Things you dislike about your country.

[Blackened 512]

I live in the UK, where the houses are really small. There's a stereotype that people from England live in castles. Yeah, we do. My castle is so huge that my bedroom, living room and bedroom are right next to each other.

 

(For the record, that castle anecdote was only hypothetical, but I'm not exactly exaggerating.) 

 

Other annoyances include chavs, lack of law enforcement (at least in my area) and overall, a lot of people are, to put it bluntly, arseholes.

Edited April 20, 2015 by Blackened

[Ziggy + Angel + Rain 11,302]

I think what I dislike most about America is Americans.

[Geek0zoid 1,468]

I hate how the US waits until something bad happens to finally confront an issue. They don't realize that something should be done BEFORE things go wrong.

Edited April 20, 2015 by Geek0zoid

[HereComesTom 2,266]

I dislike that our congress is voting on and passing 4000-page laws that no congressman or congresswoman has actually read, let alone written---lobbyists are writing them, riddling them with loopholes and exemptions to protect their interests, often at the expense of the people.

[Geek0zoid 1,468]

I dislike that our congress is voting on and passing 4000-page laws that no congressman or congresswoman has actually read, let alone written---lobbyists are writing them, riddling them with loopholes and exemptions to protect their interests, often at the expense of the people.

Because you know a giant, dozen page law by companies like Verizon and AT&T HAS to be made with the people's best interest in mind.

[Aleh 481]

What do I dislike about England?

 

The politicians.

Bloody bastards, the lot of them.

Same with every country to be fair xD

But at least other countries politicians stay away from the kids

[HereComesTom 2,266]

 

 

Because you know a giant, dozen page law by companies like Verizon and AT&T HAS to be made with the people's best interest in mind.

 

I agree completely, except for one minor detail:  I wish it *were* a dozen pages.  Bills out of Congress tend to be thousands of pages long, which no one but the most diligent lawyers can ever hope to read---or understand, for that matter, since they're probably written in incomprehensible legalese.

 

Oh---and according to the Constitution, any power that the Constitution doesn't explicitly says belongs to the central government---belongs to the state governments.  That means that anything Congress does that isn't explicitly stated to be in its power is unconstitutional, which is probably over 95%!  That's another thing to dislike!

[Shadow Beam 1,179]

Over-the-top amounts of patriotism and stubborness. Some people around here will defend their redundant arguments again and again even when all evidence points at the other side.

Seriously, I support my country's claim over the Malvinas/Flacklands and all political freedoms as well, but fighting toot and nail with people just because they differ with you is something that simply sickens me.

[iceestarz 5,764]

Murrica.

 

I guess just how ignorant people here can be, whether it's about race, religion, sexual orientation.

 

But that's everywhere. I just hate some people in general.

[Blackshirt Brony 415]

• Government surveillance

Fast food everywhere

Pollution everywhere

Rude people

Paranoid people

[Trine 665]

I hate the fact that Sweden and England are a bunch of socialist cowards. (Ok, so that is not where i live, but i still feel its the impact in general..) But... i fear that people will vote for socialist party in the next election basically going for the Game Over screen.

 

I mean atleast people in the past had to work for their living. With nowadays making welfare as a way for people to make a living if they can't find a job (Now that is not a bad thing. But economic issue is also a problem. And making a haven for everyone just won't do), and political correctness being the norm.

Edited April 21, 2015 by Trine

[honk friend 1,978]

I hate how the US waits until something bad happens to finally confront an issue. They don't realize that something should be done BEFORE things go wrong.

Even then, you have people that are like "ehh, this isn't really a problem", and you'd think only a few of them, but no, they're fucking everywhere.

Edited April 21, 2015 by Kitty.

[Trine 665]

Even then, you have people that are like "ehh, this isn't really a problem"

Kinda like World War too.

I mean WW2 was for the americans at the time. "Meh its a european war". Then Japan attacked Pearl Harbor, and they where all like... "Its on now!"

 

From my knowledge it seems to if you can get capitalistic interest or get something in return, then America is up to bargin. Atleast from my history lesson. For example selling weapon to the highest bidder in terms of self interest and economic growth. During world war from what i've heard.

 

Its quite weird how history still has some sensical stuff, even in present time depending on what policy you are ok with or not.

[Haruhi-chan 486]

 I hate the ignorance surrounding Autism. This is all thanks to Autism Speaks. Trust me, this organization is NOT good. Just look up Boycott Autism Speaks if you guys don't believe me. People who follow this organization don't realize all they want to do is cure autism. They also use scare tactics to frighten parents into thinking autism is bad and a disease as well. I have autism myself, and I couldn't be happier. I have an amazing boyfriend, some good friends... life is good for me too. Autism Speaks doesn't realize that people with autism can live normal, happy lives as they get older. People in the US are too ignorant about this.

Edited April 21, 2015 by sweeToxic

[Kyoshi Frost Wolf 41,373]

One of my least favorite things about America is the media and horrendous celebrity worship. Here in America it seems the worst stuff is promoted, the news is just corrupt and biased, and things like magazines are mostly terrible. On top of this, it seems money and celebrity status is valued more than anything, but at the same time this country tries to glorify so many things while seeming hypocritical. In the end it is the rich and famous that get worshipped, even if what some of them do is nothing special.

 

I hope that makes any sense. That is just one of many, many things I do not like about this country. I also REALLY dislike the general public in this country so there is that.

[A Black Circle 1,586]

U.S., too many Starlight Glimmers, too much "political correctness" (abdication of free speech)

[Denim&Venöm 18,767]

Oh boy. Where the hell do I start and how many am I going to piss off? Warning: Long rant is long. 

 

 

-That America says it's a democracy (where people vote on everything), but instead it's a representative democracy (you vote for someone who closest matches your values to vote for you) So really I have no power. I just have a say who does have power. 

 

-That America says it's a democracy but in reality is a constitutional republic.

 

-Schools. They treat kids like criminals. Place no value on individuality or personal learning abilities or personal talents & interests. The lunches are less nutritious than prison food. What is taught rarely applies to daily life.And how it's taught is a very inefficient manner that puts very little information across. 14 years of suffering. For what? Oh and we never got paid for all our hard work. 

 

-That we have a separation of church and state, but religious views still cloud politics. I can't recall ever hearing Atheists going against marriage equality.  Nor do I recall agnostics taking a stance against marijuana. 

 

-America loves it's rap, it's pop and it's country, yet ignores the actual musicianship, creative efforts, cultural & financial contributions of genres such as jazz, blues, classical, rock & metal.

 

-Gender stereotypes. Men are beer drinking, weight lifting, sports loving, hot rod/ truck driving, gun toting, chick grabbing, tough guys. Girls are shopaholic, nail painting, dress wearing, magazine buying, guy grabbing, doll playing, gossiping, damsels in distress. We all know such stereotypes are dying off, but it seems like the country is desperately trying to hold onto them. 

 

-America holds onto this image of what it considers the perfect family. That family is of American nationality, caucasian ethnicity, anglo-saxon descent, christian faith, middle class, heterosexual, married, monogamous, patriarchal, nuclear family, consisting of a husband who works in the white or blue collar industries that brings home the wealth, a wife who stays at home, cooks, cleans & raises the kid(s), said kid(s) a son who's into sports & plays his action figures, and or a daughter who wears dresses and plays house, all residing in a suburban area with a dog and a white picket fence. Anything that deviates from this is considered new and or unusual. That is why anyone who is black, gay, a jew, an immigrant, a woman, a single parent, a member of a subculture (*cough*), or pretty much anyone born after the 1950's is considered a threat to the cornerstone that is the traditional family institution. 

 

-Treatment of the Native Americans, the first peoples of this land. All that america is, pretty much happened because our ancestors practically committed genocide. hundreds of unique and diverse nation & cultures, wiped out by European immigration and American expansion. What we did to the natives over the centuries was cruel and heartless. Nowadays there's hardly any American indians left, and those that remain live in some of the most impoverished areas we have to offer. 

 

-The prudishness & puritanical stance of american media, society & government. Sure, we all love to see scantily clad women & dudes w/ abs on billboards & magazines. But the moment a womans nipple comes out, alarms sound. Dudes, can be topless, but women can't? Nudity is condemned, but it's alright to show movies & shows with decapitations, exploding heads, people getting mutilated & eaten alive? Statues of naked people are considered art, yet photography of those same people is considered porn and immediately censored from public eyes. 

 

-This post 9/11 nationalism we've got going has gone too far. We're practically bragging about how great we are. But that paints us as egotistical and insecure. We get how great america is. Stop shoving down everybody's throats, especially those of your own citizens. I don't care if something is made in america. I don't need to see red, white & blue all over. I don't need to hear about your inspirational sap stories about people making it. I don't need to see flags everywhere. I dont' need to be reminded about how much of a capitalist marketing giant we are. I don't need to hear the national anthem ever again. It's all just so suffocating. America isn't the promised holy land. It's just another country like everybody else. 

 

You don't see other countries bragging at this level. Poland survived like 3 occupations and rose up in revolution during each of them. Finland is currently one of the most educated countries on earth, and they had the balls to do something we never could and thats fight Russia. Switzerland has an efficient banking system & a successful economy. Japan & South Korea have rebuilt from war and are leading economic powers with significant cultural exports. Israel kicked the asses of Syria, Egypt & Jordan. Twice. Sweden is practically friends with everybody and is ranked one of the happiest places to live. You don't hear any of them hollering out to the world or it's own citizens how great they are. It's obvious to them, so it doesn't need stateing. We could take a cue from that. 

 

-The drinking & smoking ages. They're 21 & 18 respectively. Growth of the brain doesn't halt until 25. We are hindering brain development by allowing people to indulge in harmful substances at such a young age. We don't allow minors to drink or smoke for the same reason.  No drinking or smoking until 25 is the logical way to go. 

 

-We say troops are dying for our freedoms. They are not. Our freedoms haven't been threatened in 13 years. We did the right thing by invading Afghanistan to hunt down Al Qaeda. But what else did we do? We invaded Iraq to take down a dictator who wasn't threatening our freedoms. You know what happened when he died? Terrorism got worse in the region. Now we're stuck cleaning up the mess we didn't have to make. You know the last time our freedom was threatened. 1941. Any battle we've waged since then has been a pointless waste of life. Korea, Vietnam, the Iraq war. Those nations never threatened our freedoms or jeopardized the worlds safety. Any and every soldier who fought during those conflicts died in vain. Any soldier who survived the horrors of those wars never had to go though that torment to begin with. Our country's paranoia led to the death of many a good american & brave soldier for absolutely no good reason. 

 

I'm tired of thinking about this anymore. I think I'll stop here. I'm getting a headache. 

[HereComesTom 2,266]

 

 

I hate the ignorance surrounding Autism.

 

Sorry if I'm derailing the thread, but isn't autism a kind of a general term that might as well be called "miscellaneous" or "some mental state of processing that isn't normal, but we couldn't find the right category to put it in"?

 

 

 

One of my least favorite things about America is the media and horrendous celebrity worship. Here in America it seems the worst stuff is promoted, the news is just corrupt and biased, and things like magazines are mostly terrible. On top of this, it seems money and celebrity status is valued more than anything, but at the same time this country tries to glorify so many things while seeming hypocritical. In the end it is the rich and famous that get worshipped, even if what some of them do is nothing special. I hope that makes any sense

 

If it doesn't make sense, that's hardly your fault---now that I think about it, it seems like people hate you if you're richer than them, too, and that seems contradict the whole "the rich are worshipped" thing.  But they're both true...

 

You're not the one who doesn't make sense: America is.

 

 

 

-Treatment of the Native Americans, the first peoples of this land. All that america is, pretty much happened because our ancestors practically committed genocide.

 

Technically, most of them died of diseases that europeans brought over, but the vast majority of your points about Native Americans are true.

 

 

 

America isn't the promised holy land. It's just another country like everybody else.

 

Well...it's got some of the best farmland (and the most of it) of any country on the planet, but that leads into another thing I don't like about America:  we're not playing off of that economic strength.  We really should.  But you're right about the propaganda; we really are taking it too far.  We're not what we were 50 years ago, the most industrialized country in the world...I think that might be China, nowadays...

 

I'm not sure I agree with you about the first Gulf War, though:  Hussein invading Kuwait...I'll admit that there's probably a lot of complexity going into that, not the least of which being that England didn't draw the borders properly when they freed those nations from colonialism, but honestly, him taking what he wants from another nation echoes what Hitler was doing in the 1930s/40s.  It seemed to me at the time (though I was a kid) like the sort of evil that should be stopped, though I'm open to hearing more about it.  The second Gulf War sure was pointless, though, in retrospect.

[FluttershyIsLife 21]

So...... cold....... seriously can i get a blanket up here?

[DeadAccount 4,603]

I am Native American. I try to avoid how we were treated in the past -_- ...

[Megas 27,587]

America has a tendency to put the wrong things as top priorities, and we allowed this to happen

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y7Fo_wW8I9M

 

And for Mexico, drug wars, the Cartel, gang violence and poor government. It's pretty much why I never visit anymore

Edited April 23, 2015 by Megas75

[JanisJopleyBird 22]

America -

 

I guess the thing that bothers me most is that its perfectly acceptable, nay encouraged to be selfish in America. America is an individualistic culture and I certainly don't see that changing soon. The problem is more that there is more of an us vs. them mentality about it.

 

Communities have a very difficult time banding together to accomplish anything. The fact that large tax breaks are given for giving to charities really drives this point home. People would give nothing to their fellow man who was born with such greater roadblocks on the path to success if there was no incentive to do so.

 

What really got me thinking about this lately was this article I read recently. The St. Louis Gateway Arch is in bad need of repairs, cleaning, and maintenance that is going to cost taxpayers a bit of money. There is a small, but vocal outcry to just tear the thing down. Someday, we may have nothing to be proud of if this line of thinking continues. What are they going to put in the Gateway Arch's place if it gets torn down? A strip mall with a McDonald's restaurant? A little kid seeing the Gateway Arch could look at it and feel inspired, planting the seeds for his/her future career.

 

Old people can call kids stupid for looking at screens all day. But the issue is more that we never built/maintained anything worth looking at. This country has no soul.

[LED Dasher 228]

 

-America holds onto this image of what it considers the perfect family. That family is of American nationality, caucasian ethnicity, anglo-saxon descent, christian faith, middle class, heterosexual, married, monogamous, patriarchal, nuclear family, consisting of a husband who works in the white or blue collar industries that brings home the wealth, a wife who stays at home, cooks, cleans & raises the kid(s), said kid(s) a son who's into sports & plays his action figures, and or a daughter who wears dresses and plays house, all residing in a suburban area with a dog and a white picket fence. Anything that deviates from this is considered new and or unusual. That is why anyone who is black, gay, a jew, an immigrant, a woman, a single parent, a member of a subculture (*cough*), or pretty much anyone born after the 1950's is considered a threat to the cornerstone that is the traditional family institution. 

 

The times are changing. It's a good thing that there is an increasing rate of interracial marriage in America.

 

You don't see other countries bragging at this level. Poland survived like 3 occupations and rose up in revolution during each of them. Finland is currently one of the most educated countries on earth, and they had the balls to do something we never could and thats fight Russia. Switzerland has an efficient banking system & a successful economy. Japan & South Korea have rebuilt from war and are leading economic powers with significant cultural exports. Israel kicked the asses of Syria, Egypt & Jordan. Twice. Sweden is practically friends with everybody and is ranked one of the happiest places to live. You don't hear any of them hollering out to the world or it's own citizens how great they are. It's obvious to them, so it doesn't need stateing. We could take a cue from that. 

 

It's upsetting how arrogant people can be. There are still people who are stuck in a colonial mindset who falsely think of India and Nigeria as poor and underdeveloped, despite the fact that both countries have made exceptional progress after independence and have become far wealthier.

 

[LordSwinton 759]

If I were to say something bad, they can prosecute me, take me in, detain me and make me disappear. And peaceful protest is illegal.

 

You tell me what's wrong.

[Attack of the Pwns 894]

I absolutely loath the disparity between the ultra-rich and ultra-poor. But, on the whole, I love my country and am happy to have been born here.