What are some common England stereotypes about America and Americans?

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London_calling

For me, it's ignorance and loudness. I lived with some Americans when I was at university last year and they don't know anything about the rest of the world! It's quite amazing actually. Also, Americans are VERY loud, you can hear one from miles away in restaurants and just in the street. Despite their ignorance, most Americans were fascinated by learning anything about the UK or Europe and were really willing to travel to see it all. As for the USA....I think we're all a bit sick of hearing about the presidential race because we've got nothing to do with it, yet it makes up the most of our news. Come here, embrace everything and just enjoy!

**1066**

We generally like American people as we get lots a US based media here. As for negative stereotypes, overweight people is the common one.

jamtastico

as far as stereotypes go, English people think that Americans are dumb, religious fanatics, racist, warmongering, ignorant of other countries.

Just looking on Y/A you can see this is largely untrue. Often it is dumb racist English people that put out these stereotypes.

I think there are dumb, ignorant people on both sides of the pond....Ignore them, they wouldn't say it to your face

I'm an American living in England, and have been here for 10 years. I didn't really start with a conception of how I was going to be treated, so I think I approached it with an open mind.

Thank goodness I moved to a small town because there is a difference in how Americans are treated. In London, where there are a lot of tourists, Americans are often ignored. In Oxford, where Americans tend to live for a little while and then leave (affiliated with the University) they can be made to feel quite uncomfortable. Around US military bases, they are isolated and with their own kind, so they don't really get to know the locals much, which I think is a huge mistake.

Where I live, I was unusual. It also happens to be a lovely, friendly place where a trip to town always takes twice as long because people, no matter if they know you or not, will strike up a conversation. I'd always felt out of place, so I rarely opened my mouth because I didn't want to be pidgeon-holed as the loud-mouth American who thought she knew everything. But the folks here have taken me in as one of their own and it's rare now that most conversations tend toward "where are you from?"

I know several Americans living over here and I rarely befriend them because, yes, they are loudmouthed and think they know everything. Pushy, too.

I was raised to be an Ambassador for my country, no matter where I lived, and I think it's important that we don't try to change a country just because we think "our" way is better. I'm actually appalled that Americans have taken credit for things that were British.

Off soapbox.

A side note: my teen son is like a rock star over here because of his accent. Girls literally tackle him when he walks into a room. He'd never been asked for his number by a girl when he was in the US. And I am constantly being told that people like my accent...to which I can only reply, "I like yours too!"

I think Americans who have made an effort to fit in to everyday British life, and come to love it the way I do, will soon be seen as "honorary Brits".

My God this is depressing. Perhaps I should thank you for opening my eyes. I was aware that most of the world doesn't look too kindly on Americans, but I wasn't sure that it extended to the UK, or more specifically, England.

It would appear that this "bond" or "special relationship" that the U.S. and U.K. have, are in government only. There simply can't be a bond between the two people if one side holds the other in such contempt.

I apologize for my comment as I am not English. Just wanted to say something.

Ian B

OK, positives first :
Hard working, affluent, articulate (especially the kids), generous. Negatives :
Insular, arrogant.
I would like to point out that these are stereotypical characteristics I have observed from others.
Having visited the USA several times I have yet to meet an American who fits all those stereotypes.

bryncastle

I think Aidan has it correct when commentng on their ignoance of the world.........eg in Hawaii we men shopkeepers wo thought the whole world used the US Dollar, and when a friend told someone he came from London the US guy thought it was in Ireland !....And remember we are currently their biggest ally in Iraq and Afghanistan !!!!.............In Australia an American told us all about keeping the US safe from terrorism after 09/11 but thought it was good that the Irish set off bombs in London....And with US fundraising !!!............He didn't believe me when I told him that there were nearly 3 million Irish in Ireland and 7 million in England.....The current President hadn't been in any other country except Mexico and made a real fool of himself by trying to speak Spanish in Madrid..........Isn't it about time American Diplomats made it their duty to find out why there is hostility to them in the rest of the World.........................

10 out of 10

fat and loud
but like Americans

Katie F

The tourists that come here:
* Rich
* Wear shorts all year around
* Think everything's 'quaint'
* Think UK = England
* Think England= London
* Think we have states
* Think we all talk like cockney misers
* Overweight
* Loud
* Exlaim 'Oh My God!' constantly
* Love any ounce of history- even if it's just a derelict building
* Think we only have two unis- Oxford and Cambridge.

Let me set the scene; I was up the Eiffel tower a few years ago, when an American woman turned around to me:
American Woman: "Oh my god, is that a British accent?!"
Me: "erm, yes" (because we're only 23 miles across the water, you know)
American Woman: "I miss London"
Me: "I'm from Manchester."
American Woman: "I miss London"
Me: "I'm from Manchester."
American Woman: "I miss London"
Me: "anyway..."

Canuck

I live in Essex (but I'm not from here), and it's funny that people in your school think that boy is a sex God because of his accent. Here in England it is thought of as one of the worst accents to have because it sounds low-class, or so I'm told. About your question, Americans are generally perceived by the English as being fat, loud and ignorant.

smoothcat

Jolly good fellows

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