As someone who is probably going to move there in the next 2-4 years, these next few years are going to be really interesting for me.
I mean don't form your thoughts on visiting a country based on the views posted in political threads on NeoGAF.
It doesn't surprise me, which is perhaps more worrying than anything else...
That's GAF being left leaning. Plenty of sites lean the other way.
That's the way the internet works now. It's mob mentality where majority dogpiles on the unpopular opinion and chases away opposing views. Good luck finding a site that'll have civilized, neutral discussion.
Social media is all about self-affirming echo chambers now. Pick your bubble.
Likewise. I want to move there after I graduate. There are so many positives but I just hope Trump is outed by then.
As for how I feel. Even as an Australian nothing he does surprises me. He showed his true colours before getting elected and he continues to do so. People got what they voted for. I feel sorry for the people who didn't vote for him. Oh and your voting system is weird. Popular vote is better.
The thing is, there's no civilized, "neutral" discussions to be had given what the American right-wing is. My countrymen thought our two major parties were bad, but at least none of them harbor extreme hatred for the poor and minorities, and comfortable with the ideas of minorites being purged or driven out.That's GAF being left leaning. Plenty of sites lean the other way.
That's the way the internet works now. It's mob mentality where majority dogpiles on the unpopular opinion and chases away opposing views. Good luck finding a site that'll have civilized, neutral discussion.
Social media is all about self-affirming echo chambers now. Pick your bubble.
I really want to visit. But I don't want to be treated like a criminal at the airport.
I've been to the US, had a good ol' road trip from denver all the way through to the west coast and back. Visited many towns and cities, national parks, and met a ton of very kind, generous and pleasant people. It was great. I was there when Obama was elected, so it was prime USA as far as I'm concerned. It is a beautiful country, inside and out.
That said, it is also a baffling country. Your religiousness is very scary to me, seeing "Jesus loves McCain" signs everywhere across Utah for instance was ridiculous. Your patriotism is also scary, nobody should so unconditionally love anything, it clouds the judgement. Also, you're complete lack of wanting social securities on a government level is puzzling, you put too much stock into business and employers for stuff that should not be there. You should not have to worry about visiting a doctor to get checked out when you suddenly develop a rash or start hurting somewhere. You should not be afraid to live on the street or in your car after losing your job.
Makes me sad, America doesn't have much history but they are tearing down monuments because outdated people held outdated beliefs. Christ, where do you draw the line? If that shit occured over here they would be pulling down statues of Charles Darwin.
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The president of the USA is a racist. He defends Nazism. That's pretty scary and affects the entire world, not just geopolitically, but socially as well.
I feel like you didn't learn much about the country in your travels if you came away with the impression that the United States has a singular view on things like religiosity or social security programs. Utah hardly represents the entire population, for example. It's a country of 300 million plus people that spans an entire continent.
4 in 10 Americans believe humans did not evolve and were created in our present state by a divine being.
40% is too high in 2017.
Donald Trump being your president is quite revealing to be honest.
4 out of 10 isn't a majority. It certainly isn't a majority in progressive states and cities. Don't go to Salt Lake City looking for atheists.
I don't dispute that it's too high, but it has been declining over the last few decades (did you look at your own article?). You're either too young to remember or are choosing to ignore the progress the country has made. Trump has things in very visible turmoil right now but that's not going to be permanent.
I'm hoping the newer generation will steer away from all that and become more loving and understanding of one another.