Why Are American's So Arrogant

[Nihil Obstat]

[quote name='Madame Vengier' post='1622869' date='Aug 9 2008, 04:46 PM']That's really sad.

Actually, the only thing I have heard of about foreigners' views of Americans that I know is SOLID (i.e. not made up) is that they think we are rude and pushy. And they expect that when they encounter Americans in their countries. There are those Americans who end up being the nightmare imagined and this only perpetuates the stereotype. But when it doesn't happen, the foreigners are happily surprised and then will treat us with the utmost graciouness. Most people just want to be treated nicely, with some manners, and the best is when you do that AND you show you are enjoying their country.

Maybe this would be different if I actually went to a country where they have more deep-seated feelings against us. Maybe then no matter how nice I was they would not accept me because of my nationality. So far I've not been to any such country.[/quote]
I hope that's correct. I really can't say. Maybe someone else here has a good idea?
Basically what we're 'taught' is that everyone hates America, but loves Canada because we're oh so much better than them.
I would definitely like to believe that these attitudes aren't as widespread as they appear.

[IcePrincessKRS]

[quote name='Nihil Obstat' post='1622870' date='Aug 9 2008, 06:50 PM']I hope that's correct. I really can't say. Maybe someone else here has a good idea?
Basically what we're 'taught' is that everyone hates America, but loves Canada because we're oh so much better than them.
I would definitely like to believe that these attitudes aren't as widespread as they appear.[/quote]

I can't really say anything about other countries, but when I was living in Korea they (the Koreans) loved the Americans (there were a few groups who you'd hear about occasionally that didn't, but I think thats pretty normal). They also seemed to love Canadians pretty well. I didn't really speak with any of them about Canada (it just never came up and for the most part there was a communication barrier), but I would occasionally see them wearing Canadian related clothing so they obviously liked you guys equally well.

[Nihil Obstat]

[quote name='IcePrincessKRS' post='1622879' date='Aug 9 2008, 05:11 PM']I can't really say anything about other countries, but when I was living in Korea they (the Koreans) loved the Americans (there were a few groups who you'd hear about occasionally that didn't, but I think thats pretty normal). They also seemed to love Canadians pretty well. I didn't really speak with any of them about Canada (it just never came up and for the most part there was a communication barrier), but I would occasionally see them wearing Canadian related clothing so they obviously liked you guys equally well. [/quote]
Good to know.
Maybe it has something to do with the Korean War? That's only speculation, because I don't know much about it.

[homeschoolmom]

When I was in HS travelling abroad, we were told by our chaperons that if anyone were to ask us where we were from, we were to tell them "Canada." We asked if we could pretend to be Australians; they said no. (Minnesotans can easily pass as having a Canadian accent to a non-English speaker, I guess.) This was back in the mid 80s when some of our foreign policy was not so well received in some parts of the world. But, it never really came up.... didn't really have crowds of people hankering to know where we were from...

I've been to Canada many times-- various parts. We've always liked going there.

As for Americans being perceived as pushy and rude... many of us are. I think that, too.

[Nihil Obstat]

[quote name='homeschoolmom' post='1622906' date='Aug 9 2008, 05:26 PM']When I was in HS travelling abroad, we were told by our chaperons that if anyone were to ask us where we were from, we were to tell them "Canada." We asked if we could pretend to be Australians; they said no. (Minnesotans can easily pass as having a Canadian accent to a non-English speaker, I guess.) This was back in the mid 80s when some of our foreign policy was not so well received in some parts of the world. But, it never really came up.... didn't really have crowds of people hankering to know where we were from...

I've been to Canada many times-- various parts. We've always liked going there.

As for Americans being perceived as pushy and rude... many of us are. I think that, too.[/quote]
Well I think that we can all agree that the only morally superior country is Vatican City.

[Justin86]

[quote name='Nihil Obstat' post='1622911' date='Aug 10 2008, 07:28 AM']Well I think that we can all agree that the only morally superior country is Vatican City. [/quote]

Indeed. Now if only they granted all Catholics some sort of legal rights in the City, and if it had more land, we could all move there, and eventually Catholics would be race, like Jews. How awesome would that be?

[Mercy me]

Are you proposing that we all move to Ave Maria?

[Nihil Obstat]

[quote name='Justin86' post='1622925' date='Aug 9 2008, 05:33 PM']Indeed. Now if only they granted all Catholics some sort of legal rights in the City, and if it had more land, we could all move there, and eventually Catholics would be race, like Jews. How awesome would that be? [/quote]
I guess it would be wrong to invade a larger country so that there's enough room?

[MissScripture]

[quote name='Nihil Obstat' post='1622833' date='Aug 9 2008, 04:06 PM']Something that we're always told... and I'm not really exaggerating, I do believe I've specifically been told this, is that the rest of the world "hates America" so much that we wear Canadian flags when we're overseas. Apparently that same 'rest of the world' thinks Canada is just the little darling child of North America, and I've been told specifically that people are nicer to you.
I have to say, I am proud of some parts of Canada. Although most of that has nothing to do with any policies we have. I don't really consider leaving, but that's mostly because everyone I know lives around me.
Maybe it is an inferiority complex... thinking about it, it makes sense. What I think though, is that it started that way with the people... older than me, I guess your generation. With my generation, most of us actually truly believe that America is an authoritarian police state with basically everything wrong with it that could ever be possible.
At least that's what my observations would indicate.[/quote]
We're told that the rest of the world hates America, too, actually. I honestly think the biggest reason for this is that too many Americans make a big deal out of it, and whine about how terrible America is. Quite frankly, if everyone hates America, why do we have problems with illegal immigrants?

And really, I have not encountered animosity towards Canadians from anyone that I know. Most people I know just think it's cool that you have different names for some things. lol.

[quote name='homeschoolmom' post='1622906' date='Aug 9 2008, 05:26 PM']When I was in HS travelling abroad, we were told by our chaperons that if anyone were to ask us where we were from, we were to tell them "Canada." We asked if we could pretend to be Australians; they said no. (Minnesotans can easily pass as having a Canadian accent to a non-English speaker, I guess.) This was back in the mid 80s when some of our foreign policy was not so well received in some parts of the world. But, it never really came up.... didn't really have crowds of people hankering to know where we were from...

I've been to Canada many times-- various parts. We've always liked going there.

As for Americans being perceived as pushy and rude... many of us are. I think that, too.[/quote]
They still tell that to people traveling abroad, at least they did at my brother's college.

[quote name='Nihil Obstat' post='1622911' date='Aug 9 2008, 05:28 PM']Well I think that we can all agree that the only morally superior country is Vatican City. [/quote]


[quote name='Mercy me' post='1622931' date='Aug 9 2008, 05:37 PM']Are you proposing that we all move to Ave Maria? [/quote]
YES! DO IT! DO IT!

[CatherineM]

One of my older brothers applied for an Irish passport to use when traveling. He says he feels safer.

As to Canadians, I have felt very welcome here, and it is obvious as soon as I open my mouth that I'm an American.

[Winchester]

The whole Katrina thing blows my mind. The failures in Katrina belonged solidly to the local and state governments in Louisiana.

[MissScripture]

[quote name='Winchester' post='1622952' date='Aug 9 2008, 05:59 PM']The whole Katrina thing blows my mind. The failures in Katrina belonged solidly to the local and state governments in Louisiana.[/quote]
Yes, but people love to hate Bush, so they'll blame anything on him. For crying out loud, they were blaming him for the shortage of flu vaccines a few years ago!

[Nihil Obstat]

[quote name='MissScripture' post='1622957' date='Aug 9 2008, 06:01 PM']Yes, but people love to hate Bush, so they'll blame anything on him. For crying out loud, they were blaming him for the shortage of flu vaccines a few years ago![/quote]
Think of anything imperfect in America, and someone I know will blame it on Bush.
The real trick is who can do it loudest, angriest, and with the most socialism. Religious bashing gives you bonus points.
If I had a nickel for every time I heard "dogmatic" applied in a negative way... I would probably have about three hundred and eighty three dollars. Canadian dollars.

[MissScripture]

[quote name='Nihil Obstat' post='1622963' date='Aug 9 2008, 06:05 PM']Think of anything imperfect in America, and someone I know will blame it on Bush.
The real trick is who can do it loudest, angriest, and with the most socialism. Religious bashing gives you bonus points.
If I had a nickel for every time I heard "dogmatic" applied in a negative way... I would probably have about three hundred and eighty three dollars. Canadian dollars.[/quote]
That isn't confined to Canada. In fact, I do know some people who would've liked to move to Canada because they disliked Bush so much.

My dad says, "I wish that Bush had the power they attribute to him. If that were the case, he would be able to control weather, disease and anything else that could possibly happen in the world."

[Nihil Obstat]

[quote name='MissScripture' post='1622967' date='Aug 9 2008, 06:09 PM']That isn't confined to Canada. In fact, I do know some people who would've liked to move to Canada because they disliked Bush so much.

My dad says, "I wish that Bush had the power they attribute to him. If that were the case, he would be able to control weather, disease and anything else that could possibly happen in the world."[/quote]
Doesn't surprise me. I haven't talked to all that many Americans, but I suppose I get the same impression.
Haha, if you ever open up an issue of the Rolling Stone, you'll be bombarded with people who want you to believe that the government is supported (or alternately and just as often supports) big business, and that none of them care about the poor honest hard working Americans who hate their government but can't do anything about it (because they're severely oppressed by either a corporate dominated government or a police state, depending on which article you read).
I used to have a subscription. That was a mistake.

Edited August 9, 2008 by Nihil Obstat