The U.S. and Americans don’t have the best image in the world right now. While a lot of ridicule is directed at their politicians, regular folks get their fair share of attention as well, especially tourists. In fact, more than one in four Europeans have a negative opinion of American tourists, with loudness cited as the most common flaw.
Another common stereotype about Americans is their lack of intelligence, but is that actually true? While it’s hard to measure the intellect of an entire nation, stories all over the internet suggest that some Americans have questionable logic and awareness.
Bored Panda has collected firsthand accounts from two separate online threads in which people from other countries shared the stupidest things they heard Americans say. And we have to be honest — the ‘Muricans don’t come out of them looking very smart.
#1

That we're the best country. I'm American and southern. I've heard all of the propaganda. There is no "best" country. Please, please, get over yourselves. There is no best race and there is no best way of thinking. We birthed this county under the idea that all men were created equal. I'm ashamed of those of you who disagree.
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54points
#2

Have been asked if we had internet in France.
We were chatting online...
We were chatting online...
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46points
#3

I'm Greek and had an American trying to correct the way I was saying some Greek letters because she was in a sorority and she knew the proper way.
She didn't.
She didn't.
46points
#4

As an exchange student from Germany (high school, small town NY), I've been asked if we have cars in Germany. In that same conversation, they also questioned if we had fridges in Germany.
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41points
#5

I was asked if I swam from Poland to the US. I said YES. Shortly after I was asked if they have cars in Poland. Hmm I said nope... just donkeys....
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40points
#6

I visited the US back in 2001 for work in LA for a conference. I was sat in the lobby of the hotel i was staying at talking to the receptionist, a young lady came up to me and asked where i was from, I said "London" and she asked me "is that in France?". I swear to god the look the receptionist at the Hotel gave me said, "i'm soooo sorry, we are not all that stupid".
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38points
#7

My brother used to be a park ranger. One time a lady asked him how long it took for a deer to become a moose. He said about 7 years.
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36points
#8

I’m an Australian who once rode a motorcycle from New Orleans to New York City. I stopped in a very small town in Tennessee, so small I don’t even remember what it was called. I pulled up in a bar and asked for a beer, instantly a whole group of locals turned and recoiled at my accent. They asked what part of America I was from. I said I wasn’t, I was from Australia. They asked again, what part of America Australia was in. Sometimes you’ve gotta pick your battles. So I just got drunk with them instead.
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35points
#9

That as a Canadian, I don't have freedom. I was told (multiple times in my life), that I can't even understand what true freedom is. Spent my life 5 minutes from the border, but I'm too oppressed by my communist government to understand true freedom. Oh and we have crazy monopoly money because our money doesn't look like it was printed in 1860.
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33points
#10

I was overseas working in Ohio for a bit. A girl in front of me in line waiting to order at a takeaway diner:
"I like your shorts."
Me: "oh, thank you."
Girl: "you have a funny accent!"
Me: "probably yeah, I'm from the Netherlands."
Girl: "what's the Netherlands?"
Me: "it's a country in Europe."
Girl: "what's Europe?"
Me: "ummm... a continent with many countries on the other side of the ocean."
Girl: "cool. Do you have fun fairs there?"
Me: "....yes. yes, we do.".
"I like your shorts."
Me: "oh, thank you."
Girl: "you have a funny accent!"
Me: "probably yeah, I'm from the Netherlands."
Girl: "what's the Netherlands?"
Me: "it's a country in Europe."
Girl: "what's Europe?"
Me: "ummm... a continent with many countries on the other side of the ocean."
Girl: "cool. Do you have fun fairs there?"
Me: "....yes. yes, we do.".
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32points
#11

I'm American, but I'm going to get in on this one.
I was staying at a hotel on the strip in Vegas, and I was in the little convenience store just trying to buy a Diet Coke, and a couple in front of me that were from Australia were trying to just buy a pack of cigarettes.
After about five attempts I knew the lady behind the register was never going to understand them so I offered to them 'Do you want me to translate for you?' and they were like 'We're speaking English,' and I was like, yeah, I know that, you know that, she doesn't know that, so they were like, fine.
So I translated for them and then after they got their cigarettes they kind of laughed and were like 'thanks, haha.'
And so when I was ordering my Diet Coke she was like 'That would have been so much easier if they spoke English,' and I was like, 'Yeah, they're from Australia they were speaking English.' She goes 'They don't speak English there,' and I was like, *don't ask, don't ask, don't ask, don't ask, don't ask* 'What do you think they speak there?' and she goes, 'Australia-in-ish-ease.'
The hell?
I was staying at a hotel on the strip in Vegas, and I was in the little convenience store just trying to buy a Diet Coke, and a couple in front of me that were from Australia were trying to just buy a pack of cigarettes.
After about five attempts I knew the lady behind the register was never going to understand them so I offered to them 'Do you want me to translate for you?' and they were like 'We're speaking English,' and I was like, yeah, I know that, you know that, she doesn't know that, so they were like, fine.
So I translated for them and then after they got their cigarettes they kind of laughed and were like 'thanks, haha.'
And so when I was ordering my Diet Coke she was like 'That would have been so much easier if they spoke English,' and I was like, 'Yeah, they're from Australia they were speaking English.' She goes 'They don't speak English there,' and I was like, *don't ask, don't ask, don't ask, don't ask, don't ask* 'What do you think they speak there?' and she goes, 'Australia-in-ish-ease.'
The hell?
30points
#12

Met 2 separate Americans on different occasions that were travelling / moving to Canada and were both confused why we have roads and are not in a permanent winter with igloos every few blocks
Crazier story: road tripping with my family when we noticed a family of American tourists stopped at the side of the road in the middle of nowhere smearing peanut butter on their child’s face. We stopped and asked if everything was okay, and they said “yeah, just taking a few photos” little confused we look up and see a BEAR half a block away. THEY WANTED TO HAVE THE BEAR LICK PEANUT BUTTER OFF THEIR DAUGHTER’s FACE
Bro.
Crazier story: road tripping with my family when we noticed a family of American tourists stopped at the side of the road in the middle of nowhere smearing peanut butter on their child’s face. We stopped and asked if everything was okay, and they said “yeah, just taking a few photos” little confused we look up and see a BEAR half a block away. THEY WANTED TO HAVE THE BEAR LICK PEANUT BUTTER OFF THEIR DAUGHTER’s FACE
Bro.
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28points
#13

I was at dinner with some friends and we were talking about something. One of my friends says something along the lines of "It's imaginary, like dragons and kangaroos." After like 30 seconds, another one of my friends goes "But wait, dragons are real..." completely serious. We've never let her live it down.
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28points
#14

If English was good enough for Jesus it's good enough for us.
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28points
#15

I used to work at a tool rental store. We got a letter from VISA telling us we could not accept unsigned cards, so we started checking. And sure enough, I got a guy that had an unsigned one. I told him I couldn't accept it unless he signed it, and he refused.
He said, "I never sign any of my cards. If I do it makes it easier for people to forge my signature."
I pointed out to him that if they were unsigned, they would not have to forge it. They could just sign the card. He just didn't understand that. I pointed out that he HAD to sign his driver's license. No difference. Refuse to sign the card and I refused to rent to him. He had a whole wallet of unsigned cards.
I have to say, working a job where I had to deal with the public seriously eroded my belief that people were intelligent.
He said, "I never sign any of my cards. If I do it makes it easier for people to forge my signature."
I pointed out to him that if they were unsigned, they would not have to forge it. They could just sign the card. He just didn't understand that. I pointed out that he HAD to sign his driver's license. No difference. Refuse to sign the card and I refused to rent to him. He had a whole wallet of unsigned cards.
I have to say, working a job where I had to deal with the public seriously eroded my belief that people were intelligent.
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25points
#16

Why don't European countries celebrate Thanksgiving will always be my favorite.
22points
#17

I was outside smoking a cigarette with a guy I know. It was winter so all the leaves were down from the trees. The wind started kicking up and he said "I can't believe it's so windy out. There's not even any leaves on the trees.". I paused for a second pondering what I just heard and I asked him "do you think the wind comes from trees?" He did. He was about 25 at the time!
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22points
#18

When I was in Las Vegas a couple approached me:
Them: "Hey! We love your accent! Where are you from?"
Me: "Wales."
Then: "Wales? Is that near Utah?"
I wish I was joking.
Them: "Hey! We love your accent! Where are you from?"
Me: "Wales."
Then: "Wales? Is that near Utah?"
I wish I was joking.
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22points
#19

"Why is Alaska cold and Hawaii hot if they're both next to each other?" Girl I was in the military with. Some US maps have Alaska in its own frame next to Hawaii to save space. She believed Alaska was its own frozen island literally next to Hawaii.
If I remember correctly, she also believed lions were the males and tigers the females of one species.
If I remember correctly, she also believed lions were the males and tigers the females of one species.
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22points
#20

Picture the scene, waiting for a train in San Francisco heading to LA. I got talking to a young family, mum, dad and a couple of kids. Chatting away for ten minutes or so and the mum said to me "I'm really trying to pinpoint your accent, are you Australian?"
"No I'm British"
"That's near Australia, though, right...?"
"...".
"No I'm British"
"That's near Australia, though, right...?"
"...".
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21points


