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I don't encounter American tourists very often here either. Canadians are more common by far. If I hear an American accent nowadays I often assume they are Canadians because more often that not if I ask if they are American, they will say they are Canadian.
Typical European ignorance...in many ways Europeans are even more insular than Americans, since to be honest anyone who does not speak English and follow the global media which is predominantly English, will have a very limited picture of how the world is. Which is why in general I find say the Dutch, Swedish etc, those more versed in English compared to say French or Spanish, have a more balanced understanding of the US (although still many ignorant folk from those countries). Americans just get picked on alot because they are big, fat (as a country) and visible. Australians are just as fat as Americans on average, yet all you hear is how fit and attractive they are . If any tourists wanna see the 'real Australia' I'm happy to show them.
Australia is more similar to UK/Ireland regarding their obesity problem.
In the US 34% of adults are obese, compared to 24,5% in the UK, 23% in Ireland and 21-22% in Australia.
Last edited by HonestMind; 10-09-2011 at 01:38 PM..
Any average European knows 1000 times more about the USA than the knowledge of your average American about Europe.
Most people here know all the states, NBA league, political candidates, etc.
From my own personal experiences, I did not find that to be true at all. They "think" they know the USA, but in reality, a vast majority do not really. And I've never met a European who could name all 50 states. But to each their own, everyone has a different opinion.
People from Europe. I put them in two categories: Europeans and Internet Europeans. My personal experience with Europeans is they are a very pessimistic bunch in real life, but they are nice and sociable with you, especially if you're from the U.S. (I got bonus points with the Spanish tourists because I'm from Puerto Rico originally and find my Spanish accent to be hilarious ). Internet Europeans, on the other hand, are, an elitist group who are rabidly anti-American for no good reason and think Europe is the center of the universe. I'm also willing to bet these same people would probably like talking to me in real life, but decide to flex their e-muscles when online. Hence why I think there's two kinds of Europeans. I don't spout my mouth off when I am there, just like I don't expect them to spout their mouth off when they are here.
Yawn, even more boring generalizations.
There are plenty of anti-European Internet trolls all over, especially in the Politics and Other Controversies forum.
There are plenty of anti-European Internet trolls all over, especially in the Politics and Other Controversies forum.
Almost every American I have ever talked to about politics or social issues on the internet showed a thorough disdain for anything European. Pretty much every thread in the World section that's about Europe ends up bashing Europe one way or the other, and that's mild compared to the stuff that's being said in the Politics section (I don't even go there anymore). It's a bit ironic to me hearing Americans complain about "internet Europeans" (although they can be highly annoying too) as if they don't do that kind of stuff.
I don't judge an entire population based on what a few (or many, in this case) ignorant people say on the internet so I don't have any negative feelings about "Americans" as a whole, before anyone misinterprets my post. Just pointing out the hypocricy.
I've known few Americans who can name all 50 states. And even when you can do so, what do you know about each state?
I've known few Europeans who can name all the countries in Europe. And even if they could, what do they know about a country such as Moldova or Bosnia and Herzegovina?
Almost every American I have ever talked to about politics or social issues on the internet showed a thorough disdain for anything European. Pretty much every thread in the World section that's about Europe ends up bashing Europe one way or the other, and that's mild compared to the stuff that's being said in the Politics section (I don't even go there anymore). It's a bit ironic to me hearing Americans complain about "internet Europeans" (although they can be highly annoying too) as if they don't do that kind of stuff.
Europe is, as a whole, more socialist than America. I would think just about every educated person in the western world understands this reality. Any discussions and comparisons about political or social issues should be done in that context. Otherwise, they are futile.
Almost every American I have ever talked to about politics or social issues on the internet showed a thorough disdain for anything European. Pretty much every thread in the World section that's about Europe ends up bashing Europe one way or the other, and that's mild compared to the stuff that's being said in the Politics section (I don't even go there anymore). It's a bit ironic to me hearing Americans complain about "internet Europeans" (although they can be highly annoying too) as if they don't do that kind of stuff.
I don't judge an entire population based on what a few (or many, in this case) ignorant people say on the internet so I don't have any negative feelings about "Americans" as a whole, before anyone misinterprets my post. Just pointing out the hypocricy.
I know you're directly quoting me, but the only problem I have with Europe is that they think regulating everything is the answer to everything, and you can never have too much government. What bothers me most about Europeans, is that they think their **** don't stink. In other words, they have a holier-than-thou attitude. That's just my personal opinion. I think the same thing about Americans who think the U.S. government can never do no wrong, and those liberals that think the solution to government problems and corruption is more government.
The ironic thing is, if left to my own thoughts and devices, I would generally agree with Europeans with most things on most issues.
But, at this point, perhaps the pendulum has gone the other way, and just bashing Europeans.
I'm sure I'm guilty of it myself. I actually do like most Europeans, love their cities, love their politics - the progressive ones, not necessarily the right-wing xenophobic ones they keep electing recently. But I try to understand they do have some great cultures there they are trying to conservatively keep.
The only thing that ever sets me off about some Europeans, is I just never particularly liked their perception and misunderstands of Americans, or the many generally very negative stereotypes.
But everything else about Europe and Europeans I quite like - a lot.
The ironic thing is, if left to my own thoughts and devices, I would generally agree with Europeans with most things on most issues.
But, at this point, perhaps the pendulum has gone the other way, and just bashing Europeans.
I'm sure I'm guilty of it myself. I actually do like most Europeans, love their cities, love their politics - the progressive ones, not necessarily the right-wing xenophobic ones they keep electing recently. But I try to understand they do have some great cultures there they are trying to conservatively keep.
The only thing that ever sets me off about some Europeans, is I just never particularly liked their perception and misunderstands of Americans, or the many generally very negative stereotypes.
But everything else about Europe and Europeans I quite like - a lot.
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Americans are to blame.
Most American expats living in Europe are your typical hardcore progressives that love Michael Moore films, etc.
The negative stereotypes have been embedded by the American media.
But antiamericanism is considered dandruffy and old fashioned nowdays, at least in Spain.
And again, putting down Bush or the Irak war is not being antiamerican. They are just following the liberal agenda imported from the US.
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. If any tourists wanna see the 'real Australia' I'm happy to show them.
). Internet Europeans, on the other hand, are, an elitist group who are rabidly anti-American for no good reason and think Europe is the center of the universe. I'm also willing to bet these same people would probably like talking to me in real life, but decide to flex their e-muscles when online. Hence why I think there's two kinds of Europeans. I don't spout my mouth off when I am there, just like I don't expect them to spout their mouth off when they are here.
