Usa?

[karloff]

How do the average British person feel about americans?

[LoftyLottie]

I agree ummmm, and I think they put on a show of having wonderful morals. Superficial. But it's a huge country and I am quite sure I base my opinions on what I see of Americans in this country and in Europe. They are very 'plastic'. And as for the republicans and their god fearing ways................. :o(

Not you though Pasta ;o)

[Kiki-frog]

I know two ex-pat Americans living in Britain, and they are both delightful people.

Having said that, I think US foreign policy sucks and smacks of colonialism (and I can't help wondering if that's what's at the heart of your question). But that's US government policy, and not necessarily a reflection of what individual Americans are like.

[pastafreak]

But RATTER...you did lump together all the ones you have known,as they all fit into a particular *view* that you have of them/us.

Also...I can't imagine ever saying I'd not have *any* desire to visit a particular country....that's how we learn...and if after we've visited,opinions are either changed or stay the same-at least those opinions are based on first hand knowledge.

[Graham-W]

Two nations, divided by a common language.
I'm luck enough to be going to the USA on wed. for two weeks. I'll let you know when I get back. (I'm off to Orlando so it won't be the "real" America).

[Davethedog]

I think that most appear to be gullible, you keep telling us its the land of the free, yet nearly every week you prove you aren't.

Also your politicians are scary, very scary - I am one person, so I cannot speak for Britain, just me.

When I went the US I was pleasently suprised, but then people are people when you get past the stereotyping.

I have to ask how any country can decry social medical care as communist when 25m ave no access to health care.

[LoftyLottie]

Can't stand 'brash' and overpowering Sqad!! ;o).

The worse place I can think of going is Florida on holiday and Disney World etc. You would have to pay me to go.

[jno]

you'd have said the same about British policy 100 years ago, Kiki.

[LoftyLottie]

//I think that most appear to be gullible, you keep telling us its the land of the free, yet nearly every week you prove you aren't.//

That is exactly what I meant by naive. They seem to think that the world envies America and Americans. Little do they know.

[LoftyLottie]

Sorry Graham. I posted at much the same time as you. Rather unfortunate. I hope you have a lovely time.

[237SJ]

I could go on forever (but I won`t). I find them generally quite approachable. They are quite obliging. I don`t find them "loud" in America but I do find they appear loud when in other, more gentle parts of the world. I`ve moved tables in restaurants a couple of times to get away from their loud voices booming over my space. I like the old fashioned kind of curtesy they have. Like anywhere they vary according to where you go. I find New Yorkers quite abrasive but they are less so since 9/11. I find that if you are in a "situation" if anyone complains it will be the Americans. They do it constructively rather than whinge though.

[Kiki-frog]

Funnily enough, jno, I was going to say just that, but then I knew someone would pick me up on the exact definition of colonial, so I didn't bother! (i.e. the USA hasn't colonised countries in the same sense that Britain, France, Netherlands, etc. did. Although I guess the Moon is still up for grabs.)

Yes, I agree with you absolutely.

[pastafreak]

You may not care for 'brash and overpowering' Lottie.....but if I compare meeting an American for the first time-with meeting a Brit - the American will be far more open and welcoming. That's one thing I've yet to get used to here.....it can take ages to get to know people. It's as if there is a wall....so much so-I give up after a while. *sigh*

There is lots I don't like about America....that's probably why I am still here. I also know that alot of what may be seen via the media-TV in particular- is chosen for effect,to get a reaction.

[Sqad]

237SJ...I agree with your comments.
Two episodes in my life come to mind concerning Americans:

At Med School in London we had three American medical students come over for a period of six months........they were invariably delightful, in no way brash or arrogant and were as "bright as buttons" intellectually.

After I qualified, an administrator from the Loma Linda University in California,came over to try to persuade me to go to California for a couple of years and to my lifetime regret, I didn't go. He was from Texas San Antonio and Mrs sqad invited him to Sunday lunch with roast beef and roast potatoes ect.
I carved nice thin slices for him which he devoured in seconds and when i suggested that he helped himself to a second helping of beef, he cut himself a piece which must have been three inches in thickness.

Since that time i have come into contact with many Americans and today we keep in contact.

[zebo]

We've visited the USA a few times and generally we met some great people. That said, there is a degree of naivety because so many have never travelled out of the US, in fact we've met many who've never travelled much in the US, they think we're mad making long road trips.
There is a tendancy to assume bigger is better, having driven up from Santa Fe to Cortez we were expected to admire the hours of not much, but on being told we prefer quality to quantity people we were talking to were surprised.
We watched a military tattoo in Washington, drill performed on grass of all things, and the commentry called this "the finest drill team in the world", at which there was general hysteria. It was OK, that's all.
Overall, I love visiting, looking forward to my next trip, viva la difference!

[LoftyLottie]

Pasta I consider myself outgoing and welcoming, probably a lot more than a lot of Brits. But sometimes I find Americans just too much and not very genuine with their welcoming advances. I suppose I just don't like what I consider falseness - the 'Have a Nice Day' type of attitude.

But of course I haven't been to America and have only come across them out of their own country.

We are cruising the Russian Waterways in a couple of months and I have just read that the ship we are going on is a favourite with the Americans!! ;o). So perhaps I will change my mind!!

[RATTER15]

Pasta, lighten up.

I also said: >>I must admit to not knowing many Americans<< Im hardly trying to create an image of all Americans. We all get branded no matter where we come from, The Welsh are sheepsh@ggers, the Scots are all drunks, the Irish are all thick, and im Devonian so I cant talk without saying oooh argh!! all the time.

[China Doll]

I've met a few americans and mostly they have been very nice. However when out and about, I have found large groups of americans to be loud, overbearing and quite rude and patronising, particularly to other cultures. I find some of thier politics scary, I find the fact they are one of the richest countries in the world with people living in utter poverty outrageous (as I do with this country), and I generall think that America is most certainly not the land of the free, it's the land of money. I don't have very much interest in visiting but that is not exclusive to America, I also don't have much interest in visiting India or China for example.

I don't really think we have a 'special realtionship' with America either.

[craft1948]

I had no feelings whatsoever about them until I had to work with them for 2 years................the kindest thing I can say is they talk a good job.

[joko]

met a fair few in my time, through work and college etc... i cant say i have disliked any, though one girl was a pain in the hoop...nice enough but the most self absorbed person i have ever met.

id say all the stereotypes are true - thats why they become stereotypes - there were numerous examples of one thing or another - but they dont apply to all americans.... anymore that all scousers are hilarious thieves, all brummies are thick and all geordies are hard... etc

[ludwig]

I used to work with an ex-pat American. He was unlike any of the usual stereotypes. Very quiet, polite, self-effacing. That's probably why he was an ex-pat. Perhaps he didn't fit in there.

I've been to Canada a few times but only strayed over the border once. The memory I have is of people looking at me in terror as if I'd just landed in a space ship when I spoke, and I don't have a strong regional accent - or look particularly alien or scary.

Another occasion that sticks in the memory was at a tourist spot in this country when a coachload of what looked like retired Americans piled out and started surveying the ruins. This one particular old guy was taking a photo of his wife in standing in front of the Abbey, and I thought I'd play the friendly local, and asked if he'd like me to take a picture of the two of them standing there, so they had one with both of them in.

There was the same look of terror I'd had in America, and he sheepishly handed over the camera as if I was mugging him. They both stood there with terrified and confused expressions while I took the picture, and neither of them said a word from beginning to end of the whole encounter.
And, no they weren't deaf. they'd been happily chatting away in an 'oh my gaaaad Gloria, aren't those thatched caaddages cute?' kind of way just beforehand.

It was as if they thought the whole place was a theme park, and they thought one of the animatronic models had come alive and started talking to them.

In summary, the ones I've haven't been unpleasant, but I think they probably need to get out more.