h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I've seen it all regarding Americans on H2G2.
Comments which reflect these statements:

-I like the individual Americans I've met, but don't like their government.

-Americans tend to be (meaning I think they all are) fat/lazy/obnoxious/annoying/destructive/selfish/jingoistic/etc.

-If you're American, you can't like your own country or system, or else you're one of THEM.

-I'm American and I don't like what the government does.

-I'm American and I support Bush/support war/hate France/etc.

And there are pleny more where that came from.
Thread after thread of nothing but complaints, supports, bashing, and yelling. These aren't discussions anymore because no one will listen. It's just the same arguments over and over again.

So I ask, what would you do to fix this if you could? I don't mean, to end the war, kill Bush slowly and painfully, end Hussein's reign as "President," etc.

I mean, to end unending argument after argument over this entire mess on this site? Consolidate the American threads into one? Round up troublemaker posters and warn them? Ban American posters (or just unreasonable ones?) What would you do?

To tell truth, I don't know. I think, however, that it needs serious thought, and the first thing we need to do is listen before we speak.

ban politics. politicians don't even know what they're doing so how can we as a community? plus it is far too stressful and we are a nice happy people

As was suggested elsewhere, I think we should "Kill All Extremists"!

define 'extremist'.

Seriously, though, I'm a moderate, and I would say that going on some sort of offensive, be it against Saddam, Bush, Americans, politicians, the French, or whoever, is less likely to solve problems than some rational thought and common sense.

here here, i beleive there has been too much falsifying of information for me to be able to decide now. so i just wanna forget it. impossible i know but thats what i wanna do.

It will also help if the result of the next presidential election is clear cut, one way or the other. The whole controversy last time around just got Bush's term off on the wrong foot, and caused many to be wary of him, especially outside America. This election got more and longer publicity this side of the Pond than most others, and it gave an opportunity for various questions to be brought up about Bush himself as well as his administration.

Wary INSIDE the US too, not just outsiders!

Reguarding your comment;
"The whole controversy last time around just got Bush's term off on the wrong foot, and caused many to be wary of him, especially outside America."

I'm afraid that I can only speak for outsiders, although I'm glad to hear anything else informative.

Yikes anyone you find personally offensive or unsubscribe from the thread.Don't take ignorant generalisations personally.
Long ago I started a thread on why the English hate the French. It was meant to be light-hearted, but quickly got out of hand. So I left.There are thousands of other conversations that don't contain personal or general abuse. Pewople who are often rude don't seem to last very long on here. (who after nearly 60 years has finally met an Australian she doesn't like)

i like what Wand'rin Star said. and also Just Bob's comment about listening.

i think its important that people are able and allowed to critique abuses of power wherever they occur, so i don't have an inherent problem with discussing or debating the US role in the current political climate.

but there is a difference between critiquing something and being offensive. sometimes i think the offensive stuff is just someone not having very good communication skills. other times i think it is more about someone feeling angry or fearful and wanting to be right. and sometimes it seems to be about disrespecting other researchers.

its not just the threads on americans though. i'm fairly new here (a couple of months) and i've left a number of threads that i found too aggressive. i can have a fairly assertive debating style myself, but i've found some of the conversations here too much. i feel i'm learning alot by being here, especially about the need to listen more (myself included), and also to practice selfcare by leaving threads that are too full on.

i agree with Star that the best strategy for rudeness is not to engage in it (i think that was what s/he was saying).

i'd be interested to know if there are any researchers here familiar with concepts of non-violent communication. (i quite often see people on h2 practicing this, but i don't know if its been discussed?)

Thanks kea. We haven't discussed it recently that I'm aware of. Do you mean the ideas connected to Buddhism?
Quite a lot of people seem to do the same as I do, ie point out once to an offensive generaliser that that's what s/he's being. If this doesn't bring a more moderate response, unsubscribe. Life's too short to live with a sky high blood pressure all the time.
I have lived in many places where free speech has been non-existent and am currently slightly worried about proposed changes here in Hong Kong, so I agree wholeheartedly that not even my own country should be able to count on UNQUESTIONING support.(I'm an expatriate Brit)

Thanks for the response, I appreciate the advice. I just felt like things are so out of hand sometimes regarding these conversations. It seems like an inviting place, and I just wish people wouldn't fight like wounded animals over who is or is not something based on where they come from or what they believe. I guess I was affected too much by VERY angry messages and threads. I suppose I should learn to unsubscribe. Thanks again, all of you.

I, too, need to learn to unsubscribe more often, I guess. Hootoo is a wonderful place to meet a variety of people, and I think it's safe to say that the majority of the researchers are friendly, decent people. The trolls, flamers, and bashers wouldn't stand out so vividly if it weren't for all the nice folks.

I do get tired of the name calling and intolerance, though.

It is stressful in the world,and hootoo just reflects it.

The people in power act the same way as the hootooers. Most are OK, most are respectful. Only a few cause problems. Only a few stand up against the trollers and bashers. Only a few know when to stop.

Self moderation works most of the time! When it does not the few powers that be moderate.
Same world ,same problems.

The sound of the moderate voice often gets drowned out! It can be legitament. Moderates can even be passionate about their stance!