How to lose friends and alienate countries

[Patricius Maximus 236]

Probably 3/4 of the planet who are not American have some kind of duscust or dislike for the USA.quote>

The US still controls the major part of the cultural influence in a big part of the world (movies, music...) and is seen as an example to follow, all that hate stories have been blown out of proportion, I fail to see any constant hatred against the US over here (and there are reasons for grief)quote>

It depends on which region and country you're talking about, as well as which American government you're asking about.

[Subzer0 0]

I think your looking at this wrong. Its not to say countries specifically hate the USA, its more of a stereotypical problem. Many people have presumptions about Americans, i.e. they are rude, overweight, unintelligent, or other things. It has to do with America's global image as a whole... such as the operations in Iraq and other parts of the middle east. Its a complicated thing but overall, yes, the image is negative.

[LarksTonguesInAspic 28]

Originally posted by: fukuda I don't seriously think China has any plans on invading Korea or Japan

quote>

China has had 150,000+ troops on N Korea's border for a long time, but if they were to invade, I'd bet good money no one would try to stop them. It would be an improvement in the overall picture.

[Patricius Maximus 236]

I don't seriously think China has any plans on invading Korea or Japan quote>

China has had 150,000+ troops on N Korea's border for a long time, but if they were to invade, I'd bet good money no one would try to stop them. It would be an improvement in the overall picture.quote>

Yes, the Chinese might bring capitalism to North Korea (and everyone thought they were communist .

[slight sarcasm there]

[newyorkrunaway1 110]

Originally posted by: Subzer0

I think your looking at this wrong. Its not to say countries specifically hate the USA, its more of a stereotypical problem. Many people have presumptions about Americans, i.e. they are rude, overweight, unintelligent, or other things. It has to do with America's global image as a whole... such as the operations in Iraq and other parts of the middle east. Its a complicated thing but overall, yes, the image is negative.quote>

and it is completly ignorant to base views as a country as a whole off some idiot people who somehow make it to the news.

obviously this is a lost cause as there are more people here that are from abroad and have this "anti-american" sentiment, but you cant base a common consensus off of a few bad apples. every country has them, everyone has had some jack hole get on tv and make people look bad. i have watched this forum over the years and constantly there are threads like this. it is almost as if people are trolling the net looking for those videos of some american idiot who was able to get on tv and say something stupid, adn post it here to get some rise out of some people.

i dont usually give into these such threads, but after a while it just bugs you.

[Explodingsims 3]

Well, Had this been any other news network than Fox, I would have thought it satire right away...

/sarcasm

I personally didn't find this funny, but I didn't find it offensive. It looked like something out of one of those GENRE Movies....

Oh yes, and I still refuse to take Fox seriously after the Mass Effect kaffufel.

[your_adress_here 11]

We actually discussed this in our philosophy class the other day (before I saw it here).

I have to admit, as a Canadian who's father is in Afghanistan... I found it funny. Probably more because of the stupidity of it, but I guess I never watch FOX expecting to take it seriously.

PS... I wonder why the show is called Red Eye? Does anyone know?

[newyorkrunaway1 110]

its called red eye, from the term "red eye" flight, red eye flights are very very late flights, ie, very very late show

[R&C Rocks 1]

Who takes Fox News seriously? Honestly I can't stand the network. They claim to be "Fair and Balanced" even though they air some of the most biased reports I've seen and have more news anchors from the right and far-right than any of the other networks. (Which is pretty much the exact opposite of MSNBC, which I can't stand either.)

If you're looking for more honest reporting then you need to look at CNN, they've always been near the center and have a fair share of news anchors with political views along the entire spectrum.

But, If you want a good laugh, turn to Fox News.

[spore415 5]

Who takes Fox News seriously? Honestly I can't stand the network. They claim to be "Fair and Balanced" even though they air some of the most biased reports I've seen and have more news anchors from the right and far-right than any of the other networks. (Which is pretty much the exact opposite of MSNBC, which I can't stand either.)

If you're looking for more honest reporting then you need to look at CNN, they've always been near the center and have a fair share of news anchors with political views along the entire spectrum.

But, If you want a good laugh, turn to Fox News.

First off, i'm not here to start arguments... but i take FOX news seriously, and so do many other people based of their rating for the past several years. however, to call them some of the most biased reports, i have to disagree (strongly) with you on that point. speaking as a conservative american (however, i prefer to think of myself as one with common sense rather than affiliating myself with any political agenda), i am quite tired of hearing and watching so many liberal leaning reports. whether you choose to back up this statement or not, the majority of the Press is Liberal and there is no way to get around that. as to your statement of FOX having more anchors from the right, yes, they do, they absolutely do i agree with you 100%, but that is what they market themselves as the conservative alternative newsource. you can call a newsource neutral, but they are always leaning one way or the other, not reporting something or emphasizing another subject. most people tend to watch the program which broadcasts ideals similar to their own. which brings me back to FOX Bias, it is absolutely right leaning, and i gaurentee you that if you watch it, it will broadcast certain reports and stories that other networks will refuse to show, likewas you will hear different reports on MSNBC that you might not hear on fox, but it is all a matter of which way politically you lean. as to your last comment, if you want a good laugh, i would more readily suggest comedy central, the new season of south park just started and it looks like it is a good one...! (i thought i would throw that in there to lighten up the mood a little)

Well, Had this been any other news network than Fox, I would have thought it satire right away... /sarcasm

Right i see what you mean, because when i turn on BBC and CNBC i think funny sarcasm!!!!!!! yayyyy

as to RED EYE. i am not a big fan of it. it is a late night "filler show" if you will. somethings they have to say are slightly amusing no doubt, but it is not meant to deliver serious news, because the majority of americans arn't awake at the late time it is on. i also want to make it perfectly clear that i do not condone the actions of anyone in anyway trying to make a joke out of the service of the brave men and women serving in war time, be they American, Canadian, British etc... (except the enemy, i don't care if they belittle the radical terrorist organizations, under the radical islamic idealology)

and as for the anti americans out there, listen, don't judge based upon idiots you see on televsion or read in a book or magazine article. Alot of people in this world are just stupid, and because they are so stupid, they make everyone else they are affiliated with look bad. and i am fed up by these stereotyped as all americans as southern stupid cowboys who don't know how to say the word nuclear, because we arn't. and i just want to close by saying, that those who are truely ignorant are the ones who are pointing the finger, because every time they point, there are three more fingers pointing right back at them.

i realize i might have come off as conveying a slightly different point than what i had intended too, but my basic idea was, to all the people abroad, if i could speak for the entire country, the United States of America doesn't care that you don't like us, we get it, we don't like your attitudes either. an eye for an eye a tooth for a tooth (once again, what i said above is only directed towards those with harsh outspoken feelings towards the USA)

[ilikehotdogsalot 311]

Solution to bias in the news:

Watch BBC.

[Haljackey 17,398]

Please take this seriously,

Regardless of the network this show aired, this is still from the American media. Let's stop pointing fingers at FOX and address the larger implications of the video.

Let's get back to what the topic is about, okay?

---

My thoughts on the matter, coming from the one who thought he should spread the word here:

First of all they start badgering Canadian forces for taking a year off. The only reason we went there was to help the Americans. We've been in a very dangerous part of the country since 2002. The Canadian Afghan mission was supposed to end in 2007. Then with NATO involvement Canada decided to stay until 2009. Recently we just extended the deadline to 2011, and we knew we couldn't be there any longer until we restructured. By pulling out for a year, we could regroup and organize ourselves if the mission was to continue in 2012. Once we reestablished a presence in the area, we would be far more prepared and better equipped than if we just stayed there.

-The way they discussed this topic was not funny at all. Like we're going to do some yoga, run on the beach, etc during the downtime.

As for many Americans not knowing we are in the war, this is typical. No comment there.

-Canada is known as a peaceful nation worldwide, so us being in a war seems unlikely unless it involves some peacekeeping efforts. This is the main focus, but in some cases, war must be fought in order to bring peace.

-I'm sure many Americans have contemplated invading Canada. You do that, and I bet every nation on earth will declare war on you. Its a peaceful land, let it stay as that.

-Again, the way they approached this topic was not funny. The stereotypes were uncalled for and offensive to anyone who has served with the armed forces or police.

The Alaska/Russia invading thing was just too random. No comment there.

When the guy out of the studio was interviewed, he tried to talk some sense into the host. Although he failed to change their mood towards this topic, he tried and I won't condemn him like those in the studio.

Political correctness has nothing to do with the topic. No comment there.

As for Canada, Mexico and Europe relying on the US for protection, they are our allies for crying out loud! Of course we count on one another for protection, resources, trade, etc because that's what an alliance is all about. "The most powerful country in the universe" comment sounded like skipping a rock in mud. They may be a powerful nation, but it ends there. Saying the "In the..." makes them sound superior in some far out way, and this sense of mega-pride is demeaning to other countries. Don't get too proud of oneself or one country because you can really hurt others in the process, which is exactly what they did there.

---

Imagine yourself as a Canadian mother with a son serving in Afghanistan. The day after you hear that 4 soldiers were killed (not saying your son was killed, but you could imagine it to be) you find out about this outrageous video. It has spread all over Canada and the effects have been felt on a global scale. So many people are outraged by this its not even funny. You've angered the world, and pissed off your closest ally who's trying to help you in Afghanistan. Well done!

[belfastuniguy 18]

Imagine yourself as a Canadian mother with a son serving in Afghanistan. The day after you hear that 4 soldiers were killed (not saying your son was killed, but you could imagine it to be) you find out about this outrageous video. It has spread all over Canada and the effects have been felt on a global scale. So many people are outraged by this its not even funny. You've angered the world, and pissed off your closest ally who's trying to help you in Afghanistan. Well done!quote>

Exactly, fact remains that while some Americans and American media outlets like to mock other nations they seem rather lacking in their ability to recognise that as a dead solider to army size ratio, Canada has suffered the greatest losses. I'm sure the families of the dead soldiers had a right laugh when they saw the FOX 'comedy'

Oh Micheal, Micheal, can you please step down off your high horse for a moment? May I ask when was the last time, or how often, you watch the FOX news channel? And snippits posted on Youtube blatantly removed from their context don't count. So please don't start with this garbage about how terrible, corrupt and right-wing FOX is because it simply isn't true, I watch it daily and I think you know me well enough that I would not fall prey to such extreme bias if that were the case.

quote>

I do watch FOX now and then, we get it on satellite here. FOX is one of the worst news channels I have ever seen Eric, its obvious bias is ridiculous. I know all media outlets in some form have a degree of bias, but they should strive to limit it and provide an informed viewpoint on world/national events. The attitude and interview style of some of the FOX reporters is rather curious and somewhat extreme and the entire channel to me and I'm sure others is too dramatic for its own good. Its not exactly great for the view people have of America when they watch it. I have travelled to America a lot and spent some time there and despite what some individuals on these forums say about me being Anti-American, they are clearly unable to separate valid criticism from hatemongering and have no notion of what true anti-Americanism is.

Solution to bias in the news:

Watch BBC. quote>

I agree

I'm not going to say the BBC is without bias, but the bias is incredibly limited and small in scale and I would have no issue stating that the BBC is one of the best media outlets for fair and balanced news reporting. Its world reporters are some of the best and most informed on their subject with a great many living in those countries for many years.

[spore415 5]

BBC world news isn't a bad alternative either, i do agree on that sentiment.

it shows alot of worldwide thngs that you wouldn't normally see on any national news stations, plus the british accents... i mean come on those are awsome (sorry for goign off topic there at the end)

[warrior 169]

Why do we need protection from the USA? Probably because they used their power wrongly and got us into a situation where we do need protection.

And really we shouldn't need "protection" at all, we all one this planet together, just gotta wait till some aliens come and decide to be "unfriendly", hopefully then we'll all realise what idiots we've been and really it doesn't matter who's the most powerful on the planet. Ok that might not happen ever, but why can't we get to the end result anyway?

Maybe in the current Economic situation, the US will no longer be the most powerful country, also remember without the rest of the world the US wouldn't really exist, and at least wouldn't be the most powerful on the Earth.

Jonathan

[Yoman3 5]

First of all we need to recognize that these people are comedians (bad ones at that). Second that these morons hardly represent the views of 300 million people as a whole. Third that this is on Fox, which although I agree with alot because I am right of center their bias is quite obvious, though I have to say that MSNBC is even worse. Just because the comedians are idiots and the humor is in bad taste though, does not mean that its what I as an American think.

I do think the comments about Europe are relevant though. Excluding countries such as the UK of course, the Netherlands, Poland, and Norway I think, European troops are useless, because they aren't allowed to fight. Gee, that's helpful, soldiers who aren't allowed to fight. The current nicknames among American troops for the ISAF, this is directed at the soldiers who aren't allowed to fight remember, not the above mentioned and Canada, are:

I Suck At Fighting

I Sunbathe At FOBs (fire bases)

I Saw Americans Fight

While crude and slightly misinformed, especially the last one, since it doesn't take into account troops of countries such as Canada, Uk, Poland, Netherlands, etc. it is generally true. Though if the last one did take into account these considerations then the joke portion would be lost because it wouldn't be an acronym for ISAF anymore

[Kryptowhite 9]

Does anyone actually watch Fox News? Occasionally i'll catch parts of their local news, but I've never actually watched or seen anyone watch their national/international news segments. CNN is so much better....Please keep in mind, that in America, the Iraq War took first priority in both the media and our minds, so much that many people forgot about the Afghanistan conflict until about a year ago when it began to pick up again. i guess its just another war that we thought had ended much sooner than it really did. Most Americans appreciate the efforts of the Canadians, Europeans, Austrialians, and whoever else has helped us out in this "venture".

[Barbarossa 51]

.

  Edited September 8, 2012 by Barbarossa  

[Ntq€310 1]

Hmmm does anyone watch fox... I guess my answer is the fact that on a regular basis Fox has more viewers then both MSNBC and CNN combined, and many times over apparently. So that's my answer to that, apparently a lot of people watch fox, and you know why? Because MSNBC has become anti-republican central and seems to be acting as Obama head quarters, while CNN, while being very center, leans to the left, and has very little right leaning people compared to how many left leaning they have. This is the reason Fox is so popular, because they actually have people, who have there own views on matters too, but are right leaning, and can relate to such a large part of America.

Now just imagine why these people watch fox? Because when they turn on there TV and watch fox, they can actually go 'yeah!' and agree with what there saying, and Fox can actually talk about issues, that are more central to the republican views, such as Military, security, and Economy. Most of them, like me will a good amount of times, disagree at points, and at others go 'What are you smoking?' but compared to how I would feel if I watched MSNBC all day, no wonder I would prefer to watch fox.

Probably getting off topic again, and this is my own political views, which in turn effect the networks I watch. But honestly this has just turned into another Anti-fox campaign, and for the reason that it seems Fox is the only network that doesn't include very Liberal views, I admit it's had its fair share of controversy, this included, but honestly every network has had some, and every network is different. Now onto topic.

__________________________________________

To Hal's latest post, Most Americans, and many on Fox itself, and most who watch Fox, really do appreciate that work that many of the Canadian, and NATO troops have put into the Afghan war. Now some of the European troops, not as much, but hey, At least there here, and helping in some ways.

I still think that we need to realize that this is a filler show at 3a.m, which isn't suppose to be taken seriously anyway. These comments were also stupid, and still deserve some of the outrage that was given to them, the people apologized, and that should be the end of it, in my view. I can't really understand the feeling of the Fathers, wives, children, and Canadians who heard these, and as they continue to lose good lives in this war, I can only imagine how hurt, and angry they felt, but at some point you do have to drop it and move on, since really you can't change what has already been said, but change what hasn't been said yet, and inform and continue to support the Canadian cause. However in the larger view this has sparked a good debate about international relations, and such.

In my view the U.S. needs it allies, and it's allies need it, and each other. Need may be a strong word, but through economy, social, cultural, military power, and such we are only stronger together then apart. We've already faced down many enemies, the Warsaw pact being the biggest, and have made are world a more peaceful and better place for many. We should continue to do that, and work together, and become stronger off of each other, and not by ourselves where are weaknesses will only show more.

My views on this.

[Zezug 6]

I would like to say this surprises me but it doesnt, stupid people given airtime and who cant even make good jokes. I mean hell, they could have gone with the normal overdone jokes about Canada but no, they had to cross the line and annoy people, go figure.

Id also like to point out that saying fox news is the most watched channel doesnt mean a whole hell of a lot for anything. "While Fox News remains the most-watched cable news channel over all - it has been attracting an average of nearly 2 million viewers each weeknight this year, compared to 1.3 million for CNN and 805,000 for MSNBC" Oh man, 2million a night, so less than 1% of our population watches it nightly.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/28/arts/television/28rati.html

[ShortStraw 1]

It is sobering to me as an American to realize that people around the world will judge me based on what they see of American television. I rarely watch television so when I do I tend to not be desensitized to the massive inaccuracies, misrepresentations and outright fantasy I see in our media. To me, everything on television in my country is sensationalism or outright fiction. The America I perceive all around me with my own senses bears absolutely no resemblance to anything I have ever seen on television that somehow passes for being representative of America.

It's really a shame that the people who produce our television and other media have no sense of responsibility or interest in things like objectivity, accuracy, pertinence, or truth and instead seem intently focused on consistently underestimating the average American and ignoring or offending everyone else.

So whatever American media it is that you are consuming, please be assured that we are not that stupid, we are not that shallow, we are not that angry and we are not that irrational.

[Easy Bakes 253]

Originally posted by: ShortStraw

It is sobering to me as an American to realize that people around the world will judge me based on what they see of American television. I rarely watch television so when I do I tend to not be desensitized to the massive inaccuracies, misrepresentations and outright fantasy I see in our media. To me, everything on television in my country is sensationalism or outright fiction. The America I perceive all around me with my own senses bears absolutely no resemblance to anything I have ever seen on television that somehow passes for being representative of America.

It's really a shame that the people who produce our television and other media have no sense of responsibility or interest in things like objectivity, accuracy, pertinence, or truth and instead seem intently focused on consistently underestimating the average American and ignoring or offending everyone else.

So whatever American media it is that you are consuming, please be assured that we are not that stupid, we are not that shallow, we are not that angry and we are not that irrational.quote>

I wonder if there has actually been a TV show that accurately represents the average American.

[hym 358]

If there has, it probably died for lack of ratings. After all, who wants to watch something that is totally commonplace and normal?

[Easy Bakes 253]

I think All In The Family probably came closest.

[bluegoose 2]

On Fox News:

If a news outlet waves a national flag, at all times, in the corner of the TV screen, it's probably a nationalistic mouthpiece.

[Patricius Maximus 236]

First off, i'm not here to start arguments... but i take FOX news seriously, and so do many other people based of their rating for the past several years. however, to call them some of the most biased reports, i have to disagree (strongly) with you on that point. speaking as a conservative american (however, i prefer to think of myself as one with common sense rather than affiliating myself with any political agenda), i am quite tired of hearing and watching so many liberal leaning reports.quote>

Biased from your perspective. A liberal likely would not think the reports were biased, and may think the reports from the center and right-wing are biased, and vice-versa with conservatives. Hence you see conservatives whining about liberal biases, and liberals whining about conservative biases (although not as often).

whether you choose to back up this statement or not, the majority of the Press is Liberal and there is no way to get around that.quote>

I am growing annoyed at right-wingers who whine and complain about the press being so liberal. Why don't they go and prove it? Formulate a political test (there are plenty avaliable), and test every single news anchor, reporter, or everyone in the press, and see if there is a significant discrepancy.

as to your statement of FOX having more anchors from the right, yes, they do, they absolutely do i agree with you 100%, but that is what they market themselves as the conservative alternative newsource. quote>

They do? Then why do I occasionally see an ad on there which says they're "Fair and Balanced"?

you can call a newsource neutral, but they are always leaning one way or the other, not reporting something or emphasizing another subject. most people tend to watch the program which broadcasts ideals similar to their own. which brings me back to FOX Bias, it is absolutely right leaning, and i gaurentee you that if you watch it, it will broadcast certain reports and stories that other networks will refuse to show, likewas you will hear different reports on MSNBC that you might not hear on fox, but it is all a matter of which way politically you lean.quote>

I agree with you on the neutrality point. However, another way to bias a news program is to inject an anchor's opinion in there and blending it with the news. There are some more extreme news anchors that masquerade their opinion as news, but there are others of the same distance from the center who have the decency to segregate their opinion from the news.

and as for the anti americans out there, listen, don't judge based upon idiots you see on televsion or read in a book or magazine article. Alot of people in this world are just stupid, and because they are so stupid, they make everyone else they are affiliated with look bad. and i am fed up by these stereotyped as all americans as southern stupid cowboys who don't know how to say the word nuclear, because we arn't. and i just want to close by saying, that those who are truely ignorant are the ones who are pointing the finger, because every time they point, there are three more fingers pointing right back at them. quote>

"Anti-Americans"? Perhaps we should invent a euphemism for that one. Three more fingers pointing at them? Now, let me see, there are 500 million in the EU, and 300 million in the US. Hardly an American superiority of 3:1.

I have travelled to America a lot and spent some time there and despite what some individuals on these forums say about me being Anti-American, they are clearly unable to separate valid criticism from hatemongering and have no notion of what true anti-Americanism is. quote>

Is it true Anti-Americanism or simply American arrogance? Sorry for all you Americans, but I believe most of the time American arrogance prevents you from listening to any kind of criticism. I mean, think about the fantasies Americans live under: "we're the most powerful country in the world, the potential of our people is unlimited, we're the richest country in the world", et cetera. You have no power when you have a debt that will bankrupt your treasury soon, a finite amount of resources has finite potential, and the richest economy in the world is the EU.

Ralph Nader once said that Americans must realize that their resources are finite, and they must be used wisely, be it natural resources, land, money, or military expeditions.

Does anyone actually watch Fox News? Occasionally i'll catch parts of their local news, but I've never actually watched or seen anyone watch their national/international news segments. CNN is so much better....quote>

I watch Fox News every so often. The most frequent program I watch is Glenn Beck. I tried to watch Hannity a couple of times, but I just can't stand him. CNN is better if you want news, especially the Situation Room.

On Fox News:

If a news outlet waves a national flag, at all times, in the corner of the TV screen, it's probably a nationalistic mouthpiece.quote>

Good point. In the Cost of Freedom block, it alternates between a logo that says "FOX" and then in big print it says "NEWS". As if they don't know it's supposed to be a news channel .

[Francis90b 748]

Speaking about the fact that started this topic, death in war should always be respected.Mock is really out of place, and i can't really understand how some people could do this.

About FOX, i don't think it should be blamed for this.Every television gives what the audience wants.I live in Italy and that's the same, i seriously wonder about what a stranger can think about Italians after seeing our television.