To wonder if the anti-Americanism on MN is typical of the broader UK population?

[NCforthisonetwothree]

MN regular, NC for this. I’m an American, been in the UK for 10+ years. DH is also American, moved here for his work. Most of the posts I see that bring up the US are pretty down on it (and I agree! Trump, guns, healthcare, etc.) but there’s also a sort of strong general anti-American-ness, a sort of disdain, I’d say, for things (names, attitudes, behaviours, styles, etc.) that are “too American.”

We have two kids (born here) and both work full time and have integrated (reasonably well, I think?), but most of our friends are other expats and immigrants. I wonder whether the anti-American sentiment that seems fairly widespread here on MN is representative of most of the UK?

Posting here obviously as I don’t think anyone IRL would give me a straight answer.

Cultural imperialism, I mean the erosion of British words and phrases and the adoption of American ones because of the influence of the media, and the same with traditions. This is something some other European countries take seriously.

Traditions and words such as?

One hammer I think that is an oversimplification. The type of brexit voting person you are talking about does not think Britain is the best country in the world. They do think it used to be, and it can be again.

Anti-American sentiment on MN did not begin (and it won't end) with Trump. I think it also exists in the wider population of the UK. But posters on MN are more outspoken than I presume they are in real life.

One hammer I gave an example downthread where Alan sugar in an interview complained about this very subject. There are lots of words that I grew up with that are now routinely exchanged for the American equivalent. And rituals you have things like proms and baby showers, brought over here by the media portrayals. Which is why the British version is rarely like the real American ones. Instead they are emulations of Hollywood portrayals.

The English fondness of being self deprecating coupled with a sprinkling of sarcasm is something that a couple of US friends/relatives struggle with - especially in relaxed social settings.

This ^
I think English / Welsh / Scottish / Irish people can have banter with each other. As we all can with the Australians and New Zealanders, and South Africans. But many Americans just don't get sarcasm, and the sort of word play that makes up so much UK (and Aussie, in particular) humour.
My dd has recently returned from mixing with other 14 - 18 yr olds from countries across the globe. Even she said "the Americans are odd". I suspect that it was that we expect people who speak the same language, to be far easier to chat to and spend time with, than people who speak different languages, and (probably in most people's expectations), where you think you'd have to work a bit harder to communicate, but they found a lot of the Americans who were there (from all over the USA) didn't get the humour or banter, and also seemed to hold views about all sorts of things - yes, including gun ownership - that were so different from most of the views of the rest of the world's youths they were talking with.

Not that that means they were 'anti-American', but just surprised how different they were, when expecting them to be one of the nations they had most in common with.

Language evolves and people see things from all round the world they’d like to do. I dislike UK proms and showers, they differ from American versions but I would never accuse the US of imperialism. Americans aren’t extending either on purpose or aggressively, I doubt they give a shit that some UK teens( not all) think it’s cool to spend thousands on limos and dresses for a night.

This is something some other European countries take seriously.

Haahaa, you mean those ones who don't speak English? How many other languages do you speak? The Quebecois people do get their feathers ruffled at the influence of English words into the French language. I love to sometimes wind up a Quebecoise friend by inserting 'Franglais' into our conversation.

But no, there's no attempt at this so-called 'cultural imperialism' by Americans, they make and sell products and lifestyle and it's up to others using their free will to buy them or adopt them, it's capitalism, not 'cultural imperialism'.

Not sure I agree that Americans don’t get sarcasm. You see it in lots of tv shows and from US comedians. Uk tv shows are popular in the US and vice versa.

Why are you laughing. You think countries that don't speak English as a first language don't absorb American words?

Onehammer with sarcasm, there is not oneamerica. States can be very different. So yes some Americans indulge in sarcasm and some really really struggle with it

You think countries that don't speak English as a first language don't absorb American words?

They absorb ENGLISH words, languages evolves, that's how it works! That's why we no longer speak English the way Chaucer did, or the Saxons. Our modern language is a blend of many languages and influences. It happens, people travel to trade and sell stuff, they invaded in the past other countries and settle there and bring their language and culture and intermarry but now move around usually for work and things evolve.

5Zeds That is such rubbish. We have American family and have travelled there a lot. I don’t recognise that arrogance. it’s not arrogance (or at least that’s not my perception) I think it’s more ignorance. If you are brought up to believe you are the envy of the world then it can be surprising and upsetting to realise your country isn’t held in high regard everywhere. I’ve hosted and work with young Americans travelling/studying far from home and it was fairly common for them to struggle with the readjustment to a new view of home. It just knocked some of them sideways that people didn’t want to live in or be American unilaterally.

It’s not a country I particularly admire, but it’s far from the worst regime out there. Unless asked or goaded into speaking out it’s rarely kind or wise to make pronouncements about other people’s countries.

Please don't patronise me. I know how language evolves. I also know throughout history that there have been people unhappy about how that language has evolved. Most language that is adopted is a weaker country adopting language from a stronger country.
And Americans do not speak English. They speak American English.

I know 2 Americans. One is loud and only talks about herself. I'm not a fan.

The other is lovely and so helpful to anyone. I like her a lot.

So they are like any other nationality, some nice and some arseholes.

I'm not fussed on your politics (or the UK's for that matter) but I would never judge all Americans.

Nah I love America and have nothing but nice things to say about the people I’ve met. We’ve travelled all over the country and absolutely love it. And when our little lad is big enough we’ll be taking him to the theme parks because America really knows how to do a theme park.

And customer service. It really does put the UK’s appalling customer service to shame.

The problem is Trump and guns. The gun situation needs sorting pronto. It’s absolutely disgusting.

In the era of Chaucer the word fall was in the process of being filtered out in favour of the french Autumn. So some original English words are actually still in use in America while we took on new words from around the world.
Of course they did mess about with some spellings deliberately to ensure the language was different....

I don't understand this "Your ethnic background is offensive" nonsense. My grandparents on one side were pushed out of their country during the Holocaust. My grandfather had a serial number tattooed to his arm. Am I supposed to not claim my familial history now in case it offends a politically correct snowflake? Fuck off with that shit.

It's really just Trump and baby showers that people have a problem with.

And gender reveals, don't forget the gender reveals...

Blueoasis I lost family in concentration camps too.
There is an enormous difference between saying my gran was Scottish, to saying I am Scottish or I am part Scottish. The former is fine, the latter is offensive. Because that person is not Scottish and has often a Hollywood idea of what being Scottish actually means.

I’m certainly not anti-American. I have never lived in the US, but I have several American friends and I have travelled extensively across 25+ states over several decades. It is a fascinatingly diverse, beautiful and admirable country in so many ways.

I admit, however, that I feel much more comfortable in relativity liberal, secular Blue states. The America of Trump voting, bible-bashing, gun-toting, anti-abortion redneck racism feels very unwelcoming and hostile to me.

I would not consider Iiving in any part of the US until they get healthcare and gun control properly sorted. I’m not holding my breath.

And Americans do not speak English. They speak American English.

It's English to those who are learning it after having another native language. Do you go around telling other nations who use English they speak 'Indian English' or 'Pakistani English'? You're accusing an entire nation of what is actually their capitalism and calling it 'cultural imperialism' which is ridiculous because, as pointed out by someone else, they are not doing it deliberately (unlike us Brits, who invaded numerous other countries by force, enslaved and killed their people, plundered their land and forced them to speak English) but as a result of selling products that people here buy of their own volition. Sort of comes across as sour grapes there .

I notice it more on here than I do in real life.

I’m American and have been here for almost seven years. I love it here for the most part. The stereotypes I hear and see are definitely eye-rolling, but I notice often it is quite hypocritical. I see the same behaviour that Americans are supposedly known for done by Brits, especially on holiday. I was actually a bit surprised considering what I had heard about Brits growing up (mostly positive things). It finally brought understanding to the whole “cousins” thing.

Traditions and words such as?

The prounciation of schedule.

I worked in America a long time ago and work with Americans all the time. They are educated, cultured and well travelled and I just don't recognise this 'two nations divided by a common language'. We are exposed to so much American culture, do we really think Americans aren't funny while being addicted to their comedy shows? I've not met many Americans who didn't support Obamacare or didn't think there needs to be more gun control. Clearly plenty of Americans disagree but the liberal elite in the two countries have lots in common, more so than they would have with people on the right in either country.

Well, I'm Scottish and I have far bigger things to be offended about than a few tourists getting confused about their nationality.