“Know what I’m getting” means; I feel like as long as I didn’t bring up political topics and were generally a well behaved tourist I’d be safe. Have been to China twice and it was a positive, friendly experience.
I admit ignorance having never been to the US but the impression I get as a Brit is that it’s an incredibly volatile place where not knowing the right street protocol or exactly how to posture and behave in front of police means you could just be wiped out in an instant for some arbitrary shit like looking at someone. Very unsafe if you haven’t grown up there & learned the street smarts.
For example, reaching for your pocket or car glovebox when pulled over by police in UK is a very normal thing to do, to get your license to show them, but seen as an act of aggression in the US.
I’d visit given a chance but would definitely be on edge, in a way I wasn’t in China.
Your are not wrong that the US is more volatile, police often do act out even in routine situations and you will notice a lot of crazy people and degenerate behaviour, but it’s not that big of an issue if you stick to routine tourists activities and areas (or if you are with a local).
While I unfortunately haven’t been to China, I will speculate that you can get into serious trouble if you go outside of the tourist path and/or you’re not with a local.
Don’t get me wrong, I am no fan of the US.
While I’ve generally always defended the US while recognising their weaknesses, I am increasingly coming to the conclusion that the US is not a positive influence globally and their culture is perhaps more flawed than I initially believed.
That being said, it is ridiculous to position China as being “a better option”. China is a revanchist, genocidal and authoritarian country. I have no interest in being dominated by such a country.
“Know what I’m getting” means; I feel like as long as I didn’t bring up political topics and were generally a well behaved tourist I’d be safe. Have been to China twice and it was a positive, friendly experience.
I admit ignorance having never been to the US but the impression I get as a Brit is that it’s an incredibly volatile place where not knowing the right street protocol or exactly how to posture and behave in front of police means you could just be wiped out in an instant for some arbitrary shit like looking at someone. Very unsafe if you haven’t grown up there & learned the street smarts.
For example, reaching for your pocket or car glovebox when pulled over by police in UK is a very normal thing to do, to get your license to show them, but seen as an act of aggression in the US.
I’d visit given a chance but would definitely be on edge, in a way I wasn’t in China.
Your are not wrong that the US is more volatile, police often do act out even in routine situations and you will notice a lot of crazy people and degenerate behaviour, but it’s not that big of an issue if you stick to routine tourists activities and areas (or if you are with a local).
While I unfortunately haven’t been to China, I will speculate that you can get into serious trouble if you go outside of the tourist path and/or you’re not with a local.
Don’t get me wrong, I am no fan of the US.
While I’ve generally always defended the US while recognising their weaknesses, I am increasingly coming to the conclusion that the US is not a positive influence globally and their culture is perhaps more flawed than I initially believed.
That being said, it is ridiculous to position China as being “a better option”. China is a revanchist, genocidal and authoritarian country. I have no interest in being dominated by such a country.