Americans are the meanest people on the planet!

[hipeter924]

[hipeter924]

[Spider]

[Kane]

Any stats anybody uses to compare rates to the US is going to suffer from different methodologies used in getting to the statistical figures. One simple example would be Japan and Robbery Homicides. We include Robbery Homicides in our overall homicide rate whereas Japan doesn't. Absolute numbers are obviously useless and if we consider demographic and geographic circumstances the stats vary wildly across the US.

The city I grew up in had one instance of a murder through my 18 years living there and graduating from High School. At that time Oakland was a cesspit of violence and only 30 mins away. Homogenizing about the US in this macro level fashion is severely flawed and does little to attenuate the grievances of inner city dwellings obviously affected far more by this reality than the rest of America (which is primarily why the issue is pushed under the rug to begin with).

In my experience, as it is anywhere else on the planet, people get more emotional depending on the topic being discussed.

[Kane]

Case in point here: If you walk up to an American and tell them that you believe we're the "meanest people on the planet" the response this elicits is likely to be more demonstrative of your desired result. That much should be self explanatory.

[eynon81]

we kept doors unlocked in my home town.

it was awesome being a kid there.

[Spider]

Same with my various hometowns. Only bothered to lock anything when living in Portland. And Portland isn't bad at all. We're at 1960's violent crime levels these days.

[Kane]

[Aaron]

hey JW... you ever met a Russian mobster?