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It may seem like an amazing idea to go to Times Square for New Year's Eve or do something very simple, like cutting in line at a supermarket. But oh boy, if you’re new to the American way of living and have little know-how of how things work over there, you may get into serious trouble.

“What should you never do in the United States?” someone wondered on the Ask Reddit community, and the thread quickly turned into a potentially problem-preventing guide for pinpointing what not to do in the US.

Below we wrapped up some of the most informative and illuminating responses, so if you are planning a trip to America, you may want to read this extra carefully with notes by your side.

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#1

30 Americans Warn Foreigners About What Things To Never Do In The US At least in Tennessee you should never say anything unkind about Dolly Parton

Abe_Fromans_Day_Off , Kristopher Harris Report

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Bored Panda reached out to a Tennessee resident and Redditor nicknamed Abe_Fromans_Day_Off who, as a response to this thread, wrote “At least in Tennessee, you should never say anything unkind about Dolly Parton.” His reply went viral, with many people noting that it’s not only in Tennessee where this is the case.

The Redditor said that he mistakenly thought Dolly was admired that way in Tennessee because she's from there. “What I discovered from that thread is that she's revered in other regions of the US, and even in other countries, to the same extent that she is in Tennessee.”

“I think to someone unfamiliar with her,” the Redditor continued, “it's important to know that she's known for her philanthropy, including funding local schools, funding the Moderna COVID vaccine, and the Imagination Library. She is also known as someone who celebrates our heritage in rural Tennessee while valuing and appreciating other cultures and belief systems. So she's just a generous, wholesome, respectful person and everyone loves her.”

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#2

30 Americans Warn Foreigners About What Things To Never Do In The US Walk on to someone's property without permission, or knowing the owner. It's cool in many places around the world to be able to go wandering through the countryside. It is not cool in the U.S. You might end up getting arrested, held at gunpoint, or shot at if you're really unlucky.

Ai_of_Vanity , Bokicbo Report

Final score:
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Jeremy James
Jeremy James
Community Member
1 year ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Especially if you see purple paint on a fence post or tree, that means absolutely do not trespass. ETA: In US States with "purple paint laws," the presence of the paint satisfies the legal requirement for "willful or knowing trespass." So the property owner can potentially bring action against you for trespass without the need for any other signage.

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#3

30 Americans Warn Foreigners About What Things To Never Do In The US Dont underestimate the size of the us. Apparently some people think it can take only a couple hours to go to locations states away.

LucarnAnderson , deyangeorgiev Report

Final score:
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Stephanie Did It
Stephanie Did It
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Disappointing when you want to see Niagara Falls and the Grand Canyon in the same weekend!

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#4

30 Americans Warn Foreigners About What Things To Never Do In The US Get out of the vehicle during a traffic stop. I did not know this, here in Australia we are perfectly OK to get out of the vehicle unless the cop says otherwise.

CptUnderpants- , josecarloscerdeno Report

Final score:
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The Redditor also pointed out that Dolly was inducted into the Rock n Roll Hall of Fame, and “she didn't seem to think she should be there because she's a country singer and doesn't perform rock music. So now in an effort to ‘do something to earn it,’ as she put it, she's working on a full-fledged rock album where she'll sing songs by Rolling Stones and Led Zeppelin,” he explained.

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When asked if there are any cultural taboos to point out in the state of Tennessee, the Redditor said that it’s hard to do since “we're such a diverse state.” “Nashville in particular is home to people from all over the world. From the bigger cities to the college towns, small cities and rural unincorporated areas in the counties, what is seen as culturally sensitive will vary considerably,” he told us.
#5

30 Americans Warn Foreigners About What Things To Never Do In The US Get injured/ sick without insurance. You’re honestly better off just dying.

BufferBB , Wavebreakmedia Report

Final score:
75points
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#6

30 Americans Warn Foreigners About What Things To Never Do In The US If a cop pulls you over don't get out of the car, place your hands on the wheel and wait they will come to you.

SuvenPan , jijieforsythe Report

Final score:
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Annabelle
Annabelle
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I don’t know why (no bad intentions) but this one scares me.

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#7

30 Americans Warn Foreigners About What Things To Never Do In The US Engage with someone acting like a crazy person on the road. They might shoot you.

who_favor_fire , zelmab Report

Final score:
69points
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Erntp Nwjd
Erntp Nwjd
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

'They might shoot you' The general perception of all Americans by the rest of the World.

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#8

30 Americans Warn Foreigners About What Things To Never Do In The US Go to Times Square on new years. The experience is so not worth it. Its romanticized for some reason.

SUTATSDOG , Anthony Quintano Report

Final score:
68points
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Scott McHattan
Scott McHattan
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

You get locked in a crowd for several hours with nowhere to pee.

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#9

30 Americans Warn Foreigners About What Things To Never Do In The US Cut in line. I've been in countries (example: Spain) where lines/queues are more of a vague suggestion of who goes first, this is not true if you cut in line in the US. Cutting in line in the US can literally lead to violence.

hiro111 , Rawpixel Report

Final score:
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Meeliasi
Meeliasi
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Not sure if you've been to Britain. Lots of violent tutting.

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#10

30 Americans Warn Foreigners About What Things To Never Do In The US Don’t ever get a payday loan

mqrocks , Tony Webster Report

Final score:
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#11

30 Americans Warn Foreigners About What Things To Never Do In The US Tell the people that despite being called "the land of the free" they have less freedoms overall than several countries

Allytale-AU , Johnstocker Report

Final score:
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#12

30 Americans Warn Foreigners About What Things To Never Do In The US Don’t take pictures or record videos of strangers’ children. I’ve had to warn many people coming over from Asia about this. Some have ignored me and it has led to screaming and threats.

newuser60 , solovei23 Report

Final score:
62points
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#13

30 Americans Warn Foreigners About What Things To Never Do In The US Don't illegally use a disabled person parking spot or pass a school bus with its stop sign out.

Rodeheffer , ABBPhoto Report

Final score:
55points
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ADHORTATOR
ADHORTATOR
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

There is no place on earth where you should use a disabled person parking spot if you are not disabled.....

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#14

30 Americans Warn Foreigners About What Things To Never Do In The US Try and bribe a police officer

ChiefKingSosa , mstandret Report

Final score:
51points
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I’ve Seen Things
I’ve Seen Things
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

We were just in Egypt and they “tip” police. 🤔 That’s not… that’s not what that is called…

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#15

30 Americans Warn Foreigners About What Things To Never Do In The US Never leave your sleeping infant / child in a vehicle. This is fairly common in some places across the pond, but it is definitely NOT legal in the US.

Nyxmyst_ , Rawpixel Report

Final score:
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#16

30 Americans Warn Foreigners About What Things To Never Do In The US Get unintentionally pregnant in a red state.

JayneJay , diego_cervo Report

Final score:
49points
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Inclusion2020
Inclusion2020
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

They want to ban abortion but not bother helping the kids that this ban creates. One look at the foster care system in the US should’ve stopped this movement. One look at the freaking Consititution should have stopped this movement.

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#17

30 Americans Warn Foreigners About What Things To Never Do In The US Do not run or move fast and unpredictably when stopped by cops.

Flauschkadser , LightFieldStudios Report

Final score:
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#18

30 Americans Warn Foreigners About What Things To Never Do In The US Not tip at sit down restaurant

Batticon , MargJohnsonVA Report

Final score:
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Jonathan Gore
Jonathan Gore
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Tipping is a con, if nobody tipped then staff would have to be paid properly. Tipping is how owners increase their profits instead of paying a decent wage.

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#19

30 Americans Warn Foreigners About What Things To Never Do In The US Drive in the left lane on freeway unless you’re passing

EmptyWish2138 , AZ-BLT Report

Final score:
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Tams21
Tams21
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

You're supposed to do this but my experience driving in the US was that so many drivers are terrible at it. It's much better adhered to in the UK and Germany.

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#20

30 Americans Warn Foreigners About What Things To Never Do In The US Talk about being atheist at work in The Bible Belt.

Syrup131 , Rawpixel Report

Final score:
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Erntp Nwjd
Erntp Nwjd
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

After all the Pilgrims were religious fundamentalists who wished to establish a theocracy.

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#21

30 Americans Warn Foreigners About What Things To Never Do In The US Go to Florida for the beaches and forget about the wildlife.. Black Bears, gators, panthers, hogs, etc

anon , harrycollinsphotography Report

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#22

30 Americans Warn Foreigners About What Things To Never Do In The US Jaywalk....that s**t is apparently illegal

MeMyselfandsadlyI , Eden, Janine and Jim Report

Final score:
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Stephanie Did It
Stephanie Did It
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

All my life I've been told it's illegal to jaywalk yet I've never heard of anyone being charged or arrested for doing it.

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#23

30 Americans Warn Foreigners About What Things To Never Do In The US -Public spitting isn't usually well received.

-The average American does not usually enjoy talking politics, in their frequented public spaces.

-Assume public transport is timely

-Light up a cigarette without knowing local laws, to the space.

Easy-Specialist1821 , korneevamaha Report

Final score:
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#24

30 Americans Warn Foreigners About What Things To Never Do In The US Never assume that every business has a public bathroom. And for the ones that do, assuming you can just walk in off the street, use the bathroom and leave.

deadsoulinside , FabrikaPhoto Report

Final score:
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James016
James016
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Sometimes if you need to go and you ask politely they will let you. But you have to ask.

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#25

30 Americans Warn Foreigners About What Things To Never Do In The US We know our tax system is dumb. There is no need to mention it.

OneFuckedWarthog , voronaman111 Report

Final score:
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#26

30 Americans Warn Foreigners About What Things To Never Do In The US Don’t try to cheat the IRS. They will f**k your life into oblivion.

_KvotheTheArcane__ , MargJohnsonVA Report

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#27

30 Americans Warn Foreigners About What Things To Never Do In The US Think that you can pee in an empty alley on your way home from the bars. A surprisingly large percentage of my European acquaintances have had to great experience of spending a few hours early morning hours in the drunk tank in various American cities - because it's really not that big of deal in most of Europe.

rapidstandardstaples , Tim Vrtiska Report

Final score:
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DeoManus Argentem
DeoManus Argentem
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It's a fine for public intoxication, not for urinating (unless you're not even attempting to be discreet, in which case you're looking at indecent exposure and potential sex offender status)... Which, like jaywalking, is almost never enforced unless you're making a huge public disturbance or nuisance of yourself.

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#28

30 Americans Warn Foreigners About What Things To Never Do In The US Never [mess] with Floridaman. He will beat you with experience every time.

bRightOnRebbit , Beachbumledford Report

Final score:
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John Jameson
John Jameson
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Floridaman has become Floridagovernor and Floridastate it seems like.

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#29

30 Americans Warn Foreigners About What Things To Never Do In The US Don’t talk to your wife about trying New York pizza in arabic on a plane to New York.

Purging_mofos , JJFarquitectos Report

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

And don't write mathematical equations whilst on a plane: https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/italian-economist-removed-terrorism/

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#30

30 Americans Warn Foreigners About What Things To Never Do In The US Talk openly about politics

anon , YuriArcursPeopleimages Report

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Vermontah
Vermontah
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Ever since Trump that is because his fans are rabid, uninformed and violent enough to storm the capital.

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