Thread: What do you dislike about the US?

Originally Posted by ooflendoodle

So how many of you have been in the US?

18 states and the District. I'm Canadian.

Cool, don't go to Florida though the weather sucks.

- American Exceptionalism
- Romanticization of the Colonial Period
- An Apparent "Forgetfulness" of Imperialism
- The Government
- Some Political Parties

It's a lot

Originally Posted by ooflendoodle

So how many of you have been in the US?

Been to San Francisco, Florida and Santa Fe and lived for one year in Minnesota.

There are a couple things, but...
I'm not sure that most of the developed world isn't guilty of the same or similar crimes.

Most likely they are Savy. The deal is that whether you put them on the high horse and ride with them or try to truly abolish them.

Originally Posted by ooflendoodle

So how many of you have been in the US?

Been to Florida several times, and would hope to go back at some point. It's been too long since I last went. I especially liked the copious amounts of all-you-can-eat buffets you can find. Thankfully I have a fast metabolism.


Anyway, what I generally dislike about the US is the arrogance and meddling with the affairs of others, which is particularly poisonous when coupled with the ignorance of the general population with what goes on in the rest of the world. The arrogance and idea of "we're the greatest" is particularly silly when you consider that by many metrics (wealth, education, healthcare, general quality of life) there are plenty of others that rank far more highly. That's not to say the USA hasn't achieved some great things, but it's not worthy of the pedestal which it places itself upon.

I also dislike the media system. The kind of stuff that passes for 'news' over there simply wouldn't be allowed here.

And whilst I'm not much of a socialist and in some ways admire the fact that the US doesn't give much out through welfare, I think it goes too far in the other direction. I find it especially puzzling when this kind of attitude severely reduces the quality and effectiveness of healthcare (for instance). Shooting oneself in the foot comes to mind.

I dislike how stranger will sometimes walk up to you in the street and speak to you. I'm just not comfortable with that

Originally Posted by khh

I dislike how stranger will sometimes walk up to you in the street and speak to you. I'm just not comfortable with that

Speaking of which, I dislike how unfriendly everyone in Norway is.

Actually, I dislike the feeling of isolation I get in nearly all of Northern Europe.

South America ftw

I have never get a feeling in Scandinavia or Northern Europe that you are not welcome. Or that people are unfriendly.

It is just that we are able to stand beside each other and not babble all the time. It is a culture thing, I am afraid.

It's too far away, and maybe there's too much junkfood.
But okay, Denmark isn't better.. I just don't like it.

Originally Posted by Unelias

It is just that we are able to stand beside each other and not babble all the time. It is a culture thing, I am afraid.

We are a very social culture in the US, although, if I'm sitting alone on a bus or somewhere, I rarely get strangers talking to me (but that might be due to having books.) I like the amount of social interaction, but I don't like when it goes too far and people argue who don't know eachother.

Heh, the people who do talk to me on the bus are usually just the crazies, and it's hard to tell if they're really talking to me or to some imaginary friend or just to themselves. Often if I'min a really good mood and say hi to someone on the street they'll look down or away, unless they're also in a really good mood or just friendly people.

Yes, I have noticed that most Americans I have met are very social and verbal. It is quite a contrast. Although, once you give us booze then we are pretty talkative ( It is a cliche, but still it is fairly true )

But for example, it is perfectly normal around here just to sit quiet in car for long time and no one is anxious about it. It is hard to explain, but it is very different to most cultures ( very high difference ie. for Mediterraen cultures or most of those countries in the southern climates. ) I think it is the lack of small talk we miss, we usually speak if there is a real reason, if you can say that. Of course, over generalization, but it is quite cultural trait.

I see what you mean.

For one thing I guess tourists are often very outgoing people. But yeah, if you're talking about friends or people who know each other in a car together, that's a different matter. Yeah, if you're a quiet person in a car full of people they'll start poking you and saying "Wake up dumbass!". Personally depending on my mood I can definitely sit quietly with people on long trips or anywhere for that matter. Most people I know consider these "uncomfortable silences" and think they must be avoided at all costs, even though they have nothing of value to talk about. But I believe in the saying "A friend is a person you can spend time with and not need to talk". I think we'd get along well Unelias.

Oh, I want to add - these days most Americans can sit quietly and not talk to each other because they're all on their phones texting people all the time...

Originally Posted by Darkmatters

Most people I know consider these "uncomfortable silences" and think they must be avoided at all costs, even though they have nothing of value to talk about.

This is the main point, I guess. There is rarely any uncomfortable silence here. For example, you could say that it is a Finnish trait to go in sauna and not to talk anything there. After that you go to the terrace and open a beer and just enjoy the silence and the sunset. Naturally, it is normal to talk, but rarely no one feels uncomfortable if there isn't any. Because most of the people know how to enjoy silence. But as I said, hard to explain. You have to experience it to get full grasp, like in most of things.

Also, a very personal opinion is that I think most of the people listen too little nowadays. The ebb and flow of the world is worth of stopping by and be silent. So are your own thoughts. The world has just gotten too noisy and busy. Nobody has time to listen the stones to grow anymore.

Originally Posted by Darkmatters

But I believe in the saying "A friend is a person you can spend time with and not need to talk". I think we'd get along well Unelias.

I believe we would to quote myself : the kind of person that will most certainly not get along with me is

Originally Posted by Unelias

Anyone who is unable to sit down with a fellow man in the shore of the sea to watch the sunset without uttering a single word and still feeling that they are engaged in a deep spiritual conversation.

Yeah I'm a lot like this I love to be quiet and sit and think (that's not to say I'm not social though) but when I try to do that at school it just doesn't work.

I think what I hate most about the US is the people who bitch and complain about not having enough freedom to bitch and complain.
Actually, I hate those people who think they're entitled to equal amounts of both bitch and complain, even more.

Originally Posted by ThePreserver

We are a very social culture in the US, although, if I'm sitting alone on a bus or somewhere, I rarely get strangers talking to me (but that might be due to having books.) I like the amount of social interaction, but I don't like when it goes too far and people argue who don't know eachother.

Bah not even, just compared to Northern Europe. Americans and Canadians are way more isolated than any other culture in the Americas.

Different parts of the US have different amounts of social interactions, though. The dialects alone are extremely diverse, and so are the social settings. Some may be isolated and isolating, but I find it easy to talk to strangers here, and they do to me as well...

The so called "justice system". The way it encourages special people to know the ins and outs of everything or they can find themselves in a lot of hot water. The way a "good lawyer" can turn five years in prison into probation. The way anyone can sue someone over nearly anything. The way 25% of the entire worlds prison population is in America.

Originally Posted by Auron

The way 25% of the entire worlds prison population is in America.

Lends a certain irony to "land of the free", no?

Originally Posted by Photolysis

Lends a certain irony to "land of the free", no?

Especially when Americans only count for 5 percent of the worlds population.

You can thank drug possession for about half of that 25%.

I like how America is at war with a leafy green plant.