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35 Stereotypes About People’s Countries That Might Sound Positive, But Are Still Harmful
Interview
Let’s be very clear about one simple thing. Stereotypes, even when they seem positive on the surface level, can still be harmful and depersonalizing. The real world is much more nuanced and complex than the overly exaggerated assumptions folks make about each other’s countries and cultures. And yet, many of these generalizations continue to persist.
In a viral discussion sparked by u/Grouchy_Welder8068 on ‘Ask The World,’ people revealed the positive (yet wrong) stereotypes that others have about individuals from their countries. Keep scrolling to read about their experiences. Meanwhile, read on for Bored Panda's interview with the author of the thread, u/Grouchy_Welder8068.
This post may include affiliate links.
#1
Philippines
That everyone's so friendly here. Well, there's some merit to it, but the way foreigners describe it is so exaggerated.
It's only because most of the Filipinos don't know how to be rude in English. Once you start learning Tagalog, or other local languages, your opinion will surely change.
eric p 4 weeks ago
I've literally never heard this stereotype... in fact, I've heard the opposite
MushroomHead22 3 weeks ago
i've heard the stereotype, once. and it wasn't really someone saying they are so kind, but Russell Peters talks about a Filipino butler and made the butler out to be the nicest person in the world.
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aubergine10003 3 weeks ago
Maybe it's just bad luck on my part, but most of the Filipinos I've met in NYC have been truly bad people.
RELATED:
#2
France
That we do a LOT of r̶i̶o̶t̶s̶ strikes, which is true, but it depends on the professions.
Ellinor she/they/elle 4 weeks ago
And protests ! I think that the first time I ever was in a protest was as a newborn in my mom's arms ! One day when I was about 12 there was a big protest planned and the school forbade us to skip school to go there instead, and my mother still took me. When she was asked to justify my absence she wrote down "we went to the protest" and my teacher gave me the stinkiest eye possible (but honestly, worth it).
badmotorfinger 4 weeks ago
My stereotype of the French is that they use way too many silent letters.
Beak Hookage 4 weeks ago
I was told the French were all really rude, but I went to Paris and everyone was perfectly nice and polite.
MushroomHead22 3 weeks ago
ok... but like that's not a stereotype if there are a lot of protests.
Michael Joyce 4 weeks ago
When I lived there, "Les Clochards" went on strike because people weren't giving enough in the streets.
#3
Canada
We have a reputation as being nice and friendly.
SchadenFreudian Psychology 4 weeks ago
I love Canada. Been there, did not want to come back. And I had one set of great-grandparents who were Canadian….and then the boneheads decided to come here. (sigh)
LookASquirrel 4 weeks ago
I've traveled to Niagara Falls Canada a lot. I like to take the Peace Bridge that takes you on the QEW and more in the suburban areas of Ontario. Traffic is low, everything is clean, the people are very nice. Crossing the border into Canada has always been pleasant. coming back to the US they are Dícks. And I used to make the trip a couple times a year since the 90's so I had everything ready and knew the rules. Love you Canada! Thanks for Anne Murray and John Candy. Still mad about the Justin Beiber thing though!
Colleen Glim 4 weeks ago
How tf do you figure traffic on the QEW is low?! Traffic on the QEW is a bloody nightmare unless it’s like 2 am. Most of us avoid it like the plague unless there’s no other option
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Jihana 4 weeks ago
Been to Canada once for three weeks with some friends. Can confirm. Everyone was suuuuuper friendly. On the first morning we met an elderly couple and started to talk with them. They invited us to stay with them for a few days. Noone in my country would just invite complete strangers to stay with them.
LookASquirrel 4 weeks ago
Might need to watch Strange Brew tonight, eh? 😂
Load More Replies... Colleen Glim 4 weeks ago
We’re not nice. We’re polite. Totally different. We may be polite to your face but we’re imaging all the ways to take you out in the privacy of our own heads
The issue with positive stereotypes is that they still fail to capture who you are as an individual. You are rubberstamped with broad attributes and characteristics based on your ethnicity, culture, background, etc.
To put it simply, people who believe the positive stereotypes they hear about you also tend to believe the negative stereotypes, too. What’s more, stereotypes affect more than just an individual’s (mis)perceptions about how the world works. They are society-wide issues.
As NPR points out, the “negative effects of positive stereotypes don't stop with our perceptions of others — they can also affect individual and societal decisions.”
Furthermore, when you’re exposed to positive stereotypes, you may be less likely to fight for social change. On the flip side, hearing negative stereotypes can “increase motivation for social change.”
#4
Germany
People say we are punctual. When I‘m punctual I have to wait 10 minutes for the others tho.
Petra Peitsch 4 weeks ago
If you have a termin, better be there at least 5 minutes before ... Just an advice.
Pferdchen 4 weeks ago
The best beer, imho. I've never been a fan of microbreweries because, on the rare occasion I drink a beer, it's going to be a good lager.
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Ace 4 weeks ago
Working in multinational teams in German-speaking Switzerland really showed up some cultural differences like this. In order of punctuality, Swiss-Germans, East Germans (who grew up under the old regime), West Germans, Brits, Americans, French, Italians.
Dave Van Beurden 4 weeks ago
They really don't... almost 40% of German trains arrived late in 2024.
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#5
Finland
We don't waste words. Say what you want to say, silence is golden.
Personal space and privacy are a given. Being quiet isn't rude, not everyone has to be extroverted.
Jonas Fisher 4 weeks ago
So...what's the inaccuracy? It sounds like the OP is just making a claim about how great people are in Finland.
st4x2gt974 4 weeks ago
I’m an introverted entertainer. Meaning I made my living on stage and I mostly think it has to do with survival tactics of having to read a room and also knowing I needed to be the thread to hold it all together, so I’d entertain everyone to keep the peace. It’s absolutely exhausting bc so many different ppl “relate” to me, but really I want nothing to do with them, I’m just reading their energy and making them feel comfortable but to my own detriment.
Helena 4 weeks ago
I have zero problems being on a stage, I find it fun. Being in the crowd though, uncomfortable and exhausting and sooo peopley.
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#6
Ireland
A lot of untrue ones tbh. Irish people are seen to be welcoming and kind but i really dont think thats the standard here.
I do think the stereotype that irish people are generally very funny is true though.
SchadenFreudian Psychology 4 weeks ago (edited)
I love the accent, though. And is it true Irish people curse a lot?
Michael Largey 4 weeks ago
One of my innocent and highly protected high school students went to Dublin for a summer. She told me that she's be taking classes during the day and working in a pub at night. I warned her that she might hear an f-b**b every third word in the pub. When she got back, I asked he if I had been right. "Actually no," she replied. "It was more like every third syllable."
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Stardust she/her 4 weeks ago
Considering their history I’ve always wondered why ‘the luck of the Irish’ is considered a thing
Pedantic Panda 4 weeks ago
Believe it refers to a period of US history known as the Gold Rush in 1849, when lots of Irish such it lucky, but I may be wrong.
Load More Replies... Cuppa tea? 4 weeks ago
Lots of welcoming and kindness is just an act for foreigners. Anyone who lives in Ireland long enough knows that to express true feelings towards another person is savage insults.
Verywell Mind stresses that because stereotypes are based on such deeply ingrained beliefs, formed by social networks and your environment, it can be difficult to even recognize and acknowledge them.
You should ask yourself some basic provocative questions that challenge your firmly-held beliefs about other groups of people, like:
- Where did your beliefs come from?
- What exact assumptions do you have about specific groups of people?
- How do you feel when someone from one of those groups doesn’t fit those stereotypes?
- Are you complimenting a person because of who they are or who you think they are?
#7
England
We love queueing and drinking tea.
SchadenFreudian Psychology 4 weeks ago
Hey….several decades of AWESOME music….Beatles, Stones, The Who, David Bowie, Queen, the Jam, the Clash….🎸
Ageing_Changeling 4 weeks ago
We don't love queueing, we just know how to do it properly. The tea one is true though.
Helena 4 weeks ago
I would've thought the tea drinking part is true. If you tell them you heated your water for your tea in the microwave you will positively lambasted by the comments.
Nota Robot 4 weeks ago
A proper Bri'ish sentence should have at least three times innit in it, innit?
badmotorfinger 4 weeks ago
England is cool because they have a really big clock that they named Ben.
#8
Portugal
In countries with big Portuguese communities, people usually say Portuguese are a hardworking, humble folk. For tourists coming here, it's more on the line of people being very warm and hospitable.
James Twong 4 weeks ago
TBH from my travels around Europe, the Portuguese have definitely been the warmest and friendliest people.
Bi.Felicia 4 weeks ago
My great grandparents were from Portugal and it is in my top 3 places to visit before my time on Earth is up.
#9
Brazil
That we will find a way to control any object, of any size, of any weight, flawlessly and beautifully with our feet. Yet I can't even dribble past a cone.
nottheactualphoto 4 weeks ago
Q: how many South Americans does it take to s***w in a light bulb? A: a Brazillion
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Becoming more aware of the language you use can also help you move toward a more nuanced view of the world. “Avoid using absolute statements and jumping to conclusions based on a characteristic, even if you think it is a positive one. For instance, remind yourself when you see a picture of a celebrity or a stranger on the street that what they look like doesn’t determine how they should or should not behave,” Verywell Mind suggests.
But probably the best thing you can do is to set your ego and preconceived notions aside, go out there, and meet lots of different people from varying backgrounds. A bit of open-mindedness can give you a far deeper appreciation of the world and life as a whole than sticking to overly simplistic assumptions.
#10
France
Depends on the reputation we have in that country (lol)
Mostly that we have sense of style and a good eye for nice things.
st4x2gt974 4 weeks ago (edited)
When I lived and traveled abroad I’d constantly have ppl mistaking me for a frenchie and it was the biggest compliment. The best was when actual French people who were lost tried to get my help. I was so honored! 🤣💀🤣 (edited to add that I’m American, so y’all know that was an accomplishment!)
Pferdchen 4 weeks ago
It's more stereotypes, but supposedly that's Parisians and they'll treat French provincials just as poorly.
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Paul C. 4 weeks ago (edited)
My wife had the misfortune to work for a company that had French ownership, directors and some of the staff, based in the UK. Without exception they were the most arrogant, rude and downright unpleasant people she ever had to deal with. Their arrogance was off the scale. The turnover of non French staff was breathtaking.
Sue User 4 weeks ago
Can say the same having worked for a New York company. Even the people outdide Paris think badly of the Parisians. People in South of France are really nice.
Load More Replies... Zig Zag Wanderer 4 weeks ago
Well, the French generally do. Having lived there, I can attest to this.
#11
Spain
It's either heavy party-goers who take a siesta or deeply rooted devout Catholics.
Often, both at the same time.
#12
Hong Kong
We're hardworking, good at math, warm and friendly, and have good food.
Jan Olsen 3 weeks ago
I havve only met a few chinese when traveling. Without exception they were rude AF
Jay Cee 3 weeks ago
No, they just have a different idea of how to behave. Imagine an American in downtown Wuhan . . .
Load More Replies...We asked the author of the thread for their thoughts as to why stereotypes persist, as well as how people can move past the assumptions they have about other countries and cultures.
According to u/Grouchy_Welder8068, the issue mainly lies with the media. "Primarily modern (especially Western) films or shows use stereotypes to establish genre or characters most viewers will recognise to be from X country/culture," they said.
"I personally like to defy my country stereotypes. I generally enjoy challenging societal norms or expectations, so I would encourage more people to do the same. If people make it clear they don't follow X stereotype, naturally, they'll get less stereotyped," u/Grouchy_Welder8068 told Bored Panda.
#13
Sweden
We are all hot.
WindySwede 4 weeks ago
When its over 20°C we all collectively starts complaining its to hot, so there is that.. 🙃
Lynchamigsakta 4 weeks ago
Haha I thought that was the Danes, I thought you had beer for lunch 😂 😉
Load More Replies... #14
Scotland
Brave.
Zig Zag Wanderer 4 weeks ago
Well, if I wanted to build an effective army, it would have to consist of many scots. The British army is a great product of this idea. Nobody I'd prefer to fight beside.
Michael Largey 4 weeks ago
True, the Scots are fantastic soldiers, but "Ayo Gorkhali!"
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Jaya 4 weeks ago
I'd say it's great music and gorgeous nature. And a very s**y (but not always understandable) accent *swoon*
nottheactualphoto 4 weeks ago
I'm an American who has never been to Scotland, but I do love haggis. And I'm sipping Laphroiag as we speak.
SchadenFreudian Psychology 4 weeks ago
It’s even a bagpipe tune: Scotland the Brave. I loved Scotland when I visited. If I ever go there again, I might not come back!
Boris Long-Johnson 4 weeks ago
Unfortunately Scotland is pretty much just a retirement place for English who are too racist to go abroad now. Sad though it is - the number of St George’s crosses I see is a decidedly non zero number. God help us when MEGAman Ferage becomes PM.
Jay Cee 3 weeks ago
Count yourselves lucky. I live in Kipperland and the Butcher's Apron is flying at half mast on every. bloödy lamp post.
Load More Replies... #15
South Korea
We are good at video games.
Also we look attractive and dress stylishly (mostly due to Kpop).
eric p 4 weeks ago
Who ever said south Koreans were good at video games? These stereotypes are literally fictional
Andrew Swanson 4 weeks ago
Uhhh...I mean, Koreans being gratuitously good at video games is a pretty widely held/known stereotype. Don't remember StarCraft?
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hannahbahngswife 4 weeks ago
Remembering that one woman who went in South Korea and was flabbergasted to not see handsome Kpop-like men
Rinn 3 weeks ago
I don't find Kpop Koreans consistently attractive, but the ones in horror movies I definitely do
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We also asked the author why they started the online discussion in the first place. They were open about the fact that it was mostly curiosity that drove them.
"Nothing much besides curiosity to be honest," they said.
"I'm very interested in social science, so I sometimes do similar for my self-interests in hobbies," u/Grouchy_Welder8068 shared.
According to them, their thread resonated with some people because their question "requires people to think deeper into how the world perceives the country their identity is with, so it piques curiosity."
They added: "I personally enjoy studying society, so I do hope more people begin criticising or challenging modern media texts."
#16
Sweden
Apparently our language sounds like we're singing.
Börje Strömming 4 weeks ago
Doesn’t sound like singing to us of course but i have heard it does from a couple foreigners
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Robert Millar 4 weeks ago
I speak Swedish and Italian (poorly) as well as English and a smattering of other European languages mainly from working abroad most of my life. Swedish is one of those languages where the emphasis is on the first syllable in many words including compound words, so it naturally leads to a flow that sounds more "musical" than some other languages.
Jaya 4 weeks ago (edited)
Yes, very true. It's because Swedish has strong variation in pitch, volume and length of syllables. Swedish, Dutch and English all have the name Johanna/Joanna, but listen to how they each pronounce it. Dutch people pronounce it very monotonous (each syllable has almost the same pitch, length and volume, it sounds like johanna), Swedes pronounce it very sing-songy (it sounds like joAAAANna!) and English are somewhere in between. Listen to how Joanna from First Aid Kit introduces herself, you'll hear what I mean.
FlamingoPanda 4 weeks ago
Learning Swedish currently. Not finding it singsong. And listening to my colleagues talk in Swedish it is definitely not like singing. Welsh on the other hand, that sound a lot like singing.
#17
Canada, USA, UK
For Canada, the prominent good stereotype is that we are nice.
For the US, the prominent good stereotype is that we get stuff done. (Who can? Ameri-can!)
For the UK, the prominent good stereotype is that we are stoic in the face of adversity. ('Tis but a scratch!).
Ace 4 weeks ago
I've never heard the American one. I my mind it's more that you don't give a toss who gets hurt or trampled down in order for the top few to profit from other people's efforts.
Nota Robot 4 weeks ago
I think the American one is mainly true in the US itself.
Load More Replies... Hippopotamuses 4 weeks ago
The stereotype which I am familar with is that the English are stoic. Rather than all of the UK.
James Twong 4 weeks ago
I don't think there is a UK stereotype. By 'UK' people generally mean England.
Michael Largey 4 weeks ago
Nope, it's the reverse. By "England" people generally mean "UK".
Load More Replies... Jay Cee 3 weeks ago
Come on now! Who can beat Captain America? (Apart from Captain Vietnam)
Load More Replies... #18
India
YouTube tutorials that solve the most specific technical issues in just a few minutes, or explain math/science concepts better than actual teachers/professors.
Helena 4 weeks ago
Indian youtube guy has saved my bacon more times than I can count. I owe that country quite a few gift baskets.
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What are some of the most widespread positive and negative stereotypes that people tend to have about your country or culture, dear Pandas?
How do you feel when you hear these stereotypes, and how do you react? If you feel like sharing your experiences, you can do so in the comments at the bottom of this post.
#19
Philippines
Filipinos are mostly nurses? It shows that Filipinos will care for you. Families don’t put their elderly parents in nursing homes.
Child of the Stars 4 weeks ago
My dad had a Filipino friend years ago. He could hardly wrap his mind around the very idea of a nursing home.
Auntriarch 4 weeks ago
Neither could anyone in UK when I was a pup. But medical advances have made it difficult for an ordinary person to care properly in an ordinary house. Also just because a culture disapproves of nursing homes, doesn't mean elder abüse doesn't happen.
Load More Replies... #20
India
That Indian women own 11% of gold that’s more gold than any other government or entity which is true.
Bi.Felicia 4 weeks ago
Indian women collectively own approximately 11% of the world's gold, a staggering amount often held in the form of jewelry and passed down through generations. This figure, reported by the World Gold Council, is often cited as being more than the combined official gold reserves of major countries like the United States, Russia, Germany, Italy, and France. This high ownership reflects gold's deep cultural significance in India as a traditional store of wealth, a symbol of prosperity, and a key part of celebrations, especially weddings.
eric p 4 weeks ago
This is false. While Indian women have an estimated 11% of the world's gold, during the Bretton Woods system it was estimated that the US had 90% of all gold reserves. It is calculated that US currently has over 8500 metric tons (with an estimated 30000 in private hands) of gold compared to 900 metric tons (plus an estimated 25000 in private hands). By literally no metric does India have more gold than the US
Load More Replies... Stardust she/her 4 weeks ago
OP I beg of thee to read before posting. But yeah, gold is pretty popular amongst women here. Married Hindu women usually wear a gold chain with black beads in it to show their marital status and during events they’ll wear gold earrings or gold bangles
Jay Cee 3 weeks ago
Indeed. I worked for an engineer whose family fled Pakistan at the time of partition (they were Hindu) having to carry what belongings they had on their backs . . . . and many thousands of rupees in gold ingots in the base of his baby pram!
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#21
Germany
That we are industrious and punctual.
nm 3 weeks ago (edited)
But they blindly follow orders without ever considering if are right, ethical or not.
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Frances Pitchoune 4 weeks ago
A German once told me this joke: "How many Germans does it take to unscrew a lightbulb? Just one. We're efficient and we have no sense of humor."
Hugo 4 weeks ago
I would say they're disciplined. They wait for the green light before crossing the road. And they don't drop much litter.
Nicole Weymann 4 weeks ago
The usual (German) argument when seeing someone crossing a red light is "think of the kids! You're giving a bad example!" The litter thing is relative. There are way too many people out there who throw their waste around the landscape (fast food stuff in particular), but all in all it mostly works - especially compared to what I saw when I was in southern Italy (Naples, Amalfi coast,...) last year. So many nice view points to stop at and have a look around, but NOT down. Those slopes are often littered. 🙁
Load More Replies... Margaret Shannon 4 weeks ago
My impression has always been that Germans are very intelligent and excel in academics.
Petra Peitsch 4 weeks ago
The wars over - what are stipulating industrial development, as well known - but I wouldn't say, german industry is wiped out nowadays. Many european countries' economy are relying on it -and it's profitable. otherwise german companies would rely on India or China, as many USA one are doing.
Load More Replies... Jay Cee 3 weeks ago
Comment to me by a young German engineer I worked with: "I find it strange that, under a tyrannical f*****t regime and under constant threat of air raids, we had a workable railway system. Now we have democracy and a railway that is the laughing stock of Europe - Deutsche Bahn!"
#22
USA
I think we have a reputation for being easy to make small talk with and that our customer service is top notch. Also that we all have nice smiles but that one doesn't seem as common as it used to be.
Petra Peitsch 4 weeks ago
The thing is, the rest of the world is not very fond of fake smiles ...
Helena 4 weeks ago
The majority of the smiles are not fake. At least not for strangers. We save the fake smiles for the backhanded compliments to the people we know and loathe.
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fly on the wall 4 weeks ago
I am 81, Canadian, and have traveled to USA often; I have always been met with honest kindness and true hospitality. I do steer clear of politics and religion ( their country / their business)
Hugo 4 weeks ago
It's a good idea to steer clear of religion and politics everywhere (not just in Northern Ireland!).
Load More Replies... rustyscate 4 weeks ago (edited)
( I didn’t realize it said good stereotypes at first but I’m leaving my comment lol) I’m American and the world thinks we are fat and dumb. These are way to g rated be honest people.
Helena 4 weeks ago
Collectively, we are pretty fat and at least half of us are dumb.
Load More Replies... SchadenFreudian Psychology 4 weeks ago
There’s a dark side to the customer service part. Wubi is right about that, and shouldn’t have been downvoted. Also, I’m American, and I loathe small talk. Why not be quiet?
Emily 4 weeks ago (edited)
Im am introvert and even I enjoy occasional small talk. The other day I was in line at the store and the man in front of me had a sweatshirt that said "Ask me about my awesome grandkids." I told him I liked his shirt and he turned around with the biggest smile on his face and showed me that the front had a picture of all 5 of his grandkids on it. He told me about them amd how proud he was of them while we waited. He was so happy to get to talk about his family who he obviously loves very much, and I was happy to listen because I could tell it really made his day. We only chatted for two or three minutes and I'll probably never see him again, but it was such a joyful way to spend time that it stuck with me. There was nothing fake about it.
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Loudawg76 4 weeks ago
Loud!! American tourists are ALWAYS so loud. “Look at me, look at me” 🙄🙄🙄
Helena 4 weeks ago
It isn't a 'look at me' tactic. i agree it is annoying, but it is more about habit than a look at me thing. Most of our collective activities are loud we all grow up yelling over each other. We never really develop inside voices particularly when teachers and parents and relatives all say 'speak up we can't hear you if you're mumbling'. Instead of teaching us to articulate they teach us to up the volume.
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Abel 4 weeks ago
I guess if you meet an american you dont know if they wear a gun. Scary as hell!
Sally Moen 4 weeks ago
I never know if a fellow American has a gun (except a police officer) since there are concealed-carry laws. There are some places that post that you cannot carry a gun in the building, so I think they must have lockers or something.
Load More Replies... Sally Moen 4 weeks ago
We ask each other and customer service staff How Are You? but we really don't expect an answer except a vague positive response. It's so very common it's my knee-jerk reaction to somebody greeting me.
Robin Roper 4 weeks ago
I am a US citizen and I'm very nice until you assume I'm MAGA, then I will get ugly fast.
#23
India
Our food is great , and we are welcoming are the only two that have withstood the test of time along with a few others.
Kelly H. Wilder 4 weeks ago
That bread on the bottom looks similar to injera (an Ethiopian flatbread made from Teff flour). I wonder if the flavor is also similar. I have never eaten authentic Indian food.
Stardust she/her 4 weeks ago
The bread looks like dosa and it’s usually made from ragi or rice flour
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Stardust she/her 4 weeks ago
I was expecting some racist comments here but I’m glad that people are appreciating our country. Our hospitality culture is insane though, we have a famous saying in our country ‘atithi devo bhavo’ ie god comes in the form of a guest
zatrisha 4 weeks ago
I love India from afar, but I don't dare to go there as a woman, because here India is called very unsafe for women - can you tell me if that's true?
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Hippopotamuses 4 weeks ago
India is, for the most part, utterly chaotic to non-Indians. that's part of what makes it such a fascinating and diverse country.
Multa Nocte 4 weeks ago
Poulet shahi korma is so good I actually melt when eating it. I would k**l without second thoughts for warm naan, and biryani poulet makes me sing. And sometimes dance.
#24
Poland
We're very hospitable and friendly.
nm 3 weeks ago
And very hospitable. Back in the 70s, ιν a cold winter night, my friend and me were offered room in the bed of two girls. :-)
Load More Replies... Sally Moen 4 weeks ago
I am unable to give any stereotype of Polish people, though I grew up hearing awful jokes about them. I've always wondered what the reason or source was for all that hostility
nm 3 weeks ago
Here the local hard line communists (yeah, still exist) hate them more than their sins. Probably because from Poland started the unraveling of the communist delusion and the fall of Soviet Empire.
Load More Replies... #25
USA
Apparently we have very white teeth.
Zig Zag Wanderer 4 weeks ago
Well, you generally do, at least in any media. Mostly veneers, of course. Teeth aren't naturally white, you know? There off-white to yellow depending on age.
Billo66 4 weeks ago
Mine are perfectly white. I keep them in a cup beside the bed at night.
Load More Replies... Petra Peitsch 4 weeks ago
Healthy teeth naturally are yellowish-white. All those bright-white-teeth showing up in every USA-movie are so unnatural. And also damages (to procedure to be so bright-white) your enamel.
WindySwede 4 weeks ago
*hydrogen peroxide enters chat, and also the insides of your teeth*
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Dusty's mom 4 weeks ago
The vast majority of us are not celebrities. Dental work is too expensive for many of us.
#26
Dominican Republic
Good at baseball and funny.
#27
USA
Americans will generally invite a new friend over for dinner, even if they don’t have a lot of food. Make extra biscuits, whatever it takes.
#28
Finland
That we're trustworthy.
#29
Indonesia
We're warm and friendly.
#30
Finland
I believe the one stereotype is that Finns deliver on our promises.
#31
Scotland
Hospitality i guess? I heard people view us as very standoffish but also very hospitable when asked.
SchadenFreudian Psychology 4 weeks ago
When I visited Scotland, the people I met were warm, friendly, and kind. The ones I met were smart and funny—very sharp—but never mean. Although I doubt if they would suffer a fool lightly! But (for me, anyway), the Scottish people I met were very comfortable to be with.
Zig Zag Wanderer 4 weeks ago
Lovely people, although can definitely be difficult to get to know. Well worth it when you do! Generous to a fault in my experience, too.
#32
USA
I think (hope) Americans are still viewed as extremely helpful on an individual basis. For example if your luggage pops open accidentally on the New York subway all the American bystanders will help you pick up the things that fell out. People in Paris on the metro or London on the tube wouldn't do that.
kissmychakram 4 weeks ago
As a Brit and a Londoner, this rather surprises me. I absolutely would help you pick up your stuff. But I wouldn't make eye contact whilst doing it.
Hippopotamuses 4 weeks ago
I have always found US Americans to be really helpful. In the US. Unfortunately, outside the US, they seem to have an expectation that the rest of the world is the same as the US: it isn't.
Helena 4 weeks ago
For us to travel outside the US is a big deal. So we don't have a lot of experience with it. We get very little time off and flights out of the US are wicked expensive, and there's the rest of the costs of travel, which compound exponentially when you travel that far.
Load More Replies... Petra Peitsch 4 weeks ago
Americans are mostly viewed as extremly loud in the world existing outside of USA... it always gives them away.
Multa Nocte 4 weeks ago
I'm an American living in France and I am embarrassed to admit it's the truth. My spouse and I have dropped our voice levels significantly lower since we have lived here and we always help each other keep our voices down. But when friends and family come to visit from the States we give them the talk and then prompt them when needed.
Load More Replies... MushroomHead22 3 weeks ago
lol what? i would expect that in a suburban town USA, but new york city metro? you'd be lucky if you got all your s**t back
#33
USA
Casual culture. Free water with ice. People hold doors open for each other.
Serena Myers 4 weeks ago (edited)
UK. It is still common for people to hold doors open for the person behind you, for the older person, or the one carrying something, or someone who is pregnant, whatever, whoever, it is known as good manners. Common courtesy, as drilled into our dim little skulls from toddlerhood up. Well, good manners are becoming increasingly rare these days, says the old boomer!
#34
USA
That "Southern Hospitality" is a real thing around here. Sometimes.. It is, but no, the only thing your getting is a trip to the hospital for stepping on my yard. Anywhere else, I'd say we're friendly and easy to talk to. Just not in my house.
LJ Robinson 4 weeks ago
I lived in New Orleans for 6 years. I never, ever, felt included, even with my job. The "Southern Hospitality" thing is for people that are from the South.
Petra Peitsch 4 weeks ago
Yaps, exactly that's my main problem with the so-called USA-spirit. Is so artificial and shallow, like an AI-generated anything.
Michael Largey 4 weeks ago
It's not so much that it's artificial and shallow. It's more that it's truly contradictory and deeply conflicted. I wish you were right, but current conditions in the US tell me things are much worse.
Load More Replies... SchadenFreudian Psychology 4 weeks ago
Southern hospitality is a myth, in my experience. Source: moved from north to south as a child, never really felt accepted.
Michael Largey 4 weeks ago
Hospitality is for visitors and strangers, and you don't qualify as either down there. On the bright side, if you moved to, say, Florida, would you really want to fit in?
Load More Replies... #35
USA
That we are easy going , are approachable in terms of talking to strangers , we say thank you a lot ..
Michael Largey 4 weeks ago (edited)
For some of us, how approachable we are sadly depends on the color of the person approaching.
Donna Harris 3 weeks ago
Sounds more like a Canadian.....if you added that we say sorry quite a bit as well
What do you think ?
Frances Pitchoune 4 weeks ago (edited)
Definitely too many mentions of the USA here for me. 😒 And I don't care if I get downvoted for my comment. I live in Canada, we put up with a lot of it.
Donna Harris 3 weeks ago
Americans are generally known for being loud and patriotic ......We're #1, that kind of thing USA USA USA as chants.
Load More Replies...
Apatheist Account2 4 weeks ago
The one about trains is even more true of Switzerland. They themselves have a comment: if a train leaves late, it's not a Swiss train - or it's not a Swiss clock.
Ace 4 weeks ago
True. But they do so by having realistic timetables, such that train travel is relatively slow. It's difficult to find any significant journey here which would not generally be faster by road. It does mean though, that if you're planning an awkward journey, such as I did a few weeks ago, including two bus legs (one where a local line was closed for maintenance) you can pretty much guarantee all the connections will work. The bus services are included on the same ticket and any delays that may occasionally happen will usually mean that a bus waiting to pick passengers up off a train, typically going up into smaller villages, will not leave until the train has got there.
Load More Replies... 
T'Mar of Vulcan 4 weeks ago
South Africans have a reputation of being extremely hard-working (this is from people in the old country and its colonies, i.e. Britain, Aus, NZ) and friendly. Everyone here is extremely friendly, and genuine. If they ask how you are and you say, "Not so good today," they will stop and commiserate with you. It's wonderful. I wouldn't live anywhere else.
Multa Nocte 4 weeks ago
I am here early. I already have a clue as to which of these will cause explosive rage in some people. It will be interesting to see.
John O'Donnell 3 weeks ago (edited)
A comedian in London once asked a crowd to describe Americans in two words. “Loud and fat” were the overwhelming replies.
Marte Straatsma 3 weeks ago
The Dutch: super direct, so no confusion there. Others might see it as rude or blunt and probably mean that when they say “oh, the Dutch are so direct”.
rustyscate 4 weeks ago
Oops I didn’t realize it said good stereotypes lol I was like why is everyone being so vanilla ? My bad.
Frances Pitchoune 4 weeks ago (edited)
Definitely too many mentions of the USA here for me. 😒 And I don't care if I get downvoted for my comment. I live in Canada, we put up with a lot of it.
Donna Harris 3 weeks ago
Americans are generally known for being loud and patriotic ......We're #1, that kind of thing USA USA USA as chants.
Load More Replies... Apatheist Account2 4 weeks ago
The one about trains is even more true of Switzerland. They themselves have a comment: if a train leaves late, it's not a Swiss train - or it's not a Swiss clock.
Ace 4 weeks ago
True. But they do so by having realistic timetables, such that train travel is relatively slow. It's difficult to find any significant journey here which would not generally be faster by road. It does mean though, that if you're planning an awkward journey, such as I did a few weeks ago, including two bus legs (one where a local line was closed for maintenance) you can pretty much guarantee all the connections will work. The bus services are included on the same ticket and any delays that may occasionally happen will usually mean that a bus waiting to pick passengers up off a train, typically going up into smaller villages, will not leave until the train has got there.
Load More Replies... T'Mar of Vulcan 4 weeks ago
South Africans have a reputation of being extremely hard-working (this is from people in the old country and its colonies, i.e. Britain, Aus, NZ) and friendly. Everyone here is extremely friendly, and genuine. If they ask how you are and you say, "Not so good today," they will stop and commiserate with you. It's wonderful. I wouldn't live anywhere else.
Multa Nocte 4 weeks ago
I am here early. I already have a clue as to which of these will cause explosive rage in some people. It will be interesting to see.
John O'Donnell 3 weeks ago (edited)
A comedian in London once asked a crowd to describe Americans in two words. “Loud and fat” were the overwhelming replies.
Marte Straatsma 3 weeks ago
The Dutch: super direct, so no confusion there. Others might see it as rude or blunt and probably mean that when they say “oh, the Dutch are so direct”.
rustyscate 4 weeks ago
Oops I didn’t realize it said good stereotypes lol I was like why is everyone being so vanilla ? My bad.
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