When I started discussing politics with Americans, I was surprised by the amount of people who did fit the stereotypes: stupid, ignorant of anything outside America, racist, homophobic, bringing religion into politics all the time, generally ridiculously gung ho, etc.
There aren't that many Americans I've talked to who do actually fit this stereotype. It's just that I thought that surely no-one could fit the stereotype at all, yet there are a few who do. That's what surprised me.

Your culture is, for the most part, very shallow. So's ours of course, which really isn't that much different than yours. I just think yours is slightly worse.

Americans I've met in person are mostly nice, but very loud. I think Americans are much more out-going, and willing to express themselves, than we are.

Your politics is interesting. Firstly, you talk about things that we never talk about, a lot, you have a completely different set of important issues. Guns, abortion, prayer in schools, these are contraversial issues in American politics, no one talks about them much here. On the other hand, you don't seem to discuss things like education and health as much as we do. The other interesting thing is that at first glance your politics seems to be ridiculously polarised, but actually isn't. Democrats seem much more willing to work with Republicans, and vica versa, than our political parties do with each other.

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... I am surprised at your insolence in writing to me at all. You know, as I know, that I bought this constituency... may God's curse light upon you and may it make your women as open and as free to the excise officers as your wives and daughters have always been to me while I have represented your scoundrel corporation.
I have the honour to be... your obliged humble servant, Anthony Henley
- MPs reply to constituent, mid 1700s