What is a typical American?

Question

I'm an american. I'm also a teenager. What images does that evoke? Do people see us as potheads, political activists, disloyal to our president, obsessed with being skinny, emo, what?

It's most effective if you are not from the US and answer, as I think I know how we perceive ourselves.

Answer 1

As Rorya put it, it is the point of view of an American, a broad-minded one I must add, and it sort summarizes it completely. Yet the opinion of most people In Europe, at least, is that the politics of your Government, as those affect their countries, is quite contrary to the that of their own needs and wants. So, inevitably that leads to resentment for the Americans in general.
But as Cpinatsi points out, the image made by the film and TV industry on personal level is exactly as she says.
A happy self -centered people with little compassion for the rest of the world, looking for their personal lifestyle, or at least the one the industry tries to promote. You look at the rest of the world not knowing if it is North, South, East or West yet you expect it to bow to the greatness of your nation, whose most of the citizens are forget-full that they originate from that other world.

Answer 2

I don't want to offend you, and I must state that I don't believe in stereotypes, as I am sure there are all kinds of teenagers in the US. The idea we've got though mostly comes from TV shows and films, so the ide we've got is a girl or boy who tries to be "popular" by looking good, buying trendy clothes and make up, going to the mall, eating fast food, thinking very much of their boyfriend-girlfriend issues, and generally being rather superficial. Again, I must stress that this is the idea we've got from American films depicting the average American teenager, and I know probably there are many variations of all kinds.

Answer 3

I think this will vary depending on the pet interest of the respondent. Both inside and outside of the U.S. people want the U.S. to use its power to defend their agenda. The U.S. inserts itself politically and militarily into places and situations which invariably make one group happy and another group mad. The happy group will tell you America is wonderful and they love Americans. They mad group will tell you that America is the devil and all Americans are ignorant and fat.

As an American, I know plenty of us who care about the world and what our nation is doing abroad. We care about the way we as Americans are perceived. Unfortunately, the majority, by my experience, are ignorant and fat (if not physically fat, then financially fat, sometimes both)

Answer 4

I cant help the being american part, but i have travelled out of the US extensively as well as read foreign papers etc.
We are a paradox to most , I think. Powerful but dangerous, Intelligent yet emotionally immature, giving to our favorite causes , yet neglectful of other needs. The biggest newsmakers around the world are US, yet we are ignorant of how the rest of the world lives and thinks. Most seeem to love us and hate us simultaneously.

Answer 5

Nah, people just see you as a stupid teenager, lololol.

If anything, they probably think you eat at McDonald's a lot.

Answer 6

Good people with good intentions,Yet we do not understand your politics.

Answer 7

Obezıted.