Americans are stupid, fat, and impolite...I don't get it.

[ForensicYOYO]

I wont lie. California is almost its own country. But even if you went to a more rude state like New York you would still find a majority of nice people. However I live in Oklahoma and its number 2 in the nation for the largest amount of fat people and I couldn't agree more. You stay here for two weeks you're bound need to go on a diet for the next 5 months.

 

[CrashBang]

I noticed the same thing on my trip to NYC and Washington DC when I was 16. Being from the UK I'd heard all the stereotypes that Americans are all fat, stupid rednecks and was soooo pleasantly surprised to find that everyone was polite, talkative and helpful. Best place I've ever been to, to such an extent that, 4 years later, I hate the UK and can't wait to move to the US permanently

 

[Trebort]

So I just got back from a vacation in LA and I don't understand some of the stereotypes centred around Americans. I imagine most of us have heard these stereotypes, and I myself have been guilty of making them from time to time. But in the week I was there, I didn't see an abnormally high number of fat people. I didn't think anyone I talked to was stupid. Everyone seemed polite and there were few people who were especially inconsiderate. I didn't notice a higher number of any of those types of people in the US than anywhere else.

So are these stereotypes just untrue? Because I've known people who would swear that they are, and insist that every stereotype is accurate. Did I just have an unusually pleasant experience in the States or is are people in California just a breed apart from their countrymen? Please Escapists, enlighten me.

If you were looking for fatties, you should have gone to Texas.

 

[DSEZ]

You must have fantastic luck, my friend.

Everyone here in my town is a fat fucking moron.

this everyone in my town is either fat, on drugs, or damn near retarded

 

[CloakedOne]

You must have fantastic luck, my friend.

Everyone here in my town is a fat fucking moron.

Ditto. And yes, stereotypes are often true (although not always), that's why they exist. If you would feel more comfortable replacing "stereotype" with the near-synonymous "culture," then go ahead and do that.

 

[Diver Down]

People are just people, and stereotypes are bogus. In my D&D group, there's only one single guy, and none of us are virgins.

hahaha. Probably the ONLY D&D group that's like that.

 

[Spongebobdickpants]

those stereotypes are inaccurate, as are most.But the stereotype envolving american's being "raised on a diet of dog eat dog" is very true.i fail to see how a "good" christian country can be as uncharitable as it is.whenever you hear about disasters america seems to donate only slightly more than the uk and considering its comparitive size thats saying something.This mentality extends even to other americans im still baffled at the fact that america still doesnt have a national health service because health care apparently is a luxury,like buying a car.

 

[bak00777]

There are stupid people everywhere in the world. I see alot where i live, for instance, at work one day some lady hands me a Canadian quarter as means of payment. I tell her that i can't accept it and ask her if she has an american quarter. She replies "Why?! We are friends with Canada!" I try to explain to her that the exchange rate is not 1 for 1, i actually think its like $1 US = $1.06 Can. Now if i lived in a border town, it would be different but i live in Southwest Pennsylvania, which is kinda far from being a border town,

 

[Gunsang]

In response to Jewrean:

Spoiler: Warning: lot of text

I hate defending my country, but I think I'll have to. It's not that America matters more, it's just that it's such a large country. On some online games they show where people are, Halo 3 has a map. Look at where the people are. There are two major areas, America and Europe. As a whole, Europe beats America, but as individual countries they just can't match up.

Right there you've just proven my point. The fact that America is NOT the majority of players in the world (even though it's quite a few) doesn't mean you should assume every player you meet is from your own country. You start by saying your country, then your specific location. Anything other than that is simply being ignorant.

Yes, but we should know European Countries. As I said Europe is a major area, but the individual countries aren't as big. Do people from Europe say that they're from Europe? No, they say they're from their country, as they should. I believe if Europeans and Americans are playing mainly with people from their area then they should be able to say a more specific location.

Due to the programs that match people up on online games Americans get matched up mostly with Americans. What's wrong with them assuming they'll be matched up with an American?

Because they don't? Because of the software's biased design, I am forced to play with Americans (or anyone outside my own country for that matter). I can't tell you how many times people have started by saying what American state they are from (like that means anything to me).

Most of the time they do. Most people I play with are American and to be honest I do say a state most of the time. However, if I know I'm playing with someone from another country or that there is a high chance I'll be playing with someone from another country, I'll just say America.

If I get matched up with Britons I have no problem with them saying that they're from some city that I've never heard of. If I'm in a mostly British environment i don't think that they should have to accommodate me. If it really matters to me I can just ask them.
I bring up this scenario because this has actually happened. I was playing at an odd hour and got paired up with quite a bit of British people.

I know this is getting long, but bear with me. It's about relevance as well. I think people in other counties should know New York City and other major cities. Just as I know Moscow, St. Petersburg, London, Tokyo, Paris, Mexico City etc...

But most of the time they talk about what state they are from (and there's like 50). If I asked you what Australian city was located in the ACT state would you know the answer without Googling? And don't you dare say the city is irrelevant or not popular enough because that would make you a hypocrite.

No I wouldn't know. I looked up the state and it has about half the population of Denver, but do I think that people around the world should know about Denver? No, because it isn't that relevant on a global stage even though we have an awesome airport(tenth busiest in the world) and a large beer festival.

Globally these cities are relevant. So if you know you'll be playing or talking with people from all over the world then, yes, Americans should stick with saying they're from America or a large relevant city as I do on the escapist.

Saying your from America is fine in-fact that's what I want people to say! What infuriates us 'foreigners' is if you ONLY put what state your from. Being specific is fine when you actually know everyone in the forum or particular gaming lobby is local (in your country). However if you're describing your location to a stranger then you need to start with your country. Starting with your state to a stranger is stupid.

I suppose that this is where we mostly disagree. I don't believe that you have to know that everybody is local as long as you know that most people are local I think that it's fine to state a local location. I think that if someone isn't local they can just ask for a country, I don't see why that would be a very big deal.

Edit: I just looked up your state(?). It really wouldn't be fair to people to say your state name. It's roughly the same population as Colorado(cool!) and it also has a fairly common name. Victoria is also the capital of British Columbia, Canada as well as other things. So you can't really be surprise if people don't know what it is. Just saying.

That's quite arrogant. I know very little of American states and couldn't care less of them. I know a lot about my own state seeming as I live here with bias. By saying "people should know about major cities and states" and then saying my state isn't important enough is hypocritical. Either saying ALL states (regardless of country of territory) is fine, or none is. Make up your mind! If I'm not allowed to say Victoria then you're not allowed to say Colorado (which by the way I know very little of). How is me saying my state unfair and you saying yours fair? Why do you assume the entire world knows about Colorado?

As a quick disclaimer I'd just like to say that population isn't the only thing that matters, but it's the easiest to compare.

And you shouldn't have to know about American states, because it doesn't matter to you. You live in Australia why should you care about New Hampshire? It's a tiny state that has no relevance to someone who lives in Australia.

No one outside of Colorado should care about Rifle and that's if a Coloradan should even care. A city like Rifle is absolutely meaningless to just about everyone outside of the area. A city like Glenwood Spings is meaningless to just about everyone outside of Colorado. A state like Colorado is meaningless to just about everyone outside of the US. All I'm saying is that states, territories, provinces and cities are only relevant to the area they influence. States like Colorado and Victoria aren't that important outside of our countries, but cities like Sydney and New York City are relevant to whole world.

I think you shouldn't assume that people outside of a location's influence should know about that location. However if you're in a group of people who are comprised mostly of people who are influenced by a location I don't think you should have to worry about accommodating a small minority. I sorry, but that's just what I believe.

I do believe people should know about major cities as well as states like California and Texas which, by the way, have larger populations than your county. Not to say your country is inferior, in fact I like Australia more than I like America.

 

[3aqua]

America is odd, some states are the height of civilisation while others not so much, I mean look at the contrast between Manhattan and Texas some where which still has the death penalty and teaches religion in school, but the same could be said about england (my home sweet home) like the difference between London and manchester

 

[Marowit]

To be honest, you went to a coast. Both the east and west coasts you'll find people like that; head down south, and to the middle of the country and you'll start to see more stereotypes - just from my experience traveling around this country.

Plus, I think that stereotype was really pushed by foreign movies/culture in the 80's/90's, and our endless wars abroad probably haven't helped. Think about it, European Vacation anyone? Triplets of Belleville, etc...

 

[chaos order]

So I just got back from a vacation in LA and I don't understand some of the stereotypes centred around Americans. I imagine most of us have heard these stereotypes, and I myself have been guilty of making them from time to time. But in the week I was there, I didn't see an abnormally high number of fat people. I didn't think anyone I talked to was stupid. Everyone seemed polite and there were few people who were especially inconsiderate. I didn't notice a higher number of any of those types of people in the US than anywhere else.

So are these stereotypes just untrue? Because I've known people who would swear that they are, and insist that every stereotype is accurate. Did I just have an unusually pleasant experience in the States or is are people in California just a breed apart from their countrymen? Please Escapists, enlighten me.

It depends on where you go. LA, San Francisco, and Chicago (most of it anyway) are, for the most part, relatively free of the standard foreign stereotypes of Americans. There's probably a number of cities I missed, but those are the ones I've experience with.

I'm not sure if that fat stereotype is true, because honestly something like 90% of people I see are skinny/fit, or at most mildly overweight, but I can tell you for a fact that the stupid stereotype fits for most Americans. Pick a random place in the country and start quizzing people on current world politics, big events in world history, or even American history and you'll likely get a blank stare for a few seconds before they try to laugh it off. It's really very depressing. The vast majority of people I've met here are on roughly the same intellectual level as:

my god its like she forgot the question like half way through WTF

 

[Gunsang]

I've never had problems with americans on online games though, despite the fact that they always answer the question "Where are you from" with the name of the state or city.

Why wouldn't they? If they think you're from America then they'll assume that you know where North Dakota or Phoenix is. I'm sure I'm guilty of saying I'm from Colorado to foreigners.

That's not really a problem, after all, the USA is a big place.
To tell the truth I'm not a genius when it comes to USA geography, I recognize the names but I rarely can fit them in my mental map. It's normal I guess since I'm European.
But when they answer with names of small cities, that's just insane, it's like it is my obligation to know everything about their mighty country.

It's like you asked me where I'm from and I said "Alta Extremadura".
What does it mean to you? Nothing.

I completely agree. I'm the exact same way. I know places like Wales and Manchester are in the UK, but I really couldn't tell you where exactly in the UK they are. I'm just saying that if they think you're American then they'll use the names of places like Tallahassee and since most of the people they play with are from America, they'll probably think you're American.

 

[MasTerHacK]

You probably just talked to a bunch of lying Canadian tourists. xD

SOOO TRUE

 

[lee1287]

dpeends where you go i suppose.

 

[Queen Michael]

You must have fantastic luck, my friend.

Everyone here in my town is a fat fucking moron.

maybe you're just living in the wrong town?

OT: I think it's partially that the stereotypes are false, or a bit incorrect, and the fact that you went to LA. Seriously, the stereotypes I know of differs from area to area. In some parts everyone's stupid (the typical southern stereotype for example) and in some a lot of people are really fat. In some areas people don't differ that much from us in Europe. Hell, from what I've heard, Americans stereotypes other Americans. It's a large place after all.

Just California is roughly the size of Sweden, and here we have lots of stereotypes about other Swedes. (damn all skåningar... and stockholmare. And boråsare... They're not worthy of being Swedes! (at least we in Göteborg sometimes joke about them not being worth it... =P))

Oh, we have someone from Göteborg here? En go gôbbe! Concerning Borås, I cant stand the city. The people are okay, I guess; it's the city itself that's horribly cold, in a way that can't be measured with a thermometer.

 

[New York Patrick]

The problem with stereotyping in this case is that Americans as a people are WAY to diverse in personality, appearance, or even cultural identity or perception of what it means to be American.

 

[Shoggoth2588]

You were in Las Angeles. Next time you visit, try a rural town in Texas, Virginia, Maryland, Georgia...well, any rural town should be fine. As for the fatties: Wisconsin. As for the rude ones: New England.

 

[Viking Incognito]

I think it is because of cultural differences that people think these things.