Americans

[con-amca]

Why do so many people in Britain dislike Americans so much? I have worked with them, mixed socially with them, visited them in their homes, and always I have found them very much the same as us. They are friendly, generous to a fault, and most of them (that I have met) are very much Anglophile. The only exceptions have been a few, a very few, of Irish descent, and perhaps that is understandable. Perhaps the most striking difference is their use of the language. But we can scarcely complain of that - after all, we soon latch on to their phrases and sayings and use them ourselves. Perhaps the faults, imagined or otherwise, of their politics and government are to blame. But do not forget that they have twice in the twentieth century come to our aid in world wars. We welcomed their soldiers then, and many of us fought alongside them. They were on our side during the Falklands war too, and provided much intelligence, albeit covertly for the most part. I for one find it very sad, and largely unreasoning, that there is so much anti-Americanism in Britain today.

[reinganum]

I can only assume part of the reason is because we get a somewhat distorted view of the U.S. through our TV channels. Our TV channels buy a large amount of U.S. material but it doesn't begin to reflect the enormous diversity of that country. Also, the TV rather tends to reinforce the stereotypes. For example: all "teen" drama series seem invariably to be set in California; sassy comedies are usually set in NYC or other parts of the East Coast; horror/slasher movies are usually set in the South, and so on. Yes, I know there are exceptions, but that's how it seems to me.

One observation, though: I've worked with Americans, and been on holiday with them, and almost without exception they have better manners than the Brits (or other Europeans).

[pastafreak]

Maybe it has something to do with the use of language-it is easier to identify oneself by WHERE you are from and I suppose it could be argued that to be an "american" is just an abbreviated version of 'one who comes from the United States of america'...gee,does that make sense???

[La Diva]

Like many Brits, I think of Americans as friendly, hospitable and sociable. I've visited USA many times and many places and I love �em - as individuals.

But it seems to be a country of extremes � rich or poor, obese or ultra-thin, unhealthy or fitness freak.

Get a pack of them together � like a sporting event � and they really are unsportsmanlike. They have to win at any cost.

And don�t they talk to excess? It�s as though they have verbal dire rear. Ask them the time, and they�ll tell you how their watch was made and more.

I hate the way the world is becoming more and more Americanised so I refuse to use words like soccer (football), apartment (flat), garbage (rubbish), pants (trousers) etc. I even refuse to visit Macdonalds and Starbucks!

I watched a TV programme the other week and one American woman was boasting to her ex-boyfriend that she �had visited all 50 states in this WORLD�. And that about sums them up.

Pastafreak, I agree that they are rather isolated and see the rest of the world revolving around them. Would you ever move back to your country?

My worst fear is that we really will become their 51st state.

For all their faults, and in general, I love �em (but only as individuals!)

[con-amca]

I see what you mean, ReinaLuna, about people from the
USA calling themselves "Americans". But of course
the difference is that when asked your nationality you
have a straightforward reply - "I'm Brazilian". Someone
from the States has no ready-made national adjective.
He could say "I'm from the United States of America",
but that's a mouthful. So he just says "I'm American",
and everyone knows where he's from. Pastafreak has
got it right.

And I agree with you, reinganum. American television
shows do much to colour our view of the American way
of life. Just as, I suppose, ours have a similar effect on
them.

I think that, from the various replies to my original
question, most of us have a liking for Americans in
general. And so we should, in my opinion. As a nation
we have a great deal more in common with them than
with any other country (Canada, Australia and New
Zealand excepted, naturally). They have their faults, of
course. But no more than anyone else, certainly no
more than us. There's a lot in what reinganum says
about manners. Currently, in Britain, manners are at
a very low ebb, and don't look like improving.

And caz1975 mentions patriotism. I had thought of
introducing a thread on this subject, but this seems
to have been done before on the AB, and not too
long ago.

La Diva makes some telling points. But compare her (?)
observation concerning their obsession with winning to
the behaviour at almost any football match in Britain.
Players and spectators both don't mind to what lengths
they go in order to win the game.

Finally, I thank you all for your contributions to what
has been, to me, an interesting discussion.