why do so many americans seem  ignorant to other cultures?
347061
a poor education system that focuses too much on America and little else. many of them are completely clueless about other countries and cultures. e.g. lots of them think of Europe as one country and think you can drive all over it in one week and see it all. A supposedly intelligent adult office worker in America once asked my Scottish friend if they have computers in Scotland! I rest my case.
1184215
Because Americans are stupid...
956846
They're not less intelligent that the rest of the world, it's just that a lot of American people don't care about the rest of the world and know nothing about it, and this is why a lot of people say they're stupid. But I think they are just unaware of the world around them, and it's not a cliché, I say it because I've spoken to a lot of American people who ddidn't even know for example when Iraq is, when they've been on war with this country for more than three years.\n\nSomething else typical of American people is that most of them don't speak any foreign language and expect everybody, everywhere they go, to speak English. And although it's true that everywhere you go you'll find easily people who speak English, it's still better to speak the local language, people will find you more friendly and will be more friendly to you.\n\nBut this all doesn't make American people less intelligent than the others, I think they just need to open up.
486101
cos there just silly americans who think america is the whole world
335969
it's not ignorance, it's arrogance. and it isn't all the americans, but it is deffinately a large group who thinks the whole world evolves around the USA, and they need no knowledge of the rest of that world. i've met americans who think Afhanistan is the capital of Iraq.\n\nThe arrogance is even proven in some of the answers above. they attack you on ur english. maybe ur native language isn't even english, but they would never even concider that fact, bcs the world ends for them at the borders of the USA.\n\n(they will probably attack my english too now, but hey, who cares? english is only my fifth language, far behind dutch, german, french and romanian)\n\nsometimes i wish Columbus had taken another turn in 1492.\n\nof course there are also a lot (and i mean A LOT) of normal, friendly open-minded americans. met them, seen them and respect them highly. but most of those people i met, agree mostly with my points made here.
727415
Actually, not all the rest of the world assume that all Americans are narrow minded and ignorant.\n   I don't deny that many many Americans are narrow minded and ignorant and that's not a result of anything but refusing to listen or to understand people's way of thinking, and I always say that there are many Americans who still think themselves living in the center of universe and refuse do dialog with other nations. That's a fact BUT>>>>>>>\n  I know many Americans here in Palestine, some of them are friends of mine, they are so nice and so open-minded because they saw they truth by their naked eyes and believed it. And even in USA itself I know there are millions of good Americans (such as you, and I really wish all people around this world have your ideology, we would never have problems!).\n   Even here, some people think all Americans are narrow-minded, and please don't blame them, because they're being killed by US arms used by Israelis, their homes are demolished by that Caterpillar. But believe me - in Palestine- a big majority sees many Americans as nice people.\n  Yazan, Palestine, 16 years old, school student.\n                                                                                 Regards.
605920
I have taught students from Germany and they have asked me if people speak English in my state. They have asked me all sorts of seemingly ignorant questions about America when they have spent their entire lives watching American movies. I don't think this is because Germans don't learn about America or are particularly stupid. I have come to understand it is the nature of young adults. They are totally absorbed with themselves and do not take in ANY information unless it is directly pertinent to them. As for junior year, that is the year that focuses on American history and American literature. If you had been there earlier or in senior year, you would have learned World History and either World or British literature.
150042
I am an American and the truth is Americans are arrogant. Americans will visit a foreign country and call the people there foreigners! lol, it's true. But seriously, I do think that's the reason why...not to mention we are a bit spoiled. Now understand, not ALL Americans are like this but you can safely say the majority fit in this category.
198201
I think a lot of it stems from the American educational system. People who've gone to school in the US usually have zero knowledge of almost anything about the rest of the world.  I don't mean to say that Americans are stupid or ignorant; but it's really frustrating to the rest of the world to see Americans who don't have a passport, have no desire to experience another culture, and couldn't tell you where Sweden is in Europe (let alone anywhere in Africa or Asia). It makes the rest of the world feel like Americans are totally oblivious couldn't care less about everyone else on the planet.
508530
Stupid? Like lack of intelligence? No. Americans are not stupid.\n\nStupid as in ignorant?? Ignorant of the rest of the world???\n\nABSOLUTELY
1023148
I believe it's because they don't understand what it is to be American...very sad
1144041
Many don't like Americans but I don't think that it is fair to ask them that question.  In reality they have limited exposure and can only go by what they get in the media.  Many countries have state-controlled media and others are just very liberal and only present them with what the media bigwigs think is important.\n\nAlso, many people outside the country erroneously believe that Americans are like what they see on TV shows.  It's easy to see how that can happen but in reality 99.99% of the people are nothing like that.\n\nDon't forget that most of our media is based out of Los Angeles and New York.  Although those areas dominate the media that are absolutely not representative of the rest of the country.  That gives people from out of the country a skewed sense of our culture.\n\nAs for being rude I am really sick about hearing this.  I really don't understand why Americans are so quick to spew out this stereotype.  Rudeness is really a cultural thing.  What is rude in one culture isn't in another.  Living in Southern California we get more than our fair share of tourists.  I have seen so many European tourists that are "rude" simply because they don't understand our culture.  I'm sure that many of the things that they are doing are perfectly acceptable in theirs.  How about Asia?  Ever try riding public transit without being beaten?  Hell half the stuff they do there would land an American in jail but it is perfectly acceptable in their culture.
610965
I think americans aren't so much as ignorant as they are just  out of touch with the world around them. It happens a lot here, everyone has busy lives, families to support and their own problems; it makes it kind of hard for people to stay up to date about what is going on around them. People focus more on trying to survive then on issues in the country.
251253
it helps to expand peoples ideas and knowledge of the world and to help them to understand things from a different perspective. Sometimes it is difficult to understand why people from different countries act the way they do but to see the world from that persons point of view helps to promote understanding. As an american I cannot comment on Indian education but I imagine from your perspective anything other than Indian education is forign  education.
3224
i dont think u should generalize. but i think some people (not necessarily americans) are less informed about the world is because they are sheltered and are not open to other people's cultures, beliefs and traditions
715316
I get annoyed by people who talk garbage about America but benefit from it. Anyways, it's just that the older generation is still stuck on their ways. They feel comfortable with doing the things they do back in their homeland. They also have a tendency to stick with people of same ethnic group because it it easier to relate to each other. The younger generation will be better adjusted to the the American culture. The beauty of living in America is that its in theory a culture of acceptance. Unfortunately, there are still closed-minded people out there not open to new ideas.
605040
Because Americans are by and large culturally ignorant.\n\nAssuming all Hispanics as Mexicans...just like my ex, she said "all Asians are Chinese as far as I'm concerned."\n\nThat kind of mentality is ridiculous, and makes people look like morons.