Are American’s isolated from the rest of the word?

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iLL_LeaT

iLL_LeaT

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The other day I was watching the World New (a British news program) on a public access channel, and I knottiest that it really does talk about what is going on around world. It’s not all about celebrities and random minuscule tragedies.

The American new has almost nothing about what is going on around the world.

Do you think Americans are isolated from most outside information?

If you think so, why do you think that is?

Request: Could you state what country you are from? I’m curious to see if there is a general consensus between some countries.
 
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I'm in the USA and yes I feel we are somewhat Isolated from much of the world. It seems that many People know what happens in the USA but we have little information as to what is happening outside of the Americas. I do not think it is because of any type of conspiracy. The News Media operates by profit. We only see the news that attracts sponsors and will assure a profit. If it is public interest, that gets relegated to the back pages and free sources.
 
This is getting old, I agree with Woodrow again. I’m US citizen but I have lived in four other countries, Australia, Italy, Japan, and India. All of them are much more into international news than the US. I find most US citizens have little concern about what happens out side there borders. I also had little concern before my international experiences.
 
wilberhum said:
This is getting old, I agree with Woodrow again. I’m US citizen but I have lived in four other countries, Australia, Italy, Japan, and India. All of them are much more into international news than the US. I find most US citizens have little concern about what happens out side there borders. I also had little concern before my international experiences.
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Isn’t that intestine though? For being in a county that is so concerned with what everyone else is doing, why does the general public know so little about what is going on?

Woodrow said:
The News Media operates by profit. We only see the news that attracts sponsors and will assure a profit.
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You see, I find what is going on in the world more intestine then Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie. But then again, I’m not the general public.
 
i'm an american.
yes, i think americans are isolated from the rest of the world. most people i meet are amazingly ignorant, but seem to be content to remain so.
i don't have/don't want a TV but every so often, when i stay in a motel, i turn on the news - is really scary what they are fed - most of it is fluff and just pure crap.
now there is really no excuse to confine yourself to american media - if you have a computer there is no need to be isolated from the rest of the world.
some of the isolation i think comes from simple geography - we're a huge nation with only 2 shored borders. so to an extent, we are somewhat isolated from the rest of the world.
i must add however, that in recent years people seem to be somewhat more aware that there is a world out there. all the immigration has really helped, i think.
 
Well, if you want information about the world it definately exists in the US. They have some of the better international magazines, especially at the scholary level. The newspapers are quite good as well, I think the New York Times and Washington Post provide plenty of international news.

Yet, I agree the mainstream TV news is pretty pathetic. So I would say, for those who are interested in foreign affairs and international stories there are plenty of sources. Yet, 'ordinary' people who don't read the big newspapers will probably be underinformed.
 
KAding,
i agree - those are by far the best 2 newspapers. ideally, to really be informed, you should listen/read things from many different sources.
the fact that most americans get their news from TV is not a cheerful thing to ponder....
 
Hmmm how intresting i never noiced that ...

so your saying the worldnews for exmple is not as dominant in america as it is in other countries?

is this due to the land mass that is in america??

as in its not only one country its also news from around america as in each state and then i guess comes the world news??

intresting...
 
I agree most Americans are isolated, i myself always research news in other nations as well as talk to people from other countries, unfortunately some americans dont do this and live in areas where they are only exposed to the same type of people, gotta love nyc for not being stuck like that :statisfie
 
iLL_LeaT said:
Isn’t that intestine though? For being in a county that is so concerned with what everyone else is doing, why does the general public know so little about what is going on?
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Mostly because of the commercialization of the American media. In other countries the media is usually paid for (and semi-controlled) by the government, which feels it has an obligation to educate its people. The US media however, brings the people what they want to hear, which is mostly local news and stuff about crime.

You see, I find what is going on in the world more intestine then Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie. But then again, I’m not the general public.
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Again, there is plenty of real debate on international affairs in the US. It is however limited to a section of the population. I don't think any other countries produces as many scientific journals or books on international affairs as the US. But you will not learn much from the evening news, you have to dig deeper and do things like *gasp* read a national newspaper ;).
 
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KAding said:
You have to dig deeper and do things like *gasp* read a national newspaper ;).
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Yes, maybe I should. I would like to get the New York Times but I live on the west-cost in the city. Can’t really get anything delivered because no one can get into my apartment building. And none of the news paper venders hold the New York Time. But I will look into how I can get it.
 
Interesting. And just what is the effect of the mass population not being aware of whats happening outside America... do you think it causes them to judge and maybe even "vote" without understanding but by just seeing one point of view...


Just wondering.
 
Abd'Majid said:
Interesting. And just what is the effect of the mass population not being aware of whats happening outside America... do you think it causes them to judge and maybe even "vote" without understanding but by just seeing one point of view...


Just wondering.
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In a word, YES.
 
wilberhum said:
In a word, YES.
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Yes, I agree

I would be interested in seeing a survey that tackles this subject. How many Americans think they are bialy being exposed to bills that they vote on? Yes that would be a good national survey. It would also be intestine to see how the people answered from state to state.
 
iLL_LeaT said:
Yes, I agree

I would be interested in seeing a survey that tackles this subject. How many Americans think they are bialy being exposed to bills that they vote on? Yes that would be a good national survey. It would also be intestine to see how the people answered from state to state.
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I doubt that a survey would back what we are saying. I think few Americans see themselves that way. I never thought of myself that way untill I wasn't that way.
 
I mostly live in the US. I agree that most Americans are not aware of international news. Someone mentioned that we are a huge nation and this is true. The vastness of our country probably limits our interest to a degree. Also, a lot of Americans are content with their lives and have little if any interest in visiting or living in other countries. I have often thought that the interest other countries have with the US is largely due to the large number of their people who would like to relocate to the US.
 
a lot of Americans are content with their lives and have little if any interest in visiting or living in other countries
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I think this is very true. We have soooooooooooooo much we fail to see the value in how others live and think.
 
It's totally true! I was a bit "isolated" until I started watching public TV like the BBC, and I started talking to "outsiders" in political chat rooms and forums, then my eyes opened. I, just two years ago, had never spoken to an "outsider." NO MORE FOX OR CNN!!!
 

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