Is it just me, or does it seem like people in Europe (mainly England) are snobbish towards people in the US?
366173
No, its not just you though I can't blame them.  Our country, particularly our government, has an air of arrogance about it.  I suppose this stems from Americanizing other cultures and our self proclaimed "world police" status.  While these stereotypes do not apply to individuals, that perception of our nation as a whole bleeds into people's attitudes towards us on a personal level.
626272
first of all, most of the answers on here are a joke.  most of the answers here from non-americans go into detail about how snobby, condescending, and judgemental americans are.  hmmmm.  that's really funny, considering the fact that your comments lead everyone to believe that you too are, well, snobby, condescending, and judgemental.\n\namerica was founded in certain principles and ideas that unfortunately have been compromised over the years.  this is rather sad, naturally.  however, it's pretty retarded to hate an entire nation of people based on the actions of the president or a handful of people who happen to be in power.  i dare anyone to name me a country with a perfect government.\nhmmmmmm...\nwell?\n\nalso, i see comments about americans liking fast food, and americans being fat, materialistic, wealthy, etc etc.\ni've had the excellent fortune to have the opportunity to travel all over the world.  i can't think of one single country i have been to, from europe to south america to asia that isn't covered with fast food joints... that doesn't have overweight people...\nas far as americans being materialistic, some are, sure.  i saw many more materialistic people in certain european countries, korea, argentina.  people who live in shacks but just HAVE to have that burberry shirt and those gucci sunglasses.\n\namerica has faults, but who doesn't?  america is better and worse than other countries in some aspects, and i'm 100% sure that can be said for all nations.  go to america and meet some americans before making ignorant comments... instead of watching whatever propaganda is on the news channels.  if i believed everything i read in the news about other countries, i'd be xenophobic too.  so get over yourself and move on with your lives.
1079546
I myself am not American, nor do i have anything at all against America - however; i will say that i have noticed that MANY  (NOT ALL!) American people tend to believe they are "above" people from most other countries - including Mexican Immigrants.  This attitude, i believe, has little or no basis in fact but has far more to do with the leaders of America.  The arrogant attitude comes right from the top; was it not America its very self that created the notion of "the American Dream" ?!  If the leaders of their country have an arrogant attitude& think they're better than the rest then its little wonder that the same principles and ways of thinking have been taken on by so many (it seems) American people.  I noticed in your question you are very passionate about your cause, which i do commend you for but would urge you to not fight a losing battle.  As i said i doubt it has anything to do with your people(it seems from your question that you yourself are mexican immigrant) personally, politically or anything else if the truth be known - it probably IS that Americans can be very arrogant and just automatically believe they're better than everyone!  (i am in no way against american people; i actually have family there!  And im certain that there are plenty of undesirable British traits - im british!- that i could sit here and take apart!!!)  In short i suppose what i'm saying is: don't worry about it; it's not you with the problem-it's them!!!!(oh; and yes-immigrants DO contribute a lot to america; to its economy,workplace ....)
999769
We can sometimes be spoiled brats.  Rightly or wrongly most of us grow up thinking we live in the greatest country in the world, not because of who we are as individuals but because of our institutions and our history.  We naively expect the entire world to feel the same way and for everyone to "love" us.  I suppose it is kind of an insecurity, possibly because we are this melting pot.  I think most countries with single strong ethnic identities probably don't suffer from this insecurity.  They are who they are and they just don't care what anyone thinks.  Americans get this attitude but in a different reactionary way.  Trying to give an example:  The French say might criticize America for something it's doing in the world...and it feels no embarrassment about doing so...they are perfectly justified in doing so.  However after this "affront" we become insulted...kind of get our "feelings hurt"....then respond with a kind of beligerant screw you attitude.  I suppose we come off kind of whiney at times like that.  On the other hand it seems that other countries aren't quite as "thin skinned".  So I don't think it's an inferiority complex...but I think it's a bit of over concern with image.  I think we should just do what we do and quit worrying about what people think.  Personally though I have to admit that i'm becoming weary of the weight of all the worlds problems and if the world wants us out of them maybe we should just get out of them...and let them deal with it all.  Seems to me like we are only having our entire economy destroyed by dealing with the rest of the world anyway..so shut the borders...bring all the troops home, cut off all foreign aid, no more trade, sit back, and carry a big big stick.  Maybe then the rest of the world will find us acceptable.\n\ntruthseeker...you are seeking anything but the truth or if you are it's to seek it out and destroy it wherever you find it.
156388
I'm American and live in Italy - have for many years.  Americans think often that they are the best, but they don't see beyond the easy life many have there, the shopping, the everyday things.  In Europe we see life as being a part of the world - when things don't go well in other countries, it becomes our problem.  Even if things in America are going wrong, it affects us.  Unfortunately Americans are not as free as they think - they are not told many truths, and they think that they are being told the truth.  Don't want to sound like I am 100% right, but I feel that living in Europe, possibly Italy where I am, is not a worse life because of less money, but a better total life - with a deeper concern for what happens all over the world. At least our news is more honest, and people seem to know what is going on, and worrying more about it.  It makes life a little more realistic, and not just fun and games, which seems pretty common in the States (like I said, don't want to generalize - it's my feeling).
635782
the majority of americans are oblivous to the hatred that they are engendering around the world. I lived in the US for 12 years and I know that most people I met were really generous and forward thinking people....but very self absorbed. I now live in UK and I see the US from a distance. The majority of people in the UK, supposedly America's greatest ally, find America's Foreign policy appalling and we are 'Freinds'. America may go to Iran - it has proved that from a high level it has bad judgement and...I think it would be foolhardy to beleive the politicians have learned anything from Iraq..other than a whole bunch of wealthy Republicans have made a lot of money from the conflict...and therefore more conflict will be good andmay well happen. republican governments love war unfortunately...all this balony about security is just a cover. If you live anywhere except the US you can this crystal clear...PS I love 'America' the ideal - which is what the policiticians always tap into..but America the reality is, at times, unfortunately very sinister. Take a look into Rumsfeldlds eyes some time...but don't do it for too long:-)
505984
CHILL DUDE.\ni'm from UK and i personally think the Americans are great i've met quite a few and found them all to be polite and friendly and very warm people.\nWhat you say we think about you may apply to some but then again there is no shortage of that kind of people in the UK too,and probably any country you can think of.
665803
I don't think many people in the US realises that the UK is actually a real, seperate, you know country. They think we are   one of those cute litle places they saved from the Germans but that doesn't have as many castles.
1158508
I spend as much time in the US as I do abroad. In Europe, Asia and Arabia. The disprespect that is now heaped upon anything American is just unbelievable. In these forums I read notes from people who have never left their environs, harping on and trying to justify the unjustifiable. It leaves me very sad, because natural friends of America are now openly disrespecting a once great Nation. Why? Because of the Fundamentalist we have in the White House. In Britain, the politicians and populous have acted and asked Blair to go, because he has brought shame to the country in his support for Bush. It is unbelieveable how much he is now ignored by his own European partners who once glorified him.
1111766
Well I personally wouldn't know! As I have grown up all my life in Australia. But seeing the media in the US has really shown how the obesse is treated, unfairly and horrible. Its something which we should all accept each person in this world for. I would have thought the UK would have also been treated this way, due to having a almost same average of obessity in this world. So I believe the US is treated without respect, even though I have never seen in first hand. Just through so many issues, movies and etc.
1061571
I am American myself and I asked a similar question on this site, yet i may have phrased it offensively since many took offense. I asked who thought Americans were arrogant and dumb. Many foreigners thought that Americans are. What I think is: America is a very powerful country and with this comes big weights, people tend to be more arrogant and closed-minded since they think America is so great and other countries do tend to be jealous. I have experienced it being born and living here, some are that way, yet there are many who are not arrogant or dumb but open-minded, and they have to take the stereotypics.
424686
i've been to america, met some nice people.\n\nbut looking at the country from a distance, it seems to me that lots of americans have an extreme arrogant view on the world. like they own this world, like they do good to this world.\n\nthey bring democracy to countries with bombs, they always brag about their big financial aids to the world, when the truth is that they contribute almost the lowest percentage of their national income to aid. european countries donate about 0.7 to 0.8 % , the usa only 0.25% of their national income. just bcs they have a lot of people, it sounds much money, but the european union in total donated lots and lots more.\n\nand abt bush..let me not even answer u on that. he's the devil in cowboyclothes.
702923
I'm not really surprised.  Most of northern and western Europe have better standards of living than the UK.  I wouldn't be at all surprised if  places like Canada, Australia and New Zealand also came above us.  \n\nI've seen a lot of the world and while Europe is my favourite place and Britain has many good qualities,  the UK tends to have an inflated opinion of its own quality of life.
717169
Maybe in some respects , but i personally dis-agree !\nThe British are out-casts in the European Union, No Euro , still British passports .....\n\nHigh time they came out of Uncle Sam's shadows AND grew up on their own !\nElse ... god save the queen . . . .
185738
There are Idiots and really great people in every country in the world,Americans just seem to have more idiots because your country is much larger than European countries
402253
I agree, I'm from the US, but I can see the problems starting across the pond.  We were a nation based on LEGAL immigration.  UK has always been a semi-homogeneous society.  It doesn't have to be lilly-white, but I can see that the openness of Euro countries is taking a toll on national identity
431060
I'm from the us living in england for a while. Aint nowhere better then the us but then i am biast :)