Doc-t wrote a post about people hating Americans. I thought it was a
great read and kinda apt for me as I'd just been having a conversation
on this very topic the other day.
Why on earth does everyone hate Americans?
I am very much a product of my generation in that I don't really give
a shit about politics and therefore I'm not even going to go there.
But I *do* know that Americans are very much a victim of some trashy
stereotypes.
Look, I'm Australian and I know for a fact that I don't fit the Aussie
stereotype. I'm not blonde, I don't like insects or reptiles, I don't
speak with a nasally drawl and I certainly don't say "g'day". But when
you think of Australia, you think of kangaroos, koalas, the outback
and all sort of other images that really don't fit into my fast-paced
city-girl lifestyle.
Likewise, if I had to think of a stereotypical American, I'd picture
someone who eats way, way too much fast food in these huge servings -
enough to feed an African village for an entire year - and who drinks
coffees in those huge containers with cream sprayed on the top, who
then goes on "low-carb" crash diets to compensate. I'd picture someone
who, for some unknown reason, thinks owning a gun is a good idea
because it makes him feel safe. I'd picture someone with fake boobs,
too orange tan, too blonde hair and too white teeth. I'd picture
someone who watches Dr Phil and Oprah and thinks that they're so deep
no one can possibly understand them and who can't just get over
anything without finding "closure". I'd picture someone on Jerry
Springer with huge hair and fake nails and too-tight clothing saying
"He's *my* man, you ho!"
And of course I know they're stereotypical images and that most people
are entirely normal. Or at least, variations on the word "normal".
But what I really think, what I truly think is the problem here, is
the American Tourist.
Here goes my theory:
I've never been to the US, you see, but I've encountered the species
of American called "The American Tourist" here in Sydney, in England,
in New Zealand, in India, in Malaysia, in Thailand, in Singapore, and
in Hong Kong. They're always the same and they're the ones who should
be put to blame for making everyone not like Americans!
They're the ones who sit on public transport, talking REALLY, REALLY
LOUDLY saying things like, "Back home, we have [such and such which is
bigger/greater/faster] and back home we do [such and such in this
whole way which is apparently better]." Meanwhile, we're sitting in
the seat in front of them thinking "Shut. The Fuck. Up."
They're the ones who pop out from nowhere when you're going on a
peaceful, quiet walk around the beach at sunset who say "WOW!!! ISN'T
THIS JUST GORGEOUS?! WOW! LOOK AT THAT! THAT'S JUST AMAZING!!!!!!
WOW!!!"
They're the ones who dress and act entirely inappropriately in certain
cultural environments. However, Australians and English people are
also guilty of this one and I've felt ashamed many a time becuse of
the behaviour of fellow Australians in sacred places in other
countries. (Actually, on that note, there's also the phenomenon of the
obnoxious, young English backpacker in Sydney or the arrogant, young
Australian on a working holiday in London. Like American Tourists,
those creatures are also very loud and very irritating. Except that
they're also very drunk. A lot. But I digress.)
My point is, the reason why some people hate Americans is because
American Tourists need to learn to tone it down! Just slightly! No one
cares what they think about every single thing they encounter. We
don't need to hear it. We don't care. Please, preserve the peace,
please stop talking so loudly! It's driving us all insane!!
11 comments:
I've seen these American Tourists while traveling across Europe too, Jezz. What really upsets me though is that most American Tourists aren't like that. Believe it or not. But of course it only takes one, and then the rest of the world thinks ill of us. I talked to Alex about this one as he used to work in a hotel in France. Basically, you'd have 99 quiet, polite, respectful, nice Americans come through, but nobody would notice and--like when I'm abroad and everybody assumes I must be Canadian because of my actions--nobody notices them as Americans who are behaving. Who cares, you know? Then they have number 100 out of those hundred American tourists who is loud, obnoxious, etc...and that's the one everybody identifies as the American, and we're back at go. It saddens me greatly because there's nothing to be done about it. People WANT to think all American tourists are like that, so when one comes up who fits that bill, everybody nods and goes, SEE???? And there will ALWAYS be those types of obnoxious American tourists because yes, our type of culture can and does produce loud people who are full of themselves ;)
I have dozens of friends who have traveled across Europe, and they all did so quietly and respectfully, just like all of my family. Nobody cares about those folks...if they behave, they can't be Americans, right?
But yes, that one person who appears here and there in a crowd who is so loud and obnoxious IS easily identified as from America. The English don't have that great a rep across Europe for similar reasons, actually, as you pointed out. I've never heard folks complain about the Aussies, but I've been in Europe a lot to hear them complain about English! So, I know better than to think it's JUST Americans who have this rep. I think because our nation is so big and our contact with other people is not daily like it must be to those on contenental Europe, we often don't know HOW to behave or be respectful. Part of what I have to teach in my business English classes IS how to be observant of other cultures and what they think is fine or not fine because so many of us never have even left our home state (that'd not be me, but my family has always loved to travel). So, I see the causes for these obnoxious American tourists in our culture. I don't deny at all that we spawn them...sadly. It just frustrates me because the BULK of American tourists aren't like that, but nobody notices them. Nobody cares about them. It's only the rude little fuckers who get the attention and then everybody nods and goes, see??? They're fuckers! Well, duh, and we think he or she's a fucker too ;)
That's one of the reasons the Redhead and I like to travel by our lonesome, is because we don't have any tourists around. You're right, it's not just us, but Americans have to greatest ability to travel (per capita), so we're seen more and more. People just don't get, sometimes, that when they go to a different place, that it's a different place.
If it makes you feel any better, please know that there are a few of us who take the world for what it is, enjoy what's there in silence, and take the time to learn at least a little of the local language (aliteration not intended). :)
Really, it boils down to this: In most countries (America and Japan excluded), only the wealthy can really afford to travel as a tourist, and they tend to be a little more cosmopolitan. However, in America, it's so easy for any dumbass to hop on a plane wearing a Stars and Stripes t-shirt and go scream into their cell phone in the Sistine Chapel or something, that you see more of them. Americans aren't really that much dumber than the rest of the world, we just get out more. ;)
Looking back, glad to see that the PhD is almost done! I'm so happy for / proud of you!
Kira mentioned this post to me, so I dropped by. I agree with her - it's the noisy ones who draw our attention. When I lived in Birmingham, Alabama, United States, I worked in a factory crewed mostly by black workers. A few were lazy and did nothing more than loudly complain about how they felt mistreated (by which I mean they screamed about how they hated all white mother fuckers). Some white people shook their heads and assigned such behavior to all black people. I just looked around and saw that the majority were quietly doing their jobs - they just weren't drawing everyone's attention.
Note - I'm not trying to claim I'm some great guy who is better than everybody else because I don't engage in prejudices - I just like to look at things and consider the situation without falling back on stereotypes. I just think people who buy into the stereotype of the ugly American are guilty of committing a form of prejudice, slightly different in form but no better than being blatantly racist.
American Tourists are like lawyers.
The vast majority are actually ok people.
But it's the very vocal minority that makes other people hate them. :)
Stereotypes and judgementality are probably our biggest obstacles to world peace. I'm glad you realize that it's just a handful of loud, rude tourists who fit the American stereotype. Actually, those same people do the same stuff right here in the US. Our regions are so vastly different that the egocentric types who migrate here or there or wherever within the country arrive thinking the entire region will adapt to suit their needs. We get cranky about it here too, lol. The best thing we can do is take as many opportunities as possible to meet regular people from lots of different places. At any rate, I was mistaken for Italian several times last time I went to Paris. (I was quite happy about this.)At any rate - thank you again for not thinking we're all like that, Jezzy.
I am going to get blacklisted for saying this but...
As a nation I have found many Americans to be loud and arrogant. Many feel that their country is the best and why would anyone want to live elsewhere. I have found so much of what they do to be wrapped up in their flag. Quite frankly is makes me ill. I have no desire to every visit the US again. (I have been there many, many times.)
That said. As individuals Americans are just like any other. There are many American people that I love dearly. They are just as good, bad, intelligent, ignorant, quiet, loud, polite or obnoxious as anyone else.
With all due respect to any Americans who might read this...
...Americans are not a different nationality or culture, they're a different species.
That's pretty much it.
And for those of you who take offense to that remark, I apologise, but please be aware that it's merely the opinion of a single person who exists in that rest of the world place and should not be perceived as some sort of terrorist attack on the American National Identity. And, of course, those Americans who understand this fine point are automatically exempt from the definition offered above.
Actually, I think there are many tourists from all over the world who travel in that same way. Not bothering to learn any of the local language, showing no respect when visiting things like churches, generally being brash and disrespectful. The difference is, that I think as a nation America speaks at a louder volume than other places, so we notice them more. It makes it easy for people to tar 'Americans' with the same brush because we notice the loud ones.
Jezz! I'm a fat American...but my teeth are not too white. My boobs are big, but unfortunately, that was genetics, not plastic surgery at work. I DO speak loudly. (damn...I'm fitting the stereotype!).
When I lived in France, I'd see American tourists with their cameras around their necks, their hats, sunglasses and black socks...and sometimes I'd be embarrassed. But then I got to thinking about how they loudly appreciate what they see. How many people do you know who are easily awestruck? I came to appreciate Americans because, in general, they do know how to have fun. And I also came to think of tourists in general, when they complain that something is not the same...as people who are displaced and afraid, and therefore in need of extra care.
You want to know who the obnoxious tourists are??? GERMANS! Good God! They run around naked, litter everywhere...they're horrible.
Wow. There are so many ways to respond to this post. As a culture, we Americans are attention-seeking. Look at the way we idolize celebrities and people with zero talent and even less morals/substance. Talking loud on public transportation is done to bring attention to oneself and tell the others, I'm Special. Believe me, most are not special on the home turf. And culturally speaking, we have lost our sense of grace. We aren't especially polite or generous with others. I think that competition and a fascination with what others "have" does that to a people over time. In terms of emoting over beautiful scenes...I remember tearing-up when I touched a church that was built in the 15th century. We don't have history like that here, and the experience was overwhelmingly significant. It's hard not to just blurt out your feelings when the appreciation factor is so great. So yeah, we're fairly crass for a lot of reasons, but I would like to point out that this is true with many people from various countries. Some of their behaviour is public and much of their behaviour is private. It's pretty much just the human way.
Wow! I am a New Yorker heading back to Sydney in 2 weeks for a second visit and I promise to be on my best behavior. I will leave my black socks at home! I have to bring my camera, but I will have it discretely hidden in my bag. I will speak in hushed tone whether I am in a church or at the beach. I am looking forward to learning about you...as a country and as individuals- as I believe one can learn from every other soul on the planet. I will treasure meeting you and hope I will leave some little bit of inspiration behind for even just one person I meet. I feel- like you do - I have led an interesting and full life so far...except...that my residence is on the other side of the world.
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