UAL747 From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Posted (8 years 2 months 1 week 5 days 14 hours ago) and read 2464 times:
Take a step back and look at all the threads that have been posted in the non-aviation forum that deal with the United States and it's politics. There are numerous discussions up and down this forum. No other thread seems to have quite the same impact on our a.net than ones that deal with the United States. You hardly ever hear political threads that deal with other nations unless it has something to do with the US.
I theorize that there is a dynamic that the US has that fascinates people. First of all, the US probably has the most intense media coverage of any nation in the world. We are the most dominant military force and economic force in the world. There seems to be a growing focus on EVERYTHING that the US does.
So, for those who are not US citizens, why all the focus on the US?
For those who are US citizens, feel free to give your theories as well.
JUANR From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 2, posted (8 years 2 months 1 week 5 days 14 hours ago) and read 2428 times:
I would not use the word fascinated, I am certainly not fascinated with the US at all, I admire some of the things they've achieved but I hate a lot of their policies and their life style. The focus on the US is because they have managed to become a necessary support for almost every country in the world and it is more related with fear to a "tit-for-that" than with fascination.
Banco From United Kingdom, joined Oct 2001, 14752 posts, RR: 55 Reply 4, posted (8 years 2 months 1 week 5 days 14 hours ago) and read 2425 times:
Americans form by far the largest contingent of members here. Therefore much of what is discussed will be US-centric.
A great many of the threads that are to do with the US are solely to do with the US, involving people that the rest of us have never heard of.
There are many threads like that about other countries, but americans aren't likely to enter those for exactly the same reason we wouldn't enter the US versions of the same.
She's as nervous as a very small nun at a penguin shoot.
CURLYHEADBOY From Italy, joined Feb 2005, 921 posts, RR: 2 Reply 5, posted (8 years 2 months 1 week 5 days 14 hours ago) and read 2420 times:
Well, US politics have consequences on my everyday life, from the price of the goods that I buy to the conflicts my country is involved in. So, I am quite interested in what you guys do overseas...
If God had wanted men to fly he would have given them more money...
ArmitageShanks From UK - England, joined Dec 2003, 3362 posts, RR: 16 Reply 6, posted (8 years 2 months 1 week 5 days 14 hours ago) and read 2409 times:
Kieron747 From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 10, posted (8 years 2 months 1 week 5 days 14 hours ago) and read 2381 times:
Quoting Banco (Reply 7): Americans form by far the largest contingent of members here. Therefore much of what is discussed will be US-centric.
I agree, I think there simply seems to be many more discussions about the US because there are so many American A.Netters.
You'll notice that for example, if there is a UK specific thread its usually mentioned in the title...
I would hardly say the everyone is "fascinated" with the US. There are many Americans on the forum, and America plays an important (if not controversial) part in world affairs.
Although to be honest, I personally sometimes find it hard to follow US threads with a political theme. There are quite a few of them, and even ones that aren't political soon descend into a shit slinging match between people of different political affiliations.
Tbar220 From United States of America, joined Feb 2000, 7011 posts, RR: 28 Reply 13, posted (8 years 2 months 1 week 5 days 13 hours ago) and read 2333 times:
Banco From United Kingdom, joined Oct 2001, 14752 posts, RR: 55 Reply 15, posted (8 years 2 months 1 week 5 days 13 hours ago) and read 2326 times:
Quoting JoseMEX (Reply 12): Like the Eurovision song contest, for instance?
Precisely. An expression of ironic post-modernism that only the truly culturally aware recorgnise. I bet you think it's just crappy Europap, don't you?
She's as nervous as a very small nun at a penguin shoot.
NoUFO From Germany, joined Apr 2001, 7798 posts, RR: 13 Reply 16, posted (8 years 2 months 1 week 5 days 13 hours ago) and read 2310 times:
Quoting UAL747 (Thread starter): So, for those who are not US citizens, why all the focus on the US?
Wrong question. After reading half of the thread titles, I counted eight threads concerning the U.S., but only two of the thread straters were non-Americans and both basically referred to tourism.
Lowrider From United States of America, joined Jun 2004, 3220 posts, RR: 11 Reply 17, posted (8 years 2 months 1 week 5 days 11 hours ago) and read 2246 times:
QANTASFOREVER From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 18, posted (8 years 2 months 1 week 5 days 10 hours ago) and read 2237 times:
Quoting UAL747 (Thread starter): You hardly ever hear political threads that deal with other nations unless it has something to do with the US.
lol You've obviously never come across certain threads for which I am notoriously ruthless.
Quoting Lowrider (Reply 17): Because the US is a great big easy target.
Yep - poor old you, poor bloody you. Geez - if there is one thing I cannot stand it is self-victimisation.
Anyway - as for this thread.
The US has a large impact culturally and economically as well as politically. However I think it would be quite reasonable to say that a lot of naval gazing goes on in here with US members basically chatting (fighting) about US politics.
When it comes to those threads I choose not to participate (along with a lot of non-american members here) because frankly, I just don't care about your domestic politics usually, although there are certain exceptions.
September11 From United States of America, joined May 2004, 3623 posts, RR: 23 Reply 19, posted (8 years 2 months 1 week 5 days 10 hours ago) and read 2236 times:
United States is younger country compared to other countries.
Dba4U From Germany, joined Mar 2005, 623 posts, RR: 16 Reply 20, posted (8 years 2 months 1 week 5 days 10 hours ago) and read 2226 times:
Ya see, at least most people out in the world take a look at what happens in the US!!! I think you Americans should start to care about your own country as much as we do, so that maybe the day will come when you'll realize what kind of sh*t is going on with your government! Maybe not as extensive as us Germans (Germans ask way to much...) but a little bit more interest would be fine. Maybe then some of you will realize that not everybody wearing a beard is a terrorist and that you've got by far enough problems in your own country to care!
And in addition one has to say that many things YOU decide have a more or less big impact on US. YOU don't feel safe, so WE have to improve security? What's that? Kinda strange huh? If you've got fear of being bombed by some crazy terrorist just save yourself... Just imagine if a little European country comes up to you with a really stupid request from which you won't have any profits... You'll just start to laugh, right? But the other way around it has to work? That's something that really drives me crazy.
Even if it doesn't sound so I love the Americans, simply because they are taking things much easier then most Europeans, and just too many people over here say "the Americans" if they mean the current regime in the US, I hate that as much as the blindness of big parts of the American population
For me the US are everything but Fascinating, it just makes me angry to see how blind some Americans are (I said SOME!)... I'm thinking of doing my pilots license in the US anyway! Why? Not because the US are fascinating me, but since the states are my future! And I'll go the place where my future is!
Now, before you start flaming me, just read this post once again and think a bit... Just a little bit, if there isn't a bit of truth within....
Keep Condor my Condor ~ Gib "airberlin" keine Chance!
Mdsh00 From United States of America, joined May 2004, 4097 posts, RR: 9 Reply 21, posted (8 years 2 months 1 week 5 days 10 hours ago) and read 2218 times:
I think a lot of it has to do with the fact that us American users are in the majority on this site. That way, it makes it look like all the posts in non-av deal with the US. As we fight among ourselves about domestic politics, so do the others.
Haven't all of you noticed that there is barely a peep from Americans on the EU or no-EU threads? Those are all mostly Brits vs. European bashing threads.
Outisde of A.net it probably is America's large sphere of influence that makes others outside more curious to know what is going on.
AlekToronto From Canada, joined Nov 2003, 328 posts, RR: 0 Reply 22, posted (8 years 2 months 1 week 5 days 10 hours ago) and read 2199 times:
people are people. Maybe just the fact that there are so many US members here? Maybe because the Euros and Canucks find it easier to pick on an easy target like the US then to look at what is going wrong in our countries?
It is easier to criticize and review another country or people than look at your own - as for the Americans - it is not their fault they are somewhat internationally ignorant - that is their education and media at play.
cheers
Alek
Aloges From Germany, joined Jan 2006, 8358 posts, RR: 47 Reply 23, posted (8 years 2 months 1 week 5 days 9 hours ago) and read 2171 times:
One thing that truly amazes me is how many Americans get so emotional about their flag, anthem and whatever symbol, as seen in the "Teacher Flips Out..." thread. I don't think this kind of thing would happen anywhere else in the world, simply because no other people hold their flag in a similar regard.
Walk together, talk together all ye peoples of the earth. Then, and only then, shall ye have peace.
N5176Y From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 24, posted (8 years 2 months 1 week 5 days 9 hours ago) and read 2150 times:
Quoting BA380 (Reply 8): N5176Y - "Because, we are so much cooler than all those euro-weenies. "
I presume you are including the UK in this....? In which case, don't ask for our help next time...
ABSOLUTELY NOT! I would never offend my British friends by calling them "euro". Weenies? maybe.
25 Russophile: For those who don't know..... Often misused to satisfy a lamen's ego, the self-proclaimed 1337 will misuse the title, pretending to hold Xtr3m H4x0r
27 Boeing7E7: If that's the case, I feel sorry for you. You're hardly culturally superior.
28 KYIPpilot: Boeing, our culture focuses on SUV's, who has the biggest house, what are the celebs doing, fast food, reality TV, plastic surgury, and the newest an
29 Daedaeg: Why Is Everyone So "fascinated" With The US? Because we're cool. You must not have gotten the memo.
30 N5176Y: And modern European "culture" focuses on what??
31 Lowrider: It has nothing to do with self victimization and everything to do with availability of information. For some reason, we, as a culture, seem to love t
32 Boeing7E7: Is that what you think, or is that what the rest of the world would like you to think? It's not what I or a majority of American's are concerned with
33 Airlinerfreak: Simply because we make America sound like the best also a bit of nationalism increases the fascination in the U.S.
34 QANTASforever: lol My comments were personal were they? Hehe no, you're not self-victimizing at all! What I said was in reference to a broader national opinion (I t
35 Lehpron: If when you were born you had an older brother or sister, why on Earth did you follow them around and want to copy them at times? I noticed if when my
36 JGPH1A: What is 1337 ? Is this some kind of texting thing ? Please explain...
37 Mdsh00: It's hacker speak for "leet" --> "elite"
38 Lowrider: And my posts have had nothing to do with a "poor old US" mentality and everything do with a distaste for behaviors exhibited by those who just happen
39 QANTASFOREVER: No, it wasn't obvious at all. You talked like non-domestic forces were targeting the US and did not make clear that you were talking about some sort o
40 Gkirk: Because we like to see you make jackasses of yourselves?
41 ANCFlyer: Ha Ha Ha - we'll get in line right behind you Kirkie!
42 EZEIZA: I don't think anyone outside the US is fascinated these days. in fact, I think at present the US is at its lowest point in recent history in its relat
43 FDXMECH: >>>Boeing, our culture focuses on SUV's, who has the biggest house, what are the celebs doing, fast food, reality TV, plastic surgury, and the newest
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