Why do Americans complain so much when they have it better than everyone else?

Question

I mean they complain for everything. Gas goes to $2... problem... meanwhile I'm paying almost $6. Electricity bill over $200- riot. Meanwhile I pay over $1000 every month. Even taking the SAT my friends complain about the price... well the rest of the wprld has to pay that plus an international fee which is almost the price of the test itself. And a whole lot of other things. How can they complain? Their 'ghetto' is actually quite calm and the houses can actually withstand a hurricane. No reasons to complain

Kinstrome · Accepted Answer

The ghettos in many American cities are actually much more dangerous than most European cities. Of course, those are concentrated areas, and not representative of the whole.

Overall, things are pretty nice. The average person in poverty in the U. S. lives much better than elsewhere in the world. The government--while certainly problematic--isn't outright destructive. There aren't random power outages or sudden huge deficits of food.

It's easy to become accustomed to that lifestyle and take it for granted. It's human nature. If humans discovered the cure for every disease in the world, we would be ecstatic for a while, but eventually we would be no happier than before, and we would start complaining again. The corollary to this is that people who descend into worse conditions adjust to them too, and eventually don't feel much worse off.

Americans are also often told that they have "gun violence problems," "religion problems," "healthcare problems," "environmental problems," "measurement problems," "health problems," etc. When so many outside--and sometimes inside--people are saying such things, it isn't surprising that people will start to think things can be better.

There are still problems that need to be fixed, of course, even if they are not as bad as in many other places.

Anonymous · Accepted Answer

We don't stop to think of just how good we have it because we've experienced nothing else.

I have a friend from Syria. Right now, her family is divided between three different cities. Her parents and the youngest of her siblings still living with them are contending with food and water shortages and intermittent electricity. Some of her siblings are in Damascus, with the ISIS caliphate stretched out between them and their parents. One of her brothers was sent out of the country to avoid being drafted as a minor into the conflict - everyone is expected to support whichever faction controls the part of the country they happen to live in, meaning she has other relatives who have been conscripted by both the Syrian Arab Army and the Free Syrian Army, fighting each other.

Even this utterly pales in comparison to the stories told by the Yezidis I have been in contact with. Hearing what others are going through really put things in perspective.

So yes, when I hear someone complaining about the price of some commodity or other, I find it really hard to give a shit.

BellePepper · Accepted Answer

Just because things are more expensive somewhere else doesn't mean they're not still expensive here. I got ONE chance to take the SAT and it took three relatives to pay for it. People are poor here too. We're struggling while wages stay the same and the cost of living keeps rising every year. Gas may be 2$ now but meat and vegetables are expensive now because of the drought.

This is like saying people with bronchitis aren't allowed to complain because they don't have lung cancer. They're still suffering and struggling.

If we can't even complain among ourselves how will we get others to see the problems and help those in need?

Neko_Chan · Accepted Answer

Everyone complains. That's part of human nature. I'm sure there are plenty of people who would wonder why you're complaining, as well. The fact that you have those bills, and a means (internet) to protest shows that you have much more than a lot of people. Complaints are based on the perspective of the individual.

Anonymous · Accepted Answer

LOL GAS IS not $2 here, "ghetto" here is actually pretty ghetto, meaning there's usually a lot of crime, minorities, and run down houses and stores. Also there's taxes heavy taxes on a lot of ridiculous things. I don't get why you'd think we have it so easy over here, try living here and you'll see

Sexualchrist · Answer

Because they don't have it better than everyone else.
Take unemployment for example. In the USA the government will assist you for 6 months and then you starve to death.

Then look at Sweden. Even if you're a millionaire the government still pays you social benefit money.

Now let's look at health. In USA if you don't have health insurance and get sick you pretty much just die unless you can pay insanely high medical bills.

Then look at somewhere like Cuba. Even sex changes are free. Sex changes.

madispute · Answer

It's human nature to complain. Things could always be better, so people complain that they're not.

To my family, any sort of bill over two hundred dollars is a big deal because we can't afford anything more--especially since I'll be going to college in the fall.

My parents and I complain at times because things aren't as good as they used to be in our house. But, at the end of the day, we know things could be worse.

But, that's just one point of view out of millions. Everyone in America has a different story so, really, you can't say that every American has no reason to complain.

aKKordingtoGreta · Answer

Part of it is because wealth in America is very unevenly distributed. So, people complain because there are only a few who are extremely well off, while others aren't when it could be more fair for everyone. Then there are things that others have mentioned. You're right, other countries do have it worse, but that doesn't mean others that have it pretty bad too should just be okay with it when it could be better.

GlitterGirl456 · Answer

You sound like you envy us Americans. Don't deny it Ur a actually giving us compliments while complaining... speaking of which, why complain about complaining if it just causes more complaining?

bloodmountain1990 · Answer

As an American, one thing I will complain about that other industrialized countries have better is our health care system and the fact that it hinges on a persons income. Now Obamacare is a step in the right direction as far as getting everyone access to health care, even with preexisting conditions, but it's still not as good as a universal health care system.

When I was 19, I was in college and working part time and then I broke my wrist, with a temporary insurance plan mind you, and I almost had to drop out of college just to pay off medical bills. I also got turned into collection and had secretaries at doctors office threaten to sue me for not paying right away when I was trying to work with them and negotiate. Now universal health care may have its flaws but the countries with it aren't protesting to switch to private health care. Bottom line is no one should die because they can't afford treatment and no one should go broke because they got sick.

Anonymous · Answer

Because 80% of the people here are spoiled, ungrateful, pampered, lazy, immoral, unruly bastards who don't know a thing about suffering or hard work. The other 10% are immigrants who hsppen to be thankful for the opportunities provided them. The other 10% account for the handful of good people out there. True story.

shadowlegend · Answer

The American lifestyle that is shown on tv is not accurate. Most of the country is living in poverty with no healthcare and struggling with major health problems.

RandomStudent · Answer

I think you're exaggerating, but have you ever heard of the theory of relativity? It isn't just Americans who are complaining, it is people all around the world. Here's a quote you should take a look at: "You don't have it any better and you don't have it any worse. You're an irreplaceable human soul with your own understanding of what it means to suffer."

TripleAce · Answer

The reality is everyone complains relative to their surrounding. Not sure if you know that

I could say the same for you. At least you have money to spend. Some people don't even have 10 cents to spend let alone write exams and type away on computers. To those people your complaining quite a bit

Kinda see the point genius?

523206720 · Answer

they complain because they live for pleasure and don't know what it's like to have real problems.

Anonymous · Answer

I have wondered this always. Not just about TV shows or movies, but even people who have visited the US mention that it is a wonderful country. I can't really understand how people living in such a well developed, rich first world country with excellent infrastructure could even have problems in the first place. People in underdeveloped third world countries would do anything to have even one tenth the privileges that these Americans take for granted.

albertjohnson · Answer

"Why do Americans complain so much when they have it better than everyone else?"

I live in South East Asia now 30% people is starving. The second larger starving people after africa. I Understand now Why so many poor people? Its because western include US their source of oil, woods, gold, gas, etc.

Beef here is so expensive almost 3x more expensive than in the US. The salary here is 20x lower than the minimum salary in the US. Electricity and gas twice more expensive. Jobless everywhere.

is there Any American here wanna exchange the condition with us?

cavmanier · Answer

By complaining you're demonstrating how many people will complain about something they want to be different. Why? Probably the pursuit of pleasure.

There doesn't have to be a need for complaining for it to happen. Maybe you worded your second update poorly and meant there is no reason to complain? Well they want what they are complaining about to be different just like you do. Also obviously not all Americans have the same socioeconomic situation.

brilovesyouu_ · Answer

American lifestyle is not perfect. Every culture has struggles of their own. We give back tremendously to other places around the world and clearly that shows that we are all extremely greatful for what we have. It is natural for humans to want things, and to complain.

Anonymous · Answer

Some of your statements are off base and odd but there are valid complaints and when people do not voice opinions and are pleased with the status quo and do not want to make the US a better country it can and would get worse. We have senators that want harsher drug laws but paid off his home with drug money, we have have no universal healthcare but some are trying to change that, we have more people incarcirated then all the other 1st world countries in the world and many other issues. We also do more than complaining by the way.

pavlove · Answer

This is the most open ended question lol. It's crazy how we complain and are depressed and yet have everything, but, of course, that should give you a hint that all this stuff doesn't make a man happy.

sugarvenomx · Answer

That's why it's so much better. How do you think progress happens? Challenging the status quo constantly

Izzex3 · Answer

Each society has their own problems. That's like saying NO ONE should ever complain because there is ALWAYS somebody who has it "worse" Everyone complains. Not just Americans.

kangy · Answer

it is not only americans, this is like global issue except for those in developing countries.

Anonymous · Answer

I agree, and I've been pretty poor. America and other "first world" nations have it pretty good, even when it's bad.

Why do Americans complain so much when they have it better than everyone else?

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