do europeans really dislike americans?

[rich r]

Sad Fox - wherein do you base your statement that American textbooks teach that WWII started in 1943? My wife's an American history teacher and she seems to disagree with you there.

As for the French hate.. I never had to have much of a reason to dislike the French city folk's attitudes toward everyone. But the smaller town people and even those running small shops in larger cities all seem very nice.

The majority of Americans hate the war, and those that supported it back in the beginning need to defend themselves and say that it was still the right thing to do, or else they have to admit that they were lied to and duped in the worst way. So, you won't have many people admitting to that. To much pride wrapped in the false patriotic rhetoric we've been fed day in and day out since October 2001.

DBB - You have to give Americans a little when you make that 'so insular' comment, and the thing about the passports.

If we just go on size of the country.. well, it kind of makes sense that most Americans haven't traveled outside the country (let alone outside some states). Sure, you Brits go to the mainland all the time, but consider that Americans travel, as well - they just don't have to cross into another country or state lines for most things.

You holiday in Italy for skiing, or Majorca or Greece for the beach in the summer. People in Pennsylvania travel 400 miles to the Jersey coast, and people in New York travel 2,000 miles to Colorado to go skiing. It's cheaper and more accessible.

[sal]

You holiday in Italy for skiing,

I would if I could afford it!

or Majorca or Greece for the beach in the summer.

Not fleshin' likely! Well, I'd think about going to Greece, but the only thing that would EVER make me go to Majorca would be the climbing (there's lots of it and it's good!).

[drowningbitbybit]

DBB - You have to give Americans a little when you make that 'so insular' comment, and the thing about the passports.

If we just go on size of the country.. well, it kind of makes sense that most Americans haven't traveled outside the country (let alone outside some states). Sure, you Brits go to the mainland all the time, but consider that Americans travel, as well - they just don't have to cross into another country or state lines for most things.

You holiday in Italy for skiing, or Majorca or Greece for the beach in the summer. People in Pennsylvania travel 400 miles to the Jersey coast, and people in New York travel 2,000 miles to Colorado to go skiing. It's cheaper and more accessible.

Indeed - you are right in that there's a reason why so many people in the USA remain there.... but.... the end result is a country full of people who do not think beyond the borders.

[drowningbitbybit]

he said "hey, I know a girl from London, her name's Gemma, do you know her?". I said "weeeeell, there's about 8 million people in London, give or take a few!". I guess I wasn't specific enough, as his next question was "Oh right, so do you know her then?"

That should so be an inaccurate stereotype, but it happened to me too

[drowningbitbybit]

or Majorca or Greece for the beach in the summer.

Not fleshin' likely!

See? Us Brits can be as snobby about europe as we are about the states!

[northswell]

I like the Americans attitude to service, when i was in Georgia nothing was a problem, unlike here.

The drunks were even polite, one even said sorry for swearing infront of children. That wouldn't happen in the UK

As for the ones that travel a couple stayed in my house over Christmas the other year, they'd been travelling europe and they were the most rude obnoxious people i have ever met.



I like this thread

[WooD]

I seriously doubt Europeans hate American's more than native Hawaiians do.

[rich r]

Gits and xxxxx, the lot of you!

And can people use apostrophes correctly?

(see Americans can be just as big a snobs as the English)

(notice I didn't lump all Brits into that whole snobby comment)

[rich r]

HA! wenker gets 'x'd out on this board. Funny!

[Dr Rev]

The Americans do have a sense of humour, like the World series baseball, no other country involved


But the Olympic Ice Hockey against Canada is always good !

[rich r]

See? Non-American ignorance right there.

Canada fields a team or two in baseball.

Seriously.

[Dr Rev]

I know, but its been a while since they have won.


Lets face it Englands crap a sports involving a bat ( The ashes ).

I take that most of the Toronto Blue Jay players are american anyway ?

[Stone Fox]

English relatives wayyyy far back. As in like 1600s. Been here since. I'm just rather objected to what is considered "american"

Ummm... Would this be a good time to point out that you've just described pretty much all of America?

After all we DID colonise your country about then?

*quick wikipedia check*

Starting in 1583

[Dr Rev]

You guys did give us Baywatch !!! mmmmmmm

I do thank you for that

[.Jen.]

I did have a decent sized post here, but have deleted it cos either way ill offend someone lol. I'll just stick with ''I dont dislike American PEOPLE in general, all countries have their arseholes''

[Stone Fox]

but the only thing that would EVER make me go to Majorca would be the climbing

It's not all like Magaluf you know... I spent the best part of a year living out there, and some of it (the bits that aren't full of brits) are generally pretty lovely.

[rich r]

Oh, Jen, offend away.

Don't be such a mary.

S Boy - Actually, I think most of them are Cuban.

Sad Fox - most Americans probably cannot trace their roots back to the 1600's, or an English lineage. (there are probably more Irish and Scottish lineages than English in the States, as well). I know I'm 2nd generation with Spanish, Polish and Scottish ancestry.

Besides, the Vikings got here first. Well, if you don't count the Native Americans. And technically, the English were johnny-come-lately's after the Spanish, Dutch and French already established settlements. England settled first in 1587, failed, and re-established in 1607. Pilgrims came in 1620 (and, oh, thank you for them and their puritanically zealot-like religious views that have haunted us to this day).

[Stone Fox]

and, oh, thank you for them and their puritanically zealot-like religious views that have haunted us to this day.

You're welcome.

Anytime.

[Real Pol]

First American I met was in Sparta (Greece) about 10 years ago, he was a dick. He thought it was really "neat" that my girlfriend and I had been taught English to "get on in the world", I told him it was our first language, but he wouldn't listen, he was too busy calling the locals "stoopid".

Later I put Americans I met into two categories, ones who travel themselves: normal, down to earth people and ones in tour groups, fat, loud, conforming to stereo type.

Then it was all based on foreign policy and climate change issues. With many Americans on the news not understanding that Bush getting a second term has implications across every country of the globe.

I never actually wanted to go to America, but I had to go to a wedding, so I thought I should try and see a bit of it and you know what? I want to go back ASAP. Everybody I met, and seriously I mean everybody I got on really well with. I'm still in touch with people that I only spent an afternoon or evening with. The 60's acid casualties down Venice Beach were my favourites.

So, no I don't hate American.
(I love the French though)

[^*^BATMAN^*^]

Ya......about that whole world series is ONLY american.....Forget about the Blue Jays....they sorta won back to back series in 92/93. I know its a while ago, and they did really good this year. Some really crappy managing though, and not enough depth in the pitching....

Oh and about them all being american........you wish. How about we look at the other "major" sports. Hockey, mostly Canadian and European. Football(american), pretty much only americans play it to start with, even the CFL(Canadian Football League) is mostly american. Basketball, I would geusse its a mix of Canadians and Americans.

About the leaving the coutry thing. Sure, you do have a point on the size of it. Though think about it. Sure you can just rip over to Florida/Cali for some surfing, or to Colorado for some skiing, or Oregon for some mountain biking, or whatever... You never leave your country, how can you expect to have even the faintest idea of how the real world works. In North America things outside of us are portrayed very different to how they actually are. Not to mention, you have the Caribean right on your doorstep. South America isnt that bad if you are in a southern state....


In the states, I find that the further south you get the nicer people seem to be. No offense intended, that is just something I have observed. I was travelling to Ft. Knox in Kentucky about 2 years ago, we got crap service at all the restaraunts until we got further south, people starting giving us discounts, and free stuff. When I was in Florida in November, when someone found out I was in the Army in Canada I would get one of two things, them talking about how great it is to be in the military, how much they respect me for being in, ect, ect. That or asking why we wern't in Iraq.


So to sum it up, Most of the world does not like the Americans that they seem to think is all of them. Like everthing in life, the minority is the most vocal and loud. So all you hear is a bunch of raving lunatics, foaming at the mouth, that is what you think that they are all like. The majority of people are too busy working a job to pay for the things that makes their family happy to be out doing stupid crap...


Though I do agree with you(cant remember who posted it), but tour groups of americans......ya, it is exactly what I saw every time I have been to the Carribean/Europe. They are just so obnoxious......I have met some that were back packing through Europe when I was living there that were really nice people. It seems that the ones that are there to get to see the country, not go to stupid tourist traps, are the ones that are much more intune with how the world works. When you travel to say France, and all you do is hang in your hotel at night. Then at day have a guided tour of Paris with an english speaking guide, so you never have to speak French, of course you will get the shopkeepers annoyed. Speak the language, or atleast do your best. Travel on your own, or with friends I mean, but like get out, arange your own tours, do your own thing.....The best tour I have ever done, was when I was in cuba. Me and my brother rented scooters, and drove like half the island one day. It was so eye opening to see what the country looks like away from the resorts.