# Is "the Boorish American" a stock character in British/European film? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [May 2, 2010, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-boorish-american-a-stock-character-in-british-european-film/538028 "2010-05-02T15:05:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Bytegeist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/9dc877/32.png) [@Bytegeist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bytegeist)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2010, 1:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-boorish-american-a-stock-character-in-british-european-film/538028/61 "2010-05-04T13:57:31Z")
> [@tschild](#): > > BTW is there any kind of ‘boorish out-of-stater’ cliché within the US? I’d say **Texans** are stereotyped as loud, provincial, overbearing, and boorish, by most anyone in the other 49 states. I stress that that’s a _stereotype_ — though it’s not entirely without supporting evidence. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2010, 2:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-boorish-american-a-stock-character-in-british-european-film/538028/62 "2010-05-04T14:00:31Z")
> [@Bytegeist](#): > > I’d say **Texans** are stereotyped as loud, provincial, overbearing, and boorish, by most anyone in the other 49 states. > > I stress that that’s a _stereotype_ — though it’s not entirely without supporting evidence. I refer you again to the _Flushed Away_ link. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2010, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-boorish-american-a-stock-character-in-british-european-film/538028/63 "2010-05-04T15:16:33Z")
> [@spoke-](#): > > You are mistaken. 🙂 > > That was [Jordan Prentice](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0696015/). :eek: I really thought that was Peter Dinklage. They do kind of look alike, though, right? [Jordan Prentice](http://www.imdb.com/media/rm217553152/nm0696015) [Peter Dinklage](http://www.imdb.com/media/rm2207619328/nm0227759) ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2010, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-boorish-american-a-stock-character-in-british-european-film/538028/64 "2010-05-04T15:18:08Z")
> [@tschild](#): > > BTW is there any kind of ‘boorish out-of-stater’ cliché within the US? I mean, not out of state, but out of State. Perhaps the French? Rude, snooty, and obnoxious? ---
**Author:** ![Teacake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Teacake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Teacake)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2010, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-boorish-american-a-stock-character-in-british-european-film/538028/65 "2010-05-04T17:50:19Z")
Having just returned from Paris, where obviously I was a tourist myself, I regret to add another anecdote point of the Americans being the loudest, rudest and most self-entitled people we were anywhere near, with loud ignorant remarks displaying their lack of awareness of anyone around them or anything in the world that didn’t relate to them. I wrote a long paragraph about what tourists from different countries are like, but we’re talking about Americans here. Yes, the stereotype exists, and there is a reason for it. I imagine there are some lovely American tourists. Unfortunately it’s the loud obnoxious or boorish ones who draw the bystander’s attention. For example, the delightful woman wearing the usual “fanny pack”, sunshade and polyester at St Peter’s, whose comment on [this](http://www.saintpetersbasilica.org/Statues/Constantine/Constantine-b.jpg) equestrian statue of Constantine, made by Bernini in 1670, was (and you’ll just have to imagine how long she drew out her vowels, and how loudly she said it): “Those are SOOOOME drapes!”. Tragically, she was entirely serious. I shudder to think how much money she had wasted to get there. ---
**Author:** ![mo50](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8797f3/32.png) [@mo50](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mo50)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2010, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-boorish-american-a-stock-character-in-british-european-film/538028/66 "2010-05-04T19:24:14Z")
> [@Bytegeist](#): > > I’d say **Texans** are stereotyped as loud, provincial, overbearing, and boorish, by most anyone in the other 49 states. > > I stress that that’s a _stereotype_ — though it’s not entirely without supporting evidence. As above, people from Massachusetts are sometimes referred to a “Massholes” for the same reasons (add the perception of being big boozers) by residents of neighboring states. I only know from being characterized as such in my younger (even) stupider days! :smack: ---
**Author:** ![Morbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/morbo/32/389_2.png) [@Morbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morbo)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2010, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-boorish-american-a-stock-character-in-british-european-film/538028/67 "2010-05-04T19:48:04Z")
If films from Mexico can be included, you can count the annoyed young female tourists from the bar in **Desperado**. (Yes, I know the film was a US film, but the writer / director was Robert Rodriguez) ---
**Author:** ![Bridget\_Burke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7cd45c/32.png) [@Bridget\_Burke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bridget_Burke)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2010, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-boorish-american-a-stock-character-in-british-european-film/538028/68 "2010-05-04T20:05:19Z")
> [@Morbo](#): > > If films from Mexico can be included, you can count the annoyed young female tourists from the bar in **Desperado**. > > (Yes, I know the film was a US film, but the writer / director was Robert Rodriguez) Rodriguez is from San Antonio & went to college at the University of Texas. The girls in the movie were, no doubt, meant to represent UT Sorority Girls. ---
**Author:** ![Astroboy14](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/df705f/32.png) [@Astroboy14](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Astroboy14)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2010, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-boorish-american-a-stock-character-in-british-european-film/538028/69 "2010-05-04T20:37:14Z")
I used to work with a guy in Seoul who held both US and Canadian citizenship. He had lived almost all his life in Canada, however, and always self-identified as Canadian. Maple leaf on his backpack, the whole deal. One day he got arrested for illegal teaching (at that time your work visa was only for one job, and side-teaching could get you deported…). We had a meeting with the owner of our school so he could explain himself. The first words out of his mouth: “They violated my rights as an AMERICAN!” :smack: ---
**Author:** ![In\_Winnipeg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/a8b319/32.png) [@In\_Winnipeg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/In_Winnipeg)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2010, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-boorish-american-a-stock-character-in-british-european-film/538028/70 "2010-05-04T22:02:08Z")
That’s funny, but not as funny as thinking that being an American would guarantee you ANY rights in another country when you’re in trouble. Yet, it happens often. Actually, he probably figured this would get him some sympathy, thinking that the locals would think that only an American would pull something like that. Another thing that happens often is that Americans _do_ impersonate Canadians while overseas, because in a lot of cases this usually gets them better treatment from the citizenry. I have, in the past, supplied several American friends and relatives with Canadian pins, buttons, badges and patches for their overseas trips. ---
**Author:** ![Lamia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Lamia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamia)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2010, 11:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-boorish-american-a-stock-character-in-british-european-film/538028/71 "2010-05-04T23:55:49Z")
> [@In\_Winnipeg](#): > > Another thing that happens often is that Americans _do_ impersonate Canadians while overseas, because in a lot of cases this usually gets them better treatment from the citizenry. I have, in the past, supplied several American friends and relatives with Canadian pins, buttons, badges and patches for their overseas trips. I’m like the opposite of those Americans, because when I lived in Japan I was constantly being mistaken for a Canadian – by both the Japanese and other _gaijin_, including several actual Canadians. I had to keep explaining that I was actually an American. There was also at least one time when I was mistaken for an Englishwoman, but people usually had me down as a Canadian until I explicitly told them otherwise. I remember one Canadian woman who was particularly surprised when I revealed (within moments of our meeting) that I was actually from her neighbor to the south. She said that not only had she been certain I was Canadian but that she’d specifically identified me as a Nova Scotian. The truth is that not only have I never even been to Canada, I know little enough about Canada that I have no idea what people from Nova Scotia are (stereotypically) like. If asked to intentionally impersonate a Nova Scotian I’d be totally stumped. Since I didn’t sport any maple leaf regalia, I flatter myself that my seeming Canadianity was because I’m so un-boorish that I didn’t seem like a stereotypical American. However, it might merely have been because I’m very pale. ---
**Author:** ![Slow\_Moving\_Vehicle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slow_moving_vehicle/32/291_2.png) [@Slow\_Moving\_Vehicle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slow_Moving_Vehicle)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2010, 1:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-boorish-american-a-stock-character-in-british-european-film/538028/72 "2010-05-05T01:35:16Z")
> [@Baron\_Greenback](#): > > I live in a very beautiful part of the world, but it’s not on the main tourist trail in Scotland by any means. Most of the US tourists we get fall into pretty much the two categories you mention: they’re both “independent travellers” but with vastly different budgets. What they have in common is that they are usually polite, friendly, and generous to an extraordinary degree, a credit to your country, seriously. A bit on the loud side 😉 and the college age ones _really_ can’t handle their drink but good people though, and always welcome. sli /slight hijack/ Do you live in the Borders? I’ve seen photos - that’s beautiful country. /hijack over/ ---
**Author:** ![Slow\_Moving\_Vehicle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slow_moving_vehicle/32/291_2.png) [@Slow\_Moving\_Vehicle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slow_Moving_Vehicle)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2010, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-boorish-american-a-stock-character-in-british-european-film/538028/73 "2010-05-05T02:19:18Z")
> [@In\_Winnipeg](#): > > Another thing that happens often is that Americans _do_ impersonate Canadians while overseas, because in a lot of cases this usually gets them better treatment from the citizenry. I have, in the past, supplied several American friends and relatives with Canadian pins, buttons, badges and patches for their overseas trips. I’ve heard of my fellow Americans doing this, but not because it makes the locals nicer - it’s done for security, there not being a large pool of violent anti-Canadianism floating around in the world. It makes me sad to see my countrymen and women pretending to be something they’re not, but given the state of the world, I can certainly understand it. I’d take it as a compliment, **Winnipeg**. Besides, Canada gave us William Shatner, Right Said Fred and Paula Abdul, so I’d say you owe us. ---
**Author:** ![In\_Winnipeg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/a8b319/32.png) [@In\_Winnipeg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/In_Winnipeg)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2010, 2:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-boorish-american-a-stock-character-in-british-european-film/538028/74 "2010-05-05T02:43:41Z")
Lamia – It was probably since you were acting “polite” – which is the stereotype we have to deal with, all the time. It appears that you were so good at being “polite”, you even fooled one of ours. Slow Moving Vehicle – I guess I can understand the security aspects, and don’t have a problem with it at all. As I’ve often said, “There are only two types of people in the world – there are Canadians, and there are those who wish they were Canadian.” As to the Shat, I apologize. As to Right, Said Fred, they’re Limeys. As to Paula Abdul, she’s only really half Canadian: Abdul was born in the San Fernando Valley of Los Angeles, the daughter of Lorraine (née Rykiss), a concert pianist who once worked as film director Billy Wilder’s assistant, and Harry Abdul, a former livestock trader and owner of a sand and gravel business. Her father, a Syrian Jew, was born in Aleppo, Syria, raised in Brazil, and subsequently emigrated to the United States; Abdul’s mother, also Jewish, is originally from Winnipeg, Manitoba, and Abdul derives Canadian citizenship through her, but we’re not going to claim her – you can keep her. I doubt she knows much about Canada anyway. ---
**Author:** ![Indistinguishable](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/90ced4/32.png) [@Indistinguishable](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Indistinguishable)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2010, 2:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-boorish-american-a-stock-character-in-british-european-film/538028/75 "2010-05-05T02:48:25Z")
> [@Teacake](#): > > For example, the delightful woman wearing the usual “fanny pack”, sunshade and polyester at St Peter’s, whose comment on [this](http://www.saintpetersbasilica.org/Statues/Constantine/Constantine-b.jpg) equestrian statue of Constantine, made by Bernini in 1670, was (and you’ll just have to imagine how long she drew out her vowels, and how loudly she said it): “Those are SOOOOME drapes!”. Tragically, she was entirely serious. I shudder to think how much money she had wasted to get there. I’m afraid I’m apparently so American that I don’t understand what’s so terrible about this comment… ---
**Author:** ![Cardinal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cardinal/32/4000_2.png) [@Cardinal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cardinal)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2010, 3:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-boorish-american-a-stock-character-in-british-european-film/538028/76 "2010-05-05T03:13:54Z")
> [@Bytegeist](#): > > I’d say **Texans** are stereotyped as loud, provincial, overbearing, and boorish, by most anyone in the other 49 states. > > I stress that that’s a _stereotype_ — though it’s not entirely without supporting evidence. Vail-boy at college: We hate the Cowboys, because they’re from Texas. Dallas-boy: What? We don’t even really think about the Broncos. VB: We don’t visit your town and ski while wearing cowboy hats and yelling “yeeeehaaaaawwww!” The same guy admitted that he had anticipated a jovial rivalry about whose state was best when he went to college in California, but soon found out that Texas was pretty the much the only state concerned with this “contest”, and all he was getting was dirty looks. ---
**Author:** ![Martini\_Enfield](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/martini_enfield/32/11123_2.png) [@Martini\_Enfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Martini_Enfield)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2010, 4:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-boorish-american-a-stock-character-in-british-european-film/538028/77 "2010-05-05T04:31:11Z")
> [@Kylede](#): > > When Europe needed someone to save them from the over-expansionist Gemany twice in the last 100 years, who did they look to? Maybe next time someone rolls tanks across a border, maybe they should look to someone else??/ Firstly: The US missed almost all of WWI. Secondly: Hitler had given up on invading Britain after the Battle Of Britain. Thirdly: Japan only invaded most of South-East Asia because they wanted the raw materials which the US had embargoed. ---
**Author:** ![AClockworkMelon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aclockworkmelon/32/10803_2.png) [@AClockworkMelon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AClockworkMelon)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2010, 4:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-boorish-american-a-stock-character-in-british-european-film/538028/78 "2010-05-05T04:44:34Z")
> [@Martini\_Enfield](#): > > Japan only invaded most of South-East Asia because they wanted the raw materials which the US had embargoed. Which the US (as well as Britain) only did because Japan was in the middle of conquering China. Not involved in a debate on either side, just sayin’. ---
**Author:** ![Martini\_Enfield](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/martini_enfield/32/11123_2.png) [@Martini\_Enfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Martini_Enfield)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2010, 4:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-boorish-american-a-stock-character-in-british-european-film/538028/79 "2010-05-05T04:48:16Z")
> [@AClockworkMelon](#): > > Which the US (as well as Britain) only did because Japan was in the middle of conquering China. > > Not involved in a debate on either side, just sayin’. I’m aware of that. 😉 I’m just pointing out that the US wasn’t entirely blameless in the circumstances leading up to WWII, and the “We saved your asses in WWII!” argument often overlooks that. ---
**Author:** ![AClockworkMelon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aclockworkmelon/32/10803_2.png) [@AClockworkMelon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AClockworkMelon)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2010, 4:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-boorish-american-a-stock-character-in-british-european-film/538028/80 "2010-05-05T04:59:46Z")
> [@Martini\_Enfield](#): > > I’m aware of that. 😉 I’m just pointing out that the US wasn’t entirely blameless in the circumstances leading up to WWII, and the “We saved your asses in WWII!” argument often overlooks that. That’s silly, though. If I am being an asshole and because of that you decide to stop dealing with me, I can’t blame my being an asshole on your refusal to deal with me. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-boorish-american-a-stock-character-in-british-european-film/538028.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-boorish-american-a-stock-character-in-british-european-film/538028.md?page=5)