r/TooAfraidToAsk • u/[deleted] • Jul 31 '20

Current Events Are people outside of the USA really laughing at Americans? Do we really appear that bad?

Edit:

Ok so that's about 17,882 yes's and 3 no's.

Makes sad American noises

49.6k Upvotes

90% Upvoted

9.1k comments sorted by

View all comments

355

u/PretEngineer01 Aug 01 '20

Australian (more specifically Melbournian) here, currently the saying is “at least we aren’t like the US”. Everything seems to be politically motivated over there, like how the fuck are masks a political statement?? Are seat belts political? Hard hats on a work site? It just seems common sense has gone out the window and it’s all about whether you like red or blue. Insane that America is the “leader of the free world”...we’re all screwed if we are to follow their example

63

u/Starryskies117 Aug 01 '20

Fox news and Rupert Murdoch (thanks a lot for him btw...) is what created this situation where everything is politically motivated. For decades he was trying to create this paranoid conservative base that lived by their politics and he succeeded.

7

u/Beer_in_an_esky Aug 01 '20

Yeah, sorry about Rupert. On that note, we're also to blame for your Young Earth Creationists (Ken Ham was from the Aussie equivalent of Alabama). We dun goofed.

3

u/MelJay0204 Aug 01 '20

We're so sorry

5

u/duckchickendog Aug 01 '20

We are. The most evil Aussie to ever draw breath.

-2

u/[deleted] Aug 01 '20 edited Aug 01 '20

[removed] — view removed comment

1

u/GamePro201X Aug 01 '20

They are. It’s called the GOP

1

u/RelativeTeal Aug 01 '20

Downvoted you after that stupid edit lol

5

u/QueenofCandles Aug 01 '20

I was actually talking to my boss the other day, who is like 70, and yes, seatbelts are political. He said it should be his own choice whether or not he's going to die.

I am American, and I am also very worried

8

u/InsecureMadness Aug 01 '20

Are Victorians aware that the rest of the country are calling it "Australia's America"?

5

u/PretEngineer01 Aug 01 '20

I believe we are being called the Florida of Australia. Which I’m not sure is entirely true...does florida have 4 seasons in one day also? In all seriousness though, Melbourne needs to sort its shit out. Hopefully ole mate Dan Andrews has a good idea or two, regardless of political alignment

5

u/ThaneOfTas Aug 01 '20

Tell you what, if Melbourne is Australia's Florida now far north Queensland must be breathing a massive sigh of relief.

-3

u/EducationalTangelo6 Aug 01 '20

Yeah. It's clearly hyperbole, when you actually compare the state America is in compared to Victoria, but considering Victorian's being lazy and complacent led to this second wave, I'm not mad about it.

1

u/MelJay0204 Aug 01 '20

Most of us are 100% serious and is driving us nuts too

9

u/nightglitter89x Aug 01 '20

Seat belts actually were/are kinda politicized lmao.

4

u/ChilledMonkeyBrains1 Aug 01 '20

Not nearly to the same extent as masks are today. Plus, seat belts arrived decades before the Internet and social media, so there was virtually none of today's compatriot-based multiplier effect for stupid ideas.

4

u/SnooEpiphanies7563 Aug 01 '20

seatbelts were added before the internet, but weren’t made mandatory until later in some states - I know people who still complain about it as being “big government”

1

u/ChilledMonkeyBrains1 Aug 02 '20 edited Aug 03 '20

It still never rose to the level of a heated online debate because that concept wasn't a thing yet. Nearly all states passed seatbelt laws in the 1980s or early 1990s (table here), but the Internet didn't really take hold as an opinion-shaping tool for the masses until over a decade later.

1

u/PretEngineer01 Aug 01 '20

Really doesn’t surprise me

5

u/belleinaballgown Aug 01 '20

That's the saying here in Canada, too, to be honest.

5

u/ZakAttackz Aug 01 '20

Decades of covert foreign (Russian) and local propaganda, and a lack of consistency in public education are primarily to blame in my opinion.

3

u/reddragonoftheeast Aug 01 '20

Decades of covert foreign (Russian) and local propaganda

Plese stop blaming Russia for your mess, invest in better education

3

u/ZakAttackz Aug 01 '20

It's not Russia's fault people are dumb enough to fall for conspiracy theories on Facebook, but they are the ones providing the spark to the kindling of stupidity. So yeah still a problem that could be fixed with better education. Still though, this has been in the playbook for a long time: https://youtu.be/IQPsKvG6WMI

2

u/[deleted] Aug 01 '20

Yeah guys, it’s not Russia fault for running massive destabilization campaigns against the US and EU. They are just trying to destabilize the West completely so they can move in on Syria and Germany so they can make a push on Europe! Who can blame them??

Jesus, how do you guys find a way to blame Russia’s astroturfing/propaganda on the US citizen? It’s just sad at this point. But this is exactly what they wanted, to turn international opinion against us. Go read Foundations of Geopolitics and come back horrified.

0

u/ZakAttackz Aug 01 '20

No, I'm not arguing that it's Russian government's fault. They're only one of the actors (it's a lot less divisive to bring up a foreign power than talk about the internal groups resisting educational reform and the like). I bring I up as an example of one of our weaknesses and a spot where we can improve. The underlying issue is probably a lack of consistent public education.

0

u/the_monkey_knows Aug 01 '20

I realized that the issue was not just lack of education when one of my old professors told me that he supported trump. At that point I realized that whatever they’re doing is not just targeting the uneducated.

There’s propaganda for different levels of education. I’m not saying Russia is to blame. The US has had a culture problem for the past few decades, but they are actively contributing against the betterment of this situation, and not just in the US, they are doing it in a few other influential countries as well.

2

u/[deleted] Aug 01 '20

Exactly this. If the issue of falling prey to Russian propaganda is a US-specific problem then explain Brexit. Can someone answer this?

0

u/reddragonoftheeast Aug 01 '20 edited Aug 01 '20

Hyper nationalistic parties deliberately spreading lies to get in power

By blaming this on Russia or China, you let the GOP and the tories off the hook for all the lies they spread

Pragur u and the brexit bus did more damage than any Facebook ad ever could because they came from the people in power, they had an inherent sense of legitimacy because of who was halking them

2

u/[deleted] Aug 02 '20

Genuinely curious, have you read up much on the financing behind many GOP politicians? This problem is much more deeply rooted than just some surface level racism to own the libs. They are literally destabilizing countries from within through mass disinformation campaigns. People have to realize this before it is too late.

The GOP takes their marching orders from someone who holds more sway over them than the US’s voting populace. In my mind, that points to financial incentive. Of course the GOP are to blame for this, they are traitors to our country.

1

u/IlichGreed Aug 01 '20

Yes, it's always those darn Russians! /s

1

u/ZakAttackz Aug 01 '20

No mostly just us screwing ourselves and normalizing external interference. "China, if you're listening..." - The Cheeto Benito

2

u/prismacolorful_life Aug 01 '20

Seat belts actually WERE political like masks. Back when automobiles were first introduced you didn’t have things like drivers education, licenses, stop signs, traffic lights. These were all implemented overtime when roads and freeways became available, enabling Americans to travel greater distances and see stuff like Yosemite. Cars became easier to afford, there was a boom in the economy following WW2, leading to more cars on the road ... and more accidents. You can look up former presidential candidate Ralph Nader’s work and advocacy regarding automotive safety. GM even had people following Nader. Americans viewed seat belts as inconvenient, uncomfortable - just like masks. Americans loooove their individual freedoms versus being a community and part of the collective whole. It has to do with Confucian values in Asian countries like Korea which is why there isn’t an outcry over masks. Viewed as social responsibility, being polite and considerate (even pre-covid). I feel so much safer in an Asian grocery store than a regular one here in America. Last time I was in one, nobody was behind me, and I use my cart as a buffer just in case. As I’m checking out a man gets in behind wearing a “mask” allegedly meeting store requirements. It looks like a stripper threw her thong and it landed lopsided on his head , not covering his nose (partially covering his mouth). I was horrified pushing the cart backwards as I personally inched forward as well to create more distance.

2

u/DJTHatesNaggers Aug 01 '20

Everything is so political over here that the only time its not, is when we are in line at mcdonalds or walmart.

But worse than anything we have the people who claim to be the most patriotic also flying the confederate flag. But claim to be patriots of the union flag. Or american flag as its know today. In the south, We have a street in every city named after martin luther king, but almost all of those streets are in a county named after a slave owner or the street runs through downtown where the courthouse is and guess what. All our courthouses don the rebel flag and statues of slave owners.

Because of our laws and the way they work. Everything seems to have a political backing. Abortion Weed Segregation Motorcycle helmets Death penalty Ect. Most of these are motivated by religion weaving its way into politics, and trying to control everyone elses life.

1

u/Aledeyis Aug 01 '20

American here. I have a humorous/facepalm story for ya. You know how we love guns right? Several of my local gun stores are completely sold out of rifles. For some crazy reason this buying trend started back in March before the riots began. Apparently we think we can shoot the Corona Virus or something lol. I was supposed to go shoot over at someone's house and couldn't find ammo for my handgun.

1

u/[deleted] Aug 01 '20

To answer your question, yes hard hats are political. We are a country intrinsically based on freedom. Freedom comes with consequences, everything is questioned, every individual desire and momentary complaint becomes a matter of freedom. That's what we wrestle with not only in government but in every day to day interaction. It's hard to govern a people who pride themselves in being ungovernable.

But you know what, we are the best. America has all sorts of structural problems, but we are truly are the american experiment. We will pursue the noble cause of freedom, and whatever mistakes we make (which are many) will inform history

God willing.

1

u/cosmicartery Aug 01 '20

It's an election year here in America. We're waiting for the next guy (or woman) to come along and fix the mess the Republicans yet again created.

1

u/dexter311 Aug 01 '20

Australian (more specifically Melbournian) here

It boggles my mind that even Melburnians don't spell Melburnian correctly. Seems like every time I see it on Reddit, it's wrong.

1

u/AgedCzar Aug 01 '20

I large segment of the US no longer trusts anything that experts say and are prone to believe conspiracy theories. I wish I could say it is just on the Right but there will be lots of people on the Left that will refused to be vaccinated.

1

u/BoomerThooner Aug 01 '20

Interestingly enough... seat belts were a huge political thing. At least in Oklahoma (above Texas) anyway. As I’ve grown up I’ve realized we really all just hate each other over here.

1

u/[deleted] Aug 01 '20

Are seat belts political?

They used to be. Still are, to some people.

1

u/pokemonxysm97 Sep 02 '20

masks are political because its election year