5 hours ago, Chomper Higgot said:

Here’s an insight.

In the week after the J6 attack on the U.S. Capitol I attended a dinner party hosted by an American and at which there were 7 Americans and a handful people of other nationalities, Swiss, German, British and Australian.

Over four hours of eating, drinking and chatting together.

Not one American mentioned the attack on Capitol, though the absence of the subject was being quietly discussed amongst the other nationalities.

[edit] all these people have known each other for a number of years and regularly socialize together. They are not strangers to each other.

That's definitely an interesting anecdote but the behaviors of Trump have advanced quite dramatically since then. Trump 2.0 is massively more extreme than Trump 1,0. It would be interesting to hear a similar followup NOW.

Personally, I try to avoid meeting new people.

5 hours ago, FolkGuitar said:

Most non-Americans have no idea of how the American voting system works. Hell, most Americans have no idea of how the American voting system works! No idea of how the Electoral College works, or even what it's supposed to do for an election.

The common reply is 'the people voted in trump,' but that really wasn't the case at all, was it. He was elected by the Electoral College, which did not follow the popular vote. trump lost the popular vote by 2.5 million votes, but the Electoral College did NOT vote that way.

They were supposed to follow the popular vote. They did not.

The Electoral College was the perfect way to deal with elections when the population of the US was less than 4 million people, all located along the East Coast of America. It doesn't work so well with 342 million people scattered in different densities all across the USA.

Agreed but that sounds getting too much in the weeds for most talks between Americans and foreigners. Unless they're total morons they would know that Americans are not a monolith.

5 hours ago, Slowhand225 said:

I don't talk politics or religion with random people.
Personally, I don't care what anyone else thinks

Makes sense if you're talking about random people.

But at some point, people you know become not random.

I had a neighbor this year who was Danish.

He didn't bring up politics but because of Trump's threats on Greenland I did.

I told him that I was on Denmark's side about Greenland and that most Americans do not support Trump annexing it. That particular Dane seemed to appreciate what I said.

Another example where this topic is very situational.

But those who say this isn't a thing in today's world in my opinion are just wrong.

Of course not with every encounter and not with every person but still in many cases it is indeed a quite real elephant in the room.

51 minutes ago, Kinnock said:

As Trump does not run a restaurant or trendy new coffee shop, and is not in a Korean boy band, 99.9% of the Thai population will not have a view.

As a Brit, I'm just jealous that the US leader has some balls.

To start off I have noticed Pattaya tends to attract a lot of pro-Brexit, pro-Trump Brits. When meeting a Brit I am thinking about that.

As far as Thais, I'm really not sure.

There is a big cultural divide with Thais that I've mentioned before.

But yeah they generally do not want to discuss Thai or other politics with foreigner.

My gut feeling is that even among Thais, most will have an opinion about Trump.

I don't know though. I would like to see some polling on that.

4 hours ago, Bannoi said:

American pretends to be Canadian

3 hours ago, bunnydrops said:

I've been considering that. Now, I give a one-line statement about how I lean on the current issue, then say, "It's best we talk about something else."

A tip for Americans pretending to be Canadians.

Most people outside of the US and Canada can't tell which country you come from just by listening to you talking. However, some of us can, and it's one word that more often than not is the culprit, and it's "ABOUT".

So, avoid it like the plague or start practicing!😁

'Do Canadians actually say "aboot"!?'

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ecoGoCwr2Rk&t=83s

PS. And for gawd's sake, don't say "out and about"!

2 minutes ago, BLMFem said:

A tip for Americans pretending to be Canadians.

Most people outside of the US and Canada can't tell which country you come from just by listening to you talking. However, some of us can, and it's one word that more often than not is the culprit, and it's "ABOUT".

So, avoid it like the plague or start practicing!😁

'Do Canadians actually say "aboot"!?'

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ecoGoCwr2Rk&t=83s

PS. And for gawd's sake, don't say "out and about"!

What's this all aboot, eh?

The one time in my life that I faked being Canuck was in an Iranian restaurant in Malaysia when they insisted to know my nationality.

Could have been risky as many Iranians happen to know a lot about Canada.

I generally oppose it out of respect for Canadians.

This is not a manufactured topic.

It's a real thing that Americans abroad are dealing with now.

Americans traveling abroad face criticism in the Trump era | The Week

www.theweek.com/world-news/americans-traveling-abroad-criticism-trump

Thousands of Americans vacation overseas each year, and many of them are confronted with a key question when arriving in a new country: How do they feel about President Donald Trump? During his second term, when many of his actions, including wide-ranging tariffs, are creating global friction, some American travelers are reportedly being received in a chilly manner. And some think being American now means having, according to at least one news outlet, the “world’s most toxic passport.”

My attitude to Americans remains the same: don't discuss politics, baseball or religion. And Americans really can't do anything about Trump. I think the US will be far more fascist in the decades to come. Anybody who thinks voting works should look to Russia, Hungary, and many other countries. Dictators are everywhere.

I have not met any Ukrainian tourists but I've met lots of Russians. Often the males are of draft age. No, I don't mention their brutal, imperialist war.

I make an exception for the IDF veterans we get here. Most of them are really off the charts in defense of genocide.

And I've even met a few Palestinians, with whom I greatly empathise. They weren't tourists but on their way to third countries for resettlement.

22 minutes ago, unblocktheplanet said:

My attitude to Americans remains the same: don't discuss politics, baseball or religion. And Americans really can't do anything about Trump. I think the US will be far more fascist in the decades to come. Anybody who thinks voting works should look to Russia, Hungary, and many other countries. Dictators are everywhere.

I have not met any Ukrainian tourists but I've met lots of Russians. Often the males are of draft age. No, I don't mention their brutal, imperialist war.

I make an exception for the IDF veterans we get here. Most of them are really off the charts in defense of genocide.

And I've even met a few Palestinians, with whom I greatly empathise. They weren't tourists but on their way to third countries for resettlement.

So you make an exception for Israelis.

What exactly do you say to them and how do they react?

I can understand and respect an attitude of avoid talk about politics.

But what if as an American, you're asked to comment about Trump?

I remember during the Brexit vote, asking Brits about their opinion and didn't mind sharing mine that it would be a mistake.

Now I don't ask as the vote is long over but I do link being pro Brexit to being pro Trump.

I think if you're an American and you're asked about Trump and you refuse to comment that usually you're going to be assumed to be pro Trump OR if the question is coming from the minority of non-Americans that are pro Trump and obvious about it, you'll be assumed to be anti-Trump.

I think if asked, you should answer either way.

7 hours ago, FolkGuitar said:

Most non-Americans have no idea of how the American voting system works

I thought it was 'vote early, and vote often'

2 hours ago, Jingthing said:

Makes sense if you're talking about random people.

But at some point, people you know become not random.

I had a neighbor this year who was Danish.

He didn't bring up politics but because of Trump's threats on Greenland I did.

I told him that I was on Denmark's side about Greenland and that most Americans do not support Trump annexing it. That particular Dane seemed to appreciate what I said.

Another example where this topic is very situational.

But those who say this isn't a thing in today's world in my opinion are just wrong.

Of course not with every encounter and not with every person but still in many cases it is indeed a quite real elephant in the room.

Yes, you could have. You said you chose to, good for you. I'd have told you once and then walked away.
Thankfully, I have plenty of things I chose to speak about, religion and politics are not on the list.

31 minutes ago, Slowhand225 said:

Yes, you could have. You said you chose to, good for you. I'd have told you once and then walked away.
Thankfully, I have plenty of things I chose to speak about, religion and politics are not on the list.

Everyone is different.

I think most Ukrainians meeting Russians abroad would appreciate hearing that they support Ukrainian sovereignty.

Well I support Danish sovereignty.

4 hours ago, BLMFem said:

As the robber baron seems to go after high value targets only I'm not sure that's something I'd brag about, so maybe you should hold off on your EU reentry application until Trump is not a factor anymore.😆

I've got no plans to visit Europe this year.

15 minutes ago, EVENKEEL said:

I've got no plans to visit Europe this year.

Thanks, but I have no interest whether you plan to visit the UK, or not.

Im not American but i never start saying where im from.I i hear people From my country in a pub/bar i never make contact.I prefer sit and talk with a lady about normal things,

And if we agree we continue talking in my hotel and ends with pillow talk the next morning.

Delusional folks ... not one person, ever, since 2016 that I've encountered, has yet to mention Trump. Y'all need to get some sleep. Let it go, move on.

Saddest part, most here are not from, or live in the USA. Seek professional help, for your mental health sake.

Not trolling, but damn good, true, honest advice, for y'all. Trump seems to have dominated your brain, your life, for the past decade.

14 minutes ago, KhunLA said:

Delusional folks ... not one person, ever, since 2016 that I've encountered, has yet to mention Trump. Y'all need to get some sleep. Let it go, move on.

Personally, I'll move on when he's no longer in office, for whatever reason (although I definitely have my preferences).

In the mean time I, and the world, have to deal with stuff like the below. So I hope you understand that moving on isn't an option at the moment, okay?

31 minutes ago, KhunLA said:

Delusional folks ... not one person, ever, since 2016 that I've encountered, has yet to mention Trump. Y'all need to get some sleep. Let it go, move on.

Saddest part, most here are not from, or live in the USA. Seek professional help, for your mental health sake.

Not trolling, but damn good, true, honest advice, for y'all. Trump seems to have dominated your brain, your life, for the past decade.

Well, that N/Y resolution didn't last long, did it!😂

39 minutes ago, KhunLA said:

Delusional folks ... not one person, ever, since 2016 that I've encountered, has yet to mention Trump. Y'all need to get some sleep. Let it go, move on.

Saddest part, most here are not from, or live in the USA. Seek professional help, for your mental health sake.

Not trolling, but damn good, true, honest advice, for y'all. Trump seems to have dominated your brain, your life, for the past decade.

Could be when they see youse in your redhat that they just don't need to ask.

Younger generation, point to the maple leaf flag sewn onto your rucksack.

If you are a Trumpian then perhaps a hearty "Sieg Heil" - demonstrating your political loyalties, honouring your Fragrant Leader's teutonic roots and demonstrating a sound grasp of International affairs?

If you are in a tropical climate do not attempt to click your heels - it really hurts if you are wearing flip flops!

3 hours ago, BritManToo said:

I thought it was 'vote early, and vote often'

We are not talking about Brits

1 hour ago, BLMFem said:

Thanks, but I have no interest whether you plan to visit the UK, or not.

I find it a bit humorous that you just had to let me know this. First you tell me to postpone my reentry, I say I'm not going , you say "but I have no interest" 555

10 minutes ago, EVENKEEL said:

I find it a bit humorous that you just had to let me know this. First you tell me to postpone my reentry, I say I'm not going , you say "but I have no interest" 555

Did you actually think I was talking about you, and not the UK? Please let me know truthfully because I will tailor my future interactions accordingly.

Thanks!

19 hours ago, Jingthing said:

So you make an exception for Israelis.

What exactly do you say to them and how do they react?

I start with asking about the war and whether they've been in the IDF. I try not to make them defensive (even when I'm wearing my Palestine Action tee). The whole goal is communication not blame. These brainwashed kids were connived into becoming killers by their govt just like American in Vietnam.

15 hours ago, Jingthing said:

Could be when they see youse in your redhat that they just don't need to ask.

It's all Make Acid Great Again these days!

19 hours ago, Jingthing said:

I can understand and respect an attitude of avoid talk about politics.I think if asked, you should answer either way.

My nephews got nasty, recurrent crotch rot in their teens. What we've got now is Trumprot.

I'd say your odds as an American of getting Scopolamine'd in Columbia have gone up significantly. I would be a little wary in Mexico after what Trump said about Sheinbaum as well. Your chances of getting a cold shoulder in Europe over Trump stance on EU tariffs and non-support of Ukraine have probably gone up as well. As far as here in Thailand, I agree that there is a strong element of anti-Americanism in many European expats, especially British. Frankly, those who project this hostility strike me as coming from a social strata, in terms of educational background and work credentials, below mine, so letting this narrow-mindedness roll off my back is almost always effortless.

To ask this question, assumes you have apprehension about being an American meeting a foreigner and THEIR reaction, if discovering you are from the US. Thoughts...

1. Don't mention nationality if not brought up.

2. Own your nationality, not boastful nor sheepish.

3. If they react negatively, aggressively, stupidly, that is their problem. Give it a laugh.

4. If they are incapable of not being able to distinguish between a nation and an individual, they are not worth knowing or talking to.

5. If you are so inclined to talk politics with someone new with contrarian views, that is your call, but nothing good will likely result, especially if alcohol involved.