# Is the stereotype of the insular American accurate? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [June 2, 2005, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-stereotype-of-the-insular-american-accurate/306610 "2005-06-02T20:19:26Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Zabali\_Clawbane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/ecd19e/32.png) [@Zabali\_Clawbane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zabali_Clawbane)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2005, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-stereotype-of-the-insular-american-accurate/306610/21 "2005-06-02T22:34:41Z")
> [@IAMBIC](#): > > As a basic (simplistic?) attempt at answering this thread’s question, here are some easily quantifiable questions: > > How many countries have you visited? > How many ethnic cultures have you experienced? (In person, not in movies or TV.) > How many languages do you speak? I’ve not left the Nation yet. I’ve experienced three ethnic cultures, Puerto Rican, (That counts, correct? I don’t mean as in New York, I mean as in born on Puerto Rico.) Mexican, and Japanese. (Not counting things like Tex Mex and the like.) The first two were courtesy of in-laws, the last one was via a classmate growing up that I lost touch with, and a later friend I made. I actually liked the kelp cookies my classmate brought to school one day, I don’t recall the correct name she gave for them though. I can speak Spanish sort of, English is my first language. (When I get a chance to, I will learn more than one language though, Japanese, Welsh better Spanish, French, and several others are up for consideration.) I was taught both some “proper” Spanish, but also the informal general Spanish spoken in Mexico. I can have a conversation with someone who speaks only Spanish from Mexico, but the communication from my end (IMO) is “broken Spanish”. (I did manage to have several conversations with the person, that were longer than just a minute though.) I only had one year, but got an A. I have been complimented on my “accent” both by my Puerto Rican in-laws, and my Mexican in-laws too. That doesn’t mean I know all the “slang” or can get all the meaning in things like songs though, as I found out not that long ago to my chagrin. I watch things like Telemundo when I can, to try to keep my knowledge from rotting clear away, reading it isn’t quite the same, I need to hear it spoken. ---
**Author:** ![Campion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4491bb/32.png) [@Campion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Campion)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2005, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-stereotype-of-the-insular-american-accurate/306610/22 "2005-06-02T22:37:51Z")
**How many countries have you visited?** Off the top of my head, I can think of 20 (21 if you count both Irelands, 22 if you count East and West Germany before the fall). I’m probably missing a handful. **How many ethnic cultures have you experienced?** I’ve lived in three countries (US being one of them), and in the US in several diverse, multi-ethnic cities – Dallas, LA, Chicago. I don’t think I could even begin to count the number of cultures I’ve experienced. **How many languages do you speak?** Although others may dispute this, I speak one with some level of proficiency – English – and can pronounce words out of a guidebook from a laundry list of other languages. I am also fantastic with accents, so can pretend that I am from lots of different English-speaking places (particularly if I’ve had a beer). ---
**Author:** ![pravnik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8edcca/32.png) [@pravnik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pravnik)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2005, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-stereotype-of-the-insular-american-accurate/306610/23 "2005-06-02T22:37:58Z")
> [@Isosleepy](#): > > I moved to the US some time ago (15 yrs) and was surprised at how much _less_ insular Americans were than I expected or had been led to believe. > Most people had a decent idea of what and where Holland was, and some notion of things to do with that country and culture. They got those wood shoes, right? > [@Isosleepy](#): > > I believe the Dutch significantly less knowledgeable about, say, South Carolina, despite it being twice as big as Holland. There’s a _South_ Carolina now?? ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2005, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-stereotype-of-the-insular-american-accurate/306610/24 "2005-06-02T22:54:16Z")
> [@](#): > > How many countries have you visited? None. I wish I could, though. ☹ > [@](#): > > How many ethnic cultures have you experienced? (In person, not in movies or TV.) Several, including Polish, Swedish & Czech. > [@](#): > > How many languages do you speak? I studied Spanish & Latin, but I don’t really recall much. ---
**Author:** ![pullin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c57346/32.png) [@pullin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pullin)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2005, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-stereotype-of-the-insular-american-accurate/306610/25 "2005-06-02T23:01:32Z")
Personally, I think the stereotype of insular Americans is true. But this message board isn’t exactly a representative sample of the US. So the responses aren’t likely to reflect the above assertion. How many countries have you visited? 7 or more, depending no how you divvy up the UK and the carribean region. list: Netherlands, Wales, Scotland, England, Ireland, Norway, Jamaica, Mexico, Bahamas, Virgin Islands, British West Indies, and Seattle (well… to a conservative redneck like me, it might as well be a foreign country) :rolleyes: I think a more informative question would be about how many countries you’ve _lived_ in (for more than a month). For me: just Holland, Scotland (and Washington state). How many ethnic cultures have you experienced? Lived with some Scotsmen off and on for a coupla years, does that count as a culture? What I learned about their culture? Do **NOT** challenge them to a drinking game. Figured that out real quick. How many languages do you speak? 1 (English) ---
**Author:** ![Lamar\_Mundane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/85f322/32.png) [@Lamar\_Mundane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamar_Mundane)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2005, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-stereotype-of-the-insular-american-accurate/306610/26 "2005-06-02T23:01:39Z")
Canada Mexico Dominican Republic Japan A bunch of countries in SE Asia (Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore, several more) A good part of Oceania (Aus, NZ, Fiji, more) Probably around 15-20 in all. As far as cultures go, lumping together all the “European” ones, only Japanese and Malay would also count. I speak English and passible (once fluent) Japanese. ---
**Author:** ![Ghanima](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Ghanima](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ghanima)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2005, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-stereotype-of-the-insular-american-accurate/306610/27 "2005-06-02T23:05:49Z")
How many countries have you visited? Mexico, Canada, England, Scotland, France, Germany, Austria, Denmark How many ethnic cultures have you experienced? (In person, not in movies or TV.) I’m going to assume you mean “immersed in,” which I’ll interpret as staying ther elong enough to experience daily life: American, german, french, scottish How many languages do you speak? English, German and some spanish and a few words of french ---
**Author:** ![Jammer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/df705f/32.png) [@Jammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jammer)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2005, 11:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-stereotype-of-the-insular-american-accurate/306610/28 "2005-06-02T23:30:41Z")
Countries: Canada, Mexico (Both tourist areas and interior villages south of Mexico City), England, Haiti, Aruba, Curacao, Barbados, Puerto Rico, Venezuela, Martinique, Antigua, Cayman Islands, Jamaica, Bahamas, St. Maarten, and St. Lucia. Cultures: More than I care to elaborate on, but I particulary cherish my interaction with the Indian, Hawaiian, Mexican, British, Haitian, and Jamaican cultures. Languages: English and Spanish, with enough French that I could fake my way through a menu or a local newspaper. I’m just an average guy from North Carolina, as far as I can tell. ---
**Author:** ![Sattua](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sattua/32/11906_2.png) [@Sattua](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sattua)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2005, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-stereotype-of-the-insular-american-accurate/306610/29 "2005-06-02T23:41:10Z")
How many countries have you visited? France, Italy, Germany (both formerly East and West), Austria, Switzerland, England, Russia. And Canada 🙂 How many ethnic cultures have you experienced? (In person, not in movies or TV.) Like others, I am not quite sure what you mean. I have had roommates from China and Singapore. Boyfriends from Taiwan, Singapore, Malaysia, England, Israel, and Burkina Faso. I have cooked and eaten every ethnic cuisine that came my way, including Chinese, Japanese, Vietnamese, Thai, Indian, Azerbaijani, Ethiopian, Turkish, Greek, Italian, Mexican. And while I was in Italy, Russia, and Germany (East–Leipzig) I worked closely with “the natives” and saw quite a bit of how they live. And then, being at a big university, there are students from all over the world. Native English speakers are in the minority in my program, actually. Also, I have a grandfather from a Dutch family and a grandmother from a German family, so there is quite a lot of cultural heritage going on there. How many languages do you speak? English native (Hoosier basilect on up to Broadcast Standard acrolect), French and Italian well enough (which means I can read Spanish), plus “structural knowledge” of Swahili. ---
**Author:** ![davenportavenger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/5f8ce5/32.png) [@davenportavenger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davenportavenger)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2005, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-stereotype-of-the-insular-american-accurate/306610/30 "2005-06-02T23:42:51Z")
> [@La Llorona](#): > > Anecdotally, I think that’s quite true. Possibly it has something to do with the fact that America is such a large country–many states are the same size as or a great deal larger than other countries–but we only have Canada and Mexico (well, and Puerto Rico/Cuba/etc.) remotely near us. I believe it’s fairly easy for an Englishman to get to, say, Spain or France for a weekend trip; foreign travel (or even traveling from one end of the country to another!) is a bit of an ordeal to Americans, many of whom don’t even live at all near Canada/Mexico/what-have-you. And maybe since Foreign Culture may not be readily obtainable, people are uninterested in it? Out of sight, out of mind, you know the drill. There’s also the fact that America is a very diverse country culture-wise… you’d not know it from the Walmart ads but there are major differences between say a rural West Virginian and a New Yorker–and those two places are only a few hundred miles apart! Not that other countries are totally homogenous, but there’s a lot to discover within our own borders. Personally, I’m trying to become well-traveled here first; it is not feasible for me to take three months off and travel across Europe but it is feasible to travel across the United States (something I would like to do within the next few years), and I’m expecting to find lots of different cultural experiences. America: not just strip malls and McDonald’s! Anyway, the questions: 1. Only Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada. Which doesn’t really count as it’s a tourist trap for Americans. 2. Not really sure what this means but I guess I’d say Mainstream White American Culture (for what that’s worth), Italian-American Culture (my extended family is very into being Italian, but my parents drifted away from that when we moved to another town), and Appalachian Culture (I didn’t grow up in the mountains, but I lived near them and knew some people who lived a really rugged lifestyle, also apparently I have a very thick Appalachian accent so maybe I’m more immersed than I think). 3. English only. Maybe a Kindergarten-level understanding of Spanish but that would be it. ---
**Author:** ![iamthewalrus\_3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/258eb7/32.png) [@iamthewalrus\_3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iamthewalrus_3)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2005, 12:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-stereotype-of-the-insular-american-accurate/306610/31 "2005-06-03T00:21:22Z")
> [@GorillaMan](#): > > I’ll agree to that. I thoroughly dislike the “x percent of Americans don’t have passports” snide comments. The equivalent area and population would roughly cover the EU and EEA, so I wouldn’t have needed that piece of paper to visit all but two of the countries I’ve been to. Plus, you don’t need a passport to go to Mexico, Canada, or most of the Caribbean islands. This is just about to [change.](http://travel.state.gov/travel/cbpmc/cbpmc_2225.html) To answer the OP, I’m pretty insular. I have not visited any foreign countries. I’m not sure I understand the ethnic cultures question, but probably just 1 I speak enough Spanish to ask directions and conduct simple conversations. I’m sure I would pick a lot up pretty quickly given the chance. I’m also pretty young, and until recently haven’t had any money. I fully intend to travel the world during my life. ---
**Author:** ![Lemur866](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lemur866/32/434_2.png) [@Lemur866](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lemur866)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2005, 1:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-stereotype-of-the-insular-american-accurate/306610/32 "2005-06-03T01:11:11Z")
I’ve visited Canada, Britain, France, Italy, Greece, Austria, Germany, The Netherlands and Belgium. I speak English, I still have a tiny bit of college German. Ethnic cultures? Does having an Eskimo roommate in college count? Visiting Chinatown? Watching “Iron Chef”? I’ve done all those… Of course, where I grew up in Alaska you had to drive 250 miles just to visit another town, let alone another country. It was shorter to drive from Fairbanks to Canada than from Fairbanks to Anchorage. See, Canada’s really really big, so is the United States. Add the US and Canada together and they are much bigger than all of Europe, even if you include the European Russia. There’s a lot of room to get lost out there. ---
**Author:** ![Misnomer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/misnomer/32/14897_2.png) [@Misnomer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Misnomer)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2005, 1:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-stereotype-of-the-insular-american-accurate/306610/33 "2005-06-03T01:13:53Z")
**How many countries have you visited?** 8: England, Ireland, Italy, France, Canada, Tenerife (not a country, but not exactly Spain, either), Mexico, and Belize **How many ethnic cultures have you experienced? (In person, not in movies or TV.)** Even with your subsequent explanation, I’m still not exactly sure what you mean by “experienced.” But of the countries listed above, I’ve lived in one of them. **How many languages do you speak?** 1.2 (English, and a little college-level French … I can still count to ten in German, but I don’t think that’s what you’re looking for ;)) > [@GorillaMan](#): > > On the other hand, I do wonder if there’s a real awareness in the ‘average American’ as to how different they are from other countries, particularly regarding economic ideology and religion. These are the two elements where I wonder if the insularity stereotype is applicable. I agree: “how many countries/languages” is a poorer indicator than awareness, and when it comes to awareness I believe that many Americans _are_ rather insular. ---
**Author:** ![Zoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/a4c791/32.png) [@Zoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zoe)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2005, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-stereotype-of-the-insular-american-accurate/306610/34 "2005-06-03T01:20:43Z")
How many countries have you visited? 10 How many ethnic cultures have you experienced? I live in a multi-cultural neighborhood and was able to watch the actual Iraqi election process. The neighborhood grocery store has signs in about 9 languages. Besides those, I’ve been exposed to many, many ethnicities. Tennessee is home to Melungeons, Cajuns, Cherokees, Chickasaw. There is a Buddhist Monastery where the Dalai Lama’s brother lives about a hundred miles away. Within a couple of miles of my house there is a Greek Orthodox Church and another church that is used for Episcopal services in English, Korean and Spanish. My neighbors are Cambodians, Kurds, Egyptians, Indians, Hispanic, Europeans, Iranians, African-Americans… How many languages do you speak? I speak only English. My high school offered only Latin and that’s what I took. I speak a few words of Danish and did take lessons in two different languages thirty years ago. I’ve tried to teach myself Spanish, French, and signing, but my brain is too old. I’m _very_ interested in other countries and cultures. My travel was curtailed for thirty years by a phobia of flying. Not anymore! **You cannot pin down Americans. We _are_ the different ethnicities.** ---
**Author:** ![Zoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/a4c791/32.png) [@Zoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zoe)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2005, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-stereotype-of-the-insular-american-accurate/306610/35 "2005-06-03T01:26:10Z")
**IAMBIC** , if you were to take an area the size of the United States and place it over the area where you live, how many countries outside that area would you have travelled in? How many states in the United States have you visited? ---
**Author:** ![IAMBIC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b3f665/32.png) [@IAMBIC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IAMBIC)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2005, 1:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-stereotype-of-the-insular-american-accurate/306610/36 "2005-06-03T01:36:26Z")
> [@Zoe](#): > > **IAMBIC** , if you were to take an area the size of the United States and place it over the area where you live, how many countries outside that area would you have travelled in? > > How many states in the United States have you visited? Answer to first question: Assuming by “area” you mean “country”: 1. Answer to second question: 11. And, in case you’re wondering: Number of countries visited: 10. Number of ethnic cultures experienced: Not sure. But probably over 30. Number of languages spoken: 3 fluently. ---
**Author:** ![Catfood\_Purrito](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Catfood\_Purrito](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Catfood_Purrito)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2005, 1:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-stereotype-of-the-insular-american-accurate/306610/37 "2005-06-03T01:49:45Z")
I wouldn’t say I’m insular. Just because I’ve never “experienced” them doesn’t mean I don’t enjoy learning about other cultures. \*\*How many countries have you visited? \*\* Two, Canada and the Bahamas. If I had the money, I’d like to visit many more. \*\*How many ethnic cultures have you experienced? \*\* That’s a weird question…not sure how to answer it. If “how many people from different cultures have you known” is a valid interpretation of the question, off the top of my head, I’ve had friends, coworkers, or teachers who came from Brazil, Korea, China, Thailand, Chile, Bolivia, Cuba, India, Malta, Norway, Botswana, Cyprus, Turkey, Germany, and probably more. Not to mention all the different American cultures I’ve “experienced” I guess. **How many languages do you speak?** Two, English and Spanish. ---
**Author:** ![IAMBIC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b3f665/32.png) [@IAMBIC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IAMBIC)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2005, 2:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-stereotype-of-the-insular-american-accurate/306610/38 "2005-06-03T02:01:43Z")
Reminder: > [@IAMBIC (in opening post)](#): > > And, of course, I realize that the definition above of insular can apply to the residents of many countries besides the U.S.A. Nevertheless, I’m a bit surprised by the defensiveness of some posts by Americans. In any case, it’s obvious that a country as large in area and population as the U.S. isn’t going to be homogeneous on any measure. I expected a large range of answers, and that’s what I got. I’m curious (but not so curious to start another thread) whether there are significant differences in exposure to ethnic diversity between: 1. People in urban areas vs. rural (I’m quite sure there’s a difference.) 2. Coastal communinties vs. central (Probably.) 3. People of lower vs. higher education 4. People of lower vs. higher income 5. People of various ethnic backgrounds, eg. are Americans of British ancestry more or less likely to experience ethnic diversity compared to, say, Americans of Ukranian ancestry. ---
**Author:** ![Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ccd318/32.png) [@Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paul_in_Qatar)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2005, 2:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-stereotype-of-the-insular-american-accurate/306610/39 "2005-06-03T02:40:05Z")
I am so insular that I cannot make the quote function work. Counties visited? All of Latin America (except Cuba). All of Western Europe. Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Bahrain, the UAE, the Philippines, Thailand, Kuwait. Languages: Just English and accented Spanish. Cultures? Latin American, Arab to a point where I am comfortable. Asia still freaks me out. ---
**Author:** ![Kyla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/eada6e/32.png) [@Kyla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kyla)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2005, 2:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-stereotype-of-the-insular-american-accurate/306610/40 "2005-06-03T02:47:25Z")
How many countries have I been to? Oh gosh, I guess it depends on how you want to count them. I’ve been all over Mexico, on a number of trips (I have family there), and the UK (England and Wales), Ireland, France, Italy, the Vatican, Israel & the West Bank, and Egypt (just Sinai). I’m going into the Peace Corps in August. I don’t have my exact destination set, but it will be in Central Asia, one of the 'stans. How many ethnicities have I encountered? Um. Well, I grew up in San Francisco, and I live in Chicago, both of which are very diverse cities and have large immigrant populations, so…a lot? If I started a list of all the countries from which I have met people, it would soon become very tedious. How many languages do I speak? I’m not fluent in any but English, but I can muddle around pretty well with Spanish and Hebrew, and I’ve studied Arabic as well. (Just enough to read it and have no idea what I’m reading, though!) I’m a third generation American. The closest relatives I have who didn’t speak English as a first language were my dad’s parents, who were born in the US but raised in Yiddish-speaking households. **IAMBIC** , I guess some people may be defensive, but only because it does get a little tiresome to hear about how unworldly Americans are. Blah blah blah, yes, we are all terribly stupid and wear ugly shorts and bad shoes. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-stereotype-of-the-insular-american-accurate/306610.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-stereotype-of-the-insular-american-accurate/306610.md?page=3)