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Q: European superiority complex?
I am not saying all Europeans because I have met quite a few great Europeans (particularly Russian) who were very friendly: but in my journey's in China I have met more who were hostile towards myself being American, especially the French and German for some reason? I cannot explain this for the most part? Can anyone else? I feel more love from random Chinese people than other foreigners.
America doesn't really do itself any favours if it's trying to make friends, it's kind of the bully of the world in many people's eyes. Not that i'm one to judge, i'm British, we hardly have a reputation for going round passing out candies. To steal a line from Bill Bailey, "America's the bully of the world, pushing everyone around, and Britain's the nerdy kid who stands behind him looking mean."
Personally I think everyone secretly has a superiority complex. It seems to me everyone thinks their country is the best, whether it's for how tough, how enduring, how cultured, how righteous, whatever, we all seem to have an angle on why ours is the best. Only a generalization of course, but it seems true to a fairly great extent.
sam239:
US govt actions don't justify prejudice against individual Americans, which is unfortunately quite common.
TedDBayer:
Historically Britain was the cruelest bully in the world.
Scandinavian:
@mArtiAn: Something you don't know - attempt 1. "Elton John had a private jet with a fireplace. This is the only plane ever to have this"
Maybe because they are generally better educated than the worlds average?
Scandinavian:
yes, that is what he means, but Franck2 did not attend public school in a European country so he can't English good.
Franck3:
As a matter of fact I did attend a public school in England from when I was ten to eighteen. Most people think an English public school is a state school which it is not. It is a private school and are among the oldest institutions in the world. William Pen attended my school. It was founded in 1629, but there are many a lot older than that. The name" public school" came from the original concept that so many local children would be admitted for free. They also produced the most Nobel prise winners of any institution in the world.
I've met many Europeans in several countries who believed themselves to be more cultured/educated/attractive yadda yadda yadda. That's interesting to me because truly educated and cultured people wouldn't believe things like that. Mostly UK, French, German.
mArtiAn:
I guess a cultured intelligence is kind of like herpes, you've either got it or you ain't. And Beaufort, me old China; I think you've got it.
no matter how badly we think our home countries are behaving nationally and internationally, i suspect we all think our home countries are the best. It is the propaganda that we grow up with. 
mike168229:
I have to disagree with the word 'propaganda'.
I don't believe I have been intentionally brainwashed by my government. I love my country, I am very grateful for being British. But I don't believe my love for most (and I stress most, not all) things British is to do with propaganda and more to do with the fact that I have eyes and ears and see how the rest of the world is.
Unlike here of course, where it is wholly due to government input.
Scandinavian:
Wow, mike, can't believe you haven't noticed the obvious British Brainwash, however my government have not brainwashed me.
Actually I agree with you completely. When it comes to "love of the motherland", it's just such big part of a persons identity. Your own puppy is also likely to be cuter than the neighbors. As soon as there is emotions at play objectivity is down the drain. If you look at a standard evening news show in my home country, they will talk about <subject> and then very often compare with neighboring countries and you will then be "brainwashed" with how you country differs from the neighbor, be it positive or negative.
It is human nature to feel most comfortable with what is well known. I personally see the superiority complex with the Chinese. Not being German, I would not think twice if I heard a German person saying something like "German plumbing is better than Chinese", "German hospitals are better than American", "Germans are better drivers than Italians" etc.
There is a big difference between saying something based on facts rather than guessing. "China is a better country for children than America because we have no teenage pregnancies"....
I'm sorry, I'm not going to take the bait. I'm not going to knock Europeans or Americans for your amusement.
You have clearly met some assholes on your travels because the majority of people here aren't like that.
You don't come to another country and throw your ego around expecting to be treated like a god, it very quickly gets up peoples noses.
So that minority of people who you 'believe' to have some kind of complex - shouldnt be here if they behave that way.
But someone like that old fart-knocker Franck3 wouldnt understand that.
Maybe I should teach 'Generalisation/racist comparatives and superlatives' and see how quickly I get fired...
What is all this? Is it 'knock the Germans week'? I believe all nationalities have plenty of their own 'stuff' to deal with. Let's be civil here and try to get along. In China we all are guests of sort.
craigjj505:
Yeah, I know there are ass-wholes everywhere and I have met Americans who were dicks too... I regret even posting this and not using more foresight as to how this message would be received... I was not trying to knock anyone and was merely curious if anyone else experienced these things.... probably should have not singled out anyone in particular... that was my fault
Scandinavian:
I specifically mentioned Germans as I do not want to big up my own country despite it probably being a heckuva lot better than Germany in the plumbing category.
I certainly mean no disrespect to the fine Germans and their outstanding contributions to the world - Like the worlds first law on food standards from the 1500s
the worse snobs i have met hands down were the french, germans are the best drivers in the world, america will always do the right thing, but only after screwing up by doing all the wrong things first.
the best countries to live in are the ones who do the right thing before everybody knows its the right thing to do. germany, canada, israel, singapore, norway, sadly japan does not make my list anymore, though they used to.
as long as you havent lived for years in a certain country you cant really say this is better that is better blabla
i m not sure where it always comes from but i m pretty sure i can say all drive better than the chinese and indians 
the world should be united.
maybe i can speak for the germans here but we are pretty proud of our products and to be fair since everyone buy that shit and paying horrendous prices for that while having the same products from somewhere else cheaper you might they we have the best in that blabla.
nothing wrong to be proud of your countries specials i guess. I am very proud of germans health and education system and would say without a doubt its one of the best in the world.
I dont say that because i think we are superior i just hope others will learn from it and make it better
I'm French. I actually really like 'muhricans. Same for all the other Frenchies I know.
I guess you just suck.
ambivalentmace:
i served 8 years in the french foreign legion and the french were rude whenever i was in paris, even in uniform, never got decent directions or information as a tourist there, deliberately give wrong directions to people and charge me different prices than the locals, hope its changed but i dont spend my money in france and never will till my death, hope that is soon.
Mr_spoon:
Dude, people from Paris are like that towards everyone, that's why no one in France likes them.
Most of the long time foreigners I encountered looked burned out and I felt they were comfortable in their isolation. I'm Ukrainian by heritage, but I never met a Russian that would talk to me. I've heard Russians don't like Ukes.
Most of the tourists are friendly, but I was never looking to meet foreigners in China.
I do see many Chinese that think they are superior.
CARLGODWIN1983:
Chinese who are superior? Now I never seen that. I have seen many who like to believe it though
I am American, and I have never had this problem. I have met some Europeans who were just jerks, ones who thought I was a jerk, but none who were rude to me because I am American. Maybe they talked (stuff) when I walked away. There was one Austrian girl who tried to educate me on why Canadian multiculturalism was "so much better then" the American melting pot. But she was just ignorant and naive and could not figure out I did not care about that, nor did I want to discuss it.
Just because us Europeans are better than all you other guys doesn't mean we have a superiority complex.
Scandinavian:
hey marTIan are you being sarcastic, you Brits are pretty good at that
mArtiAn:
Ok, you got me. Lowest form of wit, maybe, but I take it where I can get it.
