What is the American Stereotype?

So these kids came over from france and visited our french class. They said the typical american stereotype is that Americans are all very very fat.

If you aren't in the U.S, what do you think of when you here 'American?'

It always shocks me when I see the statistics about weight in the US. In my town, NO ONE is overweight. I can seriously only name about 2 people in my grade (out of about 450) who are seriously overweight. Maybe I just live in a skinny town.

However, the materialistic and unintelligent stereotype is certainly prevalent here.

Original Post by peaches0405:

Unfortunately, a higher percentage of immigrants who live in poverty and break the law are ones who have either refused or not been here long enough to learn the language.  Many of these same people have no concern with becoming legal citizens. 

I have alot of friends in law enforcement, and I don't have the statistics, but they have seen first hand, what I have stated in the previous paragraph.  It's overwhealming.

 I just threw up in my mouth a little.

I had to restrain myself a bit as well, pg. Yikes.

See,
I can Agree with a lot of these.
I am in america, and i am a bit over Weight, Which is genetic. Some people are just meant to be rounder, and a bit more filled. I Dont like the way i look [Fat wise] But I've also come to known that some people are like me [who are born like this, not hugely fat, but chubby.] and that there are people who just make themselves fat. I am actually very healthy in the way i eat [no red meats, and only chicken as meat] So i kinda go to both sides. I'd like to be a bit smaller, just to feel good about myself, but all in all im actually healthy person. Most Americans get a bad sterio type for this kind of thing, actually; Its ususally fatter than my size. I think that we just need to get rid of fast food all together.

Something that i dont like is that we are uncultured. We have a culture i mean, but we are more of a mix than anything. I wish we had a rich culture like France, or England. Where we learned some manners for people and things.

old thread

Original Post by elise_marie:

I'm American, but I do a lot of traveling and I'm currently living in the middle east. In my experience, most people think Americans are fat and stupid... I was here for a week or so when I first heard a (sad but mostly true) joke...

What do you call someone who speaks four languages?

    -Quadlingual

What do you call someone who speaks three languages?

    -Trilingual

What do you call someone who speaks two languages?

    -Bilingual

What do you call someone who speaks one language?

    -American

 

I think that pretty much sums up what people think of Americans over here... And in my experience in western more western countries (ie Europe) the consensus is pretty much the same...

I was in Canada (Vancouver) a few years back and was surprised by how fit most people were because I expected them to be fat like Americans. That said, when I crossed over into Seattle, I did not notice the people south of the border were particularly large in comparison - but they were ruder, louder and more aggro.

I have negative and positive stereotypes about Americans.

Fat, yes. But also arrogant, sentimental, dramatic and insular.

On the positive side: optimistic, innovative, determined and proud.

I guess whenever I think of "american stereotype"I get the image of somone a little chubby, wearing blue jeans and a hoodie.

Clearly, the most enduring american stereotype is that of ZOMBIES.

Zombie posts want to eat your brain. Rwarr.

braaaaaaainnnsssss

The stereotype about Americans in the middle-east is that you,guys, are racists..

and everytime I hear that,I go like .. " HELLO!!..OBAMA is the president now "

lol..

 And I feel like saying " just move on,people..move the **** on "

I am pro-American and I have had an American friend who  told me once..."America has the best and the worst of humanity...but some people expect America to be perfect...there is no such thing as a perfect country "

I have been wanting to leave Egypt and go to America for years now..But I have waited to get a college degree first..people here seem to think to know so much about Americans..when they have never been to America or known one single American their whole lives..

My reason is that I respect the American culture..how diverse the American society is and how beautiful the landscape..my reason is that I feel most comfortable around Americans..and that I feel more American than anything else..

Might sound rude..and I should not be talking like this portraying my country in a bad way..but it is just the truth..

and why the hell should people who want to impose their culture on America be welcomed there anyways..

Maybe some just want to be free and live in peace..like me..but I do not really want to live in peace..lol..

America is more passionate than any other place I have ever heard of..which is why I yearn to be a part for it..

It is that Americans are too open about their country on TV and movies..and so many people from other countries watch that...so now they think they are experts in American issues and the American people..