Amazing opinion poll from the USA

[berschneider]

What is wrong with them? Is homo americanus an entirely separate species from homo sapiens sapiens? We ALL have access to same information sources, so why are *they* so different from the rest of humans?

(http://news.independent.co.uk/world/americas/story.jsp?story=514681)

…. 24 April 2004

A majority of Americans still believes Saddam Hussein was in cahoots with al-Qa'ida and that Iraq either had weapons of mass destruction or a programme for developing them, according to a new opinion poll.
A staggering 82 (!) per cent of respondents believed most experts supported the notion that Iraq was providing "substantial support" to al-Qa'ida - a contention that President Bush has been forced to disavow. Almost 60 per cent were unaware that world opinion was against the war in Iraq, with 21 per cent saying the world was behind the US-led invasion and 38 per cent saying views were "evenly divided".

The poll also showed a correlation between people's ignorance and their political affiliation

[Kukul-Kan]

One of the main problems I see with Americans is that they often believe they are the ‘rule’ when they are most of the time an ‘exception’. I also think they fail to understand other people’s positions by believing they have the absolute truth.

[berschneider]

Right.

I find this unfathomable because Americans as group contradict basic definitions of thinking humanity, I am not joking, this kind of stuff is very odd and disturbing. Most people outside the US just don’t pay attention to it or don’t realize how bizarre are Americans and how wide is the gulf between them and the rest of humanity.

Look, you don’t have to have free media to differentiate right from wrong or to think critically. Authoritarian regimes in Poland, Soviet Union or then Czechoslovakia were overthrown while their governments had total control over educational system and over media. Now in the United States media is of course controlled but not in any total fashion, and there are plenty of alternative information sources, nonetheless according to this sample poll, for example, over 80% of population (!) believe most unbelievable, fantastic, breathtaking falsehoods.

Yesterday, I read in one news piece that 18% of voting US population believes in Rapture, soon Armageddon and hopes for purifying war in the Middle East and nonsense like that. This is certainly not the same species as evolved in Europe or elsewhere. Something is terribly wrong with your neighbours.

[alex221166]

What and who are the Americans? Americans are native Americans, Englishmen, Irish, German, Scots, Welsh, French, Swedes, Norwegians, Russians, Poles, Hungarians, Jews, Italians, Greeks, Portuguese, Jamaicans, Cubans, Haitians, West Africans, Indians, Pakistanis, Chinese, Koreans, Japanese and... well, if I forgot anyone, my apologies.

The American public can be accused of arrogance (I particularly agree with what Kukul-Khan said about they being more often the exception than the rule, and I find particularly annoying the idea that some have that America is the beacon of Democracy) and to some extent of being ignorant, but can we blame them? America is the most poweful country in the world, and they can afford to not give a damn about what happens anywhere else. Furthermore, I don't have any doubts that the overwhelming majority of the population in the whole world is just as ignorant as the mainstream average American - they just don't get that much media attention. A few years ago, I saw a study which stated that 1/3 of the British students under the age 13 or 14 couldn't find their country in a map.

Ignorance is universal, and unfortunately so is lack of manners. I am probably not the only one, but I am completely fed up of listening to you insult Americans and America, especially when you are an incoherent idiot yourself (I could provide evidence of your incoherency, but you are clearly not worth the trouble). Go to the beach, bathe your dog, wash the car, go see your therapist, but for f*ck's sake don't drag the rest of us down with you. You have an obsession in bashing Americans that has gone from annoying to completely pathetic.

You probably see yourself as some sort of sarcastic free thinker with an acidic sense of humour, but deep down - and on the surface too - you are just an idiot. Seek professional help.

[berschneider]

alex said:

What and who are the Americans? Americans are native Americans, Englishmen, Irish, German, Scots, Welsh, French, Swedes, Norwegians, Russians, Poles, Hungarians, Jews, Italians, Greeks, Portuguese, Jamaicans, Cubans, Haitians, West Africans, Indians, Pakistanis, Chinese, Koreans, Japanese and... well, if I forgot anyone, my apologies.

The American public can be accused of arrogance (I particularly agree with what Kukul-Khan said about they being more often the exception than the rule, and I find particularly annoying the idea that some have that America is the beacon of Democracy) and to some extent of being ignorant, but can we blame them? America is the most poweful country in the world, and they can afford to not give a damn about what happens anywhere else. Furthermore, I don't have any doubts that the overwhelming majority of the population in the whole world is just as ignorant as the mainstream average American - they just don't get that much media attention. A few years ago, I saw a study which stated that 1/3 of the British students under the age 13 or 14 couldn't find their country in a map.

Ignorance is universal, and unfortunately so is lack of manners. I am probably not the only one, but I am completely fed up of listening to you insult Americans and America, especially when you are an incoherent idiot yourself (I could provide evidence of your incoherency, but you are clearly not worth the trouble). Go to the beach, bathe your dog, wash the car, go see your therapist, but for f*ck's sake don't drag the rest of us down with you. You have an obsession in bashing Americans that has gone from annoying to completely pathetic.

You probably see yourself as some sort of sarcastic free thinker with an acidic sense of humour, but deep down - and on the surface too - you are just an idiot. Seek professional help.

I am sure helpless United States is grateful for your cyber defense of its honour (as if it needed it) I find it ironic, that you though, piece of ****, have the audacity to bring up the subject of anyone's manners.

Talk about manners;)

[AWAR]

Oh come on, people. Can't you just agree to disagree.

[berschneider]

AWAR said:

Oh come on, people. Can't you just agree to disagree.

To tell you, honestly, AWAR, I avoided that, fill in blanks, fellow, and had no interest in talking to him, least attacking the creature, not just because of the (obvious) stench it may produce, but because I did and do consider it pointless.

I think the poll (news item) is remarkable because it reflects attitudes which are not encountered anywhere else in the world, and have of course nothing to do with race or ethnicity as the mutant so cleverly pointed out.

From the day American scum savagely bombed Yugoslavia (I was on a trip to the US when it happened) and managed to drag almost all everybody else into that sorry affair; to the latest expansion of NATO (hence increasing very risk of nuclear conflict and endangering my family and my neighbours) to deliberate destabilization of the Middle East (to the sad degree that some countries are off limits to visits) to the recent war against people of Iraq; all these crimes were not merely malfeasance of some authoritarian US government, but collective actions actively supported by the so-called American people, often in the 80% of US public.

I find the majority of Americans not just unpleasant, stupid, despicable, bad (they are); their values in direct conflict with mine; their contempt for human rights and human life revolting; but I find the policies the majority of Americans endorse disturbing and threatening - not just in theory but in real day to day life; and negatively affecting lives of people in Europe and elsewhere.

Having said this, I will try avoiding the US subject all together (whenever possible).

[AWAR]

No need to avoid the subject. I think we share a similar opinion on USA. I'd just like you both to abide to forum rules and regulations.

No need for insults.

[alex221166]

Oh that's nice: playing the with Kosovo bombing campaign and with the fact that Awar is a Serb. Not only are you pathetic, but you are also very predictable and obvious.

As to my so called "stench", FYI I bathe myself at least once a day. I doubt that you have the time to do the same thing given the amount of hours you spend in this message board.

Let me repeat the message: seek professional help. I am not joking. You show a pathological hatred for America that is clearly unhealthy.

Prior to listening to the filth that comes out of your mouth, I was all for free speech. Right now, I am thinking that censorship was invented because every other generation Nature f*cks up and a berchneider is born.

PS: everyone that knows me from other message boards knows that I am very critical of the American government's foreign policies. That is no reason to generalize and insult millions of Americans. Generalization is a sign of stupidity. So is insulting constantly a whole country and a whole people in almost EVERY SINGLE POST YOU MAKE.

Seek professional help. I am not joking.

[berschneider]

alex said:

Oh that's nice: playing the with Kosovo bombing campaign and with the fact that Awar is a Serb. Not only are you pathetic, but you are also very predictable and obvious.

As to my so called "stench", FYI I bathe myself at least once a day. I doubt that you have the time to do the same thing given the amount of hours you spend in this message board.

Let me repeat the message: seek professional help. I am not joking. You show a pathological hatred for America that is clearly unhealthy.

Prior to listening to the filth that comes out of your mouth, I was all for free speech. Right now, I am thinking that censorship was invented because every other generation Nature f*cks up and a berchneider is born.

PS: everyone that knows me from other message boards knows that I am very critical of the American government's foreign policies. That is no reason to generalize and insult millions of Americans. Generalization is a sign of stupidity. So is insulting constantly a whole country and a whole people in almost EVERY SINGLE POST YOU MAKE.

Seek professional help. I am not joking.

Bombing Serbia or US-sponsored expansion of NATO or the ongoing wars have a lot to do with ordinary Americans who are scum (not all scum is American though, as your own example proves), who elect their government and encourage its actions and have nothing to do with Awar’s or anyone else’s ethnicity. By the way, I had no idea Awar is a Serb, I don't think he is, although I knew well he is from former Yugoslavia. As of stench, I doubt your specific bodily odours and the number of times you bathe are of any interest to anyone, but Gosh - -- you stink big time.

Now, get lost.

[AWAR]

This has went too far and too ridiculous.
I'll lock this thread and see what the other mods say.

[Dienekes]

I unlocked the thread. Feel free to continue the discussion in a civil way and without name-calling or posts of a personal nature.

Moderators, please relock this thread if these conditions are not met.

[murphee]

There are many Americans who are against their government's foreign policy. Every day, there is a group of protesters in front of our small town county courthouse rallying against the Iraq war. Across the street is a group of counter-protesters waving American flags ;D
The Americans who disturb me the most are the ones who don't have knowledge of the world around them, even the world right outside their doorstep. A large percentage of Americans think that the state of New Mexico is part of Mexico.

[berschneider]

murphee said:

There are many Americans who are against their government's foreign policy. Every day, there is a group of protesters in front of our small town county courthouse rallying against the Iraq war. Across the street is a group of counter-protesters waving American flags ;D
The Americans who disturb me the most are the ones who don't have knowledge of the world around them, even the world right outside their doorstep. A large percentage of Americans think that the state of New Mexico is part of Mexico.

Murphee, most Americans are not as nice or as thoughtful (or so artistic!) as you are. The majority is disgusting, gullible, incredibly (almost surreally) cowardly, stupid, ignorant, and hateful of other people and the world. I spent some time in the USA and have remote relatives in the self-described land of the free and home of the brave. It is true that there are protesters against US foreign policy in the Evil Empire proper; it is also true that there is some dissent against US meddling in other nations’ affairs and incessant wars on both American right and American left; but for the most part – as a group – Americans are very bad and very stupid people (the poll is of course just another bit in the otherwise vast catalogue of evidence proving their evilness and stupidity).

[alex221166]

murphee said:

There are many Americans who are against their government's foreign policy. Every day, there is a group of protesters in front of our small town county courthouse rallying against the Iraq war. Across the street is a group of counter-protesters waving American flags ;D

Thank you for your wise post. You just proved my point.

The Americans who disturb me the most are the ones who don't have knowledge of the world around them, even the world right outside their doorstep. A large percentage of Americans think that the state of New Mexico is part of Mexico.

One of the things that I said was that ignorance is universal - it is not an American trait. The American population just gets more media exposition than the rest of the world.

I find particularly stupid to single out Americans in regards to their ignorance, given the fact that America is a nation of immigrants - by insulting them, we are insulting ourselves.