but they are seen in such a negative light as a whole across the rest of the global community in terms of collective thinking and attitudes to foreigners?
2006-09-22 10:48:38 · 19 answers · asked by Icarus 6 in Social Science ➔ Other - Social Science
Have you met them in a work situation where you are there to serve them?
Such as an airport or hotel or restaurant?
2006-09-22 10:50:44 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
Americans are seen in negative light because when they go abroad they become the loud, unbearable, arrogant snobbish tourists that everyone talks about. You know, kind of like the English people who go to Spain and only eat English food when they get there, but worse.
Not to mention that the American idea of good manners is not the same as British good manners. That is why Americans can come across as unintentionally rude.
It is only a small minority of the American population that deserve the negative impression. Unfortunately, this is the only part that you hear about. The rest are very nice.
2006-09-23 05:47:39 · answer #2 · answered by StolenAnjel 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Most Americans I have met are also nice, especially the women, but while I was doing a Camp America in Minnesota I met some from Oklahoma who came across as so superior and looked down on anyone and everyone.
I guess you get good and bad wherever you go in the world.
2006-09-22 10:51:29 · answer #3 · answered by footynutguy 4 · 4⤊ 0⤋
'cause you haven't met George Bush?
Americans who travel to other countries *are* very nice. In general, they're friendly, generous, open to new ideas, and love seeing other countries and meeting other people.
The element in the US that gets a deservedly bad reputation are the ones who don't broaden their minds with travel, who stay at home ignorant and fearful of the rest of the world. That group also tends to be very conservative, and they vote for people like Bush who make a mess of US foreign policy. However, just as with any other group, there is no generalization that fits ALL Americans -- it's 300 million individuals, all with their own ideas, quirks, habits, and foibles. Just please do remember that US foreign policy doesn't necessarily reflect the attitudes of US people :) Peace.
2006-09-22 11:00:18 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
I agree with you - the American who is self aware and world aware is consistantly a pleasure to know. I like them!! However, there is a huge proportion of America (it being so big) where the people are insular and very unaware of the rest of the world. I think because the country is so large, that part of the American psyche comes over a bit more than the self aware, socially interested individual.
2006-09-22 10:55:42 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
because americans are like all people... for the most part, people tend towards compassion and empathy (things that are considered "nice"). however when you get people into a group, may experience the phenomenon of "mob rule", where individualism goes out the window and the "basest" instincts of man prevail.
or, in the case of the international opinion (specifically against americans), what has happened is that the whole (the populace) is "given credit" forthe actions of the few (the political machine)
2006-09-22 10:53:42 · answer #6 · answered by full_tilt_boogie 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Because most Americans are nice, and friendly, and welcoming. It is like any other race....you get the few that let the whole country down. You get them everywhere. Some people fail to see that, and act as if the majority committed the actions of the minority.
2006-09-22 10:54:42 · answer #7 · answered by Learner 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I think in general they are really the good guys. I think, like most of the rest of the planet thinks that they are a bit dumb - which is unfair. We see them via their President - Bush, who as about as useless as a flat tyre!
They must be nice, there are so many of them!
It is noth the American peoples 'fault', it is the press, the president and the perception of the world around them that makes them appear - not nice!
2006-09-22 11:00:04 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Yes, most people, in every nation, are nice individually. It's the government that stinks. That's because very few truly good people get into politics and only the power-hungry ones want to rule their country as well as others' country.
2006-09-22 12:36:07 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
While all people have their flaws, I think Americans in general have less of a problem with other people because we're use to being in such a mixed society.
This is offensive to other cultures who take alot of pride in their own culture and scoff at the idea of mixing their culture with another.
Also, the easiest way to make a friend is to have a common enemy. This explains most of relationships throughout the world.
2006-09-22 10:52:17 · answer #10 · answered by CE S 3 · 0⤊ 3⤋