Why do Americans consider everyone from Britain to be from london?

Question

I'm from the North of England, and whenever I speak to an American, I get the question "You're from london, aren't you?" can you please explain to me why Americans say this? if you say that to a Northerner, we get quite upset about it (we don't like being considered londoners).

Answer 1

I'm American and I don't assume that everyone from Britain is from London.
So, what part of Northern England are you from?
I'm from the Midwest part of the US, Michigan to be exact.

Answer 2

Oh come on you can't be surprised by that they think
(probably on the basis of the awful film accents) that everyone
from England speaks like the Queen or is a cockney.
I do agree with you though I was born in Wales and raised in London and I'd be offended if anyone thought I was a Northener or from the West Country or from East London. Although people keep thinking I have a New Zealand accent which is not offensive just odd..
At least the Americans seem to have some idea that Scotland
and Ireland exist even if when characters on tv are from either
they speak with a confused combination of hilarious but awful accents. I've never met an American who's heard of Wales!
Though maybe Torchwood will change that...

Answer 3

Possibly because they've heard the UK is so small compared to the United States land mass, and so assume we must rub shoulders all the time.

Possibly also, for the same reason we don't always understand that other countries, just like us, have regional accents and regional disputes and attitudes. Often passing down the centuries.

When I lived in the IoM for three years in the nineties, I was amazed to discover they too had a north south divide, and that they held grudges on it too.

I mean... it's bad enough the daft attitude we have about the red and white roses, and north and south accents, but their mere 33 X 12 miles radius, which I could drive the perimeter of inside two hours, and did, often... seemed so strange a place, to have a divide.

They even talked as if the north/south were a million miles away and many people told me, that they stayed overnight in hotels if needing to travel either way, to break their journey up... I wonder if it's changed at all?

When you live for years inside a confined space though, somehow, you minimise your outlook and see the world in a smaller way as well... so, your occupied land seems much bigger, when you travel.

Any Manx in here to tell me if times they have a changed from my time in Port Erin, Bedale and Onchan?

And tell me too, is the laid back attitude the same... book it for an hour's time and they might arrive tomorrow, book it for next week and if you're very lucky, you'll get it next month... or, like our removal van to take us to the ferry... booked weeks in advance, it might not arrive at all, because they forgot and your lorry is off the island, doing another job on the mainland UK... ... and they'll wonder why you are so amazed... and merely answer... "Time enough."

Wonder how long a pizza takes to arrive today?

I guess the yanks see us a bit like I saw the Manx... quaint, antiquated and slow... but nice enough, if... you go from 'come over' ... 'stop over'... to 'one of us'... after a decade of residence.

;-)

Answer 4

I get the same thing. I'm from Texas, everybody thinks I listen to country music and go to rodeos, neither of which I care for. It is simply stereotyping or not knowing. I lived in Texas for 40 years, never living anywhere else within a 40 mile radius. When you have lived in the same place all your life, you kinda think the whole world is the same. I moved up north and it was major culture shock. People, food, weather, attitudes are different everywhere you go. It's been an experience learning the differences just a few hundred miles can make.

Answer 5

Unfortunately many Americans have a limited knowledge of countries outside of their own. For some Americans, London is the only city they know of that is in England (or even in Great Britain).

Answer 6

Many Americans have never travelled outside their country-much less their own state! So they can be quite insular. But there are those-even some who haven't travelled-who do know that there are different regions.
This is like me asking why loads of people here in the UK thought I knew famous people because I came from America! And also thought I knew JR because I came from Dallas!

Answer 7

Because they have no real perception of, or interest in, the world outside the USA. I think it's something like 80% of Americans don't possess a passport.
I once played golf with a couple of old guys in Florida and when they found out I was Scottish one said "oh the Scottish hate the Irish dont they?"
I rest my case.

Answer 8

i hit upon it a bitoffensive while people attempt to mimic "British accents" as merely posh, on account that theres maximum of accents and dialects in England (alongside with scouse it extremely is somebody from Liverpool, and Geordie it extremely is somebody from Newcastle) and additionally you infrequently see many people speaking interior the stereotypical way. i do no longer possibly concepts in the event that they get our vocabulary incorrect nevertheless, its a easy mistake extremely if individuals don't be attentive to that a enhance in England is an elevator in usa. As for vocabulary... Chips in England are what you could call fries, different than they're thick and flow with fish extremely often (subsequently fish n chips). We nevertheless have fries, yet they're the thinner version that McDonalds have. Crisps in England are what you could call chips. we've pavements, you have sidewalks. we are saying rubbish, i think of you assert trash/rubbish. we are saying ****, you assert ***. Thats all i will extremely think of of for now, i won't be able to discover any sources nevertheless sorry. i wish it enables you nevertheless, thats all you're extremely going to wish in case you come to England. wish you have an excellent time in case you ever do flow to.

Answer 9

UM, you don't really think that do you?
Many Americans are not that keen on geography.
Some Americans are dumb, but most are not that dumb. We do have a long term memory you know, we still remember the Beatles came from LIVERPOOL.

And guess what, you have your fair share of idiots over there too. I think it's hilarious when those from England assume just because I'm American they can win a debate with me. As if.

And just for the record, I'm not fat.--Oh, yes and you have your fair share of fatties over there too.
Have you got around to modern dentistry yet?
I rest my case.

The prisoner: There is a very good reason that 80% of Americans don't have a passport as opposed to the UK and it has to do with Geographic locality. Of course partly Americans are not as likely to leave the country, but you have to take into consideration we are a MUCH larger country, divided by two VERY vast oceans. Most of us don't see the need to go to Mexico or Canada (can you blame us) like you would hop over to France or Germany.

I thought the English were rational?

Answer 10

Because that is the capital and any english films are mostly filmed in london so they wouldn't really hear of any other city. We here alot about american citys due to films and family and friends...