"In my country"..... Oh please, shut up!

[Anonymous]

I've lived abroad. Yes, Americans complain about foreigners -- but the thing is, we generally do it among ourselves. The only time I complained out loud was when I was 12. When I was older, we Americans would complain among ourselves.

We'd NEVER go online and do an anonymous internet blast to the host country. That's just deliberately obnoxious.

I think she does it just to bug us. Or she's really insecure. Either way, the best strategy would be to ignore her.

[Anonymous]

One of my favorite threads: "Why didn't my American guest, who had stopped by the pumpkin patch before coming to my house, leave all her pumpkins with me?"

On one thread she identified herself as being from Brazil, FWIW.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, I bet you've never been out of the USA.

"In my home country" kind of conversation is very common when someone is living abroad no matter where they're from. It's part of the cultural shock process and there's a lot of research on it.

Before bitching around do some reading. It won't hurt, I promise.

Did you thoroughly read either of OP's posts? I'm guessing not.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm with OP, it's irritating. Mostly because it's usually done in such a smug, self-satisfied manner.

I've lived in Europe and I made it a point to never complain about a country to citizens of that country. No one held a gun to my head and told me I had to live there and I received no engraved invitation to live ther, so I was there by my own free choice and that meant I had to accept the ways of that country. I, too, am so sick of America being bashed by those who come here for a better life and still tell us how wonderful it is in their third world country.

So, is it okay then for me to bash if I come from a European country that is consistently rated higher than the US for quality of life?
Not that I have a need to do that, but this is an example of the American smugness: everyone comes her for a better life and we should all thank our lucky stars that we can reside in the US!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Uh, didn't the OP say she lived in Germany and France?

She says that. I doubt it's true. She also claimed not to complain when she lived there. As one who has lived abroad, I doubt that, too.

OP here. It is true. I lived in Germany for eight years.. in Heidelberg. I loved it there. It's one of the most beautiful cities on earth. When I did complain, I did it amongst fellow Americans and not to citizens of my host nation. But the standard of living there was so high there was little to complain about. I lived in Strasbourg, France in college and also was thrilled to be there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

So, is it okay then for me to bash if I come from a European country that is consistently rated higher than the US for quality of life?
Not that I have a need to do that, but this is an example of the American smugness: everyone comes her for a better life and we should all thank our lucky stars that we can reside in the US!

I think you're misinterpreting most of the posters here. Most of us (especially those of us who have lived abroad) say we dislike smug, ugly Americans. We are embarrassed by them. One poster talked about cringing when she saw the Congressional delegation.

What we are saying is: do your complaining privately. Don't do an internet blast on DCUM that will be read by hundreds of members of the host country.

The "In my country" poster is the foreign version of the ugly American. It's ugly, and bad manners, wherever it comes from.

[Anonymous]

BTW, wasn't "The Ugly American" about a physically ugly American who helped vietnamese villagers build wells operated by bicycles, and earned their gratitude? Whereas "The Silent American" was about the CIA creeper? It's been a while since I read either book, and I missed the recent movie about the CIA creeper.

Not that this excuses ugly Americans, or ugly foreigners who post "in my country" diatribes instead of sharing their thoughts privately with their friends. Just making a point about the literature....

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm with OP, it's irritating. Mostly because it's usually done in such a smug, self-satisfied manner.

I've lived in Europe and I made it a point to never complain about a country to citizens of that country. No one held a gun to my head and told me I had to live there and I received no engraved invitation to live ther, so I was there by my own free choice and that meant I had to accept the ways of that country. I, too, am so sick of America being bashed by those who come here for a better life and still tell us how wonderful it is in their third world country.

So, is it okay then for me to bash if I come from a European country that is consistently rated higher than the US for quality of life?
Not that I have a need to do that, but this is an example of the American smugness: everyone comes her for a better life and we should all thank our lucky stars that we can reside in the US!

Why is it smug to believe your country is great? I'm not a chest-thumping "proud to be an american" song loving types, but I love my country. It has flaws. Every country does, even your "higher quality of life" European country. But, I do think you should thank your lucky stars to live here. Yes.

I get seriously pissed off when people come to it and get to take part of the many great things it has to offer. The freedoms we have here. And, then come on here and piss and moan about it and the "smug" americans. Plus, it is MY HOME. Yes, I get pissed about people trashing my home.

[Anonymous]

GOLF CLAP FOR OP! Finally someone said it. You hate the US so much Frenchie? Well stop taking up parking spots in Georgetown and go the hell back. And you know exactly who you are.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:GOLF CLAP FOR OP! Finally someone said it. You hate the US so much Frenchie? Well stop taking up parking spots in Georgetown and go the hell back. And you know exactly who you are.

She's Brazilian.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:GOLF CLAP FOR OP! Finally someone said it. You hate the US so much Frenchie? Well stop taking up parking spots in Georgetown and go the hell back. And you know exactly who you are.

Can we make this a little more subtle? How about:

"You're free to have your own negative opinions of us. But please share them in private with your friends. Don't come on to the internet and blast your criticisms to hundreds of people you don't even know. In return, we Americans will try to do better when we visit your country. It's not a question of freedom of speech. It's a question of politeness vs. rudeness."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:GOLF CLAP FOR OP! Finally someone said it. You hate the US so much Frenchie? Well stop taking up parking spots in Georgetown and go the hell back. And you know exactly who you are.

She's Brazilian.

I'm talking about someone else in my neighborhood.

[Anonymous]

I think the US has many citizens who hate their own country and think themselves better than their fellow citizens bc they've become so European intheir ways. Don't believe me? Read more than Half the responses here. It's mostly Americans who hate other Americans. It's rather sad, actually.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
Why is it smug to believe your country is great? I'm not a chest-thumping "proud to be an american" song loving types, but I love my country. It has flaws. Every country does, even your "higher quality of life" European country. But, I do think you should thank your lucky stars to live here. Yes.

I get seriously pissed off when people come to it and get to take part of the many great things it has to offer. The freedoms we have here. And, then come on here and piss and moan about it and the "smug" americans. Plus, it is MY HOME. Yes, I get pissed about people trashing my home.

Nothing smug about believing your country is great. Never said that. I also think the US is pretty great and it is my home now too. But my home country is great too, and your automatic assumption that I have come here for a better life and I should now be eternally grateful makes me think of you as smug, and ignorant too.

[Anonymous]

I wouldn't ever move some where and then go around talking about all the things that suck about it, to the people that live there. This applies for peoples homes, cities, states, countries, etc. It's rude no matter how you look at it. Not to mention being a serious Debbie Downer. There's a huge difference between engaging in thoughtful conversation or debate, and just bitching and moaning. Surely, we all know this.