The Student Room Group

What do you Brits have against Americans?

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Original post by Rooster523
Yup, just like us Brits all drink tea with scones and are related to the Queen. LIGHTEN UP MANNNNN


LOL right :yep:



Original post by Kdm4life
Im American, and I've always been fascinated by other cultures, particularly the British culture. Naturally, I started doing research, and came across numerous(at least a dozen that i actually watched, but there were plenty more) Youtube videos of British people bashing Americans. At first, I thought these were isolated incidents, then I discovered this site, and also discovered that arguably the majority of the people on this site also seem to have some sort of deep seated hatred of Americans. I didnt let it perturb me however, and decided to Study Abroad in London at KCL. I got there in a joyous mood, but that mood was soon changed when I realised that me and my friends were automatically being categorized as fat, dumb, and unaware of world events, purely because we were American(We are the opposite of all three). We were also criticized for not understanding British slang and for "not speaking proper English".

Can someone please explain to me where this is coming from. I dont like to make generalizations, but all of the experiences that I have had with British people have involved them making fun of the US in some way, shape, or form. Is it jealousy? I personally dont see what there is to be jealous about, but I cant really think of any other reason. I know that you all are not like this, but why do British people take the worst possible stereotypes of Americans and push them on all of us?


This doesn't help, you know :rolleyes:
i dont think people HATE americans any more than Americans hate British people
(other then when they call us Brits,ok thats a personal thing... loads of people do it..just gets on my wick :frown: im not an award! :| )

but i do find them scary and loud and just over powering i mean this in a not afraid to say things/let people know how they feel... in my head Americans are overly emotional... but then im probably whatever the opposite of overly emotional is :s-smilie:... i know not all american people are like this and that people from elsewhere are like this too (i dislike them too... well not dislike but i wouldnt be wanting to spend alot of time with them)... but the ones iv come into contact with are, you have to remember that the americans i have met have been ones here on holiday or business or something and they have made themselves known to me they have approached me and started speaking to me... as a quiet reserved person it just makes me uncomfortable...

on the "proper english thing" at high school i had an American, English teacher, i hated her... she made my 2 years of GCSE Horrible! only teacher ever to give me a detention for not having done the homework that noone else on my table had done either yet i was the only one punished :frown: ... she didnt write in english english though :frown: ... that is one thing i do hate about american-ness... as someone who is dyslexic most computey things try and correct my spellings to american english :frown: which really doesnt help! ggrr!
x
(edited 11 years ago)
Original post by Kdm4life
Im American, and I've always been fascinated by other cultures, particularly the British culture. Naturally, I started doing research, and came across numerous(at least a dozen that i actually watched, but there were plenty more) Youtube videos of British people bashing Americans. At first, I thought these were isolated incidents, then I discovered this site, and also discovered that arguably the majority of the people on this site also seem to have some sort of deep seated hatred of Americans. I didnt let it perturb me however, and decided to Study Abroad in London at KCL. I got there in a joyous mood, but that mood was soon changed when I realised that me and my friends were automatically being categorized as fat, dumb, and unaware of world events, purely because we were American(We are the opposite of all three). We were also criticized for not understanding British slang and for "not speaking proper English".

Can someone please explain to me where this is coming from. I dont like to make generalizations, but all of the experiences that I have had with British people have involved them making fun of the US in some way, shape, or form. Is it jealousy? I personally dont see what there is to be jealous about, but I cant really think of any other reason. I know that you all are not like this, but why do British people take the worst possible stereotypes of Americans and push them on all of us?


Jealous?

Of what?

Of having the highest personal debt levels in the world, a broken economy, deep racial segregation (Trayvon Martin), a press in the pocket of big corporations, a congress bought and paid for by lobbyists, insane levels of obesity, college education costing hundreds of thousands of dollars . . . do you want me to go on?

I really do feel for the average American, because life is going to be **** for most of them soon enough if it isn't already.
In general we don't really dislike the Americans any more than we "dislike" the French :wink: the Americans I've come across in person have all been very nice (if somewhat loud and eccentric) people. However, I find a lot to dislike in American society so I do slag off the country, as opposed to the people, if that makes sense.

I don't like the politics of the US because it's so right wing compared to Europe. I don't like hearing about the evils of contraception, the teaching of creationism in science classes, the right to own a gun (and carry out horrific mass shootings...), the evils of having any kind of welfare state, socialism being used as a serious insult, the massive pro-Israeli bias, the rejection of climate change, the idea that America knows what's best for the rest of the world, and most of all the idea of American exceptionalism and getting all arrogantly emotional at political rallies thinking your country is superior despite all the flaws I've listed.

I also don't like some of the social phenomena that are held to have arrived from America, like obesity, individualism/commercialism, everybody sueing each other, racial segregation. It also bugs me when Americans show how little they know of the outside world and its languages, cultures, and just where things are on a map.

Some of what I've said will be clouded by stereotype but a lot is informed by reading about and generally observing American politics and society. As I said, the people themselves as individuals have always seemed really nice :smile:
Reply 24
Original post by Kdm4life
Im American, and I've always been fascinated by other cultures, particularly the British culture. Naturally, I started doing research, and came across numerous(at least a dozen that i actually watched, but there were plenty more) Youtube videos of British people bashing Americans. At first, I thought these were isolated incidents, then I discovered this site, and also discovered that arguably the majority of the people on this site also seem to have some sort of deep seated hatred of Americans. I didnt let it perturb me however, and decided to Study Abroad in London at KCL. I got there in a joyous mood, but that mood was soon changed when I realised that me and my friends were automatically being categorized as fat, dumb, and unaware of world events, purely because we were American(We are the opposite of all three). We were also criticized for not understanding British slang and for "not speaking proper English".

Can someone please explain to me where this is coming from. I dont like to make generalizations, but all of the experiences that I have had with British people have involved them making fun of the US in some way, shape, or form. Is it jealousy? I personally dont see what there is to be jealous about, but I cant really think of any other reason. I know that you all are not like this, but why do British people take the worst possible stereotypes of Americans and push them on all of us?


There are dicks in every country.
Always a victim, grow up.
Reply 26
It's called British humour. We just like ribbing countries we set up yonks ago.

<3 x
Reply 27
Original post by Kdm4life
but I think that British people have a particular dislike of Americans over anyone else.
Don't be silly. You should thank your lucky stars you aren't German. Or French. Or, God forbid, Muslim.
Your food comes in bigger portions than ours :cry2:
Reply 29
Fatties.
Reply 30
Original post by Kdm4life
Im American, and I've always been fascinated by other cultures, particularly the British culture. Naturally, I started doing research, and came across numerous(at least a dozen that i actually watched, but there were plenty more) Youtube videos of British people bashing Americans. At first, I thought these were isolated incidents, then I discovered this site, and also discovered that arguably the majority of the people on this site also seem to have some sort of deep seated hatred of Americans. I didnt let it perturb me however, and decided to Study Abroad in London at KCL. I got there in a joyous mood, but that mood was soon changed when I realised that me and my friends were automatically being categorized as fat, dumb, and unaware of world events, purely because we were American(We are the opposite of all three). We were also criticized for not understanding British slang and for "not speaking proper English".

Can someone please explain to me where this is coming from. I dont like to make generalizations, but all of the experiences that I have had with British people have involved them making fun of the US in some way, shape, or form. Is it jealousy? I personally dont see what there is to be jealous about, but I cant really think of any other reason. I know that you all are not like this, but why do British people take the worst possible stereotypes of Americans and push them on all of us?


I'm sick of these posts now. The only people that think the British dislike the Americans are the AMERICANS. So, you saw a website of people who don't like you lot, BIG DEAL. I'm sure if I searched on US Google "I hate the British" there would be a stupid amount of videos and websites hating on the Brits.
Original post by Kdm4life
Im American, and I've always been fascinated by other cultures, particularly the British culture. Naturally, I started doing research, and came across numerous(at least a dozen that i actually watched, but there were plenty more) Youtube videos of British people bashing Americans. At first, I thought these were isolated incidents, then I discovered this site, and also discovered that arguably the majority of the people on this site also seem to have some sort of deep seated hatred of Americans. I didnt let it perturb me however, and decided to Study Abroad in London at KCL. I got there in a joyous mood, but that mood was soon changed when I realised that me and my friends were automatically being categorized as fat, dumb, and unaware of world events, purely because we were American(We are the opposite of all three). We were also criticized for not understanding British slang and for "not speaking proper English".

Can someone please explain to me where this is coming from. I dont like to make generalizations, but all of the experiences that I have had with British people have involved them making fun of the US in some way, shape, or form. Is it jealousy? I personally dont see what there is to be jealous about, but I cant really think of any other reason. I know that you all are not like this, but why do British people take the worst possible stereotypes of Americans and push them on all of us?


British people are xenophobic and sexist. It is so deeply engrained most people do not even realise that it is there.
It has developed due to being insecure and being unable to admit that our country has flaws, therefore everyone has to attempt to make out that every other country is worse.


EDIT: The number of negs with no counter arguments show that yet again I am right.
(edited 11 years ago)
Original post by Kdm4life
Of course there's some truth to it, as there is in every stereotype, but I think that British people have a particular dislike of Americans over anyone else.


Not true! We have a similar relationship with the French.
We get on with them really, just they're the ones we joke about on TV and stuff. Americans are easy fodder for comedians.
(edited 11 years ago)
Reply 33
Most Americans I've met are arrogant and think the they have a godly right of existing and being treated as special citizens. They're also so ignorant of the world around them, it's unreal. However, the rest are alright.
Reply 34
Original post by Kdm4life
I agree, but nobody actually BELIEVES that stuff, they may just say it as a joke. It just seems to me that British people(and apparently everybody else in the world) actually BELIEVE everything they say about Americans. Of course there's some truth to it, as there is in every stereotype, but I think that British people have a particular dislike of Americans over anyone else.


I wouldn't say the British hate Americans, and they probably don't believe what they're saying to you. Sounds like British humor to me, take it in good spirits and all will be well. I'm Irish, get plenty of stick for it but go along with it and hit back in good fun. Sort of how it works here :P
Good friend, it isn't what we have against you, say, but more what you have against us; that is, about sixty pounds, usually.

No hard feelings, eh old man?
Reply 36
Original post by Clumsy_Chemist
In general we don't really dislike the Americans any more than we "dislike" the French :wink: the Americans I've come across in person have all been very nice (if somewhat loud and eccentric) people. However, I find a lot to dislike in American society so I do slag off the country, as opposed to the people, if that makes sense.

I don't like the politics of the US because it's so right wing compared to Europe. I don't like hearing about the evils of contraception, the teaching of creationism in science classes, the right to own a gun (and carry out horrific mass shootings...), the evils of having any kind of welfare state, socialism being used as a serious insult, the massive pro-Israeli bias, the rejection of climate change, the idea that America knows what's best for the rest of the world, and most of all the idea of American exceptionalism and getting all arrogantly emotional at political rallies thinking your country is superior despite all the flaws I've listed.

I also don't like some of the social phenomena that are held to have arrived from America, like obesity, individualism/commercialism, everybody sueing each other, racial segregation. It also bugs me when Americans show how little they know of the outside world and its languages, cultures, and just where things are on a map.

Some of what I've said will be clouded by stereotype but a lot is informed by reading about and generally observing American politics and society. As I said, the people themselves as individuals have always seemed really nice :smile:


Completely 100% agree!
americans think they have culture. No you are a boiling pot of everywhere else, even your language is from another country, yet you're one of the most patriotic countries
Original post by Nucleolus
You think it's only the British who stereotype Americans this way? Try THE WHOLE WORLD.


tumblr_lvbc4o2NrP1qfhu3p.gif
well for one i hate that american english is 'lazy' i.e the word colour is spelt color ect.

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