Why are so many Americans so stubborn?

Question

That's all there is to my question.

With your answer, please include whether you are American or not.

I didn't want to generalise; that's why I asked "why are so many Americans stubborn", not "why are all Americans stubborn".

I have just found that a lot of the time, Americans are the least likely to admit they're wrong. I will be the first to admit that I have no solid proof for this. My assumption is based purely off personal observation; but they have been many personal observations of American stubbornness in relation to non-Americans.

Okay guys. I am NOT asking the following questions:

"Are you American and are you stubborn?"
"Why are ALL Americans stubborn?"

By "stubborn", I don't mean willing to stand up for your opinion. I mean "stubborn" to the extent of arrogance.

And firebird, I am Singaporean. But thanks for your answer, you pretty much proved my point.

Okay, Antihero summed it up quite well.

"Americans are socialized to go into every situation assuming that they're right and they're needs outweigh those of the next person."

THAT'S what I mean by stubborn. Not perseverance. So, why and how are they socialized this way?

Answer 1

I really think it is a matter of no influence into other cultures, so they get to form strong opinions about what they know, and well, strong opinions about what they don't know. See, unlike other countries, or areas (Europe, Canada, etc).

Americans are not really travelers, most are born and raised in one geographical area, they leave for a few years for college, but normally come back home to settle down with a family, or they choose a new city, and well, settle down with a family, where they stay. The more adventurous ones travel within America.

Now, as far as the rest of the world, people love traveling to other countries, and constantly relocating, even as a family. Canadians are just like that, just take the whole family and move at random.

So, it isn't really stubbornness, it is more, just a lack of knowledge. Very isolated, so all they know is what is shown on the news. The younger ones are the worst also, acting out, but highly immature compared to other cultures, mostly due to the isolation.

I mean, we are kept mostly isolated, and then told by everyone we are the greatest nation in the world. So, of course, don't doubt our limited views, because they are right, and how dare you insult our great country, we are better than you. That is kinda how it goes. Also, most americans are mutts, which means we get genetic stubbornness from the worse, I mean, you end up with Irish Italian mixes, watch out :)

This country could be great, with the right president and by incorporating us into the rest of the world, not just telling us what it is like.

I am currently an American and not proud of it right now.

Answer 2

I'm American, and I think the reason we're so stubborn is because of the uncompromising roots from which our democracy was born, where we allowed something of, by today's standards, minuscule importance inspire a violent revolution. It's something that has since become a staple of American culture: opposition to the status-quo and an uncompromising reaction to that which we find unjust.

Our trend continued into the issue of whether states retain the rights and liberties to regulate and protect their own laws, established in each state constitution, a concept recognized by the overall Federal government until the Civil War.

We fight all the time against things we disagree with, and we're celebrated for it. We fought slavery, we fought depression and racism, we fought inequality and gender rights, we fought sex rights and rights to privacy, and rights to free speech, rights to life. Our own culture has been shaped by our stubborn nature to refuse to quit.

It's not going to be the best choice all the time, and you're going to produce stubborn, ignorant people who are going to have the same passion, the same dedication, for causes that are not-so-inspiring. Like fighting for the right to choose Creationism, fighting for the right to say inflammatory things about a culture or a race of people, right to free assembly to dress as ghosts and trade hateful sentiment about a race of people, right to defend our boarders by preemptively attacking nations that truly don't have any means of attacking our nation at all, or fighting to keep the idea open that Global Warming might be a natural process.

Yes, we're stubborn folk. We're set in our ways, we're loud and obnoxious about what we think is right, and we make a big fuss when we perceive our rights to be "tred upon." However, for all our boasting and representatives of ignorance, I like to think it's because of our uncompromising nature, which inspired our current identity, that we have the strength and constitution to push the right things forward, hopefully a majorety of the time.

Edit: Dude, if "Antihero" got it, give him Best Answer.

Answer 3

I'm stubborn and American.

What's wrong with being stubborn as long as you eventually quit whining about not getting your way?

And I work in a very multicultural environment, by the way. Some of the people born in other countries are just as stubborn, if not moreso, than some of my fellow Americans.

Answer 4

You ask that question like being stubborn is a bad thing!

What you call stubborn, we call perserverence. We Americans have a definate view of the world and we strive to achieve it, unlike so many other countries, that just do nothing and wait for America to take the lead! We have to...because nobody else will!

Here's a good example. The entire world knows that Darfur is a mess...yet eveyone is waiting for America to do something. England, France, Spain, Russia...would SOMEBODY care to step up to the plate?? NO. You're all waiting for us. And nothing will get done until America FORCES something to get done. Point made.

Yes, I'm American. Get out of my way.

Answer 5

I am an American and born in USA.
Americans have become very self centered to say the least. everyone wants what the other has or something better.
i just donated yesterday, again, about the 30th time this yr and have 2 animal shelters to donate to.
if people bartered or helped they neighbor i wouldn't be w/out a phone or tv and losing computer hook-up and in 10 losing 911 and i'm disabled.
when i am able to i shovel for all the elderly and disabled or if we received a lot of snow even the ones who can not open their door in case of emergency. i wish someone would do that for me. my hands would be blue and hurting and i still shovel. even roofs and over hangs if i can to save their house. i wish someone would do that for me. my dog needs a wheelchair made, no one will do it. i need dirt picked up and level off my lawn, nope. my roof is leaking, no help.
so you see. their r some nice people just not the majority anymore, they r just too busy.

Answer 6

Americans are just as stubborn as any other country. Being stubborn is a characteristic that most people have at one time or another. So it is an unfair accusation, to imply that all "Americans are so stubborn".

Answer 7

A touchy question and likely to rub many sensitive nerves.I have reasons to believe that there could be an element of misjudgment or may be,over simplification of a national trait/habit.It happens when we inadvertently try to judge people form other nationalities by our own ethnic norms,without allowing space for their ethnicity.This sort of behavioral pattern is difficult to find in a single family,leave aside a country .I think you reassess the point and may like to come back if still required.(No,I am not an American but have dealt with quite a few of them and found them to be assertive at times but mostly polite, as well)

Answer 8

I don't think Americans are any more stubborn than anyone else. Since our country is in the news more than most that could be the reason why we are focused on so much. Really, in all my travels, everyone else is just as stubborn in their ways as we are in ours. We're even stubborn toward each other...

Answer 9

America is the greatest nation on earth, we got this way by being stubborn and not giving up on what we as a nation want. We enjoy our freedoms and we'll fight till the end to keep them. Most Americans are confident in what they believe in, so they won't back down from a confrontation.

Now you want to see Americans who well bend over backwards for you? Let you trample on American freedoms? Tolerate your fanciful whims? You can go to San Francisco, where any nonsense you can think of will be ok.

I am American!

Answer 10

A lot of people just get into a pattern of life; that feels comfortable so they don't want to change.
Or you could say that Americans have so many ideas going by them everyday they have become adept at sorting out the truth from the crap you are spitting.
I'm American.