What is it about Americans that you do not like?

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aussieangel

G'day, nice to meet an American with an open mind and I have met many like you.
Sadly, most Americans feel if it isn't American it just isn't and this superiority complex makes them unbearable.
Hope you aren't finding any discrimination. Most Aussies treat people as they are treated.

jmj_duncan

I work in hospo - a hotel and the treatment I have recieved from American guests is enough to make me never want to set foot in the country.. rude, arrogant, ignorant - make no effort to understand me - I am sick of having to spell out what I am saying, I had a lady once get angry at me because the build up to Hurricane Katrina was not on the front page of the newspaper - nevermind the fact that NZ's general election was the next day!
Unfortunately I think that the genuine down to earth Americans cannot afford to travel.. so its only the "elite" if you like that do.
I think the main factor in the current dislike of America/ns is the one and only George Bush.. and because he was returned to office for a second term to cause yet more trouble in the world.
Sorry if it sounds harsh - I have met some wonderful American people but they are few and far between. but in general its the attitude I think.

Mrs Ed

I spent three Weeks in the states and have a pen friend over there, but i found the general american public to be very arrogant. Just the other day there was a question posted here by some american asking what should America do to punish Australia if we vote in labour and pull out of Iraq..... I mean seriously, the views expressed by most Americans (mostly men, i may ad) are that they are the most powerful country and anyone who is against them should be nuked. I know it isn't all americans, you seem perfectly normal and so are many others i met when i travelled, but when the main view of Americans comes across as arrogant and rude, the rest of the world can only judge by that.

Bill S

most of the media reports that USA is run by ORKS

webby

wow!! I must have been living under a mushroom all my life...
I had no idea people felt this way about americans!!

I'm getting ready to tell you that you are not really hated, but I guess I stand corrected!!

I was born in a country that has many reasons to hate the way the U.S. toys with smaller countries and yes I do hate your foreign policy, I do blame your politics for a lot of the miseries in the world and I dislike your president with passion but I have many american friends and I get on well with them. my cousin is married to an american that I simply adore.

Well, maybe I need to look a little closer but the americans I know don't fit the up yourself/arrogant image portrayed here, and come on people, fancy hating someone for their accent!!

Hamish

It's not everyone, but the loud-mouth Yank really makes an impression that's hard to forget.
The problem is many Americans come across as pompous, braggers.
A trait the average Australian loathes.
So many expect everywhere else in the world to be a little America.
We're not and hopefully never will be.
The education system has to take some responsibility, too.
The first, fastest, tallest of everything doesn't necessarily come from the US.

It's always nice to see a normal everyday person, like yourself, interested in what makes others tick. America is full of people like yourself, but we don't often notice them here.

mareeclara

As a New Zealander, I think we share a similar (and even greater dislike in some ways) view to Australians to Americans.
From our point of view we dislike the authority and power that the US tries to put on us (and other countries around the world)...we were isolated politically (and still are) after deciding to go nulcear free and not allow any nuclear ships in our water (that was the mid-80's), that REALLY annoyed NZ.
So arrogance is one thing not well recieved. Although yes its sterotypical and not all americans are like that!
I guess its anywhere you go you are sterotyped. I lived in England for a couple of years as a teacher and was asked to say (almost on a daily basis) to say "G'day mate" and Crikey (the latter an aussie term mostly) and was lumped in with australians (which i disliked intensly).....so I understand that lumping idea.
Another thing is trying to get one up on the US...its the big brother syndrome. We LOVE to beat the aussies, but if I could beat an american at something...EVEN BETTER...so its the little guy trying to prove something....I think that has something to do with it as well.
We also get an interesting view of the US here and have news stories like "Only in America" for petty silly things they you roll your eyes at. Hollywood and the movies haven't helpd in some ways to dispell myths and sterotypes as well.
THe other thing we dislike is ignorance...ie not knowing where everything is, but as a large country its hard to see things outside it.
Personally I have met lots of Americans I have liked....I have a laugh at them in shops or walking around saying american things "oh my gawd Bob, look at the cute little sheep" etc
Its quite funny. Also when doing a few days in LA i did a day trip with a group, including other americans who rol their eyes like we do at some of the things in LA...I guess we really don;t see the average everyday americans who are just like us really!

maggie rose

I am an Aussie, and I feel sure that americans are being judged, by a lot of people, by the garbage that comes to us here, in the way of american sitcoms, and its no more a true representation of the average american, than the oh so ocka country bumpkin image in some aussie sitcoms, represents the average aussie.
Some american women, specially women in some sort of position of power or news reporting, have extremely strident, loud harsh voices, but maybe, its because they have to be that way to be heard over the men!!

While holidaying in France a few years ago, I did notice that the americans were some of the loudest voiced, and quite often elbowed me out of the way to get to what they wanted, without any excuse me's, or may I's? but then the french weren't the politest either.........
there's good and bad in all races and cultures, and as I'm travelling in both Canada and USA later this year, it will be interesting to see what they are like in their "home turf".Just like anyone else I expect.......

Doug

they are ok

fanta

they try playing god by invading other country's leave other country's to sort there own **** out if USA didn't give weapons to Iraq & iran to start with they would'nt be wanting them back oh no wait or is it the oil maybe both

referralguru

I guess it comes from things like a lot of Americans not knowing where Australia even is to start with. I think it is also a case of everything is bigger and better in America, and if you live in America then everything is bigger and better in Texas!. So the attitude I think you guys get from the texans is the attitude we get from the whole country. I used to be a tour guide for 10 years and that is the impression I got. But having said that I have met some great Yanks

iansand9876

Too many Americans travel with the wrong attitude. They do not seem to care what other cultures regard as appropriate, nor are they interested. They spend their time making unfavourable comparisons to the one true society - their own. A manifestly ridiculous proposition.

This is why they are wonderful on their own patch, but crass and ignorant anywhere else.

Elizabeth

Thanks, for such a good question.
Most Americans I've come in contact with have been pretty ordinary sort of people.
There has been a minority who were overbearing and obnoxious, they tend to stick in my mind.
I got sick and tired of constantly being told how much bigger, brighter and better America was.
The other Americans got sick of hearing their countrymen blab on too.

boonoora

first - who are you talking to????

second - not everyone is put in the same category

thirdly - good for you - nice to meet you too

fourthly - its like the saying goes - not many like us aussies and not many aussies like them - simple mathematics

lastly - I honestly cant stand the way the USA talk, their accent is annoying to the ears, I prefer to listen to english/british people anyday and yes I have got an american friend - but thank god I cant hear them talk and tell ya the truth - they are not american by birth, so there you go - and I think that most of them are that far up themselves - it gives ya the sh!ts, watch them on tv all time we have to watch their crappy shows and listen to the bullsh!t they speak, they think they can run the world - but I guess they are wrong oh boo hoo

thejoker0105

theyre rude and judgmental and very closeminded on certain topics

Last Mohican

Their president.

aussiepom

One word: Bush.

You all voted him in TWICE.

Daphne

It is impossible to categorises all Americans through a few experiences. For some to say that Americans are rude or ignorant are actually pretty ignorant themselves for making such a sweeping generalisation. Yes, some Americans may be those things, but not all of them.

I personally have two very close American friends. Both of which are extremely kind, intelligent, and interesting people. I enjoy knowing them, because even though we may not always see eye to eye, we've all learned a lot from each other.

Any negative feelings I have towards America is on a purely political level. I am very interesting in international relations, and because of that and also some of the beliefs I have as a native Kiwi, cause some discontent towards American actions. Generally, George Bush is not viewed well in other parts of the world. For me, he is carrying out the attitude that Americans are the world police and can do whatever they please. Which, in many ways, Bush did by disregarding the UN when he planned for the war in Iraq. The US is carrying on with a war that very few other nations support (those who originally did, including New Zealand, pulled on long ago when it was clear that Iraq did not have WMDs), and telling the American public that is a war against terror and trying to bring democracy to Iraq. This was is clearly about petrol and nothing else - Bush is acting in the best interests of his pocketbook, while putting his country in a trillion dollar debt.

Well, that was a bit of a rant. My point is that America has the power to do so much good in the world. Instead, they are fighting pointless wars.

I have little contempt for the American public. Yes, some are ignorant - and I feel sorry for those who don't understand how their government's actions effect the world. But for the most part, I look to the Americans I know as friends, and I also look to America as a provider as much needed things. Because really, if you want to hate America - you'd have to try pretty hard to cut American production out of your life. And I might love Hollywood movies too much to do that.

dogcazza

The accent seems arrogant. I don't really hate americans, just think they are way over the top. Too much Oprah! Talking about their spirit and are greatful for EVERYTHING and are blessed. It's false, pretentious and plain stupid. If Americans are truly greatful of their life, they just live their life and be happy, not feel the need to let everyone know how great their life is (meanwhile their valium is hidden in their handbag).. GGrrrrr, that's my only gripe. This stupid blessed business.

Driver T

The question is a generalisation.
Therefore: The answers are generalisations.
Again, I'll go along with Mareecia on this one. I think her answer is as good as any you are likely to get.
Driver T

â™¥ Mysterious â™¥

Well I love Yanks - I always wished I could marry one just for their accent
:-)

toddle

Well, the stereotype for all Americans is that we are wasteful, ignorant, and selfish- due to our lifestyle and basically that other countries may (and are) jealous of America. Is that true? Definitely not. Americans - at least most of us - are kind, caring, and do numerous amounts of service for many countries in the world. America is like a bruised banana- you think the outside is hideous and you judge right away. When real, you open it up and see how great it is. The opinion is up to you,,, but remember the reasons why people would think about America as a cruel place? America is not the outside of a banana.

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