Seriously, I would like to know.
2007-03-21 03:17:22 · 11 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Other - Society & Culture
I think that the major criticism that most non-Americans have or Americans is that they have (as a group) very little understanding or interest in anyone but themselves. Their knowledge of the world is often rudimentary at best. They are often seen as aggressive, loud mouthed and insensitive. Their culture is considered crass, materialistic and tawdry. Their government is seen to be warlike, in the effort of supporting the economic upper classes. Their society is not seen to value diversity of opinions. They are often jingoistically patriotic. They are a very wealthy country that does little to support their own people living in poverty.
All of these things are both true and untrue. But the perception is powerful. I am a Canadian, and I know lots of people who vacation in Cuba for the sole reason that they will not have to rub elbows with any Americans.
2007-03-21 03:25:55 · answer #1 · answered by bugged to death 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Americans do have a tendency to be very close minded when it comes to other cultures. This is mostly due to ignorance. The education system is failing and it is extremely hard to get any international news, even CNN has been dumbed down over 10 years ago. As a people, they are also very open in a way that can be ingratiating to more closed European cultures.
They are also more likely to complain (loudly) if things do not go 100% according to plan, but this how everything gets sorted out over here instead of the more usual negotiating and apologizing that happens in Europe. They are also less likely to back down from a position, no matter how wrong they might be.
When you combine these with a complete lack of language skills, you get people that can appear to be (for want of a better word), stupid to outsiders.
Having said that, every nationality can be guilty of this to a certain extent. Last time I was in Ibiza, there seemed to be more Fish & Chip shops than Tapas Bars for example. And my experience is that Americans are no more stupid (or intelligent) than anyone else.
The only mistake we make is assuming that because we share a language, then our cultures must have something in common as well
2007-03-21 11:36:05 · answer #2 · answered by Peter A 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well, this is a big generalization.....
but to answer why I think a few Americans are stupid....
They do not have a common knowledge of things, when it comes to geography they have NO clue at all, they think America is the Best country in the world and it is NOT, they are not as smart (look at US schools...every exchange student from Europe or anywhere else in the world thinks it is so easy in comparison to their home country), they do not know what is going on news-wise in the world, they do not know anything about environmental protection, they usually do not speak any other languages, and the list goes on....
But as I said..this is only valid for a few Americans I know....
2007-03-21 10:25:28 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
There is a mix of answers; 1. america as a nation is seen as quite young in comparison to some european nations and therefore there is a superiority complex in some EU nations. 2. America is seen as an agressive (capitalist), war waging, materalistic nation therefore of little intelligent substance. 3. George bush has definately not helped! 4. The image of the south as red necks and backward. 5. the media... programmes such as baywatch (watched in its peak by billions) with its protrayal of shallows characters. need i go on?? 6. it is also to do with jealousy and its also an excuse for other nations to protect themselves from becoming americanised- call americans stupid and therefore we wont want to be like them.
2007-03-21 10:27:07 · answer #4 · answered by st j 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
you seem to have a lower IQ overall. many exceptions. you are poorly educated overall. many exceptions. your popular culture seems downright inane and just missing any discipline or creativity. the us has simply lost its bounce. everything looks fake like Disney world and La's Vegas. it has changed from the new world to a sad, pathetic sort of world with too much debt and too many atomic bombs. too aggressive and arrogant. interferes too much around the world. appears to be hopeless in debt. those are some of the reasons Europeans think Americans are stupid.
2007-03-21 10:23:40 · answer #5 · answered by HOGG_ASS 1 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Because they are arrogant ant ethnocentric - Just like Americans
2007-03-21 11:11:28 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I suspect it's to do with the shallow and incomplete education that most Americans are content to receive.
2007-03-21 10:20:17 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
it's the french spreadin rumors n grey poupon all over europe against us. they objected to the gulf war cause it hurted their government arms sales. let's not forget we saved them all in the big one WWII.
the fact is, we work harder (more hours) n smarter than they do. our productivity is way higher, we r not stuffed in any rooming board apartments like the rest of them, n we got the the spanish TV stations with the big chested women jumpin up n down...
2007-03-21 10:45:58 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Let's face it, we don't put out the best front... What would you think if you saw our news reports as an outsider?
2007-03-21 10:21:59 · answer #9 · answered by KyLeth 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Jealousy, Ignorance and Arrogance..
2007-03-21 10:20:22 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋