Join the Fun!

That you can get into university just by being good at sports.... Like...wtf?

SuperFluffyness Report

Final score:

175points

POST

Kaisu 4 years ago

This is really mind blowing to me, because isn't university supposed to be about academics?

113points

As a Brit living in America the amount of pharmaceutical commercials on TV is creepy.

TrueHybrid Report

Final score:

174points

POST

Foxxy (The Original) 4 years ago (edited)

I never really thought about it but I just realised that we don’t have that issue. It is actually illegal to advertise prescription medicine.

67points

There’re so many customs that Americans use without too much thinking. But when traveling around the world, some of the cultural differences become quite obvious.

While tipping is not a matter of choice in the US, people in Japan and South Korea see that as an insult. That’s partly because workers are proud of their jobs, and they get decent pay for whatever it is that they do.

There’s nothing wrong about being a tiny bit late in the US. But in some countries, that would be totally inappropriate. If you’re fashionably late for a meeting in Germany or Netherlands, locals are likely to think that you don’t value their time as much as your own.

“Athleisure,” while a popular choice of fashion for the day-to-day business, is viewed as distasteful in many European countries. For example, Italians never miss a chance to laugh at tourists wearing flip flops or denim shorts for restaurant dinner. The sloppy appearance can be understood as disrespectful.

Injured people try to avoid getting ambulances called for them

asmeeks1 Report

Final score:

171points

POST

Eirik Johnsbråten 4 years ago

That is so sad.

66points

That the prices on their products are without tax and you get the tax when you pay

Like here the tax is already like, in the price. If it costs 1€ you pay 1€.

Rushling Report

Final score:

171points

POST

Lazy Farmer 4 years ago

I find this extremely confusing. And I really hate the staff tipping concept, too.

109points

In an area, you're subject to a f*ck ton of different laws. There's laws that apply to the whole country, laws that apply to individual states, laws that only apply to counties, laws that apply to individual cities, and then I think, different areas within a city. In England, no matter where you are, all the same laws apply, with very rare exceptions. Homeowners associations as well. What a load of [crap]. Land of the free, but your neighbour can tell you what colour your f***king fence can be.

Lonsdale1086 Report

Final score:

162points

POST

Kathy Baylis 4 years ago (edited)

Well, it’s difficult to govern such a large country from one small district (DC), so you have to delegate from the federal government to the individual state governments to the county governments to the city governments. The more local you get, the more specialized the laws become as they’re tailored to issues and situations specific to the area. However, that does open areas up to corruption if the wrong people manage to gain some power. You know, like the whole f*****g country because of the deranged orange baboon throwing his feces around the Oval Office right now (who I did not vote for, so do not blame me).

44points

That women only get about 6 weeks off work after having a baby and it's most likely to be unpaid.

Aucuparia Report

Final score:

160points

POST

Kaisu 4 years ago

This sounds insane? In my country it's 4 months and it's paid and the father can get work off for 9 weeks, which is paid as well. The women can also start their leave a few weeks before giving birth.

68points

That people will just suffer through an injury or illness because they can’t afford health insurance.

Jacilund Report

Final score:

156points

POST

Hans 4 years ago

Unworthy of any country, not just the so called West.

60points

Americans are nice and will stop to talk to Strangers. Canadian here living in Alberta. To any one who has never been, you will be blown away by the general Americans' generosity of their time, knowledge and helpfulness. I have done a few summers of Road trips from Calgary. one time i went to as far east as Ohio-Tennessee, as far south as New Orleans and Dallas, went through the flat lands and rode up the Rockies the rest of the way home... I have visited almost all the landlocked states (5 more to go) and 4 along the Gulf states, all by Car. I have been through a lot of big American cities and a lot of tiny towns. ALL OF YOU, North to South - make Canadians look like Bloody Savages. I expected something worse, probably because of Television and the Internet. i ended up leaving your country after the first time i visited, blown away and with a new found VERY REAL love for my southern neighbors. Been 5 times on multi-week trips. will spend time and money there again. 10/10.

animal1988 Report

Final score:

138points

POST

Chiara Lucchetti 4 years ago

There are a lot of crazy things in US from an european point of view, but I totally agree with this post. I found Americans very nice, gentle and caring people. Before going there, I immagined to find rude and aggressive people :)) Too many bad movies! The first time I arrived in Philadelphia my english was not very good, and sometimes I wandered looking for some shop, or the subway or whatever... and I remember men or women that tried to help and listen me patiently. I still feel gratitude for those who made me feel welcomed and safe. Philadelphia is still in my heart! I left the USA in 2011 and I don't know if that's still the case.

82points

#10

Drink sizes. When my family visited in 2017 we landed in Texas for a stopover. First thing I saw in the shops part of the terminal was a dude who was drinking from what looked like an actual f***ing bucket - here in NZ our “large” drinks would be considered an American “small” or maybe “medium”

The_Sly_Sloth Report

Final score:

137points

POST

Stuart Smith 4 years ago

hence the size of Americans....

81points

#11

Employees can get fired ‘at will’. No warning, no performance review plans, nothing, just straight up fired.

viralplant Report

Final score:

137points

POST

Noez 🇸🇪 4 years ago

Seem oddly super inhumane. Why do you allow this?

75points

#12

The extent of the tipping culture is frankly shocking to me.

tinnic Report

Final score:

136points

POST

Kaisu 4 years ago

I can't believe Americans have created a system where the customers can be blamed for unfair wages instead of the employer

172points

#13

Not really a rumour but your houses are made of mostly air and drywalls. I think that's pretty crazy

2ndSkyy Report

Final score:

135points

POST

Rabbit Carrot 4 years ago

The way houses are build in the USA is crazy. It’s no wonder they’re all flattened in a tornado / hurricane. And yet they cost so damn much to buy!

9points

#14

That public transport is almost nonexistent in many smaller towns, which makes it a necessity for teens to have their own cars.

boob_girl Report

Final score:

130points

POST

Jo Choto 4 years ago

Yeah, it's not just not having no public transport. There are a lot of places (I lived in one) where there are no sidewalks, so you can't even walk from one place to another. And if you live in a small place, you can't get a taxi or anything else to come out and pick you up. If you don't have a car, it's almost impossible to get around in the USA. And it's not just small towns. Even big towns have no transportation infrastructure.

64points

#15

American State and National parks are some of the most beautiful places on earth. All parks could use more funding, but American parks are well staffed and maintained. There’s real pride.

everydayboots Report

Final score:

130points

POST

Aragorn II Elessar 4 years ago

One of the few good things. I love the Grand Canyon personally

38points

#16

Not exactly crazy, but I wanted to test out the stereotype that Americans will talk to anyone so I sought out a sports bar on my first visit. Ended up having a ton of really fun conversations with total strangers who I’ll never talk to ever again. It was great!

Wurdan Report

Final score:

128points

POST

Joyce Melton 4 years ago

Sure. About 1/3 of people you meet in America will talk to anybody, about anything. We may be crazy but we're friendly. :)

87points

#17

The minimal amount of paid days off you get from work. A friend of mine from Wisconsin was very proud he got 20 days off per year. If someone in Germany would offer me only 20 days, I would laugh at him and leave.

_Warsheep_ Report

Final score:

126points

POST

Jo Choto 4 years ago

In the US, if you have a reasonably good job, you can expect to get 10 days' paid vacation a year. That's it.

63points

Dutch Swimmer Goes Viral For Super Revealing Trunks During 2024 Olympics: “Is This Legal?”

See Also on Bored Panda

Thrill-Seeking Diver Jumps Down Extreme Waterslide, Ignoring The Strict Ban For Women

#18

That higher education can cost upwards of $50,000 per year

anixudh Report

Final score:

117points

POST

Lazy Farmer 4 years ago

This, and the cost of medical care in the US, is something I will never understand. Claiming to be the greatest country but basically living off of the poorest of citizens. How come nobody's actually bothered?

84points

#19

Private prisons. I thought it was some sort of "haha the US is a dystopian hell hole" exaggeration joke the first time I heard it was a thing. I had to look it up to believe it because I was 100% sure the person was just trying to [mess] with me when he said he was serious.

Kiwipai Report

Final score:

117points

POST

Foxxy (The Original) 4 years ago

This should not be allowed at all.

90points

#20

I never understood why people in American TV series lost their house and job just because they got really sick.

Then I found out that it can happen in America.

deleted Report

Final score:

116points

POST

DKS 001 4 years ago

companies here are a b***h about taking time off. They want bodies in the work place. If you use up your sick/vacation time (less than 2 week's worth total a year) then you're f****d.

44points

#21

They have those angry sinks that chop [crap]

idk-what-name Report

Final score:

110points

POST

Lazy Farmer 4 years ago

HAHAHA! Angry sinks!! 🤣🤣🤣

86points

Woman Put A Water Fountain With A Camera In Her Yard, Here Are 24 Photos Of Regular Visitors (New Pics)

See Also on Bored Panda

“Ma’am I Live Here”: Woman Refuses To Back Out Of Driveway, Learns A Lesson The Hard Way

#22

You can see into the public toilet cubicles

NamelessBeth Report

Final score:

103points

POST

Lazy Farmer 4 years ago

I just can't wrap my head around this logic, tbh

39points

#23

How deeply religious and patriotic it is in contrast to Europe.

F*ckanator Report

Final score:

103points

POST

JuJu 4 years ago

And how much of that religion is allowed to contaminate education

120points

#24

Literally anything about what goes on in Florida.

Jacilund Report

Final score:

99points

POST

Clare McDuff 4 years ago

Florida is America’s w**g. Always getting itself into trouble.

61points

#25

2017 in Athens, Georgia I passed out at work and was fine but my boss had already called an ambulance and insisted I get checked out...a less than 2 mile ambulance ride cost me $950 with insurance. I was only dehydrated..

Butterfly1r Report

Final score:

99points

POST

Noez 🇸🇪 4 years ago

WITH insurance it cost 950 USD?? Do I dare to ask how much it would be without insurance?

83points

#26

The amount of sugar y'all put on EVERYTHING. I spent only 2 weeks in the US and I couldn't take it. Even the portion sizes are colossal, I felt that in a month with this lifestyle I'd probably drop dead, my heart wouldn't be able to take it

GustavoTC Report

Final score:

97points

POST

Kaisu 4 years ago

American candy is so sweet too, I just can't manage eating most of it

25points

50 Of The Most Incredible Shots That Were Submitted To The Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards

See Also on Bored Panda

French Diver’s “Jewels” In Tight Swimming Trunks Become Talk Of The Town At Olympics

#27

That they actually do wear shoes indoors, I thought it was just a movies thing (less hassle filming), but no.

F*ckanator Report

Final score:

96points

POST

JuJu 4 years ago

What I tell the kids almost every day "Please take of your shoes before you run to your room! I have just vacuumed the flat."

27points

#28

That American kids eat straight sugar. Walked on to the playground and saw kids chugging these long thin sticks. I try and it was just colored sugar lol. Called them pixie sticks.

whowantsrice Report

Final score:

91points

POST

Noez 🇸🇪 4 years ago

Sounds gross.

32points

#29

The freaking flag thing man, here we barely have one per school, or even government building.

deleted Report

Final score:

88points

POST

Aragorn II Elessar 4 years ago

Well, knowing some Americans, they might forget what country they’re in

83points

#30

That you can rack up 100,000$ upward in debt easily through student loans.

cutelly Report

Final score:

81points

POST

DKS 001 4 years ago

lenders like to keep you paying for life

30points

Woman Moves Out Of Parents' Home After They Asked Her To Give Her Space To Brother, They Freak Out

Note: this post originally had 86 images. It’s been shortened to the top 30 images based on user votes.

See Also on Bored Panda

Mom Leaves $250k Inheritance To Son, Throws A Fit When Daughter Stops Looking After Her

Liucija Adomaite is a creative mind with years of experience in copywriting. She has a dynamic set of experiences from advertising, academia, and journalism. This time, she has set out on a journey to investigate the ways in which we communicate ideas on a large scale. Her current mission is to find a magic formula for how to make ideas, news, and other such things spread like a virus.

Read less »

I'm a Visual Editor at Bored Panda since 2017. I've searched through a multitude of images to create over 2000 diverse posts on a wide range of topics. I love memes, funny, and cute stuff, but I'm also into social issues topics. Despite my background in communication, my heart belongs to visual media, especially photography. When I'm not at my desk, you're likely to find me in the streets with my camera, checking out cool exhibitions, watching a movie at the cinema or just chilling with a coffee in a cozy place

Read less »

What do you think ?

POST

JuJu 4 years ago

Why do Americans call themselves German, Irish, Italian, Greek and so on, just because one of their ancestors comes from that country (yes, you are all immigrants), but you neither know more than a word from that language and you have absolutely no knowledge about the country, the culture, the people, the food (really, what you call Italian or German food is just an abomination)?

19points

Kaisu 4 years ago

I agree, this is very strange for me, claiming to be a part of culture that you have no connection to, don't know anything about and have only experienced through Americanised versions of their food

7points

Esca Sav 4 years ago

I think it's because we like our history. I'm the first direct American in my family, but my parents were born and raised in Poland. A majority of the things we do at home are influenced by Polish culture. I also know the language. Some of my friends who have several generations of their ancestors born and raised in the U.S. often times get excited when they find out about their ancestry and use it as a means to find out more about the culture. It's a good conversational topic. The U.S. is the "Melting Pot," our historical backgrounds are all different and we love learning more about it.

6points

Shelby P 4 years ago (edited)

You may not realize this but a lot of folks here can trace their lineage back in just two generations. And because this country is so freakin big and people STILL have to point out the differences they hold on to their heritage like it matters. I do not agree with this mindset as I think it's part of what causes racism but life in the US is completely different from Europe and most of the rest of the world by default. I mean the folks that live here now are mostly not the natives (sadly) and our history is only 200ish years old. What do you expect??

6points

BG 4 years ago

In the US 2020 census, if you respond as Caucasian (White), then you have to specify what European region your ancestors were from.

6points

Ringo Starkey 4 years ago

Does it really affect you that much? Let someone have a little pride in themselves. For the love......

4points

mph seti 4 years ago

A common question when getting to know someone is "what are you?" as in what is your heritage. Personally, I think it's rude, but whatever. At least it seems to have gotten less common than it was when I was growing up. Some people take irrational pride in their family history. Being proud of something you have had no control over seems stupid, but whatever.

4points

Bob Beltcher 4 years ago

For some this is true. For others like my family it's not. We still have family that live in Sicily and Germany. Can I speak the languages, nope. Can I cook authentic food just like them, no because we don't have the same ingredients. I am American by birth, but my heritage is over seas. Although, after reading this I'm strongly thinking about driving north 3000 miles.

2points

Gabriela L. 4 years ago

Yes!! Once I saw someone saying Gisele Bundchen was german even though she's from Brazil, speaks portuguese, has always lived here until moving to the US and her whole family is brazilian except maybe a great grandfather or something like that. I said that she was brazilian and the person called me dumb. So weird!

2points

BDR 4 years ago

You do realize that it was likely Italians or Germans or Indians or Chinese that originally sold, made or attempted their style of cuisine here and that it organically became what it is now.

2points

Dippin Dot 4 years ago

I think it’s back to when the US was a “melting pot” and so many cultures were coming together for the first time... it was important to some to marry people with the same background both religious or cultural, and it also connected you to strangers so you had a better sense of community... like “I’m from Germany. You are too? Let’s be best friends” and it just stuck.

2points

Dianna Siever 4 years ago (edited)

It would take so much information to answer this question that I can't do it in a paragraph. But I will say that your question sounds haughty and insulting. The world is a big and scary place and people hold on to what makes them feel at home. You're country might have a "little China" in it? Would you tell it's second and third generation residence that they know c**p about their culture and do it disservice? I'm guessing you're from somewhere homogenous.

2points

Daria B 4 years ago

I agree, but then, I believe they also find strange how little knowledge we have about our ancestors as well. Like... we mostly don't care. But we do get curious.

2points

Bettye McKee 4 years ago

I was born an American and I'm still an American. I don't need to add anything to that.

1point

Lou Lopez 4 years ago

Because many of us are alienated from "American Culture." That's why so many sub-cultures exist (punk, goth, redneck, hippie etc).

0points

David Jeu 4 years ago (edited)

Dont want to start a thing there but African American. 🙄

0points

Foock Auff 4 years ago

I feel like this is a blanket statement that only applies to bandwagon Americans/our dumbest citizens

-1point

Lemon 4 years ago

A fun game can be to look up "Florida Man (your birthday)." There are endless insane news articles.

10points

JOY JACKSON 4 years ago

"florida man bored calls 911 to talk about hitler florida man threatens family with coldplay lyrics" last year I looked it up and it said "watch florida man vapes semin"

5points

Jo Choto 4 years ago

I had lived many places in the world, including in Europe, Africa and parts of Asia, but moving to the USA was the biggest culture shock of my life. After 23 years, I got used to a lot of things, but I have to say, I'm very happy to be living back in Europe again.

10points

BDR 4 years ago

Good for you...

-3points

Load More Comments

POST

JuJu 4 years ago

19points

Kaisu 4 years ago

I agree, this is very strange for me, claiming to be a part of culture that you have no connection to, don't know anything about and have only experienced through Americanised versions of their food

7points

Esca Sav 4 years ago

6points

Shelby P 4 years ago (edited)

6points

BG 4 years ago

In the US 2020 census, if you respond as Caucasian (White), then you have to specify what European region your ancestors were from.

6points

Ringo Starkey 4 years ago

Does it really affect you that much? Let someone have a little pride in themselves. For the love......

4points

mph seti 4 years ago

4points

Bob Beltcher 4 years ago

2points

Gabriela L. 4 years ago

2points

BDR 4 years ago

You do realize that it was likely Italians or Germans or Indians or Chinese that originally sold, made or attempted their style of cuisine here and that it organically became what it is now.

2points

Dippin Dot 4 years ago

2points

Dianna Siever 4 years ago (edited)

2points

Daria B 4 years ago

I agree, but then, I believe they also find strange how little knowledge we have about our ancestors as well. Like... we mostly don't care. But we do get curious.

2points

Bettye McKee 4 years ago

I was born an American and I'm still an American. I don't need to add anything to that.

1point

Lou Lopez 4 years ago

Because many of us are alienated from "American Culture." That's why so many sub-cultures exist (punk, goth, redneck, hippie etc).

0points

David Jeu 4 years ago (edited)

Dont want to start a thing there but African American. 🙄

0points

Foock Auff 4 years ago

I feel like this is a blanket statement that only applies to bandwagon Americans/our dumbest citizens

-1point

Lemon 4 years ago

A fun game can be to look up "Florida Man (your birthday)." There are endless insane news articles.

10points

JOY JACKSON 4 years ago

"florida man bored calls 911 to talk about hitler florida man threatens family with coldplay lyrics" last year I looked it up and it said "watch florida man vapes semin"

5points

Jo Choto 4 years ago

10points

BDR 4 years ago

Good for you...

-3points