Do Americans know what "World Politics" means ?

There's one thing you are guaranteed to find if you visit the World News Section .
Very little about World News .
When I carried out a straw poll at 19.40 GMT , the front 20 showed 5 Topics involving Iran and 13 ( including ," Death to Christianity" )about Muslims .
Unbelievable .
I went back to look at the last three pages --- 60 Topics , and noted those Topics with more than 150 replies --- 10 .
Only three were unconcerned with Muslims , Iran and any excuse to bad mouth Jews and Muslims --- exceptions were the Falklands ( should have been in Humour) , Global Warming and the " End is Nigh" ).
I think this Forum currently is a place where Americans bad mouth each other and outsiders about their pet obsessions , the Satanic nature of Muslims and Jews .
When it comes to other world events , they are broadly ill informed and not bothered anyhow . Just run your eye down the Topic titles here .
It's so up your asre , it is almost beyond belief .
This Topic proposition is therefore :-
This is no Political Forum . It is a place for Americans to display their phobias and paranoia .
Will they discuss ?
Don't be in any hurry to wait and see . You might die from boredom .
And when it comes to this section which is clearly marked , United States , your biggest worry is second Death from boredom .

 

I would have to agree with your thesis.

 

What's wrong with , "I agree" ?
What is going to happen that will make you ----------

 

et al,

I glance over the topics that have interesting titles. But I often refrain from responding; rather remain silent in the face of commentary I don't understand.

Sometimes, I just don't know what to say.

Most Respectfully,
R

 

Back when I had cable TV I used to watch American news.

First up, American news. This happened in the US. That happened in the US. etc

Next up, World News. US forces in Iraq. US forces in Afghanistan. US leader visits UK. American tourist in China. US this, US that.

Um.......... that's not World News.

 

During Spanish class, we had to watch Spanish news. They were doing the Iowa straw poll. And apparently having some sort of committe getting together to fix the economy. The US heard plenty of Iowa, but nothing about Spain.

 

Yes, I share your views. I really bored with the Muslim and Jews bad-mouthing threads. I don't comments in those threads.

I post interesting topics, about alien existance and possibility in contact with our governments, they may be fallen angels etc. But quickly my threads would be pushed to second page by those bad quality phobia threads. Americans seem don't like to talk about real issues and have not much of imagination.

 

My advice is " Join in and have your say "
As you will have seen , Europeans do not have the burdens that so many of these US kids clearly have -- Jews and Muslims . You will be ribbed by us but not in the crude , simplistic way that many Americans resort to .
And , to put it bluntly , but with honourable exceptions -- you will be mixing with a nicer class of people , better informed and not totally lodged up our own rear side orifice . imo .

 

So this thread consist of a bunch of whiney forgieners crying about Americans not paying attention to them. For (*)(*)(*)(*)'s sakes you loosers need to get a life.

 

It means acceptance of Socialism

 

Really asinine Posts , as yours above , simply show us how precise the Topic proposition is .
For goodness sake grow up and try and write something sensible and even constructive .
What gives with people who produce posts like yours ? Is your background that poverty stricken and your lack of education so severe?
Why not ask us for advice and help ?
We are always well disposed to help people who need a leg up in life who are honest enough to admit to their own failings .
Get a grip , Bluespade . You are almost certainly not half as bad as you think you are , and seem determined to prove .

 

All politics are local, in Great Britain all the EU is local. You can get in a car and drive to 7 countries in one day. I can get in my car and still be in CA the same day. It is our economy that literally fuels the world whether you believe it or not. Something happens in Germany and it could have vast implications in GB. It is virtually meaningless here. Sorry. It's not that we don't know what's happening elsewhere it's just that we are somewhat immune to many outside influences and it makes us a little insular but it does not mean we are uncaring. Who was the first nation to be there after the Japanese tsunami? The Haitian earthquake? The Pakistani earthquake? Who was the first nation to help the EU in their crusade against Libya? (Hint: we could care less about Libyan oil) This is not to demean or disrespect other nations, but I notice on the BBC (a very fine balanced report) (and not BBC America) that news of the US is in every broadcast, so you guys do it too.

 

It was not the Americans. The Dominican Republic were the first to give aid and the first team to get there were from Iceland.

 

..........and your knowledge of what happens outside of the US is? Or perhaps you just don't care.

Yet it's you suggesting to foreigners to get a life.

 

You are polite and moderate .
Nevertheless , people are judged on group behaviour and not on the odd commentator who may well be more international in outlook than the vast bulk of his brothers .
I simply don't think your opening remark is a sound one . Obviously politics are local to the people who live there , but that is not my point imo .
Rather , it is the interest that those same people show in the whole planet now that globalisation is here , however we regard it .Nearly everything interlocks etc
Difficult to generalise but looking at this section and the World News section , the point I make seems reasonable and perhaps extends in more serious ways --- builds into national character and outlook , and tells you how much Americans really know and understand about others --- as distinct from going through the motions of good behaviour in serious times --- tents and blankets etc in times of humanitarian need .
It's almost like the big boy who has got too big for his own boots and forgets that the mightiest and strongest man in the world can be downed and humbled by one crushing blow to his instep .

 

Great topic, ray

I agree with everything said. No need to retype the obvious.
I will add, maybe part of the problem is the forum itself. The use of sections to split up the 'world'
Ie, russian - european - middle east forums.
If they were melded into the main forum, it might produce more insight.

 

Hi. I think I can safely say that, unless I drove all through the night, I wouldn't even make it to France in one day, but I take your point. I will say that I have a lot of respect for ordinary Americans, they are an exceptionally generous and helpful people, by and large, as you point out. But like every people across the globe they are not without their faults, and being a little more... whats the word? introverted? inward-looking?... on international issues happens to be one of them, from my experience. It's just that, on a message board dominated by US citizens, it can be off-putting. For example this is my first post here even though I lurked for a long time, because so much US-centrism is a little intimidating to me.

 

This thread should be in the Feedback forum. It's not about US politics, it's feedback about the forum.

Ray, they will debate you and they do have an interest in non-US. Repetitive threads are posted up top because they think that is the forum most people check out first.

There used to be some platform posters who continually posted the same over and over up there, but most of them were banned. There are still a few, but if you censor them, where does it stop?

You should raise in in feedback anyway, or have your thread moved there. You never know.

 

I think much of what you are describing is an effect of the mainstream media outlets in the U.S. They rarely cover foreign news, and thus, people are unaware of it and don't post it here to talk about.

I don't think Americans are uninterested in foreign affairs, they just don't get told about them, and so they mostly remain unaware and they end up believing it's unimportant. But when you explain to them that so-and-so is doing this, which affects what we're trying to do here, and etc., they tune in. (A la, the interest in Muslims, Israel, China . . .)

Maybe I'm trying to paint an overly kind picture here, (Full disclosure: I'm American) but I genuinely believe that all that I and my fellow citizens need is a bit of a challenge from other people. Expose us to new things, and we'll get a handle on it.

 

I see, you wish us to be humble? You want us to converse more eloquently about what subjects? Our input is too self indulgent? We cannot understand the complexities of what international situation? I'm having trouble seeing your point.

 

Just ignore the slime balls and enter into the true spirit of the Forum ...........re- educating the Bar Stewards and bringing a little humour back into their wretched lives .

 

I am sure we will grow to like you and ignore your Californian background --- go on St Andreas , drop em .


Show me a humble Californian and I will show you my four balls .

 

Really? I'm the one that needs to get a grip. Dude, you're a (*)(*)(*)(*)ing troll. You leave your snide little post about Americans all the time. If you have such a distaste for Americans, why the (*)(*)(*)(*) are you on a forum, where the majority is made up Americans? What, you have too let us know, because some how it matters?

Ok, I'm going too go cry in my pillow because some random limey on the Internet doesn't like my country.

Does that make you feel better?

 

Actually it's the San Andreas fault, I live three miles from it. I grew up in Missouri, the land of Harry Truman in a small town that worships Churchill and has a Christopher Wren church brought brick by brick from London. I know more British history than most Brits. I understand the European feeling of helplessness when it comes to international affairs, they are hardly in control of anything anymore, their one claim to fame right now is the teetering economies of several of their member states that affect our Dow averages, a source of pride to some. If you wish to complain that the US is somewhat insular and look at the world in the fashion of a people that pretty much control a great part of it, I will readily acknowledge this. As is the nature of any nation, especially a warlike one like ours, we are prone to act impervious to outside influence, a necessary trait if one hopes to move forward. One day we will no longer be the superpower that you see now. But not today.