Does this disturb you

YouTube · Post by **General Mackevili** » Sun Sep 07, 2014 5:20 am

So, you obviously disagree that America is the best country, yet you can't list any you think could be considered the best. Hmmmmm

StroppyChops · Post by **StroppyChops** » Sun Sep 07, 2014 11:35 am

I think you're rewording, and I'm surprised as I thought you were above such things. My original question was whether Americans genuinely believe the 'Greatest Nation on Earth, Ever' perspective or whether that's just team spirit. Why is it important to you to turn this around while ignoring the question, other than a smug 'I never knew it was up for debate'? That's not like you - although you've seemed terse since you arrived there.

frank lee bent · Post by **frank lee bent** » Sun Sep 07, 2014 11:53 am

maybe it is the least worst?

Soi Dog · Post by **Soi Dog** » Sun Sep 07, 2014 12:18 pm

It would be wonderful if every person on Earth could contemplate the positives and negatives of their home country's society, culture and history and still come away with the conclusion that their place of birth was the best from their perspective.

Gen. Mack is entitled to feel the way he feels about his country. Many (definitely not all) Americans genuinely feel the same. Don't equate that conviction with ignorance of any shortcomings of the US. Americans are as aware and as outspokenly critical of their own societal/political shortcomings and historical failures as any citizens of any other nation. Some choose to see only what they perceive to be the negatives about life in America, without fully understanding or admitting how good they have it compared to the daily realities of many other people around the globe.

If you feel similar beliefs about your place of birth as Gen. Mack does about his, then count your blessings. You are part of a depressingly small minority of humanity.

StroppyChops · Post by **StroppyChops** » Sun Sep 07, 2014 1:05 pm

Great post SD, but for clarity are you using 'you' in the sense of me personally, or is it an all of humanity 'you'?

Personally I agree with everything you said, but if it was in response to me then it's addressing a question/position other than what I posted.

I haven't been to America and my view is biased by Hollywood, the White House, history (as I've learned it), politics as it influences Australia and SEA, etc. I don't believe I've criticised America in this thread, I've simply asked whether Americans genuinely hold the 'Best Nation on Earth, Ever' perspective, or if it's team spirit.

I did contend that it's necessary to define metrics to be able to make such a claim, clearly this was read as a loaded statement - not intended as such. To give an example, greatest (mightiest) superpower in the world in terms of commerce, military, production? China. More ethereal, friendliest people on earth, in my experience? Canadians. Most cultured country on earth, in my view? Austria. Nation with the best care for their elderly? Holland. Nation with the highest work ethic? Australia. Etc.

Most of the Americans I know personally (admittedly the younger grandfather generation) abstain from the ra ra and chest beating I experience online, and I'm curious about that.

YouTube · Post by **General Mackevili** » Sun Sep 07, 2014 4:21 pm

StroppyChops wrote:Just out of interest, do you 'Muricans honestly believe USA is/was the best place on earth, or is that just like a team chant?

StroppyChops wrote:I think you're rewording, and I'm surprised as I thought you were above such things. My original question was whether Americans genuinely believe the 'Greatest Nation on Earth, Ever' perspective or whether that's just team spirit. Why is it important to you to turn this around while ignoring the question, other than a smug 'I never knew it was up for debate'? That's not like you - although you've seemed terse since you arrived there.

I am above such things, and please quote me where you think I was "rewording" your question to my benefit.

You asked a question, I answered it, I asked you the same question with the "same metrics" and I get no answer to said question.

Yes, my first answer was on sarcasm overload. For the record, I did in fact know it was up for debate.
I wouldn't call this "turning it around" in a negative way at all. I answered your "genuine" question, and just thought it would be nice to hear your answer about what could be considered the "greatest nation on earth."

And if you don't think your original question, phrased as is isn't a negative question, I'd say you aren't a native English speaker. Starting a question with "do you Americans honestly believe that....." is a belittling way to ask a "genuine" question.

It's this, "aw shucks, it was a genuine question" b.s. that gets people like Dagenham suspicious of you, for good reason.

And I don't get online to "ra ra ra" about America, but it's the best of the worst, IMHO.

And yes, please feel free to insinuate that I've been tense ever since I've arrived here every time I call you out on something, LoL. Never gets old...

You're sneaky......

StroppyChops · Post by **StroppyChops** » Sun Sep 07, 2014 4:27 pm

Wow... okay mate, whatever you need.

Soi Dog · Post by **Soi Dog** » Sun Sep 07, 2014 7:23 pm

StroppyChops wrote:Great post SD, but for clarity are you using 'you' in the sense of me personally, or is it an all of humanity 'you'?

I prefer to use "you" when speaking generally to writing "one" (as in "one should be proud of one's own place of birth") because all the "one" stuff sounds pretentious.

I don't believe I've criticised America in this thread...

I was referring to quite a few US-born posters on this forum who continually complain about the US being a police state or whatever. Our resident hyperbolic twit phuketrichard recently called it "the worst place on earth" because of a couple of unfortunate, violent clashes between police/national guard troops and protesters over the Vietnam War in the 60's/70's. There are several other America bashers on here.

Post by **Username Taken** » Sun Sep 07, 2014 8:15 pm

General Mackevili wrote:
StroppyChops wrote:Just out of interest, do you 'Muricans honestly believe USA is/was the best place on earth, or is that just like a team chant?

StroppyChops wrote:I think you're rewording, and I'm surprised as I thought you were above such things. My original question was whether Americans genuinely believe the 'Greatest Nation on Earth, Ever' perspective or whether that's just team spirit. Why is it important to you to turn this around while ignoring the question, other than a smug 'I never knew it was up for debate'? That's not like you - although you've seemed terse since you arrived there.
I am above such things, and please quote me where you think I was "rewording" your question to my benefit.

You asked a question, I answered it, I asked you the same question with the "same metrics" and I get no answer to said question.

Yes, my first answer was on sarcasm overload. For the record, I did in fact know it was up for debate.
I wouldn't call this "turning it around" in a negative way at all. I answered your "genuine" question, and just thought it would be nice to hear your answer about what could be considered the "greatest nation on earth."

And if you don't think your original question, phrased as is isn't a negative question, I'd say you aren't a native English speaker. Starting a question with "do you Americans honestly believe that....." is a belittling way to ask a "genuine" question.

It's this, "aw shucks, it was a genuine question" b.s. that gets people like Dagenham suspicious of you, for good reason.

And I don't get online to "ra ra ra" about America, but it's the best of the worst, IMHO.

And yes, please feel free to insinuate that I've been tense ever since I've arrived here every time I call you out on something, LoL. Never gets old...

You're sneaky......

I feel for you.

That call to prayer can really get to you after a while.

Never been over there, but I had a Muslim boss for a while who had the call to prayer set up on his phone. (An office floor full of Khmers, myself and one Mussy, and we all had to hear it!!)

Make it your ring tone. (But, that might be illegal).

StroppyChops · Post by **StroppyChops** » Sun Sep 07, 2014 10:22 pm

Username Taken wrote:That call to prayer can really get to you after a while.

I have to give a shout out to the Muslim guy working on the sewerage project on Norodom I passed the other day - at the appointed time he'd laid out his prayer mat and was quietly doing his thing, right in the middle of the street, under the relative safety of a front end loader. Credit to him for his dedication and commitment to his beliefs.

Soi Dog wrote:
StroppyChops wrote: I don't believe I've criticised America in this thread...
I was referring to quite a few US-born posters on this forum who continually complain about the US being a police state or whatever. Our resident hyperbolic twit phuketrichard recently called it "the worst place on earth" because of a couple of unfortunate, violent clashes between police/national guard troops and protesters over the Vietnam War in the 60's/70's. There are several other America bashers on here.

Cheers for the clarification.

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