Question for Non-US Residents

[pocketkangaroo]

First, this isn't a knock on anyone overseas so please don't take it that way. I guess I'm more intrigued as I've never lived in a foreign country. But here is my question:

It seems a lot of people have a keen interest in American politics and happenings. I'm always keeping up on World news, but I hardly consider myself devoted to following the daily happenings of Germany or something.

Now I'm wondering if other countries get US news first and then their news, or if some people are just enamored with what happens in the US. Maybe you have interests financially or politically in the US. I've just never seen so many people who have so much to say about US politics, social structure and so on that don't live in the country.

Again, not a knock on anyone, just wondering what most people's interests are.

[directfiesta]

This is an American based board. I doubt that a thread about Tanzania would create much excitement

[Joe Citizen]

Most Americans seem to be only interested in the affairs of their own nation. Knowledge of other nations/cultures seems poor.

A majority of those of on this board are American, so discussing matters that don't concern America would be rather pointless.

[Damian_Maxcash]

There are number of reasons for being interested in US news. Im in the UK and everything the US does impacts us one way or another, because of our close ties.

I also work for mainly American companies - Look at how 2257 has impacted everyone.

The list is endless really, whether we like it or nor not the US has a big influance on the way the rest of the world lives.

[directfiesta]

Couldn't find nothing on Tanzamania, so here is for TASMANIA ( most american wont see a fucking difference )

One missing as storms hit Tasmania

August 31, 2005

ONE person is missing and a town is under water after storms dumped up to 240mm of rain on northern Tasmania.

The riverside town of Deloraine, east of Launceston, was under water today following the worst flood to hit the region in eight years.

Houses were submerged, farmers lost stock, a caravan park had to be evacuated, and water covered the steeples at Australia's oldest turf club when the Meander River peaked about 3am (AEST) today.

In Launceston, police and rescue volunteers spent the afternoon searching for a person ? believed to be a man in his 30s ? who was last seen wading through waist-deep water on Hobblers Bridge Road at Newstead.


rest of this breaking news here

[sacX]

I earn US dollars and for the most part hold US dollars so the stability of the US is of great interest to me.

[Dirty Dane]

US foreign policy is in the headlines, but local policy is of less interest. Most headlines is about the big things like war(s), environment and human rights, things that affect us all.
The economy is of interest, because it goes hand in hand with the European and Asian financial markets.
The tabloid news, like the MJ trial, are also also covered, but not 24/7

I think people confront US policy more now than in the mid/late 90's, because the Bush administration has distanced the country with less interest in diplomacy.

[Damian_Maxcash]

Originally Posted by sacX

I earn US dollars and for the most part hold US dollars so the stability of the US is of great interest to me.

How is the NZ$ doing? When I left it was way too strong.

I remember getting NZ$3 to the US$ when I started. The cost of living was almost $ to $ at the time so every sign up basicly tripled in value.. Amazing times

[sacX]

Originally Posted by damian2001

How is the NZ$ doing? When I left it was way too strong.

I remember getting NZ$3 to the US$ when I started. The cost of living was almost $ to $ at the time so every sign up basicly tripled in value.. Amazing times

can't even get 1.50 anymore.

[tranza]

I really don't ANY country in the wold shows US news before their own.

[Damian_Maxcash]

Originally Posted by sacX

can't even get 1.50 anymore.

Actualy I was having a brain fart... It was about 2.20 to 1 - I was thinking about the pound.

Anyway... 1.50 is fucked

[Spunky]

We are well informed of everything US related here in Canada..

[jayeff]

I spent some time at school here, worked here quite a lot over the years and now I live here. But even at home in UK, the US has always impacted on my life in one way or another. I grew up in a part of England which then had the highest concentration of US troops in Europe, airbases from which the V-bombers came and went every day during the Cold War. The debate over their presence scaled down as the bases themselves did, but then it was the the time of the Vietnam war. Then the Israel/Palestinian issue which brought terrorists to Europe years before 911. Then extending facilities to the IRA. Then the (first) Gulf War. Etc. Etc.

So there are a lot of important "American" stories which directly and indirectly affect people in other countries and for a bit of "I'm glad I don't live over there", there are always the serial killers, school shootings, tales of the huge law suits brought on some fanciful pretext and all the other bizarre (at least to non-Americans) stuff of which the US seems to have a rich supply.

However distorted the view all that provides, it is more information than we get about any other country except our own, and certainly enough to let people form opinions. I make no judgement as to whether such opinions have any merit...

[Sexzity]

We get our news after how importen they are. Normaly US news is not the most importen, but then something like 9/11 or flooding in New Orleans happens, that comes first.
Nomatter how you look at it, USA is the most importen country in the world. What happens in US, we influenze on most other countries.

[bhutocracy]

when the leader of your country is essentially a toadying bush yes man you may as well go straight to the source to find out whats going on

[Paul Waters]

I grew up in Niagara Falls, ON. My father worked in Niagara Falls, NY. Knowing about the US and following events and politics came naturally.

I grew up during the space race, and the cold war. In many ways liberal Americans helped to form my belief set. I saw racism and poverty on the other side of the Niagara River. We had almost no blacks in NF, ON. Maybe a dozen families.

I saw the peace movement and the role that music played in advancing liberalism and peace in a country that was being run by people who did not hold those values.

I learned that the US was the only country to use nucleur weapons. And I know that you possess something like 40% of the worlds arsenal of weapons of mass distruction.

You have a history of imperialism and militarism, going back to your fourth President and his invasion of what would become my country. Anybody who lives in a country that has been invaded by the United States, feels uncomfortable when you invade another country.

You do not stand up to your treaties and believe that your money can get anything that you want. When you do travel, you do not pay much respect to the natives of the places that you visit.

You blame the world for not helping during the greatest natural disater in your history, but you are not interested in accepting offers of help.

We watch you, we pay attention to you because you affect us.

[a1ka1ine]

Originally Posted by damian2001

There are number of reasons for being interested in US news. Im in the UK and everything the US does impacts us one way or another, because of our close ties.

I also work for mainly American companies - Look at how 2257 has impacted everyone.

The list is endless really, whether we like it or nor not the US has a big influance on the way the rest of the world lives.

what he said, in addition our main news programmes tend to cover any major worldwide issues, not limited to america, as well as big national stories. if its not major US news it wont usually be in our news though.

[Mr-No]

IMHO, first, that is a question of education... Education system in Europe is very very different that education system in USA. I doubt that geography (or history) in USA schools is even close to what you learn in schools in Europe.
I'm sure that 9 of 10 Europeans know that NO is in USA, and 5 of 10 exactly where. At the other hand, I'm not sure how many "Americans" will show that percent of knowledge about any (other) country in the world...

And, 2nd, we are all (adult webmaster or content providers) on one or other way engaged with USA. Simply we are paid in USA$, or our costumers/partners are from/in USA, so we are interested what is going on in/with USA...

And, of course news from USA are in "news from aroud the world" section, except in case of "breaking news"...

Maybe I'm wrong, but that's my

[DutchTeenCash]

Originally Posted by Mr-No

Maybe I'm wrong, but that's my

Youre not. We had to learn geography and not just Europe. Americans don't get that much, I've been in highschools and it's 99% US focussed.

I'm sure it's not the same everywhere and it'll get better, but the majority of the ppl in the US have no clue if Holland is above or below Spain.

Love how ppl showed me pics of Poland when I was in the US the last time and told me they loved Holland

Oh and no course they dont show US news first. Do they show Asian news first on NBC too? Sigh.

[TetsuoIronMan]

Of course US news are interesting. When I started in this biz I earned about 25% more on every signup. American domestic and foreign politics affects me directly.

For one thing United States is the only remaining superpower and has enough nuclear weapons to devastate the earth. Thats a good excuse for anyone to worry about the monkeys running the show in the US right now.

Besides many of us have friends/relatives in the US. One of my uncles live in Chicago. One girl that I chat with regularly (I met her a few years ago while overnighting at the horrible Heathrow airport) lives in NO. Havent heard from her since the storm but since electricity is out and all Im hoping everything is cool.

Not to mention all the bizarre and exotic news stuff that comes out of the US daily. (see jayeffs post)

Enough political yapping for one day. Better start some would you hit it threads.

[GeeDee]

America is a sensation searching country they bring politics with a kind of movie intro... or with a certain style that we are not used to in holland(that's were I am from)

Also many things happening in amerika affect us.

America (Actually only bush) wants to show everyone that america is so strong and powerfull, so that they also seem the leaders against terrorism (bin laden)..... and especially after 11/9 this got even stronger!

But I love America.... I often ask myself what it would be like living there!

[tranza]

Originally Posted by Joe Citizen

Most Americans seem to be only interested in the affairs of their own nation. Knowledge of other nations/cultures seems poor.

A majority of those of on this board are American, so discussing matters that don't concern America would be rather pointless.

you have a point...but it really seems that americans know only that what happens in US

[GeeDee]

Originally Posted by tranza

you have a point...but it really seems that americans know only that what happens in US

true!

[assmunk]

Originally Posted by directfiesta

Couldn't find nothing on Tanzamania, so here is for TASMANIA

I used to think people were full of it when they posted something like 'i just spat *insert random beverage here* on my *insert random hardware here* because of this post'....

But i give in....i came VERY CLOSE to spitting tea all over my monitor...Thanks for the laugh.

And to answer the original question:

While domestic news make up a bigger chunk of the programming of local TV channels' News, they also cover international news as well. Thereby europeans that watch local stations' News are informed about what's going on around the world as well. Local tv stations cover only major international news, though, so I watch cnn, bbc & cnbc and also check online.

Also take into account that because this is a webmaster board, the ppl you'll run into here will probably be more informed on US news than non-webmaster europeans, since what happens in the US(laws,economy,holidays,etc.) greatly affect their biz as well.