I'm going to rant, feel free to ignore me. I just have to get it off my chest. Disclaimer: I'm going to rag on Europeans. I love Europe and Europeans, but I apologize now. I love you, but you deserve it.
Sandino wrote, in response to another poster:
Quote:
I think you just provided the perfect definition of the term "ugly-American".
I don't take exception to what you've written Sandino. I think you're pretty well justified in your comment. But is it me, or is this a completely unfair and outdated notion worldwide (yet still universally used)?
The term "Ugly American" is ubiquitous. We all know what it means, and we all would probably agree that it's a universally accepted stereotype. But it seems to me that it's usually completely false. And like many stereotypes of Americans it often applies much more readily to Europeans than to Americans. In the past, I was particularly aware of this stereotype, and tried vigorously not to live up to it. But in doing so, I found myself occasionally embarrassed by the behavior of fellow Americans, but most often horrified by the behavior of
other nationalities.
Loud: Is there anyone on this planet louder than Australians? Yes, Italians.
Rude: Does anyone believe the French aren't worse than Americans? And as for being surly, let's not address the entire Middle East.
Drunk: OK, I don't know where to start.
Boorish: Germans, enough said. My god, I've been horrified by the outright crude obnoxious disregard for everyone else around them lately.
Fat: OK, we still win. I'm 265lbs, but carry it "somewhat" well. As well as you can carry 265lbs, which isn't that well. But I'm usually the biggest guy in a restaurant (appropriate place to discuss this). But recently I've been on a few trips where I took an excursion (which puts you in close proximity to other tourists of all nationalities) and found myself to not only NOT be the largest person, but to place third, or even fourth. Usually I surrender the girth title to a German. But I've been noticing lately that the whole world is catching up to us. I think we can take credit (fast food). But if we're going to keep our title it's going to take a lot of hours at the Krispy Kreme (which they have in Harrod's now !?!).
Human Cringe-Generating machines: The English. They're walking all-around train-wrecks. I used to live in London and loved it (and them), but good grief people.
Cheap: Germany wins again, hands down. You will occasionally get stiffed by an American, but you're virtually guaranteed to get stiffed by a German. Something has changed fundamentally in their mindset over the last 10 years. I’ve affirmed this with several other people who have regular contact with them. It’s bizarre.
Complaining: I don’t know. I still think this applies to so many American tourists. But I could make an argument for others as well.
Oblivious to the culture they’re visiting: Americans can be clueless to the outside world, but they’re far more interested in actually embracing it than any other nation. What other nation adopts other cultures’ practices, foods, traditions, and clothing like Americans? When we find stuff we like, we incorporate it into our lives. Who else does that (other than people doing it with the US in return)? Do the French adopt and tweak French-Mex? Do the Germans blare Latino music at their dance clubs? I could go into a far more cutting criticism of the homogenous and closed nature of all European society, particularly regarding the permanent second class nature of their immigrants compared to the US, but that’s another discussion.
Anyway, I’m tired of whining now. But I do get sick of the stereotype that we’re all bad and everyone else in the world is so considerate when that’s total crap.
If anything can be said about Americans, it’s that we’re
patsies. We’re too worried about being nice and considerate and not offending anyone with our wealth, that we get taken advantage of, and ripped off by everyone. We’re suckers. But we’re polite, and we treat people better than any other nationality. The girls have said this over and over. Being an American you won’t get mistaken for an Indian or a Middle Easterner, but they may mistake you for a German or an Englishman. You have to make sure they know you’re not. Why? Because, in general, they have lower reputations with the girls. They’re rude and disrespectful. Americans are polite and pay too much. Japanese men are the only ones who outrank us, and that’s because their pockets are deeper, and they’re quicker.
But I'd rather be a patsy, than an A$$hole. Knowing all this hasn't really led me to say "screw them, we're the ones with the money", but it has lead me to blow off the concerns a little more and not care what people think so much. If they're going to continue to insist on thinking of us as the embodiment of all these bad things, when so many people in the world outdo us in these transgressions, then I'm going to turn the other cheek and disregard their opinions and live my life the way I want and not give a rat's ass. The Ugly American hasn't caused me to lose respect for my fellow Americans, it's caused me to lose a little respect for the rest of the world.
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Everywhere you go they tell you not to wear shorts. So I constantly try to steer towards long pants.
IMNSHO blending in is a little over-rated. Of course, that may be because I don't have that option. 
Not sexy in a Spanky-way (thank God) but sexy in a seasoned adventurer-traveler way. I look like goofy-gringo so don't wear them anymore unless at la playa.
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