Why do non-americans assume all americans are idiots?

[superlarz]

Probably because 90% of us Americans ARE idiots. Id say that 90% of people are all idiots too but I still even think thats low balling it.

I have a job where I work with with the general public, mostly buisiness men though, in a small, confined area. I completely agree with the above statement. at least 90% of the people living in the world are idiots.. mostly because they dont pay attention to what is going on around them. World wide, Americans are assumed stupid because, overall we are a little overly patriotic. We are considered the elite country by a lot of people (similar to penis envy someone has said) and that kind of went to our heads... And that puts us in the spotlight internationally. Everything our leaders do is put under a microscope and heavily criticized, right or wrong (and our last leader wasnt a good public speaker making him seem stupid.) Now, in terms of being overly patriotic, when most Americans travel abroad they are gracious and dont stand out like a soar thumb in other countries. Unfortunately, there is the vocal minority that make us all look like jerks and morons. They go to somewhere in Europe and assume they are better than the local citizens because they are American. They wear American Flag TShirts. They annoy the hell out of me. I hate seeing them here, and when abroad, it drives me nuts to see them in other countries. Having pride in where you are from is great, but you can not assume that makes you better than anyone else.

[Peffico]

I think it's mostly because America is a mix bag of people. When you got to China you expect to see Chinese when you go to Germany you expect to see Germans and anyone else sticks out hardcore. However in America you can expect to see all types of people and you think nothing of it.

That being said America really doesn't have its own culture we borrow other countries' cultures and mix them together; making our issues clash making us seem divided. And honestly most of the media is liberal here so they like to show how "stupid" conservatives are. Which they aren't. So that's what most of the world sees from our broadcasts and w/e else is shown around the world. and that's what they instantly think all people over here are like.

It's just people making other people look bad which intern makes those other people look bad.

[Anubis]

And honestly most of the media is liberal here so they like to show how "stupid" conservatives are. Which they aren't. So that's what most of the world sees from our broadcasts and w/e else is shown around the world. and that's what they instantly think all people over here are like.

I wouldn't say that. I'd actually say that the media is actually pretty half and half. The bigger problem is that there isn't much unbiased media. Also, the rest of the world thinks we are, as someone else put it, "gun toting, bible thumping bigots", which is pretty opposite of liberal.

[MrPopo]

The problem spans generations though...generally if children see education is important to mom and dad, or that it helps adults accomplish their goals, it becomes important to them. If not, they tend to resent school and try to do the minimal possible to finish. When they see that American adults increasingly strive towards Idiocracy, it probably becomes pretty disheartening.

I'll definately agree here. The environment one grows up in will greatly affect how they do in school. If you want a really good example, look at the Jewish American population. 46% of the American Jews make a six-figure income. The Jewish culture has such an emphasis in education and study that those raised in that culture end up succeeding in later life.

I do find it interesting, though, that even though we have such an abysmal K-12 system compared to other developed nations our collegiate system is arguably the best in the world.

[Haoie]

What do you expect from us?

You guys voted for Bush: Twice!!

3 times if you count the dad.

[Ack]

What do you expect from us?

You guys voted for Bush: Twice!!

3 times if you count the dad.

You're right. We twice voted for a man who gave far more aid to Africa than any previous administration, both for AIDs relief and education purposes, who maintained close, personal relationships with many world leaders(even Putin admitted he really liked Bush), who would invite the families of fallen soldiers to his office in the White House and openly weep in front of them. To my knowledge he had more minorities in his cabinet than any previous administration, including the first African American Secretary of State and female African American Secretary of State, as well as the first Asian American ever in the cabinet. Condoleezza Rice also served as the first female National Security Adviser.

George W. Bush started the United States push to alternative energy sources with the Energy Policy Act of 2005, though admittedly it did lean heavily towards nuclear and fossil fuel usage, and his administration almost always sided with business in the business vs. environment debate. While he did attempt a needed overhaul of the American education system with No Child Left Behind, it hasn't worked very well for a variety of reasons. He also established Medicare Part D, enabling Medicare recipients to subsidize the cost of prescription drugs. Again, it had its criticisms, though polling estimates show about 85% of its users are satisfied with the plan.

He's also been saddled with an economic crisis that isn't his fault. If you think he is at fault, I ask you to examine the housing bubbles that also occurred in Argentina, Britain, Netherlands, Italy, Australia, New Zealand, Ireland, Spain, France, Poland, South Africa, Israel, Greece, Bulgaria, Croatia, Canada, Norway, Singapore, South Korea, Sweden, the Baltic region, India, Romania, Russia, Ukraine, and China. It takes more than one nation in the world to pull down the global economy, even if it is the United States.

I know, the biggest criticisms of Bush stem from the war in Iraq and the "War on Terror". I feel that's a debate that will take years as historians begin sorting out the documentation of them. Personally? I think we did the right thing. I realize most of you probably will not agree, but I've got my reasons.

I think Bush honestly tried his best. Did it work out? Not as of right now, but who knows how history will view him a hundred years from now. Public opinion of presidents changes, sometimes better, sometimes worse. Hey, it's a tough job, and it's lonely at the top.

So ends the presidency of MonkeyBushitler McHaliburton. Now begins the presidency of Nobama Hussein Christ, Messiah and Bringer of the Hope and Change. We'll just have to wait and see how he does, though I've already got my criticisms of him as well.

[MaliceValentine]

Down here in AUS Americas the butt of all jokes basically alot of the things that happen that we get show do show stupidity alot, most of the interviews with Americans we see are usually bible obsessed beer swelling gun obsessed red necks.

So naturally people believe what they see on TV.......

[synapse]

First comment here. Been reading Racketboy's articles for a couple months but it was this thread what encouraged me to finally register. So:

The Apprentice : Why do non-americans assume all americans are idiots?

Are you kidding me? Have you ever wonder why americans assume non-americans are idiots? Cause that's what we can grasp from the movies your country produces, man. I'm ABSOLUTELY NOT anti-american or anything, used to have an american gf and have been to the US and actually love it, so dont' get me wrong, but just check out how french, italian, greek or portuguese people are depicted in your movies. French and italians are mostly rude or crazy ignorant people, greeks look like retarded rednecks (My Big Fat greek wedding, anyone?), greeks no less!! british movies sometimes do the same, have any of you seen Love Actually? The portuguese girl's family look like the most retarded, ignorant, fat-kind around.

As a spaniard I'm almost glad that we never even appear on american movies...

...But hey, no wonder, I've met way too many americans who didn't even know where Spain is. I repeat, I actually like the US and plan to move there someday (for a few years anyway), but I've been asked where in Mexico my country is too many times already (of course I mean asked by americans). Of the three times I've been to the states, one of them I was asked (by a private school 14-year-old) if I had ever seen a coffee machine (true story). Next year I was asked (by a ver beautiful girl actually) if I had had to buy "normal" clothes before visiting the states.

What are normal clothes, I here you ask?
Well, the girl was taking spanish lessons at high school, her class was decorated with spanish feria posters and of course bullfighting posters (nothing about our art, history or spanish food, but i can understand that) and she thought we walk around dressed like bullfighters everyday.

F*CKING. TRUE. STORY.

People were surprised that Spain has electricity and water?

Well, you see...


Btw I have a mexican gf now. She's got a really pale skin and green eyes. She's not fat, short, super-dark skinned nor has a moustache. But that's the only kind of mexicans we see in american movies. So the real question is, why do americans think ALL non-americans are stupid, ignorant, retarded, lowest social class or simply PRIMITIVE?

Oh yeah, I actually have a coffee machine at home and have never been to a corrida

[fox099]

I do not know where alot of this notion comes from, but my experience in dealing with foreigners is the exact opposite. As an engineer, foreign engineers flock to this nation because we have the best and the brightest. I feel that alot of this stems from our own fellow Americans. My girlfriend, who is extremely liberal, says the rest of the world does everything better. She claims the French have better healthcare, the English better schools, the Dutch better political policies, but she sees only one thing at a time. We Americans really do have the best of everything. We can keep 300 million people health versus Frances 50 million. We provide education for 100 million young people versus Englands 20 million. We watch over 100x more space and keep it all in check to Hollands. I am amused when the French say they should be the model of the world when their own people are rioting, when they do not provide equal civil liberties for their citizens, when every week I read the number of cars burned in Paris in protest. America, we are the envy of the world, the only major power to have our infrastructure undamaged from the ravages of the second world war, and we are the leaders of the world. The weak will attempt to drag you to their level but we must help them come to ours.

[IcKy99]

the whole damn world is retarded and theres nothing we can do to change it!