Where do you get off...

southsiderosie

...thinking you know about the US?

Seriously, I know US media is pervasive in Ireland, and there are plenty of Irish people who watch American television or read American newspapers, but I'm a bit curious: what are peoples' first-hand experiences with Americans in the US? Sometimes it seems like people have a very warped idea about the American people based on what they see on Fox News or what the government does, but as an American, I wouldn't like to judge Ireland based on Joe Duffy or Bertie Ahern. And although there is some truth to the stereotypes about us (I will freely acknowledge that we are a nation of lard-asses, although this varies by state), some of the perceptions of Americans I see on boards are truly warped.

Are folks here basing their opinions on their actual experience engaging with Americans in America, or just the media portrayal of us? Are the only Americans you've ever talked to wide-eyed tourists looking for leprechauns and their grandfather's cottage off in the wilds of Mayo? Or have you actually lived and worked in the US (and still come away with the idea that we are a bunch of lunatics)?

Biggins

Lived there, worked there, related to Americans.

liah

I gotta question for ya, Rosie. Why do so many Americans hate Canadians so much? We're so harmless

(And, I've lived there and have many friends there and, being from a border town, have had more than my fair share of interactions.)

ronnie3585

Usually in bed with a moist towel.

copacetic

southsiderosie wrote: »

Are folks here basing their opinions on their actual experience engaging with Americans in America, or just the media portrayal of us? Are the only Americans you've ever talked to wide-eyed tourists looking for leprechauns and their grandfather's cottage off in the wilds of Mayo? Or have you actually lived and worked in the US (and still come away with the idea that we are a bunch of lunatics)?

A large number of Irish young people have spend at least one summer working in the US. Usually 4 months or so in a service job dealing with hundreds of 'real' americans every day.

pragmatic1

I've never visited but I dont subscribe to the stereotypes. Any Americans I've met were generally well educated, friendly and actually very reserved.

foxinsox

Lived in the US for a fair few years.. both East and West coasts..

Have relatives who are American..

In my experience some didn't even know where Ireland is, some did and asked me about the bombs, asked me did I know so and so in Dublin/Limerick/Cork?

I also met some highly intelligent people who were genuinely interested in hearing about Ireland.

But the majority of Americans I met while living there weren't in the slightest bit interested in Ireland, their own country is big enough.

So..

I met people of all sorts (lard arses included) the same way you meet people of all sorts in any country.

Kimono-Girl

i've visited a few times, my aunt is dating a new yorker, his relations are in NY & Florida, and my cousin is just back from a summer in California, my partners uncle has been all over the states many times (he's helping us plan our honeymoon there and thus telling us quite a bit about his travels),he's most recently back from Boston. My good friend got married to his American wife there.

so that....and Friends of course

FTGFOP

Dear Rosie,

Please send me some Matt's Cookies (chocolate chip). These are Americans I hold in the highest esteem.

Go Sox!

PrincessLola

southsiderosie wrote: »

...thinking you know about the US?

Seriously, I know US media is pervasive in Ireland, and there are plenty of Irish people who watch American television or read American newspapers, but I'm a bit curious: what are peoples' first-hand experiences with Americans in the US? Sometimes it seems like people have a very warped idea about the American people based on what they see on Fox News or what the government does, but as an American, I wouldn't like to judge Ireland based on Joe Duffy or Bertie Ahern. And although there is some truth to the stereotypes about us (I will freely acknowledge that we are a nation of lard-asses, although this varies by state), some of the perceptions of Americans I see on boards are truly warped.

Are folks here basing their opinions on their actual experience engaging with Americans in America, or just the media portrayal of us? Are the only Americans you've ever talked to wide-eyed tourists looking for leprechauns and their grandfather's cottage off in the wilds of Mayo? Or have you actually lived and worked in the US (and still come away with the idea that we are a bunch of lunatics)?

Americans are very ernest and.. sincere, which is a good thing most of the time. They are also, in my experience, really friendly and nice:)

southsiderosie

FTGFOP wrote: »

Dear Rosie,

Please send me some Matt's Cookies (chocolate chip). These are Americans I hold in the highest esteem.

Go Sox!

Ah, but WHICH Sox are you talking about, hmmmm???

FTGFOP

Oh! gtf back to Boston. You stink of beans.

southsiderosie

liah wrote: »

I gotta question for ya, Rosie. Why do so many Americans hate Canadians so much? We're so harmless

(And, I've lived there and have many friends there and, being from a border town, have had more than my fair share of interactions.)

Do Americans hate Canadians? I think we're more indifferent than anything else. Maybe it is different on the border?

WoollyRedHat

southsiderosie wrote: »

...thinking you know about the US?

Seriously, I know US media is pervasive in Ireland, and there are plenty of Irish people who watch American television or read American newspapers, but I'm a bit curious: what are peoples' first-hand experiences with Americans in the US? Sometimes it seems like people have a very warped idea about the American people based on what they see on Fox News or what the government does, but as an American, I wouldn't like to judge Ireland based on Joe Duffy or Bertie Ahern. And although there is some truth to the stereotypes about us (I will freely acknowledge that we are a nation of lard-asses, although this varies by state), some of the perceptions of Americans I see on boards are truly warped.

Are folks here basing their opinions on their actual experience engaging with Americans in America, or just the media portrayal of us? Are the only Americans you've ever talked to wide-eyed tourists looking for leprechauns and their grandfather's cottage off in the wilds of Mayo? Or have you actually lived and worked in the US (and still come away with the idea that we are a bunch of lunatics)?

What about the reality shows and television shows, surely they influence peoples views of America.

mojesius

I lived on the east coast for a year. Loved every second of it. I miss happy hour

Praetorian Saighdiuir

George Bush/

southsiderosie

FTGFOP wrote: »

Oh! gtf back to Boston. You stink of beans.

:eek:

Boston?

I am NOT from Boston!!!

No Matt's Cookies for YOU! :mad:

Oh_Noes

You forgot to put an "I couldn't give a shít about the US" option.

FTGFOP

southsiderosie wrote: »

:eek:

Boston?

I am NOT from Boston!!!

No Matt's Cookies for YOU! :mad:

There's only one sox worth a damn. Shame on you for asking which Sox.

foxinsox

mojesius wrote: »

I lived on the east coast for a year. Loved every second of it. I miss happy hour

I miss Monday Night Football with Happy Hour and chicken wings!

Dear Ms. southsiderosie,

Could you please send me some chicken wings?
Proper American chicken wings?

Yours

foxinsox < if it helps me get chicken wings..I love sox!

southsiderosie

WoollyRedHat wrote: »

What about the reality shows and television shows, surely they influence peoples views of America.

OK but to use a UK example, I wouldn't watch Big Brother (which is a dreadful show) and think that all British people were like Jade Goody.

Although when it comes to the perception of British in America it is kind of the opposite: I think a lot of Americans think British people are all like Stephen Fry: smart and witty, with a posh accent...Or super-snarky, like Simon Cowell. Those are the only types they let appear on US television anyway

gosuckonalemon

southsiderosie wrote: »

...thinking you know about the US?

Seriously, I know US media is pervasive in Ireland, and there are plenty of Irish people who watch American television or read American newspapers, but I'm a bit curious: what are peoples' first-hand experiences with Americans in the US? Sometimes it seems like people have a very warped idea about the American people based on what they see on Fox News or what the government does, but as an American, I wouldn't like to judge Ireland based on Joe Duffy or Bertie Ahern. And although there is some truth to the stereotypes about us (I will freely acknowledge that we are a nation of lard-asses, although this varies by state), some of the perceptions of Americans I see on boards are truly warped.

Are folks here basing their opinions on their actual experience engaging with Americans in America, or just the media portrayal of us? Are the only Americans you've ever talked to wide-eyed tourists looking for leprechauns and their grandfather's cottage off in the wilds of Mayo? Or have you actually lived and worked in the US (and still come away with the idea that we are a bunch of lunatics)?

Americans are ignorant, uneducated, loud and annoying. That's from my experience of travelling for many years and having the misfortune of having to meet them.
And as these would be the more cultured Americans (remember only 10% hold a passport) I would hate to meet the rest..

southsiderosie

FTGFOP wrote: »

There's only one sox worth a damn. Shame on you for asking which Sox.

I have to ask because I am currently living in Boston.

God hates me.

foxinsox

FTGFOP wrote: »

There's only one fox worth a damn. Shame on you for asking which fox.

Oh Hai..

southsiderosie

gosuckonalemon wrote: »

Americans are ignorant, uneducated, loud and annoying. That's from my experience of travelling for many years and having the misfortune of having to meet them.
And as these would be the more cultured Americans (remember only 10% hold a passport) I would hate to meet the rest..

Sooooo...I take it you have never been to the US then?

Millicent

gosuckonalemon wrote: »

Americans are ignorant, uneducated, loud and annoying. That's from my experience of travelling for many years and having the misfortune of having to meet them.
And as these would be the more cultured Americans (remember only 10% hold a passport) I would hate to meet the rest..

Is there anyone you do like? Jaysus.

I've only been to Florida (and at Orlando at that) so my experience was not representative, given what a touristy area it is, but I found a lot of people extremely disingenuous. I have to say, the fake niceness was offputting. That said, there were a lot of genuinely nice folks too.

WoollyRedHat

southsiderosie wrote: »

OK but to use a UK example, I wouldn't watch Big Brother (which is a dreadful show) and think that all British people were like Jade Goody.

Although when it comes to the perception of British in America it is kind of the opposite: I think a lot of Americans think British people are all like Stephen Fry: smart and witty, with a posh accent...Or super-snarky, like Simon Cowell. Those are the only types they let appear on US television anyway

I wouldn't use Big Brother as an example tbh, BB just grabbed infamy as it really drove the reality series format in a way never seen before, I wouldn't see BB as being overly British but in terms of the contestants I know what you mean.

But if you took a show like The Hills, how many peoples perceptions would be shaped on that show when it came to visiting L.A or even having a desire to go there, do you know what I mean.. whereas in Big Brother it's a different situation.

There are negative stereotypes and positive stereotypes, some conceived from popular culture even though it may be quite exagerrated or even just a small part of a city and the way it is, and yet an idea of the place will be formed by the viewer before they have even stepped inside the country, but purely they make assertions based on the shows they have watched. I know it's not the case for everybody and that most can see that just because you saw it on tv, doesn't mean such a place is as glamorous/ bad as it is portrayed on television but I still think it is a big factor when it comes to peoples opinions of Americans/America, especially considering the amount of american tv that gets exported.

HoneyRyder

My first hand experience is that Americans are generally obsessed with how they are perceived, which this thread only serves to reiterate really.

FTGFOP

There are all sorts in the States. One thing I noticed was a that people took each other (and me) at face value more than here -the flip side of the 'Americans don't get irony' thing. A greater reverence for things ideas/ beliefs too, easily shocked, perhaps?

Millicent

HoneyRyder wrote: »

My first hand experience is that Americans are generally obsessed with how they are perceived, which this thread only serves to reiterate really.

As opposed to the Irish?! Lolololololol! :pac: :pac: :pac:

liah

southsiderosie wrote: »

Do Americans hate Canadians? I think we're more indifferent than anything else. Maybe it is different on the border?

Lots of them do, yeah, or so I've noticed while gaming with them or running into them in town and chatting, something to do with the health care thing I think. Of course it's not all of them (I've plenty of friends from the States) but it's a pretty pervading sentiment in some parts for some reason. They think we're pathetic socialist commies or some other nonsense.

starbelgrade

I'm in America right now.

4th Avenue, East Orange, New Jersey, to be precise.

With Google streetview, you can go anywhere.

FoxT

...so generalisations about americans just sound.....dumb.

HoneyRyder

Millicent wrote: »

As opposed to the Irish?! Lolololololol! :pac: :pac: :pac:

As opposed to no-one Millicent. The question was about Americans and so was my answer.

Badgermonkey

I've been lucky enough to visit the States on maybe 30+ occasions over the last three years.

In my experience, Americans are naturally hospitable and friendly folk. My impression of the people I've met with has been overwhelmingly positive and would not be influenced by the sometimes questionable actions of your executive.

An aspect of the society which discomfits me is that many 'ordinary' Americans seem to lack the ability to engage in a critical analysis with regard to how the US interacts with the wider world, how the country compares to others when it comes to genuine freedoms and standard of living and how an all encompassing and pervasive patriotism may be a weakness as much as it is a strength.

southsiderosie

liah wrote: »

Lots of them do, yeah, or so I've noticed while gaming with them or running into them in town and chatting, something to do with the health care thing I think. Of course it's not all of them (I've plenty of friends from the States) but it's a pretty pervading sentiment in some parts for some reason. They think we're pathetic socialist commies or some other nonsense.

Hm - that's kind of a testament to your country more than anything else: Canada is an obvious example of it being possible to have sane banking regulations and universal health care without becoming a communist totalitarian hell-hole. You guys are like the anti-Fox News. No wonder some Americans hate you? :rolleyes::p

I've never been to the US but the majority of Americans I've dealt with have been fine. Most are genuinely curious about Ireland and I've no problem answering whatever questions they've got. I once spent a train journey from Cork to Dublin talking to two girls from New Jersey and Ohio who were both very friendly and chatty.

I also have an online friend from London, Kentucky, have known her for 8 years now. While we've never met face-to-face she's like a pen-pal to me and we'd both see each other as friends. Some of her views, especially religious ones, are a bit severe but we get on in every other way so it's not something I'd lose sleep over.

I've had the odd stereotypical occasion, such as one person not knowing where Dublin was, but it's probably as much of a stereotype as us being red-headed drunks.

Millicent

HoneyRyder wrote: »

As opposed to no-one Millicent. The question was about Americans and so was my answer.

Ah c'mon, don't be getting offended. I was only messing. But seriously, my point was that it's hard to judge the Americans for that trait, given the amount of navel-gazing Irish threads posted here. There has to be at least one "what does the world think of us" thread here once a week.

Eve_Dublin

I've lived and worked in the States for the auld J1 and I've visited and spent a lot of time there...have visited 11 times in total. My ex was American and we went out for over 2 years. My sister lives there and is raising a family in NJ. My brother has been living there for over 17 years (California) and is raising a family there now. My other sister is married to one and they lived and worked there (they live in Ireland now). My grandfather left Ireland during the Civil War and opened a bar in New York. I have a huge amount of cousins, aunties and uncles over there as well.

It's fair to say I have some links with the States.

What do I think of America and it's people?

1) People there are very friendly, sometimes unnervingly friendly and I have a hard time time keeping up sometimes with the level of friendliness expected of me at the initial stages.

2) People are probably as ignorant as any nation BUT they've no problem articulating their opinions and asking questions OUT LOUD (sometimes a little too loudly). They have no sense of shame or at least a lot less than most Europeans. I think we pretend to know more than we do whereas an American wouldn't pretend. This gives the wrong impression.

3)My sense of humour is lost on most Americans I meet.

4) They're light-weights when it comes to drinking.

5) They like to party.

6) America is the centre of most Americans' universe as is Ireland for me...only once again, they're more vocal about it....this once again gives the wrong impression.

7) I don't like the food.

8) I like Americans.

9) Americans think we care more about their country than we do in reality. Just like the Irish.

10) I like your president for the first time in my life.

foxinsox

starbelgrade wrote: »

I'm in America right now.

4th Avenue, East Orange, New Jersey, to be precise.

With Google streetview, you can go anywhere.

50 states and you pick New Jersey?

You might as well head to Delaware now while you're tripping!:P

liah

southsiderosie wrote: »

Hm - that's kind of a testament to your country more than anything else: Canada is an obvious example of it being possible to have sane banking regulations and universal health care without becoming a communist totalitarian hell-hole. You guys are like the anti-Fox News. No wonder some Americans hate you? :rolleyes::p

I suppose. I just mean that we keep pretty much to ourselves and are largely inoffensive, yet loads of Americans don't like us, even though we haven't ever really done anything.. about anything.. ever :pac: Just a bit odd, I guess!

HoneyRyder

Millicent wrote: »

Ah c'mon, don't be getting offended. I was only messing. But seriously, my point was that it's hard to judge the Americans for that trait, given the amount of navel-gazing Irish ones posted here. There has to be at least one "what does the world think of us" thread here once a week.

I'm not offended I'm just not sure why you're directing your Irish observations towards me when I've said nothing to the contrary.

starbelgrade

The poll is flawed in that it only asks if people have been to the US without taking into account their views on America & Americans.

There's no corelation therefor between people's experiences of the US or lack of & their views on America / Americans.

It's also quite possible that someone who has never been to the States has less of a warped view on the place than someone who has been.

FTGFOP

liah wrote: »

I suppose. I just mean that we keep pretty much to ourselves and are largely inoffensive, yet loads of Americans don't like us, even though we haven't ever really done anything.. about anything.. ever :pac: Just a bit odd, I guess!

Maybe you've just been running into a lot of Republicans? Canada = Some kind of Commie state.

Millicent

HoneyRyder wrote: »

I'm not offended I'm just not sure why you're directing your Irish observations towards me when I've said nothing to the contrary.

I just thought it was funny that you said that Americans seem to care too much about what people think about them, when after posting on Boards this last while, I've come to realise that the same can be said for a lot of Irish people. I just thought it was funny.

Millicent

Sitec wrote: »

I wouldn't go judging a nation by whats written on a forum in fairness!

Pinch of salt etc...

Ah, I don't really. If I judged life by what goes on in AH, I'd be afraid to leave the house in case a dole-stealing miscreant ate the swan the English robbed from me first.

fabbydabby

Ive been to the USA a few times and I liked it there. I have also shared accomodation with several americans over the years.

The majority I met were friendly, polite people , but many of them don't really know what's going on in the world outside of America.

It's amazing how everything is just... bigger over there. I think myself this stems from the days when there was as much land as you could take, all you had to do was kill off a few natives and it was yours. They just got used to livin large yo.

southsiderosie

starbelgrade wrote: »

The poll is flawed in that it only asks if people have been to the US without taking into account their views on America & Americans.

There's no corelation therefor between people's experiences of the US or lack of & their views on America / Americans.

It's also quite possible that someone who has never been to the States has less of a warped view on the place than someone who has been.

Yeah, but I didn't want the poll to be too big - I figured people could write up their experiences in the thread if they felt so inclined. As it is, polls are a bit of a blunt instrument; even if there were options, what would they be ,"Americans are sound/mental/meh" across all of the options?

Eve_Dublin

Millicent wrote: »

I just thought it was funny that you said that Americans seem to care too much about what people think about them, when after posting on Boards this last while, I've come to realise that the same can be said for a lot of Irish people. I just thought it was funny.

I think the interest we have in other people's opinions of us stems from different places though. Ours might come from an innate insecurity we have about ourselves and wanting the approval of others whereas the Americans' interest might come from a desire for confirmation in what they already believe about themselves (that they "kick ass"). I've never met more self-confident people in all my life. I think the Irish might be the polar opposite. I'm envious of that trait.

Millicent

Eve_Dublin wrote: »

I think the interest we have in other people's opinions of us stems from different places though. Ours might come from an innate insecurity we have about ourselves and wanting the approval of others whereas the Americans' interest might come from a desire for confirmation in what they already believe about themselves (that they "kick ass"). I've never met more self-confident people in all my life. I think the Irish might be the polar opposite. I'm envious of that trait.

That's an interesting point, actually, because I too have longed for that self-confidence. I have noticed it from speaking to a lot of Americans across a variety of fora and am always amazed at the confidence and utter, unshakable self-belief some of them have.

It annoys me as well as impresses me, in equal measures, because I do find it frustrating that a person with that level of self-belief and even a sliver of skill will get far ahead of someone who is massively talented but can't sell themselves in the same way.

FTGFOP

southsiderosie wrote: »

I have to ask because I am currently living in Boston.

God hates me.

*there there* Soon you will learn how to pronounce Chowder correctly and it will all seem worth it.