Misconceptions about Americans...

[Sly]

A while back I was talking to a guy from Australia. He was telling me about a trip of his to the States, he went to LA on business, he went on to say that he was totally shocked that he didn't see anyone with a gun. He was expecting to see guys walking around with a gun on their hip, John Wayne style. I thought that was pretty funny and not only assured him that walking around "packing" is illegal in most places without special permits but also that every person does not own a gun.

So I'll start it off, feel free to add anything you can think of...

1) Carrying a gun is pretty uncommon and typically illegal (with a few exceptions).

2) Not everyone owns a gun, most people in urban areas do not.

3) My bank has never offered me a gun for creating a new bank account.

[uno]

If he wants to see people walking around with guns, tell him to go to texas. He'll get the whole nine there. People with guns, big belt buckles, 10 gallon hats, and cowboy boots.

[DjSap]

I have to say that after doing my degree in Australia and getting 800 study abroad students from the states every semester I now realize that the majority of Americans are idiots. No offense to the non-idiots, but I was shocked to see that a majority of the Americans were complete airheads and had poor work ethic. Sure you have idiots everywhere but I was completely surprised at how many there were from the states.

[Pleasurepays]

I have to say that after doing my degree in Australia and getting 800 study abroad students from the states every semester I now realize that the majority of Americans are idiots. No offense to the non-idiots, but I was shocked to see that a majority of the Americans were complete airheads and had poor work ethic. Sure you have idiots everywhere but I was completely surprised at how many there were from the states.

ironic that you fail to see the idiocy of calling the majority of people in any nation "idiots"

[spasmo]

I have to say that after doing my degree in Australia and getting 800 study abroad students from the states every semester I now realize that the majority of Americans are idiots. No offense to the non-idiots, but I was shocked to see that a majority of the Americans were complete airheads and had poor work ethic. Sure you have idiots everywhere but I was completely surprised at how many there were from the states.

I don't see how you get "poor work ethic" from the land of 80 hour work weeks. Perhaps my view is skewed because I live in Silicon Valley.

[Martin]

Yeah sort of like how some Americans think it snows year round in Canada. ;)

[baddog]

How about the misconception that we care what others think about us.

[StuartD]

There are many more misconceptions of Canadians than there are for Americans.

[DjSap]

ironic that you fail to see the idiocy of calling the majority of people in any nation "idiots"

Like I said, no offense to the non-idiots. I stand by my statement though, the majority are idiots.

[Mutt]

I have to say that after doing my degree in Australia and getting 800 study abroad students from the states every semester I now realize that the majority of Americans are idiots. No offense to the non-idiots, but I was shocked to see that a majority of the Americans were complete airheads and had poor work ethic. Sure you have idiots everywhere but I was completely surprised at how many there were from the states.

Americans take less vacation days than any country on the planet. Even in this industry Americans do better than their counterparts - probably 7 of the top 10 adult Internet companies are American.

[DjSap]

Americans take less vacation days than any country on the planet. Even in this industry Americans do better than their counterparts - probably 7 of the top 10 adult Internet companies are American.

Taking less vacation days because you will be fired if you do or because you need the money to pay off debts is not really a sign of good work ethic.

The top decile in the states is composed of brilliant people that make the country the leader in many fields, like somebody stated Silicon Valley is full of this sort of people.

I know that it may be instinctive to defend your own country, but failing to realize that the majority of Americans are idiots is just making the problem worse.

[baddog]

Taking less vacation days because you will be fired if you do or because you need the money to pay off debts is not really a sign of good work ethic.

The top decile in the states is composed of brilliant people that make the country the leader in many fields, like somebody stated Silicon Valley is full of this sort of people.

I know that it may be instinctive to defend your own country, but failing to realize that the majority of Americans are idiots is just making the problem worse.

Quite the dolt, aren't you?

[he-fox]

here comes again...

[polish_aristocrat]

There are many more misconceptions of Canadians than there are for Americans.

Not in other parts of the world.

F.e. in Europe, people hear about Canada every 5 years or so, so there can't be many misconceptions because noone simply talks or thinks about Canada.

[Nysus]

There are many more misconceptions of Canadians than there are for Americans.

It's because they're Americans who have those misconeptions...

Matt

[georgeyw]

How about the misconception that we care what others think about us.

Well you just proved that one wrong

Americans are seen as obnoxious, moronic imbeciles in my part of the world.

[baddog]

Well you just proved that one wrong

really, how so?

Americans are seen as obnoxious, moronic imbeciles in my part of the world.

which is why they rush to come over here

[georgeyw]

really, how so?

If you have to say it repeatedly...

which is why they rush to come over here

This proves what exactly? Money is the motivator and i'd say that a lack of a skilled workforce provides the opportunity.

No need to get antsy, i'm merely answering Sly's question. Whether it's a 'misconception' or not, I don't know.

[Webby]

A while back I was talking to a guy from Australia. He was telling me about a trip of his to the States, he went to LA on business, he went on to say that he was totally shocked that he didn't see anyone with a gun. He was expecting to see guys walking around with a gun on their hip, John Wayne style. I thought that was pretty funny and not only assured him that walking around "packing" is illegal in most places without special permits but also that every person does not own a gun.

So I'll start it off, feel free to add anything you can think of...

1) Carrying a gun is pretty uncommon and typically illegal (with a few exceptions).

2) Not everyone owns a gun, most people in urban areas do not.

3) My bank has never offered me a gun for creating a new bank account.

Sure Sly.. agree. It prob depends on the location within the US - I'm used to the folks I know there "packing". It was a kinda shocker at first, but sound reasons behind it. Others who do have guns are more discreet - and not necessarily carrying a weapon on them.

In reply to a few other posts on this thread, seriously doubt US folks are any different to elsewhere. They have the same problems as elsewhere, work longish hours (often having several "jobs" simply to be able to live). OK.. there are extremes and incidents which may not be common in other countries, end up as "highlights" and representative of the US - but chances are these extremes can happen elsewhere, and do.

There does seem to be an unawareness of the rest of the planet - even on simple things like where other countries are located etc. Smells like a lot of maturing needs to happen yet - or maybe it's just education, who knows?

Gotta say the people I know in the US and US folks I know living outside the US are generally rated highly. Among em are some amazing people, tho they will even comment on a degree of crass idiocy within the US. That could be simply because the US is a melting pot of many cultures - who knows? But... from the folks I know, I'd trust a couple with my life - which is more than I'd say about folks from some other countries.

Bottom line.. countries matter little, - it's people that matter, irrespective of where they came from. "We" are all the same whether we like to think so or not