I specified "U.S. Americans" because I see it as rather pretentious of U.S. citizens to use the term "American" to refer to their nationality, since an American is anyone who lives on any of the Americas.

Anywho, I'm curious to see how we come across--I know that a lot of people say U.S. citizens are arrogant, fat, with bone-crushing handshakes.

I'm a Californian (I'm pale, brunette, not particularly skinny, can't surf, and rarely go to the beach, by the way), and though I hate to use such a dirty word... what are the stereotypes typically applied to us? Why? Where did they stem from? What do you, as an individual, think, and what does your nation seems to think? What is the basis for those opinions?

What are the major differences between British & U.S. society? (I've heard talk about difference in humor?)
Do U.S. citizens come across as too blunt? Do we have "too many" questions? (I know I never run out of them, but I think that's more just a personal attribute rather than a matter of nationality)
Are we pale in certain aspects of life in contrast to other countries? Which? And which aspects of life do we seem to overdo?

Those are a few questions to get you started...

Stereotypes really bother me (so anecdotes about your experiences with individuals would be welcomed like a warm muffin), but this has caught my interest an I can't shake it off (>.<). This has been like a needy little kid, tugging at the pants of my mind all day.

Three words: "OH MY LORRRRD"
It's a running joke in my family about American tourists, as it seems to be one of the most common phrases you'll hear from them.

It's all in good fun though. My family has had several students from the US staying with us at various times. Most have been really lovely.

I think there's this idea that people from the US can't "handle" Australia. The stereotype is that they're freaked out by bugs (our spiders aren't THAT big...), can't stand the weather, only eat McDonald's and can be fooled with stories about drop-bears and Vegemite "sunscreen". I have found this to be partially accurate sometimes, with some of the girls who we've had stay with us from bigger cities. I think that's more to do with the city they came from (New York - they really weren't used to the wildlife!) than the country.

I find it funny how so many Americans want to be Irish, they always seem to stress any vague link in their family history to Irish blood - ''my cousin's grandad's stepsister's nephew's dog was Irish, therefore I am Irish'' kind of thing, ha!
They also come across to me as quite ignorant, with little knowledge about what goes on outside their own state/country... but that's a huge stereotype to make going from what I've seen from just a few people, I know.
Americans act a lot more friendly and enthusiastic and MUCH more well-mannered than here - I noticed so much while I was there the difference between people on the street and in shops, etc. than in Ireland - everyone was always so upbeat and chatty and polite!
In terms of fashion and style, I find Americans in general a lot less experimental and not very interesting at all in how they dress.
And obesity does spring to mind as well when I think of Americans... again, I know not ALL Americans are obese, but I think a lot more of the population are than in most countries.

DirtyMagic wrote:

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I find it funny how so many Americans want to be Irish, they always seem to stress any vague link in their family history to Irish blood - ''my cousin's grandad's stepsister's nephew's dog was Irish, therefore I am Irish'' kind of thing, ha!
They also come across to me as quite ignorant, with little knowledge about what goes on outside their own state/country... but that's a huge stereotype to make going from what I've seen from just a few people, I know.
Americans act a lot more friendly and enthusiastic and MUCH more well-mannered than here - I noticed so much while I was there the difference between people on the street and in shops, etc. than in Ireland - everyone was always so upbeat and chatty and polite!
In terms of fashion and style, I find Americans in general a lot less experimental and not very interesting at all in how they dress.
And obesity does spring to mind as well when I think of Americans... again, I know not ALL Americans are obese, but I think a lot more of the population are than in most countries.

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That's cause everyone thinks Irish people are beautiful here! My ex specified them as the sexiest ethnic group. Made me and my Croatian heritage cringe, lol.

As for ignorant? I won't try to dispute that. Most of my peers are pretty intelligent and aware--I hang out with the intelligent assholes--but outside of our group, it can be astounding how little some (not too many, but still, it isn't uncommon...) know and care to learn. And so few are even interested in different cultures! Oh, the horror!!

Chatty and enthusiastic? I never really noticed it, but I suppose you're right. Makes it hard for an introvert like me to be inconspicuous, though.

Dress? I totally agree. When I first attended a large school, my first year of high school, I was rather shocked at how everyone looked the same! Five girls in my PE class had the same hair, no joke... Long, layered, sidebangs. All parted on the same side. Like a lil prep army. And the fashion there was so utterly boring. They all dressed alike, and it was all so safe! Gah! All the girls told the same lies and all the guys dated the same lying bitches and it was so devoid of anything interesting I had to transfer the following year.  Hence my entrance to the groups that were composed of all the odd bits of society...

Obesity? Hmmm.... yes. Not much else to say about that.

What are the festivals like in Europe? I was reading about the Love Parade, where there were 1.5 million ravers? And Spain hosting the world's largest food fight? Anyone inclined to elaborate on festivals? We don't have anything that interesting here. The closest thing to that recently were all the No on Prop 8 protests in California.

I've never heard of nor encountered Americans with an extraordinary firm handshake?

The most common stereotypes about Americans are that they are rude, loud, ignorant and friendly.

The three negative ones are connected of course. Being loud is rude in itself, and it also broadcasts if one is ignorant. Most other people in the world use the strategy of shutting up and listen if they do not know the subject that is discussed, the stereotypical American will try to hijack the conversation by loudly insisting upon some absurd opinion and refuse to stop even when proved wrong. I've met stereotypical Americans a couple of times and it can be very irritating and tiresome.
I don't think Americans actually are more ignorant than other people, it's just that they often express themselves in ways that make them seem stupid. Plus, the truly stupid is allowed quite a lot of public attention and acceptance that they just don't get elsewhere.

On the positive side, there is the friendliness. The stereotypical American is very open and honest, explicitly trying to be nice to other people, and they are kings of the small talk. I don't think Americans are perceived as arrogant at all, rather the opposite. They seem very mindful of social situations, genuinely thinking that it is best if everyone is comfortable instead of playing absurd little powergames by hiding rudeness behind a thin veil of "manners".

Oh, and the stereotypical American for some reason think that they are heavy drinkers, while in reality they start behaving like monkeys after just a few beers and then fall asleep before the party have properly started :)

DirtyMagic wrote:

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I find it funny how so many Americans want to be Irish, they always seem to stress any vague link in their family history to Irish blood - ''my cousin's grandad's stepsister's nephew's dog was Irish, therefore I am Irish'' kind of thing, ha!
They also come across to me as quite ignorant, with little knowledge about what goes on outside their own state/country... but that's a huge stereotype to make going from what I've seen from just a few people, I know.
Americans act a lot more friendly and enthusiastic and MUCH more well-mannered than here - I noticed so much while I was there the difference between people on the street and in shops, etc. than in Ireland - everyone was always so upbeat and chatty and polite!
In terms of fashion and style, I find Americans in general a lot less experimental and not very interesting at all in how they dress.
And obesity does spring to mind as well when I think of Americans... again, I know not ALL Americans are obese, but I think a lot more of the population are than in most countries.

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Oh I find the whole Irish thing terribly funny too! I know about six "Irish" people.
They go OTT on St. Patrick's Day as well.
But yeah, I moved to the US from England when I was nine and I can honestly say that people either fit the stereotypes or they don't (Captain obvious?) But what I mean by that is that you will meet some big, fat, arrogant Americans in Wal Mart but you'll also meet some that aren't like that at all! My friends here are lovely.

 

I've been told several times by people from other countries dominated by the English language that our accents are very nasally and annoying (at least, the general mid-western USA accent at any rate). Whether or not this is true is beyond me, as I find it impossible to discern my actual accent in comparison to another's.

I'm afraid that the nasal thing is how the American language is perceived in countries that are not dominated by English too... But I don't think it is necessarily thought of as annoying.

I find some American accents annoying. I find that Southern one ("y'all" and whatnot) kind of cute, though.

^ Sometimes I kind of wish I had developed that accent... I have lived in Alabama for my whole life and I still sound as if I just moved here from Chicago... My dad, however, a Chicago native, sounds like any stereotypical southern gentleman these days...

Even my flute professor, who is from Chicago, took me for a Chicago native due to my accent and how well I know that area...

I got called "yankee", "Chicago", "Nois" and "Indiana" in highschool... But I have always held permanent residence in Alabama.