What would you say is "Ugly American" behavior?

Question

Not looking for comedy or politics; just information. Help this American broaden his cultural understanding. Thanks!

Answer 1

I believe that there is a lot of stereotypical American behaviour, some that I have witnessed first hand.
When travelling abroad I have seen Americans getting angry because the locals do not know English...but what is funny is most of the locals do know English but they are pretending not to because the idiot American refuses to learn or even try to learn their language. If you try to learn the language of the locals often you will find them helpful and willing to communicate in English.

It is also ugly behaviour when Americans assume that everyone is jealous of us and that they are angry simply because they want to be like us and live like us. This is not true...

It is also ugly behaviour when we refuse to accept or understand the culture of others and therefore try to push our belief system on them.

There are so many things that we Americans do, the best thing is to try to educate yourself about the world and the other cultures around you...it is amazingly easy...the world is becoming smaller everyday!

Blessed Be!

Answer 2

True example.

I've been to Italy several times. SH** happens everywhere.

An American was in a hotel in Rome. "All hotel" employees were on strike.

This guy came down to the Concierge and demanded clean towels. He screamed that he had been using the same towels for 4-5 days.
He grabbed the Concierge by the collar.

He landed in jail.

for chrizzz sake. Go buy some damned towels. If the strike ended, I'm sure the hotel would have washed them, or leave the damned things behind.

When Italians go on strike, nothing can be done. No replacements can work. If an airline strikes, one will have to crawl into the damned plane and find luggage.
It's just the way it is.
If patrons raise too much hell with waiters, (Americans especially),......
BASTA!
ENOUGH, and they walk out. I've seen it come close.

When they are treated with courtesy and respect, the Italians return it 10 fold.
Don't get the wrong idea from this about Italians .

Four of us arrived by car once in Ravella, (Verdi's home). The Restaurant was closed for lunch. The owner asked where we had come from and how long we had driven.
"Asppetta!" Wait, he said. "I will prepare lunch for you".

He prepared a beautiful lunch and then took us to his winery to sample his wine.

Once in Venezuela, four us had driven 15 hours, after spending 8 hours on a ferry.
We arrived at our hotel in Colonia Tovar, way up in the Andes, above Caracas, at 11:00 PM. We asked where we could eat. She said the restaurant was closed. But, go freshen up and come back.

The spread was unbelievable.

So, we get what we sow.

Answer 3

I wouldn't worry yourself too much about 'Ugly American' behavior, every country has people who act in the stereotypical American way. Just as it is only a rather small amount of people in these other countries who act this way, it is only a small amount in the U.S. as well. I have seen a lot of tourists from other countries who come to the U.S. and act in the exact same way as people get angry at Americans for acting. In the end, you just have to ignore it as you ignore any other nuisance. Now, as for broadening your cultural understanding, just make sure you know some basics to a country's language and culture when you visit it and you should be fine.

Answer 4

"Ugly American" behavior is anything that indicates a feeling of superiority over other world cultures. I am an American, and it still makes me cringe to see others who are intolerant of others' cultural beliefs or those who go to other countries and expect to have the exact same rights and priveleges. We all have different ways of doing things, but that doesn't mean that I'm right and everyone else is wrong. We're just different, is all. And after all, America is a mixing pot of many different cultures ... so we should learn to be more accepting, since many of those who came before us held the same beliefs that many Americans now find so offensive.

Answer 5

Being "ego-centric" in other people's countries - ignorant or ignoring the true realities of their situation - expecting them to be like us or to become like us; expecting the same amenities etc. etc.

Term came from a book written in early 60's (I think) of the same name set in a country like Vietnam or Thailand, etc. The "ugly americans" were those who were blustery and arrogant and would try to "help" the people with solutions that their country couldn't afford. But the main "good" character in the book lived among the people in their type of housing and just observed for a while. One example of how his "help" differed: farmers' fields were terraced up mountainsides - water would have to be hand carried up to the fields. Ugly American approach was - well let's just pump it up - but that used motors that the country didn't have much of and farmers' couldn't afford. Our guy noted that everyone had bicycles - he ended up creating a pump that could be powered by a bicycle. Made a huge impact but was sustainable in THEIR environment & economy.

Answer 6

Being loud, brash, arrogant, having no interested in anything non-American, feeling America is superior to the rest of the world......

Answer 7

i would say: acting like we americans are on top off the world(may be tru but still). cuz i have lived in another country and have been looked on or down on as american. like i was called 'rotten, so her parents sent her down here to be disciplined' when da wasnt even the case. so many people think dat americans are immoral(which is tru), spoilt, and carzy and proud(which is also tru). wat would really help u is if u traveled the world, may b xpensive. but it will open up ur mind to other cultures and wat they think of americans

Answer 8

watching another american struggle when u know that just a little help could make the difference....

Answer 9

The ghetto mentality and the elite arrogance.

Answer 10

Dollar diplomacy.