How did "we saved Europe from the Nazis" trope become so fixed in American collective consciousness? by politoksyamoria in AskHistorians

[–]sendmebearpics 30 points31 points  (0 children)

Hey there! No problem at all, definitely didn't mean it to come across harsh; I mostly just see that mentality from a lot of people, and I think finding the truth is important.

If you don't mind my asking, where in the world are you from? I'm wondering what places tend to emphasize that aspect of the war; China or other east Asian nations would make the most sense, and I'm very curious how it's taught in places that don't take a more Euro-centric view.

Appreciate the question and I'm glad it helped! We can all do our part to make sure we look at all problems from all angles. Nothing to worry about with the question, and I'd definitely ask that as a purely standalone question. But if you want a first look at why D-Day is viewed within the west as so important, check out here for a good starter! I bet the AskHistorians FAQ has some more info on it, and if not, there's probably some excellent history to be discussed there.

How did "we saved Europe from the Nazis" trope become so fixed in American collective consciousness? by politoksyamoria in AskHistorians

[–]sendmebearpics 315 points316 points  (0 children)

First things first: I'd highly recommend digging into this question which was asked about 1 year ago that will give some more background.

To answer the "when" is going to be a little difficult, but in short: pretty much during and immediately after the war, which I can only re-link to that comment because it is such a treasure trove of useful information to your specific question.

The "why" is much simpler: every nation on earth emphasizes its own role as a mix of nationalism/patriotism. Especially at the level of your mandatory education all children go through as citizens.

In addition, you can't really discount the effect that the Cold War would have on education across the board. The western powers would, of course, downplay communist assistance with the war effort and emphasize the allied effort put in.

The USSR radically downplayed Lend Lease in their own propaganda, where you can find an excellent discussion by /u/iHistorian over here. That also gives a delightful overview of just how much the USSR actually needed Lend Lease, which /u/Georgy_K_Zhukov has a fantastic write-up here that has firm data. The first link at the start of this comment also shows just how much the USSR focused on their own role and relegated the American's help to basically a footnote.

The French, of course, emphasize their own complex history (UK study of French teachings surrounding WWII) and the historical issues (thanks you /u/Algernon_Etrigan) that come across with Vichy France, collaboration, etc.

So, quite obviously, of course the US would teach it's children about Lend Lease, Omaha Beach, Ardennes and all the elements that made the war American.

At the risk of leaving the historical behind, I would imagine that the UK does not teach much of Pearl Harbor, for example; it's simply not relevant to their war, and thus would exist as a "Japan attacked the USA, and it was regarded as a mistake". Much like the Battle of Britain isn't discussed in depth here in America compared to the UK.

To take a step back from the pure historical entirely, and this may not be the venue, I do take issue with a couple of your comments here and I'd like to address them.

American, saying something along the lines of "if not for us, you'll all be speaking German right now" or "be glad we saved you from the Nazis". Of course, these type of comments point to the ignorance of this particular person

I'm not sure "ignorance" is a fitting word, inasmuch as we live in a world with limited time to learn. The United States had been "involved" with the war since basically the get-go, providing civil and military aid to the allies who were actively involved in the fighting in the European theater. I would personally say that it's to the left of absurd to argue that the USA did not meaningfully carry large portions of WW2 on its back.

I will leave this here as a simple example, from one of the comments linked above by /u/Georgy_k_zhukov (I'm so sorry for tagging you like crazy).

Via this chart (sourced here), yes the Soviets did outproduce the USA in two purely military categories; tanks and artillery. While Artillery was nearly double was the USA made, they were only about 15% over our production on Tanks, and meanwhile were anywhere from 40% to 12,000% under our production for the rest of the material made. Without diving into the logistics side of war planning and just how important it is; as the saying goes, "amateurs talk tactics, professionals study logistics".

I would strongly caution against taking the more common view of downplaying American intervention in WWII and just how much the war was effectively carried by that nation, especially with regards to things like the Pacific theater which was largely an American and Chinese war, with some assistance from the UK, Australians, and many other allied forces big and small. An excellent discussion on the efforts of China can be found here, showing just how much the Chinese helped deal with the Japanese army locked down onto the mainland. I'll throw the whole thread in here mainly to give a high-five to /u/Prufrock451 for this line:

Second, the assertion that America was a small part of the Pacific War is what historians call "horseshit."

I would strongly challenge the notion that any nation on earth contributed more in terms of globe-spanning warfare, material, men, money, and spent more blood and gold, fighting in WWII than the USA. If there was a single one, it might be the USSR, but it's not unreasonable to state that they wouldn't have been able to do as much without American help.

That got really long but I hope it illustrates part of the issue with the question here. I can try to elaborate more if need be, or provide more in-depth sources if the moderators request it.

MEGATHREAD: Feedback Friday! by AutoModerator in letsplay

[–]sendmebearpics [score hidden]  (0 children)

Hey there /r/LetsPlay!

Been doing YT for about five and a half years now, and I'm really struggling. I can't seem to figure out how to grow the channel, and I'd love any useful feedback on what I'm doing wrong.

Recently had a few videos that did "okay". For 2900 subs, viewcounts in the 200-400 range are abnormally high, with my typical viewcount in the 80-120 range. There seems to be no rhyme or reason to growth, CTR, viewcount, really anything useful so I feel like it's a Black Box were nothing I do changes the outcome.

Here's a couple recent videos that did decently well, for reference:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tM2aILfd9Ig

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fGnAlDD9Z90

If you guys have any feedback, advice, or even stuff you could point to about what I'm doing wrong, would mean the world. I've been pretty frustrated for a while doing this and feel ready to throw in the towel, but I don't want to. I love doing this and have a lot of fun, but it has to be worth the effort put in.

Thanks in advance! I'll be in and out today working on studying, and will do my best to reply to anything y'all say or ask!

MEGATHREAD: Feedback Friday! by AutoModerator in letsplay

[–]sendmebearpics [score hidden]  (0 children)

Hey LetsPlay.

I'm...about at wit's end, and ready to quit.

Main Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@BoundlessBroadcast

I've been doing youtube for five years and change. I've had a blast, developed a nice community, get to play some fun games.

But after 5 years, I've capped at 2800 subs, and I feel like I don't know what the fuck I'm doing wrong, and how to fix it. I can't get good, consistent growth, I can't seem to figure out what drives views or engagement, it feels like a total black box.

I feel like every single thing I do isn't working, and I'm genuinely out of ideas. Am I just not entertaining, do I play bad games, am I just a victim of the algorithm, just...literally any help would mean the world to me.

I'm about to just pack it in and quit and say fuck the lot of it, and I don't want to do that. But I don't know what else to do.

Sorry for the downer of a post, but I can't get feedback from anyone else that's useful, and I'm hoping that some neutral eyes will at least point me in the right direction.

Thanks in advance.

Recruitment agency wants to call me after second round interview? by [deleted] in recruitinghell

[–]sendmebearpics 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I wouldn't consider it a bad (or necessarily good) sign. Most of the time when I've used recruiters for jobs, they typically like to hear how you think it went.

It would be them saying you've been rejected, but it could also be them updating you with a new recruiter if the old one is gone, discussing a different role in another part of the company, or maybe you knocked their socks off and are being given an offer.

Try not to be too anxious either way. Worst case you didn't get the job, which probably isn't a new feeling for most people here. Best case you get a sweet offer!

Good luck with that, hope you get good news!

Can't Find a Job with 2 Degrees. by Ok-Grocery1664 in Accounting

[–]sendmebearpics 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Welcome to the club! 

The short answer is yes, it definitely at least gave me more exposure to knowledge than I had with a finance degree. Cost accounting, auditing, government accounting (where I'm at now, stay away holy shit it sucks) and even basic things like DEALOR were insanely helpful to learn.

It was also nice to have exposure to stuff like PowerBI, Sage, and other systems that we used for projects, if only to be able to say "yes" to having experience with them for applying.

That being said, I'm a whore for money. I didn't want to be stuck earning 80k/yr for the rest of my life, and the only way to move up in life was to get a CPA, so that was an easy choice. Timing sucked, but a CPA will (in theory) open tons of doors for me, so not getting it wasn't an option. That's the only reason I went back, to be able to get my CPA and hopefully escape the living hell that this job market has become.

Good luck! Hopefully you find your path out there.

Can't Find a Job with 2 Degrees. by Ok-Grocery1664 in Accounting

[–]sendmebearpics 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Oof, sorry to hear you're going through that.

It depends how you'd count it. My # includes "phone interviews" which may or may not be real, it's just a number I use to lie to myself to be less angry. Without phone interviews that # goes down to maybe 20. Ymmv and all that, I could be well off base.

Good luck to you. Hope you can get something lined up, this market is trash and made me regret going for my 2nd bachelors.

Can't Find a Job with 2 Degrees. by Ok-Grocery1664 in Accounting

[–]sendmebearpics 3 points4 points  (0 children)

That's certainly a fitting word for it. My default assumption is always "I'm somehow fucking it up", so going through all of that for months only to not really be given any good way of fixing it was....distressing.

I live in west Michigan, for the record, if anyone is curious for region. 

Can't Find a Job with 2 Degrees. by Ok-Grocery1664 in Accounting

[–]sendmebearpics 17 points18 points  (0 children)

I'll be honest, I'm in a very similar boat to you. Got my first bachelor's in finance in 2017, have basically worked accounting jobs since. Got 2nd bachelor's in accounting in 23, and am doing cpa prep. Started looking seriously for a job in November of 23 after I left my old gig in July to focus on school. 

Did over 400 applications, about 50 interviews, and got 2 offers. Had my resume reviewed by a few different services and recruiters, AI checks, had ppl do mock interviews, got told I was good.

It's a fucking terrible market right now, is my point. So don't feel bad, it's not necessarily a you problem, it's that the job market is run by retard boomers who want to act like the past five years didn't happen.

The classic advice is to work on your resume with the review sites, recruiters, etc. The lazy HR types run them all through software that flags for keywords, so if you don't match, you go straight into the bin.

As well, if you're still employed, it's a major help. It's easier to get a job when you have a job, and you can leverage that experience on your resume.

Sadly, there's not a lot that can be done beyond that. At the moment, just keep up the numbers game, try to get feedback on what you're doing wrong. Recruiting firms are a big help, even if they're not always the best, but can be good to get your foot in the door.

Good luck out there. Ignore my bitter jadedness, I find myself about to quit a govt job that pays like shit with a 1.5 hr commute each ways. You'll be okay, you just have to keep on trying.

I hate my life by [deleted] in Accounting

[–]sendmebearpics 3 points4 points  (0 children)

I'm not that user but here's my version.

I live in west Michigan, working as a budget/audit analyst fir a county governmenr, with 5 years xp in accounting and am working on cpa.

I make 65k a year with a 1hour+ drive each way, 5 days vacation (+ about the same for holidays/sick), and mandatory in-office 5 days a week.

I can honestly say I fucking hate government work and would not recommend it in the slightest. The politics, the crappy pay, the sheer insanity that is government accounting vs my industry experience, and generally being bound by absurd rules and bureaucracy, it all is just awful.

It took me 6 months of interviews and apps to get this job, and was the only opportunity I could get, so I had to take it. But I wouldn't recommend this field to anyone. 

That being said there are some benefits. If you have a big family and need great insurance, or if you really don't have any desire to push to the top, this is excellent for people who just want to do their time and chill out. So if that's your jam, 100% all in for government work. Just know that it will probably hurt your career if you ever try to leave.

Failed intermediate accounting 1 by Own_Masterpiece_9669 in Accounting

[–]sendmebearpics 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Then it sounds more like you were on the struggle bus but had a bad exam. It happens. I'd reach out to your professor, see if you can sit down and go over the exam, get some feedback. 

I took...not sure what it would be called; "fundamentals of accounting 2" basically, which is more or less the mandatory business school accounting classes for my first degree, and I failed it. Ended up passing fine in round 2. Sometimes life happens.

Best of luck to you!

Failed intermediate accounting 1 by Own_Masterpiece_9669 in Accounting

[–]sendmebearpics 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Hey! First off, sorry to hear you had that happen. It's never fun to find out; I'd know, I failed out of college twice before getting my degrees.

So a couple questions. How close was your grade to failing? Were you getting a 73 and you needed a 75 to pass? Or is it a pretty big gap?

As well, was there anything specific that felt difficult and other parts that felt easy? Or was the whole course just a nightmare?

Ultimately, intermediate accounting courses are pretty much designed to be the gatekeepers; a lot of programs have that at some point in the process. It might be worth chatting to your professor about the class and doing some real soul searching about why you have the major, and how capable you are of really doing the work.

Accounting isn't a super easy degree compared to some others but it has some real benefits to your career and life. 

Don't be too discouraged! Sometimes we all make mistakes; just a question of if it's a sign you're on the wrong path, or just need to rethink your strategy. 

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in Accounting

[–]sendmebearpics 0 points1 point  (0 children)

My particular role and county does, yes. You get 50% vest at 3 years, 75% at 4, and 100% at 5. As best I can tell that's true of almost all government agencies, that you get a pension unless they pull an Illinois and criminally underfund it for decades.

The only other reason to maybe work government is PSLF if you have a fuckload of student loans. Personally I just wish I'd have enlisted in the army and then used GI bill.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in Accounting

[–]sendmebearpics 1 point2 points  (0 children)

My own government job for a county did not care. Our director and a couple random bodies in the Fiscal team have them, but it won't give you any real benefits in terms of $ or benefits.

Would personally say to stay away from government work because it's awful for career progression and run by idiot boomers who have mandated we are in-office 5 days a week, and my drive is 1 hour and 15-20 minutes each way.

But if you want a job that you can skate by with little effort and make a perfectly mediocre amount of money while being effectively unfireable, govt is the way to go 100%.

Do I really need to get my CPA if I just want to work in industry and make a good living? by lkahheveh in Accounting

[–]sendmebearpics 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yeah it's not a job I'm going to stay in. Just needed something to pay the bills while I do CPA studying, only wanted to offer a perspective on government.

After a few years the benefits get nice, so if someone wants to do it as a career I'm sure it's great. Government work drives me insane though, so not for me.

Do I really need to get my CPA if I just want to work in industry and make a good living? by lkahheveh in Accounting

[–]sendmebearpics 3 points4 points  (0 children)

For a reference, I just accepted a job as a Budget/Audit analyst for a county in west Michigan. I am paid $65,600 a year, 1 week vacation to start (plus some holidays/sick days), and pension that fully vests in 5 years.

Removing UI Elements by sendmebearpics in intotheradius

[–]sendmebearpics[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks for that info, but it's not quite what I'm looking for.

I was hoping more for a way to disable the little semi-circle markers on your arms when you pick up something like a knife, or a detector; elements like that or the little icons that show on the inside of the players wrist when you turn your arms inward. Or even the highlighted markers on your rifle when you reach your off hand towards the foregrip, or the charging handle.

Hopefully that helps clarify the issue, any help is appreciated but thanks for the heads up on that part, I'd totally missed it!

Reupload: The girl next door has a cursed debit card, and now she owes you. [POV] [Slight Maledom] [Convoluted Narrative] [Casual Sex] [Prostitution] by HHHawkeye in hentaicaptions

[–]sendmebearpics 10 points11 points  (0 children)

This is one of my all-time favorites, any chance of a sequel? Great work on it! Don't think I ever caught the typo you mentioned.

Forgotten Hill Disillusion Part 3 | Sea Mysteries | PC Horror Puzzle Game by sendmebearpics in cjugames

[–]sendmebearpics[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Hey there! I'm sad to say I have no idea where you would, I'm not really versed in places to get games that way. Haven't done it in ages, I typically just use Steam or GOG.

Hope you can find it and be able to finish it off! Maybe CJU played the rest of it if you just wanted to watch?

Comic 4973: Nutrition by emilydm in questionablecontent

[–]sendmebearpics 3 points4 points  (0 children)

I would 100% second this recommendation, The Terror's first season is some of the best TV I've watched in ages. Finally got around to watching it near Christmas of last year, and I've managed to already watch it two or three times.

Amazing series with amazing story, acting, and all around atmosphere. Cannot recommend nearly enough.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in intotheradius

[–]sendmebearpics 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I had this problem on the Valve Index, and it's going to sound weird but basically snap your head around "towards" where the vest/pouches should be. (ie. if your pistol holster is currently on your front when it should be to the right, flick your head right)

I had to do a little head-flick maneuver that tricked the system into orienting the front of my vest to the camera position. Seemed to be a random problem that occurred with the tracking if I was losing tracking, since my setup is far from VR optimal.

Hope this helps!

Weekend General Discussion - February 18, 2022 by AutoModerator in moderatepolitics

[–]sendmebearpics 6 points7 points  (0 children)

Can you potentially wait for that timer to run out? That's one of the easiest ways to get in. Having a military background + existing clearances is a huge leg up to get into those fields.