30 ‘European Things’ That Might Just Make Americans Go “Huh?” As Seen In This Online Thread

If you go far enough back in time, Americans and Europeans are virtually of the same blood. Heck, they still are without the time travel, but other factors played a role in why there’s a certain kind of cultural and social divide. The big pond between the continents being one of them.

Still, differences ought to be celebrated and folks online choose to do that by pointing out what’s normal in Europe (and other places, really) but might look weird to the average American. As per this Reddit thread.

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30 ‘European Things’ That Might Just Make Americans Go “Huh?” As Seen In This Online Thread I am American, living in Germany. I never realized so many American-artist songs have the work F**K in them until I moved here lol...all the "bad" words are edited out in the U.S. on the radio. Here, nope, uncensored. Americans are numb to gunned down children, but bring out the F word and oh we cannot have that! Idiocy.

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Final score:

216points

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Tobias Reaper 7 months ago

its the same with movies and video games people getting chopped up fountains of blood yeah why not but put a swear word in ooooh big no no

70points

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30 ‘European Things’ That Might Just Make Americans Go “Huh?” As Seen In This Online Thread From the UK, where there is no gun culture. There are no gun shops. You cannot defend yourself with a gun, largely because the other guy won't have a gun either.

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191points

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Kariali 7 months ago

That's pretty much the case in whole Europe.

142points

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30 ‘European Things’ That Might Just Make Americans Go “Huh?” As Seen In This Online Thread England: The number of people including politicians who are publically atheist. Not saying all Americans are crazy religious I’m sure for most it’s just something you put on a census and go to church maybe once a year. But I’ve heard it’s very taboo in the US to nonchalantly say you don’t believe in god, which is sort of the default here if you get chatting about religion.

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Final score:

186points

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Gabriele Alfredo Pini 7 months ago

The strangest thing is the number of american, especially on Quora, that think that without a God there is no morality. I'm Catholic, but I try to do good things because it is more beautiful that doing bad things, not because I fear the punishment in this or the other life...

125points

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So, what is culture? In the most simple of terms, culture is everything that a group of people are and know.

In less simple terms, culture is a sort of an identity that a group of people—a community—has that manifests itself through things like language, religion, cuisine, social behaviors and habits as well as the arts.

30 ‘European Things’ That Might Just Make Americans Go “Huh?” As Seen In This Online Thread I'm a Finn, we go to sauna, naked. It's normal you've seen your friends and family members naked. It's not sexual nor is it embarrassing.

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Final score:

180points

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talliloo 7 months ago

i really hate what i call the psuedo-puritanical attitude america has about nudity. growing up, my mom was very much a prude when it came to nudity and i made the decision that i would not raise my child in the same manner. turned out to be a good thing as i have an only son and when i became incapacitated for a while he was the only person i had to help me with all of my self care. i know that some people thought it was weird that we are so comfy with each other but once you realize that the body is just a body sexuality doesn't become an issue.

116points

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30 ‘European Things’ That Might Just Make Americans Go “Huh?” As Seen In This Online Thread Holidays/Vacation/Paid Time Off - Call it what you like - but Americans simply don’t understand it.

Not to mention workers rights that don’t require you to be part of a Union to have. We just have them as standard.

From dating an American who came to the U.K. to study, she was shocked by how much holidays we get and how secure our rights are as employees.

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Final score:

168points

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Marianne 7 months ago

I was shocked when I learned that many employees in the US don't even have contracts.

78points

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30 ‘European Things’ That Might Just Make Americans Go “Huh?” As Seen In This Online Thread Irish people swear and curse creatively, it’s like punctuation and emphasis in normal speech. And our religious comments are also not appreciated.

“Christ on a bike”
“Jesus, Mary and St. Joe”
“F**k him and the horse he rode in on”.

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Final score:

159points

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StPaul9 7 months ago

A shower of bastards.

57points

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To make it even less simple, a huge chunk of what culture is deals with shared patterns of behaviors and interactions, cognitive structures and understanding learned through socialization. This further brings home the idea of culture being an identity all the while also explaining that it’s an organism of sorts—it grows, it develops, and it reproduces through being passed down to other generations.

30 ‘European Things’ That Might Just Make Americans Go “Huh?” As Seen In This Online Thread Germany: Children in primary/grade school walk to school by themselves or in groups each morning, unsupervised.

We have ~~naked~~ nude areas at lakes and beaches. Or in parks, very rarely. .

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Final score:

148points

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XanthippeⓐWulf🇨🇦️️🇬🇧 7 months ago

This is the strangest list. Listen, children in the US walk to school all the time. There are some that don't/can't, but walking/bike riding to school is still very much a thing. My partner & I have lived in the US for a while, and our old house was near a school. I guarantee every morning the streets were filled with all the little neighborhood crumb-snatchers hoofing it to school.

54points

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30 ‘European Things’ That Might Just Make Americans Go “Huh?” As Seen In This Online Thread Religion not being a thing that comes up, ever, unless there is a very specific reason for it. It doesn't matter if you're atheist, christian, Catholic or muslim. Finns don't care about what anyone else believes, and even those of us who do care, consider it a private issue that you shouldn't pry into unless the person you are talking to offers that information voluntarily.

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Final score:

138points

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LakotaWolf (she/her) 7 months ago (edited)

I would love to live somewhere where religion doesn’t matter and never comes up in conversations. I live with my boyfriend of 23 years and I lied to the elderly couple across the street that we’re married and Christian, as it was easier than listening to lectures on morality and living in sin and/or dealing with attempts at “converting” us (I’m entirely non-religious.) It’s already bad enough here that my boyfriend isn’t white and I am - we get nasty looks and sometimes outright harassment from some of the older residents here.

76points

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30 ‘European Things’ That Might Just Make Americans Go “Huh?” As Seen In This Online Thread Finns value their personal space. This includes both physical space but also verbally. Let me explain:

If you’re waiting for a bus, for example, stand a few meters apart from other people at the bus stop when possible. Do not sit next to anyone on the bus either if there are still empty pairs of seats. I can easily tell who is foreign when I’m in line in a grocery store because they tend to stand so uncomfortably close to me.

We also appreciate being left alone when out and about (but are happy to give you directions or help in any other way if needed). There’s no need to initiate small talk if you’re alone in an elevator with a Finn because to us awkward silences aren’t generally awkward at all. In general, we value silence and converse in more hushed tones compared to people outside of Finland/northern Europe, especially out in public spaces.

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Final score:

136points

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Spidercat 7 months ago

I'm moving to Finland immediately.

93points

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And there’s loads of these cultures. Each country has at least one, and if it’s a bigger or more ethnically diverse country, there can be more (in the thousands even). And that’s just one aspect. Cultures can form among regions, districts, or communities that can all focus on the various aspects of identity—communities based around political beliefs, religious ones, hobbies and interests, and the like.

#10

30 ‘European Things’ That Might Just Make Americans Go “Huh?” As Seen In This Online Thread We have Right to Roam in Scotland and whenever I've seen this discussed on Reddit, what I assumed to be a near-universally popular policy has been torn to shreds by Americans. It's anathema to them, it fries their brains.

"So a homeless person can just pitch a tent in your yard and you can't get rid of them???!!!!"

"So people can just come onto a farmer's land and destroy his crops????!!!!"

"So people can just get access to military installations and airports??!!!"

No amount of explaining that's not how it works will calm them.

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Final score:

129points

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Susie Elle 7 months ago

Right to roam roughly boils down to: you're allowed to freely explore, as long as you respect the environment, the land and any specific boundaries or restrictions that are in place, as far as I know.

134points

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#11

30 ‘European Things’ That Might Just Make Americans Go “Huh?” As Seen In This Online Thread Informality, especially with service workers. Used to work in a supermarket and an old American guy was complaining about something. I tried to help him and he began ranting, told me I was rude and demanded to be addressed as “sir” to which I burst out laughing, enraging him further.

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Final score:

120points

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eric p 7 months ago

As an American I have not once seen this happen in a grocery store...

98points

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#12

30 ‘European Things’ That Might Just Make Americans Go “Huh?” As Seen In This Online Thread Swedish elevator etiquette:

1. if I can hear you breathe, your presence is too intrusive

2. if you look directly at me, I will mentally stab you

3. if you engage me in small-talk, you are no longer welcome in the country.

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Final score:

119points

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Marcos Valencia 7 months ago

You should share an elevator with my parents. Shock therapy guaranteed.

34points

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One of the key aspects that explain why there are so many cultures out there is the idea of ecology. In different parts of the world, people are surrounded by different physical and social conventions.

While we are all the same as a species, we all have mechanisms that allow us to adapt to our immediate surroundings in different ways.

#13

30 ‘European Things’ That Might Just Make Americans Go “Huh?” As Seen In This Online Thread England: I have witnessed Americans fume at the way service works when eating food at a pub. No one will greet you when you walk in, no one will come to your table to take your order. Find a table, read the menu, order and pay at the bar.

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Final score:

115points

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Zedrapazia 7 months ago

The Irish/Scots (both have pubs) will also kick you out if you yell at them in their own pub instead of putting up with the bûllshit

84points

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#14

30 ‘European Things’ That Might Just Make Americans Go “Huh?” As Seen In This Online Thread Germany: Standing at a red light in the middle of the night on an empty street waiting for the light to turn green. We do not question the meaning of rules.

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Final score:

110points

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Marianne 7 months ago

In my experience, only few people still do that.

29points

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#15

30 ‘European Things’ That Might Just Make Americans Go “Huh?” As Seen In This Online Thread Belgium: My brother In law once held a bottle of wine in an American supermarket ("Can you put it in the cart, son?") and all of the Americans looked shocked. The idea of a child holding a bottle of alcohol...

They were much more lenient regarding guns though.

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Final score:

102points

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Candace 7 months ago

Only in America is it easier to buy a gun than a Kinder egg. Guess which one Walmart sells?

76points

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The phenomenon is called adaptive phenotypic plasticity and it’s basically the idea of the same genes leading to different human traits depending on the environment.

And the body is going to keep it that way because evolutionary theories suggest natural selection favors flexible behaviors that are sensitive to such environmental changes. And if you pair that up with the idea that we are stronger and more fit to survive in groups, it only solidifies the role of culture in evolution.

#16

30 ‘European Things’ That Might Just Make Americans Go “Huh?” As Seen In This Online Thread In the Netherlands we have something called a 'dropping', which is where we pull our kids out of bed in the middle of the night, dump them in the woods without phones and make them find their own way back. This is very common to do at school camps and with the scouts. Its is completely normal and dutch kids find it rather exciting and not traumatizing at all.

Considering many Americans consider letting your kids play in the front lawn unattended, or letting them cycle around the suburbs by themselves, negligent parenting this is probably quite shocking to them too.

I have to note however, we have no large predators, only a couple wolves, but in very confined areas. Also, the optimal route is commonly only about 30 mins walking, which never happens ofc, and it is hard to not hit a road with signs or a village by walking in an arbitrary direction for half an hour in the Netherlands.

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Final score:

100points

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Kirsten Kerkhof 7 months ago

Oh, I remember doing a 'dropping' when I was 12! I was equal parts excited and terrified (and soaked because of course it was raining).

46points

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#17

30 ‘European Things’ That Might Just Make Americans Go “Huh?” As Seen In This Online Thread PDA and a lack of prudism. I saw a tiktok of a guy freaking out because a girl was sitting on his boyfriend's lap at the train. If he ever came to Spain he’d leave traumatized due to the huge amount of people that shamelessly make out on the streets, sunbathe naked, etc.

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Final score:

92points

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Roxy222uk 7 months ago

Wait - the guy was freaking out because a girl was sitting on his boyfriend's lap? Or did the OP mean 'her' boyfriend's lap. Because those are very different situations.

84points

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#18

30 ‘European Things’ That Might Just Make Americans Go “Huh?” As Seen In This Online Thread I’m non-European but once studied & lived in both US and Europe. Based on my observations of a few European countries (disclaimer ahead: not all
European countries are like this):

- Home schooling being illegal except in very narrow and absolutely necessary cases.
- Surrogacy being illegal
- Good public transportation, which leads to
- Very young kids take buses, trams, underground, or ride bicycles to school and go home
- drinking alcohol at 18 or even younger
- wearing school uniforms
- No AC in the house
- not allowed to talk loudly in public
- parents allow their kids to stay overnight at their partners’ houses & vice versa
- Religion being a personal thing that doesn’t shove down other people’s throats; openly saying you are non-religious/agnostic/atheist
- Comprehensive sex ed > abstinence-only

All I can think so far.

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Final score:

90points

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JuJu 7 months ago

Yes, the homeschooling part! It is super weird to me that people who can barely manage their life can decide to homeschool their children andcteach them a lot of mumpitz. We have mandatory curriculums and you have to pass certain tests ever so often to finish school. And not every Tweedledee can call themself teacher.

93points

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As such, that which makes us all similar and psychologically tending towards the same things is expected of humans sharing similar ecological conditions.

To keep it clear, the idea of environmental conditions isn’t just weather patterns—it’s also things like the social, physical and a slew of other climates, conditions that force us to react in one way or another.

#19

30 ‘European Things’ That Might Just Make Americans Go “Huh?” As Seen In This Online Thread I'm am American living in Portugal and one thing that surprised me is you just take off your clothes in front of the doctor.

In the US, they give you privacy and you take off your clothes and put on a gown. Then the doctor or nurse knocks and comes in. Here, you go the gynecologist and you just take off your pants and undies and hop right up into the stirrups. A friend said she was shocked to not be given a robe for her mammogram. Just shirt and bra right off and letting it all hang out.

Makes sense! They're going to see your bits and bobs anyway! It's more efficient to not have that extra step in between.

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Final score:

85points

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Becky Samuel 7 months ago

To be so ashamed and concerned about your own body is inconceivable to me. The doctor has seen every size and shape of body, yours is no different. The fact that children in the US (and increasingly in the UK) are being trained to have this hangup is so sad.

41points

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#20

30 ‘European Things’ That Might Just Make Americans Go “Huh?” As Seen In This Online Thread We call each other c**t, often as a term of endearment. Eg: "Ah Tommy you're some mad c**t."

I am led to believe the Yanks do not particularly like that word.

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Final score:

83points

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El Dee 7 months ago

Australia, Scotland and Ireland. The 'c word' is not used offensively, generally used to men and often used as a compound word eg 'madcunt' or 'goodcunt' It's either said as a compliment or, at worst, mild ribaldry..

20points

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#21

30 ‘European Things’ That Might Just Make Americans Go “Huh?” As Seen In This Online Thread Denmark: Babies sleeping outside. In particular babies sleeping alone in public outside restaurants or shops for example.

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82points

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Premislaus de Colo 7 months ago

Nordic countries only

44points

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And all of this is important why? Because, tl;dr, we’re better off closer together.

By learning who the other is, we empower ourselves to learn more about what the world is like, and education never hurts anyone (getting hit by a book isn’t an argument against it, Tim).

As such, this way we build trust and respect, and if a particular place becomes rich in multiculturalism that way, it just makes it more interesting to live there.

#22

30 ‘European Things’ That Might Just Make Americans Go “Huh?” As Seen In This Online Thread Netherlands: Children from around the age of six being able to play outside on the streets and in the woods and meadows with other children on their own, unsupervised. At least in the villages. As long as they are home before supper and the parents have a general idea of where they are.

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Final score:

82points

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Kirsten Kerkhof 7 months ago

I let my nephew and niece (age 6 and 8 respectively) roam around the neighbourhood unsupervised when I babysit (the parents know this and agree). They know where they are allowed to go, and I'll stay home until they are back, but I trust them and they know it. They're smart little kids.

20points

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#23

30 ‘European Things’ That Might Just Make Americans Go “Huh?” As Seen In This Online Thread Sweden:

* The ability to immigrate to a non-Swedish citizen who lives in Sweden, as a partner in a same-sex, unwed couple.

* No screens on the windows and no AC in homes, businesses or public transit (and yes, it does get hot here).

* In Stockholm, it takes an average of 9 years of waiting in a rental queue to be able to rent an apartment (or you can sublet for hugely inflated prices). Once you sign a rental contract, your waiting time starts over again. People trade rental contracts in order to be able to move apartments, and rental contracts are sold on the black market.

* University is free.

* TV dramas about teenagers having lots of great sex, shows about sex are shown on national public television.

* Servers/waitstaff are paid a living wage. Tips are not required or necessarily expected.

* A visit to the doctor costs about $25. All healthcare is free for a year after you’ve paid $140/year in fees. Giving birth is free. Cancer treatment is free (once you've paid $140/year).

* Everyone eats mushrooms and berries they find in the woods. Wild foraging is a very common pastime

* Taking a dip in a hole in the ice of a frozen lake is a relatively common winter weekend activity.

* Your running water/warm water/heating is usually paid for by the rental company.

* Salty, ammonia-flavored licorice is considered delicious

* Carrying pepper spray requires a permit

* Carrying any size of knife or sharp object in public is illegal, except when required by work, or some other justifiable purpose (like mushroom hunting).

* Only 6% of the Swedish population has a license to own a firearm

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Final score:

77points

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General Anaesthesia 7 months ago

Did you forget, * Open a can of surströmming if you want to be alone? [Fermented herring. Some say it smells like a dead body. Others liken it to a dirty nappy. In other words, it reeks.]

24points

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#24

30 ‘European Things’ That Might Just Make Americans Go “Huh?” As Seen In This Online Thread The Netherlands: Drinking alcohol around children is very normal. On a nice day you see families sitting comfortably in the park with a glass of wine in their hand and the children playing around them.

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Final score:

70points

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pelemele 7 months ago (edited)

As Jrog explains, this "culture" of alcohol has the advantage of demystifying its consumption and therefore making it generally safer by allowing you to have a healthier relationship and to know your limits (at least for Most people and that doesn't mean you'll make children drink). And conversely, I'm always surprised to see that in American films and series the slightest occasion seems to be an excuse to have a drink, all the time, at any time of the day or night.

45points

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This is also why we ought to support cultural diversity, and there’s a number of ways of doing it. First up, plunge into the pool of diversity as living in one rubs off on you. This is quite literally how culture works.

All the while avoid imposing values that others may have trouble accepting or it’s inconsistent with their own.

#25

30 ‘European Things’ That Might Just Make Americans Go “Huh?” As Seen In This Online Thread France. Eating proper meals at school and not snacks. I wouldn't have imagined eating a pack of chips, pizza or industrial slices bread. Lunches were cooked on site and consisted of proper dishes like a restaurant.

Also, non overly friendly staff in shops or restaurants that don't treat clients like royalty. You won't have a waiter come to you ask if everything is fine every 2 minutes. Or very polite staff in shops, quite the opposite. There's a reason French people have the reputation of being rude. ;).

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Final score:

68points

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Marcos Valencia 7 months ago

Pizza is available as a proper course in Spanish and (of course) Italian schools. But chips and ultra-processed food is, indeed, banned.

21points

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#26

30 ‘European Things’ That Might Just Make Americans Go “Huh?” As Seen In This Online Thread Austria: As an assistant manager I regularly had to calm American customers down because the staff in our souvenir shop told them that they are busy at the moment (not with other customers) and can't help them with finding certain items. Never any other nation had a problem with that.

(But Americans are usually the only ones anyway asking for the manager. Only once in my career one Chinese woman asked for one but that was it).

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Final score:

67points

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Marcos Valencia 7 months ago (edited)

I'm a 50 yo Spaniard, and never in my life asked for the manager. Unless I knew the manager and I was there to have a coffee together...

56points

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#27

I attended university in 3 different European countries, got my masters, and just paid about 50 euros in total fees for 10 years of studying (I wasn't in a hurry to finish, as classes were interesting, I learned a lot and had fun)

And all these universities were better than expensive private colleges in USA (I work as IT in expensive private college in NYC so I know).

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Final score:

66points

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Robert T 7 months ago

I paid zero fees for my degree in the UK, but that was in an age where a smaller proportion of students went on to university. Fees are still paid by the government in Scotland.

23points

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A lot of what accepting other cultures is can be defined as education and understanding. So teach yourself and learn to understand the concepts that describe these other cultures. In turn, learn to respect and accept them, and this will show a good example to others.

By proxy, push away the tide of ignorance and stop folks from exercising insensitivity, bias and prejudice. Being proactive in all of these things will solidify the experience.

#28

30 ‘European Things’ That Might Just Make Americans Go “Huh?” As Seen In This Online Thread Poland:

Married couples often refer to their parents in-law as just "mom" and "dad".

Everyone is sir/madam until you both decide otherwise. Calling adult person you just met "you" or their name is a big no-no.

Pasta or rice with strawberries and cream is a summer dessert.

Majority of people here would hate the idea of store staff smiling at them and offering help all the time.

Eating inside with your hat on is considered rude af.

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Final score:

58points

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Josephine Blogs 7 months ago

Pasta and Strawberries? what??

40points

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#29

30 ‘European Things’ That Might Just Make Americans Go “Huh?” As Seen In This Online Thread Living comfortably without a car or a driving licence. Even if someone has a car, they only use it for transporting something heavy or going for journeys outside of town, not for daily commuting.

Daily commuting by trains and train stops in every other village.

Parents and other family members letting little children drink alcohol. I'm pretty sure I was a toddler when I had beer for the first time. On the weekends we all had a glass of beer after lunch, and at the family gatherings everyone got a glass of alcohol for a toast. (I hope most young parents nowadays wouldn't do that. I'm 30.).

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Final score:

54points

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Pittsburgh rare 7 months ago

Anyone over 45 in Spain had a shot of sweet wine given by their grandmas to boost their appetite. The only thing that divide is is what brand we were given 😆

23points

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#30

30 ‘European Things’ That Might Just Make Americans Go “Huh?” As Seen In This Online Thread There appear to be few things as confusing to Americans as a "if you meet the minimum education requirements you're just in" policy in higher education admittance.

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Final score:

47points

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Bols 7 months ago

What I really don't get about US education system (apart from ridiculous tuitions of course, this is just bonkers) is the legacy status. Accepting students based on where their parents studied just gives me monarchy vibes, I think all people should be judged on their own merit and actions, not their parents. I fear many talented students lost their places because some entitled rich kids took their spot only because of who they were born to.

61points

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So, what are your thoughts on any of this? What are some differences that you think are worth mentioning here? Share your takes and stories in the comment section below!

Oh, and before I forget, there’s more where that came from.

#31

Sweden: The lax attitude to nudity, religion and Disney.

Also that dad has the right to stay home with the kids when they are under 1 year and get paid to do so and men does this because they want too. Yeah, I have male friend been told they are "gay" and not manly for doing normal house chores and being a sane parent.

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Final score:

24points

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Jihana 7 months ago

Being married to a woman and having a child is now gay? To quote Inigo Montoya: I don't think that word means whst you think it means.

14points

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#32

France : the owner of the shop/restaurant refusing to do something for a customer he doesn't agree with (like ice in your wine). Customer is not king here.

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Final score:

22points

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Michael Largey 7 months ago

If you insist in France that the customer is king, remember what they do to kings there.

11points

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#33

I've seen Americans break down because they thought everyone was beeing mean and short with them , when it's just that Dutch culture is less ambigious.

Like when someone doesn't think a idea is very good they will say it's a bad idea , not as like a personal judgement but just that one idea just now.

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Final score:

20points

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#34

30 ‘European Things’ That Might Just Make Americans Go “Huh?” As Seen In This Online Thread Crotia:

We learn how to drink really early in life. By the time we're legally allowed to, we have a tolerance and culture of drinking to we don't pass out so easily.

Kids don't drive. But these are boring examples.

How about supermarkets not working 24/7, not everyone speaking English, especially elderly who usually rather speak German or Russian, not having highways of US scale, people walking around towns, kids going to profession-specified high schools, foxes walking around towns like domestic animals and deers in people's yards.

>500 y/o buildings still in use, gas stoves, turkish coffee, 7-15 work hours, more than 2 parties on political scene, smoking being popular, majority using android devices...

grounded_dreamer , Tembela Bohle/Pexels (not the actual photo) Report

Final score:

17points

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Alewa 7 months ago

Does OP believe #1 is a good thing?

7points

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#35

30 ‘European Things’ That Might Just Make Americans Go “Huh?” As Seen In This Online Thread Germany: Keeping a separation between work and real friendships. Americans chit chat at work and talk about personal things. Currently working in US and am a bit socially awkward at work here.

smokeandmirrorsff , Christina Morillo/Pexels (not the actual photo) Report

Final score:

16points

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SBocker78 7 months ago

As an American, I relate to this. Please don't ask me personal questions at work.

3points

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#36

Calling cigarettes "f**s".

Saying "I'm going for a Chinese", "I'm going for an Indian"

Then names of Chinese and Indian restaurants like "Oriental Pearl" or "Bombay Spice".

Black people with standard regional British accents.

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Final score:

13points

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Marcos Valencia 7 months ago

"Black people with standard regional British accents." Wow, being shocked by that is... quite interesting.

7points

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#37

30 ‘European Things’ That Might Just Make Americans Go “Huh?” As Seen In This Online Thread In Slovakia, men throwing buckets of cold water on women on Easter Monday. And then the woman thanks them and offers them a shot of vodka.

andrejRavenclaw , Steven Lilley/Flickr (not the actual photo) Report

Final score:

12points

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Jihana 7 months ago

Where is that so I can avoid that particular region during Easter time?

22points

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#38

30 ‘European Things’ That Might Just Make Americans Go “Huh?” As Seen In This Online Thread There are certain non-PC jokes and phrases regarding different racial groups that would probably offend the sensibilities of many Americans. Danes have a much different mindset when it comes to such things.

Also, the more relaxed attitude towards alcohol. This includes younger people being much more able to consume it. A lot of people tend to start drinking alcohol around the age they are confirmed.

LudicrousPlatypus , Andrea Piacquadio/Pexels (not the actual photo) Report

Final score:

12points

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Roxy222uk 7 months ago

Hmm, do the members of these racial groups feel the same way, or do they have to put on a smile and pretend if they want to have friends?

12points

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#39

30 ‘European Things’ That Might Just Make Americans Go “Huh?” As Seen In This Online Thread Turkish people will stare and get into your personal space. Men kiss other men to greet, best guy and girl friends walk arm in arm or arm on shoulder and nobody thinks they're gay. People send little kids to buy cigarettes and alcohol.

tereyaglikedi , Zeeshan Khan/Pexels (not the actual photo) Report

Final score:

12points

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Jack Burton 7 months ago

Covid killed french "bise" but we used to kiss each other on the cheeks even between men or at work

1point

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#40

30 ‘European Things’ That Might Just Make Americans Go “Huh?” As Seen In This Online Thread Spain

Eating rabbit and snails.

Babies/small children staying out until past midnight in the street while their parents are eating taking a drink on summer nights.

Out meals hours.

Persianas (blinds that fully block sunlight).

ElKaoss , Maria Orlova/Pexels (not the actual photo) Report

Final score:

11points

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troufaki13 7 months ago

We also have these things in Greece. Maybe it's a Mediterranean thing?

9points

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#41

30 ‘European Things’ That Might Just Make Americans Go “Huh?” As Seen In This Online Thread Belgium: Waiters in restaurants won't constantly bother you, and you have to actively wave them down if you want to order another drink. This might be seen as lack of engagement by Americans.

Also no free water in restaurants here, which I myself don't particularly like, because ordering these tiny 20cl water bottles that are gone in two gulps is a giant waste of money.

Vince0789 , Ksenia Chernaya/Pexels (not the actual photo) Report

Final score:

11points

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Marcos Valencia 7 months ago

Free tap water must be available in restaurants in Spain. It was a habit, now it's a law.

14points

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#42

Czechia: We make a procession where three men dress up as the three kings who visited Jesus in Betlehem. One of them is painted black.

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Final score:

11points

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Marcos Valencia 7 months ago

Yes, the Three Kings/Wise Men, every 5th of January. In Spain, being painted black wasn't considered offensive (the other 2 kings had beards and fake beards didn't offend bearded people). But now the Spanish black population is much bigger than in the past, so the "blackfaced" option is less common.

7points

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#43

30 ‘European Things’ That Might Just Make Americans Go “Huh?” As Seen In This Online Thread Slovenia: It was pretty common to go drink a beer or two with classmates and friends in senior highschool years. This was a while back, I am a millenial, not sure if it is still common. We also had a party with soft alcoholic drinks at the end of elementary school.

Legal drinking age is 18, but it's not like the police are chasing around kids drinking beer. Bars and grocery stores require an ID tho, if you want to buy alcohol.

chunek , cottonbro studio/Pexels(not the actual photo) Report

Final score:

11points

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Gavin Johnson 7 months ago

When I lived in a small, rural town we had 4 pubs. One pub was known for its slightly lax approach to checking ID. The local Police would drop in there a couple of times on a Friday / Saturday night to see how everything was going, we’d see them in our local too but that was for them to get a brew! The wisdom was that 17s and an odd 16 year year old in the pub being watched over by locals was better than them hiding the booze and drinking too much whilst sat in the park. Never had any bother and their pub was a calm place.

6points

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#44

Czechia: Paying for public toilets, apparently.

Dogs allowed in pubs/shops.

And I've seen a lot of surprised comments about old and/or disabled people just walking/riding around in wheelchairs on the streets and taking public transportation.

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Final score:

11points

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Marianne 7 months ago

What are people in wheelchairs supposed to do, if being on the street or taking public transport is weird?

13points

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#45

In the UK, the default in parks is dogs can be off-lead. Americans seem to think it's very irresponsible to let dogs off in public areas, except in dedicated, fenced-off dog parks.

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Final score:

8points

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LakotaWolf (she/her) 7 months ago

That’s because there are irresponsible owners who do not train their dogs at all. So your dog might be well-behaved, but someone else’s dog will run up and attack it (or you!) Or the untrained dog will run off after a squirrel and won’t listen to recall/commands to come back, and they could run into a road/street and be hit by a car. Depending on where you live in the US, there might be very little public transportation available, so there are a LOT of cars around. Also, at least where I live, people are horrible slobs in parks and will leave their trash thrown on the ground. I don’t want to risk either of my dogs eating something they shouldn’t before I could stop them, or stepping on broken glass, etc. It’s a bit of an oversimplification, of course, but many Americans think dog parks are the only safe place to let your dog run off-leash outside of one’s own yard.

16points

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What do you think ?

Gary 7 months ago

I think most of these would make more sense if the title had the country in question.

Mike F 7 months ago (edited)

Can we have one of these that isn't US vs whomever? WTF is it with you people pitting the one people against another in so damned many posts ? I GUARANTEE you that your people don't occupy a space in our heads the way we seem to in yours. Unless we're talking the whole "low hanging fruit" thing in writing posts 🤔. If you're just not that creative perhaps you should touch some grass and reevaluate your chosen career.

Rosemary . 7 months ago

I'm so tired of these articles too. I think we all realize that other countries do things differently. Yes, we're aware other countries have free heath care and college. Do you think we have a choice of how things work over here? I assure you, we don't and voting for one vs the other won't help because all politicians are bought and paid for. Also the people that always shouted 'USA is best!' are from 50-60 years ago. The vast majority of Americans today are just trying to get through the day, just like everyone else.

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Feathered Dinosaur 7 months ago (edited)

No, no, it's more like watching a train wreck. You're appalled, but you just can't look away.

Ken Schroeder 7 months ago (edited)

I would imagine it's because as a country and a society, we Americans suck; AND we insist on everyone kowtowing to us while we suck. AND we LOVE to send our money and soldiers to the few countries that suck more than we do. We claim to be the best, have the most freedoms, etc.; but we're a bunch of twats that nobody wants around overseas.

-2points

Rostit.. . 7 months ago

Downvote xenophobic threads

4points

90HD 7 months ago

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30 ‘European Things’ That Might Just Make Americans Go “Huh?” As Seen In This Online Thread

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