Skip to content
Search AI Powered

Latest Stories

People Explain Which Stereotypes About Their Home Country Annoy Them The Most

People Explain Which Stereotypes About Their Home Country Annoy Them The Most
Juliana Kozoski on Unsplash

Believe it or not, the British don't have bad teeth, Canadians don't say "eh" after every sentence, and the widlife in Australia generally leaves you alone. People in Germany aren't all Nazis, either (you should read a history book sometime).

But many people believe these stereotypes, much to the annoyance of people actually from these countries.

As an American, it's pretty frustrating to hear that everyone thinks we're all packing heat (we're not) and that it's the Wild West out here (okay, that one might have a kernel of truth).


People shared their thoughts after Redditor FewWorldlines5534 asked the online community:

"What stereotypes about your country annoy the f*ck out of you?"

Colombia

Not all of us are drug lords, not all of us are murderers, not all of us work in the cocaine business. No, we are not living in a horrible cartel war, we are not living in that sort of anarchy Narcos presents."

"We are more than the legacy of PABLO ESCOBAR. THAT WAS 20-30 YEARS AGO. Colombia is a totally different place, it has recovered. Especially Medellin."

hencker

Colombia is a beautiful place!

It has its problems (because what place doesn't) but it is so different now.

Australia

"We do not cook shrimp on the barbie, because we call them prawns. Also the first people to live here weren't convicts, they were the indigenous people, who are among the oldest cultures in the world."

definitelymy1account

If any of you haven't read about the Stolen Generation, you're in for a sobering read.

The United States

"I hate how ever since Trump has gotten elected Americans get a bad rep abroad. Every time I go to another country, and you say you're American, people chuckle or make a snide little joke about Trump like half the time. We're not all Trump supporters and in fact most of us don't like him either."

JabTrill

Also true.

The majority of the country does not support Trump and he was a remarkably unpopular President.

Sadly, his impact on international relations will be felt for a long time.

Brazil

"Everyone here randomly plays football all the time, loves carnaval to death and every woman has a pornstar body. Brazil is way more than that."

PicksandLenses

It is absolutely more than that—people would learn so much more about Brazilian culture if they actually visited (or spent some time with people who are Brazilian!).

Germany

"People still think we're a bunch of Nazis... I don't think people realise that us Germans don't actually support anything that happened."

h-e-c-k-0

Germany is one of the few countries to successfully reconcile its sordid past, and that took a lot of work and cultural conditioning.

Ireland

"People making car bomb jokes knowing nothing about Irish history. Sure the IRA were flat out terrorists after we got independence, but before and during the fight for it, they were vital to get freedom."

SomeFreshMemes

The significance of The Troubles no doubt means little to most people outside Ireland and to make light of it is a big faux pas.

Canada

"That we end every sentence with "eh" and drink maple syrup by the gallon and have moose and igloos in our backyards."

cumbun9

To be fair, if I were Canadian I'd probably be drinking maple syrup everyday.

Great Britain

"A lot of Americans seem to think we're inbred because we're an island. This is dumb, because it's a very big island (10th biggest in the world), and it's not isolated, we've been invaded, invading, and trading with the mainland for thousands of years."

TheKnightsToppler

The history of Great Britain is very, very long and quite a few people would learn a lot more if they simply picked up a history book.

Italy

"We do gesticulate a lot, but we definitely don't yell like crazy."

CastleFi

I think in this case there is a profound difference between Italians and Italian Americans.

Iceland

"Iceland. We're not some utopian Disneyland filled with quirky superstitious people that all believe in elves."

amicubuda

Wait, you mean you're not?

That's okay, though—Iceland is a fascinating place everyone should visit, elves or not.

Remember, the world is an enormous place filled with people from all walks of life, and they don't take too kindly too stereotypes.

Expand your horizons by having conversations with as many people as possible.

You'd be surprised how quickly your preconceived notions will vanish.

Have some annoyances of your own? Feel free to tell us about them in the comments below!

Want to "know" more?

Sign up for the Knowable newsletter here.

Never miss another big, odd, funny, or heartbreaking moment again.

More from Trending/best-of-reddit

Teachers Share The Questions Students Asked In Class That Broke Their Hearts

Being a teacher is a calling.

It is not for the meek or weak of heart.

Keep ReadingShow less
Screenshot of Emily Compagno
Fox News

Fox Host Slams Dem For Dropping An F-Bomb After Praising Trump For The Same Thing Just Minutes Earlier

Fox News host Emily Compagno was criticized after she praised Donald Trump's use of the "f-bomb" earlier this week before condemning Texas Democratic Representative Jasmine Crockett's use of the same word—on the same episode of her show, no less.

Trump made headlines this week after admonishing Israel and Iran for violating a ceasefire agreement he'd announced on Truth Social. Although he claimed the ceasefire had been "agreed upon," Iran fired at least six missile barrages at Israel after it was supposed to take effect.

Keep ReadingShow less
Ken Jennings; Emily Croke
@Jeopardy/Instagram

Champ's Wild Final Jeopardy Connection

In a dramatic conclusion on last Monday’s Jeopardy!, a contestant revealed a surprising relationship to the final clue's answer. Hailing from Denver, Emily Croke made it to the final write-in portion of the game show with $12,200 in earnings.

In the category of “Collections,” host Ken Jennings read the clue:

Keep ReadingShow less
State Department logo illustration
Thomas Fuller/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images

State Department Slammed After Requiring Visa Applicants To Make All Social Media Posts Public For Vetting

The State Department is facing harsh criticism after it announced that anyone applying for an F, M, or J nonimmigrant visa will need to disclose all social media profiles from the last five years, requiring that all applicants set their posts to public so they can be properly vetted by its agents.

The agency said the new rules are part of a new screening process aimed at identifying individuals who may pose a threat to U.S. national security. According to the department, failure to comply could result in a denial, and consular officers have been instructed to flag signs of “hostility” toward the U.S.—though the criteria for such determinations remain vague.

Keep ReadingShow less
The Tiny Chef Show being canceled
@thetinychefshow/TikTok

Heartbreaking Animated Video Announcing Emmy-Winning Show's Cancellation Has The Internet Sobbing

Whether or not you've heard of the show, Nickelodeon's The Tiny Chef Show has been turning heads. Not only is it a show that children love, but it's an Emmy Award winner.

Despite all of this adorable, pea-sized chef's success, and a Minion-like voice to boot, the show appears to be canceled.

Keep ReadingShow less