Respect: A Simple Word

[Xenogias]

snip

I did read the whole thing. But how do you expect someone to react when you try to generalize at first and then say you know many Americans who aren't like what the rest of the world seems to think we are like? You cant have it both ways. The point I intended to make and did a terrible job of it is generalizations are silly regardless of who is making them. Using the word ignorant was out of line as well. I'm sorry if I was offensive that was not the intent. Truth be told there is a good amount of our culture and lack of REAL education of other cultures that I don't like. But you have to understand that I am proud to have been born and raised here and I will defend it. The same as I would expect anyone else to do with their country.

[Diavolo]

Snip

I don't really care if you're proud of where you're born and feel the need to defend it. That's pretty irrelevant. The international community doesn't hold such an opinion without some basis in truth. Every nation has good and bad, but when your nation has a reputation for flat out ignorance, self-entitlement, and an impetuous view of those that aren't part of your nation, something is wrong. And you already restated what I stated about the education system, which is a joke in itself, but that's too far off topic and delves more into social stratification, etc.

After all, you don't really hear Europeans bitching at people for not speaking *insert language* in this game when someone speaks their native language just because they can't understand it.

[Gramul]

when your nation has a reputation for flat out ignorance, self-entitlement, and an impetuous view of those that aren't part of your nation, something is wrong.

Statements like that only just parrots the opinions of over exaggerated satire and sensationalism stemming from ignorance and paranoia.

I don't control what other people think of me and my nation. I live my life as I see fit. If others have an issue with that, it's on them and I have no reason to change for people who already hate me. Now there is certainly something to be said about socially acceptable behavior and being able to tactfully represent yourself to avoid unnecessary drama and conflict, but those that feed on judgement and prejudice based on cherry picking stereotypes? I don't need them to like me.

After all, you don't really hear Europeans bitching at people for not speaking *insert language* in this game when someone speaks their native language just because they can't understand it.

Nor did I ever hear Americans or Canadians complaining about that either.

[Diavolo]

Statements like that only just parrots the opinions of over exaggerated satire and sensationalism stemming from ignorance and paranoia.

I don't control what other people think of me and my nation. I live my life as I see fit. If others have an issue with that, it's on them and I have no reason to change for people who already hate me. Now there is certainly something to be said about socially acceptable behavior and being able to tactfully represent yourself to avoid unnecessary drama and conflict, but those that feed on judgement and prejudice based on cherry picking stereotypes? I don't need them to like me.

Again, my opinions are formed based on my experiences/interactions. Not satire/sensationalism/paranoia. In fact, I'm not even sure what I would need to be paranoid about.

[Gramul]

Again, my opinions are formed based on my experiences/interactions.

Personal experiences are often clouded by preconceived notions. That's just human nature. A defense mechanism.

The paranoia is the expectation that some will behave in such a detracting way, so you focus in on anything resembling it. Allowing it to grow and fester. That's how bigotry works. It's how prejudice is formed.
It happens to all of us. Like expecting a jock to be dumb or a nerd to watch anime. We fuel these preconceived notions by pointing out where we see it most and ignoring all the instances where it isn't true.

Who is John Galt?

We are.