or are there a lot of experts on the states on mumsnet?

[SantasBigBaubles]

I've noticed a lot of people on mumsnet seem to think making massive sweeping statements about a fucking huuuge country is totally OK. As long as its america. I strongly suspect most are basing there shit generalisations on a 2 week holiday to Orlando once when they were 12 too. Its a big country. You are not an expert.

Unless you have been to every region of the UK in those two decades then no,you don't really have that right.

Interesting that Americans are getting all het up because people dare criticise their gun laws,not them as a people,but a law.

- as an Australian who is living in the UK for the last 10 years, and having been on Mumsnet for 6 years as well - I completely disagree with you Morloth!!!!!

I would have thought the op was referring to the thread last night. I have to say I can see where she is coming from here a bit. Even if you look at some of the gun law threads there are comments which go beyond criticising the law.

If I was American I would honestly avoid this place for at least a week after every tragedy that happened in America. There were similar threads after the tornado.

Mainly in the vein of why is America in the news when we should be talking about country x or country y.

Given that the US is constantly featured in British news, more so than any other country apart from Britain itself, it would be odd if people didn't form an opinion about it, wouldn't it? Or are people supposed to shut down their critical faculties when they read a news story?

But then neither does any native born 20yo British person have right to comment on British culture either, right? Unless they have lived all over, etc.

Which begs the question, how many years of residency or formal study and diverse places of residence are required in order to have a justified opinion?

alis i would happily criticize our gun laws, my problem is with sweeping generalizations about americans, our beliefs, our "arrogance". youve made an assumption based on my nationality when i have said nothing regarding gun laws. other than wish we could take the guns away on another thread. Thank you for proving my point so well!. i do believe the horse is bolted as far as aboloshing them though. but that is an educated opinion based on having lived in a red state my whole life