Honest oppinion of Americans

When I lived in Germany and France I was not an American citizen but I spoke both languages and I was really shocked (especially the French) when I heard the disparaging remarks made when the people thought I was an American and it was taken for granted that I was too dumb not to understand what they were saying! Americans were considered to be arrogant, rude and everyone thought all Americans came from Texas and were rich. Ha ha

Well being absolutely truthful I think brash, vulgar, narrow-minded, boastful, bigoted and ignorant. Then of course I think of the many Americans that I've actually met - and I've met quite a lot because when I was younger I worked as a guide at Edinburgh Castle and met loads of American tourists and nowadays I have a lot of business dealings with Americans. Very few have actually fitted that stereotype. In fact most I've met have been extremely personable, likeable people. I think the problem is our impression of how Americans are is mainly formed from the media, ie. the news, politicians, celebrities, none of which portray Americans in a particularly good light. There again I suppose you could say the same about us. The idea that I would be judged on the basis of Tony Blair or any of the royals is not a great thought!! One of the most interesting (and positive) things I've found about myLot is the opportunity to hear the opinions of ordinary Americans on a range of topics instead of just hearing the opinions of your elected representatives. If we could just get rid of the politicians I'm sure we would all get along fine.

I'm English Raydene as you probably know. I visited Salem in Oregon just over a couple of years ago, and stayed for four weeks, so had a bit of time to get an idea of what the American people are like. I love 'em!!! They are not only very hospitable people, but very friendly and polite, and indeed helpful. I don't really think races, or cultures should be judged as a whole anyway. Each person has their own identity and character. But still, I never met a bad American whilst I was there and I love them to bits. Brightest Blessings my friend.

You know how I think of you - you are my very special american mom and I love you! Americans in general and I tend to think overbearing, supremely confident and know it all (or think they do) That is not my impression of individuals and I know it is not the case for many americans - I suppose it is like all the people out there who think all scots are drunk and aggressive - most maybe but not all! lol xxx

Americans? And I go thinking - "those lovely people living in that great place". I've come across good ones and bad. I think too - "they are so liberated and fun-loving" - with just a touch of envy hehe. People are people and although the perception of some are that Americans are "loud and arrogant" (am I right?). I reserve judgement until I actually meeet them. All countries have the same kind of people. We have those good ones, bad ones, liberated ones, arrogant... the list goes on and on. It is just that a majority has that certain charateristic that stands out and I think that is what people then think of them and remember them by.

I know some Germam dislike American very much. But I don't think so. Every country has great people. I do have some some American students, they are simply, happy, easy to get along with, and also porpular in University. And my best friend is also American, he is funny, nice, nice people. I like American@

Ray when American gets mentioned to me I have always defended them if it was in awful Manner at the end of the Day there is good and bad in every Country and People who talk about Americans ought to start remembering that and look at their Country first Many times I have heard it say here 'well if America wouldn't always involve us' Why are they saying that? Are they saying that the UK has not got a mind of its own? Well then that is sad if we haven't, we can't blame America for that. I have a lot of respect for America, I always have and I have a lot of lovely Friends there And that is my honest opinion

let me start by saying as a Canadian I have lots of personal american friends that are the greatest people I have known, but the average few of an american is not that favourable, there is a stereotype of a loud mouth arrogant rude tourist who goes to another country, disrespects it demands things and says stuff like you can't do that to me I am an american! to which the person is thinking so what, you are in my country now and this is how we do things here.

I too am an American. I have also noticed the little remarks from others. It makes me feel like other countries don't think very highly of Americans. I have always wondered what others think of us. I haven't been able to get a good true honest answer. I hope you can.

When someone mentions about American well I have a wide view on this as I have many relatives that are Americans as you know. There are a lot of Americans I have met in my life due to the Vietnam War as a lot of Amercians came here on R and R so I meet quite a lot of them and I find that they are quite nice and reasonable but that is only my own personal view although I must admit I have heard other say dreadful things due to the Iraqi war and with our envolvement there but I said to them well if it was not for America then we would not be a free country due to the Americans coming into our shores and saving Australia.

That's a hard question to answer; for a start America is so big and with such a divergent population and our experience of Americans tends to be eclipsed by how Americans have been and still are portrayed in the movies. Even though, rationally, we may know this is not a genuine portrayal of most Americans still it is hard not to be influenced. There are somethings that are rather annoying about Americans in general, for instance, their apparent hubris. I have on posts here seen Americans claim to have invented, computers, flushing loos and the internet all of which are solely or mainly British inventions, not to mention the self-glorifing rewriting of history that Hollywood is so prone too. The casual misunderstanding of what a Liberal is, ironically many of the Americans that slate others as liberals are in fact more liberal, in the true sense of the word, than those they seek to attack and English spell checks that fail to recognise correct English spelling, thankfully Firefox comes with a proper English checker. The rather strange belief some Americans express about British dental health, MacDonalds, a particular kind of American accent that is nasal and whiny, exemplified by Lloyd Grossman, the excesses of West Coast trendies and American insularism; these aspects are both annoying and humorous to us. Most Americans I know, however, do not live up to these stereotypes and person seem no better or worse than anyone else. all the best urban

when i saw hollywood movie that based on americans stories,i can realize that americans people are really tough guy.they always want for everybody to recognized them but very hard to understand or even appreciate other people from another countries.i am sorry to say that.

I have not been to the US but I have cousins who were born and raised there and my brother currently lives there. Like any other country, of course America may have its bad sides in terms of the government, some places or people. But every country had its share of bad publicity or just consequences of actions of their respective governments. And like other races, there is always that little percent of rude people that give the wrong impression about the the entire race. But we shouldn't judge a whole country because of some vile news, bad publicity or impolite citizens. America is also beautiful in its own way, like all of our homelands are.

I try not to group all Americans together. I've been to the U.S. a few times and have found the people to be friendly, but kind of ignorant with regards to Canada. They have no idea what it's like here at all. We were traveling in mid May and were only in New york and people were asking us about how cold and snowy it was still. That type of thing. But that's not a big deal really. I mean I don't know too much about the U.S. I am starting to know better where different states are located, but my knowledge of the geography is very limited. The only other trait that I noticed was kind of true to all that I talked to is they think that the U.S. is the best. I don't think that's a bad thing though. I think Canada is the best. I wouldn't want to live anywhere else, and I think it's important to feel that way about your country.

I have travelled to the USA several times and have many American friends that I love dearly. I think generally Americans are seen as very inward looking people, who barely know what is going on outside their own shores. Or in some cases, outside their own neighbourhood. I tend to agree that Americans are generally not liked by the rest of the world because of their (once again generalised) arrogance.

What I have gathered from foreign friends, is that they have a low opinion of us. Some because of the war and Bush. Some because of the morals in this country. Others, because they are jealous.

Hi ya sugar. Just dropped by today. Missed ya. AMERICANS are great.!!!!

You know I think the biggest injustice to you American's is the terrible reality TV shows that have been exported around the world from America. Thank's to this it's made people beleive that all Amerians are like the people you see on Jerry Springer and trashy shows like that. It's a winning formula - put wierdos on TV and get them to scream at each other and everyone watches because everyone wants to watch a fight, it's entertaining. And now we have the same shows in our country, and many many other countries. But unfortunately I think because these shows first came from America, America has got a bad reputation from it. Which is a shame because having been to America a number of times, people are all different, just as they are in any other country. I think it's so hard to really stereo type a huge country like that and it's really to one's own oppinion. Sometimes there's such a fine line between everyones interpretations of different people, it's impossible. For example I might think someone is 'arrogant', while my friend might think it's 'confidence'.

Looking at the internet marketing and other discussion here and there in online forum..it seems Americans are business oriented.They are more inclined to materialistic pleasure .

I am an Indian. I have gone through every response and comment in this discussion but could not find any Indian opinion. I have met some American (US) tourists in our place and had chances to converse with them. They behaved decently. However our general opinion about the US people is based on history and politics. We don't like the attitude of the US as if they were world police and that they have the right to control and determine things in other nations. This make us to think that the people there are also egoist. But from the discussions going on in myLot and some other forums I find that there are many people who are understanding and humble, who respect other's thinking and who are open minded and receptive. Another notion prevailing here in India about the Americans is that their family relations are too feeble and hence the children there are put into unnecessary tensions right from childhood. I am not sure how far it is true. The worst thing we read about the Americans happened generations back. That is nothing other than the planned extinction of native American races. That eclipses the cultural brightness of the american people even today. These are all opinions formulated by remote sensing you see, and hence might be totally absurd. I hope you understand what I mean.