Do other countries really think ALL americans are stupid?

[Yumore]

Speaking as a Canadian, we don't think ALL Americans are stupid. I actually respect quite a few of you wonderful folk. But when I lived in the US I faced racism about my nationality from way to many people. AND I'M WHITE!!! Half the ignorant wads in the office said I was from CANADIA when I told them I was Canadian, and it wasn't as a joke! They honestly thought that's where Canadians came from! But I think that was just isolated most other Americans I met were pretty agreeable (if ignorant.) But most the world thinks of the US as sort of a sit com at this point, we all watch waiting to see what will happen next.

 

[FuktLogik]

Idiots are everywhere, but out of all the English speaking countries, yeah, there's a lot of them in America.

 

[HerbertTheHamster]

The U.S. is a massive country whose culture tells people to be as loud and ignorant as possible to become famous. Ever watched american television?

fat, stupid, obnoxious people sell

also republicans

 

[The Lugz]

nope, just the majority of them and that thought is backed up by numbers
( not all of the population can be considered above average or the average would be higher )
the misconception is that that statement means everyone around you is a blathering idiot
which is in itself rather stupid, so basically go go gadget failed statistics!

the problem with this logic is simple, the 'average' person you imagine does not actually exist
it is a theoretical point of data
you can make some rather wild statements concerning averages and statistics and it's hard to spurn these ideas because 'the statistics say so'

word of advice to everyone who will stay a while and listen: do not worry about intelligence, as long as you can tie your shoelaces, feed yourself and get your job done you're smart enough.

 

[Rin Little]

I'm an American, and I still think all Americans are stupid.

Agreed. The stupid things that have happened in this country greatly outnumber the intelligent or even good things that have happened. Not to mention we live in a country where you can have absolutely no proof of something ridiculous and still get people to not only believe you but to follow you...

 

[RA92]

Well, you guys did reelect Bush II...

 

[Not PvP Flagged]

As an American I feel that 90% of us Americans are stupid and it pisses me off to no end.

 

[KarlMonster]

I was once asked if I could speak English. By an American. After a ten minute conversation with them. In English.

And you said no?

Sorry, there is FAR too much humor to be found in that scenario.

"I could speak English, but it isn't tea-time yet."

"Queen's English, or King's English?"

 

[James Joseph Emerald]

A lot of the American tourists you notice around the place tend to be loud, generally ignorant of other cultures, and need things to be really obvious and explicit or they don't understand it. The reason is that all of the quiet, smart, subtle Americans are inherently less noticeable.

 

[teebeeohh]

if you don't like it stop giving us incentives to do so.

 

[CAMDAWG]

also republicans

This. Not so much the voters, because I haven't really come across any of them living in australia and all, but the actual politicians are just insane.

I mean, we've got Tony Abbot, who is a complete idiot, and we had steve fielding, but even if you take them, combine the two, and multiply it by 10, you still don't get someone the level of Palin or Bachmann.

But no, I don't think all americans are stupid, the stupid ones are just louder. Although I agree that there is probably a much larger proportion (compared to the rest of western countries) that believe nothing outside of america is significant, but that's probably going to happen in any major superpower.

 

[Waaghpowa]

I don't believe that all Americans are dumb, but that group of people who wanted to change the constitution to allow G.W Bush Jr to run for a third term doesn't help much.

 

[Tanto-chan]

I'm an American and I believe that humanity as a whole is generally stupid. It's not just limited to those around me.

 

[Double A]

Doubtful. Most of the time, when I see people generalizing, they're joking. Like I don't really think Frenchmen are cowards. They didn't really have much of a choice in WWII, either. But it's funny to call them cowards, like it's funny to call us Americans fat and stupid. It's just the rest of the world's joke about us.

 

[wench]

I'm an American and while my country has done some things that I do not agree with I really don't understand why people judge everyone in America to be dumbasses? i hear things like "for those of you who are too american to understand" or "what is it with Americans and.." and it just goes on and on and on and i just dont understand. I'm not that person people seem to think i am just because of my american accent. What's with all the hostility?

Well, Canadians sure bloody do. Can't tell you how many times I've been at work with a couple people going on about how stupid Americans are... and that's in a call center where we don't even have to talk to Americans.

The US sure doesn't have the market cornered on stupid, but it's a convenient place to point and laugh at. I usually just suggest that maybe they should stop projecting so much, eh.

 

[Brian Hendershot]

Well, you guys did reelect Bush II...

Awww give it a rest. We can't be held responsible for the stupidity/ election fraud of the past forever.

Anyhow, I think most people think all Americans are stupid because the only Americans people see are the dumb loud conservative ones typically from the South. It's kinda how like the only West Asians Americans see on the T.V. are typically the ones trying to blow stuff up.

Anyhow also four brief points.

1.) Are we the only country with politicians divided literally on every major issue.

2.) I think some people confuse good natured ribbing with actual ignorance. Look at Steven Colbert for example. He actually had to come out and admit that Steven Colbert is just a character. I am really hoping that Sarah Palin will do the same thing...

3>) One in five Americans is now obese (having more then 30 percent body fat.) I guess that stereotype about us being slow moving tubs of lard is true...

4.) Just for the sake of keeping stereotypes alive. MOAARR GUNZZZ.

 

[StriderShinryu]

I think it's not a fair statement to say that those in other countries consider ALL Americans to be stupid. Very few of the Americans I know personally are people I would consider stupid.

However, I don't think it's unfair to say that the appearance is that enough of a majority to essentially have control over the country are either "too stupid" or, perhaps more accurately, too partisan in their views for the good of the country and it's people as a whole. Going back to the Americans I know personally, even the ones I consider to be "not stupid" would still rather push along party lines than make up their own minds on individual issues.

 

[health-bar]

In my experience, yes, everyone really does think Americans are that dumb/fat/lazy.

AT LEAST to some degree.

 

[mysecondlife]

It's a pretty strong stereotype. When I studied abroad in South Korea, a number of my friends were European. They were shocked to find that I was fit, knew more European and East Asian history than they did, and spoke (GASP!) other languages. They would routinely make comments like "I don't think you're an American, quit pretending and tell us where you're really from."

As for why that is...not really sure. I'd guess it has to do with expectations. One would expect members of the world's dominant society to be highly refined and sophisticated. In that regard, most Americans disappoint the foreigners who meet them.

I know exactly what you're talking about..

I lived in Korea for a month and people (mostly kids) have this weird perception that all Americans are obese people that eat nothing but McDonalds and Burger King.

Also, their disbelief that you're an American can come from perception that most Americans are self-absorbed people. A big example would be that most Americans only know English and don't bother learning anything else.

edit: since you know a lot about other cultures, I can see how they are surprised to find you as American.

 

[QuantumT]

Not all Americans are dumb, just the loudest ones.

QFT

When you really get down into it, I think this is a big part of why the world thinks Americans are stupid.