US citizen: Did you know that most people (at least speaking for Europeans) who come to visit take in your country as being quite dystopian in nature?

Question

In most places in EU it is quote normal to go for a walk alone at night, or do whatever you like whenever you like and you feel rather safe doing it (amongst many other things).

Also you can look people in the eyes and no one is going to attack you for it.

No one follows you in stores and watches if you'll steal something.

Rarely (or ever in my case) anyone ever approaches you in an insanely inappropriate way.

All of these are the opposite in the US it seems.

Are you aware people do not see the US as a beautiful utopia but rather the opposite?

US citizen: Did you know that most people (at least speaking for Europeans) who come to visit take in your country as being quite dystopian in nature?

*I won't touch on the guns issue, that is self-evident.

Avicenna · Accepted Answer

You might want to ask the dozens of women who were subjected to mass sexual assaults in Cologne on New Year's Eve 2015/16 how safe they feel walking around at night. And those mass sexual assaults were covered up by the Cologne police.

Most places in the US are safe enough to walk around at night. The majority of those that are not are run by leftists who hate their police departments and won't give them political backing.

As for being watched to see if you're stealing something, that is done in stores in Europe as well, although it's primarily done by a loss prevention specialist looking at dozens of cameras.

It's also quite possible to be "approached inappropriately" in Europe- dress like an observant Jew in a large city and see what happens.

The US is far from perfect and no one should ever see it as a utopia (it never was and certainly isn't now), but what you're actually talking about is the longstanding European inferiority complex vis a vis the US. I'm just waiting for these perfect Europeans to finally defend themselves and their perfect, precious little lands instead of having dumb Americans do it for them.

WindAtMyBack · Accepted Answer

What you say isn't true. People from Europe who have actually spent a reasonable amount of time in the US overwhelmingly say just the opposite. They say it's not at all what they expected. The large majority say it's a much better place than they expected. They say it gets an undeserved bad rep. They say that people are extremely helpful and friendly, far more helpful than Europeans.

"In most places in EU it is quote normal to go for a walk alone at night, or do whatever you like whenever you like and you feel rather safe doing it"

You can do the same thing in the US. If you think otherwise then you don't know much about the country. You said "most" places in the EU. That's also true in the US. All you have to do is stay away from the 0.00001% of the worst places and stay in the other 99.9999% of the places.

Most Europeans I know who have spent time in the US defend against your type of belief. For some reason, Europeans who have never even been to the US think they know more about it that Americans themselves, and other Europeans who have spent time there.

annabananna · Accepted Answer

How would we not be aware that y'all don't see us as a dystopian country? y'all tell us everyday how horrible you think our country is. We are fully aware our country isn't perfect (most are aware anyway). However, the stuck up attitude some of y'all have is getting annoying. Guess what? No is perfect! Not all American are the same. Some of us suck some of us are cool. Some cities suck some are amazing. Its a huge country with a lot of variety. shocking I know.

midnightmoon05 · Accepted Answer

What happened? And what part of the US are you referring to?

OlderAndWiser · Answer

I am an American and I love my country, but I realize that it has flaws. Some of those are inevitable when people have great freedom. I'm sure that there are many great aspects of life in Europe (unless you are an adolescent girl in the UK and are stalked by Pakistani gangs.)

NamerOfStars · Answer

Um, in the vast majority of places in the US, it's normal to go for a walk alone at night, and be to perfectly safe doing so. Will you FEEL safe? Well, if you pay a great deal of attention to panic-selling media, probably not, but you'll BE safe.

You can also look people in the eyes here and go unattacked.

If you're being followed around a store in this country, then almost every last time, either someone is trying to HELP you, or you're in a crime-ridden slum.

Did you think that was only an American thing? Or that Europe has no slums? You've got places that put the Kowloon Walled City to shame! For that matter, France is going up in flames yet again even as I type this.

Do you imagine that Europe is some kind of heavenly paradise, where crime doesn't exist and government in sensible and governments don't bolster their environmental status by shipping tens of thousands of vital jobs to the Third World? (I'm looking at you, Sweden!) Of course not- your country has its dangerous parts, too, and MOST of those dangerous parts aren't going to be far from tourist hotspots; that's how both the civic designer AND criminal mind works.

I suppose it's good to know that Europeans aren't any more self-aware than the rest of the world. Along those lines- as to guns, you're free to enjoy your "vaccine" passports, your government seizures of property, and your at-will suppressions of due process, but let me introduce you to the knife angel:

It's a 27-foot tall statue made in Shropshire, England, from 100,000 knives, many of which arrived still bearing their victim's blood, because these were knives used to murder people. But yes, go right on thinking that it's impossible to kill people if you don't have a gun.

Stoner710 · Answer

I’m American I realize that we’re living out of a scene from a book written by George Orwell at this point. When Francis tells you, you’re too liberal, you know you are too liberal. I am not for killing the unborn. I actually think it should be illegal and people should be going to jail for it. I am not for transitioning children on the guise of it’s really who they are. That’s not true men and women exist. They can’t even tell us what a woman is, they’re actually trying to erase the word woman from the English language at this point and win states finally fight back against it there told it unconstitutional by the 14th amendment. I am sorry, but if it’s unconstitutional for somebody to get their genitals cut off by a doctor, then the 14th amendment is the most evil piece of writing ever and it should be abolished. Well aware of that Europe is looking at the United States going. What the fuck is wrong with these people I’m looking at the United States and I live in the United States and I’m going what the fuck is wrong with you people. So whatever Joe Biden supports I’m going to go against him. If he supports you play I’m going to support Russia if he supports ice cream and cake I’m going to go against ice cream and cake. If he goes against the boss of yours I’m going to burn as much battlefields as I can. I am proudly unwoke I hate the world religion. I will not follow it, and I will do everything in my power to undermine it.

Anonymous · Answer

The thing about this country is that it was never meant to be a utopia in the modern sense of the word. This is supposed to be a place where you don't have to worry about a government trying to squash your aspirations out before you get a chance.

To be more specific, it's a place where a bunch of swindlers decided it's unfair that only the government gets to swindle so the opportunity should belong to everyone. Meaning you don't have to belong to some weird family and learn a bunch of formalities that most people have no access too in order to succeed.

Because obviously there's no such thing as a utopia.

UK, I can't knock. I love Jeremy Clarkson and you did rock and roll better than we did so those two reasons alone, I have to respect you guys. But your country is a mess too, and it's been messier for longer.

And your murders happen with knives. At least here you can just get shot and you can die with a little less pain and trauma than someone stabbing you with a dull kitchen knife.

But I hate that word dystopia, anyone who wants to live in a utopia, is not who this place was made for.

KostasKouvalis · Answer

The third one is not true in Polish stores😂
But aside from that, I am aware, yes. I've heard Europeans, especially women complain that our people are scary. The only people who believe the US truly is the greatest country on earth are stupid Republicans.

At the same time though, I've noticed people in Europe are a lot more openly rude and racist. And one thing that IS better about the US, is you don't have to worry about being scammed or harassed by a hawker. And I've actually been stalked by gypsies in Europe, and have had people make me uncomfortable, because they would just give me the 1000 yard stare in public transport. I've met a lot of creeps in Europe too, so Europe isn't entirely perfect either. And I've noticed a lot of Europeans are self-centered and lack manners and order. Having been to Europe multiple times, I think the US is better in so many aspects, but I definitely agree that Europe is more laid back when it comes to rules and laws. American people are overly paranoid and see everything as a potential threat.

Sargentcaptain · Answer

France is up in flames on a regulars basis. As the matter of fact, the 'french' are rioting right now. Brits have lovely grooming gangs and pedo rings, along with a fascist government and machete wielding animals. And as dogshit as NYC is, it (somehow) still has less violent crime per 1000 citizens than London. Sweden has rapists and gets bombed more often than the Ukrainian frontlines. The vast majority of Europe is a third world fascist shithole. Look at your precious EU and the shit they're trying to pull in the Netherlands. Not a single one of the nations there has free speech, let alone 2A.

DarkWinterNights · Answer

I don’t disagree with you. But I would probably disagree with the solution. We have more laws, more police, more social programs, more gun control, more bans than ever before, yet everything is 100x worse than when our parents were our age. People can’t afford healthcare, homes, drugs and mental illness are basically effecting every single corner of the country. America being fractured into multiple countries is almost a guarantee at this point. Europe is going down the same path. May even beat America to it with the continuing unrest in France. Our children are likely to grow up in a much less safe world.

MysticDevice · Answer

It ain't a Utopia here, we know that, but its not a Dystopia either. Despite what the media here shows you it is actually pretty safe. As far as interactions with people go. And here you don't just get arrested for speaking out against the government.

The major cities Like L. A., New York, Baltimore, Chicago, and Milwaukee are pretty much crime pits though. But you can't tell me Europe doesn't have that either.

The wildlife is a bigger danger where I live. Bears, cyotes, cougars, and wolves are all likely encounters. Especially deer.

AviatorTom · Answer

I'm an American and I've been to many places in Europe. I have no problem walking alone at night in either place. I know several Europeans, and none have called the US dystopian... many are envious of things like cheaper gasoline (petrol), lower taxes, open spaces and freedom of speech in the US compared to wherever they are in Europe.

Blueeyes81 · Answer

Where I grew up people never locked doors and would leave their keys in the car with the doors unlocked. I'm at work now and my house is unlocked. I tend to find that most Europeans underestimate the size of the US and group all of us under one umbrella. I'd say 80% of towns and cities are safe to walk at night. America is huge and comparing Iowa or Nebraska to Florida or California is like comparing a watermelon to an onion.

That being said I've been to places in the US that have had me nervous.

Lliam · Answer

Who cares what some Europeans think. It's the ones who have never been here who believe that crap. It must be a common topic in your media. I guess they want you to feel good about your provincial culture and restrictive laws.

America is a big, very diverse place. All of it isn't like NYC or Chicago. Most places are extremely safe and people are helpful, polite and friendly, not snobby like some Europeans.

RealMarek · Answer

There are plenty of “no-go” zones in Europe these days. Keep in mind the US pays heavily for Europe’s defense, which allows Europe to commit more funds to social programs and safety nets than the US can. However, I’m American and yes, I feel like I live in a dystopia.

monorprise · Answer

Most all of the USA you can walk at night, look people in the eye, and help enforce laws against stealing.  This is only a problem in a few poorly run cities.

jahaims · Answer

You do realize like 90% of the news you consume about America is only referring to a handful or areas/cities right? Also news about anything is made to look like the worst case scenario to gain viewership. People will view negative over positive. The news is just an ad sales company that takes advantage of human nature. It clearly works.

jshm2 · Answer

To be fair they don't call it "Murica" for nothing. It should have warning signs that rabid people may live there, at all airports.

gorydetails · Answer

European: Did you know that most Americans don’t give a shit what you think? I guess you’re not in France, currently.

slatyb · Answer

Understandable. Poor health care for many, the absurd gun culture causing many times more fun deaths than any other developed country... Lower life expectancy, higher maternal mortality... Lots of ways the US has fallen behind..

Anonymous · Answer

LoL dude England is overrun by Albanians and the French have lost their country to immigrants rioting!

😆

What a joker you are! LoL At least here I can have my gun, have my Bible, and live off the land.

Good luck with that in London. Or Paris. Or Berlin. Or Sweden ( another country over run by immigrants—I read where they sometimes throw HAND GRENADES in police cars.

Seems like a real paradise LOL.

Thanks for the laughs.

😘

exitseven · Answer

Yes, America is not for the faint of heart. The last two years I have seen it get a lot worse. I bought firearms last year and have gotten proficient in their use. I never thought I would ever need them.

helva · Answer

I am European and don’t think American society is dystopian.

US citizen: Did you know that most people (at least speaking for Europeans) who come to visit take in your country as being quite dystopian in nature?

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