non Americans: do you think we are violent?

Lightknight

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Reasonable Atheist said:
The United states is super violent! Forget about how things are withen the borders, only considering foreign policy they are uber violent. When was the last time the United states was not at war?

How much of the national budget is spent on "defense"?

"Terrorists" exist for a reason, and that reason is there is no other way for them to fight back.
Sure is fun listening to the BBC and hear foreign callers demanding to know why the U.S. hasn't stepped up to stop X in Y country.

Maybe if people would stop treating us like a global police it would help us not acting like it.
 

chuckman1

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I just wanna say one thing in defense of our scary amount of guns. It makes us practically uninvadable like Russia or Switzerland. With so many citizen gun owners even if someone defeated our army they would face mass rebellion. Not that I think anyone will try.
 

Twintix

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Like others have said, I think American culture has a tendency to glorify violence while demonising sex.

That said, though, honestly? America is way too big to make a sweeping generalization like that about its citizens. I mean, I live in Sweden: USA is more than 20 times bigger. It's really hard to say that Americans as a whole are violent, considering just how many people live there. I guess you could say the same thing about considering the US as a whole good, but I like to believe that most people all over the world are quite nice.

Those who bring up the news: News reports always highlight the bad stuff that happen. They do that over here too. That's why some people believe that individuals are alright, but people as a whole are evil. It's depressing and it sucks, but it rakes in viewers like nobody's business and, most of all, people are more inclined to remember bad stuff than good stuff. I think.

I've been to the US three times: Once to Miami, once to New York and once travelling from San Fransisco to Los Angeles by car. Considering the attitude from some of the people in this thread, I must've either been super lucky or some people are flanderizing the people there, because everyone I met were very friendly and polite. Except for the asshole who grabbed my breast. Fuck him.

...But I have to ask: Do people in the US, sometimes, really treat minimum wage workers as badly as some of the stories I've heard? (I always take the stories on NotAlwaysRight with a pinch of salt) Dad said that it's because there's a certain, uh..."class difference" (Is that the right word?) in the US and that it is different from Sweden. Is this true, or is that just an old relic of the past, or was it never true in the first place?
 

KyuubiNoKitsune-Hime

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Jan 12, 2010
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I keep seeing a rather disturbing trend in this thread and it basically boils down to: "Americans have guns, that's terrible, guns kill!"

First off guns do not kill, guns are a tool that can be used to kill, or can be involved in killing through negligence. The fact of the matter is that people are the ones who cause the killing. If you're in a room full of people with CWLs all carrying their guns you're in a pretty safe place. It's not like gun fights just randomly break out when a bunch of law abiding citizens who are carrying are around. Also I said guns can kill through negligence, which requires someone to be irresponsible with a gun, but truth be told you're far more likely to be killed by a negligent driver, than by a gun for any reason in the US.

Yeah Americans tend to love our guns, but that's because it's a citizen's birth right, it's in the constitution, and it's probably not going anywhere. But that can be a good thing, a law abiding citizen can save someone's life with their gun, we do exhibition sports with them, and in more Rural areas hunting is popular.

On the whole violent Americans thing, as one. Good god does our news media make it look a whole lot worse than it actually is.

Edit:
Twintix said:
...But I have to ask: Do people in the US, sometimes, really treat minimum wage workers as badly as some of the stories I've heard? (I always take the stories on NotAlwaysRight with a pinch of salt) Dad said that it's because there's a certain, uh..."class difference" (Is that the right word?) in the US and that it is different from Sweden. Is this true, or is that just an old relic of the past, or was it never true in the first place?
I wouldn't think so. Still most minimum wage workers are either teenagers, or people under the poverty line. In the latter case most minimum wage workers will jump on overtime. Bosses some times treat minimum wage workers as totally replaceable though, largely because they are, so a lot of minimum wage level earners will bounce from job to job, being let go from one once their probationary period is up. On the other hand, most minimum wage workers do work with the public, some real jerks might treat them like dirt, but you get that in any job you interact with the public in.
 

Thaluikhain

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KyuubiNoKitsune-Hime said:
I keep seeing a rather disturbing trend in this thread and it basically boils down to: "Americans have guns, that's terrible, guns kill!"

First off guns do not kill, guns are a tool that can be used to kill, or can be involved in killing through negligence. The fact of the matter is that people are the ones who cause the killing. If you're in a room full of people with CWLs all carrying their guns you're in a pretty safe place. It's not like gun fights just randomly break out when a bunch of law abiding citizens who are carrying are around. Also I said guns can kill through negligence, which requires someone to be irresponsible with a gun, but truth be told you're far more likely to be killed by a negligent driver, than by a gun for any reason in the US.
Interesting tidbit, I was watching a lecture on SERE for US armed forces, and the lecturer said that US Rangers were taught not to take enemy weapons, because the psychological effect of being armed would make them more likely to take stupid risks.

Anyhoo, nobody is saying guns kill, of course it's people that kill. But, the guns do tend to help. But yeah, a random tosser with a gun is more or a risk to themselves and a good source of darkly amusing anecdotes. There was a nice youtube clip I saw of some clueless bloke explaining his new shotgun. Started off by getting his world wars mixed up, then demonstrated how to load it, then demonstrated how to slamfire it. Was surprised at the loud bang and the hole in the ceiling, having somehow forgotten he'd loaded it 30 seconds ago.
 

KyuubiNoKitsune-Hime

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thaluikhain said:
Interesting tidbit, I was watching a lecture on SERE for US armed forces, and the lecturer said that US Rangers were taught not to take enemy weapons, because the psychological effect of being armed would make them more likely to take stupid risks.

Anyhoo, nobody is saying guns kill, of course it's people that kill. But, the guns do tend to help. But yeah, a random tosser with a gun is more or a risk to themselves and a good source of darkly amusing anecdotes. There was a nice youtube clip I saw of some clueless bloke explaining his new shotgun. Started off by getting his world wars mixed up, then demonstrated how to load it, then demonstrated how to slamfire it. Was surprised at the loud bang and the hole in the ceiling, having somehow forgotten he'd loaded it 30 seconds ago.
Actually I saw a few people say "guns kill" in this thread.

People like that idiot at the very least needs a firearms safety class. Although I'd order that kind of neglectful person to have that sort of thing make them fail the background check to buy a gun automatically. Along with taking the one he already owns away. You never discharge a firearm inside, or within a populated area, unless you're at firing range, or are in fear for your life and need to defend yourself.
 

omega 616

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May 1, 2009
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chuckman1 said:
I just wanna say one thing in defense of our scary amount of guns. It makes us practically uninvadable like Russia or Switzerland. With so many citizen gun owners even if someone defeated our army they would face mass rebellion. Not that I think anyone will try.
What is it with Americans and thinking you will be invaded? I know you put that little clause at the end but still.

Is it due to all your films in which America is only place to be invaded?

Nobody will ever invade you ... unless we encounter aliens that want to invade earth
 

KyuubiNoKitsune-Hime

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omega 616 said:
chuckman1 said:
I just wanna say one thing in defense of our scary amount of guns. It makes us practically uninvadable like Russia or Switzerland. With so many citizen gun owners even if someone defeated our army they would face mass rebellion. Not that I think anyone will try.
What is it with Americans and thinking you will be invaded? I know you put that little clause at the end but still.

Is it due to all your films in which America is only place to be invaded?

Nobody will ever invade you ... unless we encounter aliens that want to invade earth
Actually we're kind of invasion proof due to our massive navy, but that could change.

Though we were invaded in 1812 by the British... As for films the only one I can think of offhand that didn't involve aliens, was Red Dawn

Invasion is a possibility for all nations, lucky for us and our allies we have each other to make it a really stupid idea... For now.
 

Reasonable Atheist

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MorphBallBomb said:
You're really really unlikely to be shot in the USA unless you do one of three things:

1.) deal in hard drugs.

2.) trespass onto a rural loony's property.

3.) be a black American and interact with a police officer (African immigrants are not targeted as heavily for some reason).

If you're just travelling here, the risk is infinitesimal.
#3 really really bothers me.
\

The second bracketed portion of #3 probably has to do with attire

KyuubiNoKitsune-Hime said:
omega 616 said:
chuckman1 said:
I just wanna say one thing in defense of our scary amount of guns. It makes us practically uninvadable like Russia or Switzerland. With so many citizen gun owners even if someone defeated our army they would face mass rebellion. Not that I think anyone will try.
What is it with Americans and thinking you will be invaded? I know you put that little clause at the end but still.

Is it due to all your films in which America is only place to be invaded?

Nobody will ever invade you ... unless we encounter aliens that want to invade earth
Actually we're kind of invasion proof due to our massive navy, but that could change.

Though we were invaded in 1812 by the British... As for films the only one I can think of offhand that didn't involve aliens, was Red Dawn

Invasion is a possibility for all nations, lucky for us and our allies we have each other to make it a really stupid idea... For now.
The emperor of Japan is quoted as saying "A mainland invasion of the united states would be impossible, there would be a gun in every window"

Or something like that, do not recall the exact wording.
 

omega 616

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KyuubiNoKitsune-Hime said:
omega 616 said:
chuckman1 said:
I just wanna say one thing in defense of our scary amount of guns. It makes us practically uninvadable like Russia or Switzerland. With so many citizen gun owners even if someone defeated our army they would face mass rebellion. Not that I think anyone will try.
What is it with Americans and thinking you will be invaded? I know you put that little clause at the end but still.

Is it due to all your films in which America is only place to be invaded?

Nobody will ever invade you ... unless we encounter aliens that want to invade earth
Actually we're kind of invasion proof due to our massive navy, but that could change.

Though we were invaded in 1812 by the British... As for films the only one I can think of offhand that didn't involve aliens, was Red Dawn

Invasion is a possibility for all nations, lucky for us and our allies we have each other to make it a really stupid idea... For now.
Invaded in 1812, by muskets!

Jeepers Julie, you have Earth ending weapons now. Nobody is ever invading any first world country again! Though America and England love to invade third world countries 'cos who doesn't love a good massacre?

I can safely say that not in your life time, or your great grand kids lives and beyond will any nation ever invade America or any other first world country.

No matter how large or small any of their armies, navy or air force are.
 

SonOfVoorhees

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English guy. Ive been to america 4 times. An if anything the people are overly friendly and polite - well the places ive been anyway. Obession with guns any kind of common sense gun control is just weird to me. But i think the main thing is the mass shootings in America - that in itself seems a very American thing. It does colour the public perception of people that havnt visited america.
 

SonOfVoorhees

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English guy. Ive been to america 4 times. An if anything the people are overly friendly and polite - well the places ive been anyway. Obession with guns any kind of common sense gun control is just weird to me. But i think the main thing is the mass shootings in America - that in itself seems a very American thing. It does colour the public perception of people that havnt visited america.
 

Cecilo

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Lightspeaker said:
Dandark said:
Yes you are all evil monsters that we British foolishly released upon the world but the day soon approaches when we take back our colonies with musket and impractical hat!.
Sorry but no, as a fellow Brit I refuse to allow our country to take responsibility for America being created.

The French being at war with us was the reason we couldn't prevent America from being formed. Plus its another thing we can pin on the French as their fault. So I blame France. ;P


Frankster said:
Unless you are the secret monarch of the USA who rules behind the scenes and the rest of your class was part of your high council, then that guy is a twat and had no right to speak to you like that.
Honestly I'm surprised that a Brit had the crassness to go up to someone and insult them like that. Didn't they get the memo that you're supposed to be strictly polite to the people you hate and insult your closest friends? That's the done thing.

Then again...it WAS in London. That place is like a country unto itself.

beastro said:
What people today view as American pro-war mentality is simply their unrealistic desire to have one war settle one dispute and then have the matter be dropped so they don't have to spill anymore blood over it. It's silly and the biggest curse from both Vietnam and WWII where they learned bad lessons in both from both Victory Disease and being overly traumatized by war.
I've heard this one brought up before and its always made a lot of sense to me.

Unlike a lot of other countries, to America WWII was a "slam-dunk" (I read that somewhere ages ago). The US itself was divorced from any real threat to their homeland. The Empire of Japan got smashed, Russia took gigantic losses, the entirety of Europe, North Africa and the Middle East was wrecked and Britain had to effectively trade away the Empire for victory, France had been occupied, Italy suffered and Germany was literally broken in half. But America didn't suffer in the same way. So it had something of a warped perspective on WWII compared to everywhere else.

And because of that, and because of WWII being the war that really brought the US onto the stage as the major world power it is today, the US is constantly looking for wars to be similar "slam-dunks". And is ever surprised when they don't turn out that way.
Now. Father Britain, that is no way to talk about Mother France, she was just doing what she thought was best for us, lets face it, you were being a bit too controlling, we needed our space. And your increased attention allowed our Little Brother Canada to get the attention he needed. He has turned into a fine young man, who knows if anyone ever tries to pick on him he can always come to Big Bro for help.

Also, I would like to put a few things in perspective, if you were to put the entire population of Germany, The United Kingdom, France, Italy, Spain, Poland, Romania, and the Netherlands together, you would still have less people than the United States has.

So, just like people think it is wrong to generalize French as snobbish cowards, or Brits as stuck up snobs, etc, please, Americans are not a collective, There are over 318million of us, don't generalize.
 

Therumancer

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chuckman1 said:
Therumancer said:
I'm gonna have to disagree with some points here. You sort of sound like a guy who believes in American exceptionalism (I sort of do too).
First, I'll give you that not having completely closed borders allows commers (including black market) to flourish and for triads/cartels to operate here and spread violence. But I'm pretty sure violence is mostly American vs American in the US. Also your comment about "black counter culture" sounds like a racist 50 year old who thinks they're politically correct. I'm pretty sure the majority of murders in the US are committed by whites. Maybe if you are talking about gangs, which encourage violence, I can see what you're trying to see. But black gangs started later in the USA than white, mexican, and chinese gangs. Don't beleive the media with their portrayal of all black men as thugs.

Gun shots in the hood are gonna mainly be two reasons.
Revenge (Killed my cousin, banged my girlfriend, etc.)
Drugs (Robbing, stopping the robber, killing the debtor, etc.)

It is not about "black counter culture" for god sake.

Also I have always found the term "civilized" to be complete bullshit that colonists used.
"Hey conquistador Carlos let's go murder and rape some brown people for GOD AND JESUS!!!!"
"YEAH AWESOME they are not civilized so our swords and guns are purifying the savages and bringing the light of god"
It might sound racist to you, and others, but I feel that's on you more than anything and one of the reasons why I oppose liberalism that has engrained such mentalities. To be brutally honest with you I'm actually worse than a racist in some ways when you get down to it, because if I believed blacks were in some way inferior to whites that would present an excuse. What's more it would bring up the moral question of us being responsible for our inferiors and taking care of them. Rather as a believer in human equality, this means that I can expect the same things of one group of humans as I do from another. Thus when I seem to be cruel, or ruthless, when talking about "minority" groups in the US I do so from the position that I can expect the same exact thing from them as I do from everyone else. While he's current a pariah due to sexual accusations, I tend to think Bill Cosby of all people (as much as I dislike his overall politics) was far better at articulating the problem than I am. The problem isn't equality so much as black entitlement and how black counter-culture has caused black America to squander all of the opportunities that had been fought for. As even leaders like Martin Luthor King (Jr.) pointed out the hard part was after that battle was won, because winning the right to be part of society still means you have to adapt to join it. It's easier to fight an enemy and blame others than it is to change yourself. Bill Cosby is a guy who literally spent millions of dollars of his own money supporting black education (he has a PHD in Children's Education) and has said flat out that you simply cannot help a bunch of people who see it as being more noble to wind up dead, face down, in a ghetto with a gun in their hand and drugs in their pocket, than it is to join the grind and work 9 to 5 and live hand to mouth like anyone else. Blacks are raised to believe the only places to be is in the top 1% or at the very bottom fighting to get into the top 1% outside of the system, anything else is unworthy, as all it does is replace the guy with a bullwhip with a dude holding a pay check over your head (which is simply life for this society). You can by the books, provide the computers, etc... but none of that matters to a people who believe embracing such things is selling out and will actively destroy those things as some kind of statement.

When it comes to arguments that blacks do not commit more crimes, I disagree as their ethnic neighborhoods tend to be the most crime ridden. What's more as liberals will point out frequently there is a massive percentage of the black population in prison, with blacks vastly outnumbering whites. Liberals like to argue this is because of racism except for more crimes being committed, but I happen to disagree. What's more the whole idea of measuring white vs. black crime has to be done integral to their own population, not in an overall sense. The majority will always outnumber a minority. According to some studies you find something between 60 and 80% of blacks having some kind of criminal record compared to whites where the percentage is much, much lower. The whole problem right now is that being in denial the statistics showing blacks commit more crimes are used to try and prove a point about discrimination in law enforcement, not a problem with black culture.

See black *culture* is the key word here, there is no genetic imperative that forces a black person to go out and commit crimes, blacks are no more violent than anyone else, no less intelligent, and no more emotionally unstable. What it comes down to entirely is a culture teaching entitlement, criminal nobility, and a justified crusade for some kind of societal payback. This comes out all through black culture where their heroes and icons are oftentimes those at least pretending to be criminals, and justifying such behavior in the context of a modern society. The so called "git rich or die trying" attitude. When black celebrities promote their prison records as a positive thing, and out each other for lying about their criminal pasts that tends to represent a problem, and it says a lot about who you are dealing with. Black America is about trying to force the US to adapt to it, as opposed to adapting themselves to join the rest of the country.

See as a general rule I think Black America needs a metaphorical boot up it's ass without media protection, rather than some kind of suppression and outright control due to them being "inferior" as many racists will claim. Your not going to end all crime by blacks any more than you will with other people, or anything like that, but there does need to be a zero tolerance policy for the "git rich or die trying" attitude or claims of entitlement.

Like with so many things though, which go beyond this issue, this makes me "worse" than a real racist because at the end of the day racial oppression is relatively easy. If we really wanted to we could outright annihilate entire portions of the gene pool, or just flat out pass and enforce racist policies and call it a day. Direct conflict of that sort is easy, assimilation is hard, and from our point we need to be dropping the hammer with the right intent, which is pretty much to assimilate black America into the rest of society, even if they continue to go kicking, screaming, and howling with pain. In the long run that's what benefits humanity.

As far as American exceptionalism goes, all I can really say is "meh" we're the most enlightened and civilized people on the planet right now, but frankly we spend too much time in contemplative navel gazing and self imposed moral crisis to be exceptional in any way, we just don't have the confidence. Once there was a possibility for the US to be truly exceptional but that ship has sailed. Besides I think we more or less share what passes for our crown with the UK, Australia, and Canada, we're all pretty much the children of the British Empire and on a basic level we're more alike than different since despite rebellions and changes we all came from the same basic parent. Some would consider it very un-American to say so, but in it's own way the British Empire was actually more exceptional than we are, having lasted longer, and arguably accomplished more before overextending itself. The US is as a general rule too unsure of itself and almost entirely reactive. When we do try and act we get involved anywhere we tend to immediately engage ourselves in a psychotic internal monologue that cripples us from accomplishing anything and usually winds up with us losing people and treasure, and having very little of lasting import to show for it. American principles are wonderful, but arguably too far ahead of the time they exist in. I tend to actually be very critical of the US, but for very different reasons than liberals.

As far as civilization goes, I likewise tend to stand by my sentiments. Like it or not some nations and cultures are not as advanced as others, and degrees of civilization tend to start with whoever is the most advanced. What is a very civilized society one day can be barbarians in a century or so, and of course relative barbarians can sometimes change to define civilization themselves over the sweep of history. Like it or not in the pursuit of trying to make a finer world societies and cultures come into conflict with each other, and which is better and more civilized isn't really all that subjective no matter how liberals tend to spin it. The best interests of humanity lie with the survival and dominance of the greatest civilizations, social Darwinism, like any other form of evolution, can be quite cruel at times, but is no less necessary. As I say this I speak with the full understanding that we might very well see a time where a more civilized society eradicates the USA, though truthfully I think being overrun by Barbarians due to being too advanced for our time is a much greater possibility. If the UK and it's children are ever all wiped out I personally believe it will bring about another dark age of a sort, but that's an entirely different discussion. That said unlike the old days of Conquistidors I believe assimilation as opposed to extermination is the way to go. Had I been running the show in South America rather than burning my own ships in a "no retreat" policy once I found the civilizations down there I'd have attempted to use my influence to make the people there subjects of the Spanish crown, I'd still probably wind up killing 80-90% of them but at the end of the day the people themselves would survive and I think everyone would wind up benefitting. Truthfully had Spain done that as opposed to not engaging in robbery and genocide I don't think it would have glutted it's economy the same way and lost it's role as a dominant world power. Pushing an agenda of racial superiority as opposed to cultural superiority tends to be counter productive in most cases. For all the racist crap it arguably talked the Romans sort of had the right idea, while they did exterminate entire people, for the most part they simply broke them enough to slowly assimilate the survivors, and the Romans wound up being the dominant power longer than almost anyone, and when they fell due to internal decadence it did literally cause a dark age as the entire world suffered for their loss.
 

AgedGrunt

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Timeless Lavender said:
But to answers your question: Yes but because USA broadcast their crimes worldwide (and because of your multicultural background). Also, even though USA have their crimes, many countries have crimes and they are faaaar worse, since their own police department and government cannot do anything because they are scared (Mexico and the drug trade). There are many crimes in the Caribbean too but the police department and the Tourism sector want to play "This country is a Paradise" card so many crimes are not on TV news or newspaper.
From the US, I could only make it through the first page, and this was the best reply.

When you understand how our mainstream media is run, how it's dominated and driven by corporations, greed, entertainment, drama and ratings, and how corrupt, corrosive and biased it is because of certain interests behind it all, you'll understand how things don't make the news here, the news is made. Politics is entrenched in this, for essential reasons.

The really scary thing in all of this is that, while this goes on in other countries all the time, the power and influence from the US is so big and toxic, so outrageous and insidious that when you listen to people outside the US you see that it's not contained, it infects the world with its bullshit.

How many replies on the first page about gun ownership and control, all the anxiety and confusion? Realize that fear and a reflex towards more controlling and limiting societies in your voices, that this is exactly what has led to people tolerating police states, mass spy programs and blank checks for war. Gun rights has always existed in the US, but those things are newer innovations, and technology has been key to influence.

Having friends in other parts of the world, they talk about their own disgust for their media and politicians and gullible masses. But like British television, it doesn't reach the rest of the world and in most cases won't make any sense. Probably, it would ruin them for life.
 

Wakey87

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I'm from the UK and a gun owner but even I don't understand your complete lack of gun controll, I think alot of the problems America has is a direct cause of this, not just shootings but how heavy handed your police have to be on regular citizens.
 

Tiger King

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I don't think Americans are violent, they are pretty friendly and outgoing in my opinion. I have taken late night walks around my town and never had any trouble or felt threatened. Saying that there was a drive by shooting the other day near downtown and some guy got killed.

Oddly I still don't feel threatened because of that. It's just stupid kids in gangs killing each other and so long as you are not involved you should be ok. It is pretty sad that people getting shot every other week is an accepted part of life here though.

I have joked a few times with my misses whenever there has been a drama in the news or something, saying 'that's it
we need to go buy some assault rifles to defend ourselves', but nah I feel pretty safe here.
I did see a skunk the other night, that was kinda scary ha ha
 

mrgerry123

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English here.
I think the Americans are positive and forward looking, which is a good thing. However they are not self aware in the way countries that are a bit past it, ie Germany, France, UK etc, are. I think most of their problems stem from that lack of self awareness. The Germans know they were dicks from 1914-1945, the British know they were dicks when they killed the Zulus and imposed their will on various countries around the world whereas many (not all) Americans think that America is always in the right, and that opens the door to violence, meddling etc.

Many Americans religiousness and patriotism is either a joke or a source of worry for most people I know.

I don't think that American people are violent but I believe that your country has a gungho attitude combined with a viewpoint which lacks shades of grey (possible exception is Vietnam) which most of the older countries are capable of, due to them seeing themselves the "bad guys" at at least one point in time. This does lead America into more violent conflicts than most other countries.

The gist of my post is that self awareness and self depreciation do help perspective, but then that is what we English are known for so I may be a little biased.
 

Hugga_Bear

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I think you're people for the most part. Seems likely anyway from what I can gauge. I'm British by the way one of those people it's appropriate to call 'British' since I am both English and Scottish. Most other people I know don't like being called British, they prefer English or Scottish (and I presume Welsh). If you call an Irishman a Brit you'll probably get nutted.

But on topic, no I don't think you're more violent though I admit I can't recall the data I've seen. I perceive you as people, some insane, some sane. Perhaps a little obsessed with your dear free market capitalism but even that's far from a universal.

Poorly educated would be the only thing I've seen, it seems to be a pretty big issue over there, your general ignorance of international politics and history is surprising and as far as I remember you're a couple of years behind the UK in education levels which is depressing. Still, that's not universally true, obviously, there are many smart people born over there as well.