Sick of hearing about how Americans are stupid

I've been doing my Expat blog for more than a year. I finally tackled in it the topic that kind of inspired me to start it the blog to begin with- the perception that all Americans are stupid.

http://expatclaptrap.com/americans-is-dumb-or-are-them/

I've got my blog to make fun of cultural differences and things that annoy me. I wonder how other people deal with it...

My favorite, often heard was "ALL Americans are stupid/dumb/morons/fill in term used here, but not you. This invariably came from someone who knew me all of 1 - maybe 5 minutes before saying it. Snap judgement of my brilliance, I suppose. And then the example of why we were all stupid was either something one politician said or did, or something an American did in a movie or on a tv show. I'd have to point out that either A) one politician is not everyone, or B) the person in the film/television show is just a character and not a real person.

Usually the person couldn't be swayed by my points, and I'd have to find a way to bow out gracefully. Occasionally, I'd have to point out that I was trying to enjoy a day or evening out and not looking to be insulted or for an argument with a stranger.

Hi,

Almost on cue for this thread! This American doesn't help the stereotype!

http://news.sky.com/story/1559618/fuel-pump-blaze-as-man-uses-lighter-on-spider

Cue then all the 'only in America' type comments.

However, just a few hours later, this video here in the UK surfaces,



(some strong language in the above 'UK' example)

It just proves there's stupid, idiotic people everywhere!

Cheers, DtM! West London & Slough UK!

Ahhh, the casual "dumb Americans" comments...

Really, is it any worse than what we say about whatever ridiculous news story happens to grab our attention? How many times have we wondered what an individual state is putting in the water to pump out so much crazy?

It's all about exposure and intent.

The US is a pretty isolated bubble. If you're in it, you get a limited view of the outside. If you're out of it, you get a limited view of the inside. If all you see of a nation is its posturing politicians, and its criminally insane, it's going to come up in conversation. Usually in the form of a light-hearted joke. This is where intent becomes so important.

Nearly all of the "stupid American" comments I've encountered were not malicious. Not the best way to strike up a conversation, but not necessarily meant to insult. It's gotten to the point where my ear now translates these comments to simple declarations of interest. It's not always mean-spirited criticism. Sometimes, people are just curious and want to understand something they've seen. Other times, it's a generalization that has simply never been challenged in that person's experience.

There's that exposure again.

I greet these things with the same chuckle that responds to adorably silly questions like: "You lived in DC? Do you know Obama?"

Not so different from the US, where I issued that chuckle in response to: "You lived in Las Vegas? Did you live in a casino?"

I guess what I'm saying is, don't take it personally. Just laugh at the failed attempts at "American" accents that usually follow such comments. Life is too short to get hung up on ignorance, no matter where you come from.

Ahhh, the casual "dumb Americans" comments...

*****
I guess what I'm saying is, don't take it personally. Just laugh at the failed attempts at "American" accents that usually follow such comments. Life is too short to get hung up on ignorance, no matter where you come from.

Excellent advice, and very well put. 

I just have to say that the guy who we were working with to get our lease on our new rental house asked me tonight, "If you were back in the US would you vote for Donald Trump?"

And then he had no idea who any of the other possible candidates in the primaries were other then the new Bush who is also a Republican!

It's a little bit funny what people do and do not know, right?

I also really like what Raspberries said. It was a great way of putting it.

Yes, I've ranted about this before, it's so irritating. Honestly, I have met waaaay more empty headed people here than I ever did in America. Some people here can't even tell me where other parts of England are (from London) even Essex! And whenever I mention something mildly academic like James Joyce, Mid-century modern, oedipus complex or use "big" words like cathartic, i get blank stares and no one know what I am talking about. And just listen to almost any conversation on the train and tell me how it's so much more intellectually stimulating than what an American would say. Even a British friend of mine said he really struggles to have any sort of stimulating conversation with anyone that goes beyond the weather.

Don't get me wrong, sure there is dumb Americans but there are dumb people here too. To me Boris Johnson is almost as bad a joke as some of our politicians. And listening to people rant about immigration is just like listening to Fox News.

I think Americans are sold the notion via shows like Downton Abby that Brits are prim, proper and smart but of course its not the case, just like the rest of the world is sold the image of "all" americans being fat, lazy and dumb (even though we are the most powerful country in the world.)

But yeah, what can you say? All I do is laugh it off. If people are going to think that way, nothing i say is going to change their mind. But i assume a lot of it stems of insecurity or our politics (which is fair, but also, Britain isn't exactly innocent either)

If you think Boris is dumb, I think you are very mistaken.  Like Dubya, that comedy stupidity is a cover for an absolutely cunning intellect.  Dubya was surely evil, Boris hasn't shown us his nature yet, but neither are stupid.


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@jimbocz ok, maybe he's not as bad as Dubya but if you look at his past decisions, it's hard to deny his past is full of mismanagement to i think a pretty appalling level.

This article sums it very nicely http://www.independent.co.uk/voices/this-is-what-boris-johnson-being-mayor-has-actually-cost-london-10491163.html

an example is the Boris Bus...what an epic disaster. The bus doesn't have windows because there's air con which doesnt even work when it's really hot. My husband had to ride this to work and with it got to such high heat levels, that it would be illlegal to keep chickens in a chicken farm at that heat. "Safe" for London commuters but not chickens!

i disagree that he has cunning intellect, curious as to what makes you say that? In every interview I've seen with him, all he does is cut people off and evade questions. From what I've seen in his interviews and his actions, there is nothing to balance out the clown act.  I think he is a part of the whole Eton crowd and this is what got him to where he is, not his smarts. Also, I disagree that Dubya had intellect, I do think the people surrounding him were very smart but him? I think him and Boris are where they are because of family histories, being in with the right people, etc.

and @expat rat great post on your blog! exactly on the mark

all he does is cut people off and evade questions. From what I've seen in his interviews and his actions, there is nothing to balance out the clown act. 

Johnson is an enigma. I think his shtick works....everyone knows it is BS.....Boris most of all.

You know if any other politician in the world would have gotten hung out on that Olympic zip line like Boris, dangling there like an idiot, their career would have been over. Not Boris. He probably rigged it up that way.

His morality is something completely different.

Thanks for the article expat rat. I have to tolerate the "Americans are stupid" insults all the time because my brother-in-law finds it all so funny! I have to tolerate that fool's attempt at mimicking my accent ("Have a nice day, y'all!"), reminding me at the dinner table that Americans are all fat, how he had to go to Iraq (he's in the RAF) because Americans want to rule the world (okay, he's on to something there), how we are all gun crazy (his brother, my husband who's also a former RAF soldier owns one) and countless other crap. Now that FB exists, I get all sorts of stories where I get tagged and you know it's all s***. After 22 years, I have come to the conclusion that there's a little bit of jealousy on his part. It's probably why I put up with it.

I have to tolerate that fool's attempt at mimicking my accent

This made me picture Christmas dinner or something...

Mother-in-law: Lorena I've seated you next to Jerry.
Lorena: Dear lord, give me strength...

Now that FB exists, I get all sorts of stories where I get tagged and you know it's all s***. After 22 years, I have come to the conclusion that there's a little bit of jealousy on his part. It's probably why I put up with it.

If you don't want to see ANY of his posts but stay his facebook friend, you can unfollow him. I'm not sure how that would work for when he tags you though...

Thanks for the advice on "unfollowing" on FB lyonaria. I knew about that but I won't since he is my brother-in-law after all. My father-in-law has always mentioned how he thinks American's are a bit dim but he's also known for calling out every nationality so... As sonofasailor pictured, I do sort of do a sign of the cross whenever I am near either one. I pray that I don't say something horrible back and I definitely don't drink because it's my truth serum and they will both go down in flames! Lol