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Why do Americans just group all of Europe together

Why do you keep saying 'we're going to Europe' when there's such a big difference between Paris and Dunblane lol
Dlrannie · 31-35, F
They also seem to think Africa is a single country when in reality it’s a Continent made up of 54 countries. 😂😂
Slade · 56-60, M
@SW-User blow me dickweed!

How's the spelling?
SW-User
@Slade

Sad, your Mental Napoleonic complex gets in the way of everything in your existence.

You were done yesterday, Remember the racism? Who the fuck are you to talk shit about a former First Lady?
There isn’t free speech on privately owned servers.

yet here you are thinking that insulting me will change something .

Where did your hate come from?
What makes you think others won’t call you on your bullshit.

Sad, little racist clown.
Say something else smart, keyboard tough boy.
Grow up, adults don’t engage like you do in public.

Keep talking though
Slade · 56-60, M
@SW-User love it - you're still crying 5 hours later. I OWN YOU twink boy!

Now go collect the fleas from Moochelle's tail butt boy. Make yourself useful
SumKindaMunster · 51-55, M
I freely admit that Americans are awful at geography.

However, I've also had Europeans ask if it is realistic to visit New York, Disneyland, and Las Vegas on their 4 day Holiday in the states. 😂
carpediem · 61-69, M
I can tell you not a single American cares that it bothers you. It's factually accurate is it not? I think this is a cultural difference that is just silly to even discuss.
MrEagle · 41-45, M
@carpediem I’m sure there’s at least one American who cares. We’re not all a-holes.
ChipmunkErnie · 70-79, M
Because no one wants to list all the different countries in Europe. Why do Europeans say "America" instead of the individual states? Big different between New Jersey and Mississippi.
BeJeweled · F
BlueVeins · 22-25
Christ guys, just merge already!
SW-User
@TrashCat a North Atlantic Union sounds even better

At the very least the US and Canada need to merge
BlueVeins · 22-25
@SW-User ikr
DallasCowboysFan · 61-69, M
@BlueVeins Well, they have in a sense. They have the EU and the Euro, but both are in decline.
exexec · 61-69, C
The average American can't identify all 50 states on a blank U.S. map. I wonder how many could actually separate Europe from Asia, much less identify individual countries. We suck at geography, as mentioned above.
@acpguy America is a republic. So it's the republicans fault that education is failing. After all the democrats are just weak pathetic baby eaters. It's the great right wing that runs everything.
- Our Lord in MAGA DJT.
acpguy · C
@canusernamebemyusername You are suffering from a bad case of dumb fuck. I would guess you are not from the USA and have your head buried deeply up your socialist ass.
DallasCowboysFan · 61-69, M
@acpguy About the same time they started giving awards for participation and said that math was racist.
redredred · M
Same reason you group all fifty US states together. There’s a big difference between Montana and South Carolina or Iowa and Rhode Island. We have worked out the language issue largely although in Rhode Island a “cabinet” doesn’t mean what the Iowan thinks it means but we don’t need a dozen or more languages on our continent wide country.
Ignorance.
Most Americans are highly parochial, even in the biggest capital cities.
It's partly due to the US media; they don't provide adequate coverage of overseas events.
Partly, it's also due to the publishing and film industries.
US publishers like Amazon edit foreign books to use American spellings. For instance, if an Australian author gets picked up by an American publisher, the contract will specify that the novel must be edited to make it more palatable to an American audience. In that way, an American reader can never get a realistic representation of Australian ways of life. The same for South Americans, Europeans, Africans, etc, with all their individual states, countries and cultures.
Only the art cinemas give foreign films the chance to be seen in the USA.
@hartfire nice. It's impossible that the recent growth of fascism matters to anyone but me. Sorry, but okay, you have a right to be a monster. It's just a matter of taste for the monsters.
@hartfire Just wondering why some people are laughing at my comment, who they are, and what their experiences are.

All generalisations come with exceptions, which I believe is something one should simply accept for what it is - a norm that comes with a sprinkling of abnorms.
In this case the exceptions would be those North Americans who have studied, worked or travelled extensively in Europe, and those would be in the scores of thousands compared to the 331.9 million citizens, most of whom have never travelled outside the USA, and some of whom have rarely been out of their state.
Those who have travelled abroad would have witness how their compatriots behave, and would have heard how they are perceived.
Certainly the Americans I met while abroad - everywhere from Europe to South-East Asia - were constantly surprised at the differences in cultures.
When an American starts living overseas, they slowly begin to see America in a different light.
@Roundandroundwego I don't like fascism either - by which I mean far-right dictatorships of the ilk of Hitler and Mussolini.
Nor do I like it when politicians attempt to usurp the processes of democracy.
I'm not sure how you think fascism has any connection with my first comment in this thread. I be interested to know how you draw that conclusion from what I said.
ArishMell · 70-79, M
A good question. Sometimes the announcement is of an international tour, and most Americans seem to have insufficient money and holiday time to visit; but even when talking of one nation or culture it comes up so often that it can't be just a few ignorami.

Nor is it a matter of not taking foreign holidays. I have visited France and Eire (nearest neighbours to Britain's nearest neighbours, and some French coastal towns are within day-trip range of Southern England), also Norway several times; so I know their languages and cultures differ considerably.

Yet I also know that is so of the far many more countries I have [i]not[/i] visited.

So are there other reasons?

Little or no teaching of overseas geography, history and languages (except perhaps S. American Spanish) at school?

Little and poor News and other reporting of overseas nations' lives and current affairs and other events?

Isolationism encouraged by being one continent-wide country between two enormous oceans - yet also other countries to the North and South?
graphite · 61-69, M
It's like Europeans who want to take a vacation in the US and think they'll be in New York on Monday and Las Vegas on Tuesday, without realizing the two places are about 2,500 miles apart and require a 5-hour flight.
Well, the Schengen area allows you to travel amongst 27 or so countries (soon to be 30?) without worrying about border passports, controls, etc. And the mostly overlapping Euro currency zone all use the same money, and the EU have many laws in common.

So it adds up to a sort of United States of Europe to a traveler.
@RuyLopez And Europe again meets the criteria!
As do many non-Schengen countries.

RuyLopez · 56-60, M
@ElwoodBluesWell there you go. Ronald would be proud don’t you think?
@RuyLopez Yeah he'd be pretty proud. BTW, we've got 45 mcdonalds per million - we RULE!!!
dancingtongue · 80-89, M
We aren't all dense. Europe is the name of a Continent and trips frequently involve more than one European country. Doing the Continental, for those old enough to remember the song.
bert199 · 51-55, M
Wouldn’t you say there’s a big difference between Detroit Michigan and Miami Florida? Both of the geography weather and the culture? There are endless varieties of geography weather, and culture within the United States. Think about it for a minute. What is the United States? One of our states is like one of your countries. Each state has its own economy, culture, laws, etc. In our states are collectively bound to be larger, rather basic, governing set of laws and system of unity and currency that we call “the Country“ what’s different about Europe? Not much. With the exception of one large, governing body, called the country, your being mean collection of smaller countries very similar to tge US’s states. Europe is even camera is the currency, and started using the Euro in the recent past. Europe is even, is the currency, and started using the euro in the recent past. So what’s wrong with generalizing that area of the world, and loving it all together collectively as the Eurozone? Or just Europe. Why be so specific unless the conversation warrants it? Ever hear of anybody saying we’re going to Africa? People say it all the time
ArishMell · 70-79, M
@bert199 If someone tells me they are "going to Africa" my natural reaction would be to ask which country. Similarly if they had said America, I would ask where in America.

I don't know if the OP was responding to threads on SW that do suggest many Americans think "Europe" is one country rather than over two dozen with their own cultures, languages, political and legal systems, geographical characteristics, etc. There are many overlaps but also many huge differences.

The Euro is the currency of all those nations in the European Union but that is a political and economic [i]bloc[/i], not a nation itself (though it sometimes looks like one and does have its own federalists); and the nations outside of the EU retain their own currencies.

The countries though are too different for "Europe" to be thought of as a cohesive entity. Perhaps when tourists say they are "visiting Europe" they mean they are visiting several countries in one holiday.
Tracos · 51-55, M
well... europeans tend to group all of the US together to the point its referred to America, which kind of spreads over two full continents
@Tracos I was thinking the same thing. It’s an ironic question.
SW-User
I mean their country is almost a whole continent on its own, lol
Nelisme · 22-25, F
Europe is a continent I think. There are many countries there but I have never been. I would love to take the train see them all. Yes, a trip to Europe would be fun.
Convivial · 26-30, F
@Nelisme it's well worth it if you can get there...
Nelisme · 22-25, F
@Convivial Would love to see London and Paris especially… actually many places. The world has a lot to offer - too bad all we seem to think about is the bad parts.
Convivial · 26-30, F
@Nelisme you'll get there if that's what you desire...
graphite · 61-69, M
It's like Europeans saying, "We're taking a trip to America! Monday, we're going to be in New York and we'll be in Vegas on Tuesday!" Not realizing there's about 2,800 miles (4,500 kilometers) distance and a 5-hour flight between the two places.🤣
@graphite Lol... I'm flying into Orlando in the morning - and, by tea time, I'm grilling my burgers in Slab City... 🤣🤣🤣
SW-User
I’m European but I’m British. One of the few countries not attached to mainland Europe. Even I would admit that there are many countries that are alike, France, Spain and Italy. For example.

Also Russia, Poland, Ukraine and others.

Switzerland and Austria.

Norway, Sweden and Iceland.

UK and Holland.

I get this can be annoying though I used to feel the same. It annoys me when I’m called British when I’m English and it also annoying when Americans think England is the only country in Britain.
pdockal · 56-60, M
@Slade

Then why bother reading and commenting off you already have you small mind made up.
Slade · 56-60, M
@pdockal did I hurt your feelz? 😭
@SW-User true, as a world traveler I'd say there are many countries alike, the UK, South Africa, Australia, New Zealand and USA Canada are like Israel. One empire.
SunshineGirl · 36-40, F
For many it's a once in a lifetime trip. And some Americans don't have much holiday time. Trying to fit as much in as they can in a short time 🙂
Harry121 · M
@SunshineGirl good point
WillaKissing · 56-60
Because they have not had any travel outside of the US before. Once they have and meet the folks in different countries, they learn the difference. With me growing up with a German immigrant father and Sicilians on my mother's side I knew this before ever leaving the US.
WillaKissing · 56-60
@ArishMell Well there is you answer within your own response to me in your own words:
but an American PM correspondent on here did once tell me they are not taught much about the outside world, at school. Well, not in his school, at any rate.



But hey maybe you as an outside of the US person has some greater knowledge than this American. Dang it I answered you honestly.
TrashCat · M
@WillaKissing Welp... first off, the US is bigger than all of Europe. Driving from Belgium to Spain is like driving from New Hampshire to New York city.
WillaKissing · 56-60
@TrashCat I know that about the US I am an American.

What the original poster of this post was asking: "Why do Americans just group all of Europe together". What does that have to do with the size of the United States compared to Europe when the poster was asking why Americans think Europeans are all the same when they are not and unique to their specific regions and countries. Stick to the question asked please.
It would be unfair to generalise but In my limited experience with certain Americans, they just don’t care about how varied life is in other parts of the world. In a way I can’t blame them, such a vast country with so many different states and people. I’m sure it’s hard enough to know what’s going on in their own country without worrying about the rest of the world.
ArishMell · 70-79, M
@TrashCat A good point, indeed many people in any country would probably have the same difficulty with any other country - or even their own.

That does not excuse making no effort to learn though, or to have never been taught it. Nor to learn how to find out.

Given a map showing only the borders of US states, French [i]départements[/i] or Russian [i]oblasts[/i], I could not add the names - but I have atlases to show me.

For example, for much of the first few months of the war in Ukraine I kept it open at the relevant page; and with the aid of 'Google Earth'* knew of the Kersch Straits road and rail bridges long before they were mentioned in News reports. Similarly, as it shows sea-bed as well as terrestrial topography, my atlas occasionally helps me understand severe earthquakes or other natural disasters reported on the News.

Could,, though, every American, French or Russian person identify all of his or her own land's administrative boundaries by that test? Probably not - and I don't suppose I am the only Briton who could not correctly identify every county on a boundary-only map of the UK.

Nevertheless I do know every country and every part of very country has its individual characteristics; and it is not difficult to learn at least their basics, and to learn how to find them.

Sheer memory-knowledge is not so important as understanding where and how to find and use the facts reliably, [i]and[/i] having the will to do so. After all, we'd expect a doctor to have up-to-date medical and pharmacological references to hand, or an engineer to use appropriate books of mathematical formulae and tables. (Printed books and reliable Internet references.)

=====

*Which service also revealed to me, something I have not heard or read reported anywhere else: Chinese settlements apparently still being developed, on a very remote, arid playa-lake bed in their annexed Tibet. These have no [i]obvious [/i]purpose, but significantly, are directly below the mountain ridge carrying the short border with Afghanistan, plus those of Pakistan and a third (Tajikistan I think, from memory).
TrashCat · M
@ArishMell Memory knowledge is on the sharp decline because of the internet. Humans are no longer required to retain detailed info. We've inadvertently triggered an evolutionary reponse that has caused our brains to be rewired to data retrival mode from storage mode.

Tbh, there are a bunch of Americans who don't know where Nebraska is 😃
ArishMell · 70-79, M
@TrashCat Well, the USA occupies at least half the area of the continent, but don''t they know how to read a map?

That's a worrying thought though, that we are becoming far too dependent on the Internet as a substitute for learning.

It happens even a small scale. One day my nephew reckoned you don't need learn much maths because "it's all your calculator". I pointed out that the calculator or computer is only an arithmetic machine: you still need understand the problem so you can give the instrument the right instructions.
4meAndyou · F
When my parents took me and my friend to Europe with them for their 25th wedding anniversary, it was with the knowledge that "Europe" is a continent. Our path of travel was designed so that we began in Ireland, hopped across to England, then went to France, Andorra, Spain, Monaco, San Marino, Italy, Switzerland, and Germany.

We certainly didn't have time to visit EVERY country inside the continent of Europe...but if we had more than two weeks, I am sure my father would have done so.
akindheart · 61-69, F
i never do that. I travel quite a bit. I know that Europe is very diverse. I always list the countries I am going to.
Earth is America in the minds of many Yanks
thisguy20 · 41-45, M
Well, for starters, one can visit multiple countries in a single trip. Beyond that there are cities in the US with the same names as cities in Europe (Paris texas, Athens georgia, Rome new york, Saint Petersburg florida), so saying a city name doesn't really cut it...
SW-User
Americans like me are not sure whether Britain is near England or not, do not understand why the pound does not weigh a pound, think that Romania is ruled by a Count, and just cannot get it into their heads that Northern Ireland is part of the UK while the Republic of Ireland is not. 🤷🏻‍♂️
graphite · 61-69, M
"Duh...what's a Europe???" 🤣
DunningKruger · 61-69, M
Most Americans can't find Europe on a map, so that might have something to do with it.

There's also the fact that most Americans could only identify maybe three or four European cultures — English, French, maybe Italians and Nazis.
SW-User
eh, who cares
Entwistle · 56-60, M
I remember being told that an American visiting the Tower of London was overheard asking an Englishman 'Why did you guys build a castle so close to an airport'?
graphite · 61-69, M
@Entwistle There was a Kentucky Fried Chicken fast food restaurant near Tower of London when I was there. Wonder if Henry VIII used to eat there?
In the recent past that was a reality. You won. Borders, and hate! Get out. No immigrants. NATO needs this. Booooom! You win, that's why.
pdockal · 56-60, M
Maybe because some of our states are bigger then some countries in europe ?????
pdockal · 56-60, M
@helenS

You know what happens to people who assume !
helenS · 36-40, F
@pdockal I assume we are big winners?
pdockal · 56-60, M
@helenS

Ughhhhh
Bub bye
lumberjackslam · 41-45, M
why can't Europeans point out where West Virginia is on a map? Where is your sophistication?
SW-User
@lumberjackslam cool. In one trip? And how long was the trip?
lumberjackslam · 41-45, M
@SW-User yes in one trip I traveled as far west as Portugal. I was in the Scandinavian countries, Baltic countries, Eastern Europe, Western Europe, and on the Mediterranean. it took almost 3 months and I had a rail pass.
SW-User
@lumberjackslam Now that's what I like to hear!
Jake966 · 56-60, M
It gives the person an idea of where they are going and knowing with that the next question will be “ Oh , where in Europe are you going ?”
TrashCat · M
A vast amount of Americans are dumb AF and they only think in terms of the US.
Slade · 56-60, M
@TrashCat look in the mirror for the prototype
This comment is hidden. Show Comment
caPnAhab · 26-30, M
Maybe they're going from Paris to Dublane, everywhere in between and beyond.

But who's got that kind of money??
pentacorn · F
Europe usually means multiple countries, when it's just one that's usually specified
calicuz · 51-55, M
Because, that's your punishment for conquering the America's. 😤🤣
ArishMell · 70-79, M
@calicuz LOL!

Ah, but by[i] which[/i] European countries, principally?

I expect we East of the Atlantic have some strange ideas about USA life, but much of them are from a combination of News reporting that tends to focus on the successes of NASA, the political antics and social problems; and not least, the deluge of at least some sort of America thrown over us by the entertainments and fast-food trades!
calicuz · 51-55, M
@ArishMell

You've pretty much sumed up all that's left of American culture, if there's anything left. 🤣
"We're going to Europe"

**Goes to London**

"See, Europe..."
graphite · 61-69, M
@HootyTheNightOwl London's not in Europe? I guess I stand corrected.
@graphite No... London is not the [big]ENTIRITY[/big] of Europe. York is in Europe, too, but you don't call York "Europe" in the same way.

Europe looks a lot different from Paris, Brussels, Rome, Amsterdam, to name a few... Why do you have to call London "Europe"??? We're only going to ask for the city or country.
TheOrionbeltseeker · 36-40, M
Because Americans wants unity. It's you people who divide
acpguy · C
Probably because they are all a bunch of socialist wimps.
SW-User
You mean. It's not where all the terrorists come from ?
MrEagle · 41-45, M
Because we’re all cowboys.
Teirdalin · 31-35
@MrEagle On a steel horse I ride.
I thought it was because it was a continent.
MrBrownstone · 46-50, M
Both are in Europe.
Convivial · 26-30, F
Same reason Trump said when he arrived in Tel Aviv that he had just flown in from the Middle East lol
Slade · 56-60, M
@Convivial anything you say. Now back to the short bus
helenS · 36-40, F
@Convivial That guy left a lasting impression on you 😏
Convivial · 26-30, F
@helenS he has.... Sadly not a good one.
According to him he's rather well off. Yet asks for donations to support him in court... And lots of people oblige him... Objectively, something is very wrong here
Lilymoon · F
I think they just mean geographically .... I mean you guys are so close together why not just lump it all in.
I for one would love to travel all of Europe. I could go to Greece Britain and France all in 1 or 2 days 😁
Jackaloftheazuresand · 26-30, M
You're all generally the same where it counts which is that you are not American but you are westerners. There is very much a European way of doing things which is why the EU exists
Fluffybull · F
Most UK people don't think of themselves as "Europeans" anyway. When Americans talk about Europe I immediately think France, Germany, etc.
SW-User
@Fluffybull Yes, some British people still have an inflated opinion of themselves and think that the British Empire still exists and is separate from Europe.
wildbill83 · 36-40, M
you mean like how Europeans groups all Americans together? 🤔

Paris and Dunblane probably have more in common than most US northern states vs southern states...
SW-User
@wildbill83 But then, we say we're American, not Floridian or Californian, say. Europeans don't say "I'm European".

 
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