2025: End of US Dominance

[RisingFury]

You have a *slight* obsession with US, don't you ar81?

Knowing how hard things are in US makes me feel sad...

With all due respect, this is about the most unrealistic claim I've heard in a long while.

People in Africa and some other parts of the world don't even have enough food to survive! 1000's of people die every day because of malnutrition and illnesses that don't exist in western society.

If US has it hard, what do you say about that?http://orbiter-forum.com/member.php?u=1043

 

[Urwumpe]

If US has it hard, what do you say about that?

We in Germany have a term for that kind of view, roughly translated luxury problems. It is also called "stagnation on a high level".

 

[Omhra]

Sadly, I encounter that sort of stupidity on a daily basis... It is not fiction. And when made aware of their mistake most people simply retort saying "this is the greatest country in the world, we don't have to know that!..." it is also true that most cannot point to a map and pick a country out, and that most have no understanding of how the government here works.
Most would, if they could, "blast a crater in the mid-east" like the man said even tho most have no idea where the mid-east is or who the players are.
Long story short;
The vast majority cannot spell and never write. Most are ignorant of USA history or world history. Most never read a book that is not a novel. Most use vague recollection of movies as their historical construct.
It saddens me because I love this country, but in the last 20 years or so there has been a decline... A more marked decline, I should say, in the knowledge and understanding of the world and how it works.

 

[Missioncmdr]

The vast majority cannot spell and never write.

You are kidding, right? A "vast majority?" I find that extremely hard to believe.

 

[Star explorer]

sorry

 

[Arrowstar]

Was that really necessary?

In any event, I think that it can be said of western culture as a whole today that there is a strong decline in the perceived level of importance that global issues and facts are given. The fact that I saw videos up there for Germany et al (that is to say, not only the U.S.) seems to be proof of that. And do you know what is scary? If we keep it up, if we don't change course quickly, other countries will swoop in and steal the so-called dominance away from the west. I have a professor here at school from Iran: he tells us stories of his niece, only 7 or 8 years of age maybe, and is already learning concepts like volume, area, and the like at a public school in Iran. I don't seem to recall much of that when I was in first and second grade. Now, let's not nitpick the specifics here: the point is that we have gotten lax on this side of the world in the way we educate our children and the way we educate ourselves after we leave school. If we don't step it up a notch, soon enough it may not matter what we do, other countries will take our place.

 

[MajorTom]

Sadly
...
Long story short;
The vast majority cannot spell and never write. Most are ignorant of USA history or world history. Most never read a book that is not a novel. Most use vague recollection of movies as their historical construct.
It saddens me because I love this country, but in the last 20 years or so there has been a decline... A more marked decline, I should say, in the knowledge and understanding of the world and how it works.

Has there been a marked decline in knowledge and understanding of the world?

Probably not. What's been going on, IMO, is that the "dumb" folks of the USA have been really emboldened lately, that stupidity and ignorance have become popular, and even celebrated the last few years, more than ever.

I believe that standards have declined. If these same people are no longer embarrassed to open their mouth, they'll go ahead and happily do it whenever they can, even in front of a foreign news crew.

Thus we must push for high standards. Some of us do. Which is why some of us here are finding ways to enhance the world of Orbiter, rather than simply being satisfied with Pong.

 

[RichWall]

You have a *slight* obsession with US, don't you ar81?

With all due respect, this is about the most unrealistic claim I've heard in a long while.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20081117/wl_asia_afp/costaricachinacubadiplomacytrade_081117220309

 

[Omhra]

You are kidding, right? A "vast majority?" I find that extremely hard to believe.

I wish I was joking. And I realize those videos are edited for dramatic effect BUT.
They're, there and their are always mistaken, one for the other, as one example.
Ask anyone at random where France is on the map (or any place at all) and watch them not find it for a long while if ever...
Ask them what constitutes the US congress and watch them say "I don't like/follow/understand/care about/need to know, etc... any thing about "politics".
Ask any one what an adverb is...
What the name of their state governor is...
What difference exist between syrup and sugar...
What is a galaxy...
What is compound interest...

In almost all fields, except sports, most Americans are without a clue.
There are a few gems that carry the rest of us along towards a future... But few indeed.

 

[Boeing]

The us will never loose its power in this world. America is a new country relatively speaking look how far we've come in such a short time. for example 8 years after sending our very first astronaut into space we walked on the moon. To this day we've yet to lose one war. And quite frankly I think we've done very well financially in such a short time.



As for that video on the first page I think its ignorance and stupidity that those "so called" reporters were based on. Please do not post such videos it causes nothing but anger not just to me but to the over [FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]305,725,967 Americans on this earth not to mention internatonal family who stand behind our country.
[/FONT]

 

[Urwumpe]

They could be standing behind you - or in front of you, when you look the wrong way.

 

[Boeing]

lol point is is that we are currently an economical super power because of our diversity and most importantly due to our international ties. We will not fall because in order for America to fall he entire world would have to fall. We've been a democratic country for over 300 years and we've inspired the best tech and once again that's due to our extreme diversity.


And one thing I find interesting is that we are not one isolated country but a worldwide country just look around you can find a McDonald in china you can find a Boeing 777 in France that whole article is just the cry of a news station running out of stories when the worldwide economy is dwindling downwards people ask what going to happen quite frankly no one knows but America will not fall we haven't in the past we sure as heck won't now.



I'msorry for going on and on but I love my country and I will not let anyone drag its name threw the mud


Thank you

 

[Epsilon]

boeing:
As for that video on the first page I think its ignorance and stupidity that those "so called" reporters were based on. Please do not post such videos it causes nothing but anger not just to me but to the over [FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]305,725,967 Americans on this earth not to mention internatonal family who stand behind our country.[/FONT]

As an American, I find these videos intensely amusing. Americans -are- idiots on the whole. I deal with them on a daily basis, working retail. There are some that are intelligent, but there are just as many that make you wonder... "How can this person tie their shoes in the morning?"

I'm also not working in a Wal-Mart - I'm working for a major office supply chain in Seattle, which is generally speaking a very intelligent city - Microsoft, Amazon, etc. You'd think I'd be dealing with the top end of people, but noooooo.

Anyway, back to the point(s).
A: If America keeps going as it is, I'd be surprised to see it not overtaken in a couple of categories by a more go-getting country, like China.

B: The server is based out of Texas, in the USA. Those angry Americans of which you speak may be a bit angrier at the concept of you trying to repress the freedom of speech of others, especially those who may have fought to defend those freedoms. Remember:

"I disapprove of what you say, but will defend to the death your right to say it." -- Voltaire (1694-1778)

Disagree all you want, but please be respectful about it.

 

[Boeing]

I am very respectful however my whole family has fought for my country I to plan to fight for it I've lost family in war even before I got the chance to meet them. But when I hear that Americans are idiots I do not find it amusing but downright offensive. You do make a very good point about freedom of speech but I would just like to put my two cents in.




I do not dislike any nation in fact I am constantly bragging about becoming a pilot and traveling the world seeing the great innovations of Dubai the notre ' dame in France the forbidden city in china I love how the world is so diverse but I hate when someone on the news puts out lies just to hide the ignorance of themselves.


We are not idiots no one human being is we all think what we think and who can tell us that we are wrong but when we have something negative to say its best that we keep it to our selves. no one on this forum said anything bad it was just that video and the ignorance of the media.



Cheers:stupidsmack: lol a little humor

 

[eveningsky339]

Had to end sometime.

 

[Black dog]

To this day we've yet to lose one war.

Vietnam.

Every human is stupid, selfish and vain, and warmongers most of all, in my stupid, selfish and vain opinion.

We are conceited monkeys. The universe is chaotic. Thank you and goodbye.

 

[Star explorer]

if i may i propose that a ban on politics or anything that relates to threads like this on orbiter forum because some of this stuff is down right offensive to some people.

 

[Black dog]

I agree. I was very offended. I publicly apologise if I have also given offence.

 

[Arrowstar]

if i may i propose that a ban on politics or anything that relates to threads like this on orbiter forum because some of this stuff is down right offensive to some people.

Now why would we want to do that? Seems to me that would be restricting the freedom of speech that the good old U.S. of A. was founded upon.

And seriously now, it *is* possible, believe it or not, to have civil conversation regarding politics and the like. So instead of complaining and feeling offended, defend yourself. Want to say that Americans aren't idiots? Then *prove* it. Do some thinking, do some research, and convince everyone that you're right. But coming on here and saying how offended you are, or asking for a ban on some such subject or another just because you don't like it, or whatnot, is really rather childish.

IMHO, as always.

 

[Missioncmdr]

Now why would we want to do that? Seems to me that would be restricting the freedom of speech that the good old U.S. of A. was founded upon.

Of course, if we really had unrestrained freedom of speech on this board, I could post pornography and use the f-word as much as I wanted, but I cannot. Politics is a very touchy subject no matter who or what country you are talking about. Even with good moderators and generally intelligent people on this forum, it seems obvious that subjects like this cannot really be discussed in a civilized manner. Although it is by no means my decision, you can bet your ass if I ran this forum, I would probably put a stop to political discussions.