Do you have any advice for Americans? | TCKID 2.0

For New Version Of TCKID 2.0 Please go to http://www.tckid.com and sign up. But feel free to browse this site for the huge archive of valuable information. Read the Latest news

Do you have any advice for Americans?

I love my American friends, but the sad reality is America has a big image problem to the rest of the world. They’re seen as loud, arrogant and poorly dressed. Oh, yeah — and fat, too. But it doesn’t have to be this way. :(

Following Uncle Dan’s post on “America vs Europe”, I’d like to know what advice can you give to Americans?

Popularity: 2% [?]

Posted by Brice at 4:05 am on December 18th, 2007. Comments
Categories: General Forum.

  • Cynthia
    Actually it's not just America that need these advice (advices?). I am living in a country that is just as bad. But then again there are a lot of countries out there that's the same. And yet there are those that would embrace the foreign cultures as if they are their own and the older generation citizens would think they are sucking up to those countries and not being patriotic enough.

    It's a tough world out there LOL Can't make anyone happy XD
  • Tess
    I could write so much on this topic, but because I've been posting so much here today and I should be working, I think I can summarize my opinion with

    "Try to forget all about America and its people. Look around you and focus on what's happening, how it looks, how it smells. Shut up and listen. Then listen some more."
  • mairabay
    (if Americans are loud, I have no idea what Brazilians are! lol)

    I agree with Kristine.
    Each culture has its good and its bad side. It's such a pitty that the world sees only their bad side. If they took an effort and showed the world the good parts of their culture, maybe they wouldn't have this immage.

    I was actually talking with a guy at work the other day about this. People down here really hate the USA. They feel threatened by their culture (american music/movies) and they think the Iraq war is wrong.

    And the guy was like "they want war, they want to rule the world, they want to kill everyone". And I said he couldn't judge the whole country by what their president did (God knows Brazil's president is as dumb as a donkey!), that not everyone was like that, that the country had some good things too and that I had met some really nice American people.

    But the guy just wouldn't get it. And I think that has to do with me being a TCK, I'm more open minded towards other cultures, I know that all cultures have their good and their bad sides. But regular people don't see this.

    So they should definately improve their immage.
  • warona
    i'm with you julie, it is not natural to be taught that your country is the best in the world. it creates an arrogance that leads to ignorance. and the worst part is even the smartest americans do it, everywhere you look its; "we're the greatest!"


    advice for americans? if you can afford it, go somewhere else. just on holiday, and really try to open your mind to the culture. i like that advice you found brice, it'd do a lot of people well to heed it.

    come to think of it, that's my advice to the whole world, if you can, go to another country. i think its ignorant NOT to
  • Brice
    I made a google search and found those tips:


    BE A 'WORLD CITIZEN'
    Sample advice from the new World Citizens Guide published by Business for Diplomatic Action:

    Speak lower and slower. In conversation, match your voice level and tonality to the environment and other people. A loud voice is often perceived as bragging. A fast talker can be seen as aggressive and threatening.
    Leave the slang at home. (It) means little or nothing in other cultures. .. (and) can make you seem insensitive.
    Listen at least as much as you talk. By all means, talk about America.. .. But also ask people you're visiting about themselves and their way of life.
    Dress up — you can always strip down. In some countries, casual dress is a sign of disrespect.
    Remember that your religion is your religion and not necessarily theirs. Most non-Western cultures have little knowledge of the Bible and will not understand references to it.
  • Julie
    I think most of hte problem is that Americans have been taught thier whole lives that they are the best country in the world so of course being the best they must always be right too. I really like my American friends as well and one of my Aunts married an American became American and is one of the most American people I know :) I think maybe everyone could use a little more humility and maybe try to see things from someone elses point of veiw.
  • kristine
    Yeah, if the majority of the people in the US would try and show the world what great people they really are, then maybe people would see that. Unfortunately, not a lot of people put the effort in.
blog comments powered by Disqus