Why are Americans so defensive about America?

[Anonymous]

I'm from the UK and growing up, when people criticized the UK, it was not a big deal. WE criticized ourselves. Of course there are some stereotypes I disagree with like that ALL the food is terrible. But a lot of them have merit. I feel like we constantly spoke in my family and other families about ways in which other countries were better. France had better access to good quality food and a better attitude to cooking. Japan was healthier. Most places had better weather. Having a royal family was possibly very dumb. English people are often pale and excessively embarrassing in a football abroad context. I could go on. It BAFFLES me that any time you say anything about America is sub par, Americans FREAK OUT. And immediately tell you to 'go back where you came from'. Like - WTF? Americans cannot possibly think that everything about America (obesity, drug prices, health insurance, severe weather + trailer parks, trump etc etc) is amazing. It's just not feasible - that would be lying. So what gives? Doesn't positive change happen when you are able to look inwards, see other possibilities and dream of a better way? Do ppl think they will burst into flames if they admit that Twinkies are... sub optimal?

[Anonymous]

m’eh….I’ve seen a fairly broad cross section of the world - certainly not all of it, but a representative sample, let’s call it - and I’ve always been happy to come back here.

I can like America better than anywhere else without diminishing everywhere else. Just because I like America more doesn’t necessarily mean I think the UK (or many other places) sucks.

But yeah, America is pretty great.

[Anonymous]

It’s a cultural thing. Americans are raised with American exceptionalism— that we are the best thing since sliced bread as a country and as individuals.

UK is very different, people more likely to denigrate themselves than overstate their qualifications. Whole concept of taking the piss which barely exists in America.

[Anonymous]

It’s polite to not criticize the hosts as we are guests here, even naturalized citizens. Leave it to our American born kids.
I hate it when my home country is criticized even though it has plenty to be criticized for.
So, I criticize america to my countrymen and stay mum around Americans.

[Anonymous]

You are not American right OP? So people are not going to react well to you criticizing us. Plenty of people in the US are critical of their own country - but most people don’t like it when someone from another country is criticizing your own.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You are not American right OP? So people are not going to react well to you criticizing us. Plenty of people in the US are critical of their own country - but most people don’t like it when someone from another country is criticizing your own.

This. Like…. Duh.

[Anonymous]

There is a very individualist mindset in the US. We tend to take things personally. If you're criticizing the US for loving Twinkies or for being racist, an individual American is likely to respond with "But not ME" or "not ALL [fill in the blank: men, white people, etc]."

[Anonymous]

I think this silly belief in exceptionalism plays a part. I think it’s also a kind of realization that the unipolar post cold war era is ended and a multipolar world has replaced it. Finally I believe that the defeats the Americans suffered in the “global war on terror” left the Americans feeling neutered and unredeemed.
Finally, while average Americans are very undignified towards foreign people, they are way more hostile to each other.

[Anonymous]

Because if not for America everyone would be learning German or Japanese or both. That those in the UK and Europe do so because of America.

It’s pretty simple.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:m’eh….I’ve seen a fairly broad cross section of the world - certainly not all of it, but a representative sample, let’s call it - and I’ve always been happy to come back here.

I can like America better than anywhere else without diminishing everywhere else. Just because I like America more doesn’t necessarily mean I think the UK (or many other places) sucks.

But yeah, America is pretty great.

You are the question not the answer

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You are not American right OP? So people are not going to react well to you criticizing us. Plenty of people in the US are critical of their own country - but most people don’t like it when someone from another country is criticizing your own.

Actually I am American! I just grew up there.
I also don’t do it. But I have noticed that Americans are hysterically defensive when it happens. Especially online. And they react that way when other countries criticize them, who are not their ‘guests’.

[Anonymous]

If I were from the UK, I would criticize my home country, too. But I'm not from the UK, I'm from the USA - the land of the free, and the home of the brave.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Because if not for America everyone would be learning German or Japanese or both. That those in the UK and Europe do so because of America.

It’s pretty simple.

Euw.
America can’t coast on jumping into help a war nearly 100 years ago forever. If it weren’t for the ancient Greeks we wouldn’t have writing but they aren’t still swinging their d**** around. Plus America has also contributed some pretty cr*ppy things too - and individual Americans are responsible for neither the good nor the bad.
This is not a good excuse for not being able to take feedback.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If I were from the UK, I would criticize my home country, too. But I'm not from the UK, I'm from the USA - the land of the free, and the home of the brave.

🤢
This kind of thing. I’m better than you mentality. Are you six years old?

[Anonymous]

I am glad to see that one citizen from the UK can speak for the whole UK and all of America. Your anecdata has been a valuable contribution to world enlightenment.