There is no contradiction between “westerners know their countries are awful” and “westerners want to believe other countries are worse off.” It’s why the things they believe about other countries are so patently absurd, because that’s what it takes to make their own countries look good in comparison, e.g. “Sure I’ll lose my job and my health insurance and my ability to pay rent if I so much as utter the word ‘union’ at work, but at least I don’t live in China where the communists chop up dissidents to harvest their organs”
Yet, I’ve heard most Americans here speak positively about other countries and their experiences traveling to them. Europe, Asia, south and Central America. Americans know any other country has have better work life balance, better education systems, etc. you’re just wrong dude.
Sure I’ll go another round. Let’s call it, word spreads. I’ve never been to Europe can’t afford it. Yeup. Poor. Make below poverty line. Still sounds nice to wake up in just for example, Spain, work for 2 hours close for 2, Go out to dinner and live. You can’t make as much I hear but the quality of life is good. Now change that narrative to insert the positive qualities of living other places all over the world. Even the so called “3rd world countries” have a reputation of friendlier communities than the nearest Walmart.
I take it you’ve never been to Missouri then? I would never recommend that anyone go but if you really want to hear about how the United States is the greatest country in the world they’ll be happy to tell you
There is no contradiction between “westerners know their countries are awful” and “westerners want to believe other countries are worse off.” It’s why the things they believe about other countries are so patently absurd, because that’s what it takes to make their own countries look good in comparison, e.g. “Sure I’ll lose my job and my health insurance and my ability to pay rent if I so much as utter the word ‘union’ at work, but at least I don’t live in China where the communists chop up dissidents to harvest their organs”
Yet, I’ve heard most Americans here speak positively about other countries and their experiences traveling to them. Europe, Asia, south and Central America. Americans know any other country has have better work life balance, better education systems, etc. you’re just wrong dude.
How often do you think poor people travel outside the US to such countries?
Sounds like a selection bias for anecdotal evidence.
Sure I’ll go another round. Let’s call it, word spreads. I’ve never been to Europe can’t afford it. Yeup. Poor. Make below poverty line. Still sounds nice to wake up in just for example, Spain, work for 2 hours close for 2, Go out to dinner and live. You can’t make as much I hear but the quality of life is good. Now change that narrative to insert the positive qualities of living other places all over the world. Even the so called “3rd world countries” have a reputation of friendlier communities than the nearest Walmart.
I take it you’ve never been to Missouri then? I would never recommend that anyone go but if you really want to hear about how the United States is the greatest country in the world they’ll be happy to tell you
You’re right about that. But in East TX too