Citizens who live inside a big bubble between Canada and Mexico.

Americans makes up less than 5% of the worlds population yet 95% of the worlds ignorance and arrogance.

Traits and habits-

Calling themselves the only Americans despite the fact that ALL people living on the CONTINENT of America are Americans.

Calling things by their brand names rather than the name of the actual object or item.

Putting their country first in every online list despite the fact the United States starts with a U and the lists are in alphabetical order.

Putting an American flag next to 'English' for language selection incase they forget what language they speak.

Making fun of the metric system, despite the fact that they are one of only three countries who are yet to start using it. The rest of the world has been using it for over 50 years.

Killing each other is also a favourite pastime. More Americans are murdered by other Americans every year than all the American casualties of every war the world has ever seen. Pretty sad statistic.

Not all Americans are fat and stupid, and not all the world are anti-American. We just dont like arrogant ignorant idiots. It just so happens that The United States is always represented by arrogant ignorant idiots.

All the Americans who give a thumbs up are the exception to the rule who can actually think for themselves and can hopefully start representing their country in a better light.

Speaking of an "typical american" is as stupid as speaking of an "typical european", even worse I believe, though most of them have at least one language in common compared to europe with its dozens of utterly different languages.

But nonetheless, regarding my own humble experience, I found most americans beeing really kind, straight, honest and generous people, and despite these qualities, they can be quite (irritating) modestly too. I believe even behind the "fuck off, leave me alone"-attitude, some of them have, you still may find a big, bumping heart in the right place. They live, struggle and suffer as we all do, well, probably in a more intense way. A lot of them have managed to create incredible beautiful and touching things like art, literature, music and other amazing or insane stuff while they have been living in the worst nightmare you can't nor you like to imagine at all. You won't find this special kind of strength and creativity very often outside america. Especially their music can tell you a lot about them; if you're open minded and dig deeper.

It's true their culture is quite dominating, from an european point of view, but this is because they're often just freaking good in what they do, and the "language" they speak is one everyone can understand. Since the U.S., as well as Canada, were founded by people who came or fled from every thinkable place of this planet, americans are the sum of all these origins. Squared. So, from a different view, we're a...

I'm not even American, so don't just shrug this off as 'An American trying to defend themself and their country.'

I myself am Canadian, and although SOME Americans are fat, idiotic, ignorant slobs, many are the exact opposite. A lot of Americans (probably the majority) are genuine, hardworking people who do the best they can to provide for their family with what they have. Many hate Bush, and are glad Obama's taken his position, hoping that it'll lead to more peaceful and better living. Not all of them wanted to even go into Iraq in the first place, and even though the stereotype for Americans are fat and stupid, many of them don't deserve it, and if you think that 300,000,000 people are stupid fat asses, you are extremely close minded.

(synonym: Yankees)

Mostly people who live in the USA are called Americans.
People in other countries like to call them fat and stupid which is the common stereotype. Americans think of themselves as free and rich.

Since I'm American, I'm going to tell you that an American is a person who lives in America. You can't say that 300,000,000 people (and counting) are all fat, ignorant, car-obsessed, self-obsessed slobs. There are some people like that, yes, but those people are usually either given a poorly-rated "reality" show or have the shit kicked out of them.

People from America that are generally well-liked, easy going, and sometimes crazy (in a good way). Americans have the large scale on personality due to its diversity of culture and race in its population. On one hand, you have gays and lesbians participating in a gay pride parade, on the other, gays are being killed by others upon discovering their orientation. On one hand, you have "prides" (Black Pride), on the other, you have extreme-ists (KKK). One one hand, you have amazing college professors, on the other, you have the fat american kid that doesn't know shit.

Stereotypes:
-Americans are fat; Yeah, some are really fatasses, but many are really fit.
-American kids are rich and spoiled; Yeah, those that are expats in international schools and those in public schools can be real brats. But you probably are too, if you're encountering them and not the better ones.
-Americans are racist; Yeah, those trolls you see online, that white kid that picks on minorities, etc really need to be ball-smacked. But those are usually ignorant people from ages 10-25. Young, stupid, unsophisticated.

In general, they're pretty nice people. Respectable and reasonable, only a small percentage of the American population are douchebags.

This is not written by an american.

Anyone originating from the continents of North and South America. However to aline with previous posts will be condensed to people originating from or adopting citizenship in the United States of America. This definition confines "Americans" to a population of roughly 300 million. Within those 300 million or so citizens may be found genetic components originating from every nation and region currently comprising the international community. Considering the diversity and population of these people their individual qualities are equally diverse. So upon interviewing all 300 million one would find everything from the mentally handicapped to the highly brilliant, amazingly ignorant to the extremely knowledgable, and the morbidly obese to the epitamy of healthy. Obviously any statement attempting to stereotype or critque such a broad and varying group of people would only preval in showing the ignorance of the author.

Seriously, people of non-american heritage we're not all like that. Many of us actually hate our president and wish he'd walk into oncoming traffic. WE also believe that this war with Iraq is pointless and want to put a stop to it. Also, most of the people I grew up with only ate shitty McDonald's because our parents were too poor to buy both good food AND the drugs of their choice. I hope someday that American POLITICS and some whacked-out-crazy assholes will realize that America isn't the best country in the world. Someday, I'll leave America to travel to the most beautiful and interesting countries and I hope that I won't be hated (or loved, eek!) for being American.