--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It appalls me that the people who decide…" description: "\"It appalls me that the people who decide what Americans will be watching on the tube have never been to the United States. Not the real United States.\"..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/138/john-ratzenberger-11869_americans_it-appalls-me-that-the-people-who-decide_3078012.jpg" --- # It appalls me that the people who decide what Americans… ![“It appalls me that the people who decide what Americans will be watching on the tube have never been to the United States. Not the real United States.” quote by John Ratzenberger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/138/john-ratzenberger-11869_americans_it-appalls-me-that-the-people-who-decide_3078012.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/138/john-ratzenberger-11869_americans_it-appalls-me-that-the-people-who-decide_3078012.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/138/john-ratzenberger-11869_americans_it-appalls-me-that-the-people-who-decide_3078012.jpg) > “It appalls me that the people who decide what Americans will be watching on the tube have never been to the United States. Not the real United States.” [John Ratzenberger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ratzenberger/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The media controllers lack authentic experience of the country they shape, leading to misrepresentation. **In simple terms:** Media makers often miss real American life. Key Takeaway Seek diverse voices in media creation. Themes media representation authenticity culture power Mood critical concerned Type observational critical When to use this quote - TV programming - policy making - advertising - content creation Key Concepts cultural disconnect media bias elitism Questions to Reflect On - How does lived experience affect cultural portrayal? - What steps can ensure authentic representation? A Different Perspective Even with outsiders, media can still resonate if grounded in research. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Americans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/americans/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [United states](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/united-states/) ## Related quotes > [It's like everybody is obsessed with Hollywood movies worldwide. And even though everybody hates the Americans, they're still watching American movies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roland-emmerich/it-s-like-everybody-is-obsessed-with-hollywood-movies-worldwide-and/) [Roland Emmerich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roland-emmerich/) > [So many Korean Americans like me came to this country with the hope of achieving their own American Dream.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-steel/so-many-korean-americans-like-me-came-to-this-country-with-the-hope/) [Michelle Steel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-steel/) > [The Americans say that we are ungrateful-but I ask them for heaven's sake, what should we be grateful to them for-for murdering our fathers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-walker/the-americans-say-that-we-are-ungrateful-but-i-ask-them-for-heaven-s/) [David Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-walker/) > [“Using a wide variety of media, we could demonstrate for our fellow Americans their anxieties, desires, insufficiencies, and frustrations--and how to assuage them all.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-ferris/using-a-wide-variety-of-media-we-could-demonstrate-for-our-fellow/) [Joshua Ferris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-ferris/) > [Most Americans believe in fairness; we believe that people should work hard but there should be a safety net. We believe in saving the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-maclean/most-americans-believe-in-fairness-we-believe-that-people-should-work/) [Nancy MacLean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-maclean/) > [Americans will put up with anything provided it doesn't block traffic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-rather/americans-will-put-up-with-anything-provided-it-doesn-t-block-traffic/) [Dan Rather](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-rather/) > [We Americans tend to be a prodigal lot. We are as careless with our personal resources as we are with the resources of nature,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-crook-de-camp/we-americans-tend-to-be-a-prodigal-lot-we-are-as-careless-with-our/) [Catherine Crook de Camp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-crook-de-camp/) > [So Americans understand the costs of war. Yet as a country, we will never tolerate our security being threatened, nor stand idly by when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/so-americans-understand-the-costs-of-war-yet-as-a-country-we-will/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [When Americans, who have no idea who I am, laugh at my jokes, it's exactly the same if someone loves you even if you're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gad-elmaleh/when-americans-who-have-no-idea-who-i-am-laugh-at-my-jokes-it-s/) [Gad Elmaleh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gad-elmaleh/) > [My parents don't care what Americans think of us; we just care what the other Indian people in our community think of us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/himanshu-suri/my-parents-don-t-care-what-americans-think-of-us-we-just-care-what/) [Himanshu Suri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/himanshu-suri/) > [Just because the Americans are so good at rattling out accessible and cheap junk food, nobody looks twice when it comes to their food.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-oliver/just-because-the-americans-are-so-good-at-rattling-out-accessible-and/) [Jamie Oliver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-oliver/) > [“Medical studies have shown that cursing reduces levels of stress and pain. Repressing your anger is not healthy. It's much better to verbalize it,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-markus-malloy/medical-studies-have-shown-that-cursing-reduces-levels-of-stress-and/) [Oliver Markus Malloy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-markus-malloy/) > [Americans are very friendly and very suspicious, that is what Americans are and that is what always upsets the foreigner, who deals with them,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gertrude-stein/americans-are-very-friendly-and-very-suspicious-that-is-what/) [Gertrude Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gertrude-stein/) > [Music has an intrinsic value that touches Americans - they love their music, and want more.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilary-rosen/music-has-an-intrinsic-value-that-touches-americans-they-love-their/) [Hilary Rosen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilary-rosen/) > [“People – Americans, mostly – realise how attached they are to material comforts when they arrive in India.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-william-roberts/people-americans-mostly-realise-how-attached-they-are-to-material/) Paul William Roberts ## More by John Ratzenberger > [ It was when Boston invited us to do a parade one November, and I was the only \[Star Wars\] cast member skeptical of the… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ratzenberger/it-was-when-boston-invited-us-to-do-a-parade-one-november-and-i-was/) [John Ratzenberger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ratzenberger/) > [Sure, the comedians who swear or use scatological humor can get laughs, but they're uncomfortable laughs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ratzenberger/sure-the-comedians-who-swear-or-use-scatological-humor-can-get-laughs/) [John Ratzenberger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ratzenberger/) > [ Maybe, I got a sense when \[Star Wars\] came out, and there were always these lines around the block. We didn't understand the popularity… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ratzenberger/maybe-i-got-a-sense-when-star-wars-came-out-and-there-were-always/) [John Ratzenberger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ratzenberger/) > [A farce, or slapstick humor, does well universally.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ratzenberger/a-farce-or-slapstick-humor-does-well-universally/) [John Ratzenberger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ratzenberger/) > [ It was the last generation of writers \[ the Cheers\] that had grown up reading books instead of watching TV. So you weren't getting… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ratzenberger/it-was-the-last-generation-of-writers-the-cheers-that-had-grown-up/) [John Ratzenberger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ratzenberger/) > [Hollywood has lost touch with their audience a long time ago.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ratzenberger/hollywood-has-lost-touch-with-their-audience-a-long-time-ago/) [John Ratzenberger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ratzenberger/) > [Before 1972, no actors got residuals. They just got paid. No residuals.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ratzenberger/before-1972-no-actors-got-residuals-they-just-got-paid-no-residuals/) [John Ratzenberger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ratzenberger/) > [I come from Bridgeport, Connecticut and have friends I grew up with there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ratzenberger/i-come-from-bridgeport-connecticut-and-have-friends-i-grew-up-with/) [John Ratzenberger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ratzenberger/) > [I was a carpenter in Northern Vermont and got this tax refund check that just about covered a one-way airfare to London. So this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ratzenberger/i-was-a-carpenter-in-northern-vermont-and-got-this-tax-refund-check/) [John Ratzenberger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ratzenberger/) > [From what I can see, too many kids don't learn pride in their country anymore.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ratzenberger/from-what-i-can-see-too-many-kids-don-t-learn-pride-in-their-country/) [John Ratzenberger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ratzenberger/) > [But from what I can see all around me today, that America is fading fast, if it's not already gone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ratzenberger/but-from-what-i-can-see-all-around-me-today-that-america-is-fading/) [John Ratzenberger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ratzenberger/) > [You've got to write for your audience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ratzenberger/you-ve-got-to-write-for-your-audience/) [John Ratzenberger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ratzenberger/) > [In fact, my son learned his first swear word from E.T. at age five. The way I look at it, E.T. stole a bit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ratzenberger/in-fact-my-son-learned-his-first-swear-word-from-e-t-at-age-five-the/) [John Ratzenberger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ratzenberger/) > [After all, at end of the day, when you're breathing your last, it's not your producer, director, or cast mates by your bedside; it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ratzenberger/after-all-at-end-of-the-day-when-you-re-breathing-your-last-it-s-not/) [John Ratzenberger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ratzenberger/) > [To them, the real United States is just flyover country.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ratzenberger/to-them-the-real-united-states-is-just-flyover-country/) [John Ratzenberger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ratzenberger/) [Explore all 57 John Ratzenberger quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ratzenberger/) ## More Americans quotes > [“People – Americans, mostly – realise how attached they are to material comforts when they arrive in India.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-william-roberts/people-americans-mostly-realise-how-attached-they-are-to-material/) Paul William Roberts > [Music has an intrinsic value that touches Americans - they love their music, and want more.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilary-rosen/music-has-an-intrinsic-value-that-touches-americans-they-love-their/) [Hilary Rosen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilary-rosen/) > [Americans are very friendly and very suspicious, that is what Americans are and that is what always upsets the foreigner, who deals with them,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gertrude-stein/americans-are-very-friendly-and-very-suspicious-that-is-what/) [Gertrude Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gertrude-stein/) > [“Medical studies have shown that cursing reduces levels of stress and pain. Repressing your anger is not healthy. It's much better to verbalize it,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-markus-malloy/medical-studies-have-shown-that-cursing-reduces-levels-of-stress-and/) [Oliver Markus Malloy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-markus-malloy/) > [Just because the Americans are so good at rattling out accessible and cheap junk food, nobody looks twice when it comes to their food.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-oliver/just-because-the-americans-are-so-good-at-rattling-out-accessible-and/) [Jamie Oliver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-oliver/) > [My parents don't care what Americans think of us; we just care what the other Indian people in our community think of us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/himanshu-suri/my-parents-don-t-care-what-americans-think-of-us-we-just-care-what/) [Himanshu Suri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/himanshu-suri/) > [When Americans, who have no idea who I am, laugh at my jokes, it's exactly the same if someone loves you even if you're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gad-elmaleh/when-americans-who-have-no-idea-who-i-am-laugh-at-my-jokes-it-s/) [Gad Elmaleh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gad-elmaleh/) > [So Americans understand the costs of war. Yet as a country, we will never tolerate our security being threatened, nor stand idly by when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/so-americans-understand-the-costs-of-war-yet-as-a-country-we-will/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [We Americans tend to be a prodigal lot. We are as careless with our personal resources as we are with the resources of nature,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-crook-de-camp/we-americans-tend-to-be-a-prodigal-lot-we-are-as-careless-with-our/) [Catherine Crook de Camp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-crook-de-camp/) > [Americans will put up with anything provided it doesn't block traffic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-rather/americans-will-put-up-with-anything-provided-it-doesn-t-block-traffic/) [Dan Rather](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-rather/) > [Most Americans believe in fairness; we believe that people should work hard but there should be a safety net. We believe in saving the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-maclean/most-americans-believe-in-fairness-we-believe-that-people-should-work/) [Nancy MacLean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-maclean/) > [“Using a wide variety of media, we could demonstrate for our fellow Americans their anxieties, desires, insufficiencies, and frustrations--and how to assuage them all.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-ferris/using-a-wide-variety-of-media-we-could-demonstrate-for-our-fellow/) [Joshua Ferris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-ferris/) > [The Americans say that we are ungrateful-but I ask them for heaven's sake, what should we be grateful to them for-for murdering our fathers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-walker/the-americans-say-that-we-are-ungrateful-but-i-ask-them-for-heaven-s/) [David Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-walker/) > [So many Korean Americans like me came to this country with the hope of achieving their own American Dream.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-steel/so-many-korean-americans-like-me-came-to-this-country-with-the-hope/) [Michelle Steel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-steel/) > [You are Americans. You love this country. Together we are entrusted with the principles that represent mankind's greatest political and social achievement.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-tsongas/you-are-americans-you-love-this-country-together-we-are-entrusted/) [Paul Tsongas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-tsongas/) [Browse all 1,536 Americans quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/americans/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "It appalls me that the people who decide what Americans will be watching on the tube have never been to the United States. 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