Common American misconceptions about Europe (credit, hotel, home)

[Visvaldis]

Common American misconceptions about Europe
I lived in Germany for many years, then returned to the US. Here are some of the things I’ve heard from those who have never been to Europe.
- Europeans are generally lazy and prefer to have the state take care of all their needs.
- Half of the population is on welfare, the other half works hard to pay heavy taxes to support the freeloaders.
- Islam is running rampant and taking over everything. The muslims riot and kill until they get their way.
- Europeans are immoral; they aren’t outraged by nudity, nor do they demand censorship of language in books, TV, and film.
- Medical care is affordable but it is vastly inferior, the healthcare system allows people to suffer and die instead of treating them. That medical personnel have a “don’t give a damn” attitude.
- The Europeans are immoral pagans, living aimless, sinful lives without the guidance of religion.
- That all Europeans are disgusted with their situation and envy the American way of life.
Any more misconceptions?

[gea12345]

How does one quantify stupdity? I think green men live on Mars, does it make it interesting or less stupid.

My advice is never believe anyone, including your parents, if they base their opinion on Not Knowing Anything! Or if they base their opinion On what others have told them or they base their opinion on staying at a resort, or a hotel, eating at mcdonalds and playing poker in the airport!!

If you want to know something, first open up a book and 2nd learn about your roots, and 3rd actually visit the country or countries if you want others to credit your opinion worth more than the price of toliet paper.

I give the same advice to Europeans as well!!

cheers!!

Originally Posted by Visvaldis

Common American misconceptions about Europe
?

[clongirl]

Originally Posted by Visvaldis

Common American misconceptions about Europe
I lived in Germany for many years, then returned to the US. Here are some of the things I’ve heard from those who have never been to Europe.
- Europeans are generally lazy and prefer to have the state take care of all their needs.
- Half of the population is on welfare, the other half works hard to pay heavy taxes to support the freeloaders.
- Islam is running rampant and taking over everything. The muslims riot and kill until they get their way.
- Europeans are immoral; they aren’t outraged by nudity, nor do they demand censorship of language in books, TV, and film.
- Medical care is affordable but it is vastly inferior, the healthcare system allows people to suffer and die instead of treating them. That medical personnel have a “don’t give a damn” attitude.
- The Europeans are immoral pagans, living aimless, sinful lives without the guidance of religion.
- That all Europeans are disgusted with their situation and envy the American way of life.
Any more misconceptions?

That "socialism" is something scary and evil..something to fear, avoid, run away from. From my experience of living in/and traveling in Europe it's a pretty good system. Nobody's going to die/commit suicide/go bankrupt/lose their home because of a health care bill.

I'm so embarrassed when I hear the "conservatives" use this term in such a negative way..I don't think that they actually know what it is...but it's got that "ism" on the end so it must be evil!

[Tiger Beer]

Originally Posted by Visvaldis

Common American misconceptions about Europe
I lived in Germany for many years, then returned to the US. Here are some of the things I’ve heard from those who have never been to Europe.
- Europeans are generally lazy and prefer to have the state take care of all their needs.
- Half of the population is on welfare, the other half works hard to pay heavy taxes to support the freeloaders.
- Islam is running rampant and taking over everything. The muslims riot and kill until they get their way.
- Europeans are immoral; they aren’t outraged by nudity, nor do they demand censorship of language in books, TV, and film.
- Medical care is affordable but it is vastly inferior, the healthcare system allows people to suffer and die instead of treating them. That medical personnel have a “don’t give a damn” attitude.
- The Europeans are immoral pagans, living aimless, sinful lives without the guidance of religion.
- That all Europeans are disgusted with their situation and envy the American way of life.
Any more misconceptions?

Those aren't actually the stereotypes of Europe from all Americans though....just the stereotypes from right-wing fearful Americans.

I always lived in 'liberal' areas of the U.S...which is basically everywhere that isn't Central Plains, Texas, and Southern States. Europe is always idealized in the northeast, upper midwest and West Coast states.

Having spent time in Europe...I always had to battle with the concept that not all Americans are the stereotype of rightwing fringers - most Europeans seem to perceive that most Americans are pretty much 100% paranoid prudish gun-toting fearful hicks, etc...and its a hard stereotype to break when you are an American and never personally met those kind of Americans, but just read and hear from then in rightwing media outlets like fox, talk radio, etc.

[Sleddog905]

Originally Posted by Visvaldis

Common American misconceptions about Europe
I lived in Germany for many years, then returned to the US. Here are some of the things I’ve heard from those who have never been to Europe.
- Europeans are generally lazy and prefer to have the state take care of all their needs.
- Half of the population is on welfare, the other half works hard to pay heavy taxes to support the freeloaders.
- Islam is running rampant and taking over everything. The muslims riot and kill until they get their way.
- Europeans are immoral; they aren’t outraged by nudity, nor do they demand censorship of language in books, TV, and film.
- Medical care is affordable but it is vastly inferior, the healthcare system allows people to suffer and die instead of treating them. That medical personnel have a “don’t give a damn” attitude.
- The Europeans are immoral pagans, living aimless, sinful lives without the guidance of religion.
- That all Europeans are disgusted with their situation and envy the American way of life.
Any more misconceptions?

Wow, I must live in a bubble because I don't recall ever hearing any of these stereotypes. These can't be that rampant?

[Tiger Beer]

Originally Posted by Sleddog905

Wow, I must live in a bubble because I don't recall ever hearing any of these stereotypes. These can't be that rampant?

Yeah, I'm American as well, and I never heard any of these things from Americans out in the 99.9% of the general populace.

I get a sense of it somewhere in extreme rightwing political spectrum of America...but I'd agree, it's an extremist group of Americans that would have those opinions...and sadly they've infilterated the Republican Party which spreads it around and makes it sound more representative than it actually is.

Even in the Republican Party, I don't think most of those people even believe that stuff...they just use it to appeal to their constituency for votes among their more extremist members - which are fairly miniscule.

Your generaly American populace...the mass majority of American people DO NOT nor do they pepetuate anything like that whatsoever. Europe is generally held in esteem among most Americans.

[irman]

Am I dense or did I misconstrue the word *misconception* ???

I have the feeling that the OP is trying to prove that NONE of the items is true ...

[j_k_k]

Originally Posted by Tiger Beer

Your generaly American populace...the mass majority of American people DO NOT nor do they pepetuate anything like that whatsoever. Europe is generally held in esteem among most Americans.

I don't agree. I would say that a majority of Americans subscribe to a majority of the perceptions the OP mentioned.

[pigeonhole]

Actually, the 3 first points made by the OP are quite right I think, I agree with them, although I'm European .
He could add that the European megastate of 27 countries is not very democratic (to say the least) and reminds sometimes lots of people (especially in Eastern Europe) of the defunct Soviet system. See what the Czech President ,Vaclav HAVEL, says about it.
As for the material living, the economical crisis is taking its toll in Europe too, and a lot of people have financial difficulties and are not so happy with their "lifestyle" (tent villages exist as much as in the States)
So if American misconceptions these are, they are not totally unfounded!

[mossomo]

I love Europe and my across the pond friends. The OP Visvaldis is stereotyping. And is very insulting to me. His opinion is not how my parents, friends, professors , and work colleagues think. His opinion is not majority of America.



Nothing but love to my European friends.