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What I find Wrong and Right with America

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cubedemon6073
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01 Mar 2013, 10:49 am

There are things right and wrong things I do perceive about America. As it turns out some America’s greatest strengths can be its greatest weaknesses.

Good things about America

I. We do have Freedom of Speech and Freedom of Religion. One thing I do love about America is my ability to speak out against what I see as wrong with it and the social veener. In other countries I would be executed.

II. People here are very innovative in certain areas. We were the ones who put a man on the moon.

III. People here do have certain morals. There is a group called Nambla. People here will do what they think is in the best interest for their children for the most part and people here are against pedophilia and child molestation.

IV. Optimism is a cherished value here. A lot of people here have the can do attitude and believe they and others can make their dreams come true.

V. Independence is a cherished value as well. When people are independent and non-reliant on others. This has also produced excellent minds and an excellent economy as well.

Bad things about America

I. Even though one does have freedom of speech and freedom of religion and one will not be executed by the government for speaking out one may be ostracized. Politcally, we have freedom of speech but socially and culturally we do not. The social veener is never open to question or challenge.

II. Because of the independence ethos America has it is very difficult for someone to get help from others when they need it.

III. Because of the optimism ethos and the extreme internal locus of control people here literally believe that one controls his fate and destiny to an extreme. This is accepted without question and without prejudice. There is truth to this but not to the level Americans take it. Again, because of this belief people who need help more than likely will not get it.

IV. Critical thinking like others things are promoted and given lip service by professionals but for the most part are never practiced.

V. If the most of the population in America knows it one is expected to know it as well.

VI. It is promoted as though that America is a melting pot and there is cultural variety here. It is promoted as though the people here are care-free and open. America is a conformist society and it is a very cliquish society. These cliques and the social veener is never open to question or challenge.



lotuspuppy
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01 Mar 2013, 11:00 am

I think it is so important to add that these values shift depending on where you go. A New England resident thinks very differently than someone from Wyoming, and both are different from Californians.



ianorlin
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01 Mar 2013, 11:09 am

lotuspuppy wrote:
I think it is so important to add that these values shift depending on where you go. A New England resident thinks very differently than someone from Wyoming, and both are different from Californians.
I don't think within states it is homogenous either. People from Los Angeles and Bishop California think differently. Sometimes they even fight over water.



ruveyn
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01 Mar 2013, 11:15 am

lotuspuppy wrote:
I think it is so important to add that these values shift depending on where you go. A New England resident thinks very differently than someone from Wyoming, and both are different from Californians.


I concur. I spent a fair amount of time in the South, and in the Southwest (California is just a nuttier version of New York). The folks in New England (where I lived until 2005) are definitively different in their attitudes and basic assumptions than the folks in the South and Southwest. I find the folks in the South are genuinely friendlier and more easy going than the New England Types. I like the Southerners, although I find their attitudes toward race and their adherence to religion a bit irritating. If I overlook these last two, I can get along with the Southrons just fine.

ruveyn



lotuspuppy
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01 Mar 2013, 12:05 pm

ianorlin wrote:
lotuspuppy wrote:
I think it is so important to add that these values shift depending on where you go. A New England resident thinks very differently than someone from Wyoming, and both are different from Californians.
I don't think within states it is homogenous either. People from Los Angeles and Bishop California think differently. Sometimes they even fight over water.

California is an extreme case, but it basically functions as its own nation. I have heard it is at least four states in one.



marshall
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01 Mar 2013, 1:32 pm

ruveyn wrote:
lotuspuppy wrote:
I think it is so important to add that these values shift depending on where you go. A New England resident thinks very differently than someone from Wyoming, and both are different from Californians.


I concur. I spent a fair amount of time in the South, and in the Southwest (California is just a nuttier version of New York). The folks in New England (where I lived until 2005) are definitively different in their attitudes and basic assumptions than the folks in the South and Southwest. I find the folks in the South are genuinely friendlier and more easy going than the New England Types. I like the Southerners, although I find their attitudes toward race and their adherence to religion a bit irritating. If I overlook these last two, I can get along with the Southrons just fine.

ruveyn


Canadians are the best kind of Americans. :lol: They're friendlier and less uptight than American big city unrbanites and suburbanites but not culturally backwards like US fly-over areas. Canadians generally speak American too if you ignore the occasional "eh", "aboot", and their silly metric measurement system. :P



Last edited by marshall on 01 Mar 2013, 1:33 pm, edited 1 time in total.

androbot2084
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01 Mar 2013, 1:33 pm

America prides itself for its 'rugged individualists' and then declares them mentally ill for not conforming.



ruveyn
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01 Mar 2013, 1:45 pm

marshall wrote:
ruveyn wrote:
lotuspuppy wrote:
I think it is so important to add that these values shift depending on where you go. A New England resident thinks very differently than someone from Wyoming, and both are different from Californians.


I concur. I spent a fair amount of time in the South, and in the Southwest (California is just a nuttier version of New York). The folks in New England (where I lived until 2005) are definitively different in their attitudes and basic assumptions than the folks in the South and Southwest. I find the folks in the South are genuinely friendlier and more easy going than the New England Types. I like the Southerners, although I find their attitudes toward race and their adherence to religion a bit irritating. If I overlook these last two, I can get along with the Southrons just fine.

ruveyn


Canadians are the best kind of Americans. :lol: They're friendlier and less uptight than American big city unrbanites and suburbanites but not culturally backwards like US fly-over areas. Canadians generally speak American too if you ignore the occasional "eh", "aboot", and their silly metric measurement system. :P


Canada is the Kinder, Gentler America.

ruveyn



lotuspuppy
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01 Mar 2013, 2:07 pm

marshall wrote:
ruveyn wrote:
lotuspuppy wrote:
I think it is so important to add that these values shift depending on where you go. A New England resident thinks very differently than someone from Wyoming, and both are different from Californians.


I concur. I spent a fair amount of time in the South, and in the Southwest (California is just a nuttier version of New York). The folks in New England (where I lived until 2005) are definitively different in their attitudes and basic assumptions than the folks in the South and Southwest. I find the folks in the South are genuinely friendlier and more easy going than the New England Types. I like the Southerners, although I find their attitudes toward race and their adherence to religion a bit irritating. If I overlook these last two, I can get along with the Southrons just fine.

ruveyn


Canadians are the best kind of Americans. :lol: They're friendlier and less uptight than American big city unrbanites and suburbanites but not culturally backwards like US fly-over areas. Canadians generally speak American too if you ignore the occasional "eh", "aboot", and their silly metric measurement system. :P

I suppose this excludes the Quebecois. Everyone knows they are not real people. They're "European."



marshall
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01 Mar 2013, 2:11 pm

lotuspuppy wrote:
marshall wrote:
ruveyn wrote:
lotuspuppy wrote:
I think it is so important to add that these values shift depending on where you go. A New England resident thinks very differently than someone from Wyoming, and both are different from Californians.


I concur. I spent a fair amount of time in the South, and in the Southwest (California is just a nuttier version of New York). The folks in New England (where I lived until 2005) are definitively different in their attitudes and basic assumptions than the folks in the South and Southwest. I find the folks in the South are genuinely friendlier and more easy going than the New England Types. I like the Southerners, although I find their attitudes toward race and their adherence to religion a bit irritating. If I overlook these last two, I can get along with the Southrons just fine.

ruveyn


Canadians are the best kind of Americans. :lol: They're friendlier and less uptight than American big city unrbanites and suburbanites but not culturally backwards like US fly-over areas. Canadians generally speak American too if you ignore the occasional "eh", "aboot", and their silly metric measurement system. :P

I suppose this excludes the Quebecois. Everyone knows they are not real people. They're "European."


Umm, yea. They don't count.



visagrunt
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04 Mar 2013, 2:29 pm

marshall wrote:
Canadians are the best kind of Americans. :lol: They're friendlier and less uptight than American big city unrbanites and suburbanites but not culturally backwards like US fly-over areas. Canadians generally speak American too if you ignore the occasional "eh", "aboot", and their silly metric measurement system. :P


1) Americans say, "eh?" too--but you use it exclusively as an interrogative, whereas we use it as an independent vocabulary and punctuation system.
2) It's pronounced "aboat" not, "aboot."
3) That "silly" metric system is legally established as the preferred system of units of weights and measures for commerce in the United States.

Also remember that we have money that can be visually identified without removing it from one's wallet, and which no longer relies upon pennies.


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ruveyn
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06 Mar 2013, 7:22 am

cubedemon6073 wrote:
There are things right and wrong things I do perceive about America. As it turns out some America’s greatest strengths can be its greatest weaknesses.

Good things about America

I. We do have Freedom of Speech and Freedom of Religion. One thing I do love about America is my ability to speak out against what I see as wrong with it and the social veener. In other countries I would be executed.

II. People here are very innovative in certain areas. We were the ones who put a man on the moon.

III. People here do have certain morals. There is a group called Nambla. People here will do what they think is in the best interest for their children for the most part and people here are against pedophilia and child molestation.

IV. Optimism is a cherished value here. A lot of people here have the can do attitude and believe they and others can make their dreams come true.

V. Independence is a cherished value as well. When people are independent and non-reliant on others. This has also produced excellent minds and an excellent economy as well.

Bad things about America

I. Even though one does have freedom of speech and freedom of religion and one will not be executed by the government for speaking out one may be ostracized. Politcally, we have freedom of speech but socially and culturally we do not. The social veener is never open to question or challenge.

II. Because of the independence ethos America has it is very difficult for someone to get help from others when they need it.

III. Because of the optimism ethos and the extreme internal locus of control people here literally believe that one controls his fate and destiny to an extreme. This is accepted without question and without prejudice. There is truth to this but not to the level Americans take it. Again, because of this belief people who need help more than likely will not get it.

IV. Critical thinking like others things are promoted and given lip service by professionals but for the most part are never practiced.

V. If the most of the population in America knows it one is expected to know it as well.

VI. It is promoted as though that America is a melting pot and there is cultural variety here. It is promoted as though the people here are care-free and open. America is a conformist society and it is a very cliquish society. These cliques and the social veener is never open to question or challenge.


America's greatest flaw is silliness.

ruveyn



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06 Mar 2013, 11:22 am

lotuspuppy wrote:
I suppose this excludes the Quebecois. Everyone knows they are not real people. They're "European."


:shrug: yeah, we all know if one is of european decent they aren't a real person....I think sometimes american humour sucks that is another thing to dislike.


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06 Mar 2013, 11:57 pm

visagrunt wrote:
marshall wrote:
Canadians are the best kind of Americans. :lol: They're friendlier and less uptight than American big city unrbanites and suburbanites but not culturally backwards like US fly-over areas. Canadians generally speak American too if you ignore the occasional "eh", "aboot", and their silly metric measurement system. :P


1) Americans say, "eh?" too--but you use it exclusively as an interrogative, whereas we use it as an independent vocabulary and punctuation system.
2) It's pronounced "aboat" not, "aboot."
3) That "silly" metric system is legally established as the preferred system of units of weights and measures for commerce in the United States.

Also remember that we have money that can be visually identified without removing it from one's wallet, and which no longer relies upon pennies.


I know all that. I think it's really something half-way in-between the American pronunciation and "a-boat" as in a floating vessel.



marshall
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07 Mar 2013, 12:13 am

Sweetleaf wrote:
lotuspuppy wrote:
I suppose this excludes the Quebecois. Everyone knows they are not real people. They're "European."


:shrug: yeah, we all know if one is of european decent they aren't a real person....I think sometimes american humour sucks that is another thing to dislike.


Me and him were making fun of the American US-centrism attitude stereotype, not being serious, I think. Maybe it's not that funny but being serious all the time in these kinds of topics gets too depressing to me after a while.



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07 Mar 2013, 12:17 am

good analysis, OP