Only Non US residents answer please. What do you think of when you think of an American Citizen?

Question

I am wanting to get insight on how other people view the average American, not our government.

So far I have received pretty much what I thought I would. I appreciate all insight and I am not appalled. I am more appalled at my fellow "USAians", LOL! because if this is the stereo type then it is for a reason.
Unfortunately most "USAians" do not come across that way to me. I, of course, am one so I am biased.
I also do not know any that travel overseas and I would imagine that most people in other countries would only see a select few "USAians" for that reason.
I also do not think that some of our celebrities put on a very good image either.
I, too, do not understand the 50k car in front of the 10k house.
As for crime that is of course dependent on where you live.
In my town crime is low and people still walk everywhere. This town is about 30 to 40 thousand people.
I feel that the USA needs to strive to show it's true image which I feel is a giving attitude, unfortunately it seems the negative issues are what seem to make the news and headlines.

Answer 1

What a lot of people think and/or make fun of Americans for are some of the following:

1) being closed minded in the sense of geography, cultures, religions...

2) being unable to adapt to other cultures when traveling

3) believing that money gives you absolute freedom do to what ever the hell you want

4) miseducation concerning anything outside the US

5) calling the United States "America" - The Americas are Canada, US, Mexico and all the islands in the Carribean (hence - central America)

6) the sheer arrogance in calling sporting events the "world series" when it only includes leagues in your country

7)you have a shitty football team (I mean "soccer")

8) your reliance on technology for everything

Now, though you may be thinking this is harsh, I remind you that you wished to know the truth. Of course, i cannot give you the "truth" nor can anyone else, because it will always boil down to a personal opinion.

However, I have tried to include comments that I have heard while traveling and from other friends. I have worked in the tourist industry for 4 years now in 2 different countries. Each time, the American guests were always the most difficult to handle, and so I have provided you with some of the reasons as to why this was the case.

Everyone that you ask this question to will inherently know - though they may never admit - that of course, not all Americans are like this. But, when you ask a question like this, you inveitably invite commentary concerning stereotypes.

So then, if you feel that you are not like this, congratulations! However, please do consider that someone you know is probably exactly like this, and then some.

Answer 2

There are many smart Americans, but i think there are more stupid ones. I think of redneck,trailer trash,backwoods hillbillies.I think of ghettos where there's a crackhouse every 50 yards.I think of large gated communities where rich white people hide from all the "others".I've driven in the states before and i couldn't believe some of the nasty houses people lived in,but had a 50k car sitting in the driveway.

I don't mean to put America down because i know there are a lot of hard working people there but that's what i think.

I'm from Canada and i live right along the boarder,my house is about a 1 mile from it I live in a town of 40 000 where you can walk the streets in the middle of the night safely,hardly any crime or racism.

I have met many Americans and all were very nice,I'm just stereo-typing you guys, but it's true about the crappy houses and the nice cars, i don't get it.

Answer 3

I live in Honduras and I was born in Costa Rica. Costa Rica is full of USAnians some of them are very educated but others I guess they consider themeselves the kings of the world. My ex boyfriend`s father lived in Costa Rica for 20 years and he did not find the time or interest to learn spanish. I was appalled by this and still am.

When I see TV programs in my cable like the late night show and so forth I consider some of the people they are interviewing to have a complete lack of education and knowledge. The other day I saw puff daddy in an interview and I just could not believe this guy was famous or rich. He was annoying and he seemed dumb. But I guess celebrities are different. Why would anybody want to imitate him and his dumb lifestyle? I don`t get it.

When I was in third grade, my teacher took us to her home town in Ohio (me and two other kids) I lived in Honduras then. Her family went to a weird church and she had a brother who hunted deer, all we ate was deer burgers, deer stew and so forth. That was very weird. She took us to this school where USAnian kids could ask us about our country and they actually asked us if we lived in trees. That was weird also, but my teacher was very very nice and I had a great time.

We met a couple from Utah a while back and she cooked great, the most deliciuos chocolate chip cookies ever. He did not work only spent his time at the gym and they kept changing jobs. They were very nice and nature oriented but they liked to hunt also and that was weird for me. Why the killing if you can buy your meat, where is the pleasure in this? I could never figure it out. The other odd thing is that they never learned spanish either, they had no interest. They lived in their own USAnian bubble.

I did not go to college in the US so I guess I have never met any USAnian that I consider has my same level of education and interest in other people`s cultures.

Answer 4

I live in the Bahamas and while the tourist like it here they seem to think that we are a nation here to only cater to them. They don't follow rules of traffic and they cry foul when they are run over in the street, they insult our money saying they can't take it to the US and have it exchanged because they fear the banks won't recognize it as currency...one bahamian dollar = 0.995 US dollars...DUH!!!!

And they complain that things aren't like they are in the US...well go the hell home, or they ask if we still live in huts....we are an english colony...we never lived in huts...or they ask why we have black people here....the same reason you do slavery.

Arrogant and ignorant is how they come across on the whole. I live in California and hadn't noticed any of this until I moved to the islands.

Answer 5

Well as a canadian,I think the states are lacking alot such as 1 a president 2 gun control 3 People are more selfish 4they stole the land they call u.s.a. From 1st nations 5 No gratitude

Answer 6

RE: Americans Travelling overseas

A lot of the times i feel sorry, cos they always get abused probably not to their faces but they always do, people around the world hates Americans it's not funny, the chef's will probably spit on your food if they know you are American, this why Canadians always wear a Canadian flag when they travel

This is fact ....i know Truth hurts :(

Answer 7

I find them to be mighty fine people, have a lot of friends and relatives in the U.S. Oh by the way I am Canadian born and raised.

Answer 8

I'm a American resident, but my cousins aren't i can let them type: HI William J,? right? I think Americans are selfish bestards, no offense , not you, they make non-american do more work, but have less pay, they think their superior than all human beings.

Answer 9

i believe ameriacan are dumb and are stupid cause they can easily be scammed. you guys suck. i've been to new york and it can never be compared wiv toronto be any means......dirty, over populated, rough....