Cultural attitudes towards complaining

[GreenCardSeeker]

I notice there's a huge difference between the USA and Europe when it comes to this matter, and especially between the USA and Sweden. In the US, people seem to expect everything they buy to be perfect, crowds at sports events boo if they're bored etc. Over here on the other hand, you're expected to stay silent about dissatisfactions you have, you really stand out if you complain about something. That goes for politics too - criticizing the system and saying the government is corrupt and such expressions make you become a persona non grata. You're expected to feel that everything is fine, and there's even a saying that goes "you shouldn't complain". People have lots of stuff they're dissatisfied with, especially the almost unrestricted immigration, yet they're not allowed any other outlet for this than their dinner table at home.

On the other hand in the US, people seem to feel the grass is greener on the other side as soon as some area of society seems to be better in some way somewhere else. People are also very open about their criticism of their government, it's considered quite ok to ask for presidents to be impeached etc. Here in Sweden, the constitution doesn't allow you to replace the prime minister or the government until the next election, plenty of time for the politicians to try to cool down whatever rage people are feeling over recent events.

It seems Americans are a bit spoiled and ask for too much, but the American attitude towards complaining is much better than the European one of course. Whatever happens over here, you're always expected to do the same thing: Suck it up!

 

[acptulsa]

It seems Americans are a bit spoiled and ask for too much...

I would bitch about this, but it's true. All parts of the U.S. are not the same, by the way. There are parts of the nation more like Sweden in this way, and parts where the politicians try harder to behave as they know their constituents are armed!

 

[Conza88]

Well... aussies hate whingers. Hence the "she'll be right" or "no worries mate", we (to refer to a collective) used to be hard, shits turned sour - all nanny statists now pretty much. Fken wowsers the lot of them.

 

[Kludge]

Whatever happens over here, you're always expected to do the same thing: Suck it up!

But you criticize us for the lack of conformity and demand for competition to do better?

 

[GreenCardSeeker]

But you criticize us for the lack of conformity and demand for competition to do better?

I didn't really criticize Americans, just pointed out that the greener grass Americans might ask for doesn't exist. People over there seem to forget what they have and that the US is the #1 destination for all the people around the world that want a better life for themselves. The US has lost a bit of its liberty lately of course, but still a lot better than the rest of the world. It seems some Americans have the attitude that since they don't have top-earning jobs and afford everything they see advertized, they ask for a socialist economy like the European ones in the hopes of being better off, yet forgetting everything the US has that the rest of the world doesn't.

I mean, those celebrities that say they're going to leave the country if a republican becomes president.. I forgot the name, it was some middle-aged actress that said something like that. That's most definitely a spoiled attitude.