Do Americans Live Up To Their Stereotypes?

Question

My impression of the average joe american is a guy with a family, whom hangs an american flag outside his house and believes in "the american dream".

Most americans will deny this. I would like to know the following questions with ACCEPTABLE answers (Don't put... "because we can").

1) Why do a majority of Americans hang their flags outside their houses 24-7? Are you so confident in your country?

2) Why do a majority of Americans drive huge cars, and are UN AWARE of the pollution their country causes?

3) Why are americans so supportive of a president who holds a book upside down to read it? (is this an amazing quality)

4) Why are americans so happy when the british pound is worth X2 the USD?

5) Why does Dr.Phil have such a large impact on american oppinion?

6) Why is george bush President?

Thanks for posts! Keep posting oppinions!

I feel china is allowed to have some freedom to expand economically as US + UK all other MEDC's have.

I am supprised at how well this is turning out.. keep posting your general oppinions on the questions.

Answer 1

1. I don't know.
2. Denial. Since the 80s, American philosophy has been, "if you ignore a problem, maybe it will go away."
3. I don't know many who do support that yutz.
4. I don't think most Americans are even aware of that, nor would they care.
5. I don't know that he does.
6. Election fraud.

Answer 2

So you're impression of an average american is a middle class guy with a family that supports his country? Theres more to us than that.

For your questions...

1) Why do a majority of Americans hang their flags outside their houses 24-7? Are you so confident in your country?

Some people like where they live. So they show it. It's a pretty simple idea.

2) Why do a majority of Americans drive huge cars, and are UN AWARE of the pollution their country causes?

Honestly, because we can. I personally think it's bad, but nothing I can do to stop it. There will always be idiots.

3) Why are americans so supportive of a president who holds a book upside down to read it? (is this an amazing quality)

If you saw that image somewhere on the internet, it was fake.

4) Why are americans so happy when the british pound is worth X2 the USD?

Never heard of that. You're starting to sound a little stuck-up.

5) Why does Dr.Phil have such a large impact on american oppinion?

Dumb people like to think they understand him. Smart people understand him and don't like him. In most cases.

6) Why is george bush President?

I...I don't know. It's embarrassing.


Most of these questions are stereotypes, and you're probably uneducated about any American culture. I almost feel bad for you.

Answer 3

1) Why do a majority of Americans hang their flags outside their houses 24-7? Are you so confident in your country?

A: The majority of Americans do not hang their flags outside of their houses, and if they did, a lot of them would bring their flags inside at night. We are confident in our country, but that doesn't mean that we're going to hang a flag outside. Generally when there's a war going on, you'll see an abundance of flags outside of people's houses. In the past and even in the present, it means a number of things. Mainly support for the troops, that they're in our thoughts. Others will always have a flag outside of their house, be it they're a veteran of a past war, or whatever.

2) Why do a majority of Americans drive huge cars, and are UN AWARE of the pollution their country causes?

A:The majority of Americans do not drive huge cars. We do have more large cars in our country than other countries, but that's partly because our roads tend to be bigger, and they can fit. Plus out West, a lot of the cities wer designed with cars in mind, so you kinda need one in places. We are very aware of the pollution that our country causes. We are tackling it, but not on a national level. More of a city and state level. Many cities around the country have adopted the Kyoto Treaty as their own. You're not gonna hear about this, because all most care about is that the U.S. didn't sign the global one, even though we're implementing it throughout much of the U.S. on a city level.

3) Why are americans so supportive of a president who holds a book upside down to read it? (is this an amazing quality)

A: First off, the President never held a book upside down. What you saw was some nifty (and rather funny) photoshopping. Bush is dumb, but that picture was too obvious. Second off, check your poll numbers, and the 2006 midterm elections, and the general populus feeling about the Iraq war. I think you'll find that most Americans are not supportive of Bush right now.

4) Why are americans so happy when the british pound is worth X2 the USD?

A: We're usually a happy country in general. Most Americans don't have a clue that it's 2 dollars to one pound, and most wouldn't care. If we were happy, it's because around Christmas time, there is a massive influx of Europeans who swamp the East Coast of the U.S. for their shopping. Even with the air fare and whatnot, it's still a bargain for them, and a nice litte boost for us. Come and spend!

5) Why does Dr.Phil have such a large impact on american oppinion?

A: He doesn't. He has a large impact on people who watch Dr. Phil and Oprah. That's pretty much it.

6) Why is george bush President?

A: There's a really long answer to this question, but I'm not going to bother. The short is "I dunno."

Answer 4

1) the same reason Spanish immigrants in America hang their countries flag in their car when they are now Americans. P.S. I don't have a flag outside in my yard or in my house.
2) they are stupid....I drive a small car a Honda Accord EX. As soon as I can afford it I will get a Honda Accord Hybrid. I hate pollution.
3) Don't know. Originally I supported him, but now...I am ashamed to admit that. My hope for our government is almost extinct.
4) I could care less... All I have time to get excited about is when my little boy smiles at me.
5) Most of the time he has good advice, but I still have my own opinion and don't always agree with him. I only watch him if I am extremely bored and nothing else is on tv. SO...I rarely watch him.
6) Unfortunately, I voted for him. It really sucked this past election. The candidates were Bush and Kerry. Kerry was a flip flopping moron and Bush was just a Moron. I also was concerned about switching Presidents in the middle of a war, but now I wish I had.

I would like to state, that I have pride in my Country for what it originally stood for. However, I now feel very little pride for my country. I am terrified for the future of my family in such an unstable home. The debt of this country is ridiculous... I hope that one day I can once again feel the pride for my country that I once felt.

Answer 5

"a guy with a family, whom hangs an american flag outside his house and believes in "the american dream"."

What a nice thing to say. Thank you. :) I'm too young to have a family of my own, but I AM a proud flag-waver.

1) I actually don't do it EVERY day. Money's a bit thin for me, so I've got to make my flag LAST for a while. :P

2) I actually drive a rather small sedan, as does everyone else in my own particular social circle. I wonder if the huge car stereotype you're thinking of if not so much an American stereotype as much as it is strictly Californian. I know there are a hell of a lot of them here in CA, and we seem to get a lot of exposure in the media, so maybe that's what you're seeing.

3) I don't know what you're referring to, but you may have just seen a shot of Bush picking up a book upside-down by mistake, but it was cut before showing him turning it right side up. People like making him look like a severe idiot for some reason. He may not be the brightest bulb on the Christmas tree, but NO ONE gets into office if they don't know how to read a book.

4) Currency value means nothing. Doesn't $1 have about the same value as 1,000 yen?

5) I don't watch Dr. Phil, Oprah, Jerry Springer, or any other of these folks who shape public opinion, so I couldn't tell you. My opinions are my own.

6) George Bush is president because he won two presidential elections in a row. The first one was REEEEEEALLY close, and in the second one, his opponent didn't do a good enough job of explaining to the public why they should vote for him instead of Bush. But don't worry, everybody. This is Bush's LAST term as president, and he's not coming back.

Answer 6

why do you hold so steadfastly to your prejudices.

1) Flags, we like them, so what. The flag symbolizes liberty and freedom and equality for all people. These aren't bad things.

2) Majority of Americans don't necessarily drive big cars. Our weather is more treacherous than yours and lots of people need 4 wheel drive cars to get to work. Usually, they have economy cars they drive in good wather.

2a). I own wind turbine, solar array and a solar water heating system (have for years). They aren't as uncommon as you think.

3) Bush's approval ratings have been in the low 30% forever. And the degree to which US disapproves of him exceeds all previous presidency.

4) When the pound is higher than the dollar, it is an export advantage. Weak dollar means other nations can buy more of our goods.

5) Whose Dr. Phil?

6) The downside of having enormous national wealth is that there is always some crook trying to gain control of it. Chances are good the elections have been fixed. GOP waged a 30 year coup to gain control of the government. But as always, their gain will be short lived. It's a real problem, and we've had it before. Historically, our politics swing left, then right, then left again. Look to the future and watch.

PS, if you are really interested in getting a clear picture of US ideology, please feel free to e-mail me and I'll be happy to give you any insights I can.

Answer 7

Allow me to answer. Some hang flags out to show they are happy to be here. Many of our families came from parts of the world where the outlook is very grim. To be here is an honour. Many drive large cars because until recently gas was fairly cheap, and most of us comute to our jobs, vacation destinations etc and need the extra room. Altough we are waking up to the fact these are not practical cars, and need to down size. Dr Phil sucks, plain and simple. I dont know anyone who takes this fool seriously. Bush is president because... first term, technicality . Second term the country was paraniod over terrorist attacks. Most americans cant wait to see this idiot leave!

Answer 8

Some do, some don't. It's sort of like the whole "Americans are fat and lazy" thing. Spain just came out with a study stating that more than half of their adult population was very overweight - they just didn't consider themselves fat. England also has an obesity problem. Americans work hundreds of hours more than any other western country - but we're lazy? Compare the amount of vacation time of any European country to the US - it's an eye opener.

But Americans don't call Europeans fat and lazy. We're nice that way.

You come across as very young, and seem to have acquired your views of America and Americans from TV, which is never a source of accurate info.
1. We don't. In fact the flag is supposed to be taken down at sunset out of respect. Many bought flags after 9/11 out of both pain and patriotism.
2.Again, we don't all drive huge cars and SUVs, although sometimes in traffic it seems as if we do. Hybrid cars are quite popular here, there are waiting lists for them. SUVs became popular as there is more space in the US, and gas prices were lower than in Europe. We travel much greater distances due to the size of the country in general. Personally I don't like them, never have. We are well aware of the pollution our country causes, and we have Mr. Gore to remind us. We are working on it. As such large and heavily populated country, of course some pollution is going to happen. China also creates a lot of pollution - see, awareness
3.We aren't. Check the election protests and voting records. Check Bush's approval numbers. The country is divided over this.
4. "Happy" is relative - I really don't know what you are getting at here - not thrilled about the exchange rate myself. Would being sad help our economy?
5.He doesn't - where on earth did you get that idea? I just recently became aware he existed. He's an idiot. Who exactly do you think cares what a fat daytime show hack has to say about anything? It's marketing.
6.Got me there...oh, yeah, I remember - he fixed the elections. Look up voting fraud in Florida in 2000 and votig fraud in Ohio in 2004.

Please, educate yourself about America and Americans. Would you really like to be judged by stereotypes yourself? ...Cause every country has some.

And I have no idea which part of the country Ben E stayed in, but that is not my America.

Answer 9

1) the majority of Americans hang no flag at all

2) The majority DO NOT drive huge cars, as much as they may want to, and we have the strictest pollution laws of any nation on earth

3) The majority of Americans do not support this president, thouhg y all accounts he actuallty can read quite well.

4) Most Americans have no idea what the exchange rate is, and it has little negative impact on their lives. It also helps with our trade deficit.

5) I doubt that he really does have much impact at all

6) He represented himself relatively well in the election process, though he hasn't performed top that standard since.

Answer 10

1. Not everyone has an American flag outside of their house...I don't. I think many do because they are proud of this country even though it does have its faults.

2. Not all Americans drive huge cars... I think many do own SUV's and bigger cars because many people have tons of kids to cart around and minivans are embarrassing.

3. I do not support the President myself. However, many do because they were taught at a young age to respect the President (no matter who it is at the time). Others support him because they are uneducated, uninformed, or ignorant...or a combo of all of the above.

4. That I do not have an answer for....I guess you gotta be happy with what you have!

5. Because people here are so desperate for OTHERS to fix or solve their problems for them...and they think that Dr. Phil can do that. Also, some people wanna be on tv.

6. That I do not know either. Refer to my third answer.

Answer 11

There's always a small number of people who fulfill any stereotype... and a much larger number who may embody some the charcteristics of the sterotype, but may be totally opposite to the stereotype in other ways. So any intelligent person would use stereotypes with great caution, and realize that any random sampling will provide plenty of evidence to disprove the theory.

1) This is not true. Americans hang out flags on Memorial Day, Veteran's Day, Independence Day, and during times of great crisis (such as 9-11 or the Oklahoma City bombing). They do this to show a general pride and patriotism for their country. A few people in each neighborhood will leave a small flag up year-round, generally to show support for a loved one serving in the military, or as a reaction to the growing anti-Americanism around the world.

2) Most Americans drive mid-size sedans like a Toyota Camry, but true, larger cars/trucks/SUVs are far more popular in America than in other countries. America is a big country, and most people make the most of this space by living in sprawling suburbs rather than compact, public-transit-friendly cities, so cars are more of a necessity than in some other countries. Also, America enjoys one of the highest standards of living in the world, so it isn't as frivolous for an American to buy a car as it would be for, say, an averge Somalian.
Most Americans ARE aware of pollution caused by cars, and the sales of fuel-efficient hybrid cards has skyrocketed in the past few years.

3) It's easy to make fun of public figures, and some celebrities make it almost TOO easy. But keep in mind that this is a democracy - sure, lots of people voted for Bush, but a lot of people voted AGAINST him as well. And just because you support certain decisions your government makes, doesn't mean you support all of them.

4) Because we're Americans, and this is a great country to live in. =) So what if we're not the overwhelmingly-dominant economic powerhouse we once were, and other countries are temporarily in better fiscal shape? In a global economy, one countryy's gain is everyone's gain. And correct me if I'm wrong, but wasn't the pound retired for the Euro?

5) He doesn't. Yes, his show is fairly popular, but Oprah has a much greater impact - a book simply needs to be mentioned by her to go from obscurity to best-seller list. And plenty of Americans like me recognize Dr. Phil for the self-serving twit he is.

6) Because a president in office is almost always re-elected over a new candidate. His family has an amazingly pool of economic and political influence and resources. And we had record low voter turnout for his first election, and now we're paying the price for our apathy.

I'd suggest you come spend a few years in this country before asserting your impressions as facts.