Sincerely what is your opinion of the average American?

Well now...hmmm...I am American. I think there are good and bad Americans. I don't know how to give my opinion in a factual manner... I think many are sincere in that they want to do good or think they are doing good but the majority (even educated Americans) are ignorant to many things (not just things outside the US). Some of them and a lot of others are just delusional and repeat whatever they have been spoonfed by the media or their parents or whatever leaders they are exposed to be it religious or otherwise.

Many don't have a true purpose to their life and life here is so fast that they never stop to really consider or examen anything. When they get a free moment they just think of having some "fun" which is really just anything that will help them forget the misery in their life. Maybe it's sex, drugs, gambling etc. They don't care because they just want to escape but at the same time they speak of how much they "love life". Many of them have been poorly raised.

I think a lot of American men are losers and use women. Many women let the men use them. The men that are good are looked down upon sometimes and women don't always appreciate them. The women that are good are treated badly because they aren't always as "fun" as all the other women or maybe people think they fit into more traditional roles so people see them as weak or not helping out the "female cause". I think A LOT of ppl are irresponsible in many aspects of their lives. Many have no sense of shame.

I think the fact that "honor" basically doesn't really mean anything in our society anymore is a very sad thing. I think if honor was something people really admired and strived to have (and really think about what honor means) then it would help society out.

Those that are less ignorant (they do exist) are helpless and get sucked into going with the flow because out culture is so fast-paced you will fall behind if you don't drop everything to keep up with everyone else.

But I have to be honest, I have lived in other countries, I have met and befriended tons of ppl from other countries and I work at the airport and come into contact with "foreigners" every day and honestly, they may be less ignorant in a lot of ways but they are still pretty ignorant on about a lot of things too and it's only getting worse.

edit: I also think it's pretty funny how much Americans are influenced by the media when so many don't watch the news or read newspapers. They do however by all the tabloids and watch Entertainment Tonight religiously.

Woopyale, I am not judging based on the "few" I know or on the media. I AM American and have lived here for about 26 our of 28 years of my life. I've been surrounded by Americans my whole life.

I have a very good opinion about Americans, I came to this great country when I was a little girl, I have never been treated badly by any American, most of my friends are Americans, I do agree that some don't know what's going on outside of their borders but I find that they are whiling to learn if you want to explain and educate them. I find it funny how many so call Muslims answering to your questions (Watch it I am a Muslim) are saying very negative things about Americans and they have asked in the past not to be judge by what the media portraits about Muslims but they are judging Americans by what the media shows or by a few of them they know or have heard about.

I think many, but not all are a bit misinformed about many things. Education here is on a rapid decline. Worldwide the USA keeps slipping lower than other nations in areas of education..mathematics's and science. The statistics are horrible. Finland at near number one in these areas with only five million people. The USA is somewhere below in the double digits. Also the "average" seems content not to be aware of foreign affairs. As well as easily politically swayed by money and advertisements as information about our own elected candidates and what they are doing. Americans CAN have their voices heard but usually accept the works of politicians and don't question decisions that affect their very own lives. The average American is struggling financially and has no health coverage. That is if you count 40% and growing as "average." We are the only nation in the industrialized world that a person can go into bankruptcy for medical or hospital bills or without insurance and no coverage gets NO care at all.

Generally good people- Reading some of the posts, I have to admit, most Americans (the ones I've met including myself) don't know much about countries outside the USA.

I remember I had a fellow officer from Djibouti come to New York for break from our Officer Basic Course and he knew actual street names of places in Harlem that really stunned the hell out of me. Never been to Harlem, but he knew what stop to get off of on the A train to get to the Apollo Theater.

I've changed myself after that. And yes, I pay better attention to geography and try to learn something about a Muslims' native land when I meet them.

well since i am both a muslim and an american i guess i have to say it's my country. no it's not perfect and the politics of our govt. sucks but i am american and my whole family is so it's from personal experience. but i believe that the media has played a very big part on behalf of bothe muslims and americans to portray us both as evil and have perpetuated the myth that we hate each other. i'm still very close to my family and the people i grew up w/ and through me they have a better understanding of both islaam and muslims. i educate,not spread hate.

Americans are no different from other normal human beings..we are Chriistians, Jews, Muslims, Hindus, Japanese, Arabs, Africans, Germans, greeks..America is the melting pot of the world.

People are people wherever you go.

Overally influenced by media. Most American families are struggling like everyone else in the world. The problem is the education system in the USA really does not do a good job in teaching about worldly matters..

Honestly, I find most of them to be culturally and intellectually uncultivated and rely on everything the media and their government force feeds them. They have no idea of how the world works outside of their borders, and some are so ignorant as to the point where I once heard a person say" No British and Irish people are not white....americans are white" or "people from spain are brown". And to top it off they are arrogant about it, believing their country is the best.

On top of it all, the average american is fat. One time on our way to the zoo, we saw this really fat man at whataburger that had more than 4 burgers and sat down and ate the all. and they were big burgers

to be honest i find that most americans are un-aware of what is going on in the world outside of their own borders. I live just north of the USA and find that when I visit the US they don't know anything about Canada or care too.

Generally they are pleasant but just a bit ignorant about the rest of the world.

when i was in Novato C.A(USA) I met several people.Every one do their jobs ,even with their relations and friends they meet only after getting ok.If there is some link officially, then they wave their hand .When u see them just nod.Old ladies do talk.Even Gents too,& they love to talk.

An incident.I was in a community group one child was crying.The down stair people reported to police.

But i saw children get togetherand they play.