What is your perception of the average American?
480097
You know you have asked one of the most pertinant questions I have read for a while.On the surface you have opened up a potentiel minefield here.\nI am english.I have visited the USA many many times and have loads of great american friends.I have written many times in this column poking a little ironic fun at "the yanks".\nMy experience is that" the average american" and remember we are talking the average,is warm, generous and very naive.They often have little or no understanding of other countries or their cultures. Often to the extent of having little knowledge outside their own state.Because they lead their lives around Oprah, Jerry Springer,World wrestling are easily influenced by tv propaganda they have become, unfortunately, the butt of jokes.I dont know the exact figures , but my understanding is that"Joe" doesnt travel outside the USA.I believe they have a blinkered view of the world. An observation confirmed by the replies I have received from americans. Self irony doesnt exist for you.Loosen up and dare to poke a little fun at your "leaders".The other point is remember that God isn't american.Try to learn and understand a little of other cultures and beliefs.You dont have to agree just take a look.Take care. Good Luck
514865
Average Americans.  After watching George Bush and his cronies steal the 2000 election and listening to his obvious lies and distortions to get us into this miserable war, they went ahead and re-elected him in 2004.  No wonder the rest of the world has lost respect for and questions the motives of the United States of America.
110335
Compared to the majority of what?
188660
Almost all of the people I come into contact with on a day-to-day basis are not Americans, although I am.  Aside from the people in my office, I know only one American.  Everyone else I know are English, Scottish, Turkish, Australian, Russian, Taiwanese, Spanish or Phillipino.\n\nEvery once in a while I meet somebody who doesn't seem to understand the fact that I am not George Bush, but it is rare.  Almost to the individual, they understand that the American people are NOT the American government.\n\nThey see our news and hear our commentaries.  Many of them are as aware of Bush's unpopularity as we are.  Few will even bring up politics with us, but when they do it seems to be with the understanding that we do not like the American government's actions either.\n\nMany people overseas are acutely aware of what it is like to live in a country where the will of the people is ignored.  This is a newer concept for us, but it is a very familiar one around the world.\n\nI wouldn't worry too much about it.  Yesterday I was talking with a Russian woman who likened our situation to life under Putin's government.  They understand tyranny and rigged elections all too well.  Now we are finding out what it's like, and I think you would be suprised how much empathy a HUMBLE American can get.
775677
Depends on the individuals.  I believe that America is the best country in the world but some Americans are not worth the space they take up.
1089470
Being poor and being bad is different. I dont know what others have made you or your country men to believe, but poor or not bad. If someone does something bad then alone they are bad, whether they are rich or poor or whatever... I think whether it is Americans or whomsoever it be, being poor is something very sad if they cant get essential things for life... All Americans can never be bad. I am not American but I certainly would say that it is not to be generalised. Probably there is some gap in people's understanding...I think it exists in most countries.
862575
I think it exposes that most americans are jerks. (Yes, calm down, I am an American myself)
417556
the average would be considered ... well average...
585514
I would suggest that average Americans don't consider the 'average' Arab as an enemy but rather that there are a proportion of Arabs that seem hell bent (no theology intended) on destroying any civil link between the societies.  I also think that there is an ignorance amongst many Americans re the difference between an Arab and a Muslim.\n\nIt is difficult to criticise this as a large amount of the Arab/Muslim media do seem to be very keen to show large and very aggressive protests against something as benal as a cartoon.  Also crowds dancing and cheering around the mulilated remains of murdered western contractors hardly gives a good impression and will have a disproportionate effect from the numbers actually involved.\n\nI really feel for the moderate Arabs/Islamists who genuinely believe that Islam/the nature of the Arab world has been corrupted; I also don't agree with many of the Western countries dealings with the Middle East at the moment.\n\nBridging the gap will be difficult as there will always be groups (probably on both 'sides') intent on fueling any resentment.  I do think that the Islamic hierarchy (as well as the Arab media) could do a lot to take a more moderate view of world events and be quicker to condem terrorism.  \n\nThe example of the reaction to the Dutch cartoons noted above shocked so many people that I know - not because of the offence but the amazing over-reaction and double standards being shown (bearing in mind the lack of sensitivity to the Jews shown in the Arab media).  Why would people kill because of this sort of trivia? - if your religion and faith is strong then accept that sometimes others will criticise or even lampoon it ... I don't see book stores on fire due to the Da Vinci Code or any newspaper staff being killed due to the regular cartoons mocking religeous personalities in the UK.\n\nThe central theme is that folks can't understand what drives the fundamentaists to the sort of extremes we see every day ... even anger doesn't seem to explain it.\n\nPeace (hopefuly) out.
128024
I don´t know many Americans personally but in our minds there is the picture of Bush (if a people vote for a president like this...?), \nthe picture of hamburger-eating, milk-shake drinking, fanatically christian patriots who live in a house with garden in a suburb of a small town in the middle west, and all the girls wanna be a cheerleader and marry the captain of the football team.\nThat´s what first comes up to my mind when I think of an American. I don´t know why...\nAlthough I know that the majority of Americans isn´t that way...\nPerhaps it comes from TV...
596172
Because whether people want to admit it or not, the American media plays an ENORMOUS role in how we perceive ourselves, and the world.  Watching millions of repetitive images daily via advertising (print and television); television shows; movies; magazines, and news (print and television)...all of these mediums combine to shape our images of who we are and our place in this world.  We get a sense of "normalcy" by our lives matching what we like on TV. That's why most Americans strive to be the nuclear family: two parents, two kids and a dog, and a nice house with a white picket fence.  \n\nSame is true with foreigners.  Our media tells us that the U.S. is one of the few developed countries in the world.  When we see images of Africa, we see naked people running around with flies on their eyes, starving and living in huts.  I have known many Africans from many different countries in Africa (North, South, East and West), and NOT ONE of them lived in those type of conditions, and I asked every, single one of them how they lived.  They laughed when I told them my images of their native lands.\n\nArabs are abstract to Americans, too.  Thanks to 9/11, now Arabs are almost synonamous with terrorism (and camels and sand).\n\nForeigners see lots of America thanks to the export of our movies, so our lifestyles aren't that foreign to others.  However, the media even twists what our reality is.  Many foreigners think we are all rich, which is bullcrap.  \n\nI think if the media were more honest, people would have a better, more accurate understanding of the world, but they aren't, so we don't.
338983
No, so many other Americans take so much pride in themselves that they make up for me though.  That's one reason we're called ugly Americans.  We love ourselves too much and think our country is better than all the others.  I'd like to move to another country if I could afford it.
551442
America...The Land of the Free (unless we don't agree with your opinions).
1169784
I would not say most but some and they are entitled to their opinion.I really don't care who likes or dislikes the Americans.That is their problem if they don't like us.Not ours.
1010693
Well now let's see.  Plight is an interesting word.  Like the American middle class is somehow poor or oppressed.  Your typical American middle class person potentially has their own house... almost certainly their own car... access to 3 square meals a day, and reasonable opportunity for betterment through education and hard work.\n\nI think other people are envious of the middle class American.  That's why they come here.  From all over the world.
409405
We would first need to know how YOU view the U.S.
674150
Ha, now this is funny notice how many Americans answered this question (including me) now what does that tell you about us?