# question for non-USA posters!! **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [January 30, 2003, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-for-non-usa-posters/151678 "2003-01-30T18:50:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Harborwolf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c89c15/32.png) [@Harborwolf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harborwolf)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2003, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-for-non-usa-posters/151678/1 "2003-01-30T18:50:45Z")
Does the United States look like as big of an asshole as I think it does right now? ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Fight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/90ced4/32.png) [@Cat\_Fight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Fight)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2003, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-for-non-usa-posters/151678/2 "2003-01-30T18:59:55Z")
No. The president, to some, but why punish a whole country for the actions of its leader? ---
**Author:** ![Harborwolf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c89c15/32.png) [@Harborwolf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harborwolf)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2003, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-for-non-usa-posters/151678/3 "2003-01-30T19:05:56Z")
Ask Dubya. ---
**Author:** ![big\_alex](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e56c9b/32.png) [@big\_alex](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/big_alex)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2003, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-for-non-usa-posters/151678/4 "2003-01-30T19:16:33Z")
I agree with cat fight, the president and the government do, but I realise that the American people have the right to disagree. ---
**Author:** ![everton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ecb155/32.png) [@everton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/everton)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2003, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-for-non-usa-posters/151678/5 "2003-01-30T19:39:18Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Harborwolf \* > \*\*Does the United States look like as big of an asshole as I think it does right now? \*\* 1. How big an asshole do you think the United States looks? 2. Why did you ask your question in Cafe Society? I don’t see how George W Bush should have any impact on my perception of America’s cultural identity, so the answers given so far don’t seem to address your question. ---
**Author:** ![Charlie\_Tan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/charlie_tan/32/12582_2.png) [@Charlie\_Tan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Charlie_Tan)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2003, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-for-non-usa-posters/151678/6 "2003-01-30T19:49:06Z")
No. However, I am concerned about the road the US government is taking. But I’m also concerned about the attitude in Germany, France and my own country. And me thinks this is leaving Cafe Society, pronto. ---
**Author:** ![Harborwolf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c89c15/32.png) [@Harborwolf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harborwolf)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2003, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-for-non-usa-posters/151678/7 "2003-01-30T22:27:35Z")
My question was not meant to be a complaint. I admit to phrasing it crudely, but my intent was to find out how the U.S. is percieved by the rest of the world. The country seems to be a wee bit beligerent lately and given Donnie Rumsfelds statements and the SOTU address this week, I became curious. I apologise for making it sound a bit BBQ-esque, but I figured this was more of a societal question and less of a rant ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Frink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/977dab/32.png) [@Mr.Frink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Frink)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2003, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-for-non-usa-posters/151678/8 "2003-01-30T23:51:30Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Harborwolf \* > \*\*Does the United States look like as big of an asshole as I think it does right now? \*\* No, but you do. [sub]_Sorry, I couldn’t help it. Just too easy…_[/sub] ---
**Author:** ![5-HT](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/5/f19dbf/32.png) [@5-HT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/5-HT)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2003, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-for-non-usa-posters/151678/9 "2003-01-31T00:10:36Z")
**harbor** , the problem wasn’t that the post was pitworthy, but rather that it had fuckall to do with entertainment, which is the subject matter that Cafe Society covers. you probably should have put it in either GD or IMHO. ---
**Author:** ![Boo\_Boo\_Foo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e274bd/32.png) [@Boo\_Boo\_Foo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boo_Boo_Foo)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2003, 12:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-for-non-usa-posters/151678/10 "2003-01-31T00:24:10Z")
Indeed. I’d love to reply, but I’m very sure this is in the wrong forum, so I shan’t. ---
**Author:** ![Harborwolf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c89c15/32.png) [@Harborwolf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harborwolf)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2003, 12:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-for-non-usa-posters/151678/11 "2003-01-31T00:34:34Z")
my bad. Should have read the description instead of going by name. How can I get a moderator to move this bad boy elsewhere" ---
**Author:** ![TVeblen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/4bbf92/32.png) [@TVeblen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TVeblen)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2003, 3:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-for-non-usa-posters/151678/12 "2003-01-31T03:02:43Z")
**Moderator’s note:** I’ll move it on over to IMHO for you, **Harborwolf**. Just happened to be in the neighborhood, cruising for book suggestions. If you want a thread moved, just e-mail the forum mods or use the “report this post” function. It might take a little while but we’ll get on it ASAP. TVeblen, IMHO mod ---
**Author:** ![Alias](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a88e4f/32.png) [@Alias](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alias)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2003, 4:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-for-non-usa-posters/151678/13 "2003-01-31T04:02:19Z")
thanks TVeblen, just mailed eutychus (?) a little while ago. Thanks for moving it ---
**Author:** ![Harborwolf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c89c15/32.png) [@Harborwolf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harborwolf)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2003, 4:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-for-non-usa-posters/151678/14 "2003-01-31T04:19:50Z")
even dumber. Posted under my girlfriends username. go me! ---
**Author:** ![Sublight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/439d5e/32.png) [@Sublight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sublight)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2003, 4:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-for-non-usa-posters/151678/15 "2003-01-31T04:43:12Z")
Most of the people I’ve talked with distinguish between the American government and the American people, but there are plenty who don’t. ---
**Author:** ![Sublight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/439d5e/32.png) [@Sublight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sublight)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2003, 4:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-for-non-usa-posters/151678/16 "2003-01-31T04:47:02Z")
My post didn’t really answer your question: the majority opinion in Japan seems to be that Bush is being foolish and over-agressive, but most don’t harbor any ill will toward American people in general. ---
**Author:** ![Shalmanese](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shalmanese](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shalmanese)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2003, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-for-non-usa-posters/151678/17 "2003-01-31T15:20:44Z")
Well, your president certainly seems like an asshole. As for the rest of your country, probably not so much Assholish as just… _American_. In the same way that tentacle porn is just _Japanese_. ---
**Author:** ![grimpixie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ecb155/32.png) [@grimpixie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/grimpixie)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2003, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-for-non-usa-posters/151678/18 "2003-01-31T15:34:45Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Shalmanese \* > \*\*Well, your president certainly seems like an asshole. As for the rest of your country, probably not so much Assholish as just… _American_. In the same way that tentacle porn is just _Japanese_. \*\* I agree with the sentiment while being _rather freaked out_ by the implications of the content!! 😃 Grim ---
**Author:** ![Damascene](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e19adc/32.png) [@Damascene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Damascene)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2003, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-for-non-usa-posters/151678/19 "2003-01-31T16:04:03Z")
They are certainly those in the UK (myself included) who think that Dubya and the American Goverment are grade-A sphincters who are hell-bent on war, and will start one by any means necessary. However, this does not extend to the American people, as I realise that there is growing outspoken opposition to the war there. ---
**Author:** ![Janx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/b9bd4f/32.png) [@Janx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Janx)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2003, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-for-non-usa-posters/151678/20 "2003-01-31T16:56:44Z")
I am constantly having to justify being an American lately, I think for the most part, here in Brazil, the answer is yes. Every time that guy opens his warmongering mouth the financial markets take some kind turn, and there is a bit of inflation. I hear things like “DAMN AMERICANS!” I always have to be the American apologist - saying things like “Whoe, hold on there, I didn’t VOTE for the guy - in fact, did you see how he won the election, messing things up in the state where his BROTHER just _happened_ to be the governor?” (people here are no stranger to fixed elections and political favoritism and don’t have ANY doubt about what happened). And, “relax, no body except the president wants a war, if they did you can bet we would have gone by now.” I assure them that this is not a generally “American” sentiment just the views of the current president and a certain section of the population, but it is by no means how the country as a whole feels. It seems to be about a man who has a score to settle for his dad, and some bucks to make for friends in the oil biz. This seems to pacify for the most part but people are wary of always hearing “Bush threatens war (again)” this is repeated so often that the shock value has long been drained and only serves to further the stereotype of the “ugly American”. And I can assure you its getting to be a royal pain in the ass! [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-for-non-usa-posters/151678.md?page=2)