The germans?

Question

last year i met a guy from the united states. he had an exchange to hamburg, germany. we were talking and he told me, that he was wandering that we have cars in germany. he thought we still cook our food on a camp-fire. and many other things. he told me that a lot of his friends think about germany that way.

the most annoying thing was that he thought that everything in germany looks like bavaria.

and another thing i have recognized was that he couldn't seperate between the european countries. he didn' say england, sveden, poland ore even germany, he always said "europe"

why is it that way? was this guy a total dumbass or do you don't learn bout other countrys in school?

Answer 1

maybe hes stupid

Answer 2

I get something similar all the time. I live in South Korea and they constantly refer to anywhere NOT Korea as "The West" and the various people as "You Guys".

It does my head in! How can they just group together so many different countries and people like that?! Aaahhhh!!!

Answer 3

Dumbass is too mild a term for this careless moron.  Those of us with brains in the States know the differences you speak of.  I apologize for this brainless twit.

Answer 4

you ran into a complete idiot ...most Americans are very well informed about Europe, but since the fall of Communism we are also tough that Europe is becoming a unified nation so we refer to the whole continent instead of singling one country out..when I moved here from Hungary and I told  a guy I was born in Budapest , he asked me what state that was in...so yes some people are just not very sharp ...that goes for all countries..

Answer 5

not all americans are like that

Answer 6

the guy is a total dumbass

Answer 7

not all americans are like that, some are dumber

Answer 8

i think maybe he was playing with you... i don't know many people THAT stupid.

Answer 9

....it really scares me to know that there are people that stupid in the world, not only in usa but in all the world.....how can somebody have such cliches about other cultures....and what will they do to the world with that "knowledge"......

Answer 10

I think a lot of Americans think that way - and there's many Europeans with misconceptions about the U.S.

I think the fact that he was actually travelling to Germany is a very good thing.  I really think people can have no real concept of the world until they've travelled and seen some of it for themselves.

So often we hear about the 90% of Americans who don't have passports - so the few we see in Europe are actually the good ones who are willing to open their minds.

Answer 11

He was probably just playing dumb.

Answer 12

some people are very uncultured... and I'm sorry that one idiot gave you the misconception of all Americans.  Believe me, we are not all uneducated and uncultured.

Answer 13

This guy was a sad, pathetic American. I'm from the US and I can pretty much name any country in the world by sight. I've been to 24 of them and Germany was one of them. I've been to the east, west, north, and south parts of Germany.

So, rest assured, that not ALL Americans are as dumb as this guy (but unfortunately for all of us, some of them are-- including our president).  :)

Answer 14

lol i went to America for a month last year, and being from Scotland, they kept asking about kilts and bagpipes! I was even asked if i had ever heard of AOL???? I think other countries get stereotyped because of what is seen to be our national emblems!

Answer 15

Sadly, Americans are all to often out of the loop.  His response is probably very common. Invite him to read a book.  The mind is a terrible thing to waste!

Answer 16

I get the same sort of thing about Wales. "What part of London is that in?" etc... And a German friend of mine recently was asked by an American dude if Germany has it's own language. How stupid can you get!

You have to laugh it off! Just enjoy the comedy of the moment, and knowing that you're so much cleverer than him! Not all people are that dumb, and those who genuinely don't know about somewhere really enjoy learning all about it.

Answer 17

are you sure you were not talking to george bush, most americans i have met seem clued up apart from him

Answer 18

Tell me about it.  I come from Scotland and have had all manner of crazy questions/comments about where I come from.

1. 'Scotland...That's in Ireland right?'

2.  'So do you guys have TVs?...How do they get electricity to your hut things?'

These are a couple of the craziest.  With regards to him saying that about German cars, where did he think BMWs and Audis came from??  The mind boggles....

Although, look at the president, ah..suddenly it all becomes clear.

Answer 19

When it comes to saying Germans still look on camp stoves he is either stupid or was just messing with you.

As for knowing the difference European countries the majority of people in the states do not know. You can blame that on our school systems. For the most part schools only focus on the united states. Half Americans prob cant even name the Providences in Canada.....

I would of prob never known if I was never in that area and I wouldn't know anything about Canada if it wasn't for the fact that my wife is Canadian.

That's just honestly speaking though

Answer 20

he is clueless, you should give him a geography/culture lesson its about time!!!

not everyone thinks that way, dont get offended by one person!!

Answer 21

Well , ... this is the UK site, so why not ask the US site instead ( click on the US flag below ), whos the dumbass now ?

The US is an unsular society, they dont learn about anything outside of their own country.

Answer 22

Hi I am currently dating a man in Chemnitz, Germany.  There are many differences between cultures....and it is not just language.  Between the two of us.....we are forming a (as my German calls it) globalization!!  No, Americans are not idiots, but I must admit that our schools, at lower levels, do a poor job in educating about the cultures & history of other countries.  European Countries do a far better job of educating their children about the US.  This is not to say, that Americans don't want to learn about other societies and their cultures (at least most of us do).  I have learned much about Germany.....I have learned about the your history, your language, your educational system......and I have a very fine German Representative to teach me.  I am very Pro Germany........ & I hope you don't give up on us over here in America....based on 1 poor experience!!