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by cbozeman 1968 days ago
America has a long tradition of being vocal and offensive in its communications. At the very founding of our nation, you could find political cartoons of George Washington on a donkey, with the caption, "An ass being led to Washington."

In general Americans seem to be more thick-skinned than others. Or at least we used to be.

EDIT: Here you go buddy... this is almost a word-for-word of the argument that was used in the actual Supreme Court case, and should illustrate why we're at such a dangerous time in history - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MeTuNES82O0
1 comments
cutemonster 1967 days ago
> America has a long tradition of being vocal and offensive in its communications

Selection bias. I'd think that's how people you happen to hang out with, or talk with on the internet, might be.

But not people in general, at least not the ones I've met from the US (lots of people).

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cbozeman 1967 days ago
> Selection bias.

Check out the book Infamous Scribblers: The Founding Fathers and the Rowdy Beginnings of American Journalism.

> I'd think that's how people you happen to hang out with, or talk with on the internet, might be.

You literally have no data to support that comment, whereas I'm referencing existing documents throughout American history that show just how vitriolic communications were.

You realize that our politicians used to get into fistfights on the floor of Congress, right?

> But not people in general, at least not the ones I've met from the US (lots of people).

What you've just described is selection bias, but I understand why would you feel that way. You're likely not exposed to a diverse selection of Americans. Do you know many corn farmers from the Midwest states? Do you know any deep sea welders from Mississippi? Do you know many club promoters from California? Do you know many book editors from New York?

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cutemonster 1966 days ago
Yes a bit selection bias in my case.

> referencing existing documents throughout American history that show just how vitriolic communications were.

> Do you know many corn farmers from the Midwest states? Do you know any deep sea welders from ...

Maybe you're right that those groups of people more often communicate in the ways you say.

At the same time, maybe they do also in Mexico or Italy or Kongo and in lots of other countries too.

So the examples doesn't really mean anything to me. Thanks anyway for explaining how you were thinking.

The US is a large country and by cherry picking examples one can "prove" anything one wants.

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