a question for people outside of north america

[Tallim]

For some reason, im not exactly sure why, Americans are considered to be... kind of annoying., Thats what some people here in England (not Britain necessarily) seem to think, at least in my experience.

That's funny, since British tourists are generally regarded as the worst kind of drunken annoyance, anywhere. (No offense; but there were surveys so you can look it up.) People from NA are rather known to be pretty calm, unless someone carelessly starts discussing international politics or, God forbid, terrorism, in which case there's no way to shut them up...

Haha, oh yes, you're absolutely right about the whole drunkeness thing. We have a real culture of "binge drinking" in Britain. I partake in excess drinking on occassions, and its a lot of fun, so long as you do it responsibly (that sounds like an oxymoron, but it is possible to get drunk and not become a reckless fool)
Where it causes problems is when certain Britons take it too far, getting into criminal stupidity, or... when they do it abroad, thoroughly pissing off the locals. I feel deep shame when i see pictures plastered across a newspaper of drunken idiotic Britons messing up another country and making asses of themselves.
On behalf of their stupidity, i apologise...

Ironically it was some American tourists who got ME in a fight at a pub when I was younger. They were mouthing off and flinging insults at someone inside. Once the pub closed apparently (I didn't know what had happened first hand, I was told later) a friend of the person who they had been rousing up approached them outside demanding to know who had been flinging the insults.

Rather than admit it was them they pointed me out as I was walking up the road. I get a tap on the shoulder, turn around and get a fist to the face. There was a brief scuffle but someone pointed out that it hadn't been me and they wandered off.

Then the Americans came up and apologised. I'm still not sure if that actually made me feel better about it or worse.

 

[Eolon]

I think it depends on the country, region ,etc. But for most countries, no.
For example, here in Portugal we will treat you the same if you are American, Japanese, Canadian, etc. In the end of the day it really just comes down to the hospitality of the zone or your friendliness.

 

[Zykon TheLich]

I'd

 

[Ris]

I'm a Brit, and I actually view both Americans and Canadians as considerably more friendly than anyone native to my own country. Several notable people (Stephen Fry, Evelyn Waugh, other that I typically can't remember) have said the same thing. I wouldn't treat you badly if I mistook you for an American - and as for muggers, well... tourists will always be targeted. Quibbling about nationality wont change that one.

Carrying an emblem might make me a tad cynical towards you, though. There's nothing that says "obnoxious tourist" more than someone walking around in a foreign country with a massive novelty hat/bag/flag in their own nation's colours, regardless of where they're actually from. Mention that you're Canadian in conversation if you feel some hostility towards you, but I'd really advise laying off the flags; or at the very least, just make it a small pin on your jacket or something.

 

[Chased]

I have read a book that suggested US-Americans to put a Canadian flag emblem on their backpacks to be treated better by natives of their vacation country and to avoid discussions and accusation about american politics and stuff.
But well...it was a humorous book...
And if you are not a Canadian, you would probably not be able to answer and react to questions about Canada.

I think this would be far worse (and a lot funnier) than just telling people you're American. Would be especially great if you met a Canadian whilst bearing their flag.

 

[PhiMed]

In this thread: People who don't understand that treating Americans like assholes will virtually guarantee that you will be treated in kind with assholish behavior, regardless of the personality of the recipient of the asshole-related treatment.

See also: self-fulfilling prophecy.

 

[emeraldrafael]

I'm from America, but I've done alot of outside the country travelling, and so far as I know, the biggest reason I always told to not go out of my way to say I'm American is because you're more likely to be in danger by countries that dont like America. So a Terrorist is more likely to kill you, or you're more likely to be abducted because they think that the American government will pay more for you back.

 

[DanDanikov]

On the one hand, I'd say it's just a joke at the expense of Americans.

On the other, if someone is drunk enough and stupid enough, claiming to be a Canadian could calm people down- I know when the Pure Pwnage guys visited London they got a little lip from some people on the street until they said they were Canadian, so... I do think there's potential for good results from that.

 

[Nerf Ninja]

I work in an airport and see a lot of different tourists from all over the world and pretty much most of them are exactly the same. Just be polite and only correct their thinking if they themselves aren't.

Being English I think the worst tourists would be English lads in the 18-30 age bracket going to get pissed in some hot hellhole. Whenever we have tv shows about those twats I always want to go on a machine gun rampage there.

As I said I work in an airport so I see this a lot but can someone explain to me why British tourist morons feel the need to get dressed in matching t-shirts, pink cowgirl hats or as I saw last week cavemen costumes? Seriously, thirty knobheads all dressed like Fred Flintstone!

 

[Vie]

I live in a city that gets a lot of American tourists, oh the joys, and can state for a fact that prices for kitsch items go up whenever American accents come onto the scene.

Also a strange plague of "Ye Olde English" signage seems to blight the land. Every Bloody Summer.

 

[iLikeHippos]

In my honest opinion, (Which is a blunt one, mind) I couldn't give two shits if you came from hell. It is your individuality that will foremost strike me on meeting; not the country that bred you.

That said, I would say that a flag is not necessary for the locals to immediately identify you. They simply go on with their daily lives, not batting an eye to another person most of the time. If they see a flag on your person, they'll just shrug and think "how about that..." for a slight moment before continuing on. It is first when you interact with a local individual that you could progress and perhaps have use of the flag for them to identify you, though by a very slight margin.

Racism for other countries exists, but it is HARDLY open, and no one would say a bad thing about you here.
In short, they don't care that much for it.

So, in the conclusion I propose, I'd suggest you put a flag on if it makes you feel better. Otherwise, no need to bother.

 

[The Almighty Aardvark]

I have read a book that suggested US-Americans to put a Canadian flag emblem on their backpacks to be treated better by natives of their vacation country and to avoid discussions and accusation about american politics and stuff.
But well...it was a humorous book...
And if you are not a Canadian, you would probably not be able to answer and react to questions about Canada.

Actually, suprisingly enough you probably could. I'm Canadian and pretty much every foreign person I have met when I travel had no idea about anything involving Canada. There were actually a fair few people who thought that it was part of the US. So as long as you can BS with a straight face you should be fine.

OT: While it is an unfortunate stereotype, and often innaccurate, Americans do have a bad rep overseas. I don't know if you'd need to identify yourself as a Canadian though. I spent a month in India without broadcasting my nationality and I didn't get any negative attention. I say don't worry about it.

 

[Quaxar]

Well, hard to answer, i've never met an unfreindly canadian

I hear they have special high-security prison for them.

 

[Laser Priest]

Not really. Everywhere I know of hates tourists.

Dress with no reference to your country and try to master accents or people will hate you because you're on vacation.

 

[Gigano]

I wouldn't treat a Canadian and an American different.

Based on what little I know about Canada, most of its population would get along well with Scandinavians, and with America, the individual(ist) differences are seemingly so vast that you can't really tell in advance what ideals an American individual is likely to hold; but the fact that they've travelled outside America in the first place is likely to make them the more pluralistically oriented kind.

 

[bdcjacko]

I can't speak for many other places, but be sure to clearly describe yourself as Canadian in the uk, and the middle east (and possibly Australia too).

In general, those countries just don't like Americans, and that's the reason why you don't see many US citizens, and tourists there.

I live in Britain, and i have only ever came across four american's in my whole life. One loud mouth girl in a busy high street, One guy who was punching this Arab guy in the street for saying stuff about his misses, A woman who i was chatting to about kittens, and one american woman working in Burger king.

Where in the UK? If you don't live in London, you probably won't see American tourist because London is where we want to go. If you do live in london, well them I'm dumb as hell.

 

[AnAngryMoose]

If I saw a Canadian I'd probably hug them.

 

[bdcjacko]

I actually like American tourists. Most of them I've met are hugely ignorant of Irish culture but are honestly interested and love learning more. Things I think are mundane and take for granted thrill them. What's the point of being a tourist if you already know everything about where you're visiting? It's that honest desire to know more and the fact that any American tourist I've met approaches tourism with enthusiasm that makes me like them.

Ireland is fascinating. It is about as an exotic place of mystery and legend you can get without having to learn a new language.

 

[ciancon]

Well seeing as i think the american accent can (at times) feel like someone's drilling into your skull and Canada has Arcade Fire so....not to say that i'd treat you better but i'd be less inclined to prejudge anyways.