Question to British folks from an American?

Question

Hi, I was wondering if there's anything you find peculiar, strange, confusing or amusing about us Americans in general? This is not an invitation to be mean, just be honest. I am a nice Yank who is just reaching across the ocean and being friendly. I will read your responses and I may comment on some of them by adding details to my question.

I agree, many Americans are overweight, loud, and talk too much, and yes, things are bigger here...too big.

"Rain check" means you will do it another time. Retail stores in the USA give customers rain checks when they are out of an advertised item, so the customer can go back and get it another time. People say "I'll take a rain check" if they are invited somewhere and can't go, but are willing to go at another time, for example.

Yes, we probably do talk much more about things than we need to. I personally am guilty of that.

National sports are over the top, I agree. Soccer (I think you call it futbol) is not as popular as football, baseball, basketball and hockey.

Deeper voices???? Interesting, never heard that one before!

smee_1972, nice to meet you. Some of our stores now have handles on the paper bags! I don't know why the bread slices are so small (I grew up in an Italian family here in the US so I always found sliced bread peculiar)!

RE: politics...I'm going to stay away from that topic. I came on here for some light fun. I fight with my own countrypersons on Y!A Politics. You can read my questions and answers if you want to know where I stand regarding politics.

Answer 1

Not really, I don't generalise, but some people think that they are loud and scream a lot judging by TV.

Answer 2

Nothing wrong with Americans though I think it's time people admitted that the USA and UK don't actually speak exactly the same language any more just 2 similar ones!

Answer 3

I have found - I am in South Africa - that Americans who visit our country are loud and show offy and brash. They brag a lot about being American. That is the only experience I have with Americans.

Answer 4

I'm a nice friendly Englishman who's always felt a brotherhood with you Yanks, most especially because of your help during the last century. In the Bush era you have managed to alienate most of us and nearly all of the rest of the world. You just cannot continue to tell everybody what to do! I read that you don't "do" politics. I'm not surprised! By the way, what are you going to do about China? Better take a raincheck I suppose...

Voting for a black Democrat might be a start.

Answer 5

I have always found American people to be friendly, you may appear a little brash and over confident to some conservative English people.
America brings alot of Tourism into England - much needed revenue, mainly to London and Stratford upon Avon.
Americans appear to appreciate English heritage such as the royal family.
When we visit America we always made to feel very welcome.
I don't understand why there is such an ignorant divide on Yahoo between us, British and Americans are so rude and derogatory to each-other on here!
I think you are a country with a nation similar to English, you have different states as we have different counties and each part the country can be very different - like ours. There are good and bad in every country.
Thanks for this open question that has allowed me chance to air my views.
All the best x

Answer 6

Sorry but some of the Brits are a bit snobbish...I'm from South Africa.I went to Paris, Amsterdam and London. In Paris - ooohhhweeee noses in the air.Amsterdam was great - never did any of the things that are legal there and no where else in the world, but the people were friendly. In London all I saw were snobbish people, and the only friendly people I met there were Americans who were also visiting....

Answer 7

I've got a couple of American friends at school here in NZ and they're all really nice people =) but i don't get why they say aluminum..... its spelled aluminium... hehe we've had many mock arguments about it =) but each to their own

i don't think there's anything strange about Americans, though some might find me a bit odd =)

Answer 8

From experience I find that the American people I do not know are really nice people both here in the UK and other places I have visited. I have noticed that you in general that is, tend to talk about lets say a potato for rather longer than us Brits would and it can be annoying. The Americans I knew whilst being in the USA I ended up distrusting them and boy did they like to test the ground and also try to impress - full of baloney actually. When I have met them in other parts of the world I would say in general they are the same as when I meet them back home Fun people.

Answer 9

I find that in general that most Americans mean trouble. You said be honest and I am. I'm sure you are nice. Also I think that Americans think that they are the centre of the world and what ever they do is right. The most amusing thing about Americans is that where ever you are in the world, you can spot an American a mile off - usually you are loud, badly dressed or indiscreet. Sorry I am being honest. Now I've said this I bet you don't fit my stereo type.

Answer 10

I have 'distant' relatives in America.
I met an American 'cousin' a few years ago, from California. She had emigrated to the UK.She said she did not want to be American she wanted to be British.
I said that Americans I had met were polite and friendly, that America was a much cleaner place, and California was often portrayed as a paradise compared to where your emigrants come from.
British people are not 'friendy',if you don't talk they probably wont say a word to you, and polite well no I would not say so.
The English leave litter everywhere, we seem to be the dirtiest country I've seen,the locals don't seem to know any different.
And our weather was wet damp cold,or damp wet cold,or cold wet damp.
She said this was all true but Brits tell it like it is,they are real with no pretence, and Americans don't tell it like it is, it is 'show', pretence, and they don't mean 'have a nice day'.
And she said that was why she was here.
There you go, I believe the Americans I have met are friendly and polite,and I liked them, but I have not lived there.