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29 “Incredibly American” Things Folks In The US Are Oblivious To How American They Are, As Shared In This Online Group
The internet's fascination with America—anything about it really, from the culture to its people to everything that it offers and everything that happens there—is beyond anything at this point.
Don't believe me? Bored Panda had a chance to talk about it on multiple occasions, such as here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, and here. There's more, believe you me. No, it never stops.
This time around though, we return to Reddit where folks have been pointing out incredibly American things that Americans might not really see as a solely American thing. But it is.
Scroll down to check out people's best responses, comments, witty remarks and everything in between from the now-viral thread that nearly 33,000 people have upvoted. And why not share your thoughts and add your own suggestions in the comment section below. Oh, and don't forget to smack that upvote button. Or just press it. Your choice.
More Info: Reddit
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#1
gerginborisov said:
Thanking military people for their service...
BadTemperedBadger replied:
Then not actually supporting them in any meaningful way.
frozenstorm08 replied:
Met a Vietnam Vet in Dallas VA.
Man had been fighting for 40 years for benefits because he had grenade shrapnel through his chest. He had X-rays SHOWING the shrapnel in his chest.
Doctors said, “that’s not a military related injury”
To this day I’m not sure where else that shrapnel could have come from
WordWeaver 2 years ago
Australia and NZ honour service people on ANZAC DAy and Remembrance Day but we don't fawn on them. But at least they get better benefits than US service people. Except for PTSD.
RELATED:
#2
rubs_tshirts said:
Not including tax on prices displayed in stores.
raph_84 replied:
That feeling when you want to spend your very last Dollar on a can of Arizona Ice Tea (Famously: "The price is on the can!") and the cashier asks for $1.07.
Iifa A. 2 years ago
That's actually illegal in Europe. It's false advertising, so the shop must sell it at the price on the shelf or cheaper if it's part of discount. I know USA says every state and city has their own tax, but do the prices change daily in the shop, because could you not print the tax on the receipt and display full price. In eu we have always the price + vat included. And receipt has a product price as on the shelf, and it also tells you what amount of the price was tax, what type of tax was charged, how much. I can't shop on a budget if I have to budget in extra 20for tax. I want to enter and leave shop knowing how much am I spending and what I am buying. I will spend a lot more time roaming shelves looking for cheapest options trying to figure out do I have enough money on me. Only to come to the till and cashier saying not enough funds....
#3
slavname said:
American here. When I studied abroad, I was smiling and friendly to strangers. In London they looked like I wanted to steal something from them!
jew_biscuits replied:
Saw this with my American friends when I lived in Moscow. They walked around with this pleasant, anticipatory smile on their face and people thought they were mentally challenged.
ACaffeinatedWandress replied:
Hah. I remember a Russian friend explaining to me that Americans just look like idiots, smiling for no reason all the time. Russians apparently smile when they have something to smile about.
I read a paper that basically says it is because of our high-immigrant past. Apparently, when people with diverse languages who cannot understand each other verbally all the time are in close quarters with each other, they use physical cues (such as constant smiling), to communicate.
Fiona Parky 2 years ago
Please don’t judge the whole of the UK by London. They are a law unto themselves and very unfriendly. I have friends from London who are always amazed when they visit that people here talk to each other. We know our neighbours, their parents, their children, their friends. We talk to each other and get on well. We all say hello when we meet someone, even if we don’t actually know them. Our London friends were actually scared by this and thought they were about to be robbed! They couldn’t get over the fact that washing your car on the driveway would involve stopping and talking to people who are walking past. Ok, it gets a touch annoying when it’s the 20th time you’ve heard “You can come and wash mine too if you like” but you still stop and chat.
#4
MD564 said:
Thinking that anything remotely socialist is communism.
djamp42 replied:
We all pay and share for fire and police resources but the second you mention everyone paying and sharing health resources it's the end of the world. I'll never understand it.
SL1Fun replied:
Healthcare is a lucrative racket and it’s built on the legal SOP that the government can’t set prices or compete in the market. It’s quite possibly the most anarcho-capitalistic market in the US but also has the most insane overhead cost barriers.
Nikki Sevven 2 years ago
I blame this on public education. I graduated from high school 40 years ago, and even then we were not taught about political or economic philosophy. These things generally aren't learned unless you go to university.
#5
prettypinkpuppy said:
Paying $10,000 for a live birth and thinking that's okay.
Temmere replied:
In a more general sense, going bankrupt because of medical bills even when you have insurance. So many people in America rail against socialized healthcare and seem to be completely unaware how much we're paying and how little we're getting out of it compared to other countries.
dopiqob replied:
Pretty sure the number of people using "gofundme" and stuff like that to cover medical expenses is a pretty American thing. I'd guess they do it in some other places as well, but not to the extent it happens here.
WordWeaver 2 years ago
It's time the US citizens really thought about creating a decent safety net for people, including universal healthcare - you know, like the REST of the developed world has?
#6
Speaking very loud in public places. I think that’s the number one reason American tourists stand out like a sore thumb.
I’m talking about a normal conversation. I get that people get louder when they are drunk or enthusiastic or super happy. But the phenomenon I’m describing here is just day to day conversation in a very loud voice. It’s like there is a lack of awareness of their surroundings. If no one is talking that loud, neither should you.
#7
that1guycalledpeter said:
Free refills at restaurants.
SnowbackMcGee replied:
My daughter and I went on a Caribbean cruise together and our first night in Orlando, we went out to explore. We had dinner at IHOP, because why not, and had some delicious raspberry lemonade.
As we were leaving and after paying the bill, the waitress says "you want to take some lemonade to go?". What? Sure. So she loads us up with a couple of new large raspberry lemonades and sends us on our way.
We still joke about to go drinks whenever we go out for dinner, because that's is definitely NOT a thing in Canada.
Yann De Bernardis 2 years ago
Never understood why they still have glass size even with free refill... just allways go for the cheapest and refill it 1-2 times more
#8
browncoat47 said:
Handing your credit card to a stranger, having them walk away, swipe it, then bring it back to like they didn’t just put a down payment on a new house with it…
draw_it_now replied:
When I first started working in hospitality, I had an American customer who just gave me their card. I took it to the register, paid the order with a swipe and gave it back. I was told by my manager to never do that again.
KJdkaslknv replied:
That wouldn't have been even slightly unusual here in the US. Sometimes you'll even hand a waiter or bartender your card without receiving the check, if you're in a hurry.
#9
xTheHunt said:
Daily driving pickup trucks.
-captn- replied:
Not only that, but driving everywhere. I've been living in Germany for 20 years now and when family friends visited us in Germany they were shocked how much we walk or use public transportation here. I (30f) don't even have a drivers license, its never been needed for any of my jobs haha.
Before people misunderstand: I'm talking about taking the car places that are 5-10min walking distance away due to bad city planning, pedestrian unfriendly places and no sidewalks.
GirlFriday 2 years ago (edited)
I grew up in a rural area. Almost every family had a pickup truck. You had to have one because it was essential for everyday life - hauling feed, equipment, tools, navigating farm or mine roads, etc. I completely understand the need for the pickup truck. I do not understand why there are people in large cities driving dualies that have never picked up a load of anything. EVER. Those are ones compensating for the size of something.
#10
dinerdefilles said:
Singing the national anthem at every possible opportunity, even when the event does not involve any other countries.
Lotions_and_Creams replied:
It’s national propaganda. Until recently, the DoD paid the NFL ~$2M/year for “patriotic displays” (national anthem, flyovers, etc.).
premiumfeel replied:
I quit doing this in high school because it started to dawn on me how uncomfortable it made me feel to face the flag with my hand over my heart and declare my love for my country. I didn't feel like that, so it felt wrong to be out here saying things that, at the time, felt fundamentally untrue for me specifically. I have friends who just stopped as well and a few of them have actually been confronted/were punished for it. Which I found somewhat ironic.
I don't hate my country, but I'm not about to perform a daily ritual that makes me uncomfortable.
#11
Air conditioning. I'm very surprised no one has said this yet.
It's not that other countries don't have heating and AC. They do. But our use of them, especially the latter during the summer, is astronomically higher than anywhere else on the planet, even when compared to other first world countries.
SerumSeven 2 years ago
I'm in Arizona. It's 107° right now, and expected to be 114° over the weekend. I'm not gonna apologize to anyone for using AC.
#12
Ok_Independence_5025 said:
Not having to ask for the bill.
frgs72 replied:
This was me today at a restaurant in Oslo. It felt rude to call the waitress over to ask for the bill. Am American.
Ariia_ replied:
It's curious, I'm European and if someone gave me the bill without asking I would think it's rude because it feels like they're rushing me to leave
Foxxy (The Original) 2 years ago (edited)
I prefer the Aussie way, reduces the dine and dash. Most places in Australia you get to your table, read the menu then go to the front counter. Order meal and drinks, give table number and then pay. You have to pay before you receive your food. Also means a server doesn't take your card away to pay. Edit: guess it depends on where you live and the types of restaurants. I have only come across 2 places where you eat first and pay later.
#13
cbeiser said:
Drive thru ATMs and everything else. I didn't learn we had drive thru liquor stores until later in my life.
Kemalist_din_adami replied:
Drive thru atms???
cbeiser replied:
This is super normal in the USA.
In fact they aren't always machines. We have drive thru banks. Most banks have a drive thru section you can do simple bank stuff from the car. I've seen this my entire life.
weird_turn_pro replied:
Sometimes, as a kid, they would send candy in the tube with my parents' transaction. Those were the best days! Banks still do this! And they often have dog treats too!
GirlFriday 2 years ago
Wait until you learn about drive-through pharmacies. I was the maid of honor in a drive through wedding, too.
#14
Christdawarlock said:
The Cult Of Highschool/College Sports.
Natty_D replied:
It seems strange to anyone from Europe, but after starting to watch US sports I realised that a lot of states either don't have a team in a major league or will only have one. It's not like here in the UK where there are 92 teams in the football league and even more below that, most of the major leagues in the US only have 30-40 teams. That's why people are so invested in college sports, a lot of the time they're the only local teams.
WordWeaver 2 years ago
Too much hype and misplaced funding in American college sports. The whole industry should be banned or highly regulated.
#15
Might just be me, but I do notice when you ask Americans on the internet where they're from, they reply with either a state or a city instead of their country.
The thing is, it doesn't cause any confusion, since most people know most American states and at least the major cities.
You don't often see an Indonesian person, for example, say they're from West Java. Just that they're from Indonesia.
I'm not saying it's a bad thing, just an American one. I also don't think it's because of cultural variation or population. I'm Indian and I've never seen anyone say that they're from Rajasthan or Kerala on a more global level. A lot of Indian states speak different languages, have different cuisine, and live on different terrain. I think it has more to do with the fact that people broadly know American states and the distinctions between them through movies and American news and politics.
#16
Pledging allegiance to the flag or singing the national anthem outside of special events. I went to see a kids talent show in a small rural town, there were maybe 8 acts and 30 people watching and they all stood and pledged allegiance to the flag and sang the national anthem before hand. It was extremely strange.
WordWeaver 2 years ago
Fun fact. Do you know why Australia has a kangaroo and an emu on the crest? Because these animals cannot step backwards. And probably also because both look harmless and are bloody dangerous. lol
#17
Dhk3rd said:
Prescription drug commercials.
Orchid_Buddy replied:
"Ask your doctor". Only place I know where it's the patients who tell the doctor which drugs to take.
moeburn replied:
In Canada, drug companies are only allowed to advertise if they never say the name of the drug, OR if they never say what the drug does. They can't do both.
So if you watch any Toronto Blue Jays games lately you'll see ads behind the plate that say something like "Ibuflovazin - ASK YOUR DOCTOR" and you're just like "what the fu*k is ibuflovazin".
Or sometimes you'll see a commercial that says "Do you suffer from high blood pressure? There is treatment available, ask your doctor", but without specifying any drugs.
Foxxy (The Original) 2 years ago
Completely illegal in Australia to advertise prescription medication.
#18
Am American. When I moved to Australia I was constantly asked three questions:
1 - How do you pronounce "Aluminum"
2 - How do you pronounce "Jaguar"
3 - Are red Solo cups a real thing? In all the movies whenever there is a house party everyone has a red Solo cup.
I was caught completely off guard by the Solo cup question. Ever since then I've been very attentive to these damn red cups. They really are everywhere.
#19
calls_you_a_bellend said:
Mixing three different canned foods together and calling it a casserole.
LordChefChristoph replied:
Don't forget to add cheese!
surfinberrypunch replied:
And breadcrumbs on top. Lol y'all are making me hungry.
BasicWitch999 replied:
Or those little dehydrated French onion bits.
vikingrooster replied:
They are deep fried, not dehydrated.
Stephanie Wittenberg 2 years ago
US citizen here and can confirm that this is completely true! Every carry-in meal, church social, family reunion, etc. is at least half thrown together casseroles. The most famous one - which literally always appears - is canned green beans and canned cream of mushroom soup
#20
Cycleofmadness said:
Asking a complete stranger "How are you doing today?"
softprotectioncream replied:
And then just walk past them and ignore the answer.
Alpha_Decay_ replied:
Well, it's not actually a question. It just means "hello". That's why it's completely appropriate to respond with "hey". Even when someone responds with "good", they aren't actually answering a question. In that context, "good" also just means "hello". Imagine saying "hello" to someone passing by and then they just start telling you about their day. That's what it's like if someone treats it like an actual question.
magrufs replied:
Got a call while at work, a guy called and informed that one customer had a software license needing renewal. He asked how I was and I said I was fine, and I didn't ask back he said: "I'm fine thank you for asking", almost rudely. I'm from Norway, we don't ask strangers how they are.
Lady Goldberry 2 years ago
In the UK its common to nod, smile and, if you're feeling wild, give a 'good morning/afternoon/evening' when you're on a walk somewhere. But it has to specifically be on a country walk or something, can't just be nodding at everyone on your way to Lidl.
#21
otaku_wanna_bee said:
Give tips at restaurants. And give even more tips for barber / food delivery / massage. And some Asian restaurants will automatically add 20% tip after tax.
ThoriGilmore replied:
A self checkout asked me about a tip two weeks ago in the Newark airport.
Wheat_Grinder replied:
People decided to be a bit more liberal with tips during the pandemic if they could afford it and boy howdy chains were fast to try to cash in.
No, I'm not tipping at a damn Subway! Pay your goddamn workers!
WordWeaver 2 years ago
Pay a decent living wage and your workers will not have to depend on customers subsidising them so you can maximise your profits.
#22
scavenger981 said:
Saying "whatever" in the most condescending/dismissive/arrogant tone.
The_Gutgrinder replied:
Swedish people say something similar, actually. "Vem bryr sig?" which means "Who cares?". It's the go-to line when you don't actually have a counter-argument, or you're just too tired to argue.
PayNoNoticeOfMe replied:
British people just say "f@#k off".
ace axolotl (she/her) 2 years ago
american here, i would like to start saying f**k off instead of whatever
#23
Alexastria said:
Ranch.
TheArowanaDude replied:
Back when I worked in Panera Bread, a customer asked for ranch; we didn't carry it back then and when we informed him, he said: "Are y'all communists?!"
solracarevir replied:
A few years ago I went to a American Themed restaurant in the Dominican Republic, they had a decent assortment of BBQ sauces and one of the sauces was advertised as White BBQ Sauce. I know my BBQ and I have never heard of a White BBQ sauce so I decided to ask for some... It was Ranch.... I was speechless!
#24
Pademelon1 said:
Liberal = Left-Wing
Tifoso89 replied:
Yep, in Europe "liberal" means someone who supports small government, less state intervention, less public spending, privatization, lower taxes. This is generally center or center-right. Similar to what Americans call a libertarian, but usually more moderate.
#25
Barackobrock said:
Someone paid just to bag your shopping at the checkout.
Makes me feel so awkward and uncomfortable just standing there while they do it.
Danteg replied:
Yes, I lived in the U.S. for a while and the fact that labor is too cheap was one of the big differences to Europe. People bagging your groceries, greeting you when you enter the store or pumping gas for you. None of these jobs are needed or even adding any significant value. If wages were higher they would disappear.
#26
DaveDerSowjet said:
So much fast food.
0ddmanrush replied:
Hosted a person from Norway for business for 5 days a few months back. That guy wanted to eat as much red meat, sandwiches and fast food as I ever saw.
davecm010 replied:
I’m pretty sure food tourism for Europeans coming to America consists of trying all the fast food franchises they probably only ever see in American movies and TV shows. I was just in Europe and the only major fast food franchises I ever saw there were McDonalds, Burger King, and KFC.
#27
Not owning a passport. I don’t know if that is a myth but I hear that a huge percentage of Americans have never been out of the country and don’t even have a passport.
I understand that the US is huge with a massive range of landscapes and climate but it still seems a little odd to me.
According to the US State dept, they estimate 37% of US citizens ~don’t~ own a passport.
I’m sure there are plenty of perfectly good reasons for it. It’s not a criticism.
M O'Connell 2 years ago
I am a US citizen without a passport. I have no need for one. Unlike Europe, where any other country is one discount-carrier flight away it would cost me thousands of dollars to fly to ANY other country.
#28
While I admit the Brits are pretty close with their Full English Breakfast, the American greasy diner Breakfast of Eggs, Bacon, Waffles/Pancakes and Hashbrowns is pretty uniquely American.
My Italian mother has said in the past that it's the only things she's enjoyed about American food culture. My Nonna would be horrified if she heard we were eating fried eggs for breakfast.
#29
Currently on my first proper trip in the US and a few things stood out to me. (Overall great place!):
* Restaurants by default will bring everyone cups of water, sometimes with ice.
* To pay the bill in the restaurant, they take my card and walk off. Then they come back with a few extra receipts and I can write down a tip and they will change the amount they charged me later. I didn't even know this was a thing that places could do. I have notifications to check the charges are correct just in case.
* Every toilet I've been to so far has been pretty clean with little mess. Worst one was at the airport and even that wasn't too bad. Although the very high water inside the toilet is weird it hasn't been an issue... Yet. (Some confusion about this: I'm mainly just talking about in restaurants/shops. Don't think I've used "public" restrooms at any train station. Just the airport.)
* Streets go from dirty mess to clean and nice quickly. More homeless than I'm used to in London.
* Street food/stands are pretty delicious. Pretty much all food stands in NYC seem to be halal which is nice.
* Larger drink cans/portions.
* Mixed road qualities but overall big roads and cars. Not a fan of the pedestrian crossings because I just don't fully understand the symbols yet. (E: I think I get the symbols now. It was just the red hand with the timer throwing me off. Timer should be with the white figure!).
* Air conditioning everywhere which is definitely required.
* Speeding on the highway. Literally everyone is above the speed limit. We think we're missing something because EVERYONE is above the speed limit. No shot would that happen in the UK, we have cameras everywhere.
Foxxy (The Original) 2 years ago
Are food stands and food trucks quite common in the US? Not something you see very often where I live except at events, fairs, markets etc.
What do you think ?
Fiona Parky 2 years ago
I noticed a lack of public loos. If you need the loo in America you go into a fast food place, there’s no public loos. That’s really weird! It’s like all restaurants are a public convenience. You can afford to have more guns than population but you can’t afford to let the population pee?
BadCat 2 years ago
I'm not entirely knowledgeable for the USA aspect, but in Canada it's not any better. Sometimes it's worse. You're likely to find a free bathroom in a grocery store, convenient store or mall. But in many food establishments they washrooms are reserved for paying customers. It's even more difficult to find a washroom in the downtown areas after business hours. I know in Winnipeg there is a scarce amount of washroom facilities in the downtown to the point you're in trouble if your gut is doing rolling around.
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Frisinator 2 years ago
I've noticed that BP likes to post s**t that bashes America. We aren't perfect, but neither are you.
Mistiekim 2 years ago
This isn’t bashing America, it’s a list of differences. I like to read things like this. I wanna learn how other countries differ from us, I’d love to travel to Europe someday so this is kind of a heads up of things.
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Fiona Parky 2 years ago
I noticed a lack of public loos. If you need the loo in America you go into a fast food place, there’s no public loos. That’s really weird! It’s like all restaurants are a public convenience. You can afford to have more guns than population but you can’t afford to let the population pee?
BadCat 2 years ago
I'm not entirely knowledgeable for the USA aspect, but in Canada it's not any better. Sometimes it's worse. You're likely to find a free bathroom in a grocery store, convenient store or mall. But in many food establishments they washrooms are reserved for paying customers. It's even more difficult to find a washroom in the downtown areas after business hours. I know in Winnipeg there is a scarce amount of washroom facilities in the downtown to the point you're in trouble if your gut is doing rolling around.
Load More Replies... Frisinator 2 years ago
I've noticed that BP likes to post s**t that bashes America. We aren't perfect, but neither are you.
Mistiekim 2 years ago
This isn’t bashing America, it’s a list of differences. I like to read things like this. I wanna learn how other countries differ from us, I’d love to travel to Europe someday so this is kind of a heads up of things.
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