Ok.
I've dealt with the general idea that Americans think the world revolves around them.
And I thought there were those who did, and they are in fact idiots.

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I have officially given up faith in the American people. This is ridiculous.
They are French or Italian words, speak them in their language.

You don't go into Italian places and order "noodle cake" because you are too dumb to say lasagna.

Sorry.
Venting.
But really... somehow this should be debateable.

American Arrogance is huge right now... Even though there dollar has dropped. My American teacher kicked me out in 12 grade due to my views on america and the war.

No one bothers to think of the actualy modest people in America? Not everyone in the US is a moron .

few arrogant idiots out there. that creates the bad stereotypical american.

You do know how badly your taking that out of context right?

Thats a commercial attacking starbucks, which is a absolutely terrible company. It has nothing to do with other restaurants ect, its attacking starbucks because they tend to make up their own words for coffee and such to make it sound more 'high class'.

Considoring we are the only WW2 superpower (thanks to wars and whatnot), our occupation of countries that actually prevents wars (South Korea anyone?), and the fact that our decisions impact the rest of the world on a large scale, yeah I think we'd have the right to boast and brag.

What makes me mad is that some Brits think that they're better than everyone else. At least here in America we aknowlege our decadence and actually are angered by it.

And simple science will prove that the world revolves around the sun.

We will leave the yanks to serve coffee, no other use

Lets just say arrogant people ruin the world, it's sad that a lot of the nice yanks go unnoticed .

Come now Andy-Pants, were not all that bad.
I'm not sure what this American arrogance is about really, maybe its just the area that I live in, but I really cant think of many people that would go on about how much better America is if the conversation came up. I think its being taken out of proportion by stereotyping and whats scene on tv, the vast majority of Americans aren't that bad.

Its probably a little worse for me since I live in the South (of sorts) and I'm surrounded by pompous rednecks.

I laughed when you cited Wikipedia. You'd get better, more reliable information from a rock. And you turn to some site that could've been made by any anti-American yahoo out there.

But if you would like to use the Wiki as a weapon I'd like to point out the fact that(according to the Wiki) the U.S. of A. is(overall) far better off than any other country in the world.

'Bigger is always better.'
^
America

This thread is a perfect example of the arrogance.

Toe, stop pretending your country can do no wrong and look at it. It's in a terrible state. Trying to say "Brits think they're better" is a weak argument. Try to use facts. Speaking of which:

USA scores the lowest in national average IQ among the developed countries of the world, at a national average score of 98. The data is obtained from IQ and Global Equality by Dr. Richard Lynn (professor of Psychology, University of Ulster, Northern Ireland) and Dr. Tatu Vanhanen (University of Tampere, Finland) who have done extensive research on the subject spanning several years. The national average IQ score of Americans at 98 is below 22 countries (including Switzerland, United Kingdom, Germany, Japan, North Korea and China). The low Intelligence Quotient (IQ) score of United States puts the Americans at a lower intelligence level on an average as compared to the other industralised nations.

The mathematical skills and abilities to process mathematical problems put America on a weak spot. American high school students scored 483 in the test Program for International Student Assessment. The average scores of American students were way below those of top scoring countries like South Korea, Japan, Switzerland, Germany, Ireland, etc. all of whom scored between 503 and 544 (significantly higher than US scores). Mathematical skills, scientific temper and the ability to apply mathematical knowledge are essential in the present world and they are the roots of logical and scientific reasoning. If this becomes a weak point, a person’s ability to fare well in science, logical and anaytical thinking would suffer as well.

American adults in general do not understand what molecules are (other than that they are really small). Fewer than a third can identify DNA as a key to heredity. Only about 10 percent know what radiation is. One adult American in five thinks the Sun revolves around the Earth, an idea science had abandoned by the 17th century.” This is an excerpt from an article by New York Times which did a study and survey of Americans to determine their awareness. Coming from a nation which does not teach the science of evolution, discourages a scientific outlook of the world and a lot of emphasis is laid on religious faith and education, the results are hardly surprising.

Source.

Currently, about 119 million, or 64.5%, of US adults are either overweight or obese.
In 10 states, over a quarter of adults are now obese.
In the past year, the adult obesity rate rose in 48 of America's states, and nationally from 23.7% to 24.5%, Trust for America's Health found.

Source.

Wait, did that just say one in five Americans believe that the Sun revolves around the Earth? That's utterly pathetic. The average American's knowledge of Science is terrible. Face it, America is a nation of fat, stupid and ill people and you have no right what-so-ever to go around thinking that you are the best at everything.

I could go on and on but quite frankly, I can't be bothered, because it's painfully obvious that America is not the greatest nation on this planet.

Now I'm not trying to defend or anger anyone, but evolution is taught in America. This image shows where evolution is taught.


[Source]

I'm not exactly sure on the quality of this source, but I'm just trying to show that evolution is taught in schools.

Now, I'm sure that the last bit was not meant to be 100% serious, but I question the bias of the article when they try to paint all of America as ignorant.





I don't see what the weights of American's has to do with their arrogance? Or are you simply just trying to bash them as a whole? Also you comment about America being full of "fat, stupid and ill people" is just a blatant generalization aimed at degrading the nation as a whole. Frankly I find the way you've gone about your arguments to be somewhat immature and tactless.

x2

++ Its a goddamn half a minute commercial trying to persuade you to buy Dunkin Donuts coffee. They are exaggerating what is on the starbucks - or any other French or Italian - menu. Why are you trying portray that Americans cant speak SIMPLE words of other languages. Personally I have no problem ordering off the Starbucks menu.

Nonetheless, its just a ----ing commercial. we shouldn't portray americans by a 30 second unrealistic commercial to get you to drink dunkin donuts coffee


That is retarded. I've seen stuff like this where they interview people and they answer stupidly. Ive seen this in other countries where this happens. They probably edit out the smart people.


Sorry but being overweight is arrogant. But don't worry, theres tons of Americans trying to start healthful organizations, kids trying to stop serving crap at school etc. Believe it or not, a lot of Americans care about their weight and healthcare.

Plant, have you ever been to America?

How is being overweight arrogant? I didn't say a lot of American's didn't care about their weight or health care. (I'm not sure if you were implying that's what I thought.)

I understand. They are just unaware of how bad it is. food is extremely important.

Yes, on 3 occasions.

Being overweight is arrogant. Seeing as though a lot of Americans see themelves as the best out of the whole world and also, the majority of Americans are overweight, that means that they are not the best and that in itself is arrogant. They are taking excessive pride in themselves when they have no reason to. They should be happy they live in the developed North, without going and abusing their luxuries. That is arrogant.

What's wrong with stating facts? If the facts do suggest that the nation isn't good and is 'bad,' then why not label it as so? Is not being overweight unhealthy? The majority of Americans are overweight, therefore America is an unhealthy nation.

One in five think the Sun revolves around the Earth. That is ignorant. That is a failing of the education system. Why not label this people are idiots, because that's what they are.

Finally, it's not my argument. I'm just explaining the facts and statistics. Now, it may be your opinion that Americans are generally healthy, however it is a fact that they are not. Simple as.

I do love how Plant managed to confuse arrogance and intelligence.



By Princeton's definitions, your original post was quite arrogant, and lacking the intelligence to separate the two items.

Quite hypocritical if you ask me.

Regardless of the facts, Plant, are you not, in your manner of debate, also being arrogant? Now, in terms of the facts, I don't see how a lot of them are true. For one, how is being obese a sign of ignorance? In several cases of obesity, it's not the fault of the person, it's just circumstances that cause them to be that way. I can eat as much as I want and not gain a single pound in the long run, but a lot of people can't. Are you saying that makes me better than them? You're trying to make Americans look stupid, fat, and arrogant, while in fact you're just proving yourself to be arrogant.

I found that hilarious.

Honestly, I don't want to be linked with toe76 in any way, shape or form, so I don't really want to argue.

Let's go to the real source, shall we. I found an article from 1999 that came to the same conclusion:



(Source)

Wait... did it just say only 67% of British people knew that the Earth revolves around the sun. Pathetic.

Looks like we're not so bad after all. Clearly the British education system is more in failure than the American system is on this measure, even if the poll was taken a few years earlier.

Debate over. Let's try not to use biased left-wing sources in our postings.

Bravo, Iljets!

Obviously there is already a preconception when judging such a thing.



That is probably the worst piece of logic I've ever heard come out of you.

First, take notice of the preconception argument. Just because patriotism is big in America doesn't mean that we are always "arrogant." I know from experience (8 years) that most Americans are quite confident yet humble. Furthermore, if we ARE in fact the best in the world, then there obviously IS a reason to be proud.

Your logic is this: Americans=Proud. Americans=Overweight. Therefore, Americans=Proud, yet they are not perfect, then they can't be proud.

That's ridiculous. Just because some Americans are fat doesn't mean there are no reasons to be proud.

1. If your country is so great, take back your colonies.
2. Strongest Economy in the world
3. Strongest Military in the world
4. Leader in top universities

There are countless more. Those are quite a few to be proud of.

Oh yeah, and how do countries become developed?

Hmm... Oh right! They get developed by the people LIVING there! Oh! So Americans really DON'T have any reason to be proud of their own accomplishments. Haha, stupid me.



Your arguments clearly show a bias and no substantial point. Sudanese have AIDS, therefore Sudan is an AIDS nation.

So? They're not proud of having AIDs.



Good job that you went and researched incomplete statistics. You see, when we use a Scientific Method, there's a variable called a control, essentially something to compare your results to. In this case, we are comparing with other countries. I'm sorry the majority of America is not as wise as the Plant, who knows the mysterious phenomena radiation and DNA.

The fact that you can monitor the media doesn't give you the right to make statements on a whole.

1. Let's see, Where In The World Are The Best Scientists, Physicists, Biologists, and Doctors?

Oh yeah, A-land.

2. Good job that you can monitor the news on a state named Kansas. Let's move on the the other 49.

Shall we all bring light to the new Ingles ad requesting American cheese instead of "Fancy" Euro cheese?

We are not debating about Britain. We are debating about America, so I fail to see the relevance that has. Oh and for the record, I'm not proud of my country at the moment, because, quite frankly, it's in a ---- state and there is nothing to be proud of.

The debate is not over, because you didn't debate anything. You started a new debate. Please explain how this closes this debate. Oh wait, it doesn't.

Zhou, I'd take statistics over experience.

Yes, you are the strongest country in the world because you were not directly involved in WW2. The European nations who were in the war on the allies (e.g France and Britain) were ravaged by the war, you were not, simply because you were far away. Also, another thing. Americans seem to think they won WW2 by themselves and saved the entire planet. This is not the case.

In around 20 years time, China will overtake you in technology and as the world's leading power. Enjoy it while it lasts.

Sudan is not an aids nation because the large majority of people living there do not have aids. The large majority of Americans are overweight, making America an overweight nation.

Once again, you will only "lead" the world for the next 20 years or so. After that, you're out. Oh, that's not to mention the amount of debt America is in.

Metroid, there are people with the "fat gene" as they call it, but over half the population in America do not have it. Being overweight is just sheer ignorance and taking your life for granted.

Silver, not being intelligent and thinking you are the best IS arrogant, because obviously, there are better nations out there.

Just saying;
This all started because of a short commercial trying to get you to drink at Dunkin Donuts. All they want is you to drink there. And this makes Americans arrogant?

What you said, as I recall was that the American educational system was pathetic. I showed a comparison to Great Britain and Germany, which is completely relevant given that the only way to measure educational systems is relative to other countries. What I showed was that a small percentage of the population of every country is dumb.

In America for example, only 24.4% of individuals 25 years or older have a bachelor's degree (4 years of college after high school), while in my town the figure was at about 15% If one considers a university education to be necessary to be considered an intelligent individual, then clearly those individuals are in the minority.

Without America Germany would've won World War II. China may overtake us if they don't face starvation and an energy crisis before then. At any rate, I would find it hard to believe that in 20 years China will have the percentage of a middle class that America does, given their population and growth.

After about a whole 30 seconds of digging around the BBC website if found an interesting statistic.

BBC

Hmm, seems as though the UK is just as overweight, if not more, than America? Seems to me that must then make them either just as or more arrogant than Americans..



Comparing other nations to America provides a way to interpret the statistics. Sure all of your statistics seemed horrible when you first showed them, but now that they have been compared to other nations they seem pretty average.

i've got the feeling all rich countries are arrogant fat and stupid



















Except Holland ofcourse

Yea, but Holland legalized pot, so everyone has the munchies all the time.

You have nothing to say on the quality of sources, arguements or threads. You've posted some incredibly stupid crap before.

The commercial, when taken out of the context, is horrid. You're right Aaron. When taken in context, it makes perfect sense, but still is quite bad since most people will take it as American arrogance.

Just because you're malcontent doesn't mean the world has to be. Remember when I mentioned a "control variable?"

The fact that you give all these statistics with nothing to compare to does not justify ANY argument against "American Arrogance" it only shows how narrow minded and clearly biased you are. The fact that you give all these "Americans think this" and "Americans think that" is

1. NOT based upon experience.
2. Even if it were, then that refutes your statistics argument.
3. Shows your preconception.

Surely you're only referring to only the EUROPEAN part of WWII.

Statistics don't mean a thing in comparison with experience. Furthermore, I was mentioning experience in reference to humility, not fatness.



... No response whatsoever. Somebody refute this because I have more important evidence to pull up for a debate tournament this weekend.



The majority of Americans have sex. America MUST be a sex nation solely based upon such a statement!

Lmao thats a great commercial and the narrorator sounds like John Goodman. Americans seem to be the laughing stock for all other countries, im moving to Canada one day, Canadians are cool

@plant: KABOOM, insta thread pwnage.

Americans are arrogant, the British are arrogant. Any country which has gained an awful lot without ever having to pay for it will naturally assume that they are above everyone else.

I doubt many of you know many Germans, but Germany has formed three extremely powerful empires; the First Reich - in which Germany formed and ruled the Holy Roman Empire under Charlemagne, Otto the Great et al - and the Second Reich - under the various Kaisers from about 1870 to 1918 which resulted in Germany gaining control of huge portions of Africa during the Scramble for Africa. The Third Reich was of course Hitler's campaign across Europe and into Russia (Inevitably the downfall of Hitler as it was the downfall of Napoleon and countless other would be conquerors. Of course, the only person to ever conquer Russia was Lenin, but that's completely off topic).

Now, as to the point of this: Germany, much the same as Italy under Mussolini, was both extremely arrogant and wishing to relive the glories of it's past. This was of course what paved the way for Hitler's rise to power - he played upon the fierce nationalism of the German populace, citing the name The Third Reich and invoking the Volkstum as a way of collectivising the populace and encouraging them not to think and simply to act. The fierce nationalism of the German people meant that they committed terrible atrocities during the war - although the British and the Americans did many of the same (Nagasaki, Hiroshima, Dresden). The difference is that the Germans lost the war and were therefore made to pay for their errors. Germans today are constantly reminded of the evil that their fathers and grandfathers committed. The sins of the father are truly repeated on the son. Germans are not even granted the mercy of being allowed to forget the acts of Germany - holocaust denial is a crime in Central Europe. All Germans show regret for what has been perpetrated by Germany gone.

However, on the other side of the Channel and across the Atlantic, two nations which perpetrated similar acts are hailed as heroes. Everyone is taught of the Nazi racialist policies, which resulted in the slaughter of millions of Jews, Romany, Blacks as well as everyone else deemed "unclean". However, no-one is taught in schools of the similar policies enacted by Britain, the USA, Japan, Sweden and countless other countries under the delightful name of Eugenics [Greek Root-Eu meaning Good, Suffix-Genics meaning related to Genes or genetics]

As you can see from the name, Eugenics effectively means "good genes" and was a programme of selective breeding put forward by Darwin's cousin - Sir Francis Galton - in the mid 1860's. It started out all friendly and lovely as all suggested programmes saying that you're not allowed to breed with someone inevitably do and managed to get worse. To cut a long story short, in the USA it started with the forbidding of people who were epileptic or "feeble minded" from marrying, and culminated with the introduction of laws forcing sterilisation upon people who possessed "inferior qualities". The laws were appealed and upheld in the US supreme court. So much for "Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness". At least the British have the excuse of having no human rights. In total, over 60,000 Americans were forcibly sterilised, 45,000 of which were inmates of asylums and 20,000 of which were sterilised by the state of California.
That does not however, even account for the Racialist policies adopted by the US government on the advice of Eugenicists who forced through the 1924 Immigration Act. A wonderfully fitting bill for a nation of Immigrants.

Britain however, was not much better. Although the government never sponsored Eugenics, there was widespread support for it and it's never actually known how many forced sterilisations were carried out privately by clinicians at private mental health clinics. It would certainly have been enacted had it not been for one who belongs to two select groups which I'm usually well inclined to disagree with - G.K Chesterton. Chesterton was both a Christian, moreover by the end of his life a Catholic, and a Liberal Democrat. Both of which I've found horrendously flawed at different points. He was however, one of the few - and without a doubt the most influential - campaigners against eugenics in Britain. And just to balance it out, many Christians supported Eugenics.

To give you an idea of the support in both countries, some of the greatest advocates were as follows:
H.G. Wells, George Burnard Shaw, a certain Mr William Kellogg, Alexander Graham Bell and a certain young government home secretary by the name of Winston Churchill, who was quoted as suggesting a "simple surgical operation so the inferior could be permitted freely in the world without causing much inconvenience to others." The foremost Eugenecists could also expect funding from such institutions as the Rockefeller foundation, the Kellogg Foundation and the Carnegie Institution. Of course, the German Eugenics policy didn't even start until the 1930's. No prizes for guessing where they drew their inspiration from.

Anyway, the point of this is this: most every country has had to pay for their crimes - one way or the other. As of yet, neither Britain nor America have had to pay for theirs. Both countries will inevitably feel themselves above such crimes - much like celebrities think themselves above everyone else. However, much like Paris Hilton being carted off to jail, the time is coming for both nations. As Plant stated, the USA will have problems with China, although he cites the complete wrong reasons. Currently, the US national debt is currently over $9trillion, of which 10% is owed to China. At any point, China can call in their debts and the US will have no way of paying them. China effectively already have the US by the short and curlies. I can't imagine that even supporters of G.Dubya are really going to thank him for having triple the national deficit since Clinton's presidency. And Britain? That's even easier. Within 15 years, Scotland will have declared independence, losing The United Kingdoms of England, Wales and Northern Ireland billions a year from the North Sea Oil and gas fields. Within 30 years, Northern Ireland will suddenly find that there are more catholics than protestants due to the higher birth rate in the catholic community and unify with the economically booming Republic of Ireland. Within 40 years, England and Wales will finally realise what a pathetic little nation we are and try to further integrate with Europe. Perhaps this time the French will get their wish and we won't be allowed in.

Nationalism has a shelf life as long as the country is succeeding.

Many people in the USA do not know a second language. Just because they don't know it doesn't make them dumb. Many times I go to Starbucks and I have trouble understanding what they mean (because I'm almost 12).

So you claim from that 30 second add, that USA is ignorant? It's the God Damn idea that some people don't learn a ----ing second language.

I think from that 30 second add you can not deem USA as arrogant.

I understand we may be arrogant in other ways (mainly Bush[Brits kill him please]) like our debt. I'm not proud of many things but for the achievements we have achieved we should be proud and arrogant because we ACHIEVED them.

I read everything... and all I can say is I'm a tad ****** off with people laying into the English. I'd advise you get over what ever pathetic grudge it is you have against the United Kingdom and grow up. No country is 'better' than any other.

That's the point.

The reason why we attacked the UK is because Plant so overzealously attacked the US with obvious bias. It was an issue of comparison.

Then you have become what you are arguing against. By arguing in the same manner, you have in turn become what made you angry.

No. It was merely that we compared the same statistics in another area. Like I said, a "control variable."

It's not like I said, "lolol britan nub"

That's what we're talking about, one country thinking they're better than another, which is what you just hinted at.

...Or we are merely pointing out that all major countries are actually very similar, and that Plant's argument against the U.S. is not very good. That way we are arguing the same thing as you.

Can't we all just get along and agree that nations full stop are a terrible, terrible idea?

No? Ah well, worth a try.

So long as we're patriotic or nationalistic; there will never be an end to racialism, to war, to famine, to human strife.

The whole world thinks that every other country is arrogant, without thinking that their own nation is. This is most pronounced in Russia. If you look at Russia post WW2, it's constantly said that they're the root cause of the climate of fear in the world and that they're the cause of everyone else having to stockpile arms and that Mutually Assured Destruction is the only thing which stops the Russians attempting to invade everywhere else.

However, when you think of it from a Russian viewpoint; they have no choice. Russia during World War 2 took the greatest losses and nearly lost their sovereignty to Hitler's forces. Russia lost millions of citizens both military and civilian during Hitler's push into Russia. Russia not only repelled Hitler, but were actually instrumental in the defeat of Hitler. Had Hitler taken Russia, Europe would almost certainly have fallen. But then, as soon as the war's over, everyone else downplays Russia's part in the war and forgets about both their role and more importantly: their losses. But Russia, quite rightly, has not forgotten their own losses.

Now Russia therefore, would be fairly sceptical about ever letting anyone else back into their nation, about potentially losing so much family, about losing so many friends. Russia would do everything in their power to form the strongest defensive power ever known. Everyone else, in their arrogance, naturally assumes this to be an offensive gesture and begins to build weapons as well - greater increasing the Russian fear. Of course, the rest of the world tell everyone that they are merely doing this as a precautionary measure, that the Russians will never attack anyone so long as they have nuclear weapons as well. Of course, Russia would do anything to stop themselves bending knee to a foreign power. If you've ever watched clips of them; the leaders of Russia would commit suicide and take the rest of the world with them quite happily just so that they never again have to strive through suffering and have it forgotten. All because everyone else assumed that they were that little bit superior for thinking ever so slightly differently.

Did any of you ever hear the song Imagine? By that guy from england John Lennon? Did you ever understand the lyrics? He's trying to get out that we're one nation, we're one people. Stop argueing over who's better, we're supposed to be working together, not judging countries based on the majority. America is a pretty big nation. Does that mean that the Earth is a fat planet?

On a side note, Plant has smelly feet.

Actually, he was advocating communism.

There's a reason why the song is titled "Imagine."

Until you step out of your own country I don't think you can comment on an arrogance because it's everywhere.

A Booker

Agreed, though Americans are often singled out online (at least in my experience) and I do wonder about the reasoning behind it. Not that I'm pro America or anything, but the flocks of people blindly insulting America's integrity seem just as ignorant / arrogant as everyone else. It seems a lot of foreigners make several insinuations about America without having actually been here.

Untill we have an alien enemy this will never happen in my opinion.