WTF Sh*t's F*cked Up and Bullsh*t - a "Who Cares" thread for news

[Kamilah Hauptmann]

If I was visiting a foreign country right now, and was in a situation where I could easily get away with the lie, I'd tell someone who asked that I was Canadian.

Careful with that one, it’s become a sport outing people doing that, and it only works until someone asks for ID.

I make a point of putting my passport on the counter now.

 

[Dakota Tebaldi]

Well I wouldn't try it in Canada.

But, I don't know what else to do. I'd be ashamed and self-conscious to admit to being American right now if I were visiting any country that up until two months ago was on ally terms with the US. We've just stabbed every single of them in the face, not even in the back.

 

[GoblinCampFollower]

Careful with that one, it’s become a sport outing people doing that, and it only works until someone asks for ID.

I make a point of putting my passport on the counter now.

Yeah, I'd not lie about being American. I'm just too ashamed to show my face in other countries anyway! ....but seriously, I hate traveling.

 

[Kamilah Hauptmann]

I wouldn't try it in Canada.

Nono, it’s a sport now to out Americans impersonating Canadians while abroad. the spite and resentment is real!

“We’re not your meat shield, bro!”

 

[Dakota Tebaldi]

Nono, it’s a sport now to out Americans impersonating Canadians while abroad. the spite and resentment is real!

“We’re not your meat shield, bro!”

SNITCH!

 

[Dakota Tebaldi]

Yeah, I'd not lie about being American. I'm just too ashamed to show my face in other countries anyway! ....but seriously, I hate traveling.

I can't afford to travel, not even close. But if I could I would love to. Or, I would HAVE loved to. At the risk of sounding like a broken record I wouldn't be sure how to navigate around the reputation hit that the US has just suffered. I know in other places there will be understanding people, but I don't think there'd be as many as there once was.

 

[Kamilah Hauptmann]

I can't afford to travel, not even close. But if I could I would love to. Or, I would HAVE loved to. At the risk of sounding like a broken record I wouldn't be sure how to navigate around the reputation hit that the US has just suffered. I know in other places there will be understanding people, but I don't think there'd be as many as there once was.

Learn the language of the place you're going to. Really mean it. Learn German, go to Germany as a competent American German speaker.* People will realize you are very serious.

Italian, Greek, Spanish, Dutch, etc.

 

[Soen Eber]

Are Minnesotans honorary Canadians? er, I mean, i'll just call myself a Minnesotan ...

 

[Noodles]

Learn the language of the place you're going to. Really mean it. Learn German, go to Germany as a competent American German speaker.* People will realize you are very serious.

Italian, Greek, Spanish, Dutch, etc.

I am working on it.

 

[Innula Zenovka]

If I was visiting a foreign country right now, and was in a situation where I could easily get away with the lie, I'd tell someone who asked that I was Canadian.

A US writer on her recent visit to the UK

Unofficial Guardian (UK) Bot (@guardian-uk-rss.bsky.social)

‘What the hell’s happening to your country?’ Traveling as an American under Trump 2.0 | Shanti Nelson https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2025/mar/09/traveling-american-trump-essay

bsky.app

From taxi drivers to baristas, commuters in the tube or customers at Costa, strangers expressed their condolences, as if the US has entered hospice care – slowly losing its faculties, its freedom, its rights, and its voice. Shutting down until it surrenders to a higher power as the soul exits its body, and we’re left alone to mourn the loss – helpless, sad, shocked, and in a state of disbelief.

 

[Rose Karuna]

I just returned from Egypt and I was really worried about backlash about being American and even though I'm from Canada, I'm a US citizen now and when people ask, I tell them I'm American, whatever the repercussions. I was really worried because I was in Cairo when Trump started in about moving all the Palestinians from Gaza strip to Egypt and making the Gaza strip a resort. Then that horrible video was released. Truly, I was horrified.

This is what I learned; the Egyptians were the nicest most kind people I've ever met. They did not hate all Americans and seemed to give everyone a chance. From people I met on the street to people in villages to the Egyptian people in hotels and restaurants. Certainly I was as respectful of their customs and religion as I could be (91% are Sunni Muslim). So I dressed conservatively and wore a scarf on my head most of the time. I learned as much as I could about their customs which while I was fascinated with pyramids and temples, I found even more interesting.

The greatest moment for me was when I was visiting a Citadel in Alexandria (Quaitbay) and there was an Egyptian class (kids probably around 10 or 11) visiting also and the students were fascinated with America and wanted pictures with my husband and I and asked us a thousand questions. I am still in touch with our guide from there (and now friend) and I truly hope that someday she can visit me in Florida.

Anyhow, my point is that most people I've met traveling give people the benefit of the doubt regardless of their nationality and don't seem to blame us for electing a monster like Trump. They know that close to 50% of the country did not vote for him.

Some of the hatred in Italy and Spain right now are not solely directed at Americans but at all tourists. Living near Disney, I get that. I try to be cognizant of it and respectful of their territory and customs.

Anyhow, I guess my point is, people are rarely hated for being Americans as long as they are respectful. Being respectful does include learning how to say some at least basic things in their language too.

 

[Myradyl Muse]

There will always be some who sadly generalize their angst and hatred to entire nationalities. On a positive note, despite the politics and rhetoric, most people in my travels accept and welcome you as a person when you behave politely, respectfully and with friendship, in their spaces. As Canadians, we do NOT hate Americans. We despise, disagree with and are disgusted by the American president's (and his toadies') disrespectful statements, conduct, and repeated threats to our sovereignty and safety.

 

[Dancien]

1: I am now one of the people who claps when the plane lands
2: I have to go to Canada in 4 months for a month and I'm just calling it "The Apology Tour"
3: Until this shit is over, I'm only drinking Tim Horton's coffee.

 

[Kamilah Hauptmann]

Tim Horton’s is foreign owned now.

Americans buying goods under tariff only hands money to Trump. Buy Blue State or companies that refuse to bend the knee.

 

[Dancien]

HEB Coffee it is then

 

[Noodles]

But Black Rifle is right there and has guns in its name!

/s

 

[Dancien]

For a long time I was like "There is no coffee worse than Starbucks." and then I had BlackRifle or as I call them Bootlicker Coffee.

 

[Innula Zenovka]

For a long time I was like "There is no coffee worse than Starbucks." and then I had BlackRifle or as I call them Bootlicker Coffee.

What an extraordinary exercise in branding! "Look at our packaging and buy this because we align with your political identity!" as the almost exclusive selling point pretty much says that they don't expect anyone to pay much attention to what the stuff tastes like.

I've never used Starbucks, not because I've consciously avoided them but because there's always been an acceptable alternative nearby when I've wanted a coffee and their emphasis on flavourings and toppings makes me suggest they must know their coffee needs something to disguise its taste, but that at least suggests they're aware of what it tastes like.

 

[Dancien]

There is a lot to hate about Black Rifle. Their stupid "VetBro" youtube channel. The fact when Starbucks said "Hey we're going to hire 10,000 immigrants" and they said "That is Un-American, we're going to hire 10,000 veterans" (Spoiler: They did not and in fact, Starbucks hired more veterans.) Their association with what used to be the Proud Boys and Kyle Rittenhouse. But overall it is just horrifically shitty coffee.

 

[Rose Karuna]

Speaking of coffee, has anyone noticed that it has more than doubled in price at the store? A 3 lb can was 8.99 early last year, went up to 11.99 in Nov/December and then suddenly I saw that it soared up to $17.99 last week. I generally make my own cuppa every morning.

I ran across this article. The most interesting thing is that farther down in the article they provide a list of prices for various common grocery items from 2019, compared to this year. The only prices that appear to have gone down are lemons and tomatoes.

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/why-are-coffee-prices-so-high-inflation/