Our North American CHUD is likely a superstitious, landowning boomer who identifies with white nationalism and Christianity. I imagine the Chuds of other settler colonial areas have a similar profile (e.g. Brazil, South Africa, Australia). But to those who live/have spent time abroad, what is the local stereotype of a reactionary?
American here, and Francophile / every-country-phile. It’s always astounding to me that France has chuds. Americans have this weird relationship with France where we think that you suck (always cracking jokes about how you haven’t won a war in forever—project much?), but also think that you rule (sipping wine for two hours every day for lunch while arguing endlessly about philosophers we haven’t even heard of). I romanticize the French countryside as a region of spectacular natural beauty, and Paris as the city of light and love, but I also know that it’s all full of reactionaries. Just had to comment like the idiot American that I am.
I mean, I once had this vision too when I was like 10 years younger, so don't feel ashamed to view positively a country that is viewed positively in the media. There's a good reason the Paris syndrome exists though, because behind the magnificent pictures and reputation for a fine way of life, France is what it is : a fading social democracy, and an ex-colonial empire trying desperately to maintain its geopolitical relevance. looking more and more like the USA every day. Our economy has suffered the exact same fate as the US' : brutal deindustralization, loss of competitiveness, high unemployment and poverty rate, only aleviated by the ever-disappearing safety nets (which isn't the case in the US because there are none lmao). But really, I'd genuinely like people to stop thinking we are living in some kind of paradise, as some kind of aetheral beings, or on the opposite side of things, that we're just some lazy, surrendering frogs who never stop rioting for some reason.
Stereotypes, positive or negatives must always be destroyed to gain a better understanding of the world. No one is ever free of propaganda and stereotypes, for example, I used to first love Americans, then absolutely hated this country with my guts, before getting finally more knowledgeable with the anglosphere as a whole through my studies. The reality, while still sad, is far more complex, and leaves quite a room for hope. It's good that you're trying to destroy your pre- conceived notions though, not a lot of people are capable of that.
Well, the riots are really cool. That's not something that I think should stop.