coldcoffeeandcocacola said:

In England we have a lot of focus on the US Elections. Do you guys have that level of coverage and interest for the UK elections, or instead of us, any other country? It interests me as I don't know the average Joe experience in America, only the environment I live in.

Not at all - Americans dont give a damn about any elections outside the US. Hell, less than half probably care about our elections. Now the useless media will give us far more coverage of the royal family than we really want - which irritates those of us who think because those royals mean nothing.

My father was Irish and he was astonished @ American's lack of knowledge or interest in other

countries. I think part of it is mediocre education, island mentality and some hubris.

Fact: Most Americans don't know the capital of Canada. If they guess, they will likely say Toronto.

[Edited 2/15/21 18:05pm]

Margot said:

My father was Irish and he was astonished @ American's lack of knowledge or interest in other

countries. I think part of it is mediocre education, island mentality and some hubris.

Fact: Most Americans don't know the capital of Canada. If they guess, they will likely say Toronto.

[Edited 2/15/21 18:05pm]

That attitude is nothing new....Americans feel this is the greatest country and fuck the rest of the world.

Margot said:

My father was Irish and he was astonished @ American's lack of knowledge or interest in other

countries. I think part of it is mediocre education, island mentality and some hubris.

Fact: Most Americans don't know the capital of Canada. If they guess, they will likely say Toronto.

[Edited 2/15/21 18:05pm]

I'm American, BTW

coldcoffeeandcocacola said:

There's passing notes about who gains power, or if there's a big bruhuahua. In general, we basically only get what your Prime Minister will say about a larger issue (Covid, terrorism, etc). But I do know the UK gets an inordinate amount of US political coverage. I have friends in the US tell me they're just fucking sick of hearing about 🎃, the election, etc. I can't blame them. I'm fucking NUMB from that and Covid.

But no, we don't get that sort of news here about the UK.

coldcoffeeandcocacola said:

Had the general American perception of the UK dropped post brexit or gone up?

I think many Americans romanticize England, particularly England of the past. There are a substantial group who watch the Masterpiece shows on public TV, Downton Abbey, Netflix's 'The Crown', have varying interest in the Royals, admire English manners, love the accent, find the rural towns charming w/the gardens and thatched roofs, etc. I have travelled to England several times and loved taking the train through the countryside.

To be honest re:Brexit...I don't think many Americans follow, even less comprehend the implications, though there are those who are more intellectual who do follow and understand, perhaps 20%.

Sadly, Americans are not a well-travelled nor well-read group, IMO. Though I feel this country does very well w/innovation. Of course,Tech and Media (movies, Netflix, Amazon, Google, Facebook) are quite advanced here. So is research and development.

To be honest I think most Americans think America is the world. It could be a result of being distracted by

video games, streaming, sports,( esp football), lack of travel/reading, blah education...too much comfort.

[Edited 2/16/21 8:09am]

Just found out Meghan is pregnant w/her second child...God help all of us. Talk about media overdrive. I'm sure it's worse for you.

Margot said:

kitbradley said:

TrivialPursuit said:

Margot said:

My father was Irish and he was astonished @ American's lack of knowledge or interest in other

countries. I think part of it is mediocre education, island mentality and some hubris.

Fact: Most Americans don't know the capital of Canada. If they guess, they will likely say Toronto.

[Edited 2/15/21 18:05pm]

For what it's worth you could ask the same question to those in the UK about Ireland and you'll get more or less the same answers. A tendency to be remarkably ignorant about the country they share both a history and an island with!

I get it though, it's not out of malice, it's how power works, they don't have to know about Ireland but we have to know about both the UK and the USA.

coldcoffeeandcocacola said:

This is so interesting to me! Yep we have always had so much coverage pre trump and in trump times as well. Now I'm english and so my perspective is obviously different but to me the obsession with trump is insane! I don't get it one bit it feels like hysteria but there's been heightened coverage I think from it. He seems to be the most dividing topic there is as well.. I do think that island mentality comes into it also, here is so much pride for many Americans and its such a large place maybe it could feel to many like it is the whole world? Here people seem to make a hobby of running England down which makes me sad so I guess it's an entirely different mindset. Lastly, if you think you get too much coverage on the royals - try here! ....

The thing is, I fear just how much foreign media depicts Americans as Trump-obsessed. The MAGA party is still a small faction of the Republican Party. Right now the Republican Party (GOP) is split like someone with Multiple Personality Disorder. It doesn't have a focus right now. I think sometimes foreign media portrays all of Americans as Trump lovers, and it's simply not the case. Trump won because people on the other side didn't think he'd win at all, and perhaps sat out the election, thereby letting Trump's followers take the lead (although Clinton got the popular vote, the inherently-racist Electoral College system gave Trump the victory). Also, the MAGA party delves into Qanon conspiracies and falsehoods that have, frankly, done them in as human beings with any free thought. That's a whole other shebang.

We don't get that much coverage of the royals, at least on a day to day. Right now (especially the last 48 hours), Harry and company are getting the attn because of the new baby on the way. Meghan's miscarriage made news of course. Sad moment for her, no doubt. But the royals are a passing fascination. Oh, William showed up where? Great. Next... Oh, Meghan wore that? Nice. Moving on. It seems America is 50/50 on adopting Harry & Meghan as extended family. They sorta have to prove themselves, because they're still just a rich couple in the media and famous simply for being famous or a royal. Clearly, Americans don't much care for a king or queen as ruler anymore. HA. I personally believe the monarchy is dated, and should be dismantled. They do nothing but show up. They don't serve any purpose to the people.

I do think the UK press is 100% more vicious (especially the tabloids) toward people than the U.S. press has ever been. The press was invented to hold politician's feet to the fire and keep them accountable. But when you have Fox News being Trump's mouthpiece while blurring the lines of news with commentary, and liberal outlets like MSNBC throwing blame at a Republican wearing the wrong necktie, it's unbearable. The UK press's fascination with Trump is mindblowing to me. But when you have some 6'3 ogre on a public stage physically pushing Merkel and others out of the way for a photo op, ya gotta take note of that for a hot second I suppose.