Do you dislike Americans?

[Kismett]

I feel like I often read posts online that are insulting American people, culture, food, etc. In person people are generally nice to me in the UK, although I do get unsolicited comments about how our chocolate is shit or they'd never want to live in the US. It's not a great feeling, to be honest. But is this how most people really feel?

Native American Indians?

I hate some Americans. I'm sure Americans feel the same.

What I dislike greatly is our domestic media's obession with domestic US news stories. A flood in Bangladesh that kills hundreds and leaves tens of thousands homeless will receive less than a tenth of the coverage of a few wrecked houses in Florida. With the Carribbean hurrcicanes that destroy British overseas territories and commonwealth nations, we are told the 'real' story is will it or will it not hit the east coast of the USA, and if it doesn't and hits somewhere else instead, this is 'good' news.

Mr Strummer put it very well: I'm So Bored With The USA. We get almost nothing about the Hungarian crisis, the Austrian govt collapse, the problems in France etc, just endless bloody Trump.

I've had better experiences with the Americans I've met in America as opposed to the ones I've met travelling. I think pretty much all Americans I've met have been very friendly and come across as nice people, but some of them have made quite ignorant or entitled comments. A few examples:

• In Thailand, we met an American guy who was really keen to talk about Ireland and it's history (we're Irish), but he kept preaching to us about stuff he clearly had no understanding of, and constantly questioning us about politics. It was like he was trying to show off that he knew more about our country than we did.

• In Turkey, OH and I met a couple from Detroit. They were friendly and chatty, but the husband told us Ireland is basically part of the UK and he sees no reason why he should visit it because he has been to London. Not that we'd invited him, he just came out with this himself. He made a similar comment to a New Zealand couple (why would I go there when I can go to Australia?).

• In NZ, we met two women from Atlanta. One was a journalist and one was a vet. The journalist was really nice and seemed to have a bit of cop on, but the vet was pretty annoying. She made sure to tell us that she could work anywhere in the world, because the US education system is the best in the world (we had to choke back the laughter at that one) and her qualifications are the gold standard. And that she's so grateful she was born in America. She was talking to me and an English girl, and I'm not sure she even realised the way she was talking down to us.

There is a definite arrogance and entitlement with some Americans, and I don't think they even know it, it just comes from being raised in a country that is extremely patriotic and sees itself as superior. Maybe they assume the rest of us recognise them as superior too. Of course, not all Americans are like this, but I have met a few.

Having said that, in America I've met lots of lovely people who have been really friendly and welcoming. Also, every country and nationality has good and bad traits. None of us are perfect.

USA is a huge country with much variety in culture within it

I wish they would educate more about other countries tho and the attitude towards climate worries me.

I think that sometimes people forget that when you're a stranger in a strange land, even if you're from a big country, you can feel very small and alone, and vulnerable. I think that when you're from a big, powerful, influential country that strongly impacts on their country, they can sometimes inappropriately state and overstate their negative perceptions and opinions of your country in a way that can feel very personal. And be very upsetting.

The United States of America is HUGE. Incredibly diverse population - Native American, Hispanic, African American, Chinese American, Japanese Americans, White American. . And so many cultures, religious persuasions, political viewpoints. . .

I've had limited time in the USA, only in LA and San Francisco. The people were lovely. Very kind, very friendly. We did have a couple of incidents in San Fran', with some homeless people who clearly had mental health issues, poor devil, and with picking up one poor lady after she was mugged, while other people just walked on by. But that's not representative of everything and everyone, just incidents.

We found food that we enjoyed - particularly the Steak Houses, and the Cheesecake Factory (which as far as my girls are concerned is the alpha and the omega!) We found good supermarkets with excellent fresh produce.

As to chocolate. Well, I'm biassed. Whittakers chocolate from New Zealand, all the way, lol.

There is a lot about America that I am afraid of or dislike. But there is also a lot about America that I think is wonderful - currently I'm feeling very much the same way about my own country (Britain). 99,9% of the Americans I've encountered either online or in person have been delightful. So no, I would not say I blanket dislike all American people. People who could make such a sweeping statement are the types of folks I would judge.

All these people merrily pointing out what's wrong with Americans (like they're all the same) - have you taken a look at your own countrymen? There are many ignorant, entitled Brits around. Every time I go away and watch the Brits abroad I feel deeply embarrassed to be British. It's a fact that people see their own kind as a very varied group with differences and see others (I. E. Americans) as being all the same.

The Americans I've met have all been lovely, enthusiastic, not cynical like the Brits, and very kind.

There are some aspects of American culture I don't like.

I've personally met quite a few Americans - some were lovely, some were ruthless bastards (Wall St types).

I've met lovely Americans, and some really quite unpleasant ones.

Ditto Brits.

Ditto Kiwis.

Ditto Aussies.

Etc, etc, etc. . .

Folks is folks!

"I find the English class-ridden and generally obsessed with getting drunk, though they also have a good sense of humour and can be interesting to chat to"

I mean that's not wrong

I like most Americans very much,I just I can't stand Trump and pals.

My choice of holiday destination is generally decided by how much I like the cuisine so it's not top of my list

I've met Americans I dislike. I've also met British people I dislike.

I do not dislike a whole nation on the basis of disliking a few.

your chocolate is rubbish though

Stood in line at a shop with Kinder Eggs on the counter. Shopper says to cashier ‘they can’t sell those in America you know’ cashier: ‘yes I guess they’re too dumb to not eat the plastic toys’ ‘ha ha ha’. Then I was next and spoke in my Boston accent about how most kinder egg eaters are very young kids and I don’t think American kids are less smart than the average British kid, and there must be some reason why they are the most powerful country in the world... They didn’t know where to look! I’m English but grew up in the states. Most views (both ways) seem to be based on TV shows and stereotypes. Amazing how this persists.

Put simply it is the discord between what is expected from people with the same language and the reality of a completely different political and social milieu.

Every time a difference is noticed it becomes another 'Thing' to comment upon, dislike. Americans and British people simply are too alike to have any great expectation of meaningful differences. The cognitive dissonance of the reality means we notice more, in much more detail than we would of any country with a different language!

So that positivity from Americans about 'Brits' may feel like being patronised and is really only noting the stereotype anyway.

The differences are pretty much everything:
religion
politics
nationalism
health
education
food
Social mores
guns
women's health specifically
immigration
animal wealthfare
and almost any other yardstick you care to choose.

It is the lack of expected touch points that make many British people 'dislike' Americans. As if noticing and commenting on the differences becomes a habit and an internal bigotry.

And I agree Hershey bars are yuck but that’s not the only chocolate there!

And I agree Hershey bars are yuck but that’s not the only chocolate there! But if you have a look at the others they use the butric acid to make their chocolate similar to the very popular Hershey as, apparently, that is what American's like. Which is why they have changed Dairy Milk etc. They can't taste it is the same way as we do as they have been eating it since their first taste of chocolate. it is, apparently, just a pleasant 'tang' to American taste buds, not the intense taste of vomit that it is to many British tastebuds.

It is a very real difference, with a specific additive that causes it!

I grew up in Texas as a child and then worked the camps in Vermont and I definately would say that I have met some lovely Americans.

Culturally though I will admit I cannot understand how trump got elected or is taken remotely seriously as POTUS but to be fair...brexit so I don't suppose I can complain.

I will say the lack of understanding of the outside world and a level of entitlement has been a theme with those I've met...i genuinely don't believe it was an unpleasant thing as otherwise the people I've come into contact are lovely but the whole "u.s of a we are the best" is remarkably tiresome and it has been a recurrent theme

But like others people are people ...ultimately I may not agree with cultural aspects but that doesn't mean I judge the person.

I quite like American chocolate but no sadly it doesn't stack up to British chocolate ,but you do have liquid smoke so you know potato potahto

The way some on MN react in horror to anything they seem "American" (Halloween and Santa threads are great examples) is cringeworthy.

No more than any other people.

I do hate zombies, though.

I’ve been to America a few times, New York, California, Nevada, everyone was always very friendly and welcoming, the service is outstanding and we were made to feel welcome.

We stayed in Monterey California, and it is one of the most beautiful places on earth, the landscape and the backdrop takes your breath away. The other couples we met were friendly and chatted with us, I never got a sense of arrogance at all.

Hoping to go to Maine at some point within the next year.

Most people from the US have been lovely. Open and friendly. But also sometimes isolated from the rest of the world and tend to think of anything left of right as being communist and therefore bad.
Not their fault though.

I'm a Brit that's lived in the Caribbean for over a decade, our closest city is Miami so I'm in the US a lot. I bloody love all my American friends!

If Mumsnet is anything to go by, I'd feel well within my rights to observe that the British are class obsessed snobs, dismissive and ridiculing of anything that's seen as an American influence.

Baby showers, "gender" reveals, naming conventions (ewww, Madison is just soooo American sounding"), Halloween, Santa.

It's so fucking predictable. I'm frankly beginning to judge the British based on this website...

I’ve travelled all over the States and met people I liked and people I didn’t. The USA has its fair share of bellends, like every other country.