Why do people make comments about the United States that are ENTIRELY FALSE?

Question

I just dont understand. I read peoples comments on here about the United States and I just cannot believe it.. Peopels perceptions of America are so warped and misguided that Im begining to think people are just saying these things to be mean. The IGNORANCE of some of the statements is just insane. Here are some examples..

- America has the worst colleges and universities on earth...
- Americans are fat and lazy...
-All Americans are poor and steal from other countries to sustain their lavish life styles.
-George Bush was behind 9/11..
-America has the worst military and every other army on earth laughs at America's
-America is the most racist country on earth
-etc etc etc etc etc .....


Of course..everything I just listed is a COMPLETE LIE...But statments like these are so pervasive on this website that...well...i dont even know....
Can someone explain to me why all these people spread these lies and gross exageration on the net to one another.

Answer 1

I agree that many people have a negative perception of the US. However i can also tell you that one of the main reasons is because Americans in general are an insular race, just look at the proportion of the population who has never left your own continent. The knock on effect of this is that exaggerations like the above are touted about. However as to the specific 'COMPLETE LIES' you listed above, here are qualifying statements from someone who's a UK citizen but has spent a considerable ammount of time in the US on business,

1- Americans do not have the worst colleges and universities on earth.
2- All Americans are not fat and lazy, however America has more cases of obesity than any other nation. (Not that I feel smug, we're number 2)
3- Americans do not steal from other countries. However 100 years of aggressive foreign policy with sucessive goverments involved in assasination, regime change, bribery, etc has given America a rather bad rep.
4- George Bush wasn't behind 9/11.
5- America does not have the worst military on earth. It is one of the best equiped. However its training for ground forces is inadequate, particularly in training senior NCO's and Officers. (Ex British infantry officer and war vet as you say so I know what i'm talking about) also America's habit of awarding medals for literally everything encourages mockery as most other professional armies award medals very rarely.
6- Sorry to tell you but there are more openly american racists on sites such as yahoo answer etc than other races. I have already wrotten two diatribes denouncing anti mexican and white power question chains both written and answered positively by americans this evening.
7 America is etc etc etc etc etc

However any nation with a high world profile is going to come in for a battering. You notice how no-one gossips or insults z-list celebrities. Its the same with nations. In a way you should be complimented. In another you should perhaps examine the attitudes of your fellow citizens. Or say to yourself that I'm just a stupid limey/brit/w*nker and continue being puzzled.

Happy trails.

Answer 2

I'm an American. I'm not fat or lazy. I run a fifteen hundred acre ranch and I love my country.
I dislike G W Bush because he's a liar. I dislike the world opinion he's created with his masturbatorial, power mongering, Lies!
I detest the people who literally believe that all Americans are fat and lazy.
I have always thought the British were cool and have never thought small of any people, with the exception of pure idiots.
I believe that all people are created equal and get better with age.
I frankly am tired of people who judge others and have no idea who they judge.
I also believe (correct me if I'm wrong) That all people everywhere on earth have three basic worries, those being, Food enough to feed family, income enough to take care of family and a safe healthy home for the family.
I don't doubt for a minute that MOST other Americans feel the same way.
Now then. Having stated this in simple form so that everyone understands an American.
Is it really necessary for the Quarterback to have to wonder about the opinions and unfounded, even threatening, questions and statements from other countries that have people with our same worries and fears?
I don't make any judgment on the education of people in other countries, or their faith, or their weight, work ethics, employment, Governmental stupidity or how they dress.
I hope one day it will rub off and people will get the chance to use this forum for answering real questions and not having to defend themselves from idiocy.

Answer 3

As someone who lived in the US for almost 2 years, I couldn't stand the fact that although it is a English speaking Country, it is run by Latin American people (which is fine if you speak Spanish) so for the racist part, I didn't encounter any! For the fat/lazy..... the people I met WERE very fat or had "the surgery"
Education, I thought it was absolutely brilliant!!!
George Bush behind 9/11, that is a matter of opinion and it has been well documented regarding his reaction, the insurance beforehand, the life expectancy of the towers etc etc etc..
The army, it is good but make it out to be better than others (which every Country does!!).
I personally didn't have a good experience, simply because the people I met, were very materialistic and too self involved. BUT as I said before, it is all a matter of opinion, I have friends whom think the opposite!!!

Answer 4

Unfortunately some of the things on your list are true. When people from other countries say that the schools are bad they are usually referring to high schools which are similar to some countries' colleges. Many of the universities in this country have lowered their standards for admissions and have "dumbed down" a lot of the core classes, but generally the institutes of higher education are excellent--especially the research schools.

Go out and observe the people in just about any city and you'll probably see more fat people than fit people. Too many of us prefer a sedentary and easy lifestyle and try to find the easiest (laziest) way to do just about anything. It's sad, but true. Americans are getting lazier and more selfish all the time.

The military...well, we can close our eyes and pretend that they are all they can be, but despite their best efforts the armed forces aren't as strong and well-led as they have been in previous generations. It doesn't mean they're the worst, but when people are USA bashing they can find examples of deplorable behavior by the military to back up their diatribes.

So, is it worse to turn a blind eye to the ridicule and let the bad things get worse as you pretend it isn't true, or is it better to recognize that there are kernels of truth in the comments and do what we can to make the country a better place?

Answer 5

A lot of it is to do with the media and movies that show America in a poor light. Also some people cant distinguish between the government of a country and the people which can often have very different ideas. Also some people are ignorant and dont view the world intelligently. I am from the Uk by the way.

Answer 6

You are absolutely right and it really is intolerable that just because Rodney King was stupid enough to attack those nice police officers fists or the treatment of those awful terrorists in Abu Ghraib, they deserved to be humiliated and tortured. How could anyone suspect that George W. could be behind 9/11 After all, he would not be bad enough to take the world to war on a complete pretext - no, he was just protecting freedom. US military - definitely the worlds finest don't kill many through friendly fire - just Brits and civilians and they don't count!
America - defender of the environment, Kyoto Protocol - well that's for pansies if Americans want to pollute the planet then it is their God given right to do so and if anyone complains then they can whistle for aid.
I thought the education system was to be envied but ironically the Fox propaganda channel says that the universities are run by liberal douche bags and you don't get more pro-USA than Fox. Sad, but statistically more than 70% of the population of the US is living on or below the poverty line yet, paradoxically, 80% of children are clinically overweight. I think that the majority of what I said is true and if you think it is lies then you truly are in denial

Answer 7

people are angry because we went to a war with no purpose. If you go back on the net and review 911 and really look close at the tapes you will see why some feel the way they do. They felt lied to by our own government to benefit the gov and not the people. I think after you review some of these tapes and go back in history a bit maybe you will understand a little bit more and find that the statements about our government really are not all that falsely stated.

Answer 8

Most people, myself included, are largely ignorant of the facts. We only know little bits and rely on the media to help us form our opinions.

Most of us ordinary Britons are, however, a little sick of George W Bush's cavalier attitude to the rest of us who share this planet. He seems to use the military might at his disposal to intimidate others and deny them a fair share of the wealth generated in this world.

We in Britain have seen our government side with yours on almost everything for a long time now, and sometimes this is not popular, and can bring out some anti American feelings. Such is the nature of free speech and you should support that concept even if you don't agree with the speaker.

I have visited the USA twice and found the people I met charming and welcoming.

Answer 9

Im from the UK.I think its great that Americans and all nations are on this site. Its good to get different view points from different cultures.
I guess in answer to your question...Ignorance, listening to media propaganda and watching too much tv. I can understand people disliking George Bush because of the illegal war in Iraq (and soon Iran no doubt). Perhaps its because the US is percieved as the worlds one big superpower, that in itself will breed resentment. People are bigoted and ignorant. You just gotta accept thats the way it is.

Answer 10

Did you ever consider it was just because Americans take themselves so damn seriously ( especially the ones on here) and we just like to irrritate them?

I think the US and Britain has a love/hate relationship, that's all. And Yahoo answers gives us all a bit of fun when we are bored.


You're lucky you don;t get French or Arab people on here, so lighten up. relax, have fun. It's only the internet.