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.

I think you have to divorce the idea that people hate all Americans because they dislike some aspects of America.
There are an awful lot of American people. Disliking them because they are would be extreme.

But America is not in anyone’s good books as a country presently. They have voted in a leader who has caused no end of strife for the world. And for their own citizens.
The Halloween thing, is simply true. It was an American commercial import. I know people in Scotland will say otherwise. But the way it is celebrated bears no resemblance and all started up here in the 80’s. Not that long ago. In the 80’s there was a sort of awe that some in the UK had with all things American.

So no would be my answer. Do not confuse people complaining about a country and how it represents itself with people disliking all the people in it.

We are. Maybe that's why the xenophobic attitudes towards us are so common in England. It's frequently couched as "banter" but can be out and out nasty.

Obviously, it's not universal as I have encountered lots of decent English people both on here and in real life.

I hate all of these tacky American traditions. Most (I accept not all) are simply for money making. Yes Halloween is a tacky American import. Our traditions are based on Samhain. And yes Santa is American , to Brits it has always been Father Christmas.
And baby showers for God sake. And tacky expensive 'proms' . Both American. Both tacky

And gender reveals are simply stupid. Yes I'm not impressed with American in general

The thing is there isn't one America.

Rural Alabama is a very different place to Minneapolis, for example.

I think the problem America has is that the "good" it does in the world is largely propping up mass consumerism, making some people richer while busily destroying the environment, or invading other countries in the name of "peacekeeping" oil, while underneath is a country that in large parts is still racist, often morbidly obese, living in poverty, fanatically religious and consequently poorly educated.

It is one of very few (perhaps the only?) developed countries in which having cancer means you could be living on the streets, where children have to learn to hide from gunmen, and where actual honest to God cults can not only prosper but become large enough to have their own towns and postcodes. The poverty rates compared to other developed countries are high.

I think America is a beautiful country in parts. Breathtaking scenery. Warm and friendly people in places.

But you'd have to be blind to not see the rot sitting underneath all of it.

Well I am always very pleased to meet anyone from Ireland. I have a lovely elderly neighbour from Belfast and another from Cork who kindly indulge my interest in Irish culture and history.

I have always wanted to visit but unfortunately my disability prevents this.

I can honestly say I have never heard anybody say anything against irish people other than those stupid englishman, irishman, scotsman jokes which were circulated by crap comedians back in the 70s.

Speaking as American in UK, The English & Northern Irish are often very snobby about a lot of things. If I ever complain about this to my US family, they laugh at me, beczuse we all knew the English were snobs since forever. It's like I have amnesia or summat.

There is a strong strain of xenophobia too, but that is multi-cultural not just X Americans.

It's not just America! Mners love to point the finger to racism and sexism, but there is nowhere, except maybe reddit, as racist, xenophobic, sexist and ageist as here!

Only women between 20s and 40s, British, are worthy of their views being respected. A 50 year old American man would be criticised even before he posted his first sentence 😁

You do know it is a choice not to buy or drink it, the same with choosing not to have tea or a fairy cake.

I doubt Costa’s is any better.

Agree, it's not Mumsnet, it's the whole of England.

Only women between 20 and 40 and English, because mumsnetters are always absolutely shocked when anyone talks about anything that happens outside of England, which is the only country they believe is in the UK.

This annoys me as its not English.

It's southern England.

They are just as ridiculous about the North of England too.

But that would be true of a 50 year old British man too. Nothing to do with being American.
First he is a man. Next he is not 30 something. Sin of sins.

Bang on - and I’ve been lots - and not just Florida ( in fact haven’t been to Florida)

Well, as an Irish person who lived in England for a while, I can assure you I have. There are also plenty of xenophobic posts on here too.

I'm not really sure why you never having heard any xenophobic comments (or maybe you just haven't recognised them as such) is relevant.

I'm American, I hate it when some aspects of the culture comes over here for no reason and starts taking over culture here. These things are over capitalistic and shallow. And the politics even worse.

I find MN to be very reasonable, in general, and not phobic of anything really. If anything, there's too much of saying everything is phobic this and that when it really isn't. It's called reasoned discussion of hard topics.

I struggle with the idea that an entire global forum could all hate America. The world thinks America is shady because it does shady things, more so since Trump and with far less apologising. It is public knowledge no other country can trust America (Starlink being the latest example and AI going rogue and dooming human life thanks to untouchable tech bro's being the other). Why would anyone like a country who started a war that has raised the price of oil globally? One that openly sponsors genocide on one hand but apparently dislikes certain terrorists at other times? Hypocrisy doesn't go down well in general if you want to be liked. Repeatedly voting for entitled white men who make a big show of hating women to be the most powerful man in the world does nothing to ingratiate a population to the world either.

We have Sunday trading hours in Wales. You could just as easily argue that posters in Scotland forget Wales exists and just see it as part of England...

For all its pretence about what is acceptable on MN there are a few things about which you can be as rude as possible without fearing the naughty step, being British, especially English, being male, being 'middle class, being 'white'. We so often see 'white, middle class man' used insultingly when if the words were changed to 'black, 'working class' woman' the reaction would be different.
On the subject of perceived anti American attitudes, America was founded as a melting pot of other nationalities and as such has many customs which now, because of TV, films, social media etc., it is now sending back updated versions. As for language, the wonderful American, Bill Bryson has written in Made In America about things like 'gotten', a word we sent there, now don't widely use, and get back, we do still have 'forgotten' though.

I think you have hit the nail on the head, it all seems to be about consumerism and spending - the traditions that are a little less like that - thanksgiving etc - we don’t do . I think some are missing the point that it’s not being xenophobic about Americans , it’s commenting on practices and spending that have seeped into life but tended to originate in the US and that many think are tacky or unnecessary- and it’s ok people saying ‘well don’t participate ‘ but for those with families still at home there can be a lot of peer pressure to participate or women are asked when they are having their baby shower or gender reveal etc by others!!

I think people are envious of the USA - it has everything - so much oil, so much gas, so much tech, so rich - I mean their tech runs the world - true they have bad gun laws (but you get politer behaviour - no one will go around with blaring music if the person in the next car has a gun in their glove pocket) and a mad President but he stopped immigration - I find it amazing - immigration ran at millions a year - people wanted it controlled and he did it - somehow our Gov thinks it's ok to go against what the majority of the country want and allow anyone into the country.

But the funny thing is it's a huge country and it does not give a shiny shit what bleating moaning Brits say (except Trump likes the King) - Biden wouldn't even come here he just went to Ireland. I doubt most of them could put the UK on a world map any more than you could put Kansas on a USA Map.

We can keep whining and they will keep being unaware.

Steady on now, I’m Northern Irish and I’m here sticking up for y’all😅😅

A lot of countries have odd ideas about the UK, gleaned from TV and films but the TV they see is often Downton Abbey etc rather than the more realistic programmes like Corrie, Eastenders, hardly surprising they think we're snobby, similarly films like Love Actually, Notting Hill 4 Weddings give a very slanted view of life. Years ago I remember talking with some Germans who were surprised we didn't all live in places like Eaton Square, ie Upstairs Downstairs.

“Not walking”? My daughter-in-law (from California now living in Canada) walks EVERYWHERE! Her parents, still living in California, go on regular long walks, and other friends of ours do regular morning walks too. Perhaps it’s more to do with location/temperature/lack of footpaths or something else?
Another poster referred to “Santa”. We use “Santa Claus” or “Santa” (in Ireland) and the Irish name for him is San Nioclás which would translate to “St.Nioclas” and that would link up with the poster who wrote about the possible link between the “Sinterklass” of the Dutch settlers in America and modern “Santa (Claus)”. I have never heard him referred to as “Father Christmas” by anyone here. Must be an “English” or perhaps UK thing. 😉

Obviously many Americans walk! I'm talking about the vast swathes of modern street planning which omits pedestrian access. After car ownership became commonplace, the car became king and urban planning was built around this. I'm sure it's absolutely common knowledge.