To think Mumsnet is xenophobic

[sittight]

When it comes to Americans?

If it was about any other nation it would be called out as the racism is it.

I’ve seen it today across the Halloween threads - people looking down their nose at Halloween because it’s an ‘American import’ (which it isn’t).

The attitude that baby showers are disdainful because they’re American. The snobbery about proms because they’re American. Elf on the Shelf, gender reveal parties etc. - fair enough if you just don’t like them but there are always derisive posts about them being American.

I suspect the same people embrace traditions imported from other cultures but when it comes to American traditions there is such snobbery.

No, it's just that the things you have listed are tacky.

It’s a hugely English site and they’re also really shitty to Scottish posters and can’t seem to wrap their minds around the idea that there are other countries in the UK and we don’t do things the way they do them. I’ve just been attacked on here for saying I was in Asda this evening because Asda isn’t open due to English Sunday trading times. They really just can’t understand that England isn’t the only place in the world.

Except it’s always mentioned that they’re American. Funny how it’s the American traditions that are deemed tacky.

Southern England especially. During a southern heatwave someone refused to believe it was raining in the north.

Yes, that does happen and is ridiculous.

I don't think it's particularly anti-American.

I agree that Halloween isn't actually an American import. Didn't know that baby showers were an American thing, but they certainly are quite crass. Same for gender reveal parties.

I don't really have an issue with prom - it's a bit of fun and nobody has to go. And if people want to do elf on a shelf? Meh, I find it quite creepy personally but each to their own.

Of course it isn't fair to generalise, but for many people, they will simply see Americans as the idiots who elected the fuckwit Trump. It is really hard to take it seriously as a country with him as a figurehead. But of course that's not fair because there are obviously many intelligent and decent Americans who are horrified by what the US has become and by the image that their country is projecting to the world.

Although I’m beginning to think that maybe there is just a large proportion of stupid people. I’ve just been questioned on how a single parent could possibly be out on a Sunday night as single parents need to be home to do bedtime… my kids are teenagers. They don’t need tucked in by 8pm on a Sunday! Maybe people are just really quite deeply stupid.

Why is pointing out a tradition is American xenophobic?

Some of them use “American” as a slur. It’s both ridiculous and ignorant.

Must really bewilder these posters that our 24 hour stores are only closed between 1am and 3am on a Sunday morning. Although they do have to stick to licensing laws so no 24 hour alcohol sales.

Just wait until the festive posts about the 2nd of January is a bank holiday because Hogmanay is very Scottish.

As a Brit living in the US with an American DH, I find the misconceptions hilarious more than anything.

Someone tried to tell me it’s “impossible to eat healthily” in the US. 😂

Well lots of American things which have come to Britain are tacky, it's not xenophobic to say that.

Absolutely, and it’s mostly aimed at Americans or anything American. I’ve been on here for over a decade. At first I was hurt by it but now I just find it tiresome. I’ve lived in England for a very long time and I know enough to know it’s not as great as it thinks and the English have all the same problems as everyone else. Halloween is tacky? Perhaps, but I’ve been to Blackpool.

Ok America has deliberately exported it's culture in the form of TV and film for over 120 years.

Santa
The reindeer having names
Trick or treating
Etc

Fast food restaurants...name any that are indigenous to the UK?

It's a great country but it's not the UK and the sole aim of American politics and business is to develop American interests. Which is why people outside of the us are not impressed by them.

Remember 1940. Britain alone fighting Nazis. Despite the huge numbers of Jewish people in America they were loath to help. We bought every single bullet they provided

Suez 1956 they saw an opportunity to weaken the UK further and took it but refusing to help

The Falklands....they refused to even support our protest in the un

Yet when they are struggling who do they turn to?

That's why people have issues with Americans and their culture,

I'm older generation OP. And the idea that " What America does today, the UK does tomorrow" was very much talked about right from my childhood in the 1950s. And people were not happy even then about the creeping Americanisation of our culture and society. Sadly we have lost so many of our own traditions. I don't think you can put it down to MN xenophobia.

You’re crackers. No one cares about any of that.

Aren't they just as tacky when British people do them? If some British people weren't tacky self centred enough to have gender reveal parties then they wouldn't have come to the UK.

It can’t have escaped your notice that the USA isn’t terribly popular at the moment @sittight

Yes, I've seen so many xenophobic comments aimed at America and Americans here. It's tedious and based on tired, unimaginative stereotypes.

I'm not even American and it bothers me

I think it's more to do with the commercialism, the endless and increasing retail opportunities. The 'americanism' of events and festivals, things like Christmas eve boxes and boo boxes 😏. No issue celebrating things, bring it on, the more the merrier, but do have an issue with the consumerism attached, which, TBH, does originate in the US

Well clearly I do! And I know that other people care for different parts of it

The op asked why people don't like yanks. There were some of the reasons

Plus they don't say herbs or oregano correctly

There is a significant amount of consumerist culture originating from the USA that has negatively influenced the world. Would you agree with that, based on the examples you yourself mentioned?
Then there is Donald Trump, and more importantly, the people who voted for him. Is it considered xenophobic to ridicule him and his voters?

While people often have many positive things to say about the USA, especially regarding Americans they know personally, there remains plenty of room for criticism as well.

Lots of mumsnetters seem to get very funny about ‘Americanisms’. I remember a thread where someone said they use ‘Spring forward, Fall back’ to remind them of which way the clocks change and someone ranted about ‘another fucking Americanism’ because ‘we don’t have Fall in the Uk’. 😬 And don’t mention a baby shower or decorating your house for Autumn as they all come out then.

A few years ago a woman said ‘Math’ instead of ‘Maths’ and was told she was wrong. It turned out she was from the US but got told to use UK terms as mumsnet is a UK site!!! WTF?

Of course they are. There are loads of British people who love American tackiness. But whether British people would have invented all the tacky things which have come from America, I'm not sure.
Of course it's been made so much worse because of social media and the sheer number of American tacky over the top things which silly British people copy.

I think you’ve just proved OP’s point.

Well done you.