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50 Genius Things Other Countries Have That Make The US Feel Like It’s Living In Another Century
Before anyone has the bright idea: universal healthcare, haha. Get it out of your system, dear internet.
With that said, check out all this cool stuff the world has! No, don’t look at it as if someone else has it better than you. Rather, consider it an idea that you can yoink and introduce in your own immediate surroundings because everyone deserves good things.
This post may include affiliate links.
#1
Australian Company Introduces Glow-In-The-Dark Highway Paint Technology
Ariom Dahl 10 months ago
I'm an Aussie. This is a great idea BUT I've never seen it anywhere yet!
#2
UK Supermarket Has A Tag You Can Add For Carts With Wonky Wheels
#3
In Singapore, Elderly Pedestrians Can Tap Their Identity Card To Have More Time At The Pedestrian Crossing
Swiping the card at a sensor gives its holder an extra 3 to 13 seconds to walk across, depending on the size of the crossing.
Ariom Dahl 10 months ago
What a great idea. I usually make it half way across the road before the lights change.
If you’re reading this, it’s very likely you already know the answer to why there are borders between countries, why each country is different, and similar questions that deal with why someone has something and someone else does not.
But let’s humor the idea of there being singularity—like, what if there’d be just one country on Earth?
#4
Traffic Light With A Shining Pole In Moscow, Russia
#5
This Car Park In France Has Soft Barriers Between Parking Spaces To Stop People Scratching Other Cars
#6
There Is A Swing Made For Wheelchairs At This Park In Mexico
It’s romantic to think that, in some senses, our planet can be seen as a single country—a single place where we as a species live. And that’s what we share.
Apollo 9 space mission member Rusty Schweikhart explained that when he first looked at Earth from space, he felt a profound shift in perspective. Looking at it, he knew there were numerous borders on it, yet you couldn’t even see them.
#7
Japanese Government Sends Individuals Quarantining At Home Free Care Packages! Shown Is For 1 Person (Me) In Tokyo
#8
My Australian Tax Return Shows Where My Money Went
Tucker Cahooter 10 months ago
Where's the category for tax rebates to Rupert Murdoch et al? I'd like to know how much I gave him (in case I want to touch him for a few bucks at some point)
#9
Sewer Cover In Osaka, Japan
BrownTabby 10 months ago (edited)
And various other places in Japan. :) Even more awesomely, a social tech company made an app where members of the public can report damage to sewer covers.
Despite Rusty’s idea, despite our species essentially coming from a single place and sharing the same ancestry, we somehow got to a point where there are around 200 countries, each living its own life, relatively speaking. Why? How? What happened for these borders and walls to pop up and separate us?
#10
Cool Bike Repair Equipment On A Bike Path (Canada)
#11
Nappies In Sweden Have A Father On The Packaging
#12
Lights To Silently Get Your Waiter's Attention In Maastricht, Netherlands
One theory, validated by a number of studies, suggests that whenever people are made to feel insecure and anxious, the natural response is to cling to their identity and defend themselves against insecurities.
While criticized, the theory still explains why, in times of crisis and uncertainty, nationalism grows, and walls tend to be built.
#13
This Stall For Your Dog Outside A Super Market In Copenhagen!
No petting, no taunting, no questionable treats, perfect! Just don't plan to spend the night there yourself. A writer for The Outline tried a similar booth and apparently they have cameras/sensors watching and the company will fine people who get in.
#14
This Burger King In Norway Has A Apot For You To Empty Your Sodas In Before You Throw The Cup Away
#15
This Toilet Flushes By Using Your Foot
This mechanism is located in a toilet in Mexico and you don't have to be a germaphobe to appreciate it. Unsanitary public toilets can lead to gut infections, lung and skin infections as well as STDs. If a stool doesn't look clean but you really need to use it, consider using tissue paper to open its door, using the toilet seat cover, and if there isn’t one, cleaning the toilet seat with a tissue paper before using it or even hovering closely above the toilet.
So, to avoid that, the psychologist behind these insights, Steve Taylor, explained that the other end of the spectrum is where folks who are well-off reside—folks who incidentally often don’t have a sense of group identity.
Instead, they have transcended beyond that concept and found a calmer life where folks aren’t pigeonholed into nationalities, borders, identities, and the like.
#16
UPS In Italy Uses These "Bicycle Trucks" To Deliver Packages To Places In Narrow Streets Of Rome
Anna Tracz-Kowalska 10 months ago
In Poland DHL has it as well - really useful in the city centre
#17
Train Seats In Japan Facing Outwards So You Can See The Scenery
#18
Public Air Shower In Tokyo To Blow Pollen Off Hay Fever Sufferers
Taylor noticed that folks who went through extreme psychological trauma—a life-threatening diagnosis or a loss in the family—often entered this next step in human development. They wouldn’t feel like they belonged to some nationality, religion, race, whatever. Having lived something that intense has led them to lose their group identity because they no longer felt separate, fragile, or insecure. And so there was no need for some sort of quick fix in the form of nationalism.
#19
The Trains In Japan Have Women-Only Cars
#20
Supermarket Trolleys In Sweden Have A Map Of The Supermarket
It's about time we got something like this. Rick Paulas of the Pacific Standard has compared the current design of many grocery stores to casinos. "There are lights and sounds that re-focus attention every micro-second, carpet on the ground to offer cushion for our feet, an open-flow space from the slot machines to the poker tables to the roulette. But what's more important is what's not there: clocks on the wall, bathrooms, escape routes. The reason is obvious — can't spend money if you're not present—and they point toward why supermarkets attempted to get their customers lost."
Ray Ceeya (RayCeeYa) 10 months ago
But the whole point of Super Market design in the USA is to confuse and disorient the customer for as long as possible so they spend more money.
#21
This Carousel In Hong Kong Has A Sea Turtle Mounted To The Floor For Disabled Children
Jen Samara 10 months ago
We have these in the US too but they're usually not labeled for disabled people. Usually anyone can go one these.
So, once humanity stops individualizing itself through identities, only then will there essentially be one country. And once borders are out the window, then there’d be an increased chance of everyone having and enjoying the same nice things.
But do you notice how I say an increased chance? There’s always a catch.
#22
This Ice Lolly I Bought In Korea Has A Little Tray To Prevent It From Melting All Over Your Hands
#23
This Bill In Turkey Tells You How Much Each Person Would Need To Pay If You Split It Equally
#24
Lisbon Consists Of 7 Hills. In Order To Make It Easier For Residents And Tourists To Move Between The Different Neighbourhoods, This Open-Air Escalator Was Installed
PenguinQueen 10 months ago
I went on one of these in Barcelona it was so funny and surreal... Until I felt ashamed of myself as older people marched past me on the actual stairs.
While an amazing concept, losing group identity won’t solve all of the world’s problems. It would solve plenty, but not all.
Remember that what works in one part of the world might not work in another. And, by proxy, there’d still remain that "oh, we have something you don’t" mentality just because of a simple lack of necessity. There’s more, but you get the point, right?
#25
These Two Different Sets Of Shopping Baskets At A Department Store In Bangkok - For Those That Need Help Or Want To Be Left Alone
René Sauer 10 months ago
I need help shopping! But the baskets for that are pink! I am a manly man, I can´t take those! /s
#26
In Belgian Train’s Toilets There Is A Sos Button Close To The Ground In Case People Fall And Can’t Get Up
#27
This Pizza Box In Japan That Has A Handle In The Middle To Keep The Pizza Flat
Besides, there are easy solutions to these problems—either bring whatever it is that you want in and make it a thing, or go to this other country, experience it, and move on. No need to flex who has what.
But a person can still dream of a world where there’s a single country where everyone could possibly be able to experience Kinder Surprises. In any case, thank you for listening to my ramblings.
#28
These Bins In Sweden Show You What To Recycle
#29
They Have Pet Carts In Grocery Stores In Italy
#30
Shopping Cart Cleaning Machine In Germany
So, what are your thoughts on any of this? Share everything that you want to share (within reason, though, kids are watching) in the comment section below!
#31
There’s A Privacy Button That Plays Background Sound In The Toilet In Japan So Your Bombing Sounds Won’t Be Heard
#32
Bus Stop In Norway With Books You Can Read While You Wait
PenguinQueen 10 months ago
Uk has these in ex phone booths as well as bus stops, like little community honesty library's
#33
In Mexico They Label Their Food If They Have Excessive Sugar And Calories(Azúcares Is Sugars)
HangryHangryHippo 10 months ago
Same in Argentina (black hexagons for excess of calories, sugars or fats). In Spain, it has a "nutri score" label (graded , colour-coded) where A Green it's the best and E Red the worst.
#34
In Morocco, Utility Poles Are Disguised As Palm Trees
#35
A Public Bike Stand With A Built-In Pump
This cool multi-purpose mechanism was photographed in Utrecht, the Netherlands. And this doesn't come as a surprise. Cycling is a common mode of transport in the Netherlands, with 36% of the people listing the bicycle as their most frequent mode of transport on a typical day.
HangryHangryHippo 10 months ago
Hope it doesn't get hot on summer days. Imagine you go to pump your bike and bam! Surprise second degree burns
#36
Knee-Activated Water Taps At A Supermarket, Italy
#37
This Tank Style Stairs Dolly In Japan
ninjaTrashPandaBoom 10 months ago
There are different power-assisted dollies available around the world. Tank track ones are pretty cool though!
#38
The Gum I Bought In Japan Comes With A Stack Of Paper For Easy Disposal
#39
These Sprinklers On The Road Near The Ski Resort I’m At In Japan To Keep The Road From Freezing Over. (Salt Water If You Were Wondering)
#40
Adult And Child Sized Toilets In A Single Stall - Auckland International Airport
#41
This Toilet In Japan Has A System Of Occupied/Vacant Toilets Information
PenguinQueen 10 months ago
This ruins the fun out of all those movie scenes where the person is hiding in one stall whilst another flings open the doors of multiple others, getting nearer... And nearer.... Then BAAAMMM HERESSSS JOHHNNYYY
#42
Bottle Caps In Italy Designed To Stay Attached To Bottle
#43
In Norway, The Packed Meat Has A "Thermometer" That Tells You How Many Days Are Left Until It's No Longer Safe To Eat It
JayWantsACat 10 months ago (edited)
We have "Sell by" dates printed on the packages but I'd support these too. EDIT: Since I'm obviously unfamiliar with these, I'm going by the title which says "Tells You How Many Days Are Left Until It's No Longer Safe To Eat It" which is why I mention the "Sell By" date (which is a guide, obviously, and not a rule). Seemingly that's not the case, thank you for letting me know.
#44
Japanese Police Cars Can Raise Their Blinking Lights To Be More Visible
LauraDragonWench 10 months ago
How telling is it that I learned about this feature from anime? 🤭
#45
This Heated Bench With A Wireless Charging Pad For Your Phone At A Bus Stop In South Korea
#46
They Have Umbrella Vending Machines In Hong Kong
#47
The Elevators In My Office Building Have An Umbrella Sign That Lights Up If It's Raining Outside (Osaka, Japan)
#48
This Belgian Supermarket Has A Parking Spot Just For Pregnant Women
#49
This Croatian Crosswalk Pedestrian Pushbutton Has A Tactile Display Of The Intersection
PenguinQueen 10 months ago
Uk in some places has raised markers on the paths for people to use as guides with their sticks
#50
Weird Plastic Finger Covers To Eat Chips With In Korea
Add New Image
What do you think ?
General Anaesthesia 10 months ago
The title, "80 Brilliant Things In Other Countries That Americans Might Not Even Know Exist". Aside from the supposed brilliance why single out Americans? They aren't the only ones, BP.
2WheelTravlr 10 months ago
Exactly, and to make it worse, most of these are also available in the US. Well, not the finger covers for chip eating, because that is just stupid.
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ammara 10 months ago
As a non American, I also find the title to be weird. It could have just been "80 genius things from all over the world". And still served the purpose. No need to spread negativity
LokisLilButterknife 10 months ago
I find it weird as well. BoredPanda has a truly disturbing history of bashing its readers from the US and treating them like a monolith. It’s honestly turned into xenophobia and they are losing readers because of it. I’ve actually written to BoredPanda about this and they do absolutely nothing about it and just write more listicles like this that create a divide. This has sadly become a really negative site between all the censorship and negative content.
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Multa Nocte 10 months ago
Sigh . . . so sick of this, BP. Writing from France. Other Bored Pandas - what are some other sites that you go to that you like? I think it may be time to migrate.
MP 10 months ago
Honestly Reddit has all of this. Most of these posts are just compilations from Reddit. Like 95% of Bored Panda is just Reddit Digest.
Load More Replies...
General Anaesthesia 10 months ago
The title, "80 Brilliant Things In Other Countries That Americans Might Not Even Know Exist". Aside from the supposed brilliance why single out Americans? They aren't the only ones, BP.
2WheelTravlr 10 months ago
Exactly, and to make it worse, most of these are also available in the US. Well, not the finger covers for chip eating, because that is just stupid.
Load More Replies... ammara 10 months ago
As a non American, I also find the title to be weird. It could have just been "80 genius things from all over the world". And still served the purpose. No need to spread negativity
LokisLilButterknife 10 months ago
I find it weird as well. BoredPanda has a truly disturbing history of bashing its readers from the US and treating them like a monolith. It’s honestly turned into xenophobia and they are losing readers because of it. I’ve actually written to BoredPanda about this and they do absolutely nothing about it and just write more listicles like this that create a divide. This has sadly become a really negative site between all the censorship and negative content.
Load More Replies... Multa Nocte 10 months ago
Sigh . . . so sick of this, BP. Writing from France. Other Bored Pandas - what are some other sites that you go to that you like? I think it may be time to migrate.
MP 10 months ago
Honestly Reddit has all of this. Most of these posts are just compilations from Reddit. Like 95% of Bored Panda is just Reddit Digest.
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