Is it possible that one difference between europeans and Americans (northern americans that´s it)...?

Question

...is that Northern americans dont understand irony and take everything seriously????
I will be visiting your country soon and i want to know just to avoid problems

Answer 1

The very fact that you've seen fit to ask that question indicates that you take things too seriously. You seem quite apprehensive about your impending visit to our "country" -Europe's a continent, not a country by the way. If you feel like that now, what are you gonna be like when you get here and have to encounter all us ironic people? Or am I just being ironic when I ask that? Maybe we'll never know. Just relax.

Answer 2

Our family of six went to Europe this summer. One afternoon everyone else was off visiting the Louvre for the second time I went to the train station to get our next Eurail tickets. While I was in line I had a chance to visit with an amazing very elderly French woman on her way to her summer villa in Italy. She summed up our difference in a very interesting way. She said something like this "I love the American people. I love the French people. The crux of our difference is in our fundamental religious beliefs. The Americans who are protestant in nature expect that we will do things ourselves , the Europeans who decend from Catholic thought, expect the priest must do it for you. This filters down in government, religion, work and all of life. It is a difference of basic beliefs. The real irony is that it takes both. We need each other. We must learn to work together." This was a lesson well received by me this last summer to help me understand the animosity toward the American in some countries. My visit with this lovely woman ended in a hug and a greater understanding for me.

Individually, you will find most Americans very friendly, fun loving and warm...except in the largest cities. Just as we found Europeans friendly, fun loving and warm....except in the largest cities.

Answer 3

It depends on where you'll be visiting. Most people I know don't take everything too seriously. If they do they don't last long in my circle anyway. We can understand and laugh at irony. Just be yourself, that's the beauty of America!

Answer 4

We understand irony, and yes we do take a lot of things seriously - that's how we became the richest and most powerful nation in the world.

Answer 5

Yes, Americans, and to a lesser extent Canadians, do not appreciate or use "dry" humour as much as Europeans.
They may either not get it or if they do, they may take offense, as it can be taken as rudeness - sarcasm, which indeed it often is.

The other side of the coin is that Europeans tend to be ruder, more angry, direct and nonstrategic then NAMs. They tend to focus on the other person, not themselves, which gives rise to "You, You, you" whereas NAms are more likely to say (the much less confrontational) "I, I, I".

Answer 6

North Americans understand irony very well. I think.

Answer 7

Well I don't know about Mexicans or Candians but those of us from the U.S., you know the ones that call ourselves Americans, DO understand Irony. We don't take things all that serious depending on who.

Answer 8

Do you mean irony such as; The French hate us because we dare defend our homeland -- and THEIRS.
We have a great sense of humor but you europeans are not being very funny lately.....

Answer 9

We do, but if your english is not that good, or accent hard to understand we do tend to listen carefully and take it very seriously.

One word of caution, don't be wearing that speedo, nothing is as tacky as that. People will find great humor in that and have a hard time surpressing the laughter!

Answer 10

um no. i understand irony just as much as the next guy. but we don't understand british humor for the most part. like mister bean. i totally don't understand. but i do have a sense of humor and most definetly don't take everything seriously.