I find this topic intriguing. As an American, I had never really thought of how other english speakers perceived our accent...over stressed, huh?? That's funny shit!!!!!! I agree with the guy who said when we want a sample to sound important or uppity, we go for brittish accents! So true...must be the most pretentious sounding english accent of all time...with the american south being the trashiest....or maybe the new york....I personally have a neutral american one I think.