Americans: Stereotypes, Not So Obese, Poor Drivers, Rude & Greedy

  • Thread starter Thread starter Char. Limit
  • Start date Start date
Click For Summary

Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around various stereotypes associated with Americans, including perceptions of obesity, driving skills, rudeness, and friendliness. Participants share personal experiences and observations, reflecting on how these stereotypes manifest in daily life and cultural interactions.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested
  • Conceptual clarification
  • Exploratory

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants assert that the stereotype of Americans being obese is false based on personal experiences with their own weight.
  • Others argue that Americans are generally poor drivers, citing daily experiences of being cut off and ignored on the road.
  • Several participants express that Americans can be rude, with anecdotes about unresponsive interactions in casual greetings.
  • There are claims that Americans are greedy, illustrated by experiences in retail settings.
  • Some participants counter that Americans can also be friendly, particularly in service roles, suggesting a regional variation in friendliness.
  • Discussions about the metric system reveal mixed familiarity, with some participants stating they use metric units but think in imperial units.
  • One participant describes a phenomenon observed in National Parks, suggesting that crowds may reflect negative stereotypes, while those who venture into less trafficked areas are often more polite and environmentally conscious.
  • There is a humorous exchange about the difficulty of converting between grams and kilograms, highlighting differing perspectives on measurement systems.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not reach a consensus on the validity of the stereotypes discussed. There are multiple competing views regarding the friendliness, driving skills, and obesity of Americans, with personal anecdotes illustrating differing experiences.

Contextual Notes

Limitations in the discussion include regional differences in behavior and perceptions, as well as the subjective nature of personal experiences shared by participants. The discussion also reflects a mix of anecdotal evidence and broader cultural observations.

  • #61
Monique said:
Any take-out I order for two people costs about 40 euros (60 dollars), I can't believe that with 10 dollars you can get chinese take-out for a family of four.

It depends on the place. I would say closer to twenty for your average hole in the wall. Galteeth may have cheaper places around him than I do. Most entrees are only $5-$6 unless you get the expensive stuff with shrimp or something. Fried rice and Chow Mein are even cheaper.
 
Physics news on Phys.org
  • #62
Monique said:
Any take-out I order for two people costs about 40 euros (60 dollars), I can't believe that with 10 dollars you can get chinese take-out for a family of four.
I'm in the US and I'll vouch for the cheap Chinese - certainly $15 of take out will feed a family of four, no problem. Chinese restaurants are simply everywhere here, and the take out only shops have very little store front to attend - maybe no more than three people, one in front, two in the kitchen.
 
  • #63
Not big news, but I thought this graph was interesting.

http://media.skinnychef.com/misc/highfructosecornsyrup695.jpg

...The above graph shows how overweight & obesity rates (1980: 15%; 2000: 28%) rose simultaneously with the increased use of high fructose corn syrup in the 1980s and 1990s (5 vs. 45 gram/capita/day). A related graph also indicates that ten years after the increase in obesity, there’s an increase in diabetes cases. Many experts, including Richard Johnson, say that it’s hard to argue with those correlations...
http://skinnychef.com/blog/high-fructose-corn-syrup-bad-for-you
Source:
Consumption of high-fructose corn syrup in beverages may play a role in the epidemic of obesity1,2
http://www.ajcn.org/cgi/content/full/79/4/537
 
Last edited by a moderator:
  • #64
Yeah, fried rice and eggrolls for a family of 4 will easily come in under $15 around here - probably closer to $10. There are lots of Asian immigrants in the area, and they get really aggressive with their pricing. In Skowhegan (county seat), there is every fast-food franchise you can think of, including a Timmy's, but the Asians think nothing about setting up shop, and can make a good living doing so. In the nicer sit-down Chinese restaurants, the prices are higher, the dishes are more complex, etc, but the portion sizes can be scary-big, meaning that you'll be taking home about half of your meals, and that averages the prices down. Order some complex dish like Gai Poo Lo Mein (shrimp, beef, vegetables and sauce over a bed of noodles) with seafood in it, and you've probably got the most expensive meal on the menu - still 'way less than a meal at a decent American-style restaurant, though, and you probably won't take home a doggie-bag from the American-style joint.
 
  • #65
All this talk of Chinese is making me very hungry. I'm sure that my local restaurant will appreciate it. Our buffet is on average about seven dollars, and for 15 dollars you could get carry out for at least four people.
 
  • #66
I haven't done a whole lot of traveling but it's really obvious there is an "Americanization" when it comes to food. It feels like it kinda takes away from some of the quality, but it's all about finding the good sources. That's a lot of the fun in it.

If there was anyone thing that I would change with America though, it's the education system, at least from K through 12. The whole thing under serves and a lot of people who have an interest in whatever don't fit in with the majority teaching style. It's really sad honestly, so many lives squandered because of misdirection that could have been prevented.

I've noticed that nearly every time a non American has claimed that we are stupid, it's really just the education system affecting judgment calls. Most people aren't taught critical thinking skills. :(
 
  • #67
Every country has it's idiots. Most Americans I've met where cool.
 
  • #68
No problem with being cool idiot :smile:
 
  • #69
Borek said:
No problem with being cool idiot :smile:

Now you had better be nice. I have an entire book of Polish Jokes.

[well, actually that was when I was about twelve years old, but I still remember them! :biggrin:]
 
  • #70
I was not referring to Americans, rather to logical fallacy.
 
  • #71
Us dun Amerikans r racist yall hur.

No matter how much some people in the U S of A **** me off, I would take living with them any day of the week than having to deal with gypsies.

If you hate America so much why don't you leave?
 
  • #72
Borek said:
I was not referring to Americans, rather to logical fallacy.

Read it like you would read the 2nd amendment of the USA constitution. The preamble doesn't change the provision :P
 
  • #73
MotoH said:
If you hate America so much why don't you leave?

Yeah, Americans which don't like America should move in a backwater 3rd world country. Wake up call :P
 
  • #74
Borek said:
I was not referring to Americans, rather to logical fallacy.

Oh darn! I guess now I can't use my jokes.

btw, we don't just pick on the Poles. Back before the nation started drifting towards the politically correct, ethnic humor was pretty common. Also, I'm part Polish. :biggrin:
 
  • #75
We're all living in America, it's wunderbar:

 
Last edited by a moderator:
  • #76
did someone say Poland?
http://img192.imageshack.us/img192/3792/dreampolandball2.png
http://img192.imageshack.us/img192/8772/1261324473621.jpg
 
Last edited by a moderator:
  • #77
Ivan Seeking said:
Not big news, but I thought this graph was interesting.

http://media.skinnychef.com/misc/highfructosecornsyrup695.jpg
Ivan's just being lazy here. In the interest of scientific rigor, here's the original source.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
  • #78
Why do you draw Monaco when you say Poland?

Hm, perhaps they don't lie when they say Americans know nothing about geography...
 
  • #79
Borek said:
Why do you draw Monaco when you say Poland?

Hm, perhaps they don't lie when they say Americans know nothing about geography...


Haha
 
  • #80
Thats the joke. I suggest searching the internet before you make poor comments.
 
  • #81
I know plenty about geography. For example, I correctly identified the nation south of the Timor Sea.
 

Similar threads

  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
3K
  • · Replies 27 ·
Replies
27
Views
5K
  • · Replies 65 ·
3
Replies
65
Views
11K