Why do other people consider Americans brash & obnoxious?

Question

Take the term 'Ugly American' for instance. I've never behaved in such a manner while touring Europe, and was mistaken for a native
most of the time, even with my biracial appearance. Any non-Americans out there who care to respond? Thanks in advance.

Answer 1

When you see a group of people walking by who are you going to remember? The 10 that are quiet and polite or the one person who is acting like a jackass? That's where the "Ugly American" term comes from.

I'm American and have traveled throughout Europe.....I have never acted in a rude manner. I am in another country and I know how to show respect. Most Europeans know not to stereotype and they don't.....while I was there I didn't meet one unfriendly person and simply because I am American people seemed more anxious to talk to me.

I also think though if an American does behave in an ugly way its because they expect all the Europeans to hate them anyhow. Haven't you heard on here or on the news that the rest of the world hates us Americans? Its not very fun to be supposedly hated.

Answer 2

As a Brit whose closest blood relatives are Americans, and who has lived in that most brash of US cities, New York, I would say that your question might have been better phrased to read "...consider _some_ Americans brash and obnoxious?"
It is probable that this impression (if, indeed, it exists widely) is because most Europeans only come into contact with Americans tourists. For some reason quite a few US visitors tend to speak very loudly, even when in places where a quiet voice would be more appropriate. Last Sunday I was at an antiques fair in the English Midlands; as I entered the main exhibition hall I could hear American voices well above the general hubub. Sure enough, there were four middle aged Americans loudly discussing some of the items on sale. They were standing all of two feet from one another!
It reminded me of an incident in Stockholm a couple of years ago; in a quiet (no traffic) square, surrounded by beautiful medieval buildings, the peace was shattered by an American man complaining, in an embarrassingly loud voice, about the price of restaurant food in Sweden. He obviously hadn't read about Swedish taxation before leaving home!
When I was at university in England, USA students would attend a six week programme during the UK summer vacation as part of their US degree course. They were really nice young people - but their voices! For some reason they would converse in stentorian tones whether sitting next to one another, or separated by 200 yards. The noise level was as if the full complememt of UK students was still on site.
And during my time in New York (a city whose citizens are not known for vocal reticence) I could never understand why, on subway trains at non peak hours, you'd often have a person at one end of a carriage conversing loudly with his/her friend at the other end. Why didn't they simply sit together?
So perhaps that is the problem, namely, that some Americans tend to be louder than the typical European when in public.
Incidentally, I have _never_ heard any Brit use the term 'Ugly American'. And if you have, then I apologise on behalf of the whole of the UK.
Also, may I stress that any apparent anti feeling you or any American might encounter in Europe/UK is not, repeat not, directed at 'Mr and Mrs Ordinary American', but only at the current American Administration - for reasons which can be debated ad nauseum. My American friends and relatives, on their frequent visits to the UK have, so far, never had any unpleasant experiences.

Answer 3

There are several reasons.
1) Americans travel and expect others to know English. As a whole, Americans don't take the time to learn other languages.
2) Americans litter.
3) We have an isolationist president.
4) We are imperialistic - economicly and politicaly.
5) When people think of Fast Food and other sugary fatty foods with low nutrition - they think of America.

Answer 4

I am American, and I would like to answer this question.

I have passed for Greek and Mid-eastern. People say it is the way I walk, hold my head and focus my eyes, and I am not loud and as you say, obnoxious. Then, I have alot of friends from this part of the world. I fit in with them.

I traveled with a girlfriend in the Mediterranean, and so often wanted to hide my head. She wore shorts, when a skirt was much more appropriate, in respect for the ''natives''. And, a 65 year old woman is not pretty in shorts! She was loud and demanding of people. And, to top it off, she often wore a shirt with an American flag on it.

I will never travel with her again.

Too bad, I see alot of Americans like this, when I travel.

Answer 5

I lived in Europe for 2 years. I saw a lot of Americans acting "brash & obnoxious". I think this is why other people consider Americans "brash & obnoxious".

Answer 6

It doesn't feel so nice to be stereo typed does it? Every nation has a version of stereotypical demeaning phrases, the english & their teeth. The french & their hygiene. The muslim & their radical-ism. The irish & their drinking. The russian & their drinking. If u have ever travelled out of the country, (I have, I was born in New Zealand but am 1/2 American) Americans are pretty curt when it comes to dealing w/ other natives. Not ALL OF THEM at all, there are nice people in every nation, all we can do is be responsible for ourselves, & not spread the "stereotyping disease".

Answer 7

I've had the same experience as you (being mistaken for a local). However, I have observed other Americans being idiots.

Answer 8

I would like to know the same. Will put this on watch so see the answers.

I was recently in Europe. We were called loud & obnoxious simply because we were laughing in a restroom. I would of thought laughter would have been welcome world wide. Who the hell would want grumpy a$s holes visiting their country !!???

Answer 9

This doesn't really sound like a question.

Answer 10

because you are ignoramuses