How can anyone be so ignorant?

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superboredom

Americans are ignorant because they think they're number one country in the world, and that they think most countries sell the same stuff anywhere else, they think everything works the same way everywhere else like the states.

But, I won't have a problem like that when I go to england because my hubby's english. lol!

webworm90

I can explain the problem with the debit card. Most of are debit card here in the US work two ways. Signature and Pin.

If the Card has either a Visa or Mastercard on it. It should work at all merchants that take those. They would sign for the purchase even with chip n pin in place. Now if the card has any of the following on Visa interlink, Visa Debit, Visa Delta, Visa Electron, Visa Plus, Maestro, Cirrus. It should work at any merchant that take those type of cards and they would have to enter a pin number. They would choose chequing at pos terminal.

NATIVE NEW YORKER

GIVE IT UP......WE WON INDEPENDENCE

GardeningGurl

I don't know how people can be so ignorant, maybe they aren't taught anything thing at all, seems plausible since they know nothing about Canada and we're right next door

PS I had no trouble at all in England- LOVE it there, and want to go back soon

letta g

not all americans are that stupid im sure thers a few numb nuts in your country too

steph

isnt by saying "Americans" your generalizing just as much as she was?

twobritsholloway

I'm a Brit living in the States and I've been here for nearly four years. Sometimes I have to explain something to someone so I'm understood, just like the Advil story. Advil contains Ibuprofen just like Neurofen does in the UK.... I think that might be the same as Advil.
Anyway, people just don't realise that things are different. They are almost told that America is the best place on earth. It's not their fault - that's just what they are lead to believe. I've had people here telling me that London is in Paris, that India is in Russia, even that Bob the builder is American.... all sorts of things.
You just have to except that people all over the world are different and are used to different things.

i understand our frustration. most Americans are naive to the customs of other countries. but in this case i think that she was the rude one, not the people trying to graciously serve her.

gabby

alot of pepole r this days but so times they just do it so they can get atinchen but u cant help it

speed2006

You probably qualify as the 1st to ask a question and provide long commentary! Wow!

Lack of knowing what's going on round the world is a problem for some (not all) American. America being such a big place, this 'country bumkin' may also find problem in other states,

Nothing unusual...this is the real world.

DAVID B

Lucky?

zara c

Probably because it was her first time outside the US, god bless her cotton socks, at least she got on a plane! She'll learn (or never leave the States again!!)

NONAME

Probably because they expect people (the rest of the world) to understand what THEY mean instead of explaining themselves to avoid confusion.

The arrogance is appalling.

Natalie R

teeheehee.

maryanntiller

I don't know!

pynkbyrd

We're not all like that. And to be fair, when my husband came to America for the first time from England, he was the same way.

Ignorance isn't solely limited to Americans; it's a worldwide problem among people who refuse to "do as the Romans do" when they're in a country to which they are not native.

NicoleDnz

I think its not beacuse they are ignorant but its because they do not understand there are other kind of rules and idioms and etc. other than the ones they use.
But we cannot blame them because if they have been taught about the world a little more they wouldnt seem so ignorant.

Nightstar

There is a lot of natural misunderstanding regarding medical names of the same product or products and various other items or even food at time between the UK and the US. It is ignorance of a person that describes someone as rude- when really it is just a fact of the other person is not identifying exactly what is meant. However, a pharmacist normally should have a handbook on medicines to find out what for example the name advil would come under in the UK. There is such a book I know. I have many friends who are in the medical profession.

I remember when in the USA, I discovered biscuits was bread there and - not cookies, and bread there was actually biscuits. I discover this when a friend I know there directed me to bread when I asked for biscuits ( cookies )lol. So it is understandably confusing.

cote8377

and you folks come here and ask for a "f.a.g" i beat the junk out of the first english person that asked me that,then i was told it was a cigarette,so on that one my bad,
every country has ignorant fools,not just the usa and not just england,all over the world,like i said anyone who travels is gonna run into problems as everyone has a different word for each thing we use or see,such as football,and also you generalized all americans in that question and that in turn my feind was just as ignorant as that stupid women in the pharmacy don ya think

Alvin X

why?
Because, quite simply, a vast majority of Americans have never left the borders of their own state, let alone their countries.

Being culturally insulated as well, most know nothing about the world outside of the States, and feel absolutely no need to.

However, the above applies mostly to less educated individuals, who are constantly inundated by Washington's propaganda machine and are much more pre-occupied with bread-and-butter issues (which may explain some of the nasty attitudes).

They call me ... Trixie.

I apologize on behalf of my countrymen. There really is no excuse. Keep on trying to educate us - maybe one day we'll realize that the world doesn't revolve around us and that the way we do things isn't the only way, or even the right way.

cozjeanda

i agree with you why is it when some people travel they want or even demansd everything to be as it is in their country ? if that were true then why travel and if they cant expect differences then what the reason to be different countries in the first place. ive been to england and i did not find the people rude at all they are helpful and fun she is obviusly an american who is a bad representative of our country who doesnt know how to travel

Kanda

Many English speakers think that everything is the same in other English speaking countries.

idamahn

I understand your point.

BUT all I can say, really, is one bad apple don't spoil the whole bunch girl.

We have ALL had our share of belligerent or ignorant Americans. BUT I will NOT lump the entire country in the the mass of morons.

I spent this past weekend in Ohio and I can say the he people I encountered were, to borrow a UK term, Absolutely Fabulous. They were the most humble, appreciative, helpful group of people I have encountered in the continental US. (quite frankly the BEST service I have ever encountered was on trips to Mexico).

Obviously the woman's 'disgust' was based on her ignorance of procedures/names of services/products in the UK.

Water off a ducks back.

TFTP

mabs

its not just americans, buddy. its every other person....

<3 See Jane Run <3

Sorry, but not all Americans are that ignorant. I'd like to apologize on behalf of my country, which is losing IQ points as we speak. I mean, look at our government leaders. My only question is this: If you were in a foreign country, and sadly enough, clueless about their culture, would you have thought that some of the questions, although considered normal in your country are considered a violation of privacy in yours, would you not have been confused as to what had been going wrong, and taken it the wrong way?

Again, my deepest apologies.

chance

I'm American and I'm certainly not ignorant. This other American might be very young. Of course, there are always people from any country who go abroad and believe that things work exactly the same way as it is at home. Also, some people don't read up on the culture that they would be visiting. Hey, I'm fully aware that there are some Americans who believe that the entire world speak English. Fortunately, I'm multilingual (English, Chinese, French, Spanish and some Italian). I've never had an issue in any pharmacy in England, France or Hong Kong. Please don't generalize all Americans as being this ignorant (or if you want to say it...stupid).

Thomas C

First of all, do not be all inclusive. You are all inclusive when you say "Why don't Americans...."

I grew up in Europe and I spent 3.5 years growing up in England. There are many, many, MANY Americans who have lived in and grown up in foreign countries.

Not all Americans are rude. Not all Europeans are polite.

The woman who is the subject of your question was, obviously, lacking understanding.

It is an embarrassment to me that Americans act this way in foreign countries. It should be an embarrassment to you that people of your country act just as badly, if not worse, in dealing with citizens of the United States.

I apologize for this woman's behavior. However, do not let HER behavior define for you the behavior of ALL Americans.

kenzie3d

Don't stereotype all American's the same though. In all fairness it could of been anyone from anywhere.

mightymite1957

I apologize for the Americans who are ignorant, also for the ones that are arrogant. I've been to England, and found the people to be friendly and fun. One of my "pet peeves" is that Some (not all of us) Americans expect everything everywhere to be "just like at home". I personally don't understand this, if everything was the same everywhere, what's the point of traveling? I enjoy the new experiences and the differences, and wish I had the financial resources to travel much more that I have. Good wishes to you.

Jcontrols

If American leaders can be so ignorant,why would you NOT expect it from the average citizens??

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