I'm an American, and obviously I'm aware that there is a lot of hostility towards Americans with people in the UK, but is it generally worse in Scotland? I'm referring towards the bar scene where the beat the guy up in the stall. Are there a lot of violence between Scottish residents and visiting Americans? Or is it mainly just verbal? Any response would be appreciated...
shareMy impression was just that his accent made it *really* obvious that he was a tourist, and thus a good target...but maybe there's a nationality thing I'm not picking up on.
shareIt's nothing personal on the guy's nationality. He's a rich tourist who just happens to walk in to a pub with a group of junkies at a table. Wrong place at the wrong time. They even make the point clear when "The first day of the Edinburgh Festival" appears on the screen. The Festival means tourists with lots of money.
shareYou need to travel to the UK before making such a silly assumption, seriously!
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You're right, and I always have wanted to visit. I was just asking the question because through things I've read and seen. For example, in Frank McCourt's memoir Angela's Ashes, the Irish seem to look down on Frank and his brothers for being born in America. I know that Ireland doesn't make up all of the United Kingdom, but it seems that people from the UK view us as less then them, or consider us annoying.
shareJust to be clear Ireland doesn't make up any of the UK, its a seperate country, northern Ireland is in the UK but Angelas Ashes was based in Limerick - Ireland.
They beat him up purely for being a tourist, tourists have money no matter where they are from, but make mistakes like saying Ireland is in the UK and people may take offence, consider you ignorant and therefore annoying!
Ireland is in the UK but Angelas Ashes was based in Limerick - Ireland.Plus, from what I understand Limerick used to have the nickname "Stab City" and would have had that nickname during the events of that book. It's probably not the best sample of what modern day Ireland has to offer.
People tend to equate American tourists with money, so they are a pretty easy mark for muggers. They stick out a mile and aren't shy about flashing cash around. The same can be said for the Japanese, but then they don't have a lot of street crime, and as such are unprepared for places like the UK that do. Americans though obviously have more than their fair share, so it's odd that they are so cavalier about it when in other countries.
share[deleted]
Just a point of note, the people going overseas aren't representative of all Americans. Usually, they're in the top 1/5 of the country. And, a lot of them think their air of economic superiority follows them around like a bourgeois cloud. They're the people who get angry when they go to France and the waiters can't speak English!
Most people are working class schlubs who keep their cash rolled up in their socks lol.
Amy: I swear to God...I swear to God! That is NOT how you treat your human!
I wonder how many tourists Scotland has lost by this film being seen by the wrong eyes?
I wonder if any English would-be tourists were put off ny watching Braveheart?
As a both a Brit and a Scot I honestly have to admit I generally look down on Americans.
I'm only half Troll....on my mothers side.
Not me, particularly. I have friends who have travelled to the USA, and they went to the Bronx, Harlem, Hell's Kitchen. They went, took a couple of photographs, had something at a café and returned to their hotel. Back home safely, I daresay (...except for the fact that now they use their experiences to make me feel jealous as hell, LOL) Son-of-bitches!
shareI'm an American, and obviously I'm aware that there is a lot of hostility towards Americans with people in the UK
Why is that Badwolf? How does every single person in an entire country seem to be beneath you? Get off your high horse.
http://media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m5sg3tNxCw1qzo1my.gif
"Why is that Badwolf? How does every single person in an entire country seem to be beneath you? Get off your high horse."
It's the little things Lilly.....like not understanding the usage of the world "Generally".
I'm only half Troll....on my mothers side.
I'm from las Vegas and out there and pretty much anywhere in the US, people don't look down on the Scots, the English or whoever. We just want you to spend your money there. Smart people live by this. No need to get into the trivial things in life. Just be respectful to each other's background the best we can.
shareJust to be clear Ireland doesn't make up any of the UK, its a seperate country, northern Ireland is in the UK but Angelas Ashes was based in Limerick - Ireland.
Plus, from what I understand Limerick used to have the nickname "Stab City" and would have had that nickname during the events of that book. It's probably not the best sample of what modern day Ireland has to offer.
Sometimes they bring it on themselves but sometimes I think it's jealousy. In some circles, I think it's "in" or "cool" to disdain Americans and their "hypocritical Puritanical ways".
shareAn American tourist is typically very naive, loud and over opinionated. Also they seem to be know-it-alls too.
I don't know what it is about being Scottish, but whenever I hear someone from outside the country (English or American) talking loudly or being arrogant then I tend to have a natural dislike towards them. It's like they're stepping into your house and not showing any manners, that's how it feels anyway.
Whenever I walk down Princess Street in Edinburgh, or if I've ever been to somewhere quite touristy there's always an American giving out historical facts about the tourist landmark they're at.
I remember being at the Edinburgh castle, and an American gave me a few "Did you know"s about the castle. How rude is that?
We don't hate Americans. Just keep your big mouths shut and you won't run into any bother.
You seem like a nice person.....
Can assure any American readers that you will be made welcome in Scotland, i know of many American's who have came over and studied and they have nothing but nice things to say about how friendly the people are
Tourists are not going to walk into a schemie pub (ghetto bar) in a bad area of a city like was seen on Trainspotting, they will generally be in city centre cosmopolitan areas when in Scottish/UK cities so will be no more in danger from any riff raff (trashy peeps) than the vast majority of decent friendly locals.
They beat up the guy at the pub because he's obviously a tourist and therefore has lots of money that they can use to buy heroin.
I have no idea where you get your ideas, pal. I'm an American and have been living in Edinburgh for the past year, and everyone here has been nothing but nice to me. But if you make yourself a target, you're going to get beaten up. That goes for every country in the world, not just Scotland.