Why Do Europeans Dislike Americans So Much?
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I used to live in Paris, and recall a Parisien almost shrivel with embarrassment when approached by an American shouting "Hey buddy! Where's the Loove?" (in English). Had the guy asked quietly "excusem moir Monsewer, je ne parl pas francias, but could you please tell me the way to the Loove", they would have received a detailed response in English. American informality is viewed by Americans as "just being friendly", but by the French as rudeness. That the French then avoid Americans so as not to expose themselves to that rudeness is seen by the Americans as rudeness, and so the cycle continues.
When in Rome etc.
As an American, when I visited Paris, I had many interactions just as you described (not the loud shouting in English, but the kindness of Parisians despite my ignorance of their language), and my experience there made it my favorite European city and one I will hopefully return to again and again.
And even those who didn't speak English were patient with me as I tried (not always successfully) to parse their French. It was a humbling experience and one that helped me to fall in love with Paris.
The English kind-of fall in the middle in terms of informality, less informal than the Americans so don't freak-out the French, and not so alarmed by Americans: quite a nice place to be (culturally).
Don't get me wrong, I like American informality, the first time you meet an American they'll invite you back to their house and tell you all about their family; the French wouldn't dream of doing that, "Suppose our house is much smaller than theirs, they would be embarrassed, or much larger, and they'd think we're showing off", but once you've known them for 6 months or a year they will, and then you're a friend for life.
As an American, that's news to me.
Most of the Europeans I've met, whether in the US, Europe or elsewhere in the world have been lovely to me.
And none of them, even the ones I didn't get on with, blamed me personally for my government's actions.
Perhaps that's because I don't metaphorically wear the US flag on my sleeve, although being an American is pretty obvious as soon as I open my mouth -- not due to what I say, but because of the accent.
Then again, some people assume that people from a certain country embody everything about that country, including the foibles, misadventures and outright evil that their government might do.
Which is small-minded and limiting, but isn't uncommon -- including among my countrymen.
And more's the pity.
So...the title is clickbait then? Fair enough. And thanks for summarizing.
That Europeans don't like certain things about the US is no surprise to me. I don't like many things about the US either.
I appreciate the suggestion, but I don't watch YouTube videos. If it were on another site, I might consider it, but probably not.