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Regular Americans are probably used to being liked around the world. Sure, we all make jokes, but in general "American", a mere few weeks ago, stood for somethi

Regular Americans are probably used to being liked around the world. Sure, we all make jokes, but in general "American", a mere few weeks ago, stood for something attractive. American music, American values, American companies - things most people around the world would like the sound of. Not everyone, sure, but a majority. Very quickly and for no clear reason, America is saying FU to all these people. Americans will have a rude awakening when they realize they are now disliked rather than treated with a mild admiration. Just not sure what that's for.

readthenotes1 2y ago
"Regular Americans are probably used to being liked around the world." Regular Americans are used to being seen as a source of money around the world. Being disliked, but tolerated, has been the lot of Americans for decades
- rich_sasha 2y ago
  Well then, welcome to "keep your money and F off" world then.
  - readthenotes1 2y ago
    With the Trump presidency cutting off a lot of foreign aid, it'll be interesting to see which country fills the void. With the troubles at the border, it will be interesting to see how other countries respond. Are they willing to forego US tourist money? At a personal level if I were a tourist from the US, would I be shunned by touts or denied access to nice places ("sorry mate, not allowed in the Tate. Cheers")?
ASalazarMX 2y ago
> Very quickly and for no clear reason, America is saying FU to all these people This is not something new, just more evident nowadays. Things that USA has done for decades that have alienated other countries: - Always has been at war, preferably asymmetrical, brutal wars for profit while claiming democracy and freedom. - Many Americans are ethnocentric, ignoring much of the world outside their country. For example, its national baseball cup is still called the "World" Series? Or ask any American abroad which country they are from, and most will name their state. - Not so ethnocentric Americans usually choose to do tourism abroad, and those are the ones most people in the world encounter. Obnoxious American tourists are a minority, but they're the most memorable, unfortunately forming the stereotype. - Has appropriated the "America" name from the whole continent. United States of North America would be its proper name. Gulf of USA is small compared to that. - Remember "Manifest Destiny"? It's still alive, just frequently changes names. I could go on and on. I don't deny the blooming of USA after WW II was beautiful, bringing hope to a ravaged world, it seemed like everything it did was awesome. Unfortunately, it was superficial, and its flaws have become more evident as the luster vanishes. USA needs a whole makeover, right down from its constitution to their electoral system, and up to the international arena, to materialize the promise that it showed before.
- marcuschong 2y ago
  I'd add that several of the wars and coups the U.S. took part in, especially during the Cold War, can be better understood in light of Soviet expansionism - after all, the USSR was effectively invading other nations. For example, when people say “the U.S. created the Taliban,” it was primarily about countering Soviet forces in yet another country they were encroaching upon.
  - tim333 2y ago
    Which still goes on with the Kremlin pulling the same shit, just with a renamed empire.
blooalien 2y ago
> "Very quickly and for no clear reason" ... The reason is crystal clear. A particularly stupid portion of Americans have gotten their lord and master, the undisputed "Emperor of Stupid" elected and it has emboldened them.
tim333 2y ago
As a Brit I'd say we differentiate a bit between different Americans - Taylor Swift good Trump bad etc. I'm watching the current goings on in mild amazement.

readthenotes1 2y ago

"Regular Americans are probably used to being liked around the world." Regular Americans are used to being seen as a source of money around the world. Being disliked, but tolerated, has been the lot of Americans for decades

rich_sasha 2y ago
Well then, welcome to "keep your money and F off" world then.
- readthenotes1 2y ago
  With the Trump presidency cutting off a lot of foreign aid, it'll be interesting to see which country fills the void. With the troubles at the border, it will be interesting to see how other countries respond. Are they willing to forego US tourist money? At a personal level if I were a tourist from the US, would I be shunned by touts or denied access to nice places ("sorry mate, not allowed in the Tate. Cheers")?

ASalazarMX 2y ago

> Very quickly and for no clear reason, America is saying FU to all these people This is not something new, just more evident nowadays. Things that USA has done for decades that have alienated other countries: - Always has been at war, preferably asymmetrical, brutal wars for profit while claiming democracy and freedom. - Many Americans are ethnocentric, ignoring much of the world outside their country. For example, its national baseball cup is still called the "World" Series? Or ask any American abroad which country they are from, and most will name their state. - Not so ethnocentric Americans usually choose to do tourism abroad, and those are the ones most people in the world encounter. Obnoxious American tourists are a minority, but they're the most memorable, unfortunately forming the stereotype. - Has appropriated the "America" name from the whole continent. United States of North America would be its proper name. Gulf of USA is small compared to that. - Remember "Manifest Destiny"? It's still alive, just frequently changes names. I could go on and on. I don't deny the blooming of USA after WW II was beautiful, bringing hope to a ravaged world, it seemed like everything it did was awesome. Unfortunately, it was superficial, and its flaws have become more evident as the luster vanishes. USA needs a whole makeover, right down from its constitution to their electoral system, and up to the international arena, to materialize the promise that it showed before.

marcuschong 2y ago
I'd add that several of the wars and coups the U.S. took part in, especially during the Cold War, can be better understood in light of Soviet expansionism - after all, the USSR was effectively invading other nations. For example, when people say “the U.S. created the Taliban,” it was primarily about countering Soviet forces in yet another country they were encroaching upon.
- tim333 2y ago
  Which still goes on with the Kremlin pulling the same shit, just with a renamed empire.

blooalien 2y ago

> "Very quickly and for no clear reason" ... The reason is crystal clear. A particularly stupid portion of Americans have gotten their lord and master, the undisputed "Emperor of Stupid" elected and it has emboldened them.

tim333 2y ago

As a Brit I'd say we differentiate a bit between different Americans - Taylor Swift good Trump bad etc. I'm watching the current goings on in mild amazement.