What do you think about these "myths" about the USA?

Question

Hello there,
As an European, I am curious how do you find some myths that most europeans think about the USA people...for example "the Americans are naive", "the Americans are hard working"...so here I divided the good and bad things that most europeans associate with USA:

Good things:
-USA is the richest country in the world and middle and rich people live great.
-People work hard and are punctual.
-They have sense of humour.
-Girls are nice.
-Cool cities such as LA,Miami,New York
-Funny president aka Bush :)
-Nice pronounciation of the English language
-Optimistic way of thinking.

So here are the "bad" things:
-People are naive.
-A lot of fat men and women.
-A lot of serial killers hehe.
-Crime is more than even Columbia :)
-A lot different races...Chinese...Mexicans
-People are too conservative and too religious
-They dont care enough for how they look.
-Very "tight minded"..for example they don't know where is Australia?

Thanks alot!

Answer 1

Thanks for that unsolicted opionion. Since you have no REAL country, just "European" , I'm going to take every word to heart.

Answer 2

Middle class does not live great. Most people work hard and try to be punctual. Most have a sense of humor. Nice as in attractive or nice as in friendly? Not LA or Miami.

Quite a few people are naive. Obesity is a problem here. Yes. Crime rate is relative to population. Yes, different races. But not a bad thing. Yes. Most care about appearance. Not tight minded, ignorant. They do not care about the rest of the world.

Answer 3

They have rich people but the country is in a lot of dept and there are a lot of really poor people.

I wouldn't say optimistic, "brainwashed" is more the appropriate word.

I also don't think they have a very good sense of humour, I lived in a dormatory in Germany with a lot of Americans and they would make jokes about Canada and Germany but if someone made even an innocent joke about the US, hell even baseball...woooo. Well then we were all reminded of all the great things that the glorious united states of America has done for all of us. The Germans sure didn't seem to see what had done, and neither did us Canadian but how can you argue with dogma?

Also if you think they are funny because of the movies, a lot of the comedians are Canadian: Mike Myers, Jim Carry.

And I would take Dubai or many European cities over any US one.

Oh and I have seen Americans that couldn't even find their own state on the map.

Answer 4

I don't see why having a diverse culture is a bad sterotype, most of us here don't see Bush as being a funny president, alot of us hate him, I know where Australia is and I don't know of anybody who couldn't figure out where it was America probably is the richest nation, the middle class and upper class are doing just fine, I am not conservative or religious I don't care how I look because I don't look great and there is only so much I can do about it, I am not niave and I am not fat, but we are also one of the most obese nations, but that is because having a healthier life style is more expensive and the poorer people can't afford the healthier foods and the healthier lifestyle, anyways best of luck to you in the answer you are looking for

Answer 5

I'm European too so, here are my opinions
- not the reachest contry (not the highest income)
- i don't think that all of them work hard and are punctual, on the contrary, i've met some Americans that do not fit any of these categories
- sense of humour... so and so, i don't really like their jokes, too plain for my taste
- nice girls, yes
-cool cities, yes, if you want to have fun, but if you want to see some history, Europe is more beautiful
- the president -not very intelligent => he makes funny things unvoluntary
- i prefer British English, American English, too harsh
- yes, quite otimistic

bad things
- yes, i believe most of them are too naive, they think that America is the center of the world and that they can deal with all the world's problems
- many fat persons, due to the fact that they eat too much junk food
- i don't know about serial killing, it might be just a prejudice induced by their films and documentaries
- many different races, that's how the country was born
- yes, too conservative and religious, think just how Henry Miller, one of the most interesting American writers was forbidden in the USA for many decades
- i think they care as much as we, Europeans, do
- yes, yes, yes, i've told you, they think that knowing where Usa is = more than enough. i really hate that...

thank you, too

Answer 6

I dont think bush is funny, whats wrong w/ lots of different races, your country is probably riddled w/ crimes, including crimes against fasion, and only a COMPLETE IDIOT would not know where Australia is, serial killers aren't that common, and Im religious, so What!!!! not all people are fat and this country is very diverse, for example, im a girl and im not being nice to you hehe

Answer 7

I don't think that America is any different than europe on many fronts. However we are far more conservative than europe. as for the many different races. Well its what we are known for. the tight minded part. no that's not true. We do have a high crime rate. However if you are coming to visit for a vacation you should be okay if you use common sense on where you go. Like europe there are rough neighborhoods. But our crime isn't as high as Columbia which has many of its high officials killed on numerous occasions. That doesn't happen often in America.

Answer 8

As an American... I'd say that all sounds pretty fair. Except why is a lot of different races as "bad" thing!?! We're very proud of that where I'm from - we love being diverse and interesting and multi-cultured!

Also, on the tight-minded point - I'd add that most Americans don't even know much about the opposite coast of their own country... :p

Answer 9

If by "funny president", you mean "stupid president."

As for the "bad" things, what the hell is wrong with you on some of them??? Yes, we are fatter than a lot of other countries, and maybe some of us are overly pushy with religion, but most of us have a general idea of where Australia is, and we're known for being a rather superficial culture.
Further, what is bad about having a lot of different races??? Are you a bigot, or just an idiot?

Answer 10

SORRY, can not completely comprehend it. English is soooooooo perplexing. a number of perplexing ENGLISH make me headache, could u help me? a million. If Fed Ex and united stateshave been to merge, could they call it bored to death? 2. Do Lipton Tea workers take espresso breaks? 3. If olive oil comes from olives, the place does toddler oil come from? 4. If human beings from Poland are referred to as Poles, why are not human beings from Holland referred to as Holes? 5. Do toddlers savor infancy as much as adults savor adultery? 6. Why the guy who invests all you cash referred to as a broking provider? 7. If undesirable means to make terrible, does ultimate advise to make unfavourable? 8. Why is it referred to as construction whilst that's already outfitted? 9. If a e book approximately mess ups does not sell, is it a success? 10. in case you at the instant are not meant to drink andchronic, then why do bars have parking lots? 11. in case you're taking an Oriental individual and spin him around countless situations, does he develop into disoriented? 12. If vegetarians consume vegetables, what do humanitarians consume?? Human ?? 13. If working hours are meant for working, then why are you reading this??

Answer 11

I think american people are stupid but pretty decent.The most hard working people are the Chinese and the Bangladeshis .President Bush is not funny he is stupid and a blubbering idiot. there are a lot of serial killers all over the wworld you just make a big hullabaloo out of it and I dont have time to dispell all your problems and Myths so good bye