Would you describe yourself as patriotic?

[Geoff]

If you're not patriotic, you don't like the place in you're in. Your choices at that point would be to move, to do something to make the place better, or to whinge a lot and do nothing. I wonder what most people chose...

That doesn't follow. I like the place I'm in, even though it's pretty much a dump (although I'd prefer to be 300 miles South of here ). I'm [the equivalent of] patriotic about my home town to some extent, but not the country.

If rationalia was a country, though, then I might feel patriotism towards it!

It follows. You have problems with your country. Which option do you chose?

The good things outweigh the bad, pretty much, but that's not patriotism, simply an objective assessment of the pros & cons of my own personal situation - the good things, if I could take them with me, would be equally good in many countries.

[Gawdzilla Sama]

The good things outweigh the bad, pretty much, but that's not patriotism, simply an objective assessment of the pros & cons of my own personal situation - the good things, if I could take them with me, would be equally good in many countries.

Why would things have to be unique to your location for you to be proud of them? The US has a great road system, it allowed Ayaan and I to go 1152 miles in less than twenty hours of road time. But other countries have great road systems too, except England of course.

[Geoff]

The good things outweigh the bad, pretty much, but that's not patriotism, simply an objective assessment of the pros & cons of my own personal situation - the good things, if I could take them with me, would be equally good in many countries.

Why would things have to be unique to your location for you to be proud of them? The US has a great road system, it allowed Ayaan and I to go 1152 miles in less than twenty hours of road time. But other countries have great road systems too, except England of course.

I'm talking about things I like, or would miss, not particularly things I'm proud of (I don't think there's anything that falls into that category). Patriotism, to me, means "my country, right or wrong", and that simply doesn't apply.

[Gawdzilla Sama]

I'm talking about things I like, or would miss, not particularly things I'm proud of (I don't think there's anything that falls into that category). Patriotism, to me, means "my country, right or wrong", and that simply doesn't apply.

That's just one way of looking at it. Bumper-sticker philosophy isn't a strong guiding force for me. I'm patriotic, I've proven that, but I know my country isn't perfect. I make my own small efforts to make it better because I like the place. The USA is far from the only place I'd live, there are so many great spots around the planet. But if I had to pick up a gun again to defend this spot I wouldn't hesitate. That, to me, if patriotism, in part at least. Patriotism makes people spend their Saturdays picking up trash alongside the roads, painting park benches every spring (so kids can steal the "wet paint" signs), and volunteering at the local library.

[Sisifo]

If you're not patriotic, you don't like the place in you're in. Your choices at that point would be to move, to do something to make the place better, or to whinge a lot and do nothing. I wonder what most people chose...

7 countries in 10 years...

[Gawdzilla Sama]

If you're not patriotic, you don't like the place in you're in. Your choices at that point would be to move, to do something to make the place better, or to whinge a lot and do nothing. I wonder what most people chose...

7 countries in 10 years...

72 in 20.

[Sisifo]

If you're not patriotic, you don't like the place in you're in. Your choices at that point would be to move, to do something to make the place better, or to whinge a lot and do nothing. I wonder what most people chose...

7 countries in 10 years...

72 in 20.

The ship is still american territory... I mean house rented, local taxes, bills to my name, etc, etc... I mean, resident.

[Gawdzilla Sama]

If you're not patriotic, you don't like the place in you're in. Your choices at that point would be to move, to do something to make the place better, or to whinge a lot and do nothing. I wonder what most people chose...

7 countries in 10 years...

72 in 20.

The ship is still american territory... I mean house rented, local taxes, bills to my name, etc, etc... I mean, resident.

Let's not get bogged down in facts. I've had hotel rooms in that many countries.

[Sisifo]

If you're not patriotic, you don't like the place in you're in. Your choices at that point would be to move, to do something to make the place better, or to whinge a lot and do nothing. I wonder what most people chose...

7 countries in 10 years...

72 in 20.

The ship is still american territory... I mean house rented, local taxes, bills to my name, etc, etc... I mean, resident.

Let's not get bogged down in facts. I've had hotel rooms in that many countries.

Was the building still standing by your departure?

[Gawdzilla Sama]

Was the building still standing by your departure?

Of course!

[Coito ergo sum]

Yes, because I have loyalty and devotion to my country. I don't, however, think it's "the best." And, patriotism doesn't mean that you think you're country is "the best." Patriotism: devoted love, support, and defense of one's country; national loyalty.

[Coito ergo sum]

I'm talking about things I like, or would miss, not particularly things I'm proud of (I don't think there's anything that falls into that category). Patriotism, to me, means "my country, right or wrong", and that simply doesn't apply.

That's just one way of looking at it. Bumper-sticker philosophy isn't a strong guiding force for me. I'm patriotic, I've proven that, but I know my country isn't perfect. I make my own small efforts to make it better because I like the place. The USA is far from the only place I'd live, there are so many great spots around the planet. But if I had to pick up a gun again to defend this spot I wouldn't hesitate. That, to me, if patriotism, in part at least. Patriotism makes people spend their Saturdays picking up trash alongside the roads, painting park benches every spring (so kids can steal the "wet paint" signs), and volunteering at the local library.

+1

[Twoflower]

I am not patriotic.

[Gawdzilla Sama]

I am not patriotic.

Will you be when you move?

[Twoflower]

I am not patriotic.

Will you be when you move?

Maybe, I like Scotland more than I like the U.S. in regard to a lot of their laws and the culture fits me more as well. Of course I won't know until I have lived there for a while. I've just never felt any loyalty to the U.S.