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Comment by pjerem | Hacker News Reader

100% of Latin Americans you see are migrants because, well, you are in the US. You are only seeing exceptions.

The immense majority of Latin American don’t live in the US neither migrate there.

Presumably at least _some_ are descendants from when a big chunk of the US was part of Mexico, so I would imagine the number is less than 100% (but probably close to it, the region wasn't very populated)

I’d guess possibly a majority would migrate there if given the opportunity to do so safely, legally and without abandoning immediate family though

Not everyone, I was given the option to go to the US legally (L1 visa) and passed on it, the person that chose to go instead regretted it and came back.

I am from Uruguay though, which is the best Latin American country, so YMMV, if I was from Venezuela I'd move to the US 100%.

You could say the same about the US-born, so I think you missed my point since you're trying to draw distinctions between the US-born and Latin American-born based on, well, I'm not sure what honestly. Your response is a bit odd, but kind of proves my point about pathologizing the ills of America and romanticizing other cultures, even those which are decidedly "Western" as well.

Statistically the number of Latin American migrants that move to the US yearly is tiny compared to the internal migration and especially to the number of people in Latin America who didn't go anywhere, though. The fact the it's not 100% who don't move doesn't really disprove anything.

It seems you haven’t read the context here where Americans are being framed as lacking community values because some small percentage migrate internally for better economic opportunities. The people here who see Americans who have moved to big cities form smaller places are seeing the exception, not the rule, as was pointed out elsewhere with statistics.

You’re proving my point exactly: those characterizations, especially in the context of Latin American culture as a foil, reveal their own biases. Both are based on anecdotes and vibes, not reality. To me, it's all narcissism of minor differences. I find the need to paint whole cultures with such a broad brush weird, especially based on my experience with people from around the world: most people aren't so different.

> Both are based on anecdotes and vibes, not reality. To me, it's all narcissism of minor differences

I think most are thinking about a higher proportion of adults living at the same household as their parents in some countries when they say that. However in recent year the proportion in the US got a lot closer to Latin American countries. Then again it probably significantly varies by race, ethnic background etc. which doesn't invalidate the anecdotal evidence people might have.

> cultures with such a broad brush weird, especially

US is very heterogeneous but it works reasonably well in many other places besides a handful of outliers.

You’re coming across as disagreeing with me, but it’s unclear about what. Your response to the out-of-context bit at the bottom seems to agree with my central statement about the negative framing of American values in the OP, so I’m very confused what your point is.

> but it’s unclear about what.

True. Looking back you hadn't really made any coherent enough arguments in your comments that could be agreed or disagreed with.

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