>>I doubt that I am the one who must learn English here. The phrase "Americans like cheese" certainly does not mean that all like cheese. There's no difference here between our languages.
>
>
>The phrase "Americans like cheese" is a stereotype, which is "A generalization, usually exaggerated
>or oversimplified and often offensive, that is used to describe or distinguish a group." according to
>Dictionary.com.
>
>In this case, you grouped ALL Americans together with your statement "The Americans can be soo childish
>in their behavior.". This mans, and is taken as, "All Americans are childish in their behavior", which is an insult.
>
>So, maybe you ARE the one to learn English.

Well, the phrase "The Dutch like cheese" too is a stereotype, but it's quite true and not an offense at all. I hereby give you all permission to say to anyone that the Dutch like cheese. And all who start complaining that you're generalizing are simply wrong. Not because NOT ALL Dutch like cheese, but because the majority likes cheese and the expression also covers that case.

Other valid examples:
The Dutch are cheeseheads.
The Dutch have an opinion about everything.
The Dutch don't really like baseball.
The Dutch love soccer.

Other examples about the Dutch are more controversial, because Dutchmen know all the details. But people from outside often don't have those details. For example, "The Dutch are humorless" or "The Dutch are soo pennywise" (perhaps by someone who saw how the Dutch government turned down Ayaan Hirsi Ali, who needs money for her protection). I can imagine that some outsiders really think so. Should we - the Dutch - feel insulted and offended when confronted with such apparent prejudice? Should we try to ban such a stupid twit?

Such a reaction would merely demonstrate that we - the Dutch - have hardly any feeling with the outside world. That we hardly understand the impact of our actions on the perception people have of the Dutch.

Do you, not-childish Americans, realize the impact of such audiences on the perception of the average American? Why on earth should a foreigner know that such audiences are composed of only a handful of idiot Americans? How could 'we' know that it's all unreal? First you not-childish Americans must tell us so.