Why do so many people worldwide think Americans are stupid?

Question

Since 1945, America has dominated the world of science and technology producing the latest innovations, largest and most successful worldwide companies, produced many best selling authors, and still produces a 'brain-drain' for the rest of the world. I'm not defending average americans by saying that we don't have any stupid people- on the contrary, we certainly do, but i don't see why the world thinks we have a monopoly on stupid people. Just as rude, arrogant, and impatient people exist in the world, no one nation should proportionately have more than another, because these traits are roughly all spread across the world evenly. So why does the world think Americans are stupid? Are they simply criticizing it because America is currently the most powerful?

Answer 1

It's true, there are stupid people everywhere. When I was traveling around Europe I asked people what it was about Americans that gave us such a bad reputation abroad. Across the board, they felt like Americans acted as if they ruled the world. I think this impression came from rude and fussy tourists. Sadly, it only takes one bad impression to shape someone's opinion most of the time. Additionally, our president doesn't exactly have a good reputation does he? Keep in mind also that the US is a superpower and as such tends to stomp on smaller nations to keep its status. It's not exactly fair, but that's the way it is, isn't it?

Answer 2

The number one reason for the sour taste about Americans is the total disrespect that Americans present to the people in the countries visited. The looking down their nose as if lf the world is inferior and they should be happy to serve them. In anyone’s books that kind of action demands a big you’re stupid if you don’t think I understand your demeanor. Another reason is the way Americans think they can run any con game by citizens of other countries and expect to get away with it. One good one happened in India by Coke, seems they opened a plant and the contract wrapped up the only good water source for 100 years to make and bottle coke therefore forcing the citizens of the town to go without water, that’s stupid in anyone’s books. Well anyway coke and there BS was run out of town. There are stories miles long with the same type scenario all over the world as well as in America but in America it’s an accepted standard to do business this way. If you don’t believe it do you remember Enron? It started with the taking of Native land’s and it continues today with the privatization of the water supply that is now worth more then oil’ The next story that carries the stupid brand is in regards to Americans opening factories around the world and expecting the cavalry to come riding up when the tide turns against there being there as if they owned the rights to the land as well as the right to have the attitude of being superior. Another one is the fact that America tries to act like big brother in all there dealings around the world. When China started there growth that will pass America the Chinese stated that the first time Americans start that big brother BS which is looked at by the Chinese as disrespect, they would make other moves to make the projects happen. As we can see by the growth of China without American no how; we better change before we believe it too even though we live it... One could write volumes of stories that pertain to the reason as far back as 100 years to present with stories of why the world thinks Americans are stupid. Tricky deals superior attitudes can be presented here but the rest of the world will not put up with it and the proof is that the world has caught up with America and they are leaving us in their wake of cleaner business deals as well as treating their citizens with more respect then in America.

Answer 3

First, look who we have chosen as our leader. Sorry if you are a Bush supporter. Secondly, money and power does not make you smart. I dont think countries assume we are smart just because we have money and power. With all our money and power, we still have the same problems as some third world countries. Look at how we handled Hurricane Katrina. Third, we have very poor foreign relations, look at the war in Iraq. If more of us spent time being ambassadors over seas, people would feel differently about us. Fourth, look at the programs on television that show what Americans are like. The Simple Life, Flavor of Love, One Tree Hill, Beauty and the Geek, Desperate Housewives, My Super Sweet 16. Almost any popular television show can give a negative impression about Americans.

Answer 4

I think it has more to do with Americans being culturally stupid; and for a good reason. While the rest of the world is very aware of what Americans are doing, Americans are only aware of themselves. Americans have very egotistical, self-centered point-of-views because they aren't influenced very much by other countries. For example, people in Nepal know of George Bush and Britney Spears, but I'm sure very few Americans can tell you where the Himalayan Mountains are. So when people call Americans "stupid" I don't think they're referring to academic IQ but rather social IQ; like etiquette. Americans don't know how to deal well with people who aren't American. America's being powerful has sort of isolated its people and they are just stupid because they don't know how to deal with everyone else in the world.

Answer 5

I think it is a case of a few bad apples spoiling the barrel. I grew up in southern New Brunswick and a friend of the family who worked near the border between Maine and New Brunswick told us this story about 8 years ago.
A family with Florida plates came into the diner and asked for directions to the nearest ski resort, so she gave them to the father and wished them good skiing before breaking into a fit of laughter in the kitchen. It was July. There is no snow in southern Canada, coast to coast in July. We have weather similar to Maine at that time of year in New Brunswick. All Canadian provinces have weather similar to that of their nearest neighboring state, but here is an example of really dumb people who thought they could ski here in July.
Having repeated this story, I do not believe all Americans are stupid, but the ones who are, seem to be really really dumb. I'm sure we have people hear who are just as stupid, but stories like this stand out.
It is unfortunate, but true. A few really dumbass people have given Americans a bad reputation.

Answer 6

again let me tell you that I am an Arab and muslim and let me explain why people think that?!!

America used to be really most powerfull country in the world , people will think about America and they just go wow ....u know.!! it was every body's dream, it used to have great respect to other cultures and American poeple were well educated and have general knowlege...but now when u chat with some Americans they give you the wrong impression ...for example I was chating with someone and I mentioned United Arab Emirates...He said what?!! and what is that ..never heard of it..I told him u never heard about Dubai...he said No ..when I explained him that its an Arab country he said yeah and u use camels for transportation...most of the new generation in America has self confidence that America is the greatest and the coolest that they are not interested to learn about rest of the world ( I am not saying all of them) but the majority.
they some times if they live in one place they are not bothered to know about other places in their country..and take another example I saw a clip on youtube they are asking americans simple questions such as what is the currencey In the United Kingdom they didnt know they answer maybe queen elizabeth money? what is the religion of Israel, they answered ,Israelie's?! Muslim? Christian ? I will put u the site at the end of my answer...I am not saying you are not the greatest in medical or science or not successful , no it is the greatest till now...but America from my point of view is going to face a disaster if the people kept on concentraiting on the inside not the outside...they don't know any truth, they believe what they see in the Americann media only and when ever you want to explain a point of view they go no no no they know better. Americans trust the American goverment that they take their word as words from the bible!! its pure and no lies and perfect they know only what the Bush administration want them to know ..what I Americans do, they have the greates sience and tecnology , if every American has a satalite with channels from all over the world ..like Dubai has an english Channel One T.V, and watch mbc channels and Egypt has an english and french channel, The Arab world has a window to it through T.V use it and learn about all other countries and educate your childrens its very important for the American's get back on track and care about other civilizasions and reality and truth about so many things. I feel poeple dont give a dam about knowlege but they think they know every thing and insists discussing and chating and insulting other people specially muslims and Arabs, what I think American's are not stupid but they will be if they kept on ignoring the world out there.



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sorry for my bad english

Answer 7

We do not think Americans are stupid.
However I do certainly feel that 90% of Americans live in a closed box. Then do not want to look beyond boundary.
They must have lot of good qualities otherwise it would not have possible for them to become world leader in almost all areas. However time is changing, if they are not going to learn from others there's many countries are getting ready to become number one in the coming century.

Answer 8

Bush, 2 times elected, he he its just funny, I still cant believe how you guys did that, its a shame, for the whole world.
But if the rest of the world think American people are stupid, and you think its not, why do you care?, don't pay any attention, continue doing things that prove rest of the world is wrong.

Answer 9

Some says that's because of the President who make Americans look stupid. But isn't this President voted by you? I don't think Americans are stupid. It just that few spoken men affected yours image.

Answer 10

because you have a president that cant spell talk or think like a normal human being. he is selfish and only wants to be a man in the eyes of his father. i think thats your main pronblem. and the lack of caring for the rest of the world.