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It’s no secret that to an outsider, Americans often look like a quirky bunch of people. Red solo cups, free refills, and bulk shopping are all just the tip of the iceberg where it does get much weirder. But what the rest of the world finds particularly interesting about Americans is how bold they can sometimes be in the ways they approach foreigners.

So when an Aussie TikToker, @Voidable from Brisbane, asked people “What is the dumbest thing an American has ever said to you?” it blew up immediately all over the social platform, with people spilling the beans big time.

From questions like “Do you speak European?” or “Asian?” to genuinely wondering if a person from Egypt lives in a pyramid, these are some of the most “seriously?” queries thrown at non-Americans. Get ready to chuckle, and then make sure to check out our previous post with Americans being clueless to the moon and back.

Image credits: voidable_

#1

“She went to Europe”
“What country?”
“Europe”
“Yeah what country in Europe?”
“The country Europe”
“Europe is a continent”
“What's a continent?”

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Rose the Cook
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I have lost count of the number of American teachers I have met who insist Africa is a country. No wonder people are confused.

JennyLaRue
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I've personally heard similar and it made me weep for the education system (and yes, we know it's not everyone from the states, but that doesn't stop it being more common than we might expect)

Sasy
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My experience is that those that home school are more advanced educationally.

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HooowlAtTheMoon
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

People seriously think Europe is a country..? How do you go and not know what country you went to?

Milan
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Ooo so you are from Czechoslovakia? No, from Slovakia. Yeah i know, from Prague.No, from Bratislava. From Slovakia. Yes yes i know, from Czechoslovakia. No no, we are 30 years separated. Yes yes, i know, you are from Czechoslovakia, from Prague :D :D

Legen ( wait for it ) dary
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I lost count on the amount of people that spoke about Africa as a country and not as a continent. And the other bunch that thought Africa is full of dirty nose kids without nothing to eat living among lions and elephants.

Mari Joy
Community Member
2 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This reminds me of a comment I saw years ago on Reddit. It went like this (but it was a Brit, which aren’t that smart either): Brit: so, where are you from? African: from Morocco. Brit: how come you have internet? African: huh? Most people here in Morocco have internet, usually via our phones. It’s kind of a basic thing. Brit: I cooperate with charities that send money and goodies to Africa… yet you have internet. What the bloody hell?! African: …

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Isidien Gudmundsdottir
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Coming from Europe I'd would have answered: "Great Britain!" Just to mess with them.

Heidi I
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Lol, my kids were born in the States, but I would speak Danish with them. Lady: Oh, what language is that? Me: That's Danish Lady: Danish?? Me: Yeah, you know..... Denmark. Lady: Denmark? Me: Yeah, that's part of Scandinavia Lady (looking even more puzzled): I don't know where Scandinavia is. Me (rather frustrated): Scandinavia is in Northern Europe. Denmark is right on top of Germany, and below Sweden and Norway. Lady: OOOOOHHHH, I know someone from Europe. Me: 😐

Lillukka79
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I got the "where are you from?" "Finland". "Oh it's in Maine isn't it?" "No in northern europe". *cricets*

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Duncan Ash
Community Member
3 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I've known people here that don't even know what a state is so I'm not surprised

Melissa Brown
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Wait, as an American...I seriously forgot what a continent was. Also, Europe ISN'T a country??? God, no wonder I'm American.

L Little
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Also had similar exchange......"your from Canadia, right?" Canada, Yes..... That has ocean in it.........right? No.

Lily Lefrançois
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Someone I didn't knew in the street asked me if the men next to me was my sugar daddy. Hopefully my dad doesn't know what is a sugar daddy...

Nadya Raymond
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Well I've been asked if we live in trees...as a matter fact I was told we live on the beach in hammocks sipping coconut water everyday...yep that's what we do...everyday all day...I'm from Jamaica

Sam rice
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

American here with an American friend in high school who didn't know where a certain state was.

J-A Laine
Community Member
3 years ago

This comment has been deleted.

Corey Brown
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Must be from a red state. Great schooling in them red states!!

magnadar
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Yes, but we europeans also say "he/she went to america", so...

Randolph Croft
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

To be fair, there is a country that calls itself, unofficially, 'America', so....

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Col BatGuano
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

So sorry Americans aren't as advanced as folks from the s**t hole you call home.

Eslamala
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is the most 'murican thing I've read in a while. Not dumb, just ignorant.

Christina Brundage
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It can work both ways. I was mentioning our 4th of July and American Revolution to a friend in England and he asked who we revolted against. I said "you!!" and he said he had never heard of that.

May
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The English have a thousand years of history, with nearly as many wars - the American revolution is a big deal to the US, much less important in English history.

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Terilee Bruyere
Community Member
3 years ago

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In all fairness, people from different continents aren't always knowledgeable of what's across the ocean.

John Ford
Community Member
3 years ago

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These all sound so made up. This website loves to generalize Americans. Oh sorry. People from the usa. Not Americans.

D
Community Member
3 years ago

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Wow another European elitist article from Bored Panda, how original! I love the hypocrisy, "Americans think the world revolves around them - idiots" then every article, "Another chance to remind Americans that they dont have socialized healthcare and their service industry and taxes dont make sense to Europeans, so they are dumb!" Im not butt hurt, lets try a bit harder for something original, eh?

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