Muttley,
No, I don't particularly think they are from 'typical' Americans. In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if they were created by people who want to get people over here to think along those lines.
I, however, do think that part of the problem is what Europeans define as 'typical' Americans. A lot of the time this is based on what people see on the TV or notice when they visit Orlando, if they even get that far! Obviously, this isn't a true representation of what a 'typical' American is. Unfortunately, the same applies to what the British think is a typcial of a person from France or Germany, and vice versa.
A perfect example of the above is 'two dogs' comments on college and sports in the US. I, as many other Americans, are aware of the problems with so-called student athletes of the past, where undeserving students were given scholarships based on athletic abilities. Unfortunately, despite legislation to stop such occurances, they are probably still happening. However, that doesn't do justice to the other 98% of students in American Universities that aren't on sport scholarships or, in fact, those students at universities who actually are good at both sports and academics, who work hard to graduate.
The Dodger...
