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Our cultural differences are what make us unique, and they’re what bond us with others alike. What we see as ordinary always depends on people, place, and context and surely it will differ from one person to another.

That becomes super obvious when we leave the comfort of our home behind our back and go on vacation. Ask travelers how often they've been in uncomfortable social situations, had weird conversations, and found themselves strangers in a foreign land, and they will tell numerous stories.

Now this Ask Reddit thread has recently gained a lot of attention, amassing a whopping 28.3k comments and 27.8k upvotes. “What things do Americans like and the rest of the world not so much?” someone asked and people started sharing their own experiences, impressions and stories that show us once again just how relative things can be.

#1

30 Things Americans Seem To Like, But The Rest Of The World Not So Much Tipping culture.

It's crazy how much people defend an absolutely terrible system.

chewwydraper , Sam Dan Truong Report

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

Tipping. A way to continue slavery and make it legal to pay staff below the minimum wage.

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    #2

    30 Things Americans Seem To Like, But The Rest Of The World Not So Much MM-DD-YYYY Date format 😅

    javapyscript , Leeloo Thefirst Report

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

    I've never understood this, because doesn't it make sense that it would go shortest, middle, longest edit: longest to shortest makes a lot of sense as well

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    #3

    30 Things Americans Seem To Like, But The Rest Of The World Not So Much Commercials about pharmaceutical pills. "Ask your doctor about taking xyz... side affects can include (everything).
    Wild!

    Live_Ad_455 , Melany @ tuinfosalud.com Report

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

    This is not "liked by Americans"; the pharmaceutical companies pay to air the commercials.

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

    And the 1st amendment to the constitution gives them the right to keep doing it even though it's stupid

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

    What makes you think Americans like them? They're stupid. Especially when they state "don't take if you're allergic" I mean, no sh*T

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

    Just because we have to endure these stupid ads does not mean that we like them. I have seen 1,000s of them and couldn't tell you one thing about the drug. As soon as they come on I zone out. Same for Lawyer ads.

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

    Americans do not like this. What would make anyone think otherwise? No, we don't like 8 minute commercials interrupting our programs to sell us drugs we don't have the power to buy.

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

    Shortness of breath, tinier Dik, hallucinations, smaller hands, sweating, pissing blue, one leg shorter than the other, excessive farting, paralyation of the r****m and even death or resurrection may result. Consult your physician but ask for it anyway!!

    Caroline Edink-Koppelaar
    Community Member
    2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    this is actually illegal in most of Europe... companies have to pay humongous fine (bankruptcy level height) if they get caught doing it

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

    Side effects of consuming crayonase may include stomach pains, headache, death, rash, liver failure, pain in your left knee, death, and minor abdominal pain. Contact your doctor if you experience any of these effects

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

    Only the US and NZ do this. We find it just as bewildering. Sometimes SNL will do comedy skits and parody prescription commercials. Look it up on YouTube. Some Of them are funny! Lol

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

    What I found interesting was they call out other brands in advertising, 'our ars'e unblocker is better than XYZ companies' or what ever.

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

    Allowing pharmaceutical ads was the worst decision ever!

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

    The reason there are so many side effects listed, is during the studies they do to test out the drug, they have to list every effect any test subject has during the study.

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

    My favorite is when they say "Don't take XYZ if you are allergic to XYZ."

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

    I can't get past the "Ask your doctor about..." Isn't it the doctor's job to know what the best treatment is for you without you asking? Are there doctors who, when asked about some medication, reply "It would be perfect for you, but I wasn't going to say anything unless you asked."

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

    Americans Seem To Like? Who is liking these commercials and adverts?? Not this American.

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

    This needs to be outlawed. Your doctor is supposed to tell you what will cure your ills, not the other way around.

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

    You take these, lawyer commercials and political attack ads and just launch them all into the sun. Then you can make commercials the right volume

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

    This was not legal until big pharma lobbyists started spreading big money around.

    Celtic Pirate Queen
    Community Member
    2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Why am I asking my Doctor? He's the one with the medical degree. Shouldn't he be informing ME about a medication I should take?

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

    The recent commercials- have you tried x, ask your doctor about x. Why would I if I don’t know what it’s for? Sure I’ll ask my doctor about x because I need to grow a second head, thanks.

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

    I have to agree. They started doing that in the US about 15 years ago and I absolutely hate it.

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

    I thought this was supposed to be about things Americans like? If whoever posted this one thinks that anyone anywhere of the face of this planet likes pharmaceutical commercials, they are amazingly wrong.

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

    Again.... we don't like these commercials. We have ZERO control over this s**t. Lol. Why would we like this s**t? Just because it exists... it doesn't mean we prefer it. Just like how y'all don't like microwaving water for tea. The microwave exists. But you don't prefer it over a kettle.

    Jessica J.
    Community Member
    2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Most Americans don't have the understanding to know they (we) could have this changed. Many don't realize that laws could be made to ban them. Why? Big Pharma lobbyists, plus an overworked, undereducated population.

    Let’s Go Brandon
    Community Member
    2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Yeah I get tired of hearing or seeing ads about medication. But at the same time, I take one that I have seen from an ad and me ruined to my doctor that I was curious about it and if it was something they might help. Turns out, the answer was yes.

    Scp_049
    Community Member
    2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    It's so medicine companies can make more money. (I think, I actually have no clue)

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

    Ohh, my favorite one is the side effects of the peritoneum - basically your taint is gona rot away from a painful rash of some sort- SIGN ME UP!!

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

    No Americans like this, it's just legal. We, speaking for all Americans now, f*****g hate this, there is just no way it will change cause money.

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

    capitalism. maybe not the best system for the majority of folks

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

    Speaking of adverts, I was surprised by the number of Durex adverts on Belgian TV.

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

    As an American, I can tell you that most Americans hate these commercials.

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

    Again, just because pharmaceutical companies do this does not mean Americans like it!

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

    Those who would take out ads for certain medication‘s had to start providing these disclaimers because they got sued for failing to do so and their negligence resulted in the deaths m of many of those who trusted the promoters and their doctors to promote these medications without regard for their customers and clients’ health. Permanent damage from taking unnecessary or otherwise inappropriate medication’s for various conditions also contributed to the reasons for these disclaimers.

    Mr. Clean
    Community Member
    2 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Don't take blowmiol if you are allergic to blowmiol

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

    Those p**s me off too. I'm not the one who went to medical school.

    Lupita Nyong'heaux
    Community Member
    2 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    it's only in the past few decades or so that this is a thing in the U.S. i remember the before times when you couldn't advertise drugs on TV. but then the supreme court ruled that corporations are "people" and could, therefore, donate more than the $2000 limit to political campaigns and all hell broke loose. these ads and the exorbitant price of drugs in this country are a DIRECT RESULT of that one ruling. it sucks syphillitic donkey balls...

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

    I saw a warning on a pill box that said possible side effects include drowsiness and insomnia. Huh??

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

    No one likes this.... we have it and deal with it but no one likes it

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

    Americans tolerate the pharmaceutical industry at best. We don't like it, and the commercials are paid for by the pharmaceutical companies they are required to list every possible side effect even if one person had it in the trial and no one else to cover their a*s legally. Wouldn't want to loose their 500% profit margin and set themselves up for a lawsuit by not saying your butt might itch if you take this medicine because during the trial one person had their butt itch once.

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

    Are you sure this is only in the USA? I see plenty of pharmaceutical ads in Germany, so it can't be prohibited in the EU.

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

    But in Germany they don't tell you the side-effects. They just say "for side-effects ask your doctor or pharmacist" :-D

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

    On this, I agree. They are really prevalent in the morning. I'm not even sure what they are for half the time. There's one that gets played on iHeart radio a lot, Omzempec or something like that. Zero idea. Never tell you. Just ask your doctor

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

    If the illness doesn't kill you the medication side effects will! 💊💉🩹🦠

    James016
    Community Member
    2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Advertising prescription medicine is not allowed in the UK

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

    Why are the side affects so much worse than the original problem?

    Don't you wish you knew
    Community Member
    2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I could 100% do without these. I despise watching commercials anyway, but these are the worst!

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    #4

    30 Things Americans Seem To Like, But The Rest Of The World Not So Much Opinion signs outside their houses. Like "in this house we support...". I find it weird and unusual.

    BittenOnion Report

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

    We have a “Love is Love” sign in our yard, but only because a few houses down from us has a sign that’s pretty much the opposite meaning.

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    #5

    30 Things Americans Seem To Like, But The Rest Of The World Not So Much College sports. Particularly football and basketball.

    The rest of the world loves soccer, but nobody gives a hoot about it at the university level.

    Scrappy_Larue , football wife Report

    #6

    30 Things Americans Seem To Like, But The Rest Of The World Not So Much Flags. So many American flags everywhere.

    justmyfakename , Pramod Kotipalli Report

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    #7

    30 Things Americans Seem To Like, But The Rest Of The World Not So Much Walking inside the house with shoes on.

    ignviliam , Sladjana Karvounis Report

    #8

    30 Things Americans Seem To Like, But The Rest Of The World Not So Much Threatening to press charges on people....

    And being suspicious of everyone.

    agingercow , Icons8 Team Report

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    #9

    30 Things Americans Seem To Like, But The Rest Of The World Not So Much imperial units
    (edit: fahrenheit aswell as celsius are good for certain scenarios so ill omit the former)

    Kirby_zzz , Ag PIC Report

    #10

    30 Things Americans Seem To Like, But The Rest Of The World Not So Much ICE. Filled till the brim before you pour any drink.

    locoliga , Truong Dat Report

    #11

    30 Things Americans Seem To Like, But The Rest Of The World Not So Much Cheerleaders

    liebe_rootBete , Rajiv Perera Report

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    Don't you wish you knew
    Community Member
    2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    It's definitely a sport and takes a lot of athleticism. People train from an early age to be on cheer squads.

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    #12

    30 Things Americans Seem To Like, But The Rest Of The World Not So Much Driving everywhere. Anywhere you go, you go in a car.


    But I suspect for many, other options are so rare they don't think about them even if they do exist.

    MXXIV666 , Aleksandr Popov Report

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

    Soooo accurate! I work 50 minutes away from where I live (41 miles). Public transit isn’t an option. Even for close shopping… it’s not an option. The nearest bus line is 4 miles away.

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    #14

    30 Things Americans Seem To Like, But The Rest Of The World Not So Much Peanut butter and jelly

    FlyBuy3 , Giorgio Trovato Report

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

    A lot of us were fed this as kids, so it tends to be a comfort food now.

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    #15

    30 Things Americans Seem To Like, But The Rest Of The World Not So Much Root beer and ranch dressing. I brought some to Germany and had my friends try it and they said the root beer tasted like medicine. They politely tasted the dressing with a celery and said "hmmm, interesting" but the look on their faces was that it was terrible ha.

    nargleflargle , American Heritage Chocolate Report

    #16

    30 Things Americans Seem To Like, But The Rest Of The World Not So Much Garbage Disposals

    Just shove that turkey carcass in the disposal and run some warm water behind it

    celtic1888 , Max Vakhtbovych Report

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

    You can’t put bones, meat, eggshells, or very fibrous fruits and veggies into the disposal. You can break the disposal or damage sewer lines.

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    #17

    30 Things Americans Seem To Like, But The Rest Of The World Not So Much God damn delis. At least out of all the places I’ve traveled to the US by far has the best delis. I don’t know if I can live somewhere without a great Jewish or Italian deli.

    facobi8356 , Kyle Mackie Report

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    #18

    Corn syrup

    __Piggy___Smalls__ Report

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    Susan Reid Smith
    Community Member
    2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    There is a time and place for it like pecan pies and cheap pancake syrup. But not every where all the time.

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    #20

    30 Things Americans Seem To Like, But The Rest Of The World Not So Much This used to be much more prevalent in the US but food coloring. When I moved from Japan to the US, I was surprised at how colorful their foods were.

    These days Americans are now more keen to organic natural stuff so I see it less but it took me a while to realize that blue raspberry is not a real thing.

    AwesomeAsian , Viktor Talashuk Report

    #21

    30 Things Americans Seem To Like, But The Rest Of The World Not So Much My mother [British] thought casseroles were weird and disgusting. Once her British friend came to visit, and asked that we not go to a restaurant "where all the food is mixed together in an awful jumble."

    I love most casseroles.

    MazW , sheri silver Report

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

    Since casseroles were originally French, maybe she was just cherishing the ancient enmity

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    #22

    30 Things Americans Seem To Like, But The Rest Of The World Not So Much My sister is visiting the US from Europe and sent me a picture of a small coke and asked "why is it so big?" I could see old glory flapping in the wind, boys.

    botaxel499 , Pixabay Report

    #23

    30 Things Americans Seem To Like, But The Rest Of The World Not So Much Biscuits and gravy

    WayneH2O , Ray Shrewsberry Report

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

    And you’ll get a bunch of different variations of somebody’s granny made it only a certain way…so that’s how you know it’s authentic! Bacon grease? Sausage? Strong black coffee? Just never say you made it from a powdered mix!

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    #24

    30 Things Americans Seem To Like, But The Rest Of The World Not So Much Free public restrooms. I know they're gross but they are nice to have.

    vebidib774 , Sung Jin Cho Report

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    Don't you wish you knew
    Community Member
    2 years ago

    Was gonna comment but changed my mind so I'll just say Have a great day pandas wherever you are!

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    #25

    30 Things Americans Seem To Like, But The Rest Of The World Not So Much

    Handicap accessiblity. Old buildings/towns in Europe are nice, if both your legs work.

    botaxel499 , AbsolutVision Report

    #26

    30 Things Americans Seem To Like, But The Rest Of The World Not So Much
    24 hour stores. I was in Chicago working with a colleague from Switzerland who suddenly realized around midnight that he needed a network cable to configure a mobile router for a job the next morning.

    I told him that I'd meet him in the hotel lobby to drive him out to Walmart.

    He was happily surprised, as he had forgotten about the US's famous chain of Walmart stores.

    botaxel499 , Caique Morais Report

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

    24-hour Walmarts are not a thing anymore since covid, at least where I live.

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    #27

    30 Things Americans Seem To Like, But The Rest Of The World Not So Much

    Bankruptcy laws. It's a major reason why America has historically had some of the highest rates of small business growth and entrepreneurship. America is one of the most forgiving countries when it comes to personal and corporate bankruptcy (student loans notwithstanding).

    Comparatively, European countries are much more pro-creditor which severely hampers any sort of investment that's even somewhat risky.

    facobi8356 , Scott Graham Report

    #28

    30 Things Americans Seem To Like, But The Rest Of The World Not So Much
    Americanized Chinese food. No one has us beat in that category.,

    botaxel499 , Drew Taylor Report

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

    I might get downvoted, but... Kind of wish people would stop complaining about "Americanized" Chinese food. Lots of dishes were invented by Chinese-Americans way back in the early 1900s because of the war. It may not be authentic Chinese food, but it is authentic Chinese-American food.

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    #29

    30 Things Americans Seem To Like, But The Rest Of The World Not So Much Bumper stickers

    Back2Bach , Mathias Reding Report

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    James016
    Community Member
    2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    See a fair few in the uk but we are more of a “baby on board” sticker nation

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    #30

    30 Things Americans Seem To Like, But The Rest Of The World Not So Much I'd like to say optimism, even if it's blind sometimes. The CAN DO attitude is extremely strong. I would also put belligerence up there for better or worse. That "Get the f**k out of my face, I'm not paying for / doing that" attitude. Whether you actually can or not, the American culture makes you feel like you can really do anything. Again, it's a double edged sword but you'll seldom find an American who's just going to lay down and take someone's s**t or heed someone who says (to your aspirations) "You can't".

    facobi8356 , Brooke Cagle Report

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    #31

    30 Things Americans Seem To Like, But The Rest Of The World Not So Much Free soda refills at dine-in places

    Lostarchitorture , Francesca Hotchin Report

    #32

    Corn dogs?

    RScribster Report

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

    OMG I LOVE CORN DOGS! I used to consider them a luxury because I only ever got to eat them at my grandparents house.

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    #33

    Marching bands. If you’d played the flute in a marching band at my school you would have gotten pelters but in the US you can become a state hero.

    Fuzzie_Lee Report