Are These Common Misconceptions About the USA True?

[El Hombre Invisible]

And yes, i am very patriotic (even more so lately thanks to the almost daily rants similar to the OP on this thread) and have not left the nation.

I used to work in a little town you've probably never heard of (I wish I hadn't) called Telford. It's a relatively new town that amalgamated dozens of smaller villages. They erected an indoor shopping centre, or mall, and called it a town centre. Anyway, there are many people in those villages who have never, ever left there. Ever! They refuse to acknowledge there is anything outside their village that would mean anything to them. They love their village, and that's all that matters. Not that I'm drawing comparisons, but... No, okay, I am drawing comparisons. I'd respect a high school student's politics above these people. On the up-side, there surely cannot be an American more oblivious to outside world as one of these guys.

 

[El Hombre Invisible]

Except those 80 yr old Japanese WWII soldiers that have just emerged from whatever jungle they were hiding in. Sheesh! Sometimes true cowardice requires immense bravery.

 

[El Hombre Invisible]

It came off as an insult because you said "these facts/lies" which we all probably assumed you meant as "some of these are facts". It would have been helpful if you told us where you were getting this info because i think a few people woudlnt have noticed the connection to Hollywood based on how much US bashing occurs online.

a) facts/lies = facts or lies. some of them were facts, such as porn being legal.
b) some people realized from the op that it wasn't meant as an insult and did not represent his own opinion. some did not. it wouldn't have been too hard to predict which regular posters would fall into which of those categories (naming no names...).

 

[chound]

Someone said that I should realize that things shown on TV arent true and I should be studying (lol we Indians are super brilliant that we can study a lot in less time). I know that things shown on TV are mostly false but I wanted to know how much degree of falsehood was shown.
Women being immodest- In the name of westernisation our country too has being producing women whose bras don't tend to stay in their position LOL.
I had looked on divorce always as a bad thing but your arguments make me think.
In India too many parents tend to forget their children(luckily not mine) since both of them are having jobs.
About people using obscene words in India it is usually used only by the poor people.
All countries are examples of "There are no..."
The problem of Music videos touching immodesty is a problem in India too.
Plz don't say that we haven't won oscars since it is american yardstick and does not represent the true world spirit.
About not getting medals in olympics(name an american cricket team who can stand up to the Indian street team), in our country far more importance is given to education and so most sportspersons are left to rot. My friend too who is a good sprinter had to let his talent go waste.
I don't have a better view of another country since US is featured in more place than I can count.
I guess not all americans are as rich as I expected.
I got the impression americans were rude and ill mannered becoz of a few I met.
I accept that no country is perfect(which I didnt say at all) but I got this itch to tell that US is the least perfect country(in terms of foreign policies) LOL.

I guess within a few years after getting my PG degree I'll probably come to US and get a job( I'm not kidding and if anyone with the consulate is present please please please I didnt post the OP it was my brother!)

 

[klusener]

lol, chound, by the time you go, the jobs you will be seeking in the U.S. will be outsourced to India.

 

[FredGarvin]

Well, by the time he does, the outsourced jobs will probably be brought back because of the piss poor performance most Indian companys provide.

 

[russ_watters]

Well, by the time he does, the outsourced jobs will probably be brought back because of the piss poor performance most Indian companys provide.

See: Dell...

 

[BobG]

I guess not all americans are as rich as I expected.

All things are relative.

Compared to the world overall, most Americans are rich. They don't know it because they compare themselves to their next door neighbor, not to someone living in Chad (80% living below poverty line) or Guatemala (75% living below poverty line).

Why are Americans rich? Because they produce more per person than any country in the world, except for Luxembourg (US Gross Domestic Product/per person - around $40,000/yr).

Compared to India? 12% of Americans are below the poverty line while 25% of Indians are below the poverty line. So, it would be natural for people in India to think Americans are rich.

Compared to Europe? Surprising for a country that produces so much, the US has more folks living below the poverty line than most Western European countries.

Compared to Asia? It's really surprising how fast Asian countries have moved up the list in GDP and surprising how much effect that's had on the poorest in the country. Hong Kong, Taiwan, South Korea having a lower percentage of folks below the poverty line than the US probably isn't that surprising - they're all comparable to European levels. China, Thailand, Malaysia having a lower percentage below the poverty line than the US is surprising. While a lot of Americans criticize the working conditions in the Asian countries taking our jobs, it's actually made dramatic improvements in their living conditions.

http://www.odci.gov/cia/publications/factbook/index.html

 

[klusener]

Well, by the time he does, the outsourced jobs will probably be brought back because of the piss poor performance most Indian companys provide.

http://www.forbes.com/work/feeds/ap/2005/06/02/ap2072643.html

yup, all the companies hate what they are receiving from Indian companies, that's why they are beginning to leave in droves.

http://inhome.rediff.com/money/2005/mar/29jobs1.htm

Fred, please utilize your "Nostradamus" skills to notify your companies, seems they are not listening to your advice.

Russ, see Dell?

http://www.indianexpress.com/full_story.php?content_id=66904

k, I am seeing Dell and I like what I am seeing.

 

[Smurf]

Well, by the time he does, the outsourced jobs will probably be brought back because of the piss poor performance most Indian companys provide.

Well while we're fighting against stereotyping the USA by their media...

 

[klusener]

"Well, by the time he does, the outsourced jobs will probably be brought back because of the piss poor performance most Indian companys provide." - Fred Garvin

‘‘I think India will also represent a great market for us. The business is expanding at a very rapid rate,’’ Dell told employees. ‘‘Certainly the scale of India is pretty awe-inspiring." - Michael Dell

hmmmm... let me think about who I am going to trust...

 

[BobG]

If you asked an American which NFL team they thought would improve more next year, New England or San Francisco, they'd think that was a pretty lame question. New England was 14-2 and won the Super Bowl - how are they going to improve?

The strongest economic countries are the US and European countries. They don't have much room to improve - the US GDP increased 4.4% in 2004 and the European Union 2.9%. China's grew 9.1%, Singapore 8.1, Hong Kong 7.9, Viet Nam 7.7, Malaysia 7.1. Even India's grew 6.2%. I think it's a safe bet that it's a lot tougher to improve when you're on top than it is to catch up.

Hoping outsourcing stops is just wishful thinking. Even if some jobs come back, there will be net movement of jobs and money to cheaper labor markets. It also would be a sudden reversal of a 30 year trend. The big difference now is that it's beginning to hit the higher level jobs as well the unskilled labor market.

And why wouldn't it? Right at the time when we should be making a push for increasing education to keep a technological edge, the Democrats argue about pushing social issues into public schools while the Republicans try to gut it with school vouchers. I think it's also a safe bet that it's a lot easier to lose your focus when you're on top than it is when you're trying to get there in the first place.

 

[FredGarvin]

Fred, please utilize your "Nostra... magazine to stop calling me? Thanks a bunch.

 

[arildno]

A nostradamic advice:
"To companies high and low:
Beware the fateful foe!
The silk-tongued Indian in alluring attire
may lead you into straits very dire"

()

 

[klusener]

Hence the word "probably," used to indicate guessing on my part, in my original statement. I did not say that my advice was given or received. I made a statement based on observations I have made and a few personal friends' accounts. As far as sterotyping...well...what's good for the goose...

By the way, since you're over there, can you tell those idiots that are making daily calls trying to get me to subscribe to EDM magazine to stop calling me? Thanks a bunch.

Before that, you could call the idiots on your side to tell "our people" not to make those calls.

 

[klusener]

A nostradamic advice:
"To companies high and low:
Beware the fateful foe!
The silk-tongued Indian in alluring attire
may lead you into straits very dire"

lol, hilarious stuff...

 

[FredGarvin]

Before that, you could call the idiots on your side to tell "our people" not to make those calls.

Already been done. I guess the English as a second language courses haven't taken hold yet.