oh, for heavens' sake

[winterbadger]

as seen on brits_americans

As a US citizen living in London, Christian Cox says she is shocked at the amount of abuse she receives because of her nationality.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4881474.stm

Comments

[silme.livejournal.com]

The fact that she has to lower her voice on the Tube is a clue. She probably just came across as a loud, brash, obnoxious person -- and the fact that she's American just added to the stereotype.

I have noticed that when I'm in public here in the UK, I speak much more quietly than I used to in public in the US. I also notice that American friends visiting seem loud -- when I didn't used to think they were so in the US.

Of course, I did buy a 'Don't blame me, I voted for Kerry' t-shirt whilst in the US recently. ;)

[arosoff.livejournal.com]

Unfortunately you can't just blame it on being a "loud yank"--I know people who have gotten this kind of crap and they don't yell on the Tube. One woman I know got it in her local village shop.

I used to get it a lot on an English BBS.

People just think Americans are still an OK target. Sad, but true.

[pusscat.livejournal.com]

It's not the first time I have heard this kind of thing, but the depth of it surprises me. I don't think the UK is more racist than the US, but I /do/ think it's more openly racist (presumably because British people are a lot less concerned about political correctness and less litigious - although this is changing).

I have never felt like a target of hatred, but it is certainly exhausting when any random Brit who has a negative opinion of the US (be it government, culture, or a bad experience on holiday in Florida) seems to think that they have some sort of obligation to air it to any American they meet. Or those better informed people whom I meet more often in the social groups I tend to run with who speak with great authority and varying levels of accuracy about how things "really are" in the US. I have, however, found a way of dealing with this which both defuses any potential bad feeling, shuts them up, and amuses me. Whatever stereotype or negative aspect of America they are expounding on (which is, of course, usually the government) I endorse it with as deadpan an expression as I can manage. Ranting about Bush? "I voted for him". Proliferation of guns? "I'm an NRA member". Litigiousness? "Yeah, I made my first million in a lawsuit against a small business after I slipped on a freshly mopped floor. As a strategy, I would recommend it.

I still haven't figured out quite how to deal with the people I know - several of whom I have an enormous amount of respect for - who seem to reject various stuff (usually pop culture) out of hand simply because it's American. I mean, I know we have released some duff crap on the world and I know that the UK has exported genius far out of proportion to its size, but anyone who has watched a random BBC sitcom (My Hero, anyone?) will know that British origin does not guarantee quality.

And it doesn't help matters that the Americans who come here as tourists /are/ often overprivileged, overfed, undereducated stereotypes. And many who settle here don't seem particularly interested in assimilating to any great degree. I work with an American child whose parents won't allow said child to have anything to do with Halloween - because they are Christians. Well, frankly if you have that kind of closed minded attitude, why leave the Bible belt? My partner was listening to a podcast the other day and the (presumably massively intelligent) American guy who was lecturing kept talking about EEdenberg. Said guy did not, as far as I know, live in the UK, but imagine choosing that particular subject to discuss and then not even bothering to learn to pronounce it? No wonder the average British "man on the street" thinks Americans are ignorant.

But enough ranting. I'm obviously overtired and the proverbial nerve was touched.

[thespis-mellie.livejournal.com]

I've actually not run into any problems -- most people just think it's cool and interesting that I'm American. I usually have to put up with some Bush ranting but that's fine with me since I think he's a twat too :) I also have to answer 0986798769876 questions (Why did you move to England? If I moved to the US, I'd never want to leave! Is it hot there? Are there lots of black people? Do you know lots of famous people? Is it like it is on TV? etc. etc. etc.)

The only time it might have been an issue was at parents evening, when a couple of Y10 parents asked me how I could teach English since British English wasn't my native language. I just laughed and said that I knew where the extra 'u's go.

[zoefruitcake.livejournal.com]

You get good and bad everywhere, both natives and visitors. If you are from the south or north in England you have to expect a certain amount of 'ribbing' about your accent when you visit the other camp. It's just the way we are! A loud northerner in London would get just as much notice as a loud American, in a lot of places just fitting in to the background is a prized skill.
My friend lives in London, and says it is difficult to not resent the huge numbers of tourist decending on the city when you are trying to do your everyday business. Living down here on the coast we are also inundated with tourist, but I can't say I find it as difficult.
I wonder how much of it is what we would consider to be just teasing

[peaceful-fox.livejournal.com]

Okay, I can be loud. But you know, what, I know loud Brits, too. Kevin says the same thing about being in other countries when he hears other Brits. He wants to shrink away in shame.

However, I have ONLY ONCE had someone say something nasty to me, and it was lumping me in with the pro-war Americans. That person was so mean to me, she made me cry. I just think she was a bitter person.

I am almost always treated well here. Sure, I get teased, but the people who tease me (generally co-workers or some friends) say disparaging funny things about the UK, too. They certainly aren't picking on me.

I think people here are fabulous!