COF

I've never lived in the US, but from my visits there I have found that many Americans attitudes towards the UK is rather condesending, and somewhat simplistic.

I wouldn't say they dislike us, but they seem to view us as a very qaint country that needs US protection. They like to claim they they saved us in WW2, and I think many genuinely believe that to be 100% the case.

Generally speaking they don't hold the British military in very high regard, and see their forces as being tougher, better trained and superior. But then again, they see their military training and rigour as superior to every country, so that's not really suprising.

They also seem to think we're all obsessed with the Queen and Royal Family, and if you start talking to an American, quite often the first thing they'll mention when they find out you're British is the Royal Family. It's amazing how many of them are Royal fanatics.

They all seem to think British national identity has its foundations in worshipping the Queen and they seem suprised that I don't know as much about the Royal Family as they do.

They all seem to think we have bad teeth too. The idea that all British people have bad teeth seems to be ingrained in their society. I don't think it's just jokes and humour either, I think a lot of them genuinely think that is true.

Hollywood seems to constantly back-up these stereotypes too. In Hollywood films the Brit is always some top-hat wearing, posh talking butler-type, a criminal mastermind or some upper-class, effete pansy (ie Hugh Grant).

On the whole, I think Americans genuinely like the UK as a country. However, I don't think they regard us as their equals. I think in many respects they see the UK as a quirky curiosity and as a consequence their attitudes towards us are ignorant, condesending, highly misinformed and somewhat arrogant.

No doubt as many people on this forum have chosen to make America their home they will disagree wholeheartedly with my opinions. However, there you have it.

Sally Redux

You're back then.

Poppy girl

fatbrit

You'll find plenty of Americans who also believe the world is only a few thousand years old and Jesus rode a dinosaur.

On the other hand, the stereotypical British view of America is quite uninformed, too.

sonlymewalter

So....you don't live in USA but you've visited on occasion and on this you've made an assumption about the whlole nation and its people that they all generalise about the British in the way you think they do

......guess I won't be looking out for many of your posts then mate

kimilseung

There is a sub set of the population that fits your description, but they are are a minority. There is also another sub set that has no idea or impression of the UK at all. Yet another that is very educated and knowledgeable about the UK.

rustic charm abounds

The Guardian website recently ran a story about the Grand Canyon - illustrated by a picture of Monument Valley. Oops.

Lord_GG_Byron

See Above

BellaE

Well, thank goodness that British people are never condescending and always have nuanced views of the people of other cultures. Furthermore, all British people can spell words like condescending and know how to use an apostrophe to indicate the the possessive form.

Normally, I don't feed trolls. But it's cold out.

S Folinsky

+1

Bob

Different view with different people...some are like that, but then you get the same dickheads in the UK too.

You should be happy the folks you're talking to know there's a UK and it's not just London

Bob

Sorry, but I snickered

BellaE

dang! I was really trying to be clever!

Michael

Well of course that is what we all think. I also am sure that everyone in the south US is a racist and is lucky to have more than one tooth.

Lord_GG_Byron

I don't know if this hurts or helps his argument, but on a US television show "Worlds Dumbest..." They just showed a Brit trying to break the world record for taking kicks the the groin. He lasted 23 kicks until he quit. I'll just that thought sit for a bit.