Why do people like to take a crack at the U.S at every chance?

[Kenji]

Maybe it's just me, but it seems like every time something dangerous/bad happens, the whole world looks at the U.S. and goes 'You should/should not have done THAT' A few quick examples would be Iraq, West Nile, and the whole Mad Cow thing. Sure, the govermant should have been more careful, but I don't here a big deal made about other country's problems. China and SARS is one example. And just for referance, most of everything on this Flames Section mentions SOMETHING about how BAD Americans are. Not directly though.

[not-I]

And just for referance, most of everything on this Flames Section mentions SOMETHING about how BAD Americans are.Then why add yet another thread about it?

I think the answer is pretty obvious anyway. Good or bad, right or wrong, the U.S. is the only superpower around now (although China might be there soon), has the ability to ignore world opinion and invade foreign countries without U.N. mandates, and has made full use of that ability over the last few years. That simply tends to piss off a lot of people around the world. Mad cow has very little to do with it.

I try not to take it personally. As to the real haters, rather than those who simply criticize our goverment, i haven't seen many here, and would ignore them anyway.

[KhawMengLee]

It probably has something to do with the hypocritical "holier than thou" attitude that the US Govt. has. As Not-I said, the US is a world superpower, and at the moment it seems to like to push its honker into other people's business.

For example, the US wanted to deny China a position on the WTO because of protectionism. They argue that one's country should be "open" to trade and that globalization is the way. Then when US wheat and Beef farmers are hard hit by competition from overseas, the US Govt slams a tariff on imports of Beef and Wheat. A bit of a double standard yes? They also did the same with the Steel industry.

The US also likes to throw human rights issues around as a tool rather than a legitimate issue. eg, China being called a violator of human rights and Israel's recent campaigns in Palestine getting no comment or action. Not to mention the torture of POW's by US forces.

Plus, Bush seems to have a knack for pissing people off because he has no tact. eg, after recently mending strained relationships with Europe he once again sparked off a tiff by sticking his nose and mouth where it doesn't belong. His comments were that EU should let Turkey join the EU, which pretty audacious. Imagine the world suggesting the US cede back Texas to Mexico, since it was originally their territory.

I think what the US Govt needs to realise is that the world is smarter than it gives them credit for and that hypocrisy is a sure fire way to lose respect. Practice what you preach.

If you want to be a leader, do so with virtue and honour.

[Masahiro]

hmmm I've got a really simple answer to the topic of this thread. "Why do people like to take a crack at the U.S every chance they get?" Are you ready for this? This is the million dollar question, and i've got the million dollar answer. >>>drum beat...........<<< BECAUSE the American's take a crack at everyone else "every" chance they get. Some how this "individualism" and "independence" notion which American so treasures and is what earned them their freedom from Great Britain in the first place turned into cynical criticism after a good century or so.

[psywarblade]

The other morning a local radio station called up to Cnada and point blank asked them why they hate America. Ironically they hate America but they love Americans. So suddenly its no longer a government of the people. Its a government and those guys over there.

I hate politics but here I am 10 minutes before work lets out with nothing to do.

[Kenji]

BECAUSE the American's take a crack at everyone else "every" chance they get. Some how this "individualism" and "independence" notion which American so treasures and is what earned them their freedom from Great Britain in the first place turned into cynical criticism after a good century or so.
Cynical criticism...but does that give the world a right to do so as well? Just to remind you but half the countries around the globe are democratic. Well, this is out of my league so I'll drop it.

[Masahiro]

Cynical criticism...but does that give the world a right to do so as well?
well, there's always that saying "Do onto other as you would have them do onto you". <s.i.g.h> but it certainly doesn't give other people the right. But people are products of their enviroment and experience, so it's a game of "monkey see, monkey do". these silly childish behaviors will never stop. The day it does, the end of the world will come. Because then we will have reached Utopia, and people wouldn't know what to do in that state. << that's just my thoughts.

[kenshin13]

The other morning a local radio station called up to Cnada and point blank asked them why they hate America. Ironically they hate America but they love Americans. So suddenly its no longer a government of the people. Its a government and those guys over there.

I hate politics but here I am 10 minutes before work lets out with nothing to do.Very true. I am not a politics lover, but I do agree with most of you, even though I am (can you believe it?) American. I am pretty much the point of stereo type with the "obese kids with the short attention span that all the parents are worried about". I can't lie. (laughs) I'm pretty much that. But I can't go wrong with actually stoppin it right? All the people in America are saying how bad everything is without expiriencing and trying to prevent it. I would much rather like to live in Japan :D

[Random m0f0]

Fuckin who cares? You're all wankers.

[Kaoru]

Fuckin who cares? You're all wankers.

Please clean up your language.

Kaoru

[Random m0f0]

Fuck up dickhead.

[Kaoru]

Fuck up dickhead.
Hamish-san, please either ban this user or delete his posts. Thank you.

Kaoru

[Random m0f0]

Fucking hell, I'm just an average guy trying to chill the fuck out on these boards. Give me a break bitch.

[KhawMengLee]

Fucking hell, I'm just an average guy trying to chill the fuck out on these boards. Give me a break bitch.

...Troll....

[Kaoru]

...Troll....
Exactly.

Kaoru

[Kaoru]

Fucking hell, I'm just an average guy trying to chill the fuck out on these boards. Give me a break bitch.
You have no business here on the boards. You are harrassing everybody. You are NOT "chilling out" the boards. If you want to "chill out" the boards, how about trying to be kind and funny? Being mean only makes you look very bad. And yes, you are being mean and unkind. Have you ever been kind and helpful to anyone EVER? Instead of swearing at people, be NICE to others for once. If you get all mad over what I just said, I can't help you. I will just feel sorry for you. Wouldn't you rather have friends than hate everybody? Oh, you won't understand what I said... Why did I bother. Sigh...

Kaoru

[Atama]

Maybe it's just me, but it seems like every time something dangerous/bad happens, the whole world looks at the U.S. and goes 'You should/should not have done THAT' A few quick examples would be Iraq, West Nile, and the whole Mad Cow thing. Sure, the govermant should have been more careful, but I don't here a big deal made about other country's problems. China and SARS is one example. And just for referance, most of everything on this Flames Section mentions SOMETHING about how BAD Americans are. Not directly though.


Maybe its just me, but people who have nothing to say about kendo seem to be constantly putting up whinning posts about how everyone is picking on the poor old U.S. Its such a terrible shame that the U.S is being blamed for bombing Iraq and killing civilians and soldiers alike because Georgie boy had a grudge to settle...How dare they.

[fe-taru tora]

Maybe its just me, but people who have nothing to say about kendo seem to be constantly putting up whinning posts about how everyone is picking on the poor old U.S. Its such a terrible shame that the U.S is being blamed for bombing Iraq and killing civilians and soldiers alike because Georgie boy had a grudge to settle...How dare they.


wow ....good post very good, I don't see the point in talking about who messed up what, it's messed up the question should be how do we fix it

[Tetsubo]

. Some how this "individualism" and "independence" notion which American so treasures and is what earned them their freedom from Great Britain in the first place turned into cynical criticism after a good century or so.

I'd be happy to lend then our royal family for special occassions :D
But seriously (kind of anyway) I think there are a lot of folks who 'bait' Americans on the internet because they tend to bite. Really, you can insult Britain all you like and it won't upset me, so maybe if enough Americans just learned to ignore the insults and not feed the trolls the situation would resolve itself.

[fe-taru tora]

I'd be happy to lend then our royal family for special occassions :D
But seriously (kind of anyway) I think there are a lot of folks who 'bait' Americans on the internet because they tend to bite. Really, you can insult Britain all you like and it won't upset me, so maybe if enough Americans just learned to ignore the insults and not feed the trolls the situation would resolve itself.

very nice I agree completely ! But being from the U.S. I would rather live in Japan and quickly conform to thier ways.

[grasshopper_r2]

I'd be happy to lend then our royal family for special occassions :D
But seriously (kind of anyway) I think there are a lot of folks who 'bait' Americans on the internet because they tend to bite. Really, you can insult Britain all you like and it won't upset me, so maybe if enough Americans just learned to ignore the insults and not feed the trolls the situation would resolve itself.Just admit it...you love us Yanks! haha.

[Meat Thinker]

It's because we are teh suck, in fact the whole planet is imploding in on our country. Besides, everybody needs to have an enemy, and we've been doing a good job of fulfilling that role ;)

[Meat Thinker]

Just admit it...you love us Yanks! haha.
If nothing else, I bet we Yanks have got the softest toilet paper in the world and it kicks ass on the toilet paper (or lack there of) of the rest of the planet! We've also probably got the cleanest hinies as a result. What does it take to get banned from this board, anyway? :smiley:

[indigo0086]

hmmm I've got a really simple answer to the topic of this thread. "Why do people like to take a crack at the U.S every chance they get?" Are you ready for this? This is the million dollar question, and i've got the million dollar answer. >>>drum beat...........<<< BECAUSE the American's take a crack at everyone else "every" chance they get. Some how this "individualism" and "independence" notion which American so treasures and is what earned them their freedom from Great Britain in the first place turned into cynical criticism after a good century or so.

you really know all of us well, can you buy us drinks?

[grasshopper_r2]

If nothing else, I bet we Yanks have got the softest toilet paper in the world and it kicks ass on the toilet paper (or lack there of) of the rest of the planet! We've also probably got the cleanest hinies as a result. What does it take to get banned from this board, anyway? :smiley:Speaking of..Has anyone to date figured out how the heck they used the 3 shells in the Sly Stallone movie, Demolition man???

[Kendo Spirit]

Its not the US as a whole thats responsible for eevrything, its the dirty US politics.
nobody knows what really goes on, you only get the modified version of the story from the media.

really who can trust the media.

[Meat Thinker]

Its not the US as a whole thats responsible for eevrything, its the dirty US politics.
nobody knows what really goes on, you only get the modified version of the story from the media.

really who can trust the media.
US media is so annoyingly accident/sensation-oriented, if all you watched was US news you might think there were only a couple other countries on the planet besides the US, and that very little happened outside the US other than people getting killed in Iraq--after all, that's killing, and killing does get airtime in the US news. BBC does a much better job of covering the international scene, in my opinion, I can watch that on BBC-America. Then you actually get to hear what's happening in places like Myanmar, the country-formerly-known-as-Burma. How many people who watch US news exclusively heard much about that? PBS news, Bill Moyers NOW, and Frontline cover some things you don't hear much about on the general media, although some people complain that they are "too skewed toward the liberal."

And then there's election coverage, which dwells heavily on the superficial: Kerry's head is too big, Bush needs to be on Ritalin. But hey, Bush is from Texas, he's going to shoot first and ask questions later, and that makes me feel so much safer when there's a war going on! (that was sarcasm BTW) Bush seems to fit the world stereotype of the US to a T, and that is not a good thing in my opinion.

[Wifenmummy]

my opinon... dont swear at Kaoru...
2) many people think that americans are the best and many think americans r scum (arab nations for example)
3) many people feel better when they put others down...
4) america has made some mistakes in the past.. nukes/wars etc..
5) Americas dollar is more than everyone elses...
6) American commerical adds r annoying and there companies buy out their smaller competition
thats some reasons why i guess some people bag out america that i could think of.. to me... america is there.... americans are fine i have some good friends there... :)
its not right to judge...

[Meat Thinker]

5) Americas dollar is more than everyone elses...
The UK Pound is usually worth more than the US dollar.

[Meat Thinker]

6) American commerical adds r annoying and there companies buy out their smaller competition
thats some reasons why i guess some people bag out america that i could think of.. to me... america is there.... americans are fine i have some good friends there... :)
its not right to judge...
One thing that seems strange from the US perspective--this is not criticism, just shows the difference of perspective--is the Japanese company that sells every kind of product, except for food maybe you could buy everything from that one company, from your cradle to your coffin.

[ShudoKan Kai]

Fucking hell, I'm just an average guy trying to chill the fuck out on these boards. Give me a break bitch.
I thought people with tourette's syndrom have the uncontrollable urge to swear verbally, not typing it.

[ShudoKan Kai]

BTW, I think America is a fine nation with a lot of power. But with great power comes great responsibility (I beleive an American once said that, don't know who), and it's not always clear which path is right.

And there are always bad apples spoiling the bunch. I do beleive that the U.S. is too Economy driven.

[Nanbanjin]

...I think America is a fine nation with a lot of power. But with great power comes great responsibility (I beleive an American once said that, don't know who)....
Maybe you're thinking of Spiderman the movie.

[ShudoKan Kai]

Maybe you're thinking of Spiderman the movie.
Woops,
that might be true. Anyway, good phrase though.

[Nanbanjin]

Woops,
that might be true. Anyway, good phrase though.
Pretty good movie anyway... even if it was made by bloody Americans!

[Banza Joe]

I think ppl tend to class the americans as gung-ho and reckless. And not unduly so, im afraid. Look how many friendly fire casualties were caused by americans in the recent gulf war. Far more than actual combat casualties, until after the end.
Remember at the start of the war, the US army cretin who shot the helicopter down with 8 Royal Marines inside, kiling them all? One of the guys was a friend of mine.
They hav ethe best resources, the most money and yet they train their military like angry chimps!

Just one opinion here, i don't dislike the americasn at al, but some of the bad rap is deserved.

[indigo0086]

I think ppl tend to class the americans as gung-ho and reckless. And not unduly so, im afraid. Look how many friendly fire casualties were caused by americans in the recent gulf war. Far more than actual combat casualties, until after the end.
Remember at the start of the war, the US army cretin who shot the helicopter down with 8 Royal Marines inside, kiling them all? One of the guys was a friend of mine.
They hav ethe best resources, the most money and yet they train their military like angry chimps!

Just one opinion here, i don't dislike the americasn at al, but some of the bad rap is deserved.
Americans didn't invent friendly fire. Why don't you do balanced research and give estimates of all the friendly fire casualties in every major war

[Wifenmummy]

One thing that seems strange from the US perspective--this is not criticism, just shows the difference of perspective--is the Japanese company that sells every kind of product, except for food maybe you could buy everything from that one company, from your cradle to your coffin.

yeah... jus a few good & old companies got bought out by american companies in the last 20 yrs here.. craft etc..

[Wifenmummy]

what about in iran yesterday... there parliment got together and chanted 'death to america'!!!!!! while lalking about going on with nuke research & developement.. did u see that in the news?

[Wifenmummy]

If nothing else, I bet we Yanks have got the softest toilet paper in the world and it kicks ass on the toilet paper (or lack there of) of the rest of the planet! We've also probably got the cleanest hinies as a result. What does it take to get banned from this board, anyway? :smiley:

lol... whats the toilet paper called? i think the softest toilet paper here is by kleenex? cottonelle ????
wouldnt the japanese have the cleaniest buts due to that jet of water(from the toilet) that goes in that direction?

[Wifenmummy]

The UK Pound is usually worth more than the US dollar.
really? hmm... is that because 1 pound equals around $3-$4 ?????? a friend tried to explain it to me when she came back from working over there in a pub, she was getting 5 pounds or somethin' a hour..

[sjp]

Americans didn't invent friendly fire. Why don't you do balanced research and give estimates of all the friendly fire casualties in every major war


Perhaps not... but they are the world experts at it.
Why do you think the Black Watch Regt had so many union jacks on their vehicles ?
Surely not because the Iraqi insurgents have A10's..

[Meat Thinker]

yeah... jus a few good & old companies got bought out by american companies in the last 20 yrs here.. craft etc..
That's funny, because a few good & old companies in the USA have been bought out by Japanese companies in the last 20 yrs here. What goes around comes around, eh? I bought an American car once, BIG mistake, went back to Toyota after that :)

Everyone else is crying "gas is SOOO expensive" in their stupid SUV. I laugh at them, I get 50+ mpg in my 2002 Prius :) Plus I love the "video game"--the car has an LCD display with a bar chart of the average mileage for every 5 minutes plus you get yellow diamonds for so many Watts of electricity generated through "regenerative braking." It is a big contest between me and my wife to see who could get the most yellow diamonds :D

[Meat Thinker]

really? hmm... is that because 1 pound equals around $3-$4 ?????? a friend tried to explain it to me when she came back from working over there in a pub, she was getting 5 pounds or somethin' a hour..
Over the past 10 yrs or so, I think the range has been about $1.50 - $2.50 USD for one UK pound, so it's not quite as much as you said. On the other hand, if you buy a pizza for $10 USD in the US, it still costs 10 Pounds to buy the same pizza in the UK :confused: So it is only the exchange that seems to make the difference.

[Wifenmummy]

Over the past 10 yrs or so, I think the range has been about $1.50 - $2.50 USD for one UK pound, so it's not quite as much as you said. On the other hand, if you buy a pizza for $10 USD in the US, it still costs 10 Pounds to buy the same pizza in the UK :confused: So it is only the exchange that seems to make the difference.

hmm ok... well i think our dollar turns into 40 or 70 pence...

[Wifenmummy]

That's funny, because a few good & old companies in the USA have been bought out by Japanese companies in the last 20 yrs here. What goes around comes around, eh? I bought an American car once, BIG mistake, went back to Toyota after that :)

Everyone else is crying "gas is SOOO expensive" in their stupid SUV. I laugh at them, I get 50+ mpg in my 2002 Prius :) Plus I love the "video game"--the car has an LCD display with a bar chart of the average mileage for every 5 minutes plus you get yellow diamonds for so many Watts of electricity generated through "regenerative braking." It is a big contest between me and my wife to see who could get the most yellow diamonds :D

sounds interesting... havent seen or heard or a car like that... lol american cars... suvs, chevy, so huge! u dont need a ute that looks like a truck!

[Infinity]

Everyone else is crying "gas is SOOO expensive" in their stupid SUV. I laugh at them, I get 50+ mpg in my 2002 Prius :) Plus I love the "video game"--the car has an LCD display with a bar chart of the average mileage for every 5 minutes plus you get yellow diamonds for so many Watts of electricity generated through "regenerative braking." It is a big contest between me and my wife to see who could get the most yellow diamonds :Dis the prius a good car? how much power does it have? does it go as fast as a regular car? do you get overtaken by minnis?

[Infinity]

They hav ethe best resources, the most money and yet they train their military like angry chimps!

Just one opinion here, i don't dislike the americasn at al, but some of the bad rap is deserved.im sorry about your friend banza.

anyone with half a brain wouldnt join the american military. that is why their training is substandard and people die from friendly fire. micheal moore had a point when he asked state senetors if their child was in the military.
it is the poor and underprivelidged who fight in the place of the powerful. in any war. it is just that the US have so many who are willing to get killed in the name of their country. the smart ones have more self-preservation.

[ben spain]

There is a reason the black watch was sent into America - because a large section of the US force there has very little training. They might have 120,000 troops in Iraq, but 80 members of the black watch (now 77) are apparently needed to make any difference (shows the difference between the UK and the US mindset towards combat). Throwing kids into a war just leads to a lot of them begin killed. America IS egocentric and arrogant, but isn't every country?

I have a VW Lupo GTi and I can get 40mpg but it does 0-60 in 7.7 secs, and can cruise at 120mph. I can also park the car in the smallest places imaginable!

As 'Gas' is about 85p a litre in the UK, I could not afford to run a 'SUV' for more than a few weeks - even if I wanted to (which I don't).