If you don’t know less than 50% of Americans have a passport. The ones who don’t, I really see the limitation in their thinking. They never saw that most of the world is in fact freer than them, has a better system in place for their people, and doesn’t have some of the major problems that America has. I’m currently in a country where over 90% of items are made in that country. America (made in China) can’t comprehend this efficiency. P.S. I’m American
The thing that gets me though is how dangerous many Americans say other parts of the world is without having ever been there lol. I travel and I’ll tell you America is the MOST dangerous country outside of warzones. Yes even more dangerous that Arab countries for women. Lol I know that propaganda is in a lot of Americans minds.
OK so who’s actually been outside the country and can talk geopolitics and actually know from experience what they are talking about?
American here, currently sitting in the AFT cafeteria of a Norwegian cruise ship just off the coast of France. Saved for years to go on this once in a lifetime cruise.
I grew up on the edge of poor. Had basics and never went hungry, but our summer vacations were camping because it was cheap. Never went to Disneyland until I was in the Army and could afford it myself.
While I agree that going abroad is definitely eye opening, even traveling to other states increases your open-mindedness. I joined the Army and was stationed in Alabama, Georgia, Alaska and Washington. Going back home and reuniting with friends who never left the state or even left the general area was kind of shocking. Never being exposed to an even slightly different environment really showed in their attitude.
While I was in the Army, I was sent to Missouri and a couple of other states I can’t remember right now for a month or so for training or field problems, and short trips show how even though I was still in the same country, there were definitely societal, geographical and political differences in each place.
Expanding that to traveling other countries was also eye opening. The Army sent me to Thailand for a month. My current job sent me to Australia and S. Korea and a couple of other states for 2-3 weeks at a time. I liked hitting the tourist spots, but I really enjoyed just watching people wherever I am. Once you see that (for the most part) people are people, you start to get that just because someone’s idea is different than yours, doesn’t mean it’s wrong, it’s just different.
I don’t have much to say about geopolitics off the top of my head, but I used to scoff at pedestrian-friendly designs and subscribe to the idea that car ownership is freedom and roads are for cars only. Living in Germany for a few months and enjoying public transit made me perish those old thoughts.
Among developed nations, the US should not get any awards for safety, but I would argue that there’s certainly worse out there without venturing into warzones.
Is it okay for non-Americans to answer this?
Technically speaking, I’ve ONLY travelled outside of America
If you want. But I wanted to get answers from Americans I need yo see if they understand they can’t speak on something to the degree that they are notorious for without some experience and interaction with the thing
Yes, funny that you mentioned the American perception of danger.
Any time I mention visiting a country outside of western europe / the caribbean tourist hell- I literally get told I’m going to be chopped up or murdered.
I think any american willing to travel outside of the aforementioned places is someone with a mind already changed. For me it only confirmed what I already knew about the rest of the world.
And some of your replies are very correct, and a surface level conversation with most american hogs will prove it: the majority have not traveled abroad and many aren’t even well versed in the states / workings of their own country.
American centrism aah post
No. I grew up poor. I was a poor young adult. Now I’m okay, but now I’m concerned with possibly ending up poor again. It’s like a stone around my neck.
Got a passport though. I’d love to be able to just move to another country (I swear I will learn whatever language I gotta, do my best to integrate, and not be too “outspoken American” if that is heavily frowned upon).
I believe you can do it.
Not American, so main question doesn’t apply. Have been to a couple other countries, have family in a lot more.
I’m currently in a country where over 90% of items are made in that country.
China? It’s got to be China, everywhere else has to import something other than raw resources. Hmm, maybe Cuba’s another candidate, I guess.
I travel and I’ll tell you America is the MOST dangerous country outside of warzones
That’s just straight up not true. The US is worst in class for the first world, but even parts of Mexico have a pretty high rate of violence.
No not China.
nope. im not part of that economic class.
What does seem to be a point of agreement for Europeans that live in the States for years is that the US is so huge that for most people, there’s no reason to leave. Whatever landscape you want can be had, from the tropics to the Arctic Circle. Geography makes it easy to never have a passport and experience 20 lifetimes of places. It actually is an amazing and diverse place.
That being said, getting an outside perspective of the world is an entirely different thing. Until an American gets their exceptionalism challenged by someone, it’s an internal emotional paper tiger. It typically benefits Americans to leave the country.
I won’t touch your point about most dangerous. I don’t agree, but won’t engage because I don’t want to end up in a Palintir database. Delete this post unless you want CBP searching your phone next time you re-enter the country.
I won’t touch your point about most dangerous. I don’t agree, but won’t engage because I don’t want to end up in a Palintir database. Delete this post unless you want CBP searching your phone next time you re-enter the country.
A scary reminder of chilling effects, hits close.
Being able to explore different geographic landscapes is nice but traveling outside of your country is necessary to broaden one’s worldview.
But even travel alone isn’t enough. You need to have a genuine curiosity about the world. About humanity.
I watched Eat Pray Love with my SO recently. I can’t think of a more narrow minded approach to telling this type of story. Using other nations and their people as a backdrop to one’s own half baked self discovery. It was poorly done and thankfully even the core audience of americans identified its issues.
I can’t imagine a life only seeing one nation’s people, worldview and lifestyle. It seems incomplete to me. I know for many Americans there are financial challenges (and not a lot of PTO) but I agree with you that its often to an individuals benefit to broaden their horizons.
Did you know you can be exposed to other cultures without leaving the country? You did a good job of pointing out why travel alone doesn’t make people more open minded, but you didn’t touch on the opportunities Americans have to connect with other cultures without leaving their own country.
You can be exposed to an Americanized version of that culture, absolutely. Its not the same as going to its source.
Not to mention different economic classes. Like people for whom travel to a different continent would be a luxury beyond their financial capabilities.
I’ll search their phones lol. Good post except most Americans don’t even know about other states. They don’t travel through America lol only a small percentage of us do.
37 countries 42 states Bachelors degree in international relations and international political economy
Every place is normal. People live there. Every place has dangers 🤷🏻♀️
Sure maybe 8 counties. Yes I have had a passport for decades.
This post is a bit American-centric.
A better wording would’ve been, “Have you ever travelled outside your own country?”
Or, one could say, outside of a 1,000 km radius to an area with a different culture and language.
If you’re in Europe, you can cross multiple countries in 3 hours. A 3 hour drive in any direction barely gets me out of my own state.
So I can understand why OP’s asking Americans. We’re pretty much secluded over here on our own plot with Canada and Mexico. Madrid to Moscow is about 4000 km as I understand it. Or 800 km less than it is from NYC to LA.
I’ve been to 44 States, Canada, Mexico and two other continents. Bad shit can happen anywhere. I will say that the best times I’ve had were hanging out with complete strangers from completely different backgrounds than mine and trading stories with them about home.
Except that these countries are quite more distinct from each other.
I’m asking about America only duh
Yes but lots of non-American readers see this post. So your wording is still a bit specific.
Americans: Have you ever traveled outside of America?
Would have made more sense.
In order to travel outside of America, you have to be inside of America. The people who really need to understand will surely understand the Americans. What you’re saying isn’t incorrect though. I’m just not going to change it.
Yes, quite a lot. I’ve never actually been to America though.
Sooooo funny haaaaaa
If you don’t know less than 50% of Americans have a passport.
169,915,821 passport holders out of 342,034,432 Americans is 49.5% and that’s from this year(2025) as over June. So I don’t care what bad math that news site was doing.
THIS year it’s just getting to cross over the 50% mark. But the fact that you came here to tell me that dumb shi instead of answering the question let’s me know what type you are
I’ve only travelled outside of America.
Had some ideas about visiting the US for Gencon, but 2025 doesn’t seem like a good year for that.
