Ooooh! How rude - one for the MAGAs to gloat over

[Mock Turtle]

Outrage from an American living in the UK - who probably needs to get out more, or get some new friends, or do both. And I am deeply hurt.

I’m an American – and I’m sick of Brits thinking we’re dumb

Brits make pseudo-intellectual pronouncements that are typically stupider than their false perception of Americans

inews.co.uk

PS Give us a kiss, sweetie.

 

[Regiomontanus]

Outage from an American living in the UK - who probably needs to get out more, or get some new friends, or do both. And I am deeply hurt.

I’m an American – and I’m sick of Brits thinking we’re dumb

Brits make pseudo-intellectual pronouncements that are typically stupider than their false perception of Americans

inews.co.uk

PS Give us a kiss, sweetie.

"That view was almost always the same: Americans were morons who elected morons who enacted moronic, self-harming policies."

Much truth to that. Many (many) of the Trump voters are blue collar workers (God bless them) who have somehow been convinced to vote against their own self interest (that is, for the modern Republican party).

 

[Stevicus]

Outage from an American living in the UK - who probably needs to get out more, or get some new friends, or do both. And I am deeply hurt.

I’m an American – and I’m sick of Brits thinking we’re dumb

Brits make pseudo-intellectual pronouncements that are typically stupider than their false perception of Americans

inews.co.uk

PS Give us a kiss, sweetie.

Well, the writer does have a point. In my own online experience, I have discerned that people from outside the U.S. speaking of American politics often rely on skewed perceptions viewed from afar. It's one thing to look at America through books or the internet, but one has to actually live here, grow up here, and have friends/family here to be able to truly understand how things are. Outsiders who presume to speak with authority about how much they "know" America can come off as rather arrogant and off base.

 

[Mock Turtle]

Well, the writer does have a point. In my own online experience, I have discerned that people from outside the U.S. speaking of American politics often rely on skewed perceptions viewed from afar. It's one thing to look at America through books or the internet, but one has to actually live here, grow up here, and have friends/family here to be able to truly understand how things are. Outsiders who presume to speak with authority about how much they "know" America can come off as rather arrogant and off base.

But she did use 'all Americans' and imply 'all Brits' a bit much, as to where some of us apparently can't tell the difference - but given how some of us respond to different people and opinions here on RF, many of us can recognise that the USA is as much varied as any other country. It just tends to be one of the more important countries in the world - like Russia, China, India, etc., and where the UK isn't really in that club any more.

 

[Jayhawker Soule]

While growing up, my father worked for American Airlines as a baggage clerk at the International Terminal at LAX. I do not recall us having a subscription to the Times, but I do recall always having plenty of English languish newspapers from outside the country.

The bell curve is ubiquitous but, with that caveat in mind, I believe the U.S. to be parochial, backward, and (defensively) arrogant in many ways. It's getting better -- likely due to such things as the internet and access to travel -- but "the ugly American" label is not entirely basis.

On the other hand, as for ...

"That view was almost always the same: Americans were morons who elected morons who enacted moronic, self-harming policies."

Much truth to that. Many (many) of the Trump voters are blue collar workers ...

My father was a thoughtful and well read blue collar worker who would find both Trump and the above comment to be despicable.

 

[Regiomontanus]

My father was a thoughtful and well read blue collar worker who would find both Trump and the above comment to be despicable.

I think you need to be a more attentive reader, and not be so quick to your anger/bias/insults. You seem to embrace mockery and degradation with others, instead of understanding and reconciliation. Sad.

I mean, it would seem that somehow you interpreted my remark as belittling 'blue collar workers?' Pay attention.

 

[RestlessSoul]

I don't think us Brits are in any position to mock. We elected Boris Johnson as both Mayor of London and PM. And the people of Clacton made Nigel Farage their MP.

 

[Kathryn]

But she did use 'all Americans' and imply 'all Brits' a bit much, as to where some of us apparently can't tell the difference - but given how some of us respond to different people and opinions here on RF, many of us can recognise that the USA is as much varied as any other country. It just tends to be one of the more important countries in the world - like Russia, China, India, etc., and where the UK isn't really in that club any more.

Hell, I lived in Germany ("on the economy") for years, and have visited there often and I don't claim to "know" the German people.

 

[Jayhawker Soule]

I think you need to be a more attentive reader, and not be so quick to your anger/bias/insults. You seem to embrace mockery and degradation with others, instead of understanding and reconciliation. Sad.

I mean, it would seem that somehow you interpreted my remark as belittling 'blue collar workers?' Pay attention.

"That view was almost always the same: Americans were morons who elected morons who enacted moronic, self-harming policies."

Much truth to that. Many (many) of the Trump voters are blue collar workers (God bless them) who have somehow been convinced to vote against their own self interest (that is, for the modern Republican party).

I did pay attention.

 

[Watchmen]

"That view was almost always the same: Americans were morons who elected morons who enacted moronic, self-harming policies."

Much truth to that. Many (many) of the Trump voters are blue collar workers (God bless them) who have somehow been convinced to vote against their own self interest (that is, for the modern Republican party).

So you're equating "morons" with Trump voting blue collar workers? Wow.

 

[Stevicus]

But she did use 'all Americans' and imply 'all Brits' a bit much, as to where some of us apparently can't tell the difference - but given how some of us respond to different people and opinions here on RF, many of us can recognise that the USA is as much varied as any other country. It just tends to be one of the more important countries in the world - like Russia, China, India, etc., and where the UK isn't really in that club any more.

I can understand when people have complaints about the American government and what it does around the world. If someone says "I don't like what America did to my country (or my people)," that's a direct and fair complaint. It's tangible and specific. They don't have to know about America to make such a complaint; they only need to know what America did to their country. Or if it's more a matter of personal preferences, such as those who don't like American food or American beer, then that's just someone expressing their personal tastes and opinions.

But there have been times when I've seen people from outside America speak about internal American events as if they have a personal stake in the matter, which I consider to be somewhat intrusive and presumptuous. If they do so purely out of sympathy and compassion for the American people, then I might think differently, but oftentimes, that doesn't appear to be the case.

 

[Regiomontanus]

So you're equating "morons" with Trump voting blue collar workers? Wow.

No.

 

[Watchmen]

No.

You might want to reread your post.

 

[Secret Chief]

"The United States is a complex social and cultural construct – far more complicated and diverse than the UK."

Kettle and pot much?

 

[Altfish]

"That view was almost always the same: Americans were morons who elected morons who enacted moronic, self-harming policies."

Much truth to that. Many (many) of the Trump voters are blue collar workers (God bless them) who have somehow been convinced to vote against their own self interest (that is, for the modern Republican party).

It is similar in the UK, many 'working class' people vote for Tory or other right leaning parties. The problem is the popular newspapers with their favourite sports writings are all run my Murdoch and his ilk.

 

[Secret Chief]

I don't think us Brits are in any position to mock. We elected Boris Johnson as both Mayor of London and PM. And the people of Clacton made Nigel Farage their MP.

I take your point, but as much as I despise Johnson and Farage, they are amateurs compared to Trump.

And call me an ignorant, patronising arrogant Brit but if about half the electorate are about to enthusiastically vote for Trump that in no way, imo, suggests an intelligent electorate.

 

[Twilight Hue]

I take your point, but as much as I despise Johnson and Farage, they are amateurs compared to Trump.

And call me an ignorant, patronising arrogant Brit but if about half the electorate are about to enthusiastically vote for Trump that in no way, imo, suggests an intelligent electorate.

We Americans are not privy for a party that already has pretty much raped and pillaged this country the last four years to keep doing it for another four years.

I would say the electorate is going to be making a very intelligent decision this election season because they know the ramifications if they don't.

 

[Mock Turtle]

I can understand when people have complaints about the American government and what it does around the world. If someone says "I don't like what America did to my country (or my people)," that's a direct and fair complaint. It's tangible and specific. They don't have to know about America to make such a complaint; they only need to know what America did to their country. Or if it's more a matter of personal preferences, such as those who don't like American food or American beer, then that's just someone expressing their personal tastes and opinions.

But there have been times when I've seen people from outside America speak about internal American events as if they have a personal stake in the matter, which I consider to be somewhat intrusive and presumptuous. If they do so purely out of sympathy and compassion for the American people, then I might think differently, but oftentimes, that doesn't appear to be the case.

Well, probably the opinion of a majority of Brits (and elsewhere perhaps) that America has it wrong over gun ownership will likely come from concerns over the needless deaths related to guns more than much else. Given that what other countries do is their business unless such really does break the boundaries as to common sense - as per the Taliban, for example. And when one looks at reasonable evidence as to guns and deaths, there is no sensible reason for holding on to them if your society would benefit enormously by getting rid of them. But we know that the issue is complicated and probably won't change for a long time, if ever. Our views will hardly change either, given we know that countries can exist perfectly well without having such widespread gun ownership.

 

[Audie]

Well, the writer does have a point. In my own online experience, I have discerned that people from outside the U.S. speaking of American politics often rely on skewed perceptions viewed from afar. It's one thing to look at America through books or the internet, but one has to actually live here, grow up here, and have friends/family here to be able to truly understand how things are. Outsiders who presume to speak with authority about how much they "know" America can come off as rather arrogant and off base.

Then too, viewing from afar often provides perspective
that those too close cannot see.

Seeing China from NYC as I did for some years, for example.

 

[Audie]

Well, probably the opinion of a majority of Brits (and elsewhere perhaps) that America has it wrong over gun ownership will likely come from concerns over the needless deaths related to guns more than much else. Given that what other countries do is their business unless such really does break the boundaries as to common sense - as per the Taliban, for example. And when one looks at reasonable evidence as to guns and deaths, there is no sensible reason for holding on to them if your society would benefit enormously by getting rid of them. But we know that the issue is complicated and probably won't change for a long time, if ever. Our views will hardly change either, given we know that countries can exist perfectly well without having such widespread gun ownership.

Even better to get rid of cars.
Also bathtubs, stairs, and alcohol.