30 People List What Things Are Accepted In The US While Are Totally Horrifying In The UK

What’s totally acceptable and completely normal in one country might get you some funny looks elsewhere. Or, in other words, welcome to Planet Earth where there are loads of different countries and cultures that are bound to blow your mind when you travel.

This time, we’re looking at the differences between the United States and the United Kingdom. Even though both countries have a ‘special relationship’ (not to mention a rocky initial history together), far from everything is the same there. Hopping ‘over the pond’ means traveling a large distance both physically and culturally, too. Like you'd expect when going to any new country when you fly abroad.

Redditor TownImmediate9060 went on r/AskReddit and wanted to find out what’s socially acceptable in the US but would be horrifying in the UK. The thread went viral and the responses made us seriously realize the extent of the differences between the two allies. Check out some of the best answers below and remember to upvote your fave ones, dear Pandas.

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30 People List What Things Are Accepted In The US While Are Totally Horrifying In The UK Healthcare that bankrupts you

chhurry , Olga Guryanova Report

Final score:

302points

POST

ZeroHargreaves057 3 years ago

Mhm! Exactly!

14points

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30 People List What Things Are Accepted In The US While Are Totally Horrifying In The UK Paying more than the price you see on a price tag in a shop due to taxes. WTF just put how much it costs!

gibsterminator , Akshay Chauhan Report

Final score:

290points

POST

Shelp 3 years ago

Yeah, that also bothered me as well

40points

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Cashiers being forced to stand... give them a chair you masochists

andy_james_78 Report

Final score:

275points

POST

Shelp 3 years ago

This weirds me out every time

37points

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Britain continues to use soft power to spread its influence abroad. Its cultural impact is off the charts. Just consider how influential the Harry Potter books, musicians like Ed Sheeran, and football entities like the Premier League really are.

They’re known and respected globally. As such, the UK’s able to draw in plenty of tourists (global pandemic notwithstanding because it’s hit everyone badly) and students from abroad because it remains at the forefront of people’s minds.

30 People List What Things Are Accepted In The US While Are Totally Horrifying In The UK Politicians mentioning religion when campaigning

awbayley97 , wikipedia Report

Final score:

270points

POST

Hans 3 years ago

Religion should have no room in politics anywhere. (But for positive values such as grace of charity.)

103points

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New mothers going back to work almost immediately after giving birth, because they don’t have paid maternity leave

MultipleDinosaurs Report

Final score:

257points

POST

I I 3 years ago

that's just SAD , very , very SAD

78points

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30 People List What Things Are Accepted In The US While Are Totally Horrifying In The UK An $800, four-block ambulance ride.

jeff_the_nurse , REEET JANK Report

Final score:

238points

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Downunderdude 3 years ago

Anything about the so-called American health system is a mystery to the rest of the world.

97points

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However, research shows that the confusion and uncertainty around the long-term effects that Brexit, the UK’s exit from the European Union, will have slightly dampened the country’s influence abroad.

Meanwhile, the British Council found that it’s actually culture, not politics, that deepens the ties between the UK and the US. And it’s culture that’s going to play a vital role in the future of both nations as well.

That whole thing where American kids pledge their allegiance to the flag. That is completely weird and scarily totalitarian to us Brits.

Naugrith Report

Final score:

219points

POST

Shelp 3 years ago

Not only to Brits!

93points

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30 People List What Things Are Accepted In The US While Are Totally Horrifying In The UK Overworking. It's rewarded and encouraged in the U.S., but during my time in the U.K. my colleagues were horrified by the long hours and lack of holidays that was the norm in the U.S.

CuriousAboutLife0 , Alex Kotliarskyi Report

Final score:

214points

POST

Downunderdude 3 years ago

What an awful soulless place. And I'm guessing the only reason they give them what looks like expensive chairs is so they don't get sued for workplace injury.

37points

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30 People List What Things Are Accepted In The US While Are Totally Horrifying In The UK Greeters in supermarkets. Just feels fake.

smokingthegateway , Kristina Paparo Report

Final score:

195points

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Lauren Caswell 3 years ago

Are greeters real? I thought the Simpson's was exaggerating. I guess in a country so massive, you gta find a way to stand out? Still seems weird tho

46points

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“Culture and history were the two top rated factors contributing to the UK’s attractiveness among American respondents, with 43% identifying ‘cultural and historic attractions’ as a major draw and 42% identifying ‘history,’” the British Council explains what it discovered in its research.

#10

30 People List What Things Are Accepted In The US While Are Totally Horrifying In The UK Driving everywhere.

In the UK it's perfectly normal to have your kid walk to school and walking to the shops to do your shopping.

X0AN , why kei Report

Final score:

181points

POST

Something 3 years ago

This varies in the US too. In most cities it's normal not to have a car, but not in places where most people don't live within walking distance to anything.

51points

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#11

Offering full-time employees anything less than 28 days of paid holidays per year - it's not only socially unacceptable - it's illegal!

RandGenUserName Report

Final score:

179points

POST

ADHORTATOR 3 years ago

not in the US.....

34points

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#12

Bragging about how expensive something was.

In the US "this is a $100 shirt" ...smug face

In the UK "can you believe I got this whole suit for £25!" ...smug face

NCC-2000-A Report

Final score:

170points

POST

A Cat Named Dragon 3 years ago

Americans love a good discount too.

70points

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Despite some of the more superficial cultural differences between the US and the UK, both nations appear to care about pretty much the same issues.

“The research showed a high degree of shared concern about global issues among young people in both countries with poverty, extremism/terrorism, and climate change as the top factors chosen by young people in both the US and UK,” the British Council found. “The research suggests the relationship between the two countries is at root a cultural as much as a political phenomenon, and viewed in those terms it is indeed special.”

#13

Labelling the winner of a sports tournament that only your country plays as ‘World Champions’

Calling Football ‘Soccer’

DM1994 Report

Final score:

165points

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Paul Davis 3 years ago

We're not the only ones doing that. No one seems to blink at the audacity of the Miss Universe beauty contest, where Earth seems to win every time.

18points

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#14

30 People List What Things Are Accepted In The US While Are Totally Horrifying In The UK A rubber in England is not the same as a rubber in the US.

Butwaip , Annie Spratt Report

Final score:

163points

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Downunderdude 3 years ago

In the UK, a durex is (or used to be) a condom. In Australia, it's sticky tape. Best not to get them confused.

51points

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#15

30 People List What Things Are Accepted In The US While Are Totally Horrifying In The UK Gaps in bathroom stalls

8xxx5 , ttarasiuk Report

Final score:

158points

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troufaki13 3 years ago

Again, horrifying everywhere in the world

72points

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Ironically, the actual term ‘special relationship’ sees very little use in the US, primarily being a British way of categorizing the tight bonds between the two nations. However, this doesn’t change the fact that both countries are very much skipping along arm-in-arm, primarily admiring each other’s cultural output (leaving politics a secondary concern).

#16

30 People List What Things Are Accepted In The US While Are Totally Horrifying In The UK Making tea in a microwave.

fantsukissa , MoneyBlogNewz Report

Final score:

155points

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troufaki13 3 years ago

This is horrifying for the rest of the world not just the UK!!

124points

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#17

When my Brit friends were visiting, they were horrified when the waiter took their credit card to swipe back at the terminal. This made them REALLY uncomfortable.

cn45 Report

Final score:

151points

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Shelp 3 years ago

I would have been too!

57points

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#18

Cutting lines for things, I’ve seen some people when going to Disney world trying to cut lines for random reasons. Queueing in the uk is like our national sport

CMDR_omnicognate Report

Final score:

144points

POST

troufaki13 3 years ago

Respect the queue! This should be everywhere!

74points

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Redditor TownImmediate9060’s thread about the differences between the US and the UK was a roaring success. It got more than 67.7k upvotes in just over a week. What’s more, the thread got over 51k comments which just goes to show that the OP hit the nail on the head and chose a niche topic that plenty of folks were interested in.

The thread also got over 300 awards, proving that TownImmediate9060’s fellow Reddit users really appreciated them asking the question in the first place.

#19

30 People List What Things Are Accepted In The US While Are Totally Horrifying In The UK My (British) partner & I (American) were in London, running late to meet our friends. Just as we get to the tube station, I see our train has just pulled in; we haul ass across platform and I yell, “HOLD THE DOOR.” Someone does, we make the train, I don’t see a problem. My partner, by contrast, is mortified. This was 4-5 years ago & he is still mortified. Apparently we were meant to just...let the train leave? Without us?? & wait for the next one???

Ok-Cryptographer8906 , Chris Yang Report

Final score:

142points

POST

Linus Nilsson 3 years ago

On the tube, there's absolutely no reason to "hold the door". The next one will be in in a few minutes, and you will just be a little late. By holding, everyone on the train will be late, and there is actually a possibility that it travels down the line, delaying several trains.

57points

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#20

30 People List What Things Are Accepted In The US While Are Totally Horrifying In The UK Asking new neighbors, "Have you found a church yet?"

boganvegan , Cosmic Timetraveler Report

Final score:

141points

POST

JuJu 3 years ago

That would be weird.

61points

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#21

30 People List What Things Are Accepted In The US While Are Totally Horrifying In The UK Huge portion sizes. Kids meal in U.S is like a adult meal in U.K.

Revolutionary_Ad5901 , Ashley Green Report

Final score:

140points

POST

Hans 3 years ago

"supersize me"

23points

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See Also on Bored Panda

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

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

#30

Refuse a drink to a grown-ass taxpaying 20 year old

Chapelirl Report

Final score:

113points

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lenka 3 years ago

I can legally buy a gun and hold a hunting license, I can legally get married, vote, make medical decisions, have a mortgage and go to an adult prison for legal infringements but cant enjoy a cold beer on a Saturday afternoon.

13points

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What do you think ?

POST

Lauren Caswell 3 years ago

Tsk. Honestly did they not read the comments under the 'look at weird Americans" article from like 24 hours ago? Enough pls BP give us a break, or stagger them out. Not every day.

46points

Mimi M 3 years ago

Another 'ridiculous/bad/weird Americans' post. We are sick of them. How about making a post of nice things about the US for every time you have made a post of the opposite. It's enough already.

27points

Sanne H. 3 years ago (edited)

For me as a Dutch person with several Flemish acquaintances it’s funny to read about these differences. The habits of our two neighboring countries (Netherlands and Flanders) are more or less the same, but we have misunderstanding in expressions sometimes, like buitenwipper (Fl: bouncer, Du: someone having sex outside), aftrekker (Fl: Corkscrew, Du: someone who’s jerking off) and poepen (fl: having sex, du: to defecate), to name the three most shocking ones 😀

16points

Andrew Gibb 3 years ago

Having visited the US of As I can share a positive. Americans are very generous. If you have an accent you will be bought drinks in a bar by those who claim to have ancestors from Scotland or Ireland.

13points

Mimi M 3 years ago

Not even going to read it.

10points

Full of Giggles 3 years ago

STOP WITH THE AMERICA BASHING BULLSHIT!

7points

Logic and Reason 3 years ago

This bullshit is so played out. I’m seriously considering leaving the site, it seems like for every entertaining article there’s 5 of these “aMeRiCa BaD” posts.

5points

Daphne Williams 3 years ago

Here's another list about how the different ways different cultures do things is horrifying and terrible. Please downvote this s**t. Upvote art, upvote kindness, upvote cute and funny animal, upvote comedy.

4points

Harlow 3 years ago

Do other countries have ridiculous insurance ads or is that just us?

4points

oddball0626 3 years ago

Are there any other countries to criticize? China? Russia? Anyone...?

4points

CatWoman312 3 years ago

I thought one a week was too much, but back to back days now? BP must really hate the US, sorry United States of America. Don’t want to use the abbreviation constantly since we apparently do that according to one of the posts.

4points

Virgil Sanders 3 years ago

i'm so tired of all the posts about america...ok we get it, you hate america, blah blah blah. give us something different to read please!

2points

Anony Mouse 3 years ago

FFS. Please stop posting the same article. It used to be every two weeks. Now it's daily. Did you not notice the entire comment section yesterday?

2points

Leo Domitrix 3 years ago

DEAR WORLD: From an American. Yes, we shock, horrify, and appall you. We know. Sometimes you do the same to others, too. We all have our cultural quirks. I hope the world is enjoying its schadenfreude. When you're done? Let the US know. Maybe we can hvae a discussion about how to solve problems? Peace out, An American

2points

Dorothy Cloud 3 years ago

According to these comments, everyone in the world thinks Americans are just horrible and with no manners. BUT, we still get people wanting to immigrate here, sneak over our borders....both North & South. If you don't like it, don't visit, don't live here.

1point

Nikki Sevven 3 years ago

Really tired of these shitposts, BP. How would you feel if I habitually made fun of your culture and country whilst ignoring the amazing things, people, and experiences?

1point

Daniel Atkins 3 years ago

Apparently every staff writer must write one of these America Bad posts once a week every week. Man I miss the photo galleries of unusual places animals etc.

1point

Danieletc 3 years ago

Two America-bashing articles in two days. Go for three in three, you're heading that way-! (That's sarcasm, BP staff.)

1point

Vicky Z 3 years ago

Honestly most of these are weird for the whole world not only for UK!

1point

Ricky Omo 3 years ago

This post was informative. I didn't realise Americans didn't use kettles..... Yeah this is very informative.

1point

Leo Domitrix 3 years ago

How dare we not all comply with the UK version of everything! *gasp/faint*.... Seriously, for people who complain constantly that the US is too expectant that the world should be like the US, isn't the UK kinda doing the same? Everyone should do/know/speak the way they do in the UK? ...

1point

Isaac7lego 3 years ago

Wtf!!!! Did they not read the comments on "Americans are doing _____" article?????

1point

angie but who cares 3 years ago

ok but do people in the uk not talk to people at all i have never been but if that's the case it sounds a bit boring ]:

1point

Hexenfox 3 years ago

To chillchillpill: oh Jfc. Lol.

1point

Stargazer66 2 years ago

I agree with you on the pledge of allegiance. That's something fascists (hello Hitler) countries do (Hello Kim Jung).

0points

Tom Spade 3 years ago (edited)

Sensitive ass people. You don't even realize how indoctrinated some people are until they speak. Compared to many places, we are f****d up here. I'm from the Midwest, my fellow countryfolks, and even I can look around and see that we have huge issues here. No one else is getting butthurt over their countries being roasted, but here are some Americans, the most roastable people on earth, getting sensitive. Ok. You bunch of Richard Gere movie loving fucktards, show me your best sensitivity. I'll certainly use it as my first submission article for BP. Brothers and sisters, if our s**t was all that, we wouldn't be featured so heavily, now would we? Lighten the f**k up, people are just people, but true is true. No place or people are perfect, we're all messed up according to someone else. Take your s**t on the chin like the rest of us, and do feel free to have a sense of humor about it. If you'd like to stop showing up as a world meme, stop voting for divisive assholes. Biden and Trump...

0points

Sheree Hyde 3 years ago

Our differences are what makes life interesting! Nothing but interesting to me. My future son in law is Australian and my daughters ex boyfriend was British. Loved them both and yes, somethings they say or do was weird here in the US, but fun none the less. They found us equally entertaining !

0points

Si 3 years ago

The microwaved tea thing is horrifying though, I was genuinely shocked when I first heard of that. It’s like making wine out of lucozade or something.

0points

Kathy L 3 years ago

Damn, I wish I was British!

0points

Hexenfox 3 years ago

I actually do have Irish ancestry. My great grandmother moved to Detroit with her parents in 1920. From Dublin. Jfc. She still spoke with an Irish accent when she was in her 90s. So. Please stop.

0points

Leslie Burleson 3 years ago

Seriously BP. I love you , but it's getting old reading "let's s**t on America " posts. I'm bettering Americans are a big percentage of your readers . I'm honestly about to just delete the app. Every country has problems. We're not getting on here and making fun of other places

0points

W. 5 3 years ago

I love reading stuff like this because global thinking made us already know all our similarities but the differences are sometimes so amazing and interesting. I don't read it as a bashing. It's just fascinating that things I consider boringly normal are unknown or weird to other people.

0points

Big 3 years ago

Another day, another anti-American post. I'm tired of this constant xenophobia.

0points

ScarlettofHydraIsland 3 years ago

We get, we suck. Now how about something entertaining about the US, Florida Man.

0points

maswartz 3 years ago

ENOUGH! Please stop with the "ha ha look how weird America is" articles DAILY!

0points

Paul Budhram 3 years ago

do another country or at least good things us, ok?

0points

Nga Wang 3 years ago

Trespassers will be shot.

0points

Gogubaci 3 years ago

I'll add not making eye conatct on the tube to the list, big faux pas in London

0points

Colin Matthews 3 years ago

F***y. Quite a different meaning in the USA vs many other places...

0points

Pungent Sauce 3 years ago

This comment has been deleted.

0points

Piet Puk 3 years ago

Parading children in padded bikinis and lipstick and have them judged.

0points

Elin Calliel 3 years ago

I am so glad I don't live in the US!

-3points

Eslamala 3 years ago

This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

POST

Lauren Caswell 3 years ago

Tsk. Honestly did they not read the comments under the 'look at weird Americans" article from like 24 hours ago? Enough pls BP give us a break, or stagger them out. Not every day.

46points

Mimi M 3 years ago

Another 'ridiculous/bad/weird Americans' post. We are sick of them. How about making a post of nice things about the US for every time you have made a post of the opposite. It's enough already.

27points

Sanne H. 3 years ago (edited)

16points

Andrew Gibb 3 years ago

13points

Mimi M 3 years ago

Not even going to read it.

10points

Full of Giggles 3 years ago

STOP WITH THE AMERICA BASHING BULLSHIT!

7points

Logic and Reason 3 years ago

This bullshit is so played out. I’m seriously considering leaving the site, it seems like for every entertaining article there’s 5 of these “aMeRiCa BaD” posts.

5points

Daphne Williams 3 years ago

4points

Harlow 3 years ago

Do other countries have ridiculous insurance ads or is that just us?

4points

oddball0626 3 years ago

Are there any other countries to criticize? China? Russia? Anyone...?

4points

CatWoman312 3 years ago

4points

Virgil Sanders 3 years ago

i'm so tired of all the posts about america...ok we get it, you hate america, blah blah blah. give us something different to read please!

2points

Anony Mouse 3 years ago

FFS. Please stop posting the same article. It used to be every two weeks. Now it's daily. Did you not notice the entire comment section yesterday?

2points

Leo Domitrix 3 years ago

2points

Dorothy Cloud 3 years ago

1point

Nikki Sevven 3 years ago

Really tired of these shitposts, BP. How would you feel if I habitually made fun of your culture and country whilst ignoring the amazing things, people, and experiences?

1point

Daniel Atkins 3 years ago

Apparently every staff writer must write one of these America Bad posts once a week every week. Man I miss the photo galleries of unusual places animals etc.

1point

Danieletc 3 years ago

Two America-bashing articles in two days. Go for three in three, you're heading that way-! (That's sarcasm, BP staff.)

1point

Vicky Z 3 years ago

Honestly most of these are weird for the whole world not only for UK!

1point

Ricky Omo 3 years ago

This post was informative. I didn't realise Americans didn't use kettles..... Yeah this is very informative.

1point

Leo Domitrix 3 years ago

1point

Isaac7lego 3 years ago

Wtf!!!! Did they not read the comments on "Americans are doing _____" article?????

1point

angie but who cares 3 years ago

ok but do people in the uk not talk to people at all i have never been but if that's the case it sounds a bit boring ]:

1point

Hexenfox 3 years ago

To chillchillpill: oh Jfc. Lol.

1point

Stargazer66 2 years ago

I agree with you on the pledge of allegiance. That's something fascists (hello Hitler) countries do (Hello Kim Jung).

0points

Tom Spade 3 years ago (edited)

0points

Sheree Hyde 3 years ago

0points

Si 3 years ago

The microwaved tea thing is horrifying though, I was genuinely shocked when I first heard of that. It’s like making wine out of lucozade or something.

0points

Kathy L 3 years ago

Damn, I wish I was British!

0points

Hexenfox 3 years ago

I actually do have Irish ancestry. My great grandmother moved to Detroit with her parents in 1920. From Dublin. Jfc. She still spoke with an Irish accent when she was in her 90s. So. Please stop.

0points

Leslie Burleson 3 years ago

0points

W. 5 3 years ago

0points

Big 3 years ago

Another day, another anti-American post. I'm tired of this constant xenophobia.

0points

ScarlettofHydraIsland 3 years ago

We get, we suck. Now how about something entertaining about the US, Florida Man.

0points

maswartz 3 years ago

ENOUGH! Please stop with the "ha ha look how weird America is" articles DAILY!

0points

Paul Budhram 3 years ago

do another country or at least good things us, ok?

0points

Nga Wang 3 years ago

Trespassers will be shot.

0points

Gogubaci 3 years ago

I'll add not making eye conatct on the tube to the list, big faux pas in London

0points

Colin Matthews 3 years ago

F***y. Quite a different meaning in the USA vs many other places...

0points

Pungent Sauce 3 years ago

This comment has been deleted.

0points

Piet Puk 3 years ago

Parading children in padded bikinis and lipstick and have them judged.

0points

Elin Calliel 3 years ago

I am so glad I don't live in the US!

-3points

Eslamala 3 years ago

This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

30 People List What Things Are Accepted In The US While Are Totally Horrifying In The UK

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