What stereotypes do all of our nations have towards people of other nations?

**spockman** · 03-11-2011 04:40 AM

I am fairly curious. I don't know why, really, of course a large percentage of the stereotyping is going to be dead wrong/fueled by ignorance. But sometimes it is pretty amusing and educational to hear what most people in a given area think about America, for example. So, if you want to know what stereotypes to expect while travelling abroad, post your willingness here. I'll start. What is the stereotypical USA citizen like where any of you DVers come from?

Oh, if you are going to read this thread, make sure you don't read a user saying, 'the stereotyp we have for nation x,' (where nation x is your country, 'is blahblahblah' as the poster making an attack on you. This isn't about anyone expressing their personal beliefs about countries across the world to be passive-agressive and it isn't about defending your own country. It is about learning international perspective and having a bit of fun.

**ooflendoodle** · 03-11-2011 04:57 AM

All asians are incredibly smart and geeky
Mexicans are thought of as dirty stupid and overpopulated
Blacks are all thought to listen to rap rape your girlfriend and steal your car

These are all rather extreme though and I don't think any of these things, I promise.

**spockman** · 03-11-2011 05:02 AM

I am more thinking what stereotypes other countries have for people in other nations more than internal racism, but thanks for the input, anyway. I've noticed more racism around Mexican-Americans than anyone else here in Colorado.

**Dustndawind** · 03-12-2011 01:44 AM

Can you clarify what you are exactly looking for spockman? I'm not sure what you mean by "what stereotypes other countries have for people in other nations more than internal racism"? Here all Indians are aspiring doctors or egineers, or pizzeria owners! Brits need to be introduced to the great field of dentistry, and that if you need anything mechanical fixed, you ask your German neighbor!

**spockman** · 03-12-2011 01:47 AM

I mean, what Stereotypes do people in Australia have for people in America? What stereotypes do people in Italy have for the Japanese? Less prejudice against ethnic groups, more like against the actual country.

**Zhaylin** · 03-12-2011 07:59 AM

India, Mexico, China are all filthy places... or so I've heard.

**Jeff777** · 03-12-2011 08:08 AM

Originally Posted by Zhaylin

India, Mexico, China are all filthy places... or so I've heard.

I've been to China and I disagree. The fecal matter you commonly walk on in the streets is of the highest quality.

**Maria92** · 03-12-2011 08:12 AM

Japan is fucking weird, yo.

**Dthoughts** · 03-12-2011 11:32 AM

**Raspberry** · 03-12-2011 11:44 AM

Americans only eat super-sized portions of McDonalds, and everyone is either obese or on a fad diet.
All Asian people know martial arts.
Scottish people are ginger, play bagpipes and chase haggis around hills with frying pans (FYI, haggis isn't AN animal)
Irish people get drunk all the time, wear green and chase leprechauns.
Canada = Sarah Palin/America's hat
Indian people are all muslim terrorists, especially when they have a backpack and stand near trains or airports
Welsh people like leeks, hills, and they're alll shagging sheep
Austrailians and New Zealanders (is that right? New Zealanders?) are hobbits from Lord of the Rings. And everyone owns a kangaroo.
Everyone in Africa are poor and starving.

**Zhaylin** · 03-12-2011 04:12 PM

"Everyone in Africa are poor and starving."
I'm afraid I fell for that line of thinking until I was 20-something and read the book "the power of One" (I think it was called- awesome book)

**Spartiate** · 03-13-2011 04:42 AM

Originally Posted by Raspberry

Canada = Sarah Palin

**Dannon Oneironaut** · 03-13-2011 04:57 AM

Japanese men are smart and geeky and perverted, Japanese women are subservient, sexy, and both Japanese women and men are funny tourists. French are smelly, British people are pompous, Spanish men shave their bodies. India is dirty, the Chinese are dirty and lazy, and most of the world likes bad pop music. Oh yeah, Americans are extremely ignorant and obnoxious assholes.

**spockman** · 03-13-2011 05:29 AM

Originally Posted by Spartiate

I see what you did there.

**Armistice** · 03-14-2011 05:17 AM

Frech people are stuck up and rude
Aussies say, "G'day" a lot and "shrimp on the barby"
Brits are all gentlemen
ANyone middle eastern looking is a terrorist
Slavic countries are dirty
Russia still communist in thought
Asians are super smart and have the best technology
Canadians are so friendly they'd let a murder in their hoose and have them over for dinner

I think I pretty much got everyone, haha

**Raspberry** · 03-14-2011 11:13 PM

Oh yeah, and apparently Americans are REALLY loud. I only know one american person (she could be canadian, I can't tell the difference - sorry) and she's really nice. I'm used to the accent from tv but when I'm like "You're American

"

I also watched american idol once after watching the x factor, and americans seem a lot more confident

**Marvo** · 03-15-2011 12:22 AM

I honestly can't think of any. Denmark, Sweden and Norway tend to think of citizens of the two other countries as idiots, but that's more of a joke that we're all in on.

The normal stereotype I tend to hear about Scandinavian people is that we're all huge hairy blonde haired brutes with blue eyes.

**spockman** · 03-15-2011 01:05 AM

Originally Posted by Raspberry

Oh yeah, and apparently Americans are REALLY loud. I only know one american person (she could be canadian, I can't tell the difference - sorry) and she's really nice. I'm used to the accent from tv but when I'm like "You're American

"

I also watched american idol once after watching the x factor, and americans seem a lot more confident

The kinds of people who audition for American Idol are probably going to be confident, since they are more likely to be the kinds of people who think the whole world will appreciate their voice. (Not that it is wrong to think that.)

**Armistice** · 03-15-2011 01:30 AM

Originally Posted by Raspberry

Oh yeah, and apparently Americans are REALLY loud.

Yah, we're louder than we should be, haha

Originally Posted by Marvo

The normal stereotype I tend to hear about Scandinavian people is that we're all huge hairy blonde haired brutes with blue eyes.

You're not

lol

**louie54** · 03-15-2011 02:18 AM

After watching a lot of Bizarre Foods and No Reservations on the Travel channel, it's kind of hard to stereotype. I use to think most Indians were Hindu, but a good chunk of them are actually Catholic, and Scottish accents are a bit exaggerated in TV shows.

I guess currently, I'd say 3rd world countries like to bad mouth us, but then get on their hands and knees when a disaster happens and get mad if we (US) doesn't give them enough support. I'm not saying this is fact, so don't jump any conclusions, I'm just trying to think of a stereotype I suppose.

This might be slightly off-topic, but I hear some people in other countries get annoyed when the US gets involved in everything that has nothing to do with them, or when we can't name the prime minister of say, Italy? (I don't know the name btw ha).

**HeavySleeper** · 03-15-2011 03:15 AM

Originally Posted by louie54

and Scottish accents are a bit exaggerated in TV shows.

You got that right. In a Simpsons episode I watched recently, Groundkeeper Willie called Glasgow "Glosgow". I don't think anyone in the world pronounces it that way.

**Zhaylin** · 03-15-2011 04:48 AM

What??? That lovely accent isn't real?

I seriously thought it was no exaggeration. But I also thought that certain areas would be worse than others (like, not all people from Alabama and Georgia have a strong Southern accent. It depends where they were raised.)

**Xox** · 03-15-2011 05:07 AM

Scandinavians are open minded with a "liberal" society. Also really laid back about sex and shit.
China has no regard for human rights and justice etc.
Iranians are really proud, along with Puerto Ricans and Greeks.
French have superiority complex.
Moroccans are horny, along with Egyptians. Moroccans are "laid-back" as well.
European men are really metro.
Colombians are into casual cocaine usage (haha)
Russian girls are easy and gold diggers
East asian girls are subservient
Canadians are nice and laid-back
Mexicans have no desire to progress in society
Eastern europeans are backwards.
Middle eastern men are sexist and misogynistic.
many more dealing with specific countries, I'll post if someone wants to hear it

* sidenote: I don't believe in any of these, save for the one about Moroccans which has been quite true in my experience. But obviously, well actually I don't even need to point out that I realize an individual is an individual

**HeavySleeper** · 03-15-2011 04:32 PM

Originally Posted by Zhaylin

What??? That lovely accent isn't real?

It's real. It just doesn't sound as stupid as they make it out to be.

**Xei** · 03-15-2011 04:50 PM

Americans are all fat, thoughtless, stupid, paranoid, violent, cruel, bigoted, ignorant and insular, fundamentalist, hyper materialists.

It's a pretty bad rap really.