# Is any American "a waste"? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [January 25, 2018, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-any-american-a-waste/807450 "2018-01-25T15:10:20Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![The\_Tooth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c67d28/32.png) [@The\_Tooth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Tooth)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2018, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-any-american-a-waste/807450/21 "2018-01-25T16:37:28Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > The OP never met my brother-in-law. Even dead and cremated, he’s still a waste of space. Well geez, if you hadn’t cremated him he could have at least been fertilizer for a tree or something. ---
**Author:** ![Euphrosyne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d9b06d/32.png) [@Euphrosyne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphrosyne)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2018, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-any-american-a-waste/807450/22 "2018-01-25T16:42:16Z")
> [@BubbaDog](#): > > So answer the question. It appears that you initiated a conversation topic about people in general but for some reason you narrowed it down to a select group. It somehow tarnishes the conversation. > > Look at it this way, if you substitute another subset of humanity like “white people” or “black people” for “American” in your OP it exposes a definite “tone”. God made created human persons of all nations, tongues, colors, and creeds. Each person is infinitely loved by Him, and therefore a _sacred being in and of himself or herself._ All human persons of all nations, backgrounds, statuses, conditions, ranks, and estates is off immense dignity and value . . . dignity and value beyond description. And I believe all men and women and children are created equal in the sight of God. I was prompted to start this thread by corresponding with some other posters elsewhere about the formation of the United States of America. The topic of Americans of various political / cultural backgrounds communicating well with one another came up. I thought this topic worthy of a new thread. The people of the United States seem not to be “united” very much at all. I haven’t found much conversation among the various camps, other than vituperative expressions. I find this very sad. My question is this: Do some Americans consider some of their fellow Americans “a waste,” . . . ? insofar as communication among them is pretty much limited to yelling? This state of affairs is particularly sad, in that it would seem that fellow countrymen and women ought to be able to get along with one another, at least superficially. ---
**Author:** ![Euphrosyne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d9b06d/32.png) [@Euphrosyne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphrosyne)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2018, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-any-american-a-waste/807450/23 "2018-01-25T16:43:56Z")
> [@BubbaDog](#): > > I’m not sure that you thought this answer out. Maybe you should reconsider and try posting something something less…_condescending._? Thank you for your kind reply, BubbaDog. I appreciate your input. ---
**Author:** ![Euphrosyne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d9b06d/32.png) [@Euphrosyne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphrosyne)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2018, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-any-american-a-waste/807450/24 "2018-01-25T16:45:40Z")
> [@Jophiel](#): > > Jonathan Haidt wrote a [well-regarded book](https://www.amazon.com/Righteous-Mind-Divided-Politics-Religion/dp/0307455777) about how people in the political spectrum perceive and can communicate with one another so, if that’s your interest, perhaps you’d want to check it out. Thanks for the book recommendation, Jophiel. I’ll check it out, and hope others will, too. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2018, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-any-american-a-waste/807450/25 "2018-01-25T16:47:06Z")
oesn’t “witnessing” belong somewhere else? (I know where I’d like to put it) Reported. ---
**Author:** ![Euphrosyne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d9b06d/32.png) [@Euphrosyne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphrosyne)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2018, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-any-american-a-waste/807450/26 "2018-01-25T16:49:09Z")
> [@Ravenman](#): > > I would like to hear the OP weigh in on the gifts, energy, and talents that [Larry Nassar](https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/nation-now/2018/01/23/larry-nassar-interview-sex-abuse/1057307001/) has brought to our wonderful country. Many Christians would reply - as I would - that even people who behave as monsters like Nassar - even Hitler - had once been originally created good by a good God. And that what happened is that these individuals chose to go over to the Dark Side. And so they did. And that we all choose. . . at every moment, we all choose. ---
**Author:** ![Euphrosyne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d9b06d/32.png) [@Euphrosyne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphrosyne)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2018, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-any-american-a-waste/807450/27 "2018-01-25T16:56:14Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > Doesn’t “witnessing” belong somewhere else? (I know where I’d like to put it) > > Reported. Thank you for your concern, kayaker. This thread wasn’t started as “witnessing,” per se. This thread was intended to explore the meta messages and meta meanings of the ways in which Americans of different backgrounds and persuasions communicate with one another. I take the meta message of your remark as “Keep still, Euphrosyne,” which is a superb example of the underlying attitudes and assumptions Americans bring to the conversation when discussing even this very matter with one another. I find it fascinating. As a Christian, I view all matters pertaining to the human person through the lens of Christianity. And I can’t but bring that perspective to the table. Others are welcome to bring other perspectives to the table. _Can’t we all just get along?_ is one way to characterize the point of this thread. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2018, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-any-american-a-waste/807450/28 "2018-01-25T17:03:29Z")
Reported for changing my quoted text. ---
**Author:** ![BubbaDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bubbadog/32/333_2.png) [@BubbaDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BubbaDog)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2018, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-any-american-a-waste/807450/29 "2018-01-25T17:07:57Z")
> [@Euphrosyne](#): > > … > > _Can’t we all just get along?_ is one way to characterize the point of this thread. No we can’t. And that’s OK. We don’t need to have all of us hold hands, sing Kumbaya and praise Jesus. We can yell at each other, disagree vehemently and still respect one another. Still, society will create some real losers who definitely are a waste of time space and energy. Go ahead and believe that God created them pure but somewhere along the way they managed to turn into useless assholes. ---
**Author:** ![cmyk](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmyk/32/3353_2.png) [@cmyk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmyk)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2018, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-any-american-a-waste/807450/30 "2018-01-25T17:08:00Z")
I’m getting the feeling that you’re largely basing your opinions on the discussions you see across the internet. In real life, while some family gatherings can get heated while talking politics over the mashed potatoes, the practice of living among fellow Americans has gone largely unchanged. Thankfully, living my life today, around family and friends, isn’t the same as hanging out in the YouTube comments section. Maybe you need to get out more? ---
**Author:** ![naita](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/naita/32/5862_2.png) [@naita](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/naita)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2018, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-any-american-a-waste/807450/31 "2018-01-25T17:08:17Z")
> [@Euphrosyne](#): > > _Can’t we all just get along?_ is one way to characterize the point of this thread. As a rationalist I say that all evidence points to the answer to this being: No, we can’t all just get along. And “no” is the answer to practically all the other questions in your OP as well. They are indeed “hopelessly impossible aspirations”. As an individual you and I can of course aspire to a better class of discourse, but should also accept that we need to work in a world where not everyone will try and even fewer will succeed. ---
**Author:** ![Sir\_T-Cups](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ed655f/32.png) [@Sir\_T-Cups](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sir_T-Cups)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2018, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-any-american-a-waste/807450/32 "2018-01-25T17:08:58Z")
> [@Ravenman](#): > > I would like to hear the OP weigh in on the gifts, energy, and talents that [Larry Nassar](https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/nation-now/2018/01/23/larry-nassar-interview-sex-abuse/1057307001/) has brought to our wonderful country. One could conceivably say that in between sessions of molesting the girls he was ACTUALLY doing medically sound practices on them and did contribute to the success of Americans at the Olympics. He’s still an asshole, but by all accounts he was an asshole who did his job. > [@kayaker](#): > > How about [Mr & Ms Turpin?](http://www.businessinsider.com/california-couple-charged-with-torture-after-police-rescue-13-children-2018-1) …yeah I got nothin here ---
**Author:** ![Asimovian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asimovian/32/172_2.png) [@Asimovian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asimovian)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2018, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-any-american-a-waste/807450/33 "2018-01-25T17:10:23Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > oesn’t “witnessing” belong somewhere else? (I know where I’d like to put it) > > Reported. > [@kayaker](#): > > Reported for changing my quoted text. Knock it off with the junior modding and the “reported,” already. **Euphrosyne** , per the rules of this board, if you are quoting someone, you are not allowed to alter their quote in any way. Even fixing someone’s typo without properly denoting that you’ve done so is technically a violation of that rule, and someone may choose to complain about it. So please resist the urge going forward. ---
**Author:** ![Euphrosyne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d9b06d/32.png) [@Euphrosyne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphrosyne)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2018, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-any-american-a-waste/807450/34 "2018-01-25T17:17:32Z")
> [@Asimovian](#): > > **Euphrosyne** , per the rules of this board, if you are quoting someone, you are not allowed to alter their quote in any way. Even fixing someone’s typo without properly denoting that you’ve done so is technically a violation of that rule, and someone may choose to complain about it. So please resist the urge going forward. Thank you, Asimovian. I didn’t know. Duly noted. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2018, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-any-american-a-waste/807450/35 "2018-01-25T17:25:11Z")
> [@Euphrosyne](#): > > Thank you for your concern, kayaker. > > This thread wasn’t started as “witnessing,” per se. > > This thread was intended to explore the meta messages and meta meanings of the ways in which Americans of different backgrounds and persuasions communicate with one another. > > I take the meta message of your remark as “Keep still, Euphrosyne,” which is a superb example of the underlying attitudes and assumptions Americans bring to the conversation when discussing even this very matter with one another. > > I find it fascinating. > > As a Christian, I view all matters pertaining to the human person through the lens of Christianity. And I can’t but bring that perspective to the table. > > Others are welcome to bring other perspectives to the table. > > _Can’t we all just get along?_ is one way to characterize the point of this thread. I wonder if you’d clear up a point I’m a bit confused about: your frequent use of the word “meta.” Are you intending it to be interpreted in the sense of “post-modern” self-referentialism (personally, I’m more used to encountering this usage in a humorously ironic context)? Or do you mean for us to understand it as shorthand for “metaphysical”? ---
**Author:** ![septimus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/septimus/32/410_2.png) [@septimus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/septimus)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2018, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-any-american-a-waste/807450/36 "2018-01-25T17:29:36Z")
> [@Euphrosyne](#): > > Dear PigArcher, > > Thanks for your reply to my OP. > > I have no doubt you paid careful attention to my OP, noting the tone, and considered the message and tone thoughtfully before posing your question. I also have no doubt that you assumed no ill will or unthinking malice on my part. > > Would you help me to understand your question better, paying especial attention to your assumptions about me and my question? What I would ask you to ask yourself about my OP is this: > > Based upon the wording of Euphrosyne’s question, is her possibly alleged assumption that international persons are “a waste” so evident, that my question would plausibly elicit a response in the positive? > > Really? Your thread title and OP text both mention ‘American’, but never ‘human.’ In your follow-ups you call attention to ‘Christian’ four times. One doesn’t need to “assume ill will or unthinking malice” to find this very peculiar. If your intent was to draw a contrast between Americans and non-Americans you could have made that explicit in OP, e.g. “Why can’t Americans behave more like Europeans?” ---
**Author:** ![Euphrosyne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d9b06d/32.png) [@Euphrosyne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphrosyne)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2018, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-any-american-a-waste/807450/37 "2018-01-25T17:31:59Z")
> [@cmyk](#): > > I’m getting the feeling that you’re largely basing your opinions on the discussions you see across the internet. > > In real life, while some family gatherings can get heated while talking politics over the mashed potatoes, the practice of living among fellow Americans has gone largely unchanged. Thankfully, living my life today, around family and friends, isn’t the same as hanging out in the YouTube comments section. Maybe you need to get out more? I do get out quite a bit, but particularly in the workplace, there is a great deal of self-censoring, and in some cases, actually walking on eggshells around other people, whom we suspect may not agree with our world-view. I’m talking about a workplace of thousands, and lots of international workers, and people of all ages and backgrounds. And the atmosphere becomes palpably tense when any of these topics are touched upon in even in passing, even momentarily. It seems to be “uh-oh!” Even apart from the workplace, I think there’s an implicit rule among friendly neighbors and acquaintances that politics and religion are off-the-table. Is not being free to discuss things “getting along”? ---
**Author:** ![cmyk](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmyk/32/3353_2.png) [@cmyk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmyk)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2018, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-any-american-a-waste/807450/38 "2018-01-25T17:34:35Z")
> [@Euphrosyne](#): > > [snip] > > Is not being free to discuss things “getting along”? It’s been working for me. ---
**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2018, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-any-american-a-waste/807450/39 "2018-01-25T17:42:13Z")
> [@Euphrosyne](#): > > If that is your thoughtful and considered reply to my questions, Ravenman, then thank you. And God bless you. > > If it is not, then may I propose that, another time perhaps, preparing a reply that is, indeed, thoughtful and considered, you might find an opportunity to explore _meaning_ . . . ? It was a thoughtfully considered reply, and very pithy, as well. You specifically said that people “were put here for a reason.” Ok, fine. Then you say question whether any American has aptitudes that we can allow to go to waste. So even if infants are as pure as the driven snow, but later choose to become evil adults in the manner of torturers of their own offspring or serial child molesters, I’m literally asking you what these hideous adults have to offer this country. It seems a very straightforward question. I don’t see why you’re taking offense to it, other than it’s very difficult to answer. Which is the reason I asked it. ---
**Author:** ![drad\_dog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/aeb1de/32.png) [@drad\_dog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drad_dog)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2018, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-any-american-a-waste/807450/40 "2018-01-25T17:42:53Z")
I’m going to call on the OP to reflect more on themselves as a way to open the discussion. Every american is flummoxed by the fact that a huge part of the country seems to have become irrational, on “many” sides of the spectrum. Huge numbers of them indulge in “rage rushes” having to do with hearing things that were designed to stimulate them that way, and believe that huge swaths of fellow americans are irrational wrong and immoral. If you want to talk about it please participate as a subject and talk about how you are existing in this system. What is your place in it? “Everyone does it” is not a place where you can stand in this world anymore. We need to move on to the deeper level of what is actually happening. I think you will appreciate this site as it has to do with listening. > **[The International Focusing Institute](https://focusing.org/)** > > The International Focusing Institute. Focusing Is A Process Grounded In Experiential Listening As Developed By Eugene Gendlin. It Is A Powerful Way Of Interacting With Innate Body-Felt Knowing And Leads To Mutual Respect, Authenticity And Compassion. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-any-american-a-waste/807450.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-any-american-a-waste/807450.md?page=3)