Are Americans arrogant?

[Pogue]

Were the ones you met people that you met outside of the US? That might explain why they were all really friendly. In all seriousness, it is my personally impression that the act of leaving the US on vacation or something filters out a lot of the annoying ones.

They were, as it happens. Over here, Americans have a reputation for being quite friendly, but one of my teachers said that individuals can be friendly, but as a nation, a lot of arrogance can come across. Whether this has any truth in it or not is a different matter.

 

[trunks2k]

They were, as it happens. Over here, Americans have a reputation for being quite friendly, but one of my teachers said that individuals can be friendly, but as a nation, a lot of arrogance can come across. Whether this has any truth in it or not is a different matter.

I think the filtering is even more so that you are in Wales. You already have a filter for people venturing outside the US, add to that the fact that you aren't exactly in a hot spot for international tourism. The more annoying tourists and such are likely to head for the major destinations like Paris.

On a totally unrelated note, there was a funny episode of Doctor Who on the other night which consisted mostly of making fun of Wales.

 

[Pogue]

On a totally unrelated note, there was a funny episode of Doctor Who on the other night which consisted mostly of making fun of Wales.

We'll be cool again one day!

We already are!

 

[mpshiel]

Is an assumption that the only viewpoint that matters being limited to an american one one of arrogence? I would say yes. Over the last five to six years study after study have found that when originally other western nations would follow US policy lead 80%+ of the time; now it is 30% or lower (way lower in Mexico - what exactly are you guys doing to mexico?) - and everytime I have brought it up the response has been: "Who gives a darn what some (insert other nation) thinks here?" - of course, this extends to people saying, as the welsh person said earlier, "You don't have the right to comment on (insert topic here - like Iraq)" even when the nation in question may actually be in a "cooperative" military situation with the US.

Does the US citizen care if thier politicians or presidents say or do things which offend another leader of a UN recognized nation (or the peoples)? No. And why should they, in the last 16 years the US has invaded and siezed the heads of many leaders of many nations - more in fact than any other nation in the world during that period.

There is a European Joke that the US foriegn education program is based on invasion: find out about other lands through CNN coverage. "Ohhhhh, that's where Pakistan and Afganistan are?"

Do the neighbors of the US think the nation or national policy is arrogent. No question. Canada has been using the analogy of the elephant and the mouse for 50 years (that when you are a mouse sleeping next to an elephant, even when he doesn't mean to hurt you and rolls over in his sleep, his intent doesn't matter). Since resources are Canada's main export the treatment of things like Salmon and Softwood Timber give an example of the US's view of Canada (as does diverting planes into Canadian airspace that are suspected of being terrorist bombs without telling Canadian authorities as during 9/11). The current "safety" policy put in place has finally ended the longest peaceful border in the world, at the US's request - now all Canadians are required to have passports and go through extensive screenings to enter the US - and the US is charging $5 to each Canadian to help pay for it (kind of moves the phrase "good neighbor" to "Crafty neighbor")

As for your education system - yes, the US focuses on itself - when I was in the US system I memorized the 50 states. When I was in the Candian system I memorized the provinces....and the 50 states (and the countries of the "empire" - long may she reign, sniff!). But hey, I am assuming that Americans still classify themselves as equally intellegent as the rest of the world. It doesn't take a genius to go to www.bbc.co.uk or any of the other world news services in this day and age. So if you day is consumed with who inherits Anna's money instead of Train bombings in India, the changing view of the monarch in Nepal, the ongoing coup in Thailand, the economic change in Japan, the resurgence of the Kyoto agreement, anti-anorexia movements in Latin American and European models, concern over ASBO's as evading legal rights, and why Venezuala is funding for hundreds of thousands of American's fuel bills then.......I dunno, you can pick the word which best describes the viewpoint - but "global village" isn't quite it.

 

[mpshiel]

On a totally unrelated note, there was a funny episode of Doctor Who on the other night which consisted mostly of making fun of Wales.

Hey, if Torchwood is set in Cardiff, how can it be uncool? (Torchwood is the spinoff of Dr. Who lead by a man from the future and his bisexual gang searching out mystery)

Cardiff also has the world's leading cold and flu center (okay, maybe that's not something I'd really brag about).

 

[trunks2k]

Hey, if Torchwood is set in Cardiff, how can it be uncool? (Torchwood is the spinoff of Dr. Who lead by a man from the future and his bisexual gang searching out mystery)

You mean the captain that first appeared in the episode with the really creepy kid with a gas mask for a face?

 

[SimplyMe]

I don't really think it works to make generalisations about so many people, and the very few Americans I've met face to face have been really friendly. But then, I've been told on these very forums that I'm not allowed to debate about 'American' issues, like the Iraq war, because I couldn't possibly know about it, as I'm not American. So, like in every other country, there has to be a mix of people.

And, at the same time, I've noticed those same people who try to say you should have no opinions about American policy do not hesitate to express what the policy should be in other countries.

 

[Arnold_Philips]

There is a European Joke that the US foriegn education program is based on invasion: find out about other lands through CNN coverage. "Ohhhhh, that's where Pakistan and Afganistan are?"

The version of the joke I heard is, "War is God's way of teaching geography to Americans."

 

[Pogue]

And, at the same time, I've noticed those same people who try to say you should have no opinions about American policy do not hesitate to express what the policy should be in other countries.

Exactamondo. I've been told that I live in a country governed by Sharia law. Not last time I looked

 

[sparklecat]

- Really important stuff that is responsible for shaping the modern world and would be important to understand happened after world war II? No way. Nothing happened after WWII. NOTHING.

What, you didn't get the one day coverage of Vietnam and how we totally won and only left because we'd accomplished what we intended to?

 

[EnemyPartyII]

And, at the same time, I've noticed those same people who try to say you should have no opinions about American policy do not hesitate to express what the policy should be in other countries.

Ah, you've noticed that too? Interesting... also, occured to me today that the American in here last night automatically assuming that Americans are the most charitable nation, without checking the stats, is an example of American arrogance...

I like America, really I do... but Americans ARE insular and arrogant, not in an agressive way, or with any kind of malice, they just automatically assume they have all the answers and any other alternative simply doesn't seem to occur to them.

For example, I have had several conversations with Americans who can't quite grasp the concept that the U.S. constitution doesn't mean anything in Australia. Seriously, I'm in the Army, and have had quite heated discussions with Americans in airports about defence matters, who cite their various constitutional rights as though they have some sort of validity or primacy here.

Its not that they MEAN to be arrogant, but their education and culture is so triumphal and self referential that the idea that anyone would even WANT to do things differently, let alone have the gall to question or impact on the way Americans think things should be done just doesn't occur.

 

[paperkate]

...and I will never ever get tired of laughing at the American tourists who are surprised they can't pay in dollars in the UK. Oooh, the look of confusion on their faces is *precious*.

Oooh ho ho ho!

Arrogance or sheer stupidity? I don't know...it's so hard to choose!

(and I'm American!)

 

[trunks2k]

...and I will never ever get tired of laughing at the American tourists who are surprised they can't pay in dollars in the UK. Oooh, the look of confusion on their faces is *precious*.

I did something like that when I was in London a while ago. I tried to pay for some beer in Euros. I got a bit confused because I coulda sworn the 10 Euro note I had was a 10 GBP note and then a little more confused because I was under the impression that even though the UK was using the GBP, places would still accept Euros. But I didn't argue or anything I just said "oops, I thought that was pounds, not Euros" and payed with a credit card.

 

[MoonlessNight]

...and I will never ever get tired of laughing at the American tourists who are surprised they can't pay in dollars in the UK. Oooh, the look of confusion on their faces is *precious*.

Oooh ho ho ho!

Arrogance or sheer stupidity? I don't know...it's so hard to choose!

(and I'm American!)

The last time that I was in Gibraltar a lot of places actually accepted dollars, but it was easy to see that the price in dollars was always three or four times the price in pounds (after conversion). That's one way to deal with it.

 

[JohnR7]

Some people say Americans are arrogant, and don't care about other countries. Is it the case? What about yourself?

If I am in a third world nation, I have more compassion then when I am sitting at home in America. If I am there I would not think of taking more then what I need so as to deprive another person of something that they need a lot more then I do. But here in America we do not see their need so it is easy to forget about them. It is easy to spend money on excess that we do not need and deprive them of things they do need.

 

[JohnR7]

a lot of places actually accepted dollars

Of course they accept dollars because they charge you a little bit on the exchange rate so they make money.

 

[Bombila]

This (American arrogance and/or lack of education about the world) is a topic around the globe. I always feel bad about it though, because inevitably, the only Americans you can actually discuss it with are the ones who are educated and not arrogant. Seems so unfair to them.

I'd say Americans I have met, in and out of the US are about 50/50 for these attributes. Except Boston, where I found only lovely people, although, come to think of it, half of them were Irish and Welsh. In Florida I met with shocking ignorance at times.

American tourists range from lovely to loony (like the guy who surrounded his family camper with rolls of barbed wire to keep the bears and wolves at bay - in the Nat. Park campground in Cape Breton).

 

[InterestedAtheist]

Judging by what I see on the Crevo forums, I wouldn't be susprised if quite a few American tourists have a nasty shock the first time they see a ten pound note!

 

[Jetgirl]

Some people say Americans are arrogant, and don't care about other countries. Is it the case? What about yourself?

Some people think that pride in what you have and what you've built is arrogance.

In that case so am I.

I voted "other" however. I don't particularly care, but if there was a better country I'd already be living there.

 

[Bombila]

Some people think that pride in what you have and what you've built is arrogance.

In that case so am I.

I voted "other" however. I don't particularly care, but if there was a better country I'd already be living there.

Surveys and studies by a variety of organizations routinely place the US a dozen or more countries down the list of 'best countries to live in'. Norway is often at the top.