are americans really hated in europe, or is it just a feeling i get from the internet?

Question

If i was polite and curtious like any other person, would i still get the kind of cold shoulder from europeans in the summer?

Answer 1

I live in England and i don't hate Americans.I just think people stereotype all the time, what we know of Americans is based on what we see on the TV. We see clips of American soldiers on the news chanting USA USA USA, and we see people on talk shows and game shows who are very loud and obnoxious. If your a nice genuine person then people will like you that all there is to it.

Answer 2

,HI
I'm Irish, and all i can say is in the space of 6 years (from 2001 onwards) you have gone from having the sympathy and support of the world, to become one of the most infuriating nations on the planet. But I don't blame the individuals themselves, its more your elected government. Ignoring UN conventions, the Kyoto agreement, changing the Geneva convention, (but just a bit to suit yourselves) and all the while telling the rest of the world how they should conduct their lives, economically and politically really riles people up.

On a personal level I think some times humour does not cross the Atlantic well, so there could be basic misunderstandings in whats considered ironic, or amusing that gets lost in translation.

I've been to the states, and have met a lot of Americans here, and the thing that strikes me the most is they are either extremely well educated, grounded individuals who open up a whole new sphere of thought to me, or else they just don't seem to think,at all.

Arghh, I shouldn't have answered this, I dislike generalising about issues, but enjoy your trip in the summer, just don't talk politics and do your research on where your going and you'll be grand

Answer 3

From an English point of view I don't think individual Americans are hated. Rather, it is America as a whole that is scorned and ridiculed.

As you say, if you are polite and courteous you shouldn't get the cold shoulder, at least in England. However, if you come across as the stereotypical 'American Tourist' ie: fat, track-suited, loud, brash, rude, uncultured and unintelligent; you will more than likely be laughed at.

Don't forget that it's not just Americans we stereotype, think about how Japanese tourists are perceived!

Don't worry about the reaction you will get in Europe. As long as you aren't a caricature of an American, you should get a positive or at least neutral reaction. To be honest, just having a passport puts you ahead of most Americans!

Answer 4

I am in Australia and we have a degree of anti-American feeling in this country as well. Why? Because your president is the most unimpressive man, especially on a world stage and doing stupid things like invading Iraqi on trumped on intelligence reports about WMD's hasn't done a lot to make people fell safe and secure all over the world. Granted after the absolute horror of 9/11, the majority of the world had tremendous sympathy for the USA. But actions after that have made people feel that their own security may be threatened in their local region and it breeds resentment. Unfortunately the USA ( not the people, but the government representing the people ) over spent the political capital they earned.

Answer 5

You ignorant Americans who are "ashamed" to say you're American because of haters like "Snooker"? I cannot believe some people are such idiots and trend followers that they would bad-mouth their own fellow countrymen because they want the nonAmericans to think they're cool and not like the "awful Americans".

I hope all of you are teenagers and have an excuse at least. Grow up. Encouraging hatred for Americans when people are killing Americans because of that hatred is not a laughing matter.

Europe has been anti-American for decades. They were the same way in 1945 when we fought a war with them as allies. They're just bigoted. Look at all the excuses the Brits and Euros gave for possibly hating Americans. This is the ignorance they are indoctrined with and you will hear those same talking points over and over.

I can only hope you sad, pathetic Americans that agree with them will go live with them. I have, and before Bush and it was the same exact thing. They're just trying to blame it on politics so they can't be considered bigots. The Jihadists do the same thing with Jews, shift the blame to Israel's government so they can't be considered haters. At least Americans can't be compared to radical Islam in the same way.

Answer 6

You will not get any cold shoulder or hate from Europeans if you come to Europe. We disagree with US policy in many places of the world, but we are warm and hospitable towards people who visit our country. At least in Greece. Trust me, all the Americans I see here look like they are having a good time and a warm welcome.

Answer 7

The Czechs seemed to delight in a miserable american, pointing and laughing, it was very strange, the Parisans seemed indifferent-but i was all gaga over paris, that probably helped. The Germans were very nice. I tried to be so conscious of it, but in europe, I became aware of how American I look.

Aw, Snookler, we're not all bad. Most of us are fat, yes, but at least half of us don't feel like we own the world. We just feel like we own American and are all poud and stuff. We are different but we're allies after all...remember WW2?

Answer 8

Maybe it's Europeans. I've not travelled to Europe but have to the USA and have always been treated really great ... better than in NZ (sad to say).

Answer 9

I know, I feel the same way sometimes. Especially when it comes to language, because American English is so screwed up from the original English, but we didn't chose to learn to spell things wrong or suck at grammar. :D

But generally....that is the only time I feel animosity from Europeans. I heard it's because some Americans are pompous jerks that think they are the center of the world, but I assure you that I am no pompous jerk...I kinda get embarrassed sometimes to say I'm American....no offense to the proud Americans.

Answer 10

americans get bad publicity on tv and the press, its the fault of people like george bush who is blinkered by the mighty dollar and can only see straight ahead of him and doesnt look to the side to see the real problems, others like paris hilton who have a greedy attitude to life and contribute nothing to society only spending her excessive wealth on designer labels and non stop partying, we dont hear much about that charitable people who do good deeds only the self obsessed people of america make the headlines in europe.