

 

[whozum]

hehehe :) Yet you mock the American public...

I haven't mocked the public. I've stated that the american public is deceived, that isn't a mockery.

 

[Evo]

I think everyone(including myself) was a little too quick to jump down chound's throat. He was pointing out the impression that media has given him, and was asking for clarification.

The USA is a media giant (movies, music television... that's popular worldwide). It is difficult for those outside the USA not to gain a skewed impression of the country.

I wonder what he'd think if he saw the Jerry Springer show. The people on that show are an embarassment to humans in general, they are the dregs of society.

There are some dumb people in this country that enjoy watching other dumb people. It doesn't represent the majority of people here, but it certainly doesn't help our image.

 

[Evo]

Let's also watch getting too emotional in here.

 

[Artman]

whoa whoa whoa... let's not insult the guy for making unfounded generalizations by making our own generalizations. The only real thing we can say are we are all humans and certain % of people are black or white or asian or stuff like that. Its difficult to put numbers to people that are "kind" or "hard working". If i had to gauge the people i know, id say they were basically not hard working and not generous... but of course i know only a few dozen or a couple hundred people. Its hardly a majority but its still something to kinda take into account. Many generalizations stem from peoples personal views being extrapolated out to an entire population.

True enough. In my opinion
I find americans to be...However, what I was saying is that we are humans, very much like people all over the world.

 

[honestrosewater]

A stereotype is something you believe a majority of hte people do/are like simply because of their background/ethnicity. The key word is SOME people. If you think of say, southern people marry their cousins, its a stereotype because I am pretty sure nowhere near a majority of them actually do or even think about it.

And where did I say anything at all like that?

I think it's also difficult to judge cultures that are very different from your own. For instance, polygamy, animal sacrifice, dowries, arranged marriages, living your whole life with your parents and extended family, and so on might seem strange, unnatural, or even plainly wrong to someone who didn't grow up where these were common and accepted practices. By the same token, monogamy, animal rights, divorce, the nuclear family, and so on might seem strange, unnatural, or even plainly wrong to someone else. Just something to keep in mind. I think people actually have more in common than it seems- most people just want to live and be merry.

Those are two examples of two different cultures with different customs. I had the list of American customs in mind, so to illustrate my point, I chose a set of customs that were different. I even clarified that I wasn't talking about any place or people in particular; It was just a generic example. Monogamy, animal rights, and the nuclear family are American customs. This is not an unfounded generalization or prejudiced opinion about a group of people, which is what "stereotype" means to me and every dictionary I checked; It is a documented fact- you can just look at the laws. The other group of customs can't be stereotypes since I didn't apply them to any group of people. I don't even know that they all apply to anyone group of people. Is anything not clear about that?
Or are you saying that the facts themselves are stereotypes? Well, I guess you can call them what you want to. But if you want to accuse me again, now you at least know what "stereotype" means to me.

 

[JamesU]

It is illegal to show breast, buttocks, or genitalia on TV except on premium (paid privately) channels. However, rap videos tend to push this.

you're wrong. any cable channel can show whatever they want. the only restrictions (or rather suggestions) is that it's late at night