The American stereotype

[vfaulkon]

There's a thing called vocal minority, where a few people among alot of people represent everyone in that group thanks to the media. Americans seem like fine people(those who I've met, anyways).
Note: I'm sad to say that I'm the type of Canadian who says "Eh" sometimes. It just leaks out from time to time.

This. I'm also reminded of an expression I heard once that goes like, "Most people remember the loudest, most annoying people over the relatively sane ones, even if the loud ones are vastly outnumbered."

It's part of our becoming a truly global society. Before when we could never contact everyone else in the world with an internet connection, all most people saw of other nationalities were stereotypes and news stories, both frequently containing the less desirable aspects of a cultural identity. Now that everyone is getting to talk with everyone else, all those stereotypes are suddenly being revealed to everyone and it's causing a bit of a mess.

Just give it some time. As people get used to talking with others overseas, cooler heads will ultimately prevail and the stereotype-bashing will start to dwindle. Then we can all focus on the loudmouthed idiots in our own borders. ^_^

 

[Frostbite3789]

When that happens to me (only on the PC, I hate xbox and everyone who owns one ) I start spouting all the crazy right wing religious crap I can think up. Get them all good and pissed off

I'm from Texas, but I have no real southern accent to speak of.

But when I run into jackasses who hate on Americans, I put on my best faux-southern accent and talk about how they need to accept the Lord Baby Jesus Christ into their hearts, and how I'm just wasting time before that hoo boy that there comin' up NAS and CAR event, I tell you what brother!

 

[Psychedelic Spartan]

Right now I'm feeling that many of my fellow Americans tend to be waaaaaaay too nationalistic and they don't realize it -__-

I'm not very nationalistic, just thought I'd let you know.

 

[Spectral Dragon]

Well... The minority that we see - religious nutjobs scared of their own government - is what shapes the stereotype. A lot of good AND bad things come out of the US.

But until I actually speak to the americans, who at times are intelligent (though most of the time spelling isn't an issue to them if u gt wat i meen), I keep thinking of the video on youtube, "americans are stupid".

We all have our share of idiots, but the american idiots are more visible.

 

[DanielBrown]

The American stereotype for me is;
fat, lazy, rude, ignorant, fanatically Christian, over-the-top patriotic and gun nuts.

Blame your media.

 

[Thaluikhain]

Well, I'm an American and today I heard literally dozens of people on XBOX live calling me fat, lazy, stupid and the likes. So, I would like to know, why exactly do you guys perceive us Americans as being like that? I'm certainly not lazy or stupid, definitely not fat and I'm a good person. So, non american escapabillibambadoes, why do you think of Americans as being like that? Also, I'm not being a troll if anyone thinks I am, I'm actually being serious, I want to know.

Um...you just made a massive generalisation yourself, saying that everyone that isn't a US citizen holds the exact viewpoint about everyone that is. So...you've provided yourself with an example of what you were asking about.

Also, stereotyping one nation isn't as bad as stereotyping all but one nations, so you could say you've provided us with an example of why the US gets that particular stereotype

 

[Vanguard_Ex]

Well, I'm an American and today I heard literally dozens of people on XBOX live calling me fat, lazy, stupid and the likes. So, I would like to know, why exactly do you guys perceive us Americans as being like that? I'm certainly not lazy or stupid, definitely not fat and I'm a good person. So, non american escapabillibambadoes, why do you think of Americans as being like that? Also, I'm not being a troll if anyone thinks I am, I'm actually being serious, I want to know.

You make the mistake of Xbox LIVE abuse-throwers being the same as right-thinking people.
It's a stereotype, just ignore it. By the same merit I've repetitively been mocked by Americans online for my 'posh' accent, and apparently having bad teeth. British, if you couldn't infer.
Also I know you didn't mean to come across like this but without sounding harsh, you kind of have to deal with it. Americans aren't immune to stereotypes of bad traits, you know.

 

[repeating integers]

Well, making Pizza a fucking vegetable hardly does anything to help with this stereotype.

 

[bdcjacko]

http://www.podiumpundits.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/01/bush-headscratcher-350x280.jpg
I don't know

As for fat look no further than the McRib or the Donut burger. He'll my arteries are hardening just thinking about it.

To be fair G-Dub is neither fat nor lazy. And is smarted than most people give him credit for.

 

[AnarchistFish]

The portrayal we get of Americans here through media and the internet. The Republicans, your gun laws, the fact that there IS a very large number of obese people in the US, etc.

 

[LadyMint]

I would say that your answer is already stated in your scenario: You were talking to people over XBOX Live. The internet is the best place to go if you want to be insulted for no other reason than being in the right place at the wrong time. It's also a fantastic place for people to spew their ignorance without consequences. We all have our kneejerk perceptions of other cultures, perpetuated by popular media. The anonymity of online is just a great way to let loose those idiotic thoughts.

 

[Fetzenfisch]

he puts it very well i guess

 

[Jazoni89]

On the Xbox (when I had one) I got the piss taken out of me for being British, by Americans. Not just once, but countless of times.

Oh the sweet, sweet Irony of it.

 

[Terminate421]

Apparently to anyone from outside the US, I am a redneck, asshole, drunk, sex craving, pot smoking, frat boying, republican, racist who only plays Call of Duty.


I was born and raised in Georgia (The state), so its quite sad to have to see these types of comments in some forums, "Only in America" etc.

 

[Psychedelic Spartan]

Well, I'm an American and today I heard literally dozens of people on XBOX live calling me fat, lazy, stupid and the likes. So, I would like to know, why exactly do you guys perceive us Americans as being like that? I'm certainly not lazy or stupid, definitely not fat and I'm a good person. So, non american escapabillibambadoes, why do you think of Americans as being like that? Also, I'm not being a troll if anyone thinks I am, I'm actually being serious, I want to know.

Um...you just made a massive generalisation yourself, saying that everyone that isn't a US citizen holds the exact viewpoint about everyone that is. So...you've provided yourself with an example of what you were asking about.

Also, stereotyping one nation isn't as bad as stereotyping all but one nations, so you could say you've provided us with an example of why the US gets that particular stereotype

Actually, I'm american.

 

[Psychedelic Spartan]

Well, I'm an American and today I heard literally dozens of people on XBOX live calling me fat, lazy, stupid and the likes. So, I would like to know, why exactly do you guys perceive us Americans as being like that? I'm certainly not lazy or stupid, definitely not fat and I'm a good person. So, non american escapabillibambadoes, why do you think of Americans as being like that? Also, I'm not being a troll if anyone thinks I am, I'm actually being serious, I want to know.

You make the mistake of Xbox LIVE abuse-throwers being the same as right-thinking people.
It's a stereotype, just ignore it. By the same merit I've repetitively been mocked by Americans online for my 'posh' accent, and apparently having bad teeth. British, if you couldn't infer.
Also I know you didn't mean to come across like this but without sounding harsh, you kind of have to deal with it. Americans aren't immune to stereotypes of bad traits, you know.

Why would you get mocked though? British accents are AWESOME! Also, I know a fair amount of british people at my school, who moved this summer, their teeth are fine...