# 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:** 3
**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, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-any-american-a-waste/807450/41 "2018-01-25T17:43:30Z")
> [@kaylasdad99](#): > > I wonder if you’d clear up a point I’m a bit confused about: your frequent use of the word “meta.” Thank you so much for your question, kaylasdad99. _Meta-_ is a Greek word, often used as a prefix, which can mean something that is about itself. An example that Wikipedia uses is _metadata_, which is data that’s about the data (i.e. details about the who, what, when, where about the entries in the database.) By using meta-, I’m trying to express in a shorthand sort of way, a discussion among Americans of various camps that’s about . . . discussing things among Americans of various camps. In other words, _meta-_ as a discussion, in particular, that’s about the discussion, in general. ---
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2018, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-any-american-a-waste/807450/42 "2018-01-25T17:44:19Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > oesn’t “witnessing” belong somewhere else? (I know where I’d like to put it) > > Reported. To address the witnessing issue - every moderator has their own interpretation of this rule, but I don’t think discussing your faith in the context of offering your opinion constitutes ‘‘witnessing.’’ That would be reserved for actively and annoyingly trying to convert others to your belief system. I see nothing here warranting action. The corollary of this, of course, is that you offer your beliefs in formulating your opinion, you are submitting those beliefs to criticism and scrutiny by posters who disagree with you. That said, let us not hijack this into an argument about the merits of Christianity, and try to keep things on topic. Thanks! ---
**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, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-any-american-a-waste/807450/43 "2018-01-25T17:45:32Z")
> [@Euphrosyne](#): > > 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”? You may be coming off as being, ummm, _overly circumspect_ if you’re approaching the message board with an _a priori_ assumption that we see one another as “ **friendly** neighbors and acquaintances.” To be sure friendships, both virtual and meatspace, have grown and blossomed from origins in this community, and we are, by and large, welcoming of new voices joining our conversation. That said, however, the primary motivator for many of us who post here is that we find participation and the participants to be _interesting_, and often _entertaining_. Welcome to the Dope; I hope you find your stay here to be both interesting and entertaining. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![kopek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kopek/32/337_2.png) [@kopek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kopek)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2018, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-any-american-a-waste/807450/44 "2018-01-25T17:50:40Z")
> [@Euphrosyne](#): > > Don’t all human persons possess unique gifts, talents, and energy? > > \ > > Are these hopelessly impossible aspirations? Yes and the aspirations outlined probably are impossible because of the old YMMV factor. To me, the local dealer may be “a waste” but to the neighbor who enjoys a little recreational substance the same way I enjoy a shot of Wild Turkey he’s a gifted part of society. We can go down the list of things we consider good or bad and draw the same lines. The problem comes that human nature seems to emphasize where the lines diverge rather than the many intersections. ---
**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, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-any-american-a-waste/807450/45 "2018-01-25T17:52:45Z")
> [@Euphrosyne](#): > > Thank you so much for your question, kaylasdad99. > > _Meta-_ is a Greek word, often used as a prefix, which can mean something that is about itself. An example that Wikipedia uses is _metadata_, which is data that’s about the data (i.e. details about the who, what, when, where about the entries in the database.) > > By using meta-, I’m trying to express in a shorthand sort of way, a discussion among Americans of various camps that’s about . . . discussing things among Americans of various camps. > > **In other words, _meta-_ as a discussion, in particular, that’s about the discussion, in general.** Ah. As I alluded to above, I’ve only seen “meta” used as a standalone word in the context of mocking hipsters. Thank you for clearing up that you’re actually referencing the concept of “having a conversation about a conversation” (to coin a phrase). ---
**Author:** ![cormac262](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f14d63/32.png) [@cormac262](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cormac262)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2018, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-any-american-a-waste/807450/46 "2018-01-25T18:01:07Z")
> [@Euphrosyne](#): > > 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._ This is all well and good. But keep in mind this is your belief, and that it may not be 1) universal, nor 2) shared by many (particularly on this board). > [@Euphrosyne](#): > > 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? Ahhh. Now we’re getting somewhere. Your original question about Americans being a “waste” was somewhat vague and subject to different interpretations. In the context of Americans holding differing views, considering the others (who don’t share those views) being a “waste”. This might be better stated as (considering those who don’t agree, and are also unwilling to hear out the other’s viewpoint) to be “hopeless”. That is, “so stuck in their viewpoint there is no point debating with them.” Or it would be a “waste of time” to try to convince them to see things another way. > [@Euphrosyne](#): > > 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. I agree that the state is really sad. And seems the worst it’s been in recent memory. But I think, for the most part, we do treat each other in a civilized manner. Yes, there have been violent clashes. But for the most part it is a battle of words. We may not be getting anywhere, and “battle lines” seem to have been drawn. But no actual lobbing of grenades has started ! If nothing else, I think we learned from the Vietnam protests that violence doesn’t really achieve anything and is just sad. So I would consider that since it is just words, this could be considered “getting along 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, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-any-american-a-waste/807450/47 "2018-01-25T18:02:47Z")
It’s back to work for me, my friends. I hope to read and answer more later this evening or tomorrow. Thanks so much for an interesting discussion, and very much hope it will continue. Best regards, and cheers! - Euphrosyne ---
**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, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-any-american-a-waste/807450/48 "2018-01-25T18:30:29Z")
> [@Asimovian](#): > > Knock it off with the junior modding and the “reported,” already. You are correct and I apologize. I will work harder at ignoring Satan’s corrupt temptations. ---
**Author:** ![PigArcher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/bcef8e/32.png) [@PigArcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PigArcher)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2018, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-any-american-a-waste/807450/49 "2018-01-25T18:54:07Z")
> [@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? Honestly I have no idea, and the fact that other posters have commented on the same aspect of your OP shows I’m not alone. I considered a longer response but I was in a bit of a hurry so I commented on the aspect of the OP that stood out to me the most. But from what I’ve seen of your comments in other threads (and really from what I’ve subsequently seen in this thread as well) it’s certainly possible that your answer could be “yes,” though I suspect if that were the case you’d find a way to avoid stating that outright. Can I ask you what you were thinking when you chose to limit the scope of your OP to Americans only, when you could have reasonably expected other posters to comment on the obvious exclusion on non-Americans? ---
**Author:** ![Oredigger77](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/oredigger77/32/3181_2.png) [@Oredigger77](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oredigger77)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2018, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-any-american-a-waste/807450/50 "2018-01-25T19:10:19Z")
There are without doubt people who are wastes of the oxygen that it takes to keep them alive. I would not break it down by political beliefs though, I would look at actions and inaction and while voting or not voting counts I’d look more at like how many children have you raped or how you destroy the people around you then whether you’re pro-abortion or anti-women. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2018, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-any-american-a-waste/807450/51 "2018-01-25T19:27:50Z")
> [@The\_Tooth](#): > > Well geez, if you hadn’t cremated him he could have at least been fertilizer for a tree or something. Any tree that fed on that specimen would grow up stunted, twisted and in serious need of pruning. ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2018, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-any-american-a-waste/807450/52 "2018-01-25T19:41:46Z")
> [@Euphrosyne](#): > > Many Christians may respond that “less competent” persons, especially the handicapped, are put here to teach us to come out of ourselves, to really _give_ of ourselves. > > To teach us _to love unconditionally_. That is, to love someone not because of what they can give us, but what we can give them. > > And by teaching us that, couldn’t it be said that what we receive is priceless? Not a christian, and don’t agree. > [@](#): > > God made created human persons of all nations, tongues, colors, and creeds. Each person is infinitely loved by Him… Great. God (whom I don’t believe in) can love them. I don’t have to. ---
**Author:** ![begbert2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/begbert2/32/3357_2.png) [@begbert2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/begbert2)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2018, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-any-american-a-waste/807450/53 "2018-01-25T19:41:51Z")
How are we defining a “waste”, again? ‘misusing their gifts’, ‘not contributing to the overall good’, ‘whose gifts, talents, and energy that the country can afford to let go to waste’? As a fully employed and productive citizen with no criminal record and a nonzero number of friends and family who would be sad to see me go, I’m fairly confident that I’m pretty close to meeting those definitions - I may meet the first one and I _certainly_ meet the last one. If I were to suddenly become unemployed I’d quite certainly meet all three. And that’s without me actually doing anything bad. So by these metrics lots and lots and _lots_ of people are wastes. (For the record I don’t believe for one nanoscopic instant that any creator put everyone on earth, for a reason or not, so if that’s where you’re hoping to derive worth from then I won’t be able to agree with you on that.) ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2018, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-any-american-a-waste/807450/54 "2018-01-25T19:45:29Z")
Nope. I’d estimate a good 45% of the American populace are total and complete wastes of resources. ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2018, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-any-american-a-waste/807450/55 "2018-01-25T20:52:55Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > Nope. I’d estimate a good 45% of the American populace are total and complete wastes of resources. 45%! MAN, I LOVE hearing from you! Makes me seem so warm and fuzzy! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2018, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-any-american-a-waste/807450/56 "2018-01-25T21:03:11Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > Nope. I’d estimate a good 45% of the American populace are total and complete wastes of resources. 95% of the people in the world are just basically in the way. (No one here, of course! 🙂 ) ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2018, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-any-american-a-waste/807450/57 "2018-01-25T21:12:03Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > Nope. I’d estimate a good 45% of the American populace are total and complete wastes of resources. 45%? Have you been to the DMV lately? ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2018, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-any-american-a-waste/807450/58 "2018-01-25T21:20:45Z")
> [@Euphrosyne](#): > > It’s back to work for me, my friends. > > I hope to read and answer more later this evening or tomorrow. Thanks so much for an interesting discussion, and very much hope it will continue. > > Best regards, and cheers! - Euphrosyne Would you mind telling us which religious sect you follow, so that we might know which “God” you are referring to? ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2018, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-any-american-a-waste/807450/59 "2018-01-25T22:12:11Z")
Metadist. ---
**Author:** ![kambuckta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/53a042/32.png) [@kambuckta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kambuckta)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2018, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-any-american-a-waste/807450/60 "2018-01-25T22:22:06Z")
> [@VinylTurnip](#): > > Metadist. 😃 You’re still my favourite poster Vinyl. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-any-american-a-waste/807450.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-any-american-a-waste/807450.md?page=4)