# Stereotypes of Americans. **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [December 1, 2002, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stereotypes-of-americans/139801 "2002-12-01T19:09:23Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![samarm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4da419/32.png) [@samarm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samarm)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2002, 1:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stereotypes-of-americans/139801/21 "2002-12-02T01:50:30Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by wolfman (bolding mine) \* > \*\*Really? Wow must be a totally regional thing. **At least half** the people I know own a gun. And other 1/4 have owned a gun in the past, or have considered buying one but havn’t got around to it. I know 12 guys who have **more than 30 guns** , and around 15 with a ccw. Only three of them carry a gun on their person as a matter of habit, the rest just have one in their glove box. It kind of surprises me when someone says they have never shot a gun. \*\* Holy cow, do you live in a warzone or something? 😉 Just goes to show how regional it is. ---
**Author:** ![samarm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4da419/32.png) [@samarm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samarm)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2002, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stereotypes-of-americans/139801/22 "2002-12-02T01:54:49Z")
“bolding mine” he says… DOH :smack: ---
**Author:** ![butter\_pie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/aca169/32.png) [@butter\_pie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/butter_pie)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2002, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stereotypes-of-americans/139801/23 "2002-12-02T02:30:40Z")
I know lots of people with guns. I have even fired one myself! Yeehaw! ---
**Author:** ![HPL](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/3da27b/32.png) [@HPL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HPL)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2002, 6:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stereotypes-of-americans/139801/24 "2002-12-02T06:19:48Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Green Bean \* > \*\*I have never shot a gun of any kind. But I’d actually like to try it, just to see what it’s like. I’ve never even held a gun. > I know few people who have guns, but every now and then, I’m surprised to discover that someone that I know has guns. I suspect that many gun-owners keep silent about it unless they know that the person they are talking to is not anti-gun. > \*\* In my experience, as part of the gun-rights community, I’ve found that many gun owners are somewhat “closeted”. As certain segments of society view gun owners as knuckle-dragging barbarians who should feel personally responsible every time a drug dealer shoots a child, many gunowners do not advertise their “lifestyle choice”.By not talking about it, it also keeps who are paranoid around guns from asking “Are you packing?”, something that rather defeats the purpose of concealed carry. And of course, some people don’t feel the need to advertise themselves to everyone. Not every gay person(as a random example), dresses in the stereotypical “gay” fashion and not every gun owner wears cameo everywhere and drives a pickup truck. And of course, there’s the old “religion and poltics” rule. Namely, to avoid getting pissed off or doing the same to others, just don’t talk about it. I have very good friends who hold opposing political views(on several issues), but we don’t talk about it or are very civil when we do. > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Green Bean \* > \*\* > Anyway, I was watching British Who’s Line is it Anyway, and someone was supposed to play an American. He walked around saying “How ya doin’?” a lot. 😃 \*\* Sounds like a parody of Former New York City Mayor, Ed Koch. ---
**Author:** ![HPL](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/3da27b/32.png) [@HPL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HPL)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2002, 6:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stereotypes-of-americans/139801/25 "2002-12-02T06:22:23Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Flymaster \* > \*\*My experience is the same as Zuma’s. In my 21 years, I’ve known 1 person who owned a gun, and then only for hunting. I don’t know anyone who keeps a “self defense” gun or anything like that, just various rifles that they use to hunt with. I’m in MA, FWIW. \*\* That explains it. Mass. has strict gun laws in comparison to certain other states. You would be less likely to see it, as many gun owners would probably move to more gun-rights-friendly areas. ---
**Author:** ![super\_head](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d6d6ee/32.png) [@super\_head](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/super_head)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2002, 6:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stereotypes-of-americans/139801/26 "2002-12-02T06:33:21Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by ruadh \* > Same here in Ireland. Wow, you guys elected George Bush too? 🙂 As for the Finnish view of Americans, I never had any troubles living there (Oulu 1994-1995) except for one guy, and he was only mad because the Finnish women around us seemed to pay more attention to me, the American, than to him. I never got much of the “we hate Americans, etc because…” speech (never got one actually). ---
**Author:** ![HPL](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/3da27b/32.png) [@HPL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HPL)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2002, 6:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stereotypes-of-americans/139801/27 "2002-12-02T06:35:13Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Broomstick \* > \*\*Which is probably confusing to those outside the United States. The guns laws vary not only from state to state but also city to city. There is no consistent set of rules for the entire country. \*\* Actually, federal gun laws apply to the entire country and the state/cities laws have to be at least as strict. At that point, it’s up to the indiviual states to decide if they want to make them any stricter. Though some states have preemption laws that make local gun ordiances illegal (IE If seattle wants to ban gun ownership in seattle, it can’t. A ban would have to be passed at the state level). At least is my understanding. I could be wrong, and I don’t know how CCW laws come into it (IE There is no federal recognition, and so wether you can or cannot carry varies widely from state to state. Works kinda nice in a way, as if you don’t like the laws in one state, just move to another). ---
**Author:** ![HPL](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/3da27b/32.png) [@HPL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HPL)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2002, 6:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stereotypes-of-americans/139801/28 "2002-12-02T06:36:50Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by super\_head \* > \*\*Wow, you guys elected George Bush too? > > 🙂 > \*\* As screwy as the whole 2000 election was, somehow I wouldn’t be surprised. ---
**Author:** ![Zoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/a4c791/32.png) [@Zoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zoe)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2002, 6:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stereotypes-of-americans/139801/29 "2002-12-02T06:58:51Z")
> [@](#): > > And, no one I know can believe you guys chose George Bush jr. as your President. Well…actually, we didn’t. (sigh) If you want to know what Americans are really like, all you have to do is look at the diversity of the American Dopers. ---
**Author:** ![ruadh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/d2c977/32.png) [@ruadh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ruadh)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2002, 7:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stereotypes-of-americans/139801/30 "2002-12-02T07:01:50Z")
I never touched a gun in all my years living in America. The first gun I ever picked up was in Ireland. Irish people are _always_ shocked when I tell them that. ---
**Author:** ![ReBusEniGma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/d9b06d/32.png) [@ReBusEniGma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ReBusEniGma)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2002, 7:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stereotypes-of-americans/139801/31 "2002-12-02T07:17:37Z")
I’m an American (California boy) who has lived in Canada for many years, and I’ve seen it all. Many Canadians have stereotyped us as arrogant and self-righteous…character traits that are irrespective of nationality if you ask me. One friend of mine didn’t know I was from the States until a long time after we had known each other. When he found out, he was a little confused because of his impression of Americans. Never the less it did change is impression. 😃 I’ve had other people who have known me, (and liked me) 😉 but wouldn’t associate with me once they found out I was American…mind boggling… ---
**Author:** ![Uzi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/91b2a8/32.png) [@Uzi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uzi)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2002, 10:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stereotypes-of-americans/139801/32 "2002-12-02T10:37:40Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by New & Improved Scott \* > \*\* > And, no one I know can believe you guys chose George Bush jr. as your President. One of our politicians called him a moron, and the press went crazy about the ramifications of it (though no one was questioning if it was a sound assessment). \*\* It is a good things most Americans are ignorant of Canada, though. Imagine the laughter if they knew about the marble-mouthed fucktard we chose to run our country. ---
**Author:** ![Desmostylus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c57346/32.png) [@Desmostylus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Desmostylus)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2002, 11:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stereotypes-of-americans/139801/33 "2002-12-02T11:28:12Z")
Everyone probably remembers the encounter they had with the fat/stupid/loudmouthed/Hawiian-shirt-wearing/overbearing/ignorant a…hole from the U.S., and stuff that they’ve read in the paper or seen on TV that say “Survey proves Americans stupid” or whatever. It just doesn’t usually stick in people’s minds when they encounter someone from the U.S. who’s completely unobjectionable, and of course the papers and the TV don’t run stories saying “Shock: Americans are just like us”. The U.S. is packed full of a…holes, but so is Australia and everywhere else. ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2002, 11:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stereotypes-of-americans/139801/34 "2002-12-02T11:37:10Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by ruadh \* > \*\*I never touched a gun in all my years living in America. The first gun I ever picked up was in Ireland. Irish people are _always_ shocked when I tell them that. \*\* I’m quite surprised, I have to say. The first gun I touched was in Texas, when I was 7. Mine host handed me and his son (of the same age) a shotgun and some sort of musket thingy, and told us to go down the lake and shoot cans. ---
**Author:** ![galen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ecc23a/32.png) [@galen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/galen)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2002, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stereotypes-of-americans/139801/35 "2002-12-02T14:38:45Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by TheLoadedDog \* > \*\*All I can say is that the SDMB has forced me to rethink an awful lot of my preconceived ideas about Americans. \*\* That’s good, but remember that Dopers are not a cross section of US society. ---
**Author:** ![everton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ecb155/32.png) [@everton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/everton)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2002, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stereotypes-of-americans/139801/36 "2002-12-02T16:50:11Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by galen \* > \*\*That’s good, but remember that Dopers are not a cross section of US society. \*\* And yet even as we speak, there are [those working on that “loud and boorish” thing](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=147237#post2657836). ---
**Author:** ![ReBusEniGma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/d9b06d/32.png) [@ReBusEniGma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ReBusEniGma)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2002, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stereotypes-of-americans/139801/37 "2002-12-02T17:22:03Z")
> [@](#): > > …loud and boorish… Ahh… buy my roots are from Scotland where we are, ‘proud and moorish’ 😃 ~eNiGma ---
**Author:** ![syncrolecyne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f08c70/32.png) [@syncrolecyne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/syncrolecyne)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2002, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stereotypes-of-americans/139801/38 "2002-12-02T21:27:59Z")
I met a British girl (from Yorkshire) online a few years ago, and we have since met. The stereotypes I have gleaned so far are… 1. We are very religious, and believe “the end is near” 2. We eat hamburgers, fries every day, and practically bathe in coca cola. 3. We watch nothing but Jerry Springer, Ricky Lake, and “Friends” (no idea “Seinfeld” exists?) 4. Our menfolk are all circumcised. 5. Our beer is most kindly described as devoid of flavour, or more maliciously, “cold piss in a bottle”. (This is the most pervasive stereotype: Thank God for Sam Adams!) 6. We all have a private arsenal of weapons. 7. We drive pickups, SUVs, or Cadillacs. 8. We learned our lovemaking techniques from our cousins as teenagers. 9. The Ku Klux Klan parades regularly in the streets of town. 10. We have very large houses. Some of these are more specific to Texas, where I am from. Anyway, only half of these are really correct in my case. ---
**Author:** ![Fnoonf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/f6c823/32.png) [@Fnoonf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fnoonf)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2002, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stereotypes-of-americans/139801/39 "2002-12-02T22:18:12Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Kantalooppi \* > \*\*American (negative) stereotype in Finland: > > - Americans are stupid and uneducated. > - Americans are fat. > - Americans are arrogant. They think that one American is more worthy to live than 100 foreigners and that American culture is better than anything else. > - Americans love war, as long as there aren’t too many Americans dying. > - Americans are overtly religious. > - Americans are in love with their weapons. > - Americans are sue-happy. > > Seems to be a bit common, too. There’s this Finnish board, tech-related, where the occasional America story (Americans bomb something or sue someone, mostly) is guaranteed to provoke a lot of “There the goddamn Yankees go again” type comments. \*\* **Kantalooppi** ’s post describes, word for word, exactly the general sentiment in Iceland as well (except for the possible inclusion of “Americans are sappy and they cry on national TV.”) While most Icelanders bandy these stereotypes about willy-nilly, the fact is that when confronted with an actual American, they’re usually far far friendlier than these odious stereotypes would lead you to believe. Iceland’s a small country, and it’s always exciting to any Icelander to meet a foreigner, American or otherwise (unless they happen to be working in customer service during the tourist season, in which case it’s probably a good idea to wear a helmet and carry a short stabbing weapon for personal defense). My hunch is that these generalizations are made mostly because it’s damned easy to feel the shadow of a powerful nation of 250 million+ looming over your little island with its meager population of 270.000, and we need _something_ to be able to feel special, dammit! (Even if only through cack-handed sterotyping and general back-biting.) That’s my reasoning for it, anyway. The Finns, however, have no excuse. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![New\_Improved\_Scott](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/f17d59/32.png) [@New\_Improved\_Scott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/New_Improved_Scott)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2002, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stereotypes-of-americans/139801/40 "2002-12-02T23:00:52Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by super\_head \* > \*\*Wow, you guys elected George Bush too? > > 🙂 > \*\* That’s funny. 😃 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stereotypes-of-americans/139801.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stereotypes-of-americans/139801.md?page=3)