warrrreagl

Obviously, this thread is intended for the non-American members of the forum.

Have you ever met an American, and more importantly, what did you think? Do Americans live up to your expectations, or are they different? If so, how?

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Cynthetiq

hmmm... well being an American.. I've met other Americans.. Canadian Americans and Mexican Americans... They are both in North America and qualify as being American.

At least that's what my mexican friend keeps trying to convince me....

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WhoaitsZ

what are these....... Americans?

hmm

what's porn?

is Z a cool letter?

*so confused!*

bender

Yes, and for the most part they've been good people but just like in other places there are exceptions to the rule.
If you don't look for a chip on there shoulder the wont be looking for the one on yours, it applies to anyone.

4thTimeLucky

Did meet one. He was smart and liberal. Very disappointing.

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MrFlux

One of my mates is a Jewish American, he's got so many funny jokes, most of them are jewish ones too hehe. Not one of your stereotypical Americans at all

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Medicine. The discharge of large quantities of fluid material from the body, especially the discharge of watery feces from the intestines.

Charlatan

I am a Canadian and I've met Americans that meet the stereotype (loud, obnoxious and stupid) and I've met American's that defy the stereotype (and all shades inbetween).

What I can say that all Americans that I've met have one thing in common... a fierce pride in their country.

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warrrreagl

Jeez, Louise!

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splck

I've met and know lots of Americans. When I was a kid, I attended an American school while living in a foreign country. I also spent a few summers down in Florida (St Pete) visiting friends.
One of the things I've noticed over the years is how uninformed a lot of people are to world events (TFP excluded). I did meet some in Europe that made me roll my eyes, but I blame the person not the country.
For the most part, the people I’ve dealt with have been nice ordinary people that just want to live a peaceful normal life.

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nice line eh?

Lodius2000

i live in texas, but am from california, I have met and american. his name is named Sang. He had been in the country for 2 years when I met him in Sacramento California in the mid 90s. He moved to The US for the american dream. he was tired of his family living in a despot society. he wanted his kids to get a good education and go to college. he bought 5 acres of land and turned it into a strawberry patch. everyday for at least 6 months out of the year he and his entire family would spend each waking hour bent at the waist tending the plants. he made great money but not for nine people. it was still more money in 1 day than he had ever had in his life. I consider myself to have a pretty strong work ethic, but nothing compared to this man, if his children have his work ethic and a good education, they will be richer than they ever dreamed. Sang is not a citizen, but he is the most "american" american ive ever met

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bundy

i'm an Aussie, and i've met lots of Americans, or seppos as they are sometimes called here.

i've met some VERY intelligent Americans, and some EXTREMELY ignorant ones as well. just as i'm sure that you've all met dumb Aussies and smart Aussies.

having worked in the hospitality business for a while, i've met and seen some American tourists who have been incredibly offensive and arrogant. but yet even more, who have been remarkably generous, erudite and friendly.

one perception of Americans is that they are incredibly unaware of the rest of the world. but that just comes down to the individual like splck said.

oh, and another interesting thing i've noticed, is that all Americans that i've seen in the media, and met in real life, have an ability to talk endlessly, and/or aimlessly for long stretches of time. its as if Americans are trained at a young age to fill the air-time if they had a tv camera put in front of them.

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BillyBaldwin

It's a bad idea to group us. There are good people in America as well as bad. Also, what makes us so unique is that there is one of everything here. I bet no one could walk through San Francisco and not see all sorts of different people, Latino, Asian, White, Black, Gay, Straight.

For the foriegners who have met only idiot Americans, keep talking to people, and not just tourists.

warrrreagl

Bundy, that is an astounding observation, and one I can understand. BTW, where does "seppos" come from?

Ignore BillyBaldwin, because grouping Americans into a general perception is exactly what I asked you to do when I started this thread.

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Loki

Yeah. for one subject at uni, i teamed up with an American fellow. Pretty cool bloke, did his work on time and with excellent quality, and was generally fun to be around. (he seemed especially amazed at australian women for some reason... which was odd, because somehow i thought american women and australian women would be alike...)

Although i must admit his accent drove me gaa-gaa =)

MacGnG

well i am american and i have met non-americans and they were different from what i expected: they all know english they just dont wanna talk to you in english, lol, ok seriously tho most people in europe that i have meet are opened minded and didnt seem to treat me any different cause i was american

i didnt know what to expect and i was nicely surprised

suviko

I haven't been to States, so I've met americans only in Finland or somewhere abroad. The ones I have really spoken to and get to know a bit better have been intresting & intelligent people but they have been in here for some computer or rpg related event or as exchange student or guest lecturers for my university.

The random american tourist groups have been hella annoying. When japanese tourists walk up to some monument, one of them takes a picture and the other stand in front of it with stupid grins on their faces and then they switch the one holding the camera untill everybody have gotten to take a pic with everybody else in it. Americans do the same. With video camera. I had wanted to go to impressionist painter Claude Monet's garden since I was like 5 and then there's a family consisting of 5 huge americans and their frail grandmother standing on the famous japanese bridge and filming it for several minutes. I get excited that they are leaving but nahh, they are just changing the camera man! The same happened in Versail & Mont St Michel & Notre Dame & some other places..

nine

I quite often travel to the States for work (I'm from the UK). I have seen/met many sorts. Most are bright, funny and intelligent - characterised but not trying to stereotype as
- Very polite (even NY), but don't always say "please" when I would normally do so. The upwards inflection in their voice at the end of the requests is sometimes used instead
- Simply do not understand sarcasm - as a sense of humor
- Patriotic
- Very service oriented - you pay for eveything. One strange thing I notice is that tips are used to demonstrate how much money someon has, as much as they are used to tip good service -strange. American wear ther wealth on their collar

This is all obviously IMHO - and just based on my observations to date.

Do have one funny story when an Amercian work colleague came to the UK. She is intelligent, white collar and paid big money for what she does. But get this .... she actually got in an argument with a Black Cab driver who wouldn't accept dollars for the fare

Jack Ruby

I've seen some tourists here and there. Never talked to one.

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Shadowman

A new guy recently started at my workplace, and he's from Houston, Texas. He's only been in Australia for 7 years, so we can almost call him our own :P Anyway, its so interesting to talk to him about all the different things over there, and how society is so different. Heck, I even know what Wal-mart is now, and how its different to anything here! I must admit, I am very skeptical when it comes to talking to American (as in, the US) people, because of tv, etc. But I've met a few so far in my life, and they have all been totally and utterly fantastic, and every single one has taught me something new. It's good to learn!

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Shadowman

warrrreagl

The English wit is much more rapier sharp than American wit, IMO. I've found that the only AMerican counterpart to English sarcasm is Southern women; they can slice you to the bone with a smile on their faces, and you don't even feel it for the first several minutes.

And by the way, I keep seeing that several American members simply cannot hold their tongues and feel they must reply on the defensive to what's being said.

The purpose of this post was to hear what non-Americans think about Americans they've met, NOT to debate the merit of thier opinions. I'm just curious, that's all.

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Magpie0001

I've been pondering this Q all morning, I guess Im one of the people this Q is aimed at.
Im Irish, I now live in Madrid & Ive been to a few different places around europe.

I used to go out with a girl from Alabama, & I know what some people say about Peps from Alabama & Its not true. I visited Alabama, Atlanta, Florida for a bit too. Had a fucking ball, Loved the weather & gulleywashers are mental.
I met some wonderful, interesting people in the US. Musicians, Freaks, Ravers, Some guy in a second hand record store. (Im a bit of a wierdo) Guy in a kids toy shop. The Mall's pretty cool. Went to 6 flags, too crowded. Ball game too, Go Baves!
I also met some really strange people. Some Americans are annoyingly patriotic (sorry). Alot of them, especially young men, seemd to me a little hostile because I was from another country, Like they had to proove something. Teenage boys were worse, very macho, always wanting to arm wrestle or something. (please, no offence intended)
Im not blowing my own trumpet here but alot of girls over there were very affectionate to me, much to the frustration of my GF.
I felt sometimes like I was on display, The GF's parents forcing me to go to thier church (cult) & talk to old people who didnt know what to make of me.
I met a guy at a truckstop who didnt know where Europe was, never even heard of it! Thought it was in New Orleans. I think that guy was what you call a redneck. Speaking of rednecks, They sure do like thier trucks. & Nascar, fuckin ell, Nascar nuts.

And whats this about:

Me: Im Irish
Some Guy: No way, me too.
Me: Fuck!, really, where are you from?
SG: Birmingham.
Me: Riiiiiiiiight.

Having said that, almost everyone was super friendly, I think I answerd a million questions, Hospitality cant be faulted, Airports are pretty good, I love ATL.

The food is amazing, chinken things, grits, IHOP, chitlins, ocre! I fucking love ocre (sp?), Mexican food that enduces nosebleeds, Bubblegum flavour ice-cream, Massive piña colada flavour slushies, meatloaf.

I think thats all for now, maybe Ill edit later.

MEAD

At the risk of castration here I'll explain that. Most Americans have only been in the country a few genereations. Most of us when asked "What are you?" We will most likely reply where our ancestors came from. For example, I was born in Florida but I'd say I'm Polish, Irish and British. In America, much emphasis is put on where your family originated from.

greytone

It is "okra" and it is good deep fried or in gumbos (stews with a roux base usually with seafood as a main ingredients). Plain ole okra by itself is a strange vegetable because it comes with its own mucus. What other vegetable can claim that.

I think that the relative ignorance towards geography that you see in the US is because of the distances involved. In Europe, you can cross borders for a weekend trip. Most in the US will never visit another country. Most who do, do so as a "trip of a lifetime" that they save years for.

Foriegners are always "exotic" to members of the opposite sex and they are seen as a threat by members of the same sex. I have heard that Americans experience the same phenomenon in Europe.

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Magpie0001

Yeah I see the logic, but I am Irish, that guy was American. My ancestors were vikings but that doesnt make me a viking. Some guy thats never been outside Alabama telling me "he's Irish too" doesnt sounds a little odd.

Im not criticising here, just observing. My geography is probably worse than most anyways. I think europeans have the advantage coz we're surrounded by loads of other countries (or so they tell me!)

bluearmy

Americans met a load of them while on holiday in Majorca a few years back, turned out there was this huge air-craft carrier there with about 6000 personell in tow.
Being a Welsh man and the friendly type i will talk to anyone, but I do have to say that I found these lot hard work, especially the black guys who would glare at you if tried to strike up a conversation; is it a thing in the states that you just stick your own kind or what? Having said that there is a black guy from Newyork who lives in my area and is one of the friendliest funniest people you could ever meet. I just found it strange there being groups within groups.

suviko

bluearmy:

I think it's the fact that they are army men and you are a stranger wanting to chat with them, probably in a bar, that makes them reserved. Civilians might be another species altogether.

greytone

This is one area where is is certainly appropriate to criticize Americans. I am a little unusual in that I love to study maps. I know more geography than most. When I took history in school, l learned much of it by studying the maps in the textbooks. I am saddened that more Americans are not more interested in the rest of the world. In the last five years I have been to 23 nations and the big 3 of the US Virgin Islands. I am making up for lost time earlier in life.

Buearmy, I would discourage you from generallizing about your experience with Americans, especially if they were all or almost all Navy. Very few American will ever be to Majorca unless they are in the Navy.

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I was there to see beautiful naked women. So was everybody else. It's a common failing.
Robert A Heinlein in "They Do It With Mirrors"

Magpie0001

I dont know how reliable this is but I heard that 7% of americans have passports.

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bluearmy

I have re-read my own post and it does sound like I am generalising. That is not my general view of Americans that was just an experience l had a few years back, and a curious experience at that.

There are a lot of American tourists that visit my local city of Chester, and my experience of them and others is one that you would associate with any mix of individuals and ages, so please dont think that I hold a dim view of the American nation.

Sun Tzu

Im an American and have been through a good portion of the world. The only two places Ive received a rude demeanor from someone is the state I currently live in and Hawaii. Hawaii is a little understandable as it was a native Hawaii shaking his fist at me yelling "Its my Island!!"

The great thing about America which is not so common else where is people from every corner of the Earth call themselves American. The only other countries I've heard people have desires of giving up their citizenship (even Americans) to migrate to are Israel and New Zealand. Thats only what I've heard.

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Macheath

I once met Bones, but he just dismissed me as a weird hallucination.

jch41878

blah blah blah

Easytiger

I used to live in the states- in Los Angeles, to be precise, so I know a lot of Americans. I tend to agree with what Bundy said- they're pretty nice on the whole; some, like any other population, can be astoundingly ignorant; and damn, they can talk.

And warrrreagl, FYI "Seppo" comes from the rhyming slang for "Yank"- "septic tank". Now you know.

warrrreagl

No need to apologize, because that's EXACTLY why I created this thread. I WANT to hear generalizations about Americans.

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Tirian

Everything I know about Americans I learned by watching Elimi-date. :-)

I'm kidding, I've met lots of Americans. Used to work retail in a store along the Alaska highway in Canada, and met lots of Americans travelling to Alaska. Also I have been in the U.S.A. a few times myself.

My impression has been that Americans can be exactly as they appear on bad T.V. shows, but once you get to know them a little more, the real person emerges.

But seriously I hope less Americans are like the ones on reality and talk shows than statistics would dictate.

suviko

I still remember when Jerry Springer & Ricky Lake Shows came here. That was a shock. Sure there's weirdos in every country, but.. Teenage sisters were pregnant both for older sister's boyfriend who had then confessed that there was a third teenage-mother-to-be. A wife wants to follow his husband with camera crew, thinks he is having an affair, but no, he went to Ku Klux Klan meeting. Audience laughs and adds insults to injury. After seeing a few shows my granma voiced her opinion that it might be better that my cousin wouldn't spend her last high school year abroad in a country like this. She did and had gained a bit weight when she came back and I haven't heard that granma would have complained again afterwards.

homerhop

Well , I have not met any Americans other than family that have come over here to visit, and the dreaded tourists.
I have noticed as stated here already the humour is different.
looking at posts here in the TFP for the last year or so you can get a good feel of how the majority of Americans think.
When I started talking to them they were very friendly and helpful which is no different than most places in the world.

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XenuHubbard

I've met quite a few. Spent a few months in the states.

The funniest one was the old American lady visiting Stockholm, asking my friend for directions. After recieving instructions how to get whereever she wanted to go, she turned to him and said;
"I've heard you have the same problem here with Vikings as we do back home with the niggers".

Silence ensued. For about half an hour. Then it slowly became kind of funny.

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Nad Adam

I'm from Sweden. I met a couple of mormon missionaries a couple of weeks ago, they where nice but I didn't get a chance to talk much to them.

I have met quite a few americans, both while working and since I have quite a lot of family over there. My general impression is that they are like europeans in general but much louder, for good and for bad.

If I could point out one thing that I've seen that seems to be typicly american that would have to be the false optimism. Even if they don't belive in something everything is "great" and "yeah let's go" just to avoid making someone disappointed face to face. That can be confusing until you get the hang of it.

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Meridae'n

I went to uni with a great bloke who was from Anchorage. Matt had a crash course in the Aussie imagination the first time he turned up at Rugby training, when, to his initial objections, we named him 'Alaska'. Yep, we're a bunch of thinkers, we think things. He had a go at just about everything that had anything to do with our culture and could skull beer like the wind blows.

Also lived with a guy from North Carolina called Tre. He was a bit more a stereotypical American (i one exists at all) but was still a great bloke. Loved the fact that he could call someone a 'cunt' here and not get beaten up.

All in all i've found American men that come to Australia to be great blokes who love beer and women, and that'll win me over everytime! The women, though, seem to spend most of their time here telling us how far behind our television is, whinging that we don't have the shopping there is back home, and tend not to sleep with anyone while over here. I'm sure i've just ran into the wrong ones...

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