Are Americans aware of their reputation in the world today? Do you STILL believe you are always right?

Question

Reading posts on this site I am shocked at the attitude a number of American posters display.

Arrogance and ill-believed propaganda that the rest of the world is in obsequence to them seems to be a common misconception.

No - I am not branding ALL Americans with this statement no more than ALL British are homosexual and have bad teeth - but I sincerely worry that the American people have less than a great take on what everyone else thinks about them.
To read some of the comments made by Americans about the rest of the world being "murdering Arabs" "Aids ridden Africans" "what would happen to the rest of us if All Chinese were killed" - yes - I understand that one is always going to get the extremists - but have they never heard of "People in glass houses really should not throw stones"?
Say what you like about the British - we laugh at ourselves before anyone else gets the chance. But please - do Americans really believe that they have got it SO right.
Check yourselves out.

Answer 1

No need to worry isobellistowel, most people in America know what the rest of the world thinks of us. Some people choose to deal with this in a reactionary way and post negative comments on forums such as these. These people who take the time to post negative comments/forums are misrepresenting US culture, or are doing so to get a rise out of nice people like you. Don't believe everything you read....these posters in no way represent all of US culture.

Answer 2

I am sure that the majority of Americans do not realise what their reputation is like around the world. Part of the reason is that they know little about the people and cultures outside of the USA or Mexico. Part of the fault is with the education system not informing them and part is the fault of the media within the country concentrating only on US and US related stories and not the rest of the world. The Hollywood film studios also focus on US style shows and do not show other countries and cultures correctly or distort historical facts. They do not even know their own history, and how their governments have interfered in world affairs causing numerous wars by violating treaties, international law and international agreements.
Germany would not have been two countries for nearly 50 years if the US had kept to the postam agreements. Korea would still be united and the Korean war would have not have occurred if the US had kept to the Postam agreement. The first Indochina War may not have occurred if the US had kept to its verbal agreement wiyth Ho Chi Minh in 1944-45 (when the US was assisting the Viet Minh to fight the Japanese). Certainly the Second Indochina war (The Vietnam War) would not have happened if the US had abided by the 1954 Geneva Ageements on Indochina; instead they sent in the CIA to distabilise the north, installed President Diem in power in the south and would not allow elections to take place. One can keep building a list of viol;ations of internantional law, agreements and treaties as the list is extremely long.

Answer 3

Great observation and well put...
I wonder as well, but I'm quite sure a few are aware of what the rest of the world thinks of them... There have been previous posts from Americans to prove that... Americans who've asked "why does the rest of the world....America?"
You wont believe the kind of questions and comments South Africans get on the RSA category.... But its fun to sit back and laugh at this, like how a dog lives all its life thinking its a human...lol!
We sit back and listen to what some Americans think of themselves and the world...

Answer 4

Don't be so arrogant on the Americans yourself.
They should have enough with,what they do not know but react upon.You should know better that they live misled and misinformed,manipulated by the World biggest Media/Circus (w.an agenda) that does a great deal of disservice to them and All.
The Government is also careless about the state of Education to benefit and bring Wealth to the Nation.So long remains elitist,better advantage to continue so.
Only knowledge will set them FREE,just being american don't guarantee it.

Answer 5

Don't take the "crazy" posters on Yahoo Answers seriously. They shock me most of the time too and I'm American.

Answer 6

no offence yall, but shes got a real good point.
all hte americans i know, they are nice, but they are
HYPOCRITICAL. VERY. HYPOCRITICAL.
but nice!!!! but OH SO HYPOCRITICAL it drives me CRAZY, and whatever i do is NEVER RIGHT, what THEY do is ALWAYS right
if cant catch a ball they YELL, when THEY cant catch a ball "heehee whoops" or they blame the pitcher.
and of course, THEY ARE ALWAYS RIGHT>
ITS GETTING ON MY NERVES
I LOVE YOU FOR POSTING THIS QUESTION
of course, this doesnt apply to all americans, i feel sorry for you DECENT people out there aren't you asahmed there are so many FREAKS that make america look BAD?

Answer 7

THANK YOU, SWEETIE! And thank you for specifying that not all Americans feel as you've discribed, because I am one of them who are NOT as you discribed.
I am SICK of the "good ole America, land of the free, no land does it better, we are the greatest, clap your hands and stomp your feet, land of milk and honey, God's chosen land, God bless America, damn the Dixie Chicks, yay Texas, New York is the greatest, we want to share our freedom (a.k.a. imperialism), look at us... we created the first federal government, we invented everything worthwile, uncle sam loves his children, yeeeeeehaaaaaaawwww" attitude!!!!!!!

Answer 8

i'm not sure what you call a spiritual fairytale ,yet while your speaking approximately faith generally you extra useful pass back and recheck your info and ideology.there are a number of that've dropped faith for spirituality based ideals and optimistically many extra will connect them.

Answer 9

I am an American and I think I am a normal,rational and nice person.

Answer 10

People would be blowing us up for Inaction just as much as for us meddling in other's business. That being said, there is no wrong or right, just depends on who sees what and from which side. Perspective.