If I ever judged the UK by what I saw on TV when I lived in the US

[Tee2072]

Everyone in the UK would either speak with a Cockney or RP accent.

They would all either live in an over crowded terrace or a huge country estate.

All the schools would be crap.

The populace would spend their entire lives in pubs.

Now, I never believed any of that, being a relatively smart human being.

So am I being unreasonable to wonder how come I'm constantly battling US TV stereotypes here on MN?

It's a thread about many many many threads.

What stereotype in particular do we tend to get wrong? Can you give an example?

hi tee people can be silly sometimes eh like a bit of a light hearted posting ,

we all have to fight sterotypes I would like to see scottish people not sterotyped as the drunk hardman or the heather weaving scone baking mother

You forgot we all have bad teeth

People do believe what they are told though, perhaps it is your MN mission to educate, educate, educate! Maybe you could try and sell it as a programme to Channel 4, it could work

American stereotypes about the English:

Everyone has High Tea at 4pm (my brother still struggles to believe this isn't true).
Bunch of Snobs. (Actually I'm increasingly convinced this IS true)

As for stereotypes about Americans firmly cherished by many Brits & Europeans I meet, DON'T GET ME STARTED.

Stereotypes: crumpets, scones, tea, etc. Bad teeth. All being socialists.

Regina Spektor seems to be under the impression we don't have Netflix or WiFi in Britain - odd as the venue I saw her in recently had 3 open networks to choose from, she then whinged about no WiFi both while onstage and in subsequent interviews.

Most Americans I have known have also conflated the UK with England or thought (republic of) Ireland was part of the UK.

I know and have always believed that most Americans are kind, smart, upbeat people . I love their humour and their country.

Numerous Americans I know are startled at just how small the UK is in comparison to the States. And how teeny tiny our houses are.
Because that's not what gets shown on TV.

mrsjay yours was just the latest in a looong line of 'but I saw it on TV!!' type posts here.

And not just here. In real life too.

It's TV, people. It's not real!

I post on a mainly US forum, it is amazing how many times you see threads along the line of: Visiting the UK doing Scotland in a day, what to see? and: Do all the shops shut at 4pm for afternoon tea?

Can I make a massive generalisation?

You'll let me cos I'm a pal.

Yup?

American telly has too many adverts.

Din't shout.

Can I make a massive generalisation?

You'll let me cos I'm a pal.

Yup?

American telly has too many adverts.

Din't shout.

Can I make a massive generalisation?

You'll let me cos I'm a pal.

Yup?

American telly has too many adverts.

Din't shout.

i have spent a lot of time in the us (dad lives there)

i feel when i am there it is the us and the rest of the world is separate from the news and political/social programmes

so that stereotype i can understand where it comes from

but not the all people in la are glame (they are certainly not), mid americans are all fat and dumb, again no (but obesity there is on a different scale to here) and those from new york are rude, well americans tend to be more upfront that british

There are a lot of US stereotypes in the UK. I was born in the US to an American father so I notice them a lot. However, as I have a very English accent, people never think to reign them in. The ones that immediately spring to mind are:

• Americans are all loud and brash
• Americans eat huge amounts of unhealthy food
• Americans have no sense of humour and don't understand sarcasm
• Americans are all right wing and have guns under the bed
• Americans are much more friendly than the English
• Americans are good at customer service

UK telly has average fourteen adverts in between programmes. I know because I count them. Used to be nine about five years ago.

Chaos my love...GET A NEW PHONE!!!!!!!!!!!!

And I agree with you. There are too many adverts on US TV.

FS I'm actually surprised when my family has seen something that's happened here in NI on the news there. The US is very UScentric. I'll admit that totally.

I was promised November.

He's mived the goalposts.

'sJanuary, now.

[gutted]

I was promised November.

He's mived the goalposts.

'sJanuary, now.

[gutted]

I was promised November.

He's mived the goalposts.

'sJanuary, now.

[gutted]

I was promised November.

He's mived the goalposts.

'sJanuary, now.

[gutted]

Phone Hiccups, Chaos?

Americans are all...
Rich in material wealth
Happy ( )
Have perfect teeth
Incredibly ignorant about geography
Gun-Lovers
Bible-thumpers
Have huge houses*

*Actually their houses like their cars are inverse tardises. Huge on the outside and astoundingly badly used space on the inside.

Can't argue with the too many adverts comment. I love advert breaks on UK TV.

@ Chaos.

I'm actually going to miss it when she get's a new phone.