The Mirror Test

The world's view of America has changed drastically in only 6 months.

Six months ago, the world looked at us and said: “What happened?”
Today, they say: “It’s over.”

The replies tell the story of a country that went from misunderstood… to feared.

In March, outsiders described us with pity and disbelief.
By October, those same voices used numbers.
9. 10. 11. 15. 492.

The global median rating of America’s condition now sits at 9.0 / 10.
That’s not opinion — that’s data.

📊 The Doom Index
0 means stable. 10 means authoritarian collapse.
Between March and October, the global score rose 5.4 → 9.0.
A +3.6 jump in 180 days — the fastest reputational drop ever recorded.

The language changed, too.
“Confused.” “Sad.” “Heartbreaking.” — March.
“1930s Germany.” “Police State.” “Fascism.” — October.
The world stopped asking how we got here.
Now it’s asking if we’ll come back.

What changed most?
➡️ March: Empathy for Americans.
➡️ October: Avoidance.
Trips canceled. Homes sold. Events moved.
This isn’t a perception problem — it’s a withdrawal.

The quotes read like a slow-motion obituary:
“Your leader idolizes authoritarians.”
“You’re imploding.”
“It’s unsafe for anyone who isn’t white.”
“Get them OUT.”
Even humor is gone. Only disbelief remains.

In March, only 12 % of replies used “fascism,” “authoritarian,” or “police state.”
By October: 46 %.

Nearly half the world now classifies the U.S. as authoritarian.

New clusters appeared in October:
• “ICE” (+230 %)
• “NATO” (+170 %)
• “Elections” (+190 %)
People aren’t focused on memes. They’re tracking collapse in institutions.

The Mockery Index fell 37 %.
The laughter stopped.
What replaced it? Fear. Resignation.
Most common word in October: “unsafe.”

Sentiment Direction — Oct 2025
• 67 % Alarm
• 23 % Grief
• 6 % Mockery
• 4 % Denial
Alarm : Denial = 17 : 1.

It’s not just language — it’s numerology of despair.
“1000.” “492.” “+200.” “–364 728.”
Every country has its own way to scream.
All of them downward.

In March: “America, you’re better than this.”
In October: “America, you’re finished.”
That’s tone drift — measurable, real, global.

📉 Between March and October:
Hope –78 % | Democracy –52 % | Violence +61 % | “1930s” +400 %.
We didn’t just lose faith. We lost context.

Median severity = 9.0 / 10. Mode = 10.
Most people believe we’re already at maximum crisis.
No longer approaching danger — living in it.

And yet, the replies are still human:
“I’m so sorry.” “It’s embarrassing.” “I hate that we’ve become this.”
For every hateful reply, ten mourned what we used to be.

This isn’t just an American crisis.
It’s a mirror crisis.
The world sees its own future in our decay.

Even in collapse, there’s data.
Even in data, there’s choice.
If half the world can see us clearly, maybe we can too — before the reflection disappears.

“Get out in the streets or you’re cooked for sure.
If he can, he’s going to stop elections. Last warning.”
Not from an American — from someone who’s seen this before.

The world is watching us.
This time, it’s not just watching — it’s recording.
History doesn’t repeat itself. It replies.