To my UK friends: don't lump all us americans together.

[savandicus]

I'm not going to comment on alot of the points you've raised because the answer is mearly yes, no matter where you go you'll find people who stereotype people alot and think that everyone from one place is the same.

As for the language point you raised about niether language being more correct, alot of people view american as incorrect or lazy because alot of their spellings of words are just english with letters taken out to make it simpler. Another thing that annoys alot of english speakers is that Americans think they speak english, they dont, they speak american. They are very similar languages but they have been seperate languages for a long time.

If an American speaks american and claims they are speaking english then they are wrong and are speaking a warped version of english and visa versa.

 

[Ninjamedic]

You forget that the irish/english conflict defies all logic and reason.

The town I stayed in in Northern Ireland was Derry/Londonderry a town that can't even agree on it's own name.

Just take the easy solution and call it london. Nah, that town is a nice place. It has a B&Q!

 

[FightThePower]

Don't feel too bad about it, the ignorant pricks in this country stereotype every foreign nation - France is another good one. No wonder everyone hates us.

American spelling still annoys me, but only when English people do it. If an American does it it doesn't bother me because they were brought up to spell that way; neither one is correct, obviously. When an English person spells 'doughnut' with half the letters missing it just shows that they watched every American TV show ever aired on Channel 4 and didn't pay attention in school.

 

[Jenova65]

I'm not going to comment on alot of the points you've raised because the answer is mearly yes, no matter where you go you'll find people who stereotype people alot and think that everyone from one place is the same.

As for the language point you raised about niether language being more correct, alot of people view american as incorrect or lazy because alot of their spellings of words are just english with letters taken out to make it simpler. Another thing that annoys alot of english speakers is that Americans think they speak english, they dont, they speak american. They are very similar languages but they have been seperate languages for a long time.

If an American speaks american and claims they are speaking english then they are wrong and are speaking a warped version of english and visa versa.

Actually, no, Americans use some different words for things but it is English and tbh English people are far more guilty of 'bastardising', the language than Americans do.
It is like saying that people in Yorkshire speak a different language to people in London, we all speak English but idiom is responsible for many of the differences.

 

[Bat Vader]

A lot of these stereotypes are layovers from the million or so people that immigrated during the patato famine in 1845. Another reason is that so many people in the US (especially the eastern parts) have at least 'some irish' in them the Irish have become something of an Acceptable Targets in our culture (again more on the East Coast). In the midwest there are more jokes about being German tossed around for example.

Well, whatever the reason, it's still a bit excessive. I don't understand how these people think I should take the accusation of being a moron in my stride. Even if they are of Irish descent, they're still Americans. I'm not going to give them any extra license to insult me and my people.

I would not pay much attention to people that act like that. Stereotypical Americans like that are what give Americans like me a bad name. I don't get why they think it is funny to make fun of someone else just because they are from a different country.

 

[Layzor]

Sorry matey but the English language has been evolving in England for about a thousand years or so, something that it is continuing to do today. That means that however it evolves in England is correct.

I'm not trying to be confrontational or arrogant but america wasn't our only colony, it's just the biggest and one of the youngest, the only one that won't accept second place for anything.

 

[Jenova65]

A lot of these stereotypes are layovers from the million or so people that immigrated during the patato famine in 1845. Another reason is that so many people in the US (especially the eastern parts) have at least 'some irish' in them the Irish have become something of an Acceptable Targets in our culture (again more on the East Coast). In the midwest there are more jokes about being German tossed around for example.

Well, whatever the reason, it's still a bit excessive. I don't understand how these people think I should take the accusation of being a moron in my stride. Even if they are of Irish descent, they're still Americans. I'm not going to give them any extra license to insult me and my people.

I would not pay much attention to people that act like that. Stereotypical Americans like that are what give Americans like me a bad name. I don't get why they think it is funny to make fun of someone else just because they are from a different country.

Because being a douche is an international disease, Americans are only the same as every other country. My experience of Americans has been positive, I have really liked all the Americans I have come into contact with and choose to think idiots are idiots regardless of nationality
Blaming every American because one person is an idiot is in itself idiocy.

 

[Bat Vader]

Don't feel too bad about it, the ignorant pricks in this country stereotype every foreign nation - France is another good one. No wonder everyone hates us.

American spelling still annoys me, but only when English people do it. If an American does it it doesn't bother me because they were brought up to spell that way; neither one is correct, obviously. When an English person spells 'doughnut' with half the letters missing it just shows that they watched every American TV show ever aired on Channel 4 and didn't pay attention in school.

There are ignorant people all over the world who stereotype, not just one. I will admit being an American is embarrassing at most times considering how the rest of world thinks of us. I can't stand the Americans that make fun of others just because they are from a different country. Those are the types of Americans that give Americans like me a bad name.

 

[OtherAlex]

Americans speak and archaic form of English. It's why your syntax is wro..i mean different and your spelling is also wron..fuck different.

 

[Legion]

British people in general are woefully ignorant of other countries in general so don't take it personally.

Although the same seems to go for most Countries, the British are just more vocal about it like the Americans (as the main two English speaking countries, I guess that makes sense).

Well, it's one thing to make a generalization over the internet or in media. It's another thing entirely person to person. When someone says "no that's not at all like me" than to say "no, you're wrong that's how americans are" which happened to me several times. (I only told the one story) Particularly regarding our 'poor school systems.' Than people wondered why I got offended for what is basically saying I'm an idiot to my face.

I am afraid correcting people for being idiots in British culture is a big no-no. You have to smile and agree with them no matter how moronic they are, or else you're the asshole.

 

[Jenova65]

Sorry matey but the English language has been evolving in England for about a thousand years or so, something that it is continuing to do today. That means that however it evolves in England is correct.

I'm not trying to be confrontational or arrogant but america wasn't our only colony, it's just the biggest and one of the youngest, the only one that won't accept second place for anything.

I respectfully disagree, I fail to see words like ''Innit' that as an 'evolution' ;-)

 

[Bat Vader]

A lot of these stereotypes are layovers from the million or so people that immigrated during the patato famine in 1845. Another reason is that so many people in the US (especially the eastern parts) have at least 'some irish' in them the Irish have become something of an Acceptable Targets in our culture (again more on the East Coast). In the midwest there are more jokes about being German tossed around for example.

Well, whatever the reason, it's still a bit excessive. I don't understand how these people think I should take the accusation of being a moron in my stride. Even if they are of Irish descent, they're still Americans. I'm not going to give them any extra license to insult me and my people.

I would not pay much attention to people that act like that. Stereotypical Americans like that are what give Americans like me a bad name. I don't get why they think it is funny to make fun of someone else just because they are from a different country.

Because being a douche is an international disease, Americans are only the same as every other country. My experience of Americans has been positive, I have really liked all the Americans I have come into contact with and choose to think idiots are idiots regardless of nationality
Blaming every American because one person is an idiot is in itself idiocy.

I must agree with your post. I don't understand why people like to stereotype. It is not to difficult to understand everyone is different and does not think the same.

 

[ace_of_something]

First of all I don't do that
Secondly, aren't you kind of doing that to us with this thread?

The irony is too juicy and delicious for your UK sense of humo(u)r to ignore isn't it? I knew as soon as I posted this there'd be about a dozen responses saying this. Yet I did it anyway, what does that say about me?

Another unrealated point I want to bring up. Why the hell is it so many Americans don't know Wales exists? This has always bothered me. Even after 'the prince of wales' was on the news constantly for like 10 years.

 

[Insideout Ink Demon]

EDIT: I in no way am claiming Americans don't do this. They do the Hell out of it. I'm also aware of all the irony in this entire post. Don't bother pointing it out

If your aware Americans are just as guilty of this as the English are and the irony of it, why not ask for it to be locked rather than let it rub people up the wrong way?

 

[kurupt87]

Snip
They are two different dialects of the same language one is not more ?correct? than the other. If you guys start speaking like you did in the 1700?s or 1600?s you may start claiming ?correct? or ?proper? status. Until that day, yours is just as mangled as ours.
Snip

Stereotypes are all people have to judge other things, without putting in effort to learn about them, and laziness attracts the human mind. Of course it's annoying when you are face-to-face with someone disproving a stereotype and they remain steadfast in their belief of the stereotype.
It's like the stereotype that all americans are fat and stupid. Obviously false and rude, but it does have a basis in truth (as all stereotypes do), and it's amusing to belittle the superpower.
Stereotypes of americans I have:
Southerners - As you said
New Yorkers (city dwellers) - Kind of like Londoners but worse, you yanks drink way too much coffee and have far too many guns
Midwest ("rural" dwellers) - A nice place to live and with nice people, like Canada but not as much coldness and snow.

As for the whole "British English is correct" thing, it's always just a joke. Taking the mick, joshing the foreigner, poking fun at him.
You'll have to admit though, it's our language, whatever is "proper" is what we decide it to be.

 

[Legendsmith]

My favourite is always Aluminum, the Roast Beef claim the US are wrong and it should be spelt "Aluminum" in accordance with the other metals.../quote]
What?

 

[RhombusHatesYou]

I am afraid correcting people for being idiots in British culture is a big no-no. You have to smile and agree with them no matter how moronic they are, or else you're the asshole.

Wouldn't that be arsehole?

 

[Jenova65]

A lot of these stereotypes are layovers from the million or so people that immigrated during the patato famine in 1845. Another reason is that so many people in the US (especially the eastern parts) have at least 'some irish' in them the Irish have become something of an Acceptable Targets in our culture (again more on the East Coast). In the midwest there are more jokes about being German tossed around for example.

Well, whatever the reason, it's still a bit excessive. I don't understand how these people think I should take the accusation of being a moron in my stride. Even if they are of Irish descent, they're still Americans. I'm not going to give them any extra license to insult me and my people.

I would not pay much attention to people that act like that. Stereotypical Americans like that are what give Americans like me a bad name. I don't get why they think it is funny to make fun of someone else just because they are from a different country.

Because being a douche is an international disease, Americans are only the same as every other country. My experience of Americans has been positive, I have really liked all the Americans I have come into contact with and choose to think idiots are idiots regardless of nationality
Blaming every American because one person is an idiot is in itself idiocy.

I must agree with your post. I don't understand why people like to stereotype. It is not to difficult to understand everyone is different and does not think the same.

*Shrugs* I don't get it either. Ho hum

First of all I don't do that
Secondly, aren't you kind of doing that to us with this thread?

The irony is too juicy and delicious for your UK sense of humo(u)r to ignore isn't it? I knew as soon as I posted this there'd be about a dozen responses saying this. Yet I did it anyway, what does that say about me?

Another unrealated point I want to bring up. Why the hell is it so many Americans don't know Wales exists? This has always bothered me. Even after 'the prince of wales' was on the news constantly for like 10 years.

'Fraid so............ ;-)

 

[Jack and Calumon]

Americans don't spell some words correctly... I.E Water. And that annoys me...

Calumon: I don't understand whats going on... so... I'm going to dance...

 

[FightThePower]

Don't feel too bad about it, the ignorant pricks in this country stereotype every foreign nation - France is another good one. No wonder everyone hates us.

American spelling still annoys me, but only when English people do it. If an American does it it doesn't bother me because they were brought up to spell that way; neither one is correct, obviously. When an English person spells 'doughnut' with half the letters missing it just shows that they watched every American TV show ever aired on Channel 4 and didn't pay attention in school.

There are ignorant people all over the world who stereotype, not just one. I will admit being an American is embarrassing at most times considering how the rest of world thinks of us. I can't stand the Americans that make fun of others just because they are from a different country. Those are the types of Americans that give Americans like me a bad name.

Yeah, that's true - you get these types of people in every county. It's just that there are an overwhelming number of bigots in England (I've run into so many people who just inexplictably hate Americans) and the fact that Scotland, Ireland, Northern Ireland, Wales and France don't exactly get along with the English does speak for itself.

Hell, we don't even get on well with each other. Northeners and Southerners don't stop having a go at each other; as a Southerner who goes to University in Northern England, I feel a bit outnumbered.