Get Premium
Dark mode theme is available exclusively for premium users. Learn more about the benefits of subscribing.
No fees, cancel anytime.
Dark Mode 
No fees, cancel anytime 
then open in external browser
and click "Open in External Browser" 
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
This post may include affiliate links.
#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 3 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.
BobTDG 3 years ago
Ditto, for the UK (except we don't do ANZAC day though we dragged you into WWI&2
Load More Replies...
Tracy Wallick 3 years ago
I'm in the military, and at least in my community within it, we think it's weird and kind of awkward being thanked for our service. What do you even say to that?
Dilly Millandry 3 years ago
It's trotted out almost by rote as well... makes it meaningless sadly.
Load More Replies...
Patti Vance 3 years ago
i once invited my dad to take a trip to the vietnam memorial and he refused. never said much about why until i asked him a bit later. he said that he was proud of his military career but the recent habit of thanking veterans sounds hollow to him because he will never forget being spit on, having things thrown at him, and cussed at as a 'baby killer' when he returned. i was young when this happened and i witnessed it and didn't understand at the time. he said he understood the anti-war movement but a large portion of those protesting took their anger out on the servicemen and not the politicians who perpetuated the war for personal and financial gain. i can respect his attitudes now.
Foxxy (The Original) 3 years ago
I wouldn't even know a military personnel just by looking at them. I think I have only ever seen 2 people in uniform. The only time veterans are really thanked and honoured I a big way is on ANZAC day and remembrance day.
BobTDG 3 years ago
Same. I know 2 ex-navy personnel but you can't tell by looking.
Load More Replies... Hypoxia Smurf 3 years ago
I get a preferred parking space at the cheap grocery, and 10% off at the hardware complex and THC dispensary. That's about enough 'thanks' for me.
Eooj 3 years ago
Why should you get a preferred parking space and shopping discount?
Load More Replies... Viana Castello 3 years ago
Thanking them? Rather educate them that us military should not invade any other country, only be prepared to defend their own when attacked. Preventive war is like preventive prison.
Brenda 3 years ago
That's BS. His records would show that he was injured in the line of duty. It would show EXACTLY how, when, & where he was injured and what medical treatment he received. While it might take some time to get thru the red tape, there's NO WAY he fought it for 40 years. If this is true, he needs to get copies of his records (he is entitled to all his medical records). Then talk to the VA advocate or someone in legal.
Pursuing Peonies 3 years ago
The issue is that the VA doesn't always do the best (partially because they're under funded and staffed, and partially because some of the employees don't care, sadly) and getting copies of medical records is often more effort than it's worth. Especially if he went to the Dr for something "normal/everyday" like migraines or back strain and the dr decided to try and blame all their problems on this one thing that probably doesn't actually have anything to do with the problem they asked about. It's unfortunately so very common in the us, and not talked about, but accepted as though there's nothing we can do about it.
Load More Replies... Lady Goldberry 3 years ago
My grandad was a Chelsea pensioner (RQMS Wilson, thanks very much) and I used to love walking around with him in his scarlet regimentals. He'd have tourists and all sorts wanting to take his pic...took us ages to get anywhere lol.
Anthony Mann 3 years ago
I appreciate the sentiment when people thank me for my service (22yrs US Army), but it still makes me very self concious and uneasy. I'm proud of my military service, but I see it as a profession, and not some heroic endeavor. Yes, a lot of personal sacrifice was involved, but.. I chose that life, and accepted the risks.
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. 3 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....
BlackestDawn 3 years ago
They certainly could print shelf tags with tax but the major reason I have been told is that it would be bad for competition. The examples I've been presented is that different sides of a town or even a road could have different tax amounts and thus different final prices for the same product. This would give the side with the lower tax amount an "unfair" competitive advantage over the other side. I call BS on this since (outside of tourist places) the majority of customers would be those living there and they would learn which store has what tax amount and choose what is "best" for them, thus (re-)introducing that competitive advantage they tried to remove by not including taxes in display prices.
Load More Replies...
WordWeaver 3 years ago
In Australia, the price on the shelf includes the GST. Only trades people need to add it on their bills.
Jill Bussey 3 years ago
I understand this is because purchase tax is not the same all over the US. But why isn't it? Even so, just put the complete price on.
Felype Rennan 3 years ago (edited)
In Brazil the prices on the shelves is the total price of the product unit with taxes included. And then we get the DANFE (the electronic tax document receipt) which discriminates the taxes one by one on each item
Lazy Panda (she/her/hers) 3 years ago
The real answer is that because it’s not currently done that way, it would take a wide-reaching state or national law for stores to start listing price including tax. If one store or chain or city started on its own, it’s not likely to draw customers (because people are used to figuring in the tax) but might lose some (because people are also dumb and will think prices are higher even though the total is the same), so there is no incentive for them to be the ones to start. And there are so many other more important topics, I’m not aware of any grassroots activism pushing for this legislation, whole store lobbies would probably fight it.
LilliVB 3 years ago
I understand that, but it's not like the taxes are changing every day o week or month. So every shop knows how much that single item in their store is taxed, and instead of having them taxed at the till they could put it in the price tag
Load More Replies...
Iifa A. 3 years ago
But it's done. Usually advertising prices or sales print out which store locations participate in that campaign. Again it's done, also while some eu countries also manage different currencies due to not using euros. Bigger cities tax is higher but same store across the country prices can vary drastically. For example I live in Dublin, I have two Tesco's. One is noticeably more expensive being in city center, the other one is same distance but less traffic area and is cheaper. Both are 10minute walk. Don't see issues, also while having coffee shops all across UK and Ireland each shop had own prices depending on location, two could be 5minutes from each other and share a team and prices would be different except for seasonal products. Same cup of coffee varied across the shops, but Christmas drinks for season same price as a store wide promot. Prices get printed when updated on system, or if tax type gets changed, automatically printed on notice.
Load More Replies...
#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 3 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.
Nikki Sevven 3 years ago
Agree. This site habitually judges my entire country by the one 400lb idiot wearing American flag pants and a Trump t-shirt, gun in one hand and Big Mac in the other, who doesn't know the capital of his own state and can't find it on a map.
Load More Replies...
Lady Goldberry 3 years ago
I'm a smiler and I'm in the UK. Seeing someone looking happy is great. Unless they're a Tory, then I want to know what horror they've committed to be looking so darn perky.
CA3 3 years ago
Yes, but at least Boris didn't send an angry bunch of lunatics to attack Parliament.
Load More Replies... WordWeaver 3 years ago
Australians have the same immigration history but we don't smile all the time either. So, an American culture thing?
Daniel O'Neal 3 years ago
I'm in the US and most people I know definitely do not randomly smile for no reason. Maybe I've lead a sheltered life?
Load More Replies...
Kristin Ingersoll 3 years ago
I like that last paragraph - the explanation. Maybe that IS why we come off as super friendly (which is apparently earth shatteringly jarring for others). It makes perfect sense!
Trophy Husband 3 years ago
I'm going to keep smiling... This is one that I'm proud of (and that doesn't come often).
CA3 3 years ago
Me, too. Sadly, I see fewer and fewer smiles with each passing year. The distrust that's been fostered by a select few over the last 20 years has made that especially true among the younger members of our society. I'm hoping that will change for their own physical and mental health.
Load More Replies... Iifa A. 3 years ago
I feel weird when random people smile at me. Like what are you laughing at, do I look funny, is there something on me. Did I dry a sock on the back of my blouse again. I feel people who constantly smile are dangerous, and I stay away. Life is not smiles and rainbows. When a child tells you a stranger approached them and smiled friendly you would be alarmed. Real emotions shouldn't be censored, and honestly when I walk home alone I do d it super uncomfortable when strangers smile at me. I would feel a lot more comfortable if they minded their steps and don't react to me unless you need help, save me from danger, or if you do want to be introduced approach introduce yourself and smile. In reverse it's just like a candyman creepily smiling at distance while his eyes follow you, you don't know him, and you don't know what he thinks. Though 9/10 times I think there's something funny on me. And then it's just plain rude not to inform me that my thongs are stuck to my pants.
Sandra Morison 3 years ago
That's definitely one nice thing about most Americans they appear friendly and polite
#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 3 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.
Kylie Mountain 3 years ago
Tell me about it. Senior year of high school, our social studies curriculum was supposed to be mainly 'civics.' We spent a mind-numbing amount of time learning the exact same 'branches, checks and balances of government' information that I first learned in third grade (information that I largely consider to be part of the American mythology, anyway.) Presented as if it was entirely new information, step by hideously boring step. It doesn't seem to occur to anyone that 'civics' involves more than the basic structure of the government, a reminder to vote when we turn 18, and maybe some stuff about the Constitution and the Revolutionary War.
Load More Replies...
Honu 3 years ago
The pro-capitalist political messaging in the US is simply covering up the government handing big corporations massive profits at the expense of regular working people. Healthcare is a big one. We pay a massive amount into the private insurance market during our working years when we need less expensive care. When we are elderly or if we become disabled, we're on the government plan. Meanwhile, we're all paying more for healthcare and getting less because it's about profit and not care. Like SL1Fun said, the government hampers itself from acting competently to give corporations more money. Our government has long been about privatizing the money-making but socializing the expenses. Then they try to convince us that the privatization and "running government like a business" is actually good for us. It's efficient and saving us money. Bribery is effectively legal here. The legislature works for the corporations. They've been targeting education for years and that seems to be ramping up.
Flash Henry 3 years ago
The anti-communist mindset was created by propaganda during the Cold War that demonized anything remotely Russian or communist. Somehow a huge chunk of the population missed that fact.
Patti Vance 3 years ago
omg...so true. in the current political arena i am so sick of people thinking anything that is slightly liberal leaning is a path to communism. when i hear people express this idea it tells me that they didn't pay attention in history or civics or political science classes. communism is NOT socialism and socialism is NOT communism. if people would only realize how "socialist" some of out taken for granted resources are they wouldn't be so hostile against the idea. just let their houses go up in flames, need police assistance or even suffer natural disaster and then tell responders they don't want their collectively tax paid services for help because it is socialism. wouldn't even be able to flush a toilet without it.
RandomCitizen 3 years ago
Don't confuse liberalism with Socialism. One is about economics the other is about culture and freedoms. People can be socialist authoritarian. Or a capitalist liberal.
Load More Replies... James G. Currie 3 years ago
Equating the two as being the same is far from a US only stupidity. I've seen Canadian media reporting on socialism issues and referring to them as communism...despite the fact we live in a Socialist country! (As if socialism is somehow anti-democratic!)
Frank Hassler 3 years ago
I like the idea of framing it like fire and police service. We all pay into these systems so they are there when we need them.
LilliVB 3 years ago
I think the biggest problem in the US is that for many people there is this weird association public=communist. In Europe, the places where the public services work better are mostly in the western countries, that weren't never communist. For us public doesn't mean communist, therefore there is not a perceiveble negative connotation in it
Mistiekim 3 years ago
Yes - the older generations were taught to think that if something had anything to do with the commies it was going to ruin America, and passed that on to their kids. I’m sure some politicians along the way figured out the financial gains of avoiding a public service system. Propaganda was spread from there.
Load More Replies... Ray McArdle 3 years ago
Americans are programmed like to conflate the two. Ask any of them what socialism is, and the answer will start with," ... isn't that where...?"
Rainy Day Wolf 3 years ago
It's convenient indoctrination, capitalism over there is so exploitative that requires people to reject anything that could help them so companies can keep "growing exponentially"
#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 3 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?
BadCat 3 years ago
The USA had started implement universal healthcare but it fell through the cracks and caused a heap of complications with people's existing health insurance. Not everyone was on board with it, and considered it a wildly liberal idea calling it "Obamacare". So, heavily right leaning capitalists were adamantly against it, claiming they didn't want to "pay for other people's medical bills with taxes" and fears of a downgrade in health treatments, high wait times and sky rocketing taxes were spread around by opposing politicians.
Load More Replies... Lady Goldberry 3 years ago
Another bit about US healthcare...got news guys: THEY ALREADY KNOW IT'S A BAD SYSTEM!
TeenieMeanie 3 years ago
The combination of people voting against their own interests and narcissistic individualism is pretty deadly here in the US
JPotts 3 years ago
Number one reason for personal bankruptcy in the USA: Medical Expenses. Can't express my anger enough over this. Your life savings could be gone very fast if your medical treatment is not covered.
CA3 3 years ago
Nevertheless, the biggest discussion now is about college loan debt. People ELECT to take on college debt in hope of improving their lives. Most people with medical debt were forced to take it on simply to live.
Load More Replies... GirlFriday 3 years ago
I have great health insurance through my job, and if it wasn't for that, I would not be able to afford medication. It is sad that we can't at least do Medicare for all, but that is what happens when pharmacies and insurance companies are allowed to "contribute" millions of dollars to lawmakers campaigns. It is so sad.
Amy Taylor 3 years ago
My dear friend just lost his insurance coverage he had through his job and he's a type 1 diabetic :( the cheapest private insurance he could find was almost $400 a month.
Load More Replies...
Sarah Bell 3 years ago
I'm over 100,000 dollars in medical debt . Some of it comes from when I was uninsured but most of it was from when I WAS insured. I just had c**p insurance that my husband payed out the nose for that wouldn't cover anything. It is from keeping me alive. My job offered it but it wasn't worth it because they were more expensive and covered less . I spent a lit of time in ICU/CCU fighting to stay alive for my children. I couldn't leave them without a mom . I owe absolutely NOTHING for credit card debt , I owe nothing at all to anyone else in this world except to stay alive. It wasn't poor financial decisions that lead me to this . It was that I was in poor health . I worked 80 weeks months at a time back when I could still work . I ran my body into the ground to afford to get my meds that I needed. One of them bwing insulin ... you can't live without that when you are a type one . It's not as simple as loose weight and watch what you eat. I weighed 119 pounds when I was diagnosed as a 21 year old . I watch my diet and count my carbs and do all of my shots and blood sugar testing but it's still put of control and I'm tired of being labeled as non compliance when I do what I am supposed to but all of my other conditions affect my numbers but I try my hardest and they don't understand. Fighting for disability and I've been for years but the only reason they can give me is my age . I'm young enough yo learn a new skill and that if I did better I wouldn't be as sick ...but that's a story for another time . Point is I can get a used car or afford a better home because of my credit and debt .
Talon 3 years ago
Ya the US sucks for medical care, I’m Canadian and yesterday I got a gash on my face, I went to the Children’s hospital in my city, sat in the waiting room (we did have to wait a while but it wasn’t too long, 3 1/2 hours), and they checked and made sure I didn’t need stitches or glue, they gave us some gauze and polysporin and tiny tape and bandaids just in case, the only thing we had to pay for was the parking
Shelley DuVal 3 years ago
I keep saying that America is on the brink of being a 3rd world country. Usually get a reply of we have a fantastic defence force and we have nuclear weapons. Well whoopi do, so does North Korea and that is one of the most 3rd world countries. And even then, I think that maybe NK has a better medical system.
#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.
Amy Taylor 3 years ago
Same. I always wonder if it's because my grandparents were from Europe that I was raised to use a low register when speaking in public places. I''m never loud, lol
Load More Replies... Daniel O'Neal 3 years ago
This is most certainly not all Americans. You just notice the loud ones more.
Eooj 3 years ago
True, but in a group of various nationalities it is invariably those from the US who can be heard above others.
Load More Replies... Hypoxia Smurf 3 years ago
We Californians have often visited Central America. We are mistaken for Canadians because we speak softly and politely. We noted some obvious stereotypes: USAnians are loud, sloppily-dressed, but clean. Russians are similar but with worse sanitation. Germans dress insanely and carry long-lens cameras. The French and Polish dress well and smoke constantly. The Chinese and Japanese dress casually and don't mix with locals. And street merchants can cite prices and make change in a dozen languages.
James G. Currie 3 years ago (edited)
Add in a cellular telephone, and I think that this is an almost Universal Affliction... The microphone is sensitive enough that your normal telephone voice will be enough in almost all cases... I do NOT need to be hearing the gore-y details of your last medical exam over the sound of the bus driving from 10 metres away!
#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 3 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
James G. Currie 3 years ago
McDicks has a Company wide policy (no mention on most menus) of Free Unlimited refills... for *small* drinks. I've known about it for much of my life, but I've never taken advantage, because I'm usually not finished my drink by the time I finish the food anyway...
Load More Replies... BadCat 3 years ago (edited)
I've seen fast food staff in Canada take people's drinks out of their hands if they caught a customer refilling their drinks. Some places won't even allow people free tap water anymore. However some restaurants here do have free refills on coffee/tea and/or soft drinks. So, no, it's not entirely not a thing in Canada. Just depends on the establishment. It's usually indicated on the menus.
Do i have to? 3 years ago
The one I went to also had free refills of frozen yogurt
Load More Replies... Kat 3 years ago
Technically the raspberry lemonade type drinks don't have free refills, that's only for soda, coffee, tea or water. Last time I was at IHOP the server gave us free refills and offered a to-go cup. I thought it was really nice of her because she was in no way obligated to do it.
James G. Currie 3 years ago
Snowy don't know what he talks about... There are plenty of places that offer Free Refills (not just of coffee or ice water) in Canada! One of my favourite places has unlimited refills for fountain drinks... I've had the waitress walk-up and put a new drink on the table when I'm almost finished, without her even asking! (Chain called Mongo's.)
Lazy Panda (she/her/hers) 3 years ago
The free refill to go thing is definitely regional. I live in the upper Midwest and never see someone ask a server for that (vs a self-serve soda fountain at a fast food place). But traveling a little south and east of here it seems normal at cheap casual restaurants.
DennyS (denzoren) 3 years ago
I remember experiencing this for the first time and being all like, I can drink all I want!....couldn't even finish the one cup of soda. Lol
#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.
Turnip and a Frog 3 years ago (edited)
In Poland we use BLIK, you don’t need your wallet or credit/debit card with you, all you need is a phone. At checkout you declare you’ll pay with BLIK, open your banking app, tap BLIK icon and a single 60-seconds valid code is generated, which you enter into the terminal. That’s it. It’s awesome and extremely safe. https://blik.com/en. In-phone payment features also come in handy.
Carrie Laughs 3 years ago
Upvoted to cancel out the downvote that put you in the negative. WHY are people downvoting someone for sharing what they do in their country? Come on folks!!
Load More Replies...
Trophy Husband 3 years ago
At bars in the US, you can open a tab by leaving your card with them all night. If you're at a table they don't require it until you're done, but if you're at the bar they worry you'll get drunk and leave without paying
Faeryn Savage 3 years ago
Which results in getting drunk and leaving without your card. :P
Load More Replies...
Odile Wipp 3 years ago
I live in Spain and I believe here it is illegal for someone to take your card out of your line of vision. They bring the machine to you and you enter or scan your own card.
Hypoxia Smurf 3 years ago
Gringos here. In our low-budget travels in Mexico and Central America, we never handed a card to ANYONE. Take the ATM card to a bank's outdoor kiosk with a uniformed armed guard standing close by. Pay cash for everything. A lesson from a 2001 trip to Italy: Keep all receipts. Tax cops wandered the tourist zones, checking that we paid for whatever we carried, including tax. At least the local wine was cheap.
Jill Bussey 3 years ago
Certainly in the UK the staff bring the card machine to your table. The card never leaves your sight and a good staff member will turn their back so they can't see you enter the PIN.
CA3 3 years ago
As others have said, some U.S. restaurants have portable readers or install them at each table. The vast majority do not. I imagine the cost of switching to this is quite high and the profit in food service tends to be rather low.
Load More Replies... CA3 3 years ago
This strikes me as a little odd for two reasons. First, credit cards have existed since the '50s and their use in the U.S. became ubiquitous by the '70s. The technology for accepting them at the table of a restaurant has existed for about 20 years. Therefore, handing over a credit card to a server was a universal practice for well over 20 years. Second, because I really enjoy eating out, I've easily handed over my credit card to a server a thousand times. Although I have suffered a few credit card rip-offs, it has never been due to that.
#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 3 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.
Fenchurch 3 years ago
They are springing up in urban UK. I saw several overhanging car parking spaces at a local supermarket.... And I was like what are you doing? Why do you drive a pristine truck to the supermarket? These trucks have never seen a work day in their lives!
Load More Replies... Nikki Sevven 3 years ago
In this US, public transportation will generally only be found in large cities. We have no usable rail system, because, like Australia, the population mostly lives in coastal areas and there's a lot of empty space in the middle of the country, so it wouldn't be cost-effective. And over the past 40 years, corporate stores and restaurants have replaced local neighborhood businesses, so there's nothing within walking distance. You have to drive to the "shopping district."
Foxxy (The Original) 3 years ago (edited)
In Australia we have Utes aka utility vehicles, it's like a smaller version of a pick up. We do get the bigger ones too but they are still called utes.
Just me 3 years ago
Most cities in the USA don't have a 'corner store', etc. We live in suburbs, farms, ranches, etc. Transportation is necessary, busses don't necessarily go where you need to be.
foofoofloofy 3 years ago
Yes! We have a very "spread-out" population, and most areas are very sparsely populated. It would be a waste of money, time, and resources to install public transportation that almost nobody would use.
Load More Replies... Fiona Parky 3 years ago
This is what most struck me when visiting America. I visited a load of places, both east coast and west coast and walking just doesn’t seem to happen. I remember asking for directions in San Francisco, a city I thought had more walkers, and being told “it’s 2 blocks that way, you can get a cab outside”. It’s 2 blocks! I can walk that in 5 minutes. Maybe they thought I looked unfit!
SupernaturalPanda 3 years ago
I also used public transport when I lived in Germany but in the US you really need a car unless you actually live dead center in a big city...which I don’t ...therefore I have a car.
James016 3 years ago
USA town planning seems to be centred around driving. In another thread on here, there was a picture of a very long drive to get to the next road or something like that because they had not built in a way to get to the next road
Hypoxia Smurf 3 years ago
Along many USA limited-access highways ('freeways' and 'tollways') no turnaround lanes are available; thus, if you miss your exit, you necessarily must drive many miles for the next intersection. Meanwhile, I can point to the silly city of Corona, California, which was originally built inside a one-mile diameter auto racing track. A city made for cars, FTW!
Load More Replies...
Soosh_tr 3 years ago
I don't know if Americans have a grant for hybrid or electric cars but in Canada we do. Hence, even if the gas prices are soaring in the US there seems to be few of these vehicles on the road. For example, when we went through the customs from Nyc to Montreal last week we went from approx 10% of hybrid or electric on I 89 to about half on highway 15north. New Yorkers do not look as ready for the change. In 2034, no more new gas vehicles will be sold in Canada.
Soosh_tr 3 years ago
I mean the number of electric or hybrid vehicles in Quebec is staggering.
Load More Replies...
Secret Truths. 3 years ago
I live in a very large suburb in Houston, TX. I moved here about 5 years ago and no one seemed to know why or care that there are LITERALLY, no roadside sidewalks. I get strange looks when I cross the street to a convenience store. I can't even walk the 2 miles to work because I would have to walk in a ditch/culvert. The only stretch of grass my entire neighborhood is where I sidewalk would be anywhere else.
RK Barbo 3 years ago
This, and the aggressiveness of drivers. They don't pay attention to things like crosswalks. They're so worried about making the light before it changes. I walk all the time and can't even count how many close calls I've had.
Load More Replies... #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.
basil 3 years ago
It's still not as weird as the pledge of allegiance. At least other countries have a national anthem
Nikki Sevven 3 years ago
I'm American and I think the pledge is weird. I also find it weird that about 10% of Americans display the flag at their houses.
Load More Replies...
RandomFrog(He/They️️) 3 years ago
We have to say the pledge of allegiance every day at school. Also it says “one nation under god” and I refuse to say that part becuase I am an athiest.
RandomCitizen 3 years ago
It's been judged as an act of worship to the state, by the US supreme court. Kids don't have to do it if they claim religious exemption. But most teachers don't know that.
Load More Replies...
DragonsFox 3 years ago
First amendment protects your right to say or not say the pledge or anthem.
RandomCitizen 3 years ago
But they had to take the case to the supreme court to get that right.
Load More Replies... BadCat 3 years ago
Just a question: Since the USA has Spanish and English as official languages, does your schools play the national anthem in both languages or just English? If both languages, is it alternated on days or do the schools play the anthem in mixed languages?
BobTDG 3 years ago
It doesn't. The US has no Official language. Spanish and English are the most widely spoken though.
Load More Replies... WordWeaver 3 years ago
Imagine how Australians and New Zealanders would react if any similar pledge was even suggested?
Foxxy (The Original) 3 years ago
When I was at school I think we sang the national anthem less than 5 times a year. Mainly sang on sports day, end of year concert etc. I personally don't know anyone who even knows the second verse of our anthem.
BobTDG 3 years ago
In the UK we barely stumble through ours, no-one really knows it. I sung it once in a decade at school.
Load More Replies...
Hiram's Friend 3 years ago
Ever seen any event involving the British royals? The Queen must be sick and tired of hearing "God Save the Queen" eight or ten times a day.
Patti Vance 3 years ago
like this inclusion, especially in light of so many right leaning people declaring they don't want indoctrination. what the heck did they think they were experiencing when these kind of things were being taught and carried out daily and considered the norm? i attended a venue that started it's activity with the pledge of allegience and noticed that the majority were well over 50 yrs old and they all remember the pledge. if that's not indoctrination i don't know what is.
Bobby 3 years ago
I once heard that the US national anthem is the only one in the world that doesn't say the name of the country. I think it's weird that we slap USA on everything but our own anthem
Puck 3 years ago
The Dutch anthem doesn't mention the country either. It does however mention being of German blood en honoring the Spanish king...... 😁
Load More Replies... #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 3 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.
Trillian 3 years ago
I get why you‘re using it but me then having to bring a sweater to the mall or movies is what makes it ridiculous
Load More Replies...
Nikki Sevven 3 years ago
Because the use of it is unreasonable. If it's 35º and humid outside, many stores will lower their AC to 21º. I always have to have a sweater with me when shopping, because the stores are freezing. It's unnecessary and wasteful.
Trophy Husband 3 years ago
I have medical issues with heat. And I live in Florida. If be dead without AC.
Load More Replies...
Tracy Wallick 3 years ago
To be fair, there are parts of the US that going without would be a death sentence-- I grew up in a part of southern California that, during the summer, regularly exceeded 110 F (43 C) and stayed there for months at a time.
Allison B 3 years ago
I'm in Missouri. It was 113° and very humid this afternoon. Air conditioning is a necessity here. There's been quite a few reports over the years of people dying because of the heat here without air conditioning.
GirlFriday 3 years ago
It was 39C here yesterday and I stayed inside until the early evening. I couldn't imagine being in Australia without AC.
Load More Replies...
Honu 3 years ago
There are places in the US where it isn't as common, but as it gets warmer, more people are adding it. Places along the West coast from Northern California on up have historically been quite temperate. Many homes don't have AC. It's getting warmer and people are putting AC in more frequently now. I did. It used to be you'd have a few really hot days in the summer, but mostly you could keep your house pretty comfortable without it. Now, the heat waves are more common so even folks in Seattle are starting to deem it a necessity.
Puter Prsn 3 years ago
I'm in Texas. It's 109 now, and won't dip under 85 at any time in the foreseeable future. I'm not gonna apologize either.
#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) 3 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.
necessary cephalopod 3 years ago
Umm no. That's not most places, that's mainly pubs. I go to restaurants constantly and have worked hospo, the 'pay at the bar' model is not at all common.
Load More Replies...
RandomFrog(He/They️️) 3 years ago
Oh the way they do it is they’re just like oh can I take your plates, then they give you the bill and say whenever your ready you can go.
Jess The Mess 3 years ago
As a former server, if you DONT hand them the check before they have to ask, customers may get moody. I always follow with a "no rush" as I see a lot of other servers do just so we don't make them feel like we're trying to kick them out. But we're over worked and understaffed most places, so it's easier to know that parts taken care of than make them wait 15 min because we got sidetracked helping our 10 other tables.
BadCat 3 years ago
I agree that it is a bit rude. Especially when you've been anticipating dessert and you haven't had a chance to ask for the dessert menu first. You just feel rushed out.
Demongrrrrl 3 years ago
I've been to restaurants where they present you with the bill at the same time they bring your food.
Load More Replies...
Historyharlot93 3 years ago
When my husband and I were fine dining in France, we felt rude to ask for the bill. We knew we had to ask for it, but it felt weird. I guess it’s one of those unwritten/unspoken cultural things you don’t know you’re doing.
Sarah Bell 3 years ago
I was a server for years when I was younger and I'm an American. I've had people get mad because I gave them the bill and mad because I didn't give them the bill. You can't please everyone . So I usually waited until all of the plates are not being touched and say , hey I'm not rushing you. Stay as long as you like and let me know when you would like the check . I STILL haf people who would get mad at me . Remember that I. Working for 2 13 and hour and living off of tips and the people who were offended didn't tip , not matter how good the service was. I think they were looking for an excuse to not tip . It was so backwards. Cooks made min wage and got one free shift meal . Servers paid WAY under min wage had to pay for their meal but It was slightly discounted. The tips were supposed to get me at least min wage an hour but tips shouldn't be compensation for pay . Tips should be extra for good service . If I didn't make min wage at the end of the night I would have to claim I did or get into trouble with my boss because if I didn't make it they were required to make it up and they NEVER did that sp we had to lie . Tips are also taken Into account with taxes in some areas and again its a tip for good service nit compensation for cheap employers. Sorry for the rant . I'm still salty. I once worked at a Japanese grill. I had to give the cooks half of my tips and the bus boys 5 percent . So if I made 100 in tips I'm down to 50 then paying the bus Boys 5. So I walk out with 45 for an entire night . The cooks made WAY above min wage and I made 2.50 an hour . SUCKS that place was toxic but thsts another story lol
Sarah Bell 3 years ago
Oh and the bus Boys did nothing. I had tables of 16 seats so I had to clear it so I could get another table but dealing with my other 16 top I didn't have a lot of time . The did nothing but smoke weed ( nothing against it but don't do it at work ) and would sit outside all night or hang out in the kitchen . So I paid them money for nothing . I should have lied but I'm too honest for thst and I struggled hard .
Load More Replies...
Brenda Pereira 3 years ago
We went to Paris for vacation one year and never caught on to this. We would sit and talk and wait and wait and wait, then finally had to call someone over for our check. It never occurred to us that they wouldn't just bring it.
#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 3 years ago
Wait until you learn about drive-through pharmacies. I was the maid of honor in a drive through wedding, too.
Pheebs 3 years ago
Not quite the same, but I almost laughed myself silly the first time I saw a drive in church. Drive thru liquor is ridiculous. I kind of like drive thru pharmacies, especially as it means someone sick or feeble doesn’t have to walk thru a store.
Load More Replies... BadCat 3 years ago
Sounds like a North American thing then. Pretty much every stand alone bank has one in Canada, too.
Load More Replies...
Miz Chelle 3 years ago
My dad's bank started stocking bird treats when he would regularly bring my cockatiel through the drive thru with him (wing feathers were clipped so he couldn't fly)
SupernaturalPanda 3 years ago
Still waiting for someone to explain to me why drive up atms have Braille on keypads.....anyone????
T Lee Mac 3 years ago (edited)
Because blind people use ATMs too and use taxis and Uber or are just passengers in cars and want to do their own transactions. Pedestrians use them too. Disabilities regulations also make them universal to everyone and it doesn’t make any sense for companies to have to produce more than one type.
Load More Replies... DennyS (denzoren) 3 years ago
So two funny stories, 1. Tried one, had to get out because I couldn't reach the money. 2. We pretended to be a car, four passengers and walked up to one once...not as exciting as it first seemed. Lol
Pheebs 3 years ago
Lol. I am far too short for drive they banking - atm or teller. Having to kneel on my car seat just to reach something is not comfortable or safe.
Load More Replies...
Sonnovab Kegeles 3 years ago
Forget the banks and pharmacies, we have drive through funerals here in Memphis Tennessee. https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/on-small-business/wp/2017/03/13/a-drive-thru-funeral-home-why-not/
#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 3 years ago
Too much hype and misplaced funding in American college sports. The whole industry should be banned or highly regulated.
Naomi Amaya 3 years ago
I look forward to college football season every year. I have my team's schedule posted on my fridge and written into my monthly planner. During the off season I read my team's updates and watch recruited players highlights. I guess that makes me a cult member. But I wouldn't trade a single past season Saturday afternoon I spent watching college football with my dad!
James G. Currie 3 years ago
Never was a big sports fanatic... Occasionally will watch the odd MLB, CFL game, auto race/event, or such; but I don't eat / sleep and breath sports. For the US's example, I have a significant gripe... Other than track, women are *still* being seriously shafted, with pennies to the dollar spent on their sports and/or teams. (And in some cases, the female team is actually superior to the male team in every way!) Much of the same attitudes are here in Canada as well... I can remember at one point, a sports caster mentioned in passing that one of the local Uni's women's teams had been undefeated across several hundreds (read several years) of games - all because the Male coach was retiring, if I recall correctly.
Mark Stevenson 3 years ago
Agreed, us citizen. Also many of the players on college teams would be banned from the team and likely kicked out of the college if they tried to get any kind of pay for playing. Don't know if this has changed but it has been this way in our country for a long time. So they are good enough to play for the college and bring in fans to buy tickets for the college but they can't get paid for it and be able pay for treatment if they get injured for the college?
Puter Prsn 3 years ago
Actually there are AAA teams, feeder teams, that are local. We have a major league team in the Dallas/Fort Worth area, but we also have a lower-league team here. Lots of town and cities have local teams, they just don't get a lot of press.
Honu 3 years ago (edited)
I'm not really a sports fan, but I always thought it was strange to be emotionally invested in a particular professional team. Those players are hired from all over to come play for that city's team. They might be there awhile, then move to another city. So my "local" sport team wasn't really local people. I have no connection to them. I can enjoy watching a game, but I'm happy for whoever has a good play. Good for them! Nice job! They just did an amazingly athletic thing I could never do. But I'm not emotionally attached to one side or the other. When I watched a high school or college game back when I was in school, those were my classmates. I'd feel more allied to a team going to the high school game where it might be my (purely hypothetical) kid, their friends, my neighbors' kids, than I would be watching my city's team of professionals.
Foxxy (The Original) 3 years ago
I don't think we have college sports in Australia or if we do I have never heard of them. We have local footy clubs but it's still nowhere as big as the US. Even cheerleeding and mascots don't seem to be a big thing either.
Huddo's sister 3 years ago
There often are teams at unis- not sure if they do much more than just the 'uni games' round robin once a year though. If they do, there certainly aren't many spectators.
Load More Replies... #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.
JPotts 3 years ago
Guilty, I just did that earlier. When describing where I live to someone outside of the U.S. I usually say I am a few hours from New York City. Most people know where that is. And yes, describing distance in hours to drive is also an American thing.
James G. Currie 3 years ago
Sorry, it is not JUST an American thing... lol... Canadian here, and we have a LOT more hours of travel than you. ;) For short trips, they are generally "Oh, it's # kilometres!" For longer trips, hours come in. In fact, some road trips are described by *days* of travel!
Load More Replies...
Eooj2 3 years ago
Hong Kong & China is not a valid comparison to US states. For example HK and China have different passports, where every US state uses the same US passport.
Load More Replies... Nikki Sevven 3 years ago
This is because the US is more like the EU than a unified country. For me, it would be state (Massachusetts), region (New England), then country (US).
Eooj 3 years ago
US citizens may consider their home state the key reference, but the rest of the World considers the country.
Load More Replies...
Agron54 3 years ago
The US is a constitutional republic, in many countries states and provinces are seen simply as administrative bodies. Individual States in the US can have massively different cultures, laws, and histories.
Huddo's sister 3 years ago
That's not really that different to Australia, even though we are a constitutional monarchy- each of our states has different road/licensing rules, educational systems and hospital systems, for example. The laws that come to mind because of your current events, are our abortion laws. Each state has designations of how many weeks you have before termination is disallowed and whether you need one or two doctors to sign off on them etc. Also our states have very different cultures (though NSW is half like Victoria and half like QLD I guess). If you want somewhere to hang out near art galleries and laneways with boutiques while sipping a coffee, you would head Victoria rather than the Northern Territory where they would probably look at you funnily if you ordered a dirty chai latte with almond milk :)
Load More Replies...
T Lee Mac 3 years ago
Yes. The ‘good ole USA’ thinks everything revolves around them and even though most don’t know anything beyond their tristate area at most they think they’re number one for everything whereas the rest of the world knows they are not.
Load More Replies... Hiram's Friend 3 years ago
There's a reason that it is the "United States" of America. Country started out as a federation of independent states. Vast geographical and political differences between the coasts and the fly-over states. There's a reason that there are "Don't Californicate Arizona" bumper stickers.
Hypoxia Smurf 3 years ago
As a native (and current) Californian, and a former resident of Arizona with family still there, IMHO Arizona could use a good dose of Californication. And I've seen a similar attitude in Oregon (originally a White Supremacist state) where I've also lived. Funny -- them oppressed folks don't seem to hesitate taking dollars from Californians. Follow the money!
Load More Replies... Tracy Wallick 3 years ago
The country is huge, and we're proud of our home states. Plus, this list is a good indicator that yall can pick an American out of a crowd pretty easily.
Honu 3 years ago
I assume people know I'm American from my accent at the very least. Maybe they can't tell if I'm from the US or Canada, but probably most assume US. If they're asking me, I assume they want some degree of specificity. So I might say my state or my metro, both of which are pretty well know internationally.
Load More Replies... VerticallyChallenged 3 years ago
Okay this one is dumb in my opinion. USA is 5x bigger than Indonesia, if You just said you're from the USA that could be anywhere, even Hawaii and Alaska which aren't even near the mainland.
Trophy Husband 3 years ago
If I'm talking to an American, I'm from Florida. If I'm talking to someone else, I'm from the US. Though my family is from Ireland and when traveling I'll say I'm Irish-American instead so people think I'm half normal...
necessary cephalopod 3 years ago
The '(other nationality)-American thing is weird from an outside perspective. I'm literally the only member of my family born in Australia (rest New Zealand) and if I said I was New Zealand-Australian people would think it very odd.
Load More Replies...
gedwards1 3 years ago
Personally, I think this is one of the few things Americans get right. If someone says they are from TeenyTiny Town, Idaho, Then you at least have an idea of where in the country it is. It isn't difficult to gain a rough idea of the 50 states and where they are. As an English person, I couldn't confidently place even most of the major cities on a map, but have a fair chance of getting the state in the right place
#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 3 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
Foxxy (The Original) 3 years ago
I only discovered recently that the only pledge we really have for Australia is when applying for citizenship.
Brenda 3 years ago
I have NO problem with this. My husband, my sister and BIL, my brother, my BFF all served proudly. Teaching kids to be proud to be American isn't bad. When they are older they can decide if they don't want to. Yes, America is going through a tough time right now. I'm ashamed of our leaders, not my country. America will find her footing again eventually. Right now she is going through some growing pains that are long overdue. We're young compared to most countries; you have been thru growing pains, too. I want my kids and grandkids to know this is a great country and this is 1 way to show it.
Eooj2 3 years ago
'Teaching kids to be proud to be American isn't bad' To be proud of something over which they had not influence is, at best, weird.
Load More Replies... Shelley DuVal 3 years ago
Australians don't plant a flag in the front of their houses, where I live I have only seen one Aussie flag outside a house and that belongs to a new Australian. We look at pictures of American houses with huge flags plastered over their houses, and also with those red, white and blue fan shaped draped material (don't know what they are called, we just don't have them)
Deep One 3 years ago
And Americans take the pledge seriously too. When I was in grade school my family were Jehovah's Witnesses so you couldn't say the pledge because you owed your allegiance to god. One of the teachers I had encouraged the other kids to beat me up after school for not being a true american.
RandomFrog(He/They️️) 3 years ago
Back when I lived in SanAntonio Texas (don’t agree with anything they’re doing now btw) they made us say the pledge in Spanish and English
#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) 3 years ago
Completely illegal in Australia to advertise prescription medication.
BadCat 3 years ago
LOL I remember seeing this ad of a lady going on a night out and meeting friends at a club. Then she says "You wanna know what my secret is? I use Latrisse" Then a narrator just pops in "Ask your doctor about Latrisse". I'm like, wtf is Latrisse? Birth control? Headache medication? What? It was when I saw an ad poster for a cosmetic surgery clinic that I learned Latrisse is a brand of eyelash extensions.
Purplescales 3 years ago
Latisse was originally a glaucoma medication that they switched to being a cosmetic medication,when users reported somewhat excessive eyelash growth, this is now not normally covered by insurance.
Load More Replies...
Randolph Croft 3 years ago
In Canada, because of the limitations on naming and describing prescription meds, we have some pretty hilarious Viagra and Cialis commercials.
Bobby 3 years ago
I can see some merit to pharmaceutical advertisement (the idea of it, not the current practice). I want to be aware of available treatment options, and i think being able to discuss something new my doctor may not have heard of yet is a good thing. Also I learned about IBS from this ads. I wouldn't have known having a lot of bowel movements was concerning and something to discuss with my doc otherwise. In the other hand the way the ads are done here aren't about raising awareness but about raising profits
Anthony Mann 3 years ago
Thanks moeburn! I listen to a Toronto radio station (live in USA), and I hear drug ads on the radio that don't tell you *why* you need that drug. I've been asking that "what the F is that for" question for a while now. Confusing.
James016 3 years ago
They are very strange. Take this wonder pill - may cause death. The one advert in the USA that sticks with me after 20 years was an advert for a home jerky maker. It was low budget but if you bought said home jerky maker they had an offer on whereby you would receive numerous sachets of different spice mixes and a copy of Guns and Ammo magazine. Presumably so you can hunt whatever you want to make jerky from.
Cyndielouwhoo 3 years ago
Is it just me or does the accompanying photo look like the cat is watching a motorcycle chase scene?
#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.
CA3 3 years ago
Yes, MANY years. That's all I can remember using at parties when I was in college in the '70s.
Load More Replies...
JuniorCJ82 3 years ago
One of my biggest pet peeves as of late is people who, for some Godforsaken reason, pronounce it jag-wire instead of jag-wahr. It's like fingernails on a chalkboard to me and it's only become a thing over the past handful of years or so. FFS, there is no i in that word. At least jag-wahr and jag-u-er make sense because of the spelling.
Tamra 3 years ago
Okay, about aluminum: it only has the one "i", so I don't understand why some people pronounce it as though there's a second "i" right after the "n". Unless we've been spelling it incorrectly this whole time...?
phanmo 3 years ago
Both spellings and pronunciations are correct, depending on whether you are North American (aluminum) or not (aluminium)
Load More Replies... James G. Currie 3 years ago
"Al-u-min-i-um" "Jag-u-ar" -- As for the solo cups...and they come in a rainbow of colours too. But, I am not an American.
phanmo 3 years ago
Or aluminum, a-lu-mi-num, depending on where you are from.
Load More Replies...
#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 3 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
TeenieMeanie 3 years ago
It was a cheap way for large farm families to get fed. I’ve come to appreciate hot dish as an iconic piece of americana.
Load More Replies...
Trophy Husband 3 years ago
Nothing wrong with casserole, so long as it's made right. My Mexican casserole is amazing!
Anthony Mann 3 years ago
Very true. And do not EVER forget the cheese in a casserole. E V E R.
Joshua David 3 years ago
Gen X American here. Never made a casserole and can't recall eating one. My mom does though.
RK Barbo 3 years ago
Gen x here as well. Where did you grow up? Have you never attended a potluck?
Load More Replies...
Huddo's sister 3 years ago
Not entirely related, but something I often whinge about, I just don't understand the point of casseroles- in as far as, you often cook every part on the stove or whatever separately first, then mix them in a dish and put it in the oven, just to melt the cheese/brown the top. It seems like a wasted effort and amount of dishes to wash when you have already cooked the part. Anyway, whinge over- I don't make casseroles myself for this reason, but I will enjoy ones other people cook lol :)
Lazy Panda (she/her/hers) 3 years ago
A couple things, lists of the classic casserole (hotdish to me) recipes use prepared items, like a can of cream-of-something soup, so there’s not that much stovetop prep (no doubt real ingredients are much better! Second, I think the origins are from food stretchers for feeding a family with a little bit of cheaper meat, a bunch of cheap carbs, maybe some cheap veggies, bound together with a sauce. So without the sauce binder it doesn’t seem like much of a meal.
Load More Replies... #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 3 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.
Tura Satana 3 years ago
Maybe some areas but in Ireland I could pretty much recognise UK tourists as they didn't greet you in any way, in the countryside (you don't need to greet everyone you pass in Dublin, either).
Load More Replies... Foxxy (The Original) 3 years ago
Pretty common where I live. Usually you can tell if a person isn't interested in a greeting. They either have their head down, walk fast or look away. But most people will say a greeting, give a nod or a smile.
Ray McArdle 3 years ago
How are you is more common than you think. In parts of Africa, it is part of a standard greeting.
Rick Hoppenbrouwer 3 years ago
I work in retail and in most cases I don't really care how your doing. If you ask you are probably going to regret doing so.
#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 3 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.
Kylie Mountain 3 years ago
They're not stupid; they know if they have the self checkout ask about a tip, it'll get people wondering, 'Am I supposed to do that? Am I doing something wrong if I don't?' And at least some of them will pay the tip because of that percieved social expectation.
Jess The Mess 3 years ago (edited)
The real issue with tip culture is that customers have to pay for wages rather than the employer pay actual liveable wages. When I was a server (10-15 years ago) I made 2.13 an hour. If my claimed tips (and I had managers that were militant about tip claiming) added to that wage were below min wage, restaurant had to make up for it... but the fact that I was paid half the min wage and had to hope my clients tipped well so I made over 5.15/hr was pathetic. Even 5 years ago, I only made 5/hr which is less than the min wage 15 years ago. Keep in mind this is left over bs from when the jobs were primarily colored folks and women, so that's why they were (and still are) paid in peanuts.
Trophy Husband 3 years ago
I don't tip at subway because they didn't bring food to my table. Thus, they get the regular minimum wage and not the one for tipped positions. At least that's my general rule, but since the pandemic I've been tipping just about everywhere because I feel terrible for how these people are being treated by the companies they work for.
Rustella 3 years ago
I ordered online from pizza hut and at checkout there was an option to tip, even though I was picking it up. I honestly had no clue if I was supposed to.
RK Barbo 3 years ago
Having worked as a server for years, I don't tip if I order out and pick it up myself. The workers are doing the bare minimum of their job. Now, if it's a large, complicated order, I will usually leave a tip for that.
Load More Replies...
Marsha Brown 3 years ago
Problem is, tips are built on to the minimum wage of staff, which is federally mandated at only $2.13. "If wages and tips do not equal the federal minimum wage of $7.25 per hour during any week, the employer is required to increase cash wages to compensate." Obviously, a real rip-off, and why eateries in the U.S. are having trouble attracting wait staff now that the pandemic is more or less over.
Rick Hoppenbrouwer 3 years ago
On line order to Red Robin. Pay on line and am picking up the order and they still want a tip. F**k you.
Pterodactyl in Disguise 3 years ago
A self checkout really needed the money though, he wanted to show its crush a new movie!
Ross Duncan 3 years ago
Happy to tip for good service, no way am I tipping 'just because'. It's this weird argument folk in America have that people won't tip if the servers are paid decently. Believe me, my ex managed restaurants here in Scotland. Staff were paid a living wage and could easilty make a hundred a night on top of it in tips. Employers are just being cheap. If your business model means you cannot pay your staff you have a failing model
#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) 3 years ago
american here, i would like to start saying f**k off instead of whatever
Captain Awesome 3 years ago
In Australia, it would be f**k off, c**t. With very succinct delivery
Load More Replies...
Surralvampi 3 years ago
British people would also possibly perform the hardest eyeroll you have ever seen in your like- followed by f*** off
Huddo's sister 3 years ago
Umm, we say that in Australia, especially during the 90s/00s, but every teenager has said it at least once! Or 'so what' or 'who cares'.
Let’s All Just Try And Be Decent 3 years ago
Also we don't call ourselves British. More likely people call themselves English/ Welsh / Scottish / Irish or even Northeners and Southeners, but pretty much English. I've never said British in my life and it's weird that's what American's always call us
Piglet 3 years ago
But if it's not known where someone is from, British covers all four, so is easier for people who aren't British to use. I'm English, BTW.
Load More Replies... James G. Currie 3 years ago
I always mentally add "...I have no IQ, and only want to be thought of as cool." Valley Girls and their succeeding ilk have always had my nerves on edge...it's like they are saying "You're interesting only as long as being in proximity is advantageous to my image!"
#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!
Xenon 3 years ago
White BBQ sauce is mayo, vinegar and seasoning. Originated at Big Bob Gibson's in Alabama. It is most definitely not ranch!
Kat Rob 3 years ago
Not a huge fan of ranch and have learned to ask before ordering wings if they place has bleu cheese dressing. If they're ranch only they might as well not have wings either imo.
RK Barbo 3 years ago
This! Ranch is disgusting. And it's not just wings they do this to. Many restaurants will automatically give you ranch if you order a burger and fries.
Load More Replies...
Fiona Parky 3 years ago
What actually is ranch dressing? Is it like salad cream? (A dressing that deserves to be confined to history as an abuse of salad).
Nikki Sevven 3 years ago
The mass produced ranch dressing is awful, IMO, but homemade is delicious. It's equal parts mayonnaise, sour cream, and buttermilk whisked together with dill, parsley, chives, onion and garlic powder, salt and pepper, and lemon juice.
Load More Replies...
#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.
Emily 3 years ago
My teacher explained it with sunscreen or some other product being the government. If it says to apply liberally, there's more government. If it says to apply conservatively, there's less government.
Kenny Kulbiski 3 years ago
It depends on location somewhat. I consider myself center left. In my state that's known as "Godless commie bastard."
Trophy Husband 3 years ago
I'm a moderate Democrat. Whoever decided republicans are right and democrats are left must have been republican. I call democrats the right and Republicans bigoted rich people who need to band together, but an island, and leave. Okay, that's a bit harsh, but you get what I mean. Right and left were assigned arbitrarily, so I make my own side right when I speak.
Hiram's Friend 3 years ago
Left and right come from the seating in the House of Representatives. Republicans sit on the right side of the aisle and Democrats the left.
Load More Replies...
BobTDG 3 years ago
More Centre than centre-right except, from what I've seen, Bernie Sanders. He's centre-left.
Load More Replies... 
Nikki Sevven 3 years ago
US liberals do actually fit the definition of classic liberalism. It's the right wing that labels everything "liberal," even when it's not. (I'm a leftist who would never, ever consider myself to be a liberal.)
Huddo's sister 3 years ago
Well, the Liberal party in Australia is the more conservative one. I often wonder about how the parties change as the years go on, or at least at the context they came from that lead to the naming.
Pandaroo 3 years ago
The Liberal Party is liberal in the European sense of big business and small government.
Load More Replies... #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.
James016 3 years ago
Isn't there one state where by law you have to have your car filled up by a petrol station attendant? I did read that somewhere
kim morris 3 years ago
New Jersey. It is illegal to pump your own gas. I don't know why.
Load More Replies...
BadCat 3 years ago
Sometimes I prefer bagging my own groceries if I just have one or 2 bagfulls. But when I go on a big grocery spree I get overwhelmed and anxious when I have to bag my groceries and the cashier is already ringing the next customer's items and then I feel in the way, slow and pressured.
Huddo's sister 3 years ago
If I only have 1 or 2 bags full, I will often go to the self serve, but not if I have more. The cashiers are much faster at packing etc, so it means the lines move faster. Plus, while they pack the next bag I can place it in the trolley.
Load More Replies... Foxxy (The Original) 3 years ago
The checkout operators pack our bags in pretty much every shop except Aldi, which is a German company or if you go through a self serve checkout. It's strange to me that packing your own bags is normal in some places.
Ronnie Beaton 3 years ago
About the only time you'll get someone else packing your bags at the supermarket in the UK, is if the local Scouts are doing it to raise money for charity.
Hypoxia Smurf 3 years ago
At Mexican supermercados, the baggers are not employees, and are only paid with customer tips. Give the old guy a peso or two -- that's small change in USD.
TheElderNom 3 years ago
Bagging I can see a need for, to keep things moving faster. But most people can bag their own stuff fast enough.
JPotts 3 years ago
And in some grocery stores, they will walk out with you and load the bags in your car.
Carrie de Luka 3 years ago
I have mine delivered weekly - wish they unpacked it all as well!! 🤣😆🤣
Load More Replies... Shelley DuVal 3 years ago
As a person who gets an immediate migraine from the smell of petrol, I would use a petrol station who served me before any of the others.
Marsha Brown 3 years ago
Living abroad, I'm used to packing my own groceries, and for decades, my parents and I brought bags to the stores, before it became mandatory. So, when I'm in the U.S., I pack my own bags as well, and the checkout clerks are invariably very grateful, and I'm usually surprised at their thanks, at least at first.
#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.
Charlie 3 years ago
As an European I would love to try Wendy's! - Just because the person(s) behind the Twitter Roasts are awesome!
Painted Shoebox 3 years ago
If you get the chance to come to the US, I definitely recommend going onto Google Maps or asking around and finding the town's Good Wendy's. It may just be my state (Virginia), but aside from fries and Frosties, the quality can vary a bit.
Load More Replies...
Carbonel 3 years ago
Spotted a Taco Bell in Edinburgh recently. No idea if it’s the real thing or someone ripping off the name. It was a bit off the main tourist streets and looked a bit forlorn. But it was enough to make my daughter yell and point.
Huddo's sister 3 years ago
We got one (at least) in Melbourne about 5-10 years ago but from the horror stories I've heard about food poisoning I was never brave enough to try it.
Load More Replies... Hypoxia Smurf 3 years ago
During NATO wargames in Germany in 1976, my company had a day's leave in Nürnberg. Some troops headed for little gasthausen (guest houses) to sample local cuisine, but most hurried to a McDonald's downtown. To be kind, I'll only say that they knew what they liked. Addendum: After the long drive back from Central America, we always stopped for Burger King Whoppers on the USA side of the Sonora-Arizona border, to re-Americanize our intestinal flora, i.e. acclimate our guts. That's rational, right?
#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 3 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.
Historyharlot93 3 years ago
It can cost you $600 to $1000 to fly in the US to another state. Southwest and JetBlue and other cheaper airlines aren’t at every airport
Load More Replies...
Miz Chelle 3 years ago
Who can afford to travel outside the US? Between holding down 2 jobs just keep the lights on, having shelter, and gas to get to work.. there is NO extra money to travel. I haven't been more than 75 miles from my home in DECADES.
TheElderNom 3 years ago
The funny thing is as a European I don't really feel like Ineed my passport in Europe either, except for going to the UK. Only time anyone really wanted to see it. ID is usually fine.
stephanie foster 3 years ago
Before 9/11/01, ID was fine for travel around North America - US, Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean; after 9/11/01, any travel outside the US requires a passport.
Load More Replies...
Angela Canfield 3 years ago
We also don’t have guaranteed paid vacation, so most people just can’t travel more than a couple of days at a time. No need for a passport if your wages are super low and have no leave days and are trapped in student loan and medical debt.
Marianne 3 years ago
Many people in Europe also don't have one because you don't need it to travel inside the EU.
Eooj 3 years ago
Did you know the EU is not synonymous with Europe? Did you know travel regulations are not uniform across Europe?
Load More Replies...
Donny Bereznak 3 years ago
I use to have a passport when I went to Canada, and Ecuador. However since I haven't been out of the country
Donny Bereznak 3 years ago
Sorry hit send too fast. I let mine expire. If ever to go to another country, I'll get one
Load More Replies... LilliVB 3 years ago
I actually don't know the statistics about Europe, about how many people have a passport, but also here a passport is not that much required. You can go wherever in the Schengen aerea without one.
Eooj 3 years ago
Did you know there's more to the World than Europe and the US?
Load More Replies...
#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.
James G. Currie 3 years ago
The only place one should eat fried eggs (I'm not including omelettes here) is breakfast or brunch. Not an American. But, I've also been known to have cereal for supper, because I'm too lazy to cook, or call for delivery... lol
Huddo's sister 3 years ago
I thought eggs were one of the foods you can eat any time (not that I really like them much). For breakfast, brunch on the weekend, lunch between two pieces of toast, dinner with chips and veg, camping... we didn't get much take away as kids though, so eggs were often the quick, lazy thing because mum would poach or scramble them in the microwave.
Load More Replies... Jill Bussey 3 years ago
American bacon is weird. Overcooked and so crunchy it's impossible to load it onto your fork. Pancakes, syrup and bacon for breakfast? Hell yes!
Wicked Moon216 3 years ago
American here, bacon here is COMPLETELY different than in the UK. When I went to England many years ago, I thought their bacon and sausage was SO much better!!! Well, ALL UK food was better. Even just something simple like bread was absolutely amazing!
Load More Replies...
#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) 3 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.
GirlFriday 3 years ago
Yes! I live in the 10th largest city in the US and you can find a food truck here 24/7. Most of the food from them is amazing because they are often run by upcoming chefs that can't afford their own restaurant yet. There is one called Roscoe's Tacos and it is my favorite.
Load More Replies...
BadCat 3 years ago
I think Russia is worse for speeding, though. However, I've never heard of as many high speed chases as what I've seen on TV from the USA.
Kate 3 years ago
Oh, it's like a spectator sport -- we've even got police pursuit bingo cards on r/LosAngeles.
Load More Replies... Marsha Brown 3 years ago
In NYC, there used to be many outside of factories and similar places with high numbers of employees concentrated in a neighborhood (due to zoning laws) and extremely few eateries, not even fast food. Many of these plants have closed down, and the food trucks, AKA (in NYC) roach coaches, have moved on to other sites.
What do you think ?
Fiona Parky 3 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 3 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 3 years ago
I've noticed that BP likes to post s**t that bashes America. We aren't perfect, but neither are you.
Mistiekim 3 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.
Load More Replies... Neil Dowling 3 years ago
Europeans often look down their noses at America (I have been guilty of it myself over certain things) but most of these sound amazing and make me want to visit!!!
Leo Domitrix 3 years ago
American here saying: I'm pretty weirded out sometimes by these things, too. The credit card one probably freaks me out the most!
Huddo's sister 3 years ago
I know there are some articles that are like that, but I really don't think this one was. Just because a difference is pointed out, doesn't mean people think it's a bad thing.
Load More Replies... Fiona Parky 3 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 3 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 3 years ago
I've noticed that BP likes to post s**t that bashes America. We aren't perfect, but neither are you.
Mistiekim 3 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.
Load More Replies... Neil Dowling 3 years ago
Europeans often look down their noses at America (I have been guilty of it myself over certain things) but most of these sound amazing and make me want to visit!!!
Leo Domitrix 3 years ago
American here saying: I'm pretty weirded out sometimes by these things, too. The credit card one probably freaks me out the most!
Huddo's sister 3 years ago
I know there are some articles that are like that, but I really don't think this one was. Just because a difference is pointed out, doesn't mean people think it's a bad thing.
Load More Replies... You May Like “What Things Are Normal For Americans But Weird For Non-Americans?” (43 Surprising Answers) Someone Asked, "What's An Incredibly American Thing Americans Don't Realize Is American?", Here Are 68 Of The Most Accurate Answers 30 Famous Inspiring Quotes By The World’s Greatest
Ilona Baliūnaitė
Aivaras Kaziukonis
Akvile Petraityte 🇺🇦
Related on Bored Panda
