“We Do Not Own Stupidity”: 45 Bad Things People Think Only Apply To The USA But Are In Fact Happening Everywhere

Americans are often targets of stereotypes. For example, one in four Europeans has a negative opinion about American tourists. Common complaints include that Americans are often too loud and expect everyone around them to speak English. In reality, tourists from different countries can be just as horrible; just because you're American doesn't automatically make you a bad tourist.

People make similar assumptions about other aspects of American life and culture. Some think that things like racism, obesity, and imperialistic tendencies are exclusively American issues, and are surprised when they find out they're not. In a recent online thread, netizens had more examples, prompted by someone asking, "What isn't a uniquely American issue that the rest of the world treats like one?"