why are americans so naive about australia?

Question

i have often heard of americans classifying aussies as 'convicts'. are they really that naive about australia? i've also seen comments on here that refer to australia as being a 'dirty' country. are they not taught australian history in schools over there as we are taught about history of their country? i get the distinct impression that americans in general have a much lower rate of intelligence than aussies. they think we have kangaroos jumping down every main street. is that the impression we give them? or are they simply just not interested in truly educating themselves about aussies and their culture? i often have to laugh at the lack of knowledge they possess

this is not an attack on americans in general, it an observation and if anything, it's an attack on the way that we are portrayed to america and other countries too. america is portrayed to us as being 'superior' to any other nation. the american government should educate their kids better in schools and teach them about other nations. it is a very 'backward' thinking country and not a 'modern' country by any standard. just look at the gun laws!!! it's crazy and scary too. and whoever heard of 'forced tipping' when you receive a service, even when it's really bad!! america is not a safe country to live and probably never will be. i am so glad i live in the 'lucky' country.

judging by some of these answers, it only reinforces what i have just stated! please, give me some thing that dispells all of this! most americans are rude and impersonal, that is the impression you are giving me. why are you so different from canadians, considering they are your neighbour? i LOVE canadians!!!

brilliant answers, and thanks for your honesty and openness. steve irwin was a great advocate for us and i know americans loved him too. i should have written lack of 'knowledge' instead of 'intelligence'. i apologise for that, that was a bit insulting. a lot of you made some very good points and we are not that much different to each other, you're right again! i didn't mean to attack anyone on a personal level and i hope i haven't. i certainly haven't taken anything that has been written personally, i wrote the question, i expected honest and open answers and that is what i got! thank you for proving me wrong that 'most' americans are rude. it's obviously not the case.

Answer 1

I have read all your answers so far and of course your question. I don't want any of you to speak for me.

I love Australia. I watch every documentry I can on Australia. History is my favorite subject. I live in the western United states. If you know your history then you should know that there were a lot of crimnals sent to Austraila and also to America. There were also many sent to Barbados at same time. So both America and Australia have something in common.

You have a very large mass of land that is not inhabited. Some people live in neat homes that have been dug in the sandstone in order to live where the heat is unbearable. I think it is where they are mining. In America we call our sheep mens homes, ranches. In Austraila they are called stations. I beg to differ, I love the accent and I loved Steve Irwin and I'm still devistated over his death and I'm very sorry for his family and the Australians. The world still grieves for loosing a great man. No one will ever be able to replace him. You have many good actors that come to America.

Australia had the summer olympics and they were fantastic. Perfect opening and closing ceremonies were beautiful. America had the winter olympics and they too were fantistic. If you come to America I would hope you would come out west.

Please don't judge us by some of the American that live on the east coast and the west coast. That is the area of the US that is over crowded. We have a lot of land mass that is no inhabited. I could go on because I feel I do know a lot about your country but I would like to apologize for some of the rude Americans. I don't think it's just the Americans that are rude. I think it's a global trend. I do stand up for my intelligence. We have a problem with our educational system in some areas and the Gov. is doing what they can. We have intelligent people here just as you and the rest of the world has. Hope I haven't made you unhappy with my answer. Hey . . . I even know what "Mate" means. And I know you have 9 or 10 of the deadly snakes. Thanks for the question. I have enjoyed answering it.

Answer 2

Hello I had to answer your question before going to sleep. First, my girlfriend is from Adelaide, SA, so I do know a little bit more about Australia than the average American. People make jokes about Australia but by no means should you take it seriously here in the states we make fun of people from other parts of the country, but their is no harm meant. As far as Americans having a lower intelligence than Australains your confusing intelligence with knowledge and it is true Americans generally do not know that much about other countries except for what they see on TV. That is just the way it is, don't take it personal. Seriously, people judge others in so many ways, trust me if you came here people would treat you well, because despite everything Americans are pretty nice people.

Answer 3

The problem is their is very little information coming in from the outside world. As you have said, you have watched the news programs coming from within the US. Next time you do sit down with a pen and paper and count the number of news stories about other places in the world, take note of their tone and scope of information. Then get onto something like google news and research the stories yourself, you may be surprised by how little of the outside world is actually getting to the average American. The reason for this I can only guess at and that will not help any one, but if you take a trip to the U.S.A. (I suggest Hawaii, since I have been there twice already and loved it each time) you will be able to see just how closed a society the USA really is. Hope this helps you, and sorry to anyone that I may have offended; that was not my intention.

Answer 4

Well so far in school I haven't learned mch about Australia, I know that British convict's used to be sent to Australia, but that's mostly because of Great Expectations. One major impression of Australia that we have is because of Steve Irwin, we know you dont have kangaroos hoping all over the streets, like I live in upstate NY and someone asked me if I see bears all the time, (which I have never seen a bear in my life) People that are now adults in there 30's and 40's weren't taught alot about other certain countries, because then it wasnt important I guess, like I was talking about my test on Africa to my mom and I mentioned Mansa Musa and she didnt know who he was, and this is a women who has been to 17 different countries. I find other countries cultures very interesting, but most of the smart people in the US probably don't go on this site, I don't know about you but I haven't seen Bill Gates. I also have to say I probably live in one of the safest places, if you go to the police station that has about 5 cops, they'll say they probably get one drunk driver during the week, and 3 people that are speeding, ( I know because I had to do a report) I live in a town of about 3,000 people. People from other countries think that every place in America is big cities and stuff, but there are more small towns then cities, it's just that cities are put in the movies, and small towns aren't. I also hate how everyone blames everything on us, like I read someone from England say that we cause most of the global warming, well guess what China cause more then all of our citites. People sometimes seroiusly get the wrong perception's of people and think of people only being one way, like all americas are loud, I have known a girl for 6 years and the most she will say to me is hi. I think people should stop being so judgemental and learn how people really are.

Answer 5

I think it it sad that Americans don't get to learn about our great country in their schools etc. I am sure that if they did they would be more open minded and less selfish and rude as most them them sadly tend to be.

Australia is a great place with heaps of history and we are proud of our history and heritage.

Maybe the reason that Americans don't learn about us in their schools is because our country does not stick it's nose in as many other countries affairs and we are not built on so many civil wars as the Americans seem to be.

Sorry, just an opinion. I have met some very nice Americans but they seem to be few and far between. Maybe if they learnt some of our ways they would be a more united country and people.

Answer 6

Actually I don't remember learning much about modern American culture at school,history yes.
Think you are being a bit ruff on the Americans.The kangaroos jumping down the main street is straight out of the 50s. the film On the Beach is to blame for that one. As I see it there is not much difference in our countries in 2006.Same music ,same fashion,same films,McDonald's etc.If our P.M. has his way we would become even closer in our politics and that's where I draw the line.
I travel a lot and Aussies are very similar to Americans when they are tourists ,Loud!

Answer 7

You're right Americans don't know very much about most of the rest of the world in general. Our country generally considers itself far more important than the rest of the world and that is truely a shame. I have friends in other countries that know far more about the U.S. than we are ever taught about the countries they live in. Our print and t.v. news spares very little room for anything going on in the rest of the world unless it directly concerns our business, military or government in general. The other news that gets out to the general public is of course disasters, typhoons, nuclear melt downs, that kind of thing.
I would like to be able to give you a credible reason for this but my suspicion is that most of us are very self centered for the most part. I'm sure my answer will make manyof my fellow Americans angry but looking at the situation from my personal point of view, most of us are more concerned with making a buck and the almighty world of consumerism than whats going on overseas. Not a very pretty picture but we didn't get the nickname of the "Ugly American" by being open to and concerned with our fellow earthlings.
LL

Answer 8

Many americans show their ingorance by stereotyping people from all over the world. Some of them think all mexicans are illegals, that Mexico is a desert and mexicans wear big hats and take siestas every time, also think Canadians are boring and live in igloos. I heard some stories here in Canada that some people many years ago used to see americans bringing lots of gasoline containers in thei cars since they thought they wouldn't find gas stations here in Canada.

Answer 9

Americans are by nature isolationist and ethnocentric. They believe theirs is the only way to live. Which is fine, but the rest of us don't need it forced down our throats, thanks very much.

What stuns me is that the black people STAY! The country was built on their backs, they continue to be oppressed, and yet they STAY.

Given there are heaps better places to live in the world, I just don't understand it.

Note to LuvLuxor - if our PM gets this religious chaplain in schools thing through, I will be changing my vote. Religion in schools is NOT to be tolerated in a secular society. It is against the spirit, if not the word, of our constitution.

Answer 10

That has always been the case that they think we have roos hopping down the street
but that could have been because of the tv show skippy
but who knows
I love America all the same they are great