What is it about Americans that you do not like?

Question

Is it all Americans or just some? Why? Do you or would you have American friends? Have you really taken the time to get to know one?

I'm American, I now live in Australia and I regard the people here as some of the best I have ever met in my life.

As with everywhere there will be ignorant and arrogant people, trust me I have met a few here in Aus. too. But I am wondering why us (yanks) get all thrown into one lump.

Guess I am just trying to understand where all the dislike stems from!

Thanks!

Answer 1

G'day, nice to meet an American with an open mind and I have met many like you.
Sadly, most Americans feel if it isn't American it just isn't and this superiority complex makes them unbearable.
Hope you aren't finding any discrimination. Most Aussies treat people as they are treated.

Answer 2

I guess it comes from things like a lot of Americans not knowing where Australia even is to start with. I think it is also a case of everything is bigger and better in America, and if you live in America then everything is bigger and better in Texas!. So the attitude I think you guys get from the texans is the attitude we get from the whole country. I used to be a tour guide for 10 years and that is the impression I got. But having said that I have met some great Yanks

Answer 3

I spent three Weeks in the states and have a pen friend over there, but i found the general american public to be very arrogant. Just the other day there was a question posted here by some american asking what should America do to punish Australia if we vote in labour and pull out of Iraq..... I mean seriously, the views expressed by most Americans (mostly men, i may ad) are that they are the most powerful country and anyone who is against them should be nuked. I know it isn't all americans, you seem perfectly normal and so are many others i met when i travelled, but when the main view of Americans comes across as arrogant and rude, the rest of the world can only judge by that.

Answer 4

I am an Aussie, and I feel sure that americans are being judged, by a lot of people, by the garbage that comes to us here, in the way of american sitcoms, and its no more a true representation of the average american, than the oh so ocka country bumpkin image in some aussie sitcoms, represents the average aussie.
Some american women, specially women in some sort of position of power or news reporting, have extremely strident, loud harsh voices, but maybe, its because they have to be that way to be heard over the men!!

While holidaying in France a few years ago, I did notice that the americans were some of the loudest voiced, and quite often elbowed me out of the way to get to what they wanted, without any excuse me's, or may I's? but then the french weren't the politest either.........
there's good and bad in all races and cultures, and as I'm travelling in both Canada and USA later this year, it will be interesting to see what they are like in their "home turf".Just like anyone else I expect.......

Answer 5

It's not everyone, but the loud-mouth Yank really makes an impression that's hard to forget.
The problem is many Americans come across as pompous, braggers.
A trait the average Australian loathes.
So many expect everywhere else in the world to be a little America.
We're not and hopefully never will be.
The education system has to take some responsibility, too.
The first, fastest, tallest of everything doesn't necessarily come from the US.

It's always nice to see a normal everyday person, like yourself, interested in what makes others tick. America is full of people like yourself, but we don't often notice them here.

Answer 6

It is impossible to categorises all Americans through a few experiences. For some to say that Americans are rude or ignorant are actually pretty ignorant themselves for making such a sweeping generalisation. Yes, some Americans may be those things, but not all of them.

I personally have two very close American friends. Both of which are extremely kind, intelligent, and interesting people. I enjoy knowing them, because even though we may not always see eye to eye, we've all learned a lot from each other.

Any negative feelings I have towards America is on a purely political level. I am very interesting in international relations, and because of that and also some of the beliefs I have as a native Kiwi, cause some discontent towards American actions. Generally, George Bush is not viewed well in other parts of the world. For me, he is carrying out the attitude that Americans are the world police and can do whatever they please. Which, in many ways, Bush did by disregarding the UN when he planned for the war in Iraq. The US is carrying on with a war that very few other nations support (those who originally did, including New Zealand, pulled on long ago when it was clear that Iraq did not have WMDs), and telling the American public that is a war against terror and trying to bring democracy to Iraq. This was is clearly about petrol and nothing else - Bush is acting in the best interests of his pocketbook, while putting his country in a trillion dollar debt.

Well, that was a bit of a rant. My point is that America has the power to do so much good in the world. Instead, they are fighting pointless wars.

I have little contempt for the American public. Yes, some are ignorant - and I feel sorry for those who don't understand how their government's actions effect the world. But for the most part, I look to the Americans I know as friends, and I also look to America as a provider as much needed things. Because really, if you want to hate America - you'd have to try pretty hard to cut American production out of your life. And I might love Hollywood movies too much to do that.

Answer 7

I work in hospo - a hotel and the treatment I have recieved from American guests is enough to make me never want to set foot in the country.. rude, arrogant, ignorant - make no effort to understand me - I am sick of having to spell out what I am saying, I had a lady once get angry at me because the build up to Hurricane Katrina was not on the front page of the newspaper - nevermind the fact that NZ's general election was the next day!
Unfortunately I think that the genuine down to earth Americans cannot afford to travel.. so its only the "elite" if you like that do.
I think the main factor in the current dislike of America/ns is the one and only George Bush.. and because he was returned to office for a second term to cause yet more trouble in the world.
Sorry if it sounds harsh - I have met some wonderful American people but they are few and far between. but in general its the attitude I think.

Answer 8

wow!! I must have been living under a mushroom all my life...
I had no idea people felt this way about americans!!

I'm getting ready to tell you that you are not really hated, but I guess I stand corrected!!

I was born in a country that has many reasons to hate the way the U.S. toys with smaller countries and yes I do hate your foreign policy, I do blame your politics for a lot of the miseries in the world and I dislike your president with passion but I have many american friends and I get on well with them. my cousin is married to an american that I simply adore.

Well, maybe I need to look a little closer but the americans I know don't fit the up yourself/arrogant image portrayed here, and come on people, fancy hating someone for their accent!!

Answer 9

Too many Americans travel with the wrong attitude. They do not seem to care what other cultures regard as appropriate, nor are they interested. They spend their time making unfavourable comparisons to the one true society - their own. A manifestly ridiculous proposition.

This is why they are wonderful on their own patch, but crass and ignorant anywhere else.

Answer 10

As a New Zealander, I think we share a similar (and even greater dislike in some ways) view to Australians to Americans.
From our point of view we dislike the authority and power that the US tries to put on us (and other countries around the world)...we were isolated politically (and still are) after deciding to go nulcear free and not allow any nuclear ships in our water (that was the mid-80's), that REALLY annoyed NZ.
So arrogance is one thing not well recieved. Although yes its sterotypical and not all americans are like that!
I guess its anywhere you go you are sterotyped. I lived in England for a couple of years as a teacher and was asked to say (almost on a daily basis) to say "G'day mate" and Crikey (the latter an aussie term mostly) and was lumped in with australians (which i disliked intensly).....so I understand that lumping idea.
Another thing is trying to get one up on the US...its the big brother syndrome. We LOVE to beat the aussies, but if I could beat an american at something...EVEN BETTER...so its the little guy trying to prove something....I think that has something to do with it as well.
We also get an interesting view of the US here and have news stories like "Only in America" for petty silly things they you roll your eyes at. Hollywood and the movies haven't helpd in some ways to dispell myths and sterotypes as well.
THe other thing we dislike is ignorance...ie not knowing where everything is, but as a large country its hard to see things outside it.
Personally I have met lots of Americans I have liked....I have a laugh at them in shops or walking around saying american things "oh my gawd Bob, look at the cute little sheep" etc
Its quite funny. Also when doing a few days in LA i did a day trip with a group, including other americans who rol their eyes like we do at some of the things in LA...I guess we really don;t see the average everyday americans who are just like us really!