Why are Americans so defensive about America?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: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.

OP stated in later post that they are American but have lived in the UK. Your swift and knee-jerk defensiveness proves OP's point. In my opinion, healthy democracies should welcome criticism and always strive to do/be better but you do you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm from the UK

yes and so you have a different culture- one where the UK was the best biggest empire for 6 centuries- its easy to be self deprecating and say "ugh the weather is horrid, not like 'insert colony here'". its like ridiculously wealthy people saying that they are "comfortable". even though all that is long gone, the culture remains, its a remnant of smugness and British ppl are disgustingly smug. you also have a defined class system which makes people more accepting of their limitations, Americans can become royalty in 1-2 generations. so they aren't going to like anyone saying otherwise. brits know that they are "all rats in a bag" (riz ahmad) , American culture finds that concept appalling, no we are all diamonds in the rough and some luck and effort away from being the next Vanderbilts, gates, Obamas, Kennedys. just b/c we speak a similar language doesnt mean we share a culture. Americans are engaged in almost constant struggle for supremacy and are insecure hence they dont like criticism, anymore than Vernon Dursley and aunt petunia would like criticism of their awful middle class house and Dudley's subpar public school.

[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.

These colors don’t run, right? Except of course when the local farmers fight back…

[Anonymous]

Not all of us are. Some of us recognize the many flaws in our country, and are willing to point them out even though the other side calls this "unpatriotic"

[Anonymous]

Someone mentioned insecure up thread. That is a perfect word to describe the American psyche. From a country that spends more on national security than anyone else…
They sure aren’t getting their return on investment!

[Anonymous]

From my perspective it's primarily conservatives who freak out at any criticism of the US. The rest of us love America but recognize that while it's a great country, there are areas that could stand improvement. We certainly have many flaws, like healthcare, mental health, gun violence which need productive conversation and solutions. But one side irrationally insists on calling that hope of solving problems "unpatriotic."

[Anonymous]

If you don't love America, then get the hell out!

[Anonymous]

Aussie here. Agree it’s very incredibly easy to get a rise out of Americans by saying something vaguely uncomplimentary about the good ol’ USA, no matter whether it’s true or not. This thread is a classic example - OP says Americans don’t take criticism well and immediately some posters don’t take this well.

People don’t like ‘outsiders’ criticising them - kind of like, I can criticise my own family but you had better not try. I don’t think the US is unique in this and it’s possibly a bit like an automatic reflex. Certainly it’s not everybody and perhaps an anonymous discussion board is prime territory for this kind of interaction.

But American exceptionalism seems pretty well entrenched with some and it’s strange how, no matter how carefully you try to couch something that is vaguely critical, there are always people who immediately respond with some sort of patriotic war cry and ‘go back to your own country’. Or they counter your point by arguing that everybody in the world is clamouring to come so it simply must be the best country in the world.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Aussie here. Agree it’s very incredibly easy to get a rise out of Americans by saying something vaguely uncomplimentary about the good ol’ USA, no matter whether it’s true or not. This thread is a classic example - OP says Americans don’t take criticism well and immediately some posters don’t take this well.

People don’t like ‘outsiders’ criticising them - kind of like, I can criticise my own family but you had better not try. I don’t think the US is unique in this and it’s possibly a bit like an automatic reflex. Certainly it’s not everybody and perhaps an anonymous discussion board is prime territory for this kind of interaction.

But American exceptionalism seems pretty well entrenched with some and it’s strange how, no matter how carefully you try to couch something that is vaguely critical, there are always people who immediately respond with some sort of patriotic war cry and ‘go back to your own country’. Or they counter your point by arguing that everybody in the world is clamouring to come so it simply must be the best country in the world.

Other than your anecdotal experience, do you have any data to back up your observation about the thin skins of Americans?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Aussie here. Agree it’s very incredibly easy to get a rise out of Americans by saying something vaguely uncomplimentary about the good ol’ USA, no matter whether it’s true or not. This thread is a classic example - OP says Americans don’t take criticism well and immediately some posters don’t take this well.

People don’t like ‘outsiders’ criticising them - kind of like, I can criticise my own family but you had better not try. I don’t think the US is unique in this and it’s possibly a bit like an automatic reflex. Certainly it’s not everybody and perhaps an anonymous discussion board is prime territory for this kind of interaction.

But American exceptionalism seems pretty well entrenched with some and it’s strange how, no matter how carefully you try to couch something that is vaguely critical, there are always people who immediately respond with some sort of patriotic war cry and ‘go back to your own country’. Or they counter your point by arguing that everybody in the world is clamouring to come so it simply must be the best country in the world.

Other than your anecdotal experience, do you have any data to back up your observation about the thin skins of Americans?

I’m not aware that anybody had been bothered to undertake a formal study on a matter of so little consequence. But please be my guest.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:From my perspective it's primarily conservatives who freak out at any criticism of the US. The rest of us love America but recognize that while it's a great country, there are areas that could stand improvement. We certainly have many flaws, like healthcare, mental health, gun violence which need productive conversation and solutions. But one side irrationally insists on calling that hope of solving problems "unpatriotic."

Disagree. Both your conservatives and liberals engage in it. It just depends on the topic.
It’s all equally boorish and tiring.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you don't love America, then get the hell out!

Have you put up your American flag yet or does it fly year-round next to your confederate flag?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

But we don't have to or care about your feedback. We really don't. It isn't required. Besides, every piece of feedback usually involves asking the U.S. to change something for the benefit of the opinion-giving recent immigrant or foreign nationals country. No person, organization, or country is offering feedback for our benefit.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

But we don't have to or care about your feedback. We really don't. It isn't required. Besides, every piece of feedback usually involves asking the U.S. to change something for the benefit of the opinion-giving recent immigrant or foreign nationals country. No person, organization, or country is offering feedback for our benefit.

Absolutely, you don’t need to care. But the point is you don’t need to be offended or insulted either.

[Anonymous]

Because it is culturally unacceptable in America to say that America is not the best country in the world. They are raised on that.