# 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:** 3
**Author:** ![monica](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a183cd/32.png) [@monica](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monica)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2002, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stereotypes-of-americans/139801/41 "2002-12-03T00:27:30Z")
According to my mother, all the Europeans think that Americans are easy and if I go there I have to bring only conservative clothing (she’s not gonna know about the belly shirts I’m going to hide in my suitcase 😉 ) What I want to know is whether or not this is still thought by Europeans, or is this only something from many years ago? ---
**Author:** ![HubZilla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ccd318/32.png) [@HubZilla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HubZilla)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2002, 12:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stereotypes-of-americans/139801/42 "2002-12-03T00:40:42Z")
I have a somewhat related question. We in America put a strong emphasis on our racial and ethnic diversity. Do other countries? Or when they think of Americans, do they only think of white people? ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2002, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stereotypes-of-americans/139801/43 "2002-12-03T00:41:33Z")
These are the stereotypes that my two year participation in these boards have led me to believe are close to true: - Americans really like guns. - Americans get into really long, heated debates over guns. - Americans don’t even see how much they like guns. - Americans would rather see violence in entertainment than sex. - Americans are very religious. - Americans get into really long, heated debates over religion. - Americans are intolerant about the subject of religion. - Americans think humans are more special than any other organisms on the planet. - Americans really do think America is the best place on Earth to live, and have no real concept of how brainwashed to believe that they are. - Americans wholly endorse Capitalism/Commercialism. - Americans are confrontational. - Americans are very quick to protect their perceived rights and freedoms. - Americans are generous and gregarious. ---
**Author:** ![TheLoadedDog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/35a633/32.png) [@TheLoadedDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheLoadedDog)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2002, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stereotypes-of-americans/139801/44 "2002-12-03T01:01:52Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by The Peyote Coyote \* > \*\*Just out of curiousity, TheLoadedDog, what were some of your preconceived ideas about Americans and how has the SDMB caused you to rethink them? \*\* Pretty much the loud, boorish, Hawaiian shirt thing, but with the proviso that Americans were essentially decent people who didn’t _realise_ how they were seen by us foreigners, and would probably, in many cases, be mortified if they did. I saw Americans as articulate and confident, but also very parochial. As **galen** said, Dopers might not be representative of broader US society, but the same could be said of _The Jerry Springer Show_. The latter having much more coverage in Australia, it was wonderful to discover the Dope and then to realise that, thinking about this objectively, any nation of close to three hundred million people is going to be bloody difficult to pigeonhole. ---
**Author:** ![Mehitabel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8797f3/32.png) [@Mehitabel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mehitabel)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2002, 1:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stereotypes-of-americans/139801/45 "2002-12-03T01:02:53Z")
Good point, **Hubzilla**. I had a friend who was Italian-American and when she went back to the Old Country they said they thought the vast majority of Americans were blonde and lived on the beach. Weird. So, how does the stereotype treat the ever-increasing numbers of “non-white” Americans? BTW, I don’t like guns. Nobody who lived through the 70’s and the later crack epidemic here in the Bronx does. Chalk me up as another person who knows only two people with guns–both hunters, one my uncle and one my brother. ---
**Author:** ![everton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ecb155/32.png) [@everton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/everton)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2002, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stereotypes-of-americans/139801/46 "2002-12-03T01:20:07Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by monica \* > \*\*According to my mother, all the Europeans think that Americans are easy… > > What I want to know is whether or not this is still thought by Europeans, or is this only something from many years ago? \*\* I seem to recall there were some opinions given about that in this thread: [Why do American men have such great reputations amoung foreign women?](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=143133) **HubZilla** I think that European countries that _have_ plenty of ethnic diversity in the population place a certain emphasis on it, but to a lesser extent. I’m very aware of Americans bracketing their ancestral or ethnic category with their present nationality more than people in other countries do. However, it does happen in European countries, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa (that last one not for the best reasons, of course). ---
**Author:** ![clairobscur](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/839c29/32.png) [@clairobscur](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/clairobscur)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2002, 1:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stereotypes-of-americans/139801/47 "2002-12-03T01:24:55Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by monica \* > \*\* > What I want to know is whether or not this is still thought by Europeans, or is this only something from many years ago? \*\* I’m quite sure this stereotype applies to pretty much every brand of foreigner. I’ve been told that American girls were easy, that British girls were easy, that Dutch girls were easy, that German girls were easy, that Swede girls were easy, that German girls were easy, that Italian girls were easy, etc… As for the OP, a relatively common stereotype here is that americans are “great childs”. That could mean naive, outspoken, easy to please , braggart, etc…In any case, not to take very seriously. And of course, they have absolutely no concept of what real food is. ---
**Author:** ![Neurotik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/91b2a8/32.png) [@Neurotik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Neurotik)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2002, 1:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stereotypes-of-americans/139801/48 "2002-12-03T01:25:49Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by featherlou \* > **- Americans really like guns.** Sort of. It’s really polarized, probably split half and half or at the most 60/40. The people who like guns really like guns and the people who don’t like guns really don’t like guns. To be fair, if it wasn’t for the Second Amendment and disproportionate Senate representation, the gun laws would probably be much stricter, maybe even European-like. > [@](#): > > **- Americans get into really long, heated debates over guns.** Yes. > [@](#): > > **- Americans don’t even see how much they like guns.** Again, sort of. Your problem is probably that you don’t get to see the ugly fights that go down about guns here. > [@](#): > > **- Americans would rather see violence in entertainment than sex.** I think that’s probably right. Although, both is best. > [@](#): > > **- Americans are very religious.** Compared to Europeans? Yes. Compared to Latin Americans, Arabs, or South Asians? Not really. I’d have to say we are moderately religious. A nation full of Sunday Christians, if you know what I mean. > [@](#): > > **- Americans get into really long, heated debates over religion.** Who doesn’t? > [@](#): > > **- Americans are intolerant about the subject of religion.** No more than any other nation. > [@](#): > > **- Americans think humans are more special than any other organisms on the planet.** Yes. But then, so does about 99% of the human race. Is this really so strange? > [@](#): > > **- Americans really do think America is the best place on Earth to live, and have no real concept of how brainwashed to believe that they are.** The first half is correct. The second half is bizarre. Brainwashed? Or maybe most Americans are pretty darn happy with where they are, and can’t imagine living in a different culture. > [@](#): > > **- Americans wholly endorse Capitalism/Commercialism.** You got us on that one. > [@](#): > > **- Americans are confrontational.** What the fuck is that supposed to mean, asshole? 🙂 > [@](#): > > **- Americans are very quick to protect their perceived rights and freedoms.** True, but aren’t most people? > [@](#): > > \*\*- Americans are generous and gregarious. \*\* Hahaha. I guess. Definitely the gregarious part. I have to say, American TV exports don’t do much for our image abroad. ---
**Author:** ![Mehitabel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8797f3/32.png) [@Mehitabel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mehitabel)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2002, 1:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stereotypes-of-americans/139801/49 "2002-12-03T01:27:27Z")
Ooh, I get to be the first to cite [The Onion](http://www.theonion.com/onion3510/european_romantic.html)!! ---
**Author:** ![TitoBenito](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/2acd7d/32.png) [@TitoBenito](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TitoBenito)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2002, 1:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stereotypes-of-americans/139801/50 "2002-12-03T01:47:17Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by featherlou \* > \*\*These are the stereotypes that my two year participation in these boards have led me to believe are close to true: > > - Americans really like guns. > - Americans get into really long, heated debates over guns. > - Americans don’t even see how much they like guns. > - Americans would rather see violence in entertainment than sex. > - Americans are very religious. > - Americans get into really long, heated debates over religion. > - Americans are intolerant about the subject of religion. > - Americans think humans are more special than any other organisms on the planet. > - Americans really do think America is the best place on Earth to live, and have no real concept of how brainwashed to believe that they are. > - Americans wholly endorse Capitalism/Commercialism. > - Americans are confrontational. > - Americans are very quick to protect their perceived rights and freedoms. > - Americans are generous and gregarious. \*\* Do you mean that you hear from Americans that these are true, or that you beleive the vast majority of Americans on this board promotes these views or possesses theses characteristics? ---
**Author:** ![Muad\_Dib](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/35a633/32.png) [@Muad\_Dib](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muad_Dib)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2002, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stereotypes-of-americans/139801/51 "2002-12-03T01:53:41Z")
I would like to know why I find it to be such an intense thrill to read threads like this. It does not matter if it comes out positive or negative, I feel “giddy” when reading foreigners personal opinions about America. I wish I knew exactly why. ---
**Author:** ![Muad\_Dib](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/35a633/32.png) [@Muad\_Dib](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muad_Dib)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2002, 1:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stereotypes-of-americans/139801/52 "2002-12-03T01:58:18Z")
Also, is it true that in other nations you are not really considerd an American unless you are white-anglo-saxon? ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2002, 5:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stereotypes-of-americans/139801/53 "2002-12-03T05:20:45Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by TitoBenito \* > \*\*Do you mean that you hear from Americans that these are true, or that you beleive the vast majority of Americans on this board promotes these views or possesses theses characteristics? \*\* The list I provided were stereotypes that were strengthened rather than dissipated by my participation on this board. ---
**Author:** ![ruadh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/d2c977/32.png) [@ruadh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ruadh)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2002, 7:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stereotypes-of-americans/139801/54 "2002-12-03T07:14:09Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Muad’Dib \* > \*\*Also, is it true that in other nations you are not really considerd an American unless you are white-anglo-saxon? \*\* Emphatically not. Irish-Americans are considered here to be American, not Irish. Asian-Americans I know have said the same thing - when they go back to their country of ancestry, _everybody_ there just treats them as an American. ---
**Author:** ![Uzi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/91b2a8/32.png) [@Uzi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uzi)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2002, 8:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stereotypes-of-americans/139801/55 "2002-12-03T08:20:12Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by featherlou \* > \*\*The list I provided were stereotypes that were strengthened rather than dissipated by my participation on this board. \*\* Hey, have you ever looked at the Calgary.General newsgroup? Discussions about all the things you say are stereotypical of Americans. Peope are people as in all the same. What makes them different is their cultures. And the US and Canadian cultures are essentially the same no matter how many times my fellow Canadians protest otherwise. ---
**Author:** ![tritone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8e7dd6/32.png) [@tritone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tritone)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2002, 8:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stereotypes-of-americans/139801/56 "2002-12-03T08:36:40Z")
I’ve come into contact with virtually all the sterotypes mentioned above. When I think of Americans in the abstract, the main thing I object to is their arrogance and parochialism (backed up by a very small sample of people I met while travelling in Europe). However, I don’t expect to apply these sterotypes to Americans I meet, any more than I would expect all New Zealanders to be sheep-obsessed, or all Tasmanians to be inbred [sub]well, maybe that last bit about Tasmanians…[/sub] If I meet a nice, friendly, open-minded, intelligent American person, then, great! I’ve got a new friend! And every country has its fair share of arseholes. ---
**Author:** ![Neurotik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/91b2a8/32.png) [@Neurotik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Neurotik)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2002, 12:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stereotypes-of-americans/139801/57 "2002-12-03T12:38:37Z")
The funniest thing I keep reading is how non-Americans feel that we are very parochial. It’s funny because it is so ridiculously true. What I’m not sure that non-Americans realize is how deep that parochialism runs. It’s not just about America…that’s just for non-Americans. It’s about states, regions, cities, neighborhoods, whatever. Get a northern Californian and a southern Californian together and watch the fur fly. Or a New Yorker and a Bostonian. Or a New Yorker and anybody, really. It’s quite an amusing national characteristic, and it may have something to do with our loyalty to sports teams. At least that’s my half-assed theory I just made up. ---
**Author:** ![Sparrow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Sparrow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sparrow)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2002, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stereotypes-of-americans/139801/58 "2002-12-03T15:32:38Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by ruadh \* > \*\*Same here in Ireland. > > One thing that’s surprised me here is how many Irish people think that Christmas isn’t really a big deal in America. They’ve heard so much about how big Thanksgiving is, they just assume it means Christmas _isn’t_. I guess they think you can’t have two big holidays or something. \*\* I still don’t think Christmas in the States is as big as it is in Ireland and the UK. Over here Christmas lasts from December 25th till January 1st! It’s BIG. ---
**Author:** ![Kantalooppi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/a5b964/32.png) [@Kantalooppi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kantalooppi)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2002, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stereotypes-of-americans/139801/59 "2002-12-03T16:00:06Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Neurotik \* > \*\*The funniest thing I keep reading is how non-Americans feel that we are very parochial. It’s funny because it is so ridiculously true. > > What I’m not sure that non-Americans realize is how deep that parochialism runs. It’s not just about America…that’s just for non-Americans. It’s about states, regions, cities, neighborhoods, whatever. Get a northern Californian and a southern Californian together and watch the fur fly. Or a New Yorker and a Bostonian. Or a New Yorker and anybody, really. It’s quite an amusing national characteristic, and it may have something to do with our loyalty to sports teams. At least that’s my half-assed theory I just made up. \*\* Sure, because there are no intra-national rivalries in other nations. Everyone in a given, non-American nation is exactly similar, speaks with a similar accent, and lives in complete brotherhood with everyone else, no matter where they’re from, as long as they’re from the same nation. Take Finland. There’s no rivalry between cities of Tampere and Turku, for example (no-one, and I mean no-one from Tampere has ever characterized Turku as “the asshole of Finland”), and no hard feelings between city of Helsinki and rest of Finland exist. Bothnians, Karelians, Savonians, Tavastians, Lapps - everyone is at one in being Finnish. And let’s not get to the warmest bond - the one between Swedish-speaking and Finnish-speaking Finns! And Finns most surely AREN’T loyal to their sport teams! :rolleyes: But maybe there’s something there. Maybe Americans are so parochial they are only willing to assign the humanizing characteristic of parochialism to themselves. Naah. I reckon every nationality’s similar, in the end. ---
**Author:** ![etv78](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d78d45/32.png) [@etv78](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/etv78)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2002, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stereotypes-of-americans/139801/60 "2002-12-03T20:32:08Z")
Why Bostonians are so parochial, especially about sports: We have a HUGE inferiority complex, especially towards NY, mostly due to Babe Ruth and that Buckner Guy. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stereotypes-of-americans/139801.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stereotypes-of-americans/139801.md?page=4)