why do Americans have no confidence?

Question

As an Englishman it always amazes me that Americans are so mild and have no confidence.Many Americans lie about where they come from to avoid people mocking them.
Many Americans i know, say they are Canadian to avoid such treatment.
Why are Americans so shy/coy?

Answer 1

Oh yes Americans are so meek and mild mannered. We don't dare cause a ruckus, just not our thing.

Answer 2

In my opinion, Americans have no sense of history and this is the root of their insecurities. The country has come to be the World Superpower in little more than 200 years and Americans seem to take that for granted. If Americans understood how Empires (Roman, English, Spanish, Ottoman) came to power and lost power, perhaps they would have more appreciation for all that America has accomplished, especially in the last 75 years.

In addition, American's also view the 'atrocities' committed by the United States in a vacuum, and do not realize when compared to atrocities or governments around the world, the United States is not so bad after all.

Because the United States is the largest military and economic power in the world, there may also be a some jealousy or country envy from other nations, which Americans pick up on through the media. Without a historical context or appreciation for all that the United States has accomplished, the polite response is to apologize for the 'sins of the father' or simply avoid the uncomfortable situation altogether and claim to be from somewhere else.

As an Englishman and by your question, I imagine you recognize the historical significance of the United States and believe there is much for Americans to be proud.

I would hope that everyone can find a reason to be proud of their nationality.

Isn't the glass half full?

Answer 3

You must be joking. Americans are the most ambitious, self confident, determined, dedicated, passionate people on the planet.

I'm starting to see a pattern in your questions. Whatever it is is write, the opposite is always true. If you knew anything about America you wouldn't write such things.

By the way, its actually kind of flattering that you would spend so much time and effort talking about The United States of America. Your obsessed. I bet you dream about the day you might become an American. If you do come here you better be nice though. We wont put up with your crap. You should just admit that your wrong about us, get in line with the other 100,000,000 people trying to get into the country, and move here. You know damn well you live in a destitute nation. Run down by inevitable decay of time and corruption.
I pity you.

Answer 4

Why do you feel these people aren't telling you the truth? I have written this once before (if not multiple times). We are ALL Americans on this side of the Globe, since both continents are called America. But in order to keep people from getting confused the people who can afford to travel will state the country they are from. Like Canada, the United States of America, Mexico when referring to where they are from in North America. In Central and South America it's even more broken down to the actual state they are from like: Panama or Peru.

But none of us over here have lost our confidence in America as a whole. Maybe everyone in the East should be happy we haven't all melded together over here into one big America.

Answer 5

My family takes a ski holiday in Canada every winter. Although I do not lie about my nationality, I do dodge the question if possible. Not because I am ashamed or shy or coy, but because I am a house wife - not a political analyst. The Canadians are always very friendly but quite frankly they want to know more about American policy than I am capable of understanding. I have absolutely no answers as to why the exchange rate is unequal or NAFTA or why we continue to send troops to Iraq. I'm just as confused and overwhelmed as the rest of the world. I just want to sit in the hot tub and get pissed like everyone else.

Answer 6

I would never misrepresent my citizenship. I'm a United States citizen and I am proud of it.

I am not shy, nor coy. I am also not mild. I am an extremely confident and competent individual.

Mock me if you will, I truly don't care. A lot of Brits on this site love to post questions just to annoy Americans. Since you run with that crowd, I'm sorry your life is so pitifully boring that your only amusement is insulting Americans.

I do hope you get a life..........soon.

Answer 7

yet how many of persons in polls have a level in economics? people who do no longer understand economics in many circumstances think of a foul economic device in disaster will merely unexpectedly turn around interior below a 300 and sixty 5 days of a clean presidency. An economic device that took 8 years to smash... won't be in a position to be fastened in merely a handful of months. I havent lost self belief in obama. i've got lost self belief in the two occasion device. The libertarians are the terrific occasion. The libs are too treehuggy and the terrific wing is merely too offended redneck christian.

Answer 8

As an American it always amazes me that people like yourself have the ability to use your opposable thumbs in order to help you hit the spacebar on your keyboard.

Amazing I know, but apparently it's true, and you're living proof! Still munching away on the bag of lead paint chip crisps? You can never have just one.

Remember to wipe the drool from your keyboard when you're finished. That's a good boy!

Answer 9

As an American, I'm proud of my nationality and I wouldn't try and hide it. :-) I like to be an example of how not all American's are self-absorbed, ignorant, a-holes like Mrs. Shiraz. Not everyone feels so insecure about themselves that they need to beat everyone else to a pulp.

Besides, It's not like I could hide my background even if I wanted to, with my southern accent :-P

Answer 10

Hey Sidney...I guess there aren't alot of European travellers in YA this morning. Because we both know that over the last ten or twenty years, Americans have been sporting Canadian patches on their luggage/backpacks when travelling. I don't see it as coy or shy...I see it as a survival tactic. And it becomes more and more necessary, as the dislike for Americans increases worldwide. Sad, but true.

Answer 11

Why are Englishmen repetitive and boring? How many times are you going to post this BS?

There are probably a few Americans who say they are Canadian for security reasons, not fear of mockery.

Like I told you before, you think we would claim to be from Canada if we didn't want to be mocked?