Can anyone explain the anti-American sentiment to me?

[squarethecircle]

Not sure if this is in the right forum, but...

Always amazed at the anti-American sentiment I get, specifically from a significant proportions of Canadians, western Europeans, Kiwis and Aussies.

A few examples: last year found a French couple lost in Bangkok. I guided them to their destination (a ferry stop on the river) and on the way mentioned I'm from USA. They responded, "We are from France, it is in Europe, a continent which is made up of many different countries. France is one of these countries." As if being American trumped the fact that I was guiding them through the back alleys of SE Asia in their determination of my knowledge of world geography.

Likewise I recently came across an older Middle Eastern man drinking alcohol and accosting local (scantily clad) passersby on the street. I confronted him and said this was unacceptable, and later was told by a Kiwi neighbor that I had better mind my own business and return to the US. Strange that being American trumps my duty as a man, at least in this Kiwi's eyes, and stranger still that I rarely encounter such sentiment from people who "should" give it such as Chinese or Japanese or Vietnamese or the like.

So can someone explain to me how this came about. Was it around during WWII? A more recent phenomenon arising from bad elements of US foreign policy? Just underlying bias going from way back? Very strange to me though I of course keep in mind the advice:

Edited July 19, 2014 by metisdead
Image containing profanity removed.

[krisb]

Ok, I'm Aussie, and willing to have a go at this.

To me I have no issue with any of it. I have never been to the states, but would like to, always wanted to see New York city for some reason.

Any American I have ever met has always been really nice. Never met a rude one yet and met plenty.

I even feel like a Big Mac every once in a while.

I will say the accent gets a bit strong after a while,especially in a drinking situation but that's accents, and I'm sure Aussie accents start to get a bit much also after a while.

I don't want to get into politics, that's a never ending debate, so shall not go there.

Time for some music...

[Oceanbat]

Not sure if this is the right forum, but...

Always bewildered at anti-American sentiment I often get from other westerners such as Canadians, western Europeans, Aussies and Kiwis. Last year I was guiding a lost French couple I met in Bangkok to their desired destination (a ferry stop on the river) and when I mentioned I was American they calmly explained that Europe was made up of a bunch of different countries and that the country they came from, France, was one of these. (like the fact that I was American stomped the fact that I was guiding them through a back alley in SE Asia in determining whether I knew basics of world geography!).

Plenty of other examples of this like the other day I confronted some Arab man who was drinking on the street and harassing passersby, ended up getting a lecture from a Kiwi about how Americans had no business doing this and I should return home.

Very bewildering to me, so I'm curious if anyone has a good explanation for how this came about, certainly almost never hear it from locals. Did it exist at the end of WWII? Start during Vietnam War? A lefty response to US foreign policy or some deeper rooted kind of bias?

The Chinese, Japanese and Vietnamese no doubt do as well but you just can't understand them.

OB

*i work with a lot of Americans and like most of them. It's your government most people don't like and that perhaps reflects back on you.

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[chiang mai]

I don't believe there is that much anti-American sentiment about, no more or less so than anti-any other nationality. I think most of us get along well with Americans, I just wish they wouldn't talk so loudly, everyone of them it seems and everywhere they go!

[iancnx]

Look at American Foreign Policy since the Great Depression, up to the present day, and you will find your answer.

Edited July 19, 2014 by iancnx

[iancnx]

Duplicate threads running

[Ulysses G.]

It starts with the far left and those who emulate them. It is mostly just fashion.

[ozsamurai]

I think you'll trace the dislike in a semi-serious way to the involvement, or lack thereof in WWII. My old man used to say "They're over payed, over sexed, and over here!" referring to the US Military. "If an Aussie or a Brit crashed a plane, they'd be court marshaled, when the Yanks did it, they got 4 medals and a new plane!". I wouldn't take it personally, it's old bias. For Aussies and Kiwi's its the fact that we can wind you up so easily that makes it good sport... we do it to each other all the time.

Oz

[metisdead]

Duplicate threads running

Duplicate thread now hidden.

[robertthebruce]

I have been to the State 100's of times, never had a problem, like the people love the place....

Shopping is Brill...

[squarethecircle]

SO maybe no way to figure this out but did it exist before WWII or only after? Seems like some of it comes from the fact that the people who came to the US were either the nutcases, the dreamers, broke/desperate, or in some cases slave traders/bad men.

Also have heard it some from Chinese but primarily party-indoctrinated ones (which is total hypocrisy seeing how many of their own they killed), the normal day-to-day ones nearly always responded positively, Thai friends said they like US because we're "respectful", but right across the border in Toronto I get the anti-american sentiment strong. Not sure it's just joking from them or from many europeans/down unders, strange as I do not hold Ch. or Russians individually responsible for what I dislike about their gov't, actually seems backstabbing to do so.

Speaking of which, it's time to pop another coldy.

Hehe, I said, "pop".

Edited July 19, 2014 by squarethecircle

[uptheos]

I have been to the State 100's of times, never had a problem, like the people love the place....

Shopping is Brill...

Haven't been there 100's of times, but enough to know that I haven't had any problems with the American's I've met.

[Oceanbat]

SO maybe no way to figure this out but did it exist before WWII or only after? Seems like some of it comes from the fact that the people who came to the US were either the nutcases, the dreamers, broke/desperate, or in some cases slave traders/bad men.

Also have heard it some from Chinese but primarily party-indoctrinated ones (which is total hypocrisy seeing how many of their own they killed), the normal day-to-day ones nearly always responded positively, Thai friends said they like US because we're "respectful", but right across the border in Toronto I get the anti-american sentiment strong. Not sure it's just joking from them or from many europeans/down unders, strange as I do not hold Ch. or Russians individually responsible for what I dislike about their gov't, actually seems backstabbing to do so.

Speaking of which, it's time to pop another coldy.

Hehe, I said, "pop".

I really don't think you should waste any more energy worrying about it. Most Americans are great people and in the circles I work in and socialise there's certainly no animosity. The French however....

OB

Sent from my iPad using Thaivisa Connect Thailand

[mrtoad]

It starts with the far left and those who emulate them. It is mostly just fashion.

No it doesn't, but then as you are probably an avid watcher of Fox News, your statement is to be expected.

Most of the issue is around American Foreign Policy, not exactly enduring to most of the world ;accept it, for what it is.

Personally, I like America, I enjoy travelling there and the people that I have met have been pretty cool. I also work with a number if them, of course as with all countries, they have their tools. However, I do not have anytime for Fox News, American Foreign Policy and that Ilk.

Welcome to being World Police, us Brits got used to it, and accept that our Foreign Policies over the years have been crap.

[mrtoad]

SO maybe no way to figure this out but did it exist before WWII or only after? Seems like some of it comes from the fact that the people who came to the US were either the nutcases, the dreamers, broke/desperate, or in some cases slave traders/bad men.

Also have heard it some from Chinese but primarily party-indoctrinated ones (which is total hypocrisy seeing how many of their own they killed), the normal day-to-day ones nearly always responded positively, Thai friends said they like US because we're "respectful", but right across the border in Toronto I get the anti-american sentiment strong. Not sure it's just joking from them or from many europeans/down unders, strange as I do not hold Ch. or Russians individually responsible for what I dislike about their gov't, actually seems backstabbing to do so.

Speaking of which, it's time to pop another coldy.

Hehe, I said, "pop".

Some people just attract the nutters.

[kurnell]

You can start by blaming the Hoff.

[Utley]

I saw a movie recently where the protagonist sneared "You Americans are so arrogant!" That seems to me to be a glass half full / half empty kind of thing. Some call us arrogant and some call us self assured and confident.

[mrtoad]

You can start by blaming the Hoff.

The Hoff when he was pissed , or sober?

[slipperylobster]

They do it mostly out of ignorance....

[mrtoad]

Can we just get back to picking on The French or The Italians?

Life was so much simpler before.

[Franky Bear]

Being a Brit offshore worker I work with a lot of Americans especially those from the south. I like working with you guys, I like talking with you guys.

It's your government that pisses a lot of people off which reflects on the every day American.....which is wrong.

[Shurup]

I've noticed more hate towards Russians than Yanks, but here I'll say it straight and without BS:

Nobody likes the noisy <deleted> that don't mind their own business.

As for the French:

Nobody likes those <deleted> either.

On a serious note it's wrong to hate people for their government's actions, and you guessed it right, it's US foreign policy that is the problem.

I've worked with and met a lot of Yanks and most are good folks, sure some are a**holes, but I've also met quite a few a**holes French, Canadians, Russians, etc...

[Shurup]

Some call us arrogant and some call us self assured and confident.

I'd say many are overconfident and as a result full of it.

[Utley]

Some call us arrogant and some call us self assured and confident.

I'd say many are overconfident and as a result full of it.

And some attempt to compensate for their own self esteem issues by ridiculing others....just saying.

[sustento]

The problem with Americans is that when you start taking the piss out of them they think you're being serious

[masuk]

I don't believe there is that much anti-American sentiment about, no more or less so than anti-any other nationality. I think most of us get along well with Americans, I just wish they wouldn't talk so loudly, everyone of them it seems and everywhere they go!

I've found the same thing. Sit down to a nice quiet meal with a Thai friend, and a group of Americans walk in. They don't just talk, they sound as though they're talking to someone across the room!

I have often had to up plates and move further away. I know Aussies can get way too loud when they've got a few beers under the belt, but in a restaurant? fair go guys!!

[Shurup]

4-5 years ago I was sitting in a gogo bar drinking beer and watching girls, it was a little too early so I was there 1st. The next guy to walk in was a young american from Texas, the country boy. He was good to chat with until more folks came, then he because loud and proud and couldn't shut it talking about his guns.

When he went for a piss, a young frenchman came over to my table and told me this: "your friend is an <deleted>", after which he proceeded to teach me about Thai girls, lol. I didn't say anything and kept drinking my beer, was glad when he was gone as he was reeking with sweat and booze, like he was partying one week straight.

Honestly preferred talking more to the Yank before more people showed up, but wouldn't have either of them as close friends, both were <deleted>.

[Shurup]

I don't believe there is that much anti-American sentiment about, no more or less so than anti-any other nationality. I think most of us get along well with Americans, I just wish they wouldn't talk so loudly, everyone of them it seems and everywhere they go!

I've found the same thing. Sit down to a nice quiet meal with a Thai friend, and a group of Americans walk in. They don't just talk, they sound as though they're talking to someone across the room!

I have often had to up plates and move further away. I know Aussies can get way too loud when they've got a few beers under the belt, but in a restaurant? fair go guys!!

Haha, exact same experience I just described!

[hugocnx]

Being a Brit offshore worker I work with a lot of Americans especially those from the south. I like working with you guys, I like talking with you guys.

It's your government that pisses a lot of people off which reflects on the every day American.....which is wrong.

Second this one. The common Americans are nice enough people. What pisses many people in this world of is the fact that the American government is arrogant; not the every day people. American politics (CIA, Bankers) like to stick their nose in the whole world thinking they are the new world order. For what they did befor and after WWII is almost same. Manipulation. The government/President are in fact puppets on a string pulled by the people with power. See puppets like the American presidents. You don't go with the (our) flow, you get killed. Plenty examples.

Now this attitude reflects on the American people too and the whole world and this world may get a bit fed up with it. At least the Europeans, Russians and much more the muslim countries. Don't forget that America helped out Israel over a long period and what do the muslim countries like to see? Total destruction of Israel and all the Jews. Next are the Christians, the (orthodox) catholics, the Budhists, the Hindoo. Infidels must die.

Well, sorry but I could go on for hours. There is much more to all this and the ' machine' is hard to stop now.

So OP, reason to worry on many fronts.

[rgs2001uk]

The problem with Americans is that when you start taking the piss out of them they think you're being serious

The problem with most Yanks is, they dont have a sense of humour, have you ever watched Yank comedy shows, utter crap.

Gawd I love NY, every one there is a NYorker not a Yank.