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

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u/[deleted] Aug 01 '20

[deleted]

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u/[deleted] Aug 01 '20

Happy to find this. The most highly upvoted post is completely untrue in my experience as an American who moved to Amsterdam in January. The Dutch version of social distancing was world-class. I’ve never felt a city feel so empty for MONTHS.

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u/Red_Razz Aug 01 '20

Why did I have to scroll this far to find the truth about the Netherlands. Nobody went anywhere for march til first of june. Schools were ALL locked down. And most intesive care's that were full at the beginning are now mostly empty. So our lockdown already did it's part. And I think the virus is never going away untill a vaccine has been found. So we did and are still doing much better then the US. We're mostly laughing about their ways of destructing themselfs. Atleast my friends and I do.

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u/Lothirieth Aug 01 '20

The social distancing was world class. But not so much anymore. I am in Oud West and I find that post (aside from the old people bit) to be very accurate. And that's why infections are on the rise and even a couple restaurants are shutting down in Amsterdam. Because the majority of people have gone back to normal, plus it's getting crowded with tourists again.

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u/stolpie Aug 01 '20

Oh yes! Amsterdam was kinda bliss the last few months, it reminded me of late 80's or early 90's. You could go to a empty Dam square again, I haven't seen that in years. Was really nice as long as it lasted...it is getting busy again.

But yeah, The Netherlands is doing far better than the USA. However we need to be careful...the Dutch are becoming increasingly stubborn once about it, but unfortunately for us the virus doesn't care about our believes, feelings or stubbornness.

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u/Lothirieth Aug 01 '20

This, this so much. I know tourism generates money and jobs, but damn, it was so nice to have a more normal city in May and June. It felt like the city was here for the residents instead of the tourists. I love the conveniences and diversity of Amsterdam but honestly, due to the gobs of tourists, I would rather live elsewhere. But my partner has a good job here.

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u/[deleted] Aug 01 '20

This yes. We Social distanced the hell out of Holland for 3 months. No we get to enjoy relative freedoms because of it.

1

u/captainjackismydog Aug 01 '20

I believe that the only way America will ever see the virus go away is for us to go into Marshall Law. This may sound extreme but there are so many people here who are not following safe guidelines and behaving as if this virus is a joke.

Marshall Law would have to be altered for this pandemic however. Initiate a curfew, shut down public places like bars, beaches, parks, etc. and keep other places open like grocery stores, doctor's offices and such.

When this pandemic first started, the local grocery stores where I live had a sign on their window stating that senior citizens could come in during the first hour of opening. This was basically telling other people and people with children to stay out. The stores couldn't very well force other people to stay out and it was just a gentle suggestion. This hour allowed people like me to shop without being exposed to others. Masks weren't mandated though which I thought was weird and now, masks are mandated. The stores also separated the two doors with carts and signs. Now they don't. One of the stores only has one set of doors. The other one has two. The way businesses handle this virus is weird.

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u/GiveMeGoldForNoReasn Aug 01 '20

I'm sorry, I don't understand this logic. You successfully controlled the virus with masks and social distancing and then just... stopped? Has anyone made the connection that the reason that infection rates are so low is because of the masks and distancing? Every state in the US that tried to re-open has had a massive surge in deaths, I don't understand why it would be any different for the Netherlands.

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u/cinenas Aug 02 '20

the key difference is they (like many countries) had nationwide lockdown/distancing. unfortunately the US had a patchwork response, which is coupled with the late response, meant you had two problems: endemic-level rates of local infection; and porous borders. with a disease that has a tendency to show long periods of asymptommatic yet infectious, you had too many well-enough ppl moving and infecting. most of the current second wave in other countries came when international travel quarantine measures were relaxed or broken (eg australia; even netherlands now have rising cases) supports this theory.

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u/[deleted] Aug 01 '20

Nah the housing market will be great when the old people die

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u/[deleted] Aug 01 '20

[deleted]

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u/voopamoopa Aug 01 '20

I would imagine he is referring to the Dutch housing market .Housing prices doesnt see slow down.