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HeartCrafty2961 , Marta Branco/Pexels (not the actual photo) Report

#2

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.

Final score:

191points

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Kariali 8 months ago

That's pretty much the case in whole Europe.

142points

Delenn 8 months ago

Yes, Spain too. And about knives it is illegal to carry them in the street or public places (obviously you can use them at restaurants :D).

16points

Jallamedalla 8 months ago

That is not the case in Scandinavia, maybe except Denmark. I live near 3 gun shops, where you can buy pretty much anything you would be able to buy in the US, but not full auto and .50BMG. Norway.

6points

Michelle C 8 months ago

Switzerland allows and encourages gun ownership, though, don’t they?

3points

Definitely a Human 8 months ago

And Australia

1point

veirdbuttrue 8 months ago

This comment has been deleted.

0points

Shadow 8 months ago

Somewhat in Canada too although there is a subculture that is heavily influenced by the States.

0points

90HD 8 months ago

Other than Chezckloslovakia (sorry my spelling is wrong ik)

-3points

Highball 7 months ago

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Rostit.. . 8 months ago

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Wubedhheij 8 months ago (edited)

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Lewis KR 8 months ago

I suppose the difference is that you can't buy a gun without a purpose in the UK. You need to apply for a licence, part of which is explaining why you want the gun. Pest control, clay shooting, target shooting are generally deemed legitimate uses. The types of firearm are also all very limited in ammunition capacity, and almost all long barrelled so hard to conceal. To those that say people will just use a kitchen knife or a bat, or run you over with a car - those objects all have a primary purpose that is not to harm humans. A Glock or an AR-15 are miltary weapons, designed to kill human beings. Its very hard to kill 20 people from 50 metres away with a baseball bat in less than a minute

11points

Adrian 8 months ago

I'm from the UK and that's not strictly true. I was on a rifle team and shot in the Queens Tournament at Bisley. Farmers will often have shotguns. Anyone can buy a gun but there is a strict vetting process (which is what is lacking in the U.S.) it's just that it's not as common and the UK doesn't have the NRA and other gun rights lunatics.

10points

axle f 8 months ago

....and here I thought....if we outlaw guns, only outlaws will have them. you're saying if there are no guns, no one will have them? I need to check with the NRA and the gun lobby here, that just can't be right. would they lie to us just to make money?

9points

90HD 8 months ago

D***s are illegal, and yet people still get them. There are still lower rates in Europe. It's a cultural thing mainly

2points

Michelle Scott 8 months ago

Yes I can think of a rare couple of gun shops (and firing/shooting ranges) but the licensing laws are thorough and few people know anyone with a gun or rifle unless they have a good reason for having one (farming, for example). The things we really don't have in the UK are guns openly for sale in supermarkets!

7points

90HD 8 months ago

Tragic, but true

0points

Roxy222uk 8 months ago (edited)

There are gun shops. There's one near to us. However it sells two bore shot guns only (as far as I can tell, I haven't been in) as well as accessories and clothes for things like a pheasant shoot or clay pigeon shooting, plus for farmers controlling rabbits etc on their land. Of course no gun or ammo will be sold without proof of a licence. I imagine the ethos being very, very different to an American gun shop (?)

7points

90HD 8 months ago

Depends on which ones. In many US states you do need a license to purchase, especially handguns.

0points

Fat Harry 8 months ago

It's absolutely not true that there are no gun shops in the UK. There are at least two within a 5 mile radius of my house. They sell rifles and shotguns to people who are properly licensed.

5points

GhostlySnail (she/her) 8 months ago

Again, that sounds amazing I want to move :(

4points

Geb Kleinhans 8 months ago

We don't have guns in the Netherlands with the exception of people with a license.

2points

Ryan Wilkins 8 months ago

Our country (USA) is full of men with small penises...so we have sooooooo many guns.

2points

Celena Camps 8 months ago

Similar in Canada

2points

Gavin Johnson 8 months ago

I live in Buxton, Derbyshire. It’s a bit rural here, I don’t own a firearm but I could easily send you to at least two gunsmiths within fifteen minutes of me. It’s true that cities don’t have gun shops but they are out here in the countryside, farmers use them for pest control, mostly shotguns and we have a clay pigeon range near to me so obviously the members there have shotguns too. I’ve never seen a firearm in the town though. We just don’t need them.

2points

J Adams 8 months ago

There are gun shops in England, they are branded as ‘country pursuits’ shops, so you can get fishing and horse riding gear alongside guns, I pass two of them on my way to work each day, one of them is bizarrely on the edge of a council estate, ‘braces of Bristol’ if you wanted to look it up

1point

Thomas Olsen 8 months ago

There ARE gunshops, but these are for hunting and sporting purposes only, it´s illegal to carry a firearm any other place than on hunt and at the shooting range, to and from too ofc, but that is in disassembled state

1point

Andrew Keir 8 months ago

Without wanting to be rude, I think Europe has a grip on gun ownership and 'certain other places' do not

1point

Jay Cee 1 week ago

I was an avid target pistol shooter. Took part in international competitions too. Then some nutjob walked into a school and started murdering little children, and the teacher that tried to stop him. We had to give up our pistols - it was a no brainer decision. I miss participating in the events but not as much as those grieving parents must still be missing their babies.

0points

Namea 1 week ago

And they don't have dead kids at schools or some idiot shooting people over road rage.

0points

R Lenz 7 months ago

Yeah, but they sure do have lots of knives!!!

0points

Jeremy Bell 8 months ago

And we do not lose so many school-children.

0points

jmdirks 8 months ago

Criminals will always be able to get their hands on guns. No matter what your local laws are.

0points

Janice Hannaby 8 months ago

Unfortunately, guns are getting to be more common in Canada as well because, well, we live next door to the most gun centric country on earth. Up until this century there were only about 100 mass shootings in Canada from the 19th Century. The U.S. has the 28th-highest rate of deaths from gun violence in the world: 4.31 deaths per 100,000 people in 2021. That was more than seven times as high as the rate in Canada, which had 0.57 deaths per 100,000 people — and about 340 times higher than in the United Kingdom, which had 0.013 deaths per 100,000.

0points

Martin Kummets 8 months ago

A Brit mate of mine filed for a large bore long gun permit (elephant gun). When asked, about the purpose - making holes in paper targets was not good enough. Denied. When re-applying, he said he wants to go hunting rhinos and elephants in Africa, approved. For the UK handguns are banned. Period. Rest of Europe (Czechia, Finland, Switzerland) have more sane rules about guns and a proper good gun-culture. Buying guns and ammo off the shelf in walmart is not gun culture in my book.

0points

Laura Osborne 8 months ago

Not quite true, I used to have guns (boyfriend had them when I moved in so I made sure I could handle them correctly) but handed them in when we had to but guess who didn't? Criminals.

0points

Cathleen Cummings 8 months ago

How civilized. Its such a shame the horrible gun-control we have in the US.

0points

Curry on... 8 months ago

When I visited England, this knowledge made feel safer than I've ever felt in my entire life.

0points

Cold Eagle 8 months ago

Actually the UK does have shops that sell guns but there is some regulation. I don't like how this is phrased to imply that it simply does not exist.

0points

Jelena Putinja 8 months ago

Croatian here - police and security guards have guns but they can only use it if somebody shoots in them first

0points

Miomirko Buhtlić 7 months ago

Croatia is an interesting example. The country's been through war, there are many weaponry around (legal or illegal), there is no lack of people who are aggressive and/or not most stable, but gun violence is extremely rare considering.

0points

Roger Pettersson 8 months ago

Not 100% true, getting an illegal gun aint THAT hard, thankfully the criminal underhumans only use them on eachother

0points

ZuriLovesYou 8 months ago

Lucky

0points

Tiffany Marie 8 months ago (edited)

Self defense classes are healthy. Harder to kill yourself without a gun but they have universal health care to probably help with trauma and depression.

0points

90HD 8 months ago

No, they are not. They are useful, but it is very easy to kill yourself with or without a gun. Japan has almost completely banned firearms yet they have an incredibly high suicide rate.

2points

Randy Sanders 8 months ago

You HOPE the other guy doesn't have one.

0points

Amy Smith 8 months ago

There was a gun shop near where I grew up. It's been gone a long time though. Someone was recently shot not too far from where it used to be a couple of weekends ago. UK here BTW

0points

Fabian Bernard 8 months ago

Yup, but knife culture in London is real also

0points

Becky Samuel 8 months ago

The rate of knife murders in the USA is much higher than in the UK, and they have the gun crime on top of it. Don't believe everything the media tells you.

6points

sharonljeffords@gmail.com 8 months ago

No they will have a knife

-1point

90HD 8 months ago

It's funny how Countries like UK and France who have spent most of their existence colonizing other hate guns, but the ones who have next to no colonial past are actually pretty chill about them.

-1point

Pandaodboredem22 8 months ago

Until the guy that has a gun illegally comes, and nobody can defend themselves. And tyrannical governments love nothing more than a populace without guns to defend themselves.

-3points

Pamelot 8 months ago

So what is your crime rate?

-3points

Spidercat 8 months ago

I'm from South London...there is a realistic chance the other guy might have a gun and a much higher chance that he will have a massive knife or machete. For anyone not familiar....Google a bit on South London crime...

-3points

Eastendbird 8 months ago

Oh stop exaggerating!

9points

ninjomat , RDNE Stock project/Pexels (not the actual photo) Report

#3

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.

Final score:

186points

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bullet_bitten , Max Vakhtbovycn/Pexels (not the actual photo) Report

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.

#4

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.

Final score:

180points

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LongrodVonHugedong86 , Mateusz Dach/Pexels (not the actual photo) Report

#5

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.

Final score:

168points

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WyvernsRest , Anete Lusina/Pexels (not the actual photo) Report

#6

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”.

Final score:

159points

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Myrialle , Pixabay/Pexels (not the actual photo) Report

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.

#7

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. .

Final score:

148points

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WyllKwick , Rodolfo Clix/Pexels (not the actual photo) Report

#8

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.

Final score:

138points

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ninaeatworld , MART PRODUCTION/Pexels (not the actual photo) Report

#9

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.

Final score:

136points

POST

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.

cragglerock93 Report

Final score:

129points

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anon , Amina Filkins/Pexels (not the actual photo) Report

#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.

Final score:

120points

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

#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.

Final score:

119points

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publius_decius , Percival Ian Muico/Pexels (not the actual photo) Report

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.

Final score:

115points

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Confident_Yam3132 , Elijah O'Donnell/Pexels (not the actual photo) Report

#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.

Final score:

110points

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Kikkervelf , Mizzu Cho/Pexels (not the actual photo) Report

#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.

Final score:

102points

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

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.

Final score:

100points

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CarangiBooks , Irene Furlan/Pexels (not the actual photo) Report

#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.

Final score:

92points

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

#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.

Final score:

90points

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dutchyardeen , Tima Miroshnichenko/Pexels (not the actual photo) Report

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.

Final score:

85points

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TheYoungWan , Bas Masseus/Pexels (not the actual photo) Report

#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.

Final score:

83points

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GeronimoDK , Yan Krukau/Pexels (not the actual photo) Report

#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.

Final score:

82points

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Tubafex , Allan Mas/Pexels (not the actual photo) Report

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.

Final score:

82points

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1agomorph , Efrem Efre/Pexels (not the actual photo) Report

#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

Final score:

77points

POST

Honest-School5616 , Isabella Mendes/Pexels (not the actual photo) Report

#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.

Final score:

70points

POST

Matttthhhhhhhhhhh , Jer Chung/Pexels (not the actual photo) Report

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. ;).

Final score:

68points

POST

ordealofmedusa , Said/Pexels (not the actual photo) Report

#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).

Final score:

67points

POST

#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).

t3chguy1 Report

Final score:

66points

POST

kompocik99 , Luke Miller/Pexels (not the actual photo) Report

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.

Final score:

58points

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Ostruzina , Lukas Hartmann/Pexels (not the actual photo) Report

#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.).

Final score:

54points

POST

41942319 , Pixabay/Pexels (not the actual photo) Report

#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.

Final score:

47points

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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.

CakePhool Report

Final score:

24points

POST

#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.

marmakoide Report

Final score:

22points

POST

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

#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.

aagjevraagje Report

Final score:

20points

POST

#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...

Final score:

17points

POST

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

#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.

Final score:

16points

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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.

ThaiFoodThaiFood Report

Final score:

13points

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

#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.

Final score:

12points

POST

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

#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.

Final score:

12points

POST

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

#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.

Final score:

12points

POST

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

#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).

Final score:

11points

POST

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

#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.

Final score:

11points

POST

#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.

TessaBrooding Report

Final score:

11points

POST

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

#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.

Final score:

11points

POST

#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.

esocz Report

Final score:

11points

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