But they're not as hot as they think they are, according to the U.S. State Department's official travel advisory Twitter account:
You think the locals are hitting on you because you're a 10? Nah, baby, you're like a drunk 6 at best, according to U.S. government standards. Those spicy foreign hotties are just flirting for free drinks and the opportunity to steal your strong American dollars. And you know it's true, 'cause it's coming from a verified account.It appears the State Department has borrowed an old and gross technique called the "neg," beloved by men who rebranded acting scummy as "pickup artistry." The objective is to take your "target" down a peg so they'll (theoretically) be desperate to win your approval, i.e., go home with you.
It is 2016, though, and everyone can see right through that tired, manipulative old game. Looks like the U.S. Department of State is not getting laid tonight.
I'm joking, of course, but someone at State is certainly aware of the "neg" concept, as evidenced by this denial:
Way to play it cool, guys.The Department of State has since apologized for taking the official position that Americans overestimate their own attractiveness.
Many un-hot Americans are played for suckers each year. The government just wants to make sure you're not one of them. It's looking out for your best interests, baby. Now, you wanna get out of here? Doesn't look like you've got a whole lot else going on tonight.Photo via Mandie S./Flickr (CC BY 2.0)