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Debate Info

25
31
Yes, they do think so No, they do not
Debate Score:56
Arguments:46
Total Votes:59
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Argument Ratio

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 Yes, they do think so (19)
 
 No, they do not (25)

Debate Creator

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is it me, or do americans think they're the only people living on this planet?

Don't get me wrong, I love everything about America, including the poeple.

But when I'm debating with an american, they tend to think that the american politics are .. the only thing that is.

When they talk about 'stereotypes', they talk about sterotypical americans - and think that a stereotypical american, is a stereotypical .. person on earth.

I'm not talking about EVERY american, just the few I've debated with here on CD.

Do you agree or disagree, why or why not?

Yes, they do think so

Side Score: 25
VS.

No, they do not

Side Score: 31
2 points

I will admit that there are quite a few Americans who are aware that other countries exist. But there are some who just ignore the fact that other civilizations matter.

An example I can think of is in a debate I took part in recently (Is Christianity dying out or something), my opponent (arguing for the statement) stated that Church attendance was dropping and provided a source which only supported that point for the USA. When I stated that the source didn't apply for the whole world, my opponent replied "Well, America is the only country I care about" .

Side: Yes, they do think so
1 point

He said the same thing to me. Even being American myself, I whole-heartedly disagreed with him. In fact, if his sources are correct, I think its a big point against the U.S.

Side: Yes, they do think so
2 points

According to a survey done by Google in 2009, 73% of Americans, when asked to name another country, replied with a state in America over half of the time. This means that if I ask an America to name five countries, 73% of Americans will mention at least three states of America and just two other countries. If this isn't ignorant, what is?

Side: Yes, they do think so
riahlize(1573) Disputed
1 point

I would have said Australia. =p

Side: No, they do not
Dominus(20) Clarified
1 point

And if you'd said two other countries as well as Australia then you would not be part of the 73%

Side: Yes, they do think so
2 points

I think it's a general way of thinking for 1st world countries. I've noticed a lot of people from 1st world countrie assume their own culture.

Sometimes, I even catch myself conceiving my opinion where I automatically assume American law. I then have to back-track and rethink my opinion, taking into account world or individual cultures.

But I also know plenty of people who are not like this at all.

Side: Yes, they do think so
1 point

Yes, I once talked about how we should legalize gay marriage and stuff, and this one american was like '' Gay marriage is legal dummy "

Turns out he lived in Florida, and assumed that because gay marriage is legal there - of course it's legal everywhere right?!

I currently live in a country where it has yet to be legalized.

Side: Yes, they do think so
2 points

Oh boy.

He's just a plain ole idiot, assuming everywhere is Florida. The majority of American states do not permit same sex marriage, plenty of which go further even to criminalize it/ban it.

I currently live in a state that defines marriage as one man and one woman but has domestic partnership registration.

Side: Yes, they do think so
1 point

Well, he's an even bigger 'dummy' than that because gay marriage is banned by Florida's constitution.

Side: Yes, they do think so

Gay marriage IS legal. Name one (non-Islamist) country that jails anyone for participating, conducting, or facilitating a gay wedding. ;)

Side: Yes, they do think so
BenWalters(1513) Disputed
1 point

I don't think it's a 1st world view.

I've grown up in England, but I've been to an international American school abroad for over 3 years. While there are some American's there who are very internationally aware, there were many more American's who were not - in comparison to people from other countries.

Then when I compare the views that I hear from Americans online, to the views of Brits online/offline, there is a substantial difference. I understand that you want to think it's all 1st world countries, but personally, it sounds like just another example of Americans thinking that all other countries are like it.

Obviously, that's just blind speculation, and I welcome you to tell me otherwise, but just letting you know.

Side: No, they do not

I don't think they mean to be that way, but it comes across that way either way.

Side: Yes, they do think so
1 point

Exhibit A: Americans hate foreigners, to the point of making immigration illegal (for Mexicans, anyway). They brutally tease anyone who does not acclimate to their culture upon stepping foot on American soil. Yet when they visit other countries, they are appalled at receiving the same treatment and believe that taking up residence abroad is as easy as having a passport, because nobody could ever refuse an American.

Exhibit B: Americans are pro-war and express sympathy instead of hatred for soldiers. My understanding is that capital punishment is an accepted form of punishment for murderers there. Soldiers are all guilty of at least one premeditated murder of at least one innocent person. Americans boohoo over terrorism and treat Muslims like animals, without considering how much havoc they have wrought with their pointless wars. Mass murderers who rape and murder entire families and show no mercy to women or children are the victims here, people!

Exhibit C: An extension of Exhibit A. They travel abroad and settle in places they have no place in, considering that they don't know the language or culture. This results in natives being forced out of their homes and countries because of overcrowding (in my experience) and ridiculous tax rates.

Side: Yes, they do think so

Exhibit A: Does your country allow anyone to just walk in and set up residence or is that illegal? Maybe your country hates foreigners too ;)

Exhibit B: You should come to this country and see first hand how we treat Muslims. I mean, why aren't they leaving? We must be treating them pretty good if they keep coming here ;)

Exhibit C: Are you saying that Americans should NOT seek residency in any other country but that the citizens of other countries should be allowed to move to and live in America?

;)

Side: Yes, they do think so
1 point

Immigration isn't illegal and capital punishment is determined by state.

But mainly I just wanted to point out that you bash Americans for having immigration laws and then bash Americans for trying to settle in places where they don't know the culture or the language, which more often than not describes immigration. So you condemn America for not letting people immigrate (even though it does) and then condemn Americans for immigrating. Maybe we have some problems with immigration or war, but at least we're not contradictory hypocrites.

Side: No, they do not

Well, yes... they do, but let's not jump to conclusions. It's not so much that the American is quite as arrogant as most of the world thinks he is. It's more that he truly is that ignorant. It's a perspective issue. The media works very hard to keep its society willfully ignorant. If the American gained some of the perspective that he lacks, he may, in fact, demand change. The problem with that is that there are a lot of very wealthy people who are profiting on a broken system.

The thing is that ignorant people don't make a lot of demands. They eat what you tell them to eat. They buy what you tell them to buy. They don't ask a lot of questions because they don't know how to... The wouldn't understand if you told them.

Each year when speechwriters help the President to draft his State of the Union speech,

the speech is intentionally written on a 10th grade reading level. Studies have consistently shown that on average the 10th grade reading level is as high as the American understands. Anything above that goes over his head. For a surprising number of Americans, books like Harry Potter and Hunger Games make up the cornerstone of their reading list, these were major books that they read.

And somehow, they're supposed to come together and reach a consensus on the issues that effect them.

It's hard to argue with Americans, because so many of them don't have views. They have platforms and they don't understand the difference. Often, they don't know what they believe. They blindly support an idea because someone on their team said they're supposed to support it. They don't know what the hell they're talking about. They're just ignorant and rather than trying to educate themselves they get angry and yell.

Side: Yes, they do think so

Well, Americans do think their country is the only one that exists because of the prosperity. It's just a natural thought among so many Americans.

Side: Yes, they do think so

How could we possibly think we are the only people living on this planet when we consistently get to hear so much whining and complaining about us from all the other countries?

Side: No, they do not

A very sophisticated response thoroughly deserving of all the up votes it has received;-)

Side: No, they do not

Do I detect sarcasm?

And I don't control the up-votes. I cannot be held responsible for the actions of my fans.

Side: No, they do not
2 points

No, of course they don't. If they did, they would try to conquer and control each other. Americans know that Europe exists, that Mexico and African nations exist, (which is why they are racist), and that India exists (which is how they know to complain about outsourcing).

Americans are narcissistic, but they know that other nations exist. It is a prerequisite to their narcissism.

Side: No, they do not
1 point

Dear Birgitsiv, while many of the people in the US don't understand there are many others in the world, I do know they exist! It is surprising how many people think this way around the world. I am sorry your experience is the way you are describing it.

Side: No, they do not
Jungelson(3959) Disputed
2 points

^^ a GOOD American, ladies and Gentlemen. Not self centred, doesn't swear at people he doesn't like, doesn't loose his rag, and argues intelligently!

Side: Yes, they do think so
Jungelson(3959) Clarified
1 point

Wait, what..? No sorry i meant supporting..!

Side: Yes, they do think so
1 point

I could see how you think that. it's hard to think about other people when we're just the best ;)

Side: No, they do not
Axmeister(4322) Disputed
1 point

Come on, everyone knows Great Britain is the best country in the world.

Side: Yes, they do think so
1 point

Do yourself a favor. Seriously. Buy a passport. Buy a plane ticket. Pick a country in Europe at random. Go there. Spend a week or so. Try to be open to the experience. And set all politics aside (in terms of what their government's policies are). Just look at the culture and the people. See if you still feel the same way.

Yes, America's good at a lot of things, but unfortunately it's all too often the wrong things.

I used to think the same way then I had the opportunity to spend a year in Europe.

And it was embarrassing how far behind we really are. I'm an American and I say that not trying to be mean or disrespectful, but curious as to what it will take for us

to wake up, get off our asses, and live up to our potential in the world.

Here are 40 areas where the U.S.A. is number 1:

#1 America has the highest incarceration rate and the largest total prison population in the entire world by a good margin.

#2 There are more car thefts in the United States than anywhere else in the world by far.

#3 Of all the major industrialized nations, America is the most obese. Mexico is #2.

#4 The average American drinks more than 600 sodas a year - the most in the world.

#5 U.S. corporations sell more fast food and more soda than anyone else in the world by a wide margin.

#6 Nobody watches more television per week (28 hours) than Americans do. Although to be honest, people living in the UK are tied with us.

#7 The United States leads the world in credit card fraud.

#8 The United States has the highest percentage of one person households on the entire planet.

#9 The United States has the highest divorce rate in the world by a good margin.

#10 The United States has the highest teen pregnancy rate in the world by far.

#11 There are more school shootings in America than anywhere else in the world.

#12 The United States has the highest child abuse death rate in the world.

#13 There are more "deaths by reptile" in America than anywhere else in the world.

#14 The United States has the most lawyers per capita in the entire world.

#15 The United States produces more pornography than any other nation in the world.

#16 Americans take more prescription drugs than anyone else in the world.

#17 More is spent on prescription drug advertising in America than anywhere else in the world.

#18 The percentage of women taking antidepressants in America is higher than in any other country in the world.

#19 More people have been diagnosed with mental disorders in America than anywhere else on earth.

#20 The United States has the highest rate of illegal drug use on the entire globe.

#21 There is more credit card debt in America than anywhere else in the world.

#22 There is more mortgage debt in America than anywhere else in the world.

#23 There is more student loan debt in America than anywhere else in the world.

#24 The United States spends more money on government schools than any other nation on earth does.

#25 U.S. citizens spend more time in school than anyone else in the world. So why are so many of us dumb as a rock?

#26 Nobody in the world gets more plastic surgery done than Americans do.

#27 The United States leads the world in eating disorder deaths.

#28 According to nationmaster.com, the United States has the most total reported crimes in the world by far.

#29 Nobody has more airport security thugs groping women and children than America does.

#30 The United States spends much more on health care as a percentage of GDP than any other nation on the face of the earth.

#31 The United States has the most complicated tax system on the entire planet.

#32 The United States has the most laws on the entire planet.

#33 The United States spends more on the military than the next 12 nations combined, and yet the Obama administration is considering plans to unilaterally slash the size of the U.S. nuclear arsenal by up to 80 percent.

#34 The United States has the most foreign military bases in the world by far.

#35 The United States exports more arms to other countries than anyone else in the world.

#36 Americans spend more time sitting in traffic than anyone else in the world.

#37 Americans spend more money on elections than anyone else does in the world by a very wide margin.

#38 Every single year, the United States has the largest trade deficit in the world by far.

#39 The U.S. government wastes more money than any other government on earth does.

#40 The United States has accumulated the biggest mountain of government debt in the history of the world.

Side: Yes, they do think so
1 point

#15 The United States produces more pornography than any other nation in the world.

It was at this point on your list that I realized not all the bullets are bad ;)

Side: No, they do not
1 point

Birgitsiv, didn't I go out of my way to to read up on Faroe Islands?

Side: No, they do not
1 point

Hahaha :p yes you did. As I mentioned, I'm not talking about all americans. I only know one american in person - and she's married to one in my family, so the fact that she knows about other countries doesn't really count since she's living far away from America :p

But you are not in my group of self centered americans :o)

Side: No, they do not

It's not that we think that we are the only ones living on this planet..., it's more like..., we should be the only ones living on this planet. ;)

I mean, people from other countries think their shit don't stink. That only American shit stinks. Let's take a look. Shall we?

I'm sure that the Greeks don't think their shit stinks, but I bet the Germans beg to differ.

Then there's the French. If you don't believe me, go to Paris during the summer. They must not believe in public restrooms because it smells as though every Parisian pisses wherever they happen to be standing. I guess they've earned the title, "The stinking French" ;)

The same goes for whatever African country practices [clitoridectomy or infibulation.] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Female_genital_mutilation) You people are barbaric. I can get away with that because there's a good chance they don't have a computer to read what I've said and respond ;)

And don't forget the people from the Faroe Islands although they do have a beautiful country, I wonder how many of them mow their roof ;)

My point? We all see the world according to what we have come accustomed to. It's not an American trait. We did not patent it ;)

Side: No, they do not
1 point

And don't forget the people from the Faroe Islands although they do have a beautiful country, I wonder how many of them mow their roof ;)

We do mow our roof.

Side: No, they do not
1 point

Not that nothing is wrong with my country, there is plenty wrong with my country. Although lack of mowing the roofs is not one of them ;p

Side: No, they do not

How many people (roughly) fall off the roof, per year, while mowing it? It seems like a dangerous thing to do. ;)

Side: No, they do not
1 point

Hey, I'm American and I LOOOOVE the Japanese. And the Chinese and Russians are pretty cool when they aren't trying to kill me. And then there is Mexico, England, France, Germany, Australo-Canada (my lovely neighbors-to-the-downunder-north) and the great nation of Everbodyelseistan.

Side: No, they do not
1 point

Well, I'm not saying that Americans 'hate' all other countries. I'm not saying other countries hate them either.

What I meant was, that some americans think, that an average american is an average human on earth if you get what I mean?

Side: No, they do not
1 point

Oh yeah, I know. I see it. We are raised to be proud and independent, we have borders with less countries than most other countries do (and one of them is very similar to us, culturally), and, well we are not exactly stellar at the social sciences.

Although, honestly, I'd say that a lot of us view ourselves as far above average. Americans are number one at many things, including average ego size!

Side: No, they do not