Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

Original poster

Do you dislike Americans?

345 replies

Kismett · 21/08/2018 15:07

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?

OP posts:
midgesforever · 22/08/2018 04:17

Having been rather grumpy about the US, most people we meet are curious and interested in talking to us about where we come from, they compliment you in the street about stuff, they encourage the DC to be positive and outgoing, it is a self improving culture, we have a good range of places to eat and many museums we have either free or yearly pass access to. It is clean, I was surprised how dirty London was when we went back this year and places are always open. There are so many places we want to see while we are here I'm not sure we will fit them in, in fact I'm sure we won't. I don't regret living here for the moment at all.

pallisers · 22/08/2018 04:32

Remember we see Honey Boo Boo as one of your prime exports, as if that's a typical American family.

Crikey that says a lot about the country - and the person - viewing the export.

I am american and I have never had a conversation with anyone about honey boo boo. I know who she is but have never watched a show. If I started talking about her at work or my kids' schools I can't imagine the looks I'd get.

That is like saying " Maybe brits need to remember that "carry on" films and benny hill are seen as your prime exports, as if that is a typical British life"

Stupomax · 22/08/2018 05:01

In general though, I find Americans loud and entitled and generally ignorant of the world, though they are also very friendly and keen. I am Canadian so have travelled to America a lot...

I live in Maine and my main experience of Canadians from the ones that visit here is that they're thick as shit, smoke like chimneys, smack their kids a lot and wear speedos. And speak English so badly we have to put up road signs in French for them.

I know perfectly well they're not all like that, but the ones I see round here are a horrible representation of your country. Might be better if Canadians didn't travel a lot tbh...

Stupomax · 22/08/2018 05:02

I'm laughing at the idea that it's only American tourists that are loud.

British tourists are so embarrassingly loud everywhere I see them in the US at the moment. And drunk. FFS. Shut. Up.

Stupomax · 22/08/2018 05:07

Im so bored of the MN stereotype about the US . As a pp stated, if this thread was about any other country, it would have been nixed hours ago. Ps of US chocolate is so bad, how come we have Ghirardelli...food of Gods?!!

I've never understood why other countries choose to import Hersheys when they could import Ghirardelli instead. Do they just not like good chocolate?

crosser62 · 22/08/2018 05:45

I'm fascinated by Americans because growing up poor in England, America always seemed to glamorous and always sunny... think Dallas.

I don't get their patriotism and absolute pride and dedication to their country...it's just so in English isn't it!

Also I cannot fathom the adoration and lengths that they go to when voting, the party atmosphere and the hero worshipping of corrupt bad people, the crowds that they draw.
I always look at the people on the background on tv and they almost appear brainwashed.

Yes they are loud but they are also good fun and love answering any questions about their home, it fascinates me, I love them .

SheWoreBlueVelvet · 22/08/2018 08:03

What's really tedious about this thread is the rather obvious comments about how stereotyping is for idiots and generalising Americans as loud, opinionated and their chocolate is vilest C etc , is wrong.
And then everyone chips in with yet more sweeping statements and wild generalisations but this time they are all positive comments

Either you can or you can't generalise about a country!

I quite like PJ O Roukes take that one on one most people are lovely. Get them in a group and you see the differences.. So the difference between liking actual Americans being in America and commenting on the country as a whole.

InionEile · 22/08/2018 08:11

Take a trip to Ireland, @Kismett - that will cheer you up! Yank-bashing is not quite the national pastime there that it is in the UK. Most Irish people have some relatives somewhere in the US and a lot of American companies are based in Ireland so there is a more positive attitude to the US, generally speaking.

I think it is fashionable in the UK to look down on Americans as uneducated or unsophisticated in some way. American culture is just so all-encompassing and powerful - Hollywood movies, gaming, social media, tech, popular music - that looking down on 'American' (aka popular / mainstream) culture is a way for some to prove they are more sophisticated than the average idiot on the street.

Since living in the US, I have discovered that the US is a huge country with a lot of diversity from state to state. Because it is (mostly) all one language and allegedly all one country (one wonders in these days of Trump...), it's easy for outsiders to just assume all Americans are the same. In fact, there are big differences between Americans from different regions and cities, as with any country this size.

Trump voters of any regional origin in the US are an exception, however - I truly do despise them and their stupid ignorance that got the US into its current horrible political mess.

Zoflorabore · 22/08/2018 08:14

What a strange question!

I absolutely love America and the people I have met from there.
I spent a fabulous summer at camp America many years ago and made some amazing friends, American and otherwise.

Massive generalisation there though about a country whose population is approx 350 million people Smile

fussychica · 22/08/2018 09:05

Can't believe I'm reading this.
So it's ok to be a racist on MN as long as it's only to AmericansShock.
Wow!

PenguindreamsofDraco · 22/08/2018 09:21

I married one. I dislike him sometimes Grin

sonlypuppyfat · 22/08/2018 09:53

Are Americans a race?

toomanychilder · 22/08/2018 10:49

It's not like Americans don't have stereotypes about Brits though, and they aren't all complimentary.
I don't see the need to be so touchy about it, all countries have stereotypes about all other countries, its perfectly normal. There are things to love and hate about everywhere.

ClinkyMonkey · 22/08/2018 11:11

I don't know any Americans personally, so I can't comment in that respect. I hear Americans being criticised as a nation all the time and there is much to criticise. But I'm from NI and would be seriously pissed off if the image of NI often presented in the media was seen as reflecting every citizen. Yes, we have our problems and some of the behaviour and attitudes here are utterly contemptible, but I like to think that we're not all like that. In fact, most of us aren't. Most people are quietly getting on with their lives. What we see on the news, in TV dramas, films etc is often at the extreme end of the scale, otherwise it wouldn't be interesting or newsworthy. That applies to any country, not just America.

missyB1 · 22/08/2018 11:31

Surely any of us can only judge the individuals we meet? It's impossible to say you like or dislike a whole nation!

So of the Americans I know (there's quite a few in our town because of a particular employer), I find 99% of them to be friendly, polite, and very active / interested in travelling and European culture. They certainly make the most of their time here, they seem to be the most active families in our town for sure!
I'm off to New York in October, looking forward to it!

toomanychilder · 22/08/2018 11:37

Not at all. You can judge by their politics, their exported culture, food, media etc etc. It's not really about individuals at all.

theunsure · 22/08/2018 11:42

I generally like Americans who have travelled outside the US. All the Americans I have met who now live in the UK have been without exception lovely people - because they have broader horizons.

I generally dislike Americans who have never left the country and think that they rule the world - without actually having a clue about the rest of the world.

Culturally there is not much to like about the US tbh - although the country is beautiful.

I don't actively dislike any race of people - and definitely don't hate them. But yes, I think on the whole the attitude of Americans leaves a lot to be desired.

However I also dislike plenty of other countries too. Italy especially. The pasta is nice, the art is fantastic. The people (and their shitty hotels) are not. Especially my ex and his whole fecking extended fuckwit family

theunsure · 22/08/2018 11:45

Sorry I badly worded my last post - I try not to actively dislike any race - but I do dislike Italy and the people I have met there. There are probably some nice people but not the ones related to my ex, and there are blinking millions of them

MonumentVal · 22/08/2018 12:16

I'm American but born and raised in UK/Europe.
I always vowed I'd never live in America, judging it by the rural Midwestern parts and racist city areas where most of my family live. In places where you drive an hour to the nearest restaurants and those are a Taco Bell, Subway, McD's, a greasy Chinese and an adequate family pizza place, the wonderful fresh food doesn't exist - except at harvest time when people put stalls up and you can drive about buying it to preserve. Wonderful neighbours helping with dinner when your partner is in hospital doesn't pay the medical costs that bankrupt you. Water supply and other infrastructure can vanish overnight (look up Flint water).
Then I got to stay in some other places and would be happy to live in them.

One issue is simply the worst kinds of tourists make themselves noticed, like the cruise ship passengers who invade Venice etc for a few hours. And not being aware of cultural differences that don't make it into sitcoms and mainstream films - the states are all different and the idea of federal government is seen to many as an imposition, rather than a way to deliver the peoples choice of society. Rather like how many Brits see the EU...

I always take half a day to get used to loudness of America - in particular how New Yorkers manage to be both incredibly polite yet loud at the same time, after being brought up to understand that politeness means being quiet...

Stupomax · 22/08/2018 13:28

It's not like Americans don't have stereotypes about Brits though, and they aren't all complimentary.

Nope. Generally Americans don't spend their time on their forums going on endlessly about how British people are vulgar or whining about 'Britishisations' taking over their language or whatever.

They're too busy getting on with their own lives, and they're just not that insecure like British people seem to be.

toomanychilder · 22/08/2018 13:34

Obviously some do! Proportionally about the same amount as Brits I imagine.

They're too busy getting on with their own lives, and they're just not that insecure like British people seem to be

lol. You're funny!

Stupomax · 22/08/2018 13:44

Proportionally about the same amount as Brits I imagine

Go on then - show us some forums where Americans are whining about how British people are coming over here, taking over their language and culture, and how crass those Brits all are. I've lived here for a long time and have never ever ever heard or seen it.

pallisers · 22/08/2018 13:57

It's not like Americans don't have stereotypes about Brits though, and they aren't all complimentary.
I don't see the need to be so touchy about it, all countries have stereotypes about all other countries, its perfectly normal. There are things to love and hate about everywhere.

Have you ever read a thread on here where an immigrant (rarely an american in my experience) critisises the UK or a town in the UK? Touchy doesn't quite cover the usual frothing response. Yes most of us probably do have stereotypes in our head about all sorts of people. We generally realise that it is rude and stupid to express them because they are, you know, stereotypes.

midgesforever · 22/08/2018 14:00

Americans don't do that, they are the world's current superpower and don't feel at all threatened by British culture. I have heard some American's complain about their culture being taken over, their language being replaced and people coming over. They are talking about people of Hispanic origin and some Americans do feel threatened by that.

longwayoff · 22/08/2018 14:03

Of course not. But I make an exception for thea orange golem whom I loathe and detest.