What are the worst things you've heard someone say about your culture or country here in the States?

[Nessa 23]

This ad is good but I still prefer Skol.

Amen to that

[Ladylethal 12]

Yummmmm, makes me think of round things.

I've heard a lot of dumb things about my country or me in the US, as well as I've heard a lot of dumb things from people from all over about people from all over.

Most memorable I've been asked/told:

"Oh, you're from Brasil? That's in Africa right?"

"It's impossible for me to imagine that people can actually communicate in a language other than English!" (after she asked me to speak some portuguese, and then ask if I said that if another brazilian would understand)

"Are you enjoying TV?" (and on lady asking me and then being surprised we do have TVs, including cable filled with all the American shows)

[Y&E 12]

I have a few, more from my travels than specific to America:

Most typical - 'Are you Australian'? 'No' Oh, I guess that means you're from New Zealand' 'Yes'. Variations: After mentioning NZ 'Oh, you're from NZ? I didn't want to say Australian in case I got it wrong'.

Alternatively, I've been asked if I'm South African (mostly by Brits), Swedish and Irish. Yes, I know it's an unusual accent but come on, Swedish?!

All that I take in good grace, there are only 4 million of us to meet after all.

The best dumb American comments that I can submit:

Standing in the Roman Forum in Rome surrounded by fantastic historic things - American lady points in a direction and asks very loudly 'Is there anything important over there?' - Uh, yes, you're in the Roman Forum, dummy.

And, a friend of mine convinced someone that she met in LA that there was a bridge between Auckland, NZ and Sydney, Australia that took 3 hours to drive - um, it takes 3 hours to fly.

Okay, I know that there are plenty of ignorant and naive people in the world, I just happen to be standing next to Americans when they open their mouths to show it.

[Y&E 12]

Forgot one: A lot of people (in the UK) will say to me, upon finding out I'm a Kiwi from Wellington, 'I have a [insert random relative / friend] who moved to NZ. They live in [insert small town in the middle of nowhere]. Is that close to Wellington?'

Typical response: 'Er, no, that's in the South Island / middle of nowhere / why would they want to move to there.'

Or, alternatively 'I have [insert relative / friend] there. Do you know them?' Polite response, 'no', thought going through my head - 'No, you idiot, I do not know your cousing Nigel, NZ isn't a complete small backwater.' The only time I wasn't annoyed by this question was this sweet little old lady in a small town in Fife, Scotland. She was cute and old.

[SuperDuper! 230]

Your husband isn't above stupid comments about other cultures. The English have bad teeth, the French are cowards to name a couple.

Please, no hatin' on Charles. You so don't want to go there.

[Peikko 1,575]

Oh, I realize that if your friend does it, it's funny but if a stranger does it, it's dumb and annoying. I got it.

[sachinky 465]

Some priceless, funny gems that makes me giggle from time to time. I don't take offense at this stuff. I just find human natural curiousity to be a magnificent thing.

Nurse to me at the campus health center:

"Wow, you speak English so well."

"Gee, thanks, so do you!"

Boss at the campus library asks me to stamp some books:

"Uh, you have these where you come from?"

"Uh, what? Rubber-stamps? Yeah, I think so."

Kids in the swimming pool at a hotel:

"So, do you live in a hut?"

"Yeah, and we have an baby elephant pet who plays in the backyard."

Freshman year, at the dining hall:

"So, where are you from?"

"Calcutta. India."

"Sweet, dude. I love COWS."

Edited March 5, 2010 by sachinky

[Susita 175]

Freshman year, at the dining hall:

"So, where are you from?"

"Calcutta. India."

"Sweet, dude. I love COWS."

This one is great

[Anna C. 4]

About the Prussians.... My BIL's parents (very old) sure say they are Prussians, not Germans. Just like all my Bavarian friends are BAvarians and not Germans (went to college in Munich, let's say I had a cultural makeover there, lol)....

ROFL about the Bavaria beer in Brazil. Reminds me of those Sankt Pauli beer bottles sold in American stores.... The Bavaria stereotype is just predominant around here. At the local university they have a German club, and they dress up in Dirndl and Lederhosen, eat Weisswurst and drink Bavarian beer. It should be called a Bavarian club, but oh well.

I got two very funny comments

1) Cashier: (while looking at my ID, back then the green card, had no American DL yet) Oh Germany! From which part are you - the German or American part of Germany?

Me: aehm he? The German part?!!!

Not sure what he meant....

2) Lady on plane: So Germany, that's right next to Egypt, right?

Me: Not exactly, it's actually in Europe, not in Africa.....

Hmm well someone slept in geography class big time....

Edited March 5, 2010 by Anna C.

[Gemmie 142]

The most offensive comments I've heard are about our healthcare system.. and how if the healthcare reform happens, the US will be run into the ground like so.. but as soon as I respond with how lucky I was in the UK to have free healthcare and it surprises me how expensive it is in America, the same people start criticizing the US government and the insurance companies...

Mostly though people just make me laugh with their comments, like asking if we have *insert random thing* in the UK and asking me the most vague questions about Wales or Scotland. Here are some:

"Whereabouts in England are you from?"

"the South West"

"how far is that from London?"

*In SS office, a couple spots my passport*

"Oh, world traveller, huh? So where are you from?"

"England"

"Oh right.... our friend has been to Australia".

"Where are you from?"

"England"

"Oh awesome.. I went to Scotland once, beautiful country" (followed by details and questions about a specific Scottish place they went to)

I have to say though, I've heard such ignorant comments from my British friends/family about America too. Including:

- "I always picture people running around with guns in their neighborhoods"

- "If you go to New York, you have to get ready to tip"

"Um, they tip everywhere in America.."

"oh do they?"

- "what do you mean they didn't hire you... but you're British"

Edited March 5, 2010 by Gemmie

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

"Whereabouts in England are you from?"

"the South West"

"how far is that from London?"

Is that really so bad? London is about the only place in England many Americans have heard of. And besides, England is tiny Smaller than Louisiana.

[Ladylethal 12]

*In SS office, a couple spots my passport*

"Oh, world traveller, huh? So where are you from?"

"England"

"Oh right.... our friend has been to Australia".

"Where are you from?"

"England"

"Oh awesome.. I went to Scotland once, beautiful country" (followed by details and questions about a specific Scottish place they went to)

People do that in South America too, when they actually correctly guess Brasil is in South America they'll sometimes say "Oh! You're Brazilian? I have a friend that lives in Argentina" or "You're from Brasil? I've been to Peru, isn't Machu Pichu great?"

Makes me wanna say "Oh, you're a new yorker? I've been to the Grand Canyon, isn't it beautiful?"

[skidivawannabe 2]

my mother thought my husband lived in a Nipa Hut ....she didnt think there were "real houses" in the Philippines....she was also shocked that they have television there....

OHMYGOODNESS!!! You have got to be kidding!!!!

I haven't heard anything extremely ignorant about the Philippines....YET, thank goodness! The worst I've heard so far was here on VJ when someone said PHILIPPINAS (no exception) were cash cows who sucked the money out of their partners.

[alienlovechild 75]

Standing in the Roman Forum in Rome surrounded by fantastic historic things - American lady points in a direction and asks very loudly 'Is there anything important over there?' - Uh, yes, you're in the Roman Forum, dummy.

Reminded of some British girls I talked to in Vietnam. I noted how run down a temple was and they said "Americans expect everything to look new and have a McDonald's in front." I asked them if the British really let their historic buildings crumble into ruins.

All of the Euros on my bus were too cheap to spend a dollar to see the Ka Sahn battlefield.

[mawilson 2,133]

I was on a roll with my sister in law, I had her thinking I owned a house cleaning robot.

House cleaning robots are not that expensive.