Do you think the U.S. people are more closed minded or open than other countries?

Question

Are we more accepting or less... on topics like letting gays live their lives anyway they want, stem cell research to save lives, acceptable behavoir in public, drinking and driving, legalizing Marijuana, buying beer anywhere any day at any time, sexual attitudes, differences of opinions....and the list goes on.

Answer 1

I think in some respects US citizens are more open minded and in other respects we aren't. Take marijuana for example, it is legal in some European countries, but here it is considered an illegal substance, although it is no more harmful than alcohol. Some places in Europe nudity is not frowned upon, where in the US it is taboo.

Answer 2

Before the election of G.W.Bush in 2000,I would have said Americans are more open-minded than most. However,
with the refusal to accept global warming,imprisonment of suspected terrorists,anti-gay legislation,restrictions on stem cell research and recent Muslim
bashing it looks like Americans have become among the most
backward people in the world. These may be Bush's policies
but he was elected President twice and that reflects American
beliefs-like it or not for those in the minority.

Answer 3

I think the U.S. is more close-minded in the way of thinking their views are right while others must be wrong. On those topics mentioned above for the most part the U.S. may be less accepting of them, but for the reason of it protecting the welfare of all its citizens. This is also partly a result of the majority of U.S. citizens having a moral code that is higher than citizens of many other countries. However, there are many countries primarily in Asia and the Middle East that tend to be even more close-minded than the U.S.

Answer 4

I believe we as a people are perhaps more accepting. The distinction the comes in regionally. That's where it varies. I think we are more accepting on somethings, but less on others. As for what you listed above, I think we are Prudes. On other topics, such as racial acceptance, cutural acceptance, i believe we are more accepting. It's the whole theory of the melting pot, however that changes from places you go as well.

There really isn't a good way to answer this. It's goes each way depending on the topic.

Answer 5

I think any answer you give to this would be making a generalization about a group of people. I think based on my many dealings with other US citizens, there is a high degree of perception that US citizens are sheltered. Some are open minded and some are not. I think the basis of our media (i.e. news, TV programming, magazines, etc.) is propoganda and sensationalism over legitmacy and truth telling. They are very biased or slanted in other words.

Answer 6

Well there's the anything goes Netherlands and there's Iran. I figure we're somewhere in the middle. We are a real mixed bag nation. We've got Jerry Falwell telling everybody they are going straight to hell and we've got Howard Stern interviewing naked, amputee prostitutes live (I'm not kidding). Somehow we allow them both to go on living.

Answer 7

Then the westernized and industrialized world, we are probably leaning more towards close-minded then average. In the whole world we are probably middle of the road or even a little open-minded.

Answer 8

Much more close-minded and narrow-minded than most other people. The US Americans are also the most fanatic religious bigots and have the worst educated lower classes.

Answer 9

I think we are more closed minded and trying to control everybody. I think we could learn from other countries and should be more lenient when it comes to enjoyment. Legalize pot already.

Answer 10

I think we are probably in the middle of the pack -- just as we are in education and wages per hour.