Whether it’s commentary from foreigners or our own media, Americans are getting fed up with the same tired nonsense. These 17 things are either going to have us zone out or be met with an angry “get some new material.”
We’re work-obsessed
The glorification of overworking and the idea that being busy is a badge of honor are seen as unhealthy and misguided. And while Americans have a reputation for being workaholics, younger generations are standing on their work-life balance priorities and refusing to live for work anymore.
Complaints about America
It seems people complain about various aspects of American culture, from work to politics, without offering solutions. This especially rings true for non-Americans complaining or criticizing the U.S. and the American people.
The term “fake news”
It was once used to describe made-up articles with the intent to deceive the public, like an April Fool’s joke, but not on April 1st. Overuse of this term to attack journalists has become a tiresome tactic for many Americans. The Washington Post wrote an article stating, “Now that ‘fake news’ can mean almost anything, it has come to mean almost nothing.”
Discussions about Donald Trump
He remains an extremely divisive figure who tends to provoke heated arguments between supporters and detractors. Many are fatigued by the constant focus on him instead of other candidates or even topics going on in the country. Even Time put an entertainer on the cover to get away from politics.
Debates over gun rights and gun control laws
This is a perennial hot-button issue in America, with strong opinions on both sides. It comes up again every time there is a major shooting, which is sad enough in itself that Americans get fatigued with the bickering. Bringing it up often leads to contentious exchanges and rarely changes another person’s views.
Speculation about the next pandemic
After years of COVID-19 dominating the news and disrupting lives, there is little appetite to contemplate future outbreaks. It seems like we’re constantly getting hit with a new variant, to the point where no one’s even listening anymore. Even the most COVID rule-following person is now rolling their eyes when they hear about upticks.
“Cancel Culture”
Canceling people used to be a way of holding powerful people accountable for hurting powerless people. Unfortunately, it escalated to the point of no longer having true meaning when people were canceling people for any small indiscretion. “Recently, many people, from media personalities and journalists to politicians and entertainers, have made public (and frankly, quite lazy and unoriginal) stands against cancel culture as being a supposed violation of freedom of speech and expression,” says Medium.
Rehashing the 2020 election and claims of voter fraud
Those weary of election denialism and the January 6 fallout are eager to move on from the topic. However, with a replay of the Biden-Trump election coming to a campaign trail near you, everything it meant is back on our TVs.
Generalizations about younger generations being entitled and lazy
Cheap shots at Millennials and Gen Z based on stereotypes get old fast. Despite being the most educated generation, a Pew Research Center survey confirms, “Millennials are the first in the modern era to have higher levels of debt, poverty, and unemployment, and lower levels of wealth and personal income than their two immediate predecessor generations had at the same time.” But it’s not for lack of getting their hustle on; most Millennials have a day job and a side gig to get by, and Gen Z is right behind them.
Celebrity gossip and scandals treated as hard news
With so many serious issues facing the country, the tabloidization of the media grates on a lot of Americans. The last time anything with a Kardashian should have been breaking news was the O.J. Simpson trial.
Misconceptions about Americans being loud and ignorant
There is a caricature of Americans being morbidly obese, wearing tacky clothing, and being loud and rude everywhere they go. While these people do exist, they don’t make up the entirety of the country, and most of us are embarrassed by them, too.
Belief that Americans are unhealthy
Another stereotype that is in line with the loud and ignorant character is that all Americans are unhealthy. The belief that Americans only eat fast food or processed fake cheese is not only wrong but insulting to foodies all over the nation. Also, we don’t have bad healthcare; we have less-than-perfect insurance options.
Assumption that all Americans are rich
The idea that all Americans are wealthy and live in luxury is misleading and frustrating to hear. “The top 1% of American earners now control more wealth than the nation’s entire middle class,” reports USA Today. That means that all the rich Americans people see on TV represent an America most of us don’t know.
Overgeneralization of American culture
The diversity of American culture is often overlooked; generalizing the entire country is about the equivalent of saying all of Europe has the exact same culture. If you spend time traveling the country, there are distinct cultural divides between the North and South, East Coast, West Coast, and Midwest.
Criticism of American foreign policy
Americans are weary of hearing critiques of their country’s foreign policy without understanding the complexities involved. Americans are often looked at as the police force of the world but then criticized for stepping into other countries’ conflicts. In domestic factors alone that influence foreign policy, we have political ideology, economic considerations, public opinion, and cultural influences.
Political rhetoric and negativity
PEW says, “In a fractious political environment often dominated by the loudest voices on the left and right, some people are saying: Count us out.” Many Americans feel overwhelmed by the constant barrage of political news, ads, and negativity. They find it hard to escape and don’t know what information to trust.
Hollow statements from advertisers
During the pandemic, many brands put out ads saying, “We’re in this together.” Americans grew tired of this message, seeing it as empty platitudes that didn’t provide any real benefit or value to them. Catchy slogans are no longer getting people’s attention here.
Read More: 20 Habits That Indicate You’re A Selfish Person
Selfish individuals often exhibit certain habits that can negatively impact those around them. Recognizing these traits can help in dealing with or avoiding negative influences. Here are 20 habits that may indicate someone is a selfish person.
20 Habits That Indicate You’re A Selfish Person
18 Misunderstood Acts The Bible Says Aren’t Actually Sins
People tend to assume that the Bible condemns a wide array of behaviors, but the reality might surprise you. Here, we zoom in on 18 so-called “sins” that may not be as bad as we thought.
18 Misunderstood Acts The Bible Says Aren’t Actually Sins
18 Things You’re Far Too Old To Be Doing Anymore
As we grow older, it’s a great time to reevaluate our choices and habits. In this article, we’ll explore 18 things you may still be doing even though you may be too old.
18 Things You’re Far Too Old To Be Doing Anymore
18 Things That Become Intolerable as You Get Older
As people age, they sometimes don’t find as much joy in things as they used to. An internet survey recently asked, “What are you starting to dislike more as you get older?” Here are the top 19 responses.
18 Things That Become Intolerable as You Get Older
The Boomers Called It: 19 Stupid Trends That Backfired
Sometimes, we get carried away with trends that we think are cool at the time, only to realize later how utterly ridiculous they were. Join us as we take a cringe-worthy trip down memory lane and explore 19 stupid trends that backfired. Prepare for some facepalms!