Why do Americans consider everyone from Britain to be from london?

Show all answers

I'm American and I don't assume that everyone from Britain is from London.
So, what part of Northern England are you from?
I'm from the Midwest part of the US, Michigan to be exact.

The Prisoner

Because they have no real perception of, or interest in, the world outside the USA. I think it's something like 80% of Americans don't possess a passport.
I once played golf with a couple of old guys in Florida and when they found out I was Scottish one said "oh the Scottish hate the Irish dont they?"
I rest my case.

Virginie B

The same reason why people ask me if I'm from paris just because I'm french
Ignorance

kate

typical americans!! if you tell them you're from ireland, they ask do u know their friend "jimmy" from galway....

lil monkey

Because they are stupid and dont no anything about anything. I think americans think were all like mary poppins.

Brett E

cos they are ignorant, they usually ask if we live near the queen too... duh

assassin

they have no idea how big/small the UK is

newromanticmum

Many Americans have never travelled outside their country-much less their own state! So they can be quite insular. But there are those-even some who haven't travelled-who do know that there are different regions.
This is like me asking why loads of people here in the UK thought I knew famous people because I came from America! And also thought I knew JR because I came from Dallas!

fraggleredrock

Americans think all Brits walk around with bowler hat and black umbrellas

tmills883

I get the same thing. I'm from Texas, everybody thinks I listen to country music and go to rodeos, neither of which I care for. It is simply stereotyping or not knowing. I lived in Texas for 40 years, never living anywhere else within a 40 mile radius. When you have lived in the same place all your life, you kinda think the whole world is the same. I moved up north and it was major culture shock. People, food, weather, attitudes are different everywhere you go. It's been an experience learning the differences just a few hundred miles can make.

scatz

Sheer ignorance on their part. Just like they believe that we all live in castles! LOL

strummer

I've never gotten that. But anyone from America I've ever talked to thinks Scotland is either an English town or hasn't heard of it. I'm not saying all Americans think this just the ones i've talked to.

Alfred E. Newman

Yes they think all english people know the queen.

Gina J

Oh come on you can't be surprised by that they think
(probably on the basis of the awful film accents) that everyone
from England speaks like the Queen or is a cockney.
I do agree with you though I was born in Wales and raised in London and I'd be offended if anyone thought I was a Northener or from the West Country or from East London. Although people keep thinking I have a New Zealand accent which is not offensive just odd..
At least the Americans seem to have some idea that Scotland
and Ireland exist even if when characters on tv are from either
they speak with a confused combination of hilarious but awful accents. I've never met an American who's heard of Wales!
Though maybe Torchwood will change that...

Possibly because they've heard the UK is so small compared to the United States land mass, and so assume we must rub shoulders all the time.

Possibly also, for the same reason we don't always understand that other countries, just like us, have regional accents and regional disputes and attitudes. Often passing down the centuries.

When I lived in the IoM for three years in the nineties, I was amazed to discover they too had a north south divide, and that they held grudges on it too.

I mean... it's bad enough the daft attitude we have about the red and white roses, and north and south accents, but their mere 33 X 12 miles radius, which I could drive the perimeter of inside two hours, and did, often... seemed so strange a place, to have a divide.

They even talked as if the north/south were a million miles away and many people told me, that they stayed overnight in hotels if needing to travel either way, to break their journey up... I wonder if it's changed at all?

When you live for years inside a confined space though, somehow, you minimise your outlook and see the world in a smaller way as well... so, your occupied land seems much bigger, when you travel.

Any Manx in here to tell me if times they have a changed from my time in Port Erin, Bedale and Onchan?

And tell me too, is the laid back attitude the same... book it for an hour's time and they might arrive tomorrow, book it for next week and if you're very lucky, you'll get it next month... or, like our removal van to take us to the ferry... booked weeks in advance, it might not arrive at all, because they forgot and your lorry is off the island, doing another job on the mainland UK... ... and they'll wonder why you are so amazed... and merely answer... "Time enough."

Wonder how long a pizza takes to arrive today?

I guess the yanks see us a bit like I saw the Manx... quaint, antiquated and slow... but nice enough, if... you go from 'come over' ... 'stop over'... to 'one of us'... after a decade of residence.

;-)

borscht

Unfortunately many Americans have a limited knowledge of countries outside of their own. For some Americans, London is the only city they know of that is in England (or even in Great Britain).

Lauren

Its maybe because its the only city they know in England. You cant imagine them saying 'you're from Cirencester, aren't you'

LOL....LOL...LOL....LOL....

The chandlers

Because that is the capital and any english films are mostly filmed in london so they wouldn't really hear of any other city. We here alot about american citys due to films and family and friends...

shoe s

well its a small island and london being the biggest is like saying to a peson from southern california you are from la

Splendid

The same reason Brits think all Americans think the same, or come from Hollywood, or NYC. Ignorance.

janeyfreephd

UM, you don't really think that do you?
Many Americans are not that keen on geography.
Some Americans are dumb, but most are not that dumb. We do have a long term memory you know, we still remember the Beatles came from LIVERPOOL.

And guess what, you have your fair share of idiots over there too. I think it's hilarious when those from England assume just because I'm American they can win a debate with me. As if.

And just for the record, I'm not fat.--Oh, yes and you have your fair share of fatties over there too.
Have you got around to modern dentistry yet?
I rest my case.

The prisoner: There is a very good reason that 80% of Americans don't have a passport as opposed to the UK and it has to do with Geographic locality. Of course partly Americans are not as likely to leave the country, but you have to take into consideration we are a MUCH larger country, divided by two VERY vast oceans. Most of us don't see the need to go to Mexico or Canada (can you blame us) like you would hop over to France or Germany.

I thought the English were rational?

sushobhan

bcause london is the most advanced city in Britain and so people, particularly those with poor geographical skills, assume that london is the only city worth stayin in Britain

donna s

Its because your all too damn small for us to care none of you is any bigger than one of our states ... get over it and yourselves...
Oh you insulted me I'm from Northern England... Go drink some Tea and for gods sake go see a dentist.

Enter Your Message or Comment

User Name:
User Email:
Post a comment: