[Closed] Why do so many people hate Americans?

I think it's their governments foreign policy that annoys people mostly.

I don't

When we went to the USA I went to do and see certain things and I was fully expecting the Yanks to annoy the tits out of me. I was so, so wrong.
Very friendly, sincere, helpful people.
I'll be going again.
😀

Personally i think its the wilful ignorance of a large percentage of the population. See the mindless drivel being spouted about the NHS. It seems they're just too sheep-like to possibly, like, maybe... Question any of the ludicrous tripe they're being spoon-fed by people with a pretty damn obvious vested interest. Its depressing.

Ignorance, insularity, obesity, selfishness and extremism.

I actually like Americans. It's America that is a bit of a problem.

there cars are crap and don't go round corners. Other than that I have found them great.

More their hegemonic influence rather than the the country itself or the majority of the people. Most nationalistic stereotypes, preconceptions and prejudices are broken down or at least changed once someone actually visits a place.

Ignorance, insularity, obesity, selfishness and extremism.

See, it's difficult for me to tell which country you're referring to here.

Eddie Izzard puts this quite simply

🙂

Nice Friday trolling.

I don't have anything against americans, but I can't help finding most of their accents pretty annoying.

I do think there are certain cultural differences that tend to grate - the stereotypes are true to an extent, but only so far.

It would be a lot more clear cut if the boundaries were redefined by uniting the good parts of the US with their awesome Northern neighbours thus:

[img] [/img]

Any nation that thinks its acceptable to export Budweiser and other such pish has to be dubious 🙂

It's cool to.

I'm not cool.

grumm... it's not the accents its the nasel tone some of us...us??.. did I say us?.. I mean them.. some of them have.

mrs.G who is from bucks had to translate for me when we were up in Essex a few months ago. there were "wot he say" on both sides.

p.s.. in all my travels in england tho I've never gotten anything but respect and good treatment.. sometimes well hidden behind a good bit of stick tho.

and.. a couple of old boys have bought me beers as thanks for U.S. soldiers who gave them sweets when they were tykes.

Its the rampant faux-Christian crusade (their governments foreign policy).

Three of the people I'd like to have dinner/a beer with are Woody Allen, Bill Clinton and Lance Armstrong.

People who generalise/'hate' a whole nation are of limited intelligence IMO.

Any nation that thinks its acceptable to export Budweiser and other such pish has to be dubious

Dunno what that says about a country that decides to start producing under licence that insidious Aussie lolly water Fosters. Trojan horse, if you ask me. Next thing the country'll be invaded by.... whoops.

Any nation that thinks its acceptable to export Budweiser and other such pish has to be dubious

Is't Bud German or something?

It's cool to.

I'm not cool.

Drac hits the nail square and hard, right on the head.

Same reason that a 150 years ago every-one hated the British, 400 years ago it was the Spanish, and a 1000 years ago people hated the Romans.

I work with Americans most days. Some of them are irritating, some of them are ok. Just like everywhere else really.

[i]Is't Bud German or something? [/i]

There's a Czechoslovakian beer with the same name, but it's not the same beer.

I think it is a leftover of the Bush administration and what it represented. However, I don't think that was so much an American thing as a dumb arrogance thing, but sadly Bush seemed to fit a sterotype which seems to be very american which I understand isn't actually the norm (thank God) and most americans are normal people - well the ones that decide there is a world outside of its own borders.

More their hegemonic influence rather than the the country itself or the majority of the people.

Think this is also true - American culture is so dominant there's naturally going to be some resentment about it

Most nationalistic stereotypes, preconceptions and prejudices are broken down or at least changed once someone actually visits a place.

You see, I find that some are, but many are actually revealed to be true! Not really in a bad way, just different. The American culture of 'individualism' does exist, for example.

Because they cannot talk in anything but ear splitting volume so that the entire world can hear what they're saying.

STFU!

Religion

That's why they were sent there to start with

What Drac said.

Americans, to be honest don't always travel very well. Go see them in the States, are just the most welcoming and friendly people.

Also, remember this is a country of 300m the size of a continent. There are plenty of New York hipsters and ageing San Fran techies who never go anywhere near the Red states. Me I'd love to see the South and South West.

.....and anyone who'd ever like to do a cycling tour of the Civil War battlefields, I have that one on my before I die "to do" list. Start in the Deep South, up the Shenandoah Valley, Gettysburg.....bliss.

blingblind, ok there are loud americans.. yes too many off em (us) but in fairness I think "american" is what your ear is tuned to. have you ever travelled and heard "Look love, pot noodles" being bellowed across a market in Greece?

mcboo.. .add this to your travel plans.. absolutely gorgeous in the early morning hours... great cycling too if you get out early before the cars cause miles of traffic queques
http://www.blueridgeparkway.org/

I think its because they have a higher GDP per capita than most other places and use faux rightous/religious arguments to pusue policies intended to increase their GDP per capita higher.

Personally I like the Americans I have met so far.

See, it's difficult for me to tell which country you're referring to here.

You started the thread. Pay attention.

I think it is a leftover of the Bush administration and what it represented.

I always liked the Queen / George Bush joke that was doing the rounds a few years back....

PeterPoddy - Member

Any nation that thinks its acceptable to export Budweiser and other such pish has to be dubious

Is't Bud German or something?

There are two different beers. Budvar, which is made in Ceske Budjejovice in the Czech Republic. Often called Budweiser for export from the German name for the town Budweis. The Anheuser Busch brewing company started brewing a beer under the name Budweiser I believe some time late in the 19th century. They called it this in much the same way many beers are called 'Pilsner' (name derived in the same way as above Plzen/Pilsen) but the trademarked it. Since the collapse of communism the (still state owned) Budvar brewery has been in trademark disputes with Anheuser Busch globally over who has rights to the name 'Budweiser'. Morally, I guess you would say the Czechs do as beer has been brewed in a specific style in Budejovice (which the American stuff in no way reflects) for hundreds of years. However the Americans trademarked it first so legally they often prevail in these disputes, like in the UK.

However, with other beer exports like Sierra Nevada, Sam Adams and Anchor Steam I'll forgive them the flavourless brand thieving piss that is Bud.

Fosters brewed in the UK is nothing like Fosters in Australia.

Shenandoah is great, i'd love to cycle along skyline drive. If i had to choose between living in the Uk or the Usa i think i'd opt for usa (lived in missouri for a few years). It's not that i prefer americans over the british, more that it's much easier to get away from other people over there!

It's not hatred, it's in jest; same we we love to mock the French whilst actually admiring their approach and lifestyle.

I've found yanks to be a completely different group of people once you're over there, I think that might be part of the problem. Once in Yankland I found most people to be invariably pleasant, reasonably quiet, helpful and considerate.

In a lot of places you can walk into a bar by yourself, not knowing anyone and within 15 minutes you'd be talking to some complete strangers. Within 30 you'd be sat down with a big group of friendly americans and within the hour they'd have you invited out for dinner. I never found out how long I'd have to be with them before I found myself in bed with one of their daughters. 🙁

Brits on the other hand manage to be loud mouthed obnoxious ****s no matter where they are.

Mmmmm Anchor Steam :o)

It's true about the friendliness of Americans in America - I thought it seemed a bit false at first but I don't think it is.

Some Americans are annoying, some are very nice people. Hate's a strong word, in some places Americans can appear irritating, but not half as irritating as "Brits Abroad" mentality. As for America, I only hate a small minority, mostly the people who made/make foreign policy and run roughshod over smaller country's views. But as British people we cannnot act holier than thou. We should be pretty ashamed of our foreign policy history. So I don't hate American people, I hate their government, same feeling towards the Chinese. Lovely people. dreadful government.

Actually, I think I hate more British "people" than I do foreigners. Let's face it, we are scum.

Fosters brewed in the UK is nothing like Fosters in Australia.

I think you might find that that's the 'holiday effect' - you know, when you drink retsina in greece, and it tastes like ambrosia, and you bring half a dozen bottles back home to find out it really tastes like turps.

I think its a bit like Israelis - in small numbers they're very pleasant and good company, however, once you reach a critical mass it all goes a bit wrong.
Oh, I studied in Mississippi for my post grad so have spent quite some time there, and not in thoes chichi places like Oregon you guys go to. Still got quite a few good friends out there from then.

Yeah Brits abroad are a massive embarassment, far worse than Americans really, who just tend to be a bit brash and demanding. 😉

I think you might find that that's the 'holiday effect' - you know, when you drink retsina in greece, and it tastes like ambrosia, and you bring half a dozen bottles back home to find out it really tastes like turps.

Dunno about Fosters but I can definitely taste a (negative) difference between the real and the uk-made versions of beers like Stella and San Miguel

Same reason that a 150 years ago every-one hated the British, 400 years ago it was the Spanish, and a 1000 years ago people hated the Romans.

Not sure who hated the Romans 1000 years ago however those Normans were about to become an annoyance.

Americans are the nicest people, on the whole. Never met one I didn't like bar the drunk at a friends wedding and he gets the benefit of the doubt.

What have the [s]Romans[/s]Americans ever done for us

What have the [s]Americans[/s] Russians ever done for us

They royally saved our asses in WWII. Thanks to the Americans in the 50/60's who then saved our asses from the Russians....