r/southafrica • u/OkFix7120 • Nov 17 '24

Discussion Do you feel like the people who immigrated from South Africa have seriously misrepresented this country?

When I speak to foreigners, especially in English speaking countries, a great number of them seem to either think we are absolute irredeemable dickheads, or that we live in an apocalyptic hellscape with absolutely no redeeming qualities (and at this point they’re practically begging me to leave the country). When you ask them why they think these things they tell you “I’ve met South Africans here”.

I’m wondering if this is a common experience for others or if it’s just me who’s noticed. I see what they say and it’s so radically different from my experience.

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u/Jche98 Landed Gentry Nov 17 '24

I once met an American who was convinced we had a genocide in the 90s. This is an exact quote: "I have a friend back in Phoenix who got out just before the genocide. They drove to the airport in 94 while tanks protected the road from the black mobs trying to kill them."

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u/Stropi-wan Landed Gentry Nov 18 '24

I remember '94. Got married that year. While many people stocked up on candles, TP, canned food, etc. Newly wed Stropi-wan & his bride were too poor to participate in all those activities. Iirc we were too much involved in doing newly wed activities in any case to really care.

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u/Darkhumor4u Redditor for a month Nov 17 '24

And I missed all that excitement? Damn

Someone told me that I can't discuss, or have an opinion, about international things going on, since we only started to develop 30 years ago.

Develop?

I asked him if he thinks that the first successful heart transplant, was done on a rock in the mountains, by neanderthals.

He never replied.