stereotypes that are false

That conservatives are knee-jerk reactionaries that only care about the bottom line.

That America (and Americans) are more racist/sexist than other places (people).

That conservatives are racist, homophobic, uncaring about the poor, mean-spirited, greedy, selfish and intolerant.

That conservatives are religious, racist and rednecks.

That European-derived nations--especially socialist "utopias" such as the Nordics, France and Canada--are tolerant.

That the brothers can't swim.

yeahyeahyay wrote:

That European-derived nations--especially socialist "utopias" such as the Nordics, France and Canada--are tolerant.

A big +1 for this one.

The Frenc love pointing out flaws in others but check their "acceptance" of Muslims in their country.

in defense of the French and I realize this may be unpopular to point out, but when I went there I was expecting rudeness and they were totally polite even though I was often a lost tourist who only spoke English to them which is supposedly the thing that makes them act rude. So not saying the stereotype is 100% unfair but based on my experience there it did appear to be an unaccurate stereotype.

Having spent time in the USA recently, the level of ethnic tension and segregation is quite shocking when compared to Europe. Yes, France and Italy are particularly bad, but I was shocked by the extent that blacks, latinos and whites in the US seem to inhabit different worlds.

What state/city/region did you visit? There is quite some variation in how segregated places are, and it's not always the places that you'd expect which are the most/least segregated.

le veritable wrote:

Having spent time in the USA recently, the level of ethnic tension and segregation is quite shocking when compared to Europe. Yes, France and Italy are particularly bad, but I was shocked by the extent that blacks, latinos and whites in the US seem to inhabit different worlds.

whatsmyname wrote:

What state/city/region did you visit? There is quite some variation in how segregated places are, and it's not always the places that you'd expect which are the most/least segregated.

le veritable wrote:

Having spent time in the USA recently, the level of ethnic tension and segregation is quite shocking when compared to Europe. Yes, France and Italy are particularly bad, but I was shocked by the extent that blacks, latinos and whites in the US seem to inhabit different worlds.

The east cost, Miami up to Florida. Admittedly this is probably one of the worst areas, and New York is definitely not as bad as Florida and South Carolina were.

The US still has a long way to go on racial equality in many areas, not the least of which is the continuing informal segregation that is prevalent in many areas.

That being said, I find it hard to believe that the US is as behind the rest of the world when it comes to race relations as they would have us believe.

le veritable wrote:

Having spent time in the USA recently, the level of ethnic tension and segregation is quite shocking when compared to Europe. Yes, France and Italy are particularly bad, but I was shocked by the extent that blacks, latinos and whites in the US seem to inhabit different worlds.

Yes: Germany is a veritable oasis of welcome. And the way those Nords embrace their latest immigrants--astounding! And the Greeks! And Russians! Yes, tolerance abounds.

/sarc

As for the American who found less rudeness than expected in France: It ain't YOU they's hatin' on, bro.

le veritable wrote:

Having spent time in the USA recently, the level of ethnic tension and segregation is quite shocking when compared to Europe. Yes, France and Italy are particularly bad, but I was shocked by the extent that blacks, latinos and whites in the US seem to inhabit different worlds.

Nowhere in the USA is as racist as France and Italy are.

During the World Cup, on the french news sites and social networks people wouldn't shut up that benzema "wasn't really french." "Oh benzema a marqué?? Vive l'algerie!"

That's only one example. Then of course there are the bananas people throw on the field during soccer games, and the hatred of Muslims in Britain, and the hatred of Africans in the Nordic countries...it goes on and on. The USA is actually one of the more tolerant nations when it comes to race. Our past isn't pretty, but it's much better now. The media blows certain events (ferguson, Zimmerman) way out of proportion of course.

Anyways, one of the most untrue stereotypes is that Americans who travel abroad are loud. It simply isn't true. I've travelled a lot in Western Europe, and lived in Spain, France, and Germany, and the best reason I can come up with is that a lot of Europeans speak English and other Europeans mistake them for Americans. For example, when Germans go to France, do they speak french? No, they speak English. And 99% of french people can't tell it's a foreign accent, so they assume they are American, since the USA is home to the most native/first language English speakers. Maybe the Nordic countries (who speak English really well) would be able to tell it's a foreign accent, but 99% of people from France, Italy, Germany, Spain, etc, won't know the difference.

As an American and native English speaker, I would be the very first to recognize my home accent when I hear it, especially when it's loud, and that rarely happens.

There are some American stereotypes that are true--like when you see a fat, badly dressed person in Europe, it's probably an American--but the one about them being loud is 100% false.

We get it. You think all conservative stereotypes are wrong and liberal stereotypes are right. You're so wise.

lenileo wrote:

We get it. You think all conservative stereotypes are wrong and liberal stereotypes are right. You're so wise.

Reading comprehension: I made no statements regarding liberal stereotypes. But, I might point out, you are currently evincing one.

So true. During the World Cup FIFA was constantly advertising its "Say No Racism" "Zero Tolerance to Intolerance" stuff, and it wasn't cause the Americans were playing. Considering we probably have the most ethnically diverse team in the world.

Even within Florida there is quite some variation and while the South is supposedly so segregated and it might be in places, Atlanta is not at all and is a place where you are most likely to find black people living in wealthy neigborhoods in large numbers. It just depends a lot.

le veritable wrote:

whatsmyname wrote:

What state/city/region did you visit? There is quite some variation in how segregated places are, and it's not always the places that you'd expect which are the most/least segregated.

The east cost, Miami up to Florida. Admittedly this is probably one of the worst areas, and New York is definitely not as bad as Florida and South Carolina were.

well i am 50 and i remember always hearing blacks cant run long distance races well, someone apparently forgot to tell the kenyans and ethiopians.

People on here routinely claim that Meb isnt a real American, how is that not racist then?

In any case, the French media that I was reading, as a native french speaker, were largely not making those claims.

Throwing bananas is also a thing of the past outside of Eastern Europe and Italy.

Im not saying Europe isnt racist, I just found what I saw, combined with the hostility towards black people and foreigners on here, to be a far more segregated society than what exists in most of Europe.

yeahyeahyay wrote:

That European-derived nations--especially socialist "utopias" such as the Nordics, France and Canada--are tolerant.

Leave the nordics alone. Sweden has taken the overwhelming majority of middle eastern immigrants since the 90's. And they are really chill about it too, even though the immigrants are trying to suicide bomb them. They stay chill. Im more mad then them.

I agree that france, germany, italy, are insanely racist. They also criticize the US which is far more progressive in these matters.