Join the Fun!

dimacq , Tim Depickere / Unsplash Report

“Still Illegal In Most European Countries”: 30 Things That Are Only Normal In The USA I’d say the whole system of National Parks is just amazing! Open 24/7 (unless some weather or gov’t shutdown), maps available, trails laid out, camping spots designated… It’s the most treasured and inderappreciated thing in the US, IMO.

Final score:

100points

POST

David Fox 6 months ago

But.....we do have 'national parks' in Europe. We have 15 in the UK. They may not be as grandeur but they're beautiful all the same. All of our National Parks are within spitting distance of most cities so most people can enjoy them. Also we have Areas Of Outstanding Natural Beauty too such as Nidderdale.....

103points

Firm-Boysenberry , RDNE Stock project / Pexels Report

“Still Illegal In Most European Countries”: 30 Things That Are Only Normal In The USA A country that's like 99% unwalkable. Seriously, I've been around the globe and every time I came I became frustrated that I can't just walk to a corner grocery.

Final score:

98points

POST

Ray Ceeya (RayCeeYa) 6 months ago

There are walkable cities. Generally the ones that were built before the invention of the car. So New York, Boston, New Orleans, San Francisco, Seattle, Portland. The old cities.

65points

BuhrackOsama , Pranidchakan Boonrom / Pexels Report

“Still Illegal In Most European Countries”: 30 Things That Are Only Normal In The USA Expensive healthcare.

Final score:

88points

POST

David Fox 6 months ago

This I genuinely find sad.....I am so thankful for the NHS. Despite it's issues, everyone receives care equally. It doesn't matter if your wealthy or on the poverty line, everyone is treated the same.

58points

BeepBeepWhistle , David Peinado / Pexels Report

“Still Illegal In Most European Countries”: 30 Things That Are Only Normal In The USA More firearms than citizens.

Final score:

87points

POST

ORSOrama 6 months ago

This is the saddest thing I know about the US

56points

Turtledonuts , Mike Esparza / Pexels Report

“Still Illegal In Most European Countries”: 30 Things That Are Only Normal In The USA The endangered species act, one of the few laws in the entire world that actually enforces protections for endangered animals proactively and retroactively. You could go to prison for destroying some rare flowers. just because those flowers were rare. It’s not perfect, but the ESA is one of the most powerful environmental protection laws in the world, spanning some of the largest area, and very very few countries have something similar.

Final score:

63points

POST

Bruce Denney 6 months ago

We have the same laws in the UK

61points

“Still Illegal In Most European Countries”: 30 Things That Are Only Normal In The USA Space. I can drive 400 miles and still be in Kansas, as it’s 410 miles in width.

CriticallyThougt Report

Final score:

58points

POST

David Fox 6 months ago

But yet the USA has the worst public transport scheme.

31points

“Still Illegal In Most European Countries”: 30 Things That Are Only Normal In The USA That's alwys struck me as weird. We get adverts for over the counter meds, like painkillers or cold and flu medicine but the thought of seeing an advert for something you need to go to the doctors and get a prescription for like adhd meds / anti depresents / antibiotics / heart meds or blood thinners is absolitly mental to me.

Final score:

57points

POST

LavenderHippoInAJar 6 months ago

As an American I really don't understand this either...

63points

[deleted] , Arian Fernandez / Pexels Report

“Still Illegal In Most European Countries”: 30 Things That Are Only Normal In The USA I'm from the UK and it looks like the houses in the US are a million times bigger than they are here.

Final score:

55points

POST

Verena 6 months ago

Yes, but ours made from bricks, mortar and reinforced concrete, including the inside walls, survive multiple severe storms.

79points

#10

“Still Illegal In Most European Countries”: 30 Things That Are Only Normal In The USA On the up side, amazing geographic diversity. In one country, we have mountains, deserts, tropics, sweeping plains, fertile farmland, tundra, huge beaches, and rugged coastlines.

On the down side, school shootings. Mall shootings. Grocery store shootings. Church shootings. Birthday party shootings. We know another one's coming soon - we just don't know where.

anon , Pixabay / Pexels Report

Final score:

51points

POST

Ray Ceeya (RayCeeYa) 6 months ago

It's a stochastic effect. More guns leads to more gun violence. It's sort of like how back in the old days they used to sell strychnine in d**g stores for rat poison and as a result a lot more people were killed by strychnine poisoning, either by intention or accidental. We banned the sale of the poison and people stopped dying from the poison. Restrict access to guns and less people will be killed by guns. It's actually pretty simple.

66points

#11

“Still Illegal In Most European Countries”: 30 Things That Are Only Normal In The USA So many extracurricular activities in schools. Playing a specific sport or being part of a team isn't something schools offer in Europe. I have cousins who live in Texas, and the fact that their school has tennis courts and a pool blows my mind. Some schools here have small clubs like theater or choir, but the options hardly compare to those offered at schools in the States. Your high school theater plays look like professional productions sometimes.

biancastolemyname , Pexels Report

Final score:

51points

POST

ElfVibratorGlitter 6 months ago

For schools with funding, yes.

47points

#12

“Still Illegal In Most European Countries”: 30 Things That Are Only Normal In The USA Fast food restaurants at every intersection and an obesity epidemic.

road22 , Robi Pastores / Pexels Report

Final score:

50points

POST

Marcos Valencia 6 months ago

But we DO have fast food restaurants all over the place.

25points

dntExit , Shifaaz shamoon / Unsplash Report

#13

“Still Illegal In Most European Countries”: 30 Things That Are Only Normal In The USA The Pacific AND the Atlantic.

Final score:

46points

POST

David Fox 6 months ago

The Atlantic, North Sea, English Channel, Irish Sea to name a few.

31points

#14

Florida Man stories. Europe just has 'the English tourist on holiday in Ibiza.'

google_academic Report

Final score:

46points

POST

Captain Kyra 6 months ago

Florida has interesting protection for alleged crime, that is why the Florida man stories are so entertaining.

22points

Strict-Promotion3250 , Chris Winters Report

#15

“Still Illegal In Most European Countries”: 30 Things That Are Only Normal In The USA Garbage disposal units are installed beneath the kitchen sink.

Final score:

45points

POST

Trillian 6 months ago

So you can shred stuff and just flush it? We are very much encouraged to NOT do that but dispose of it properly.

9points

LeopardEmpress , Mike Mozart / Flickr Report

#16

“Still Illegal In Most European Countries”: 30 Things That Are Only Normal In The USA Free refills on coffee and soda (in most restaurants).

Final score:

43points

POST

Verena 6 months ago

Water okay, coffee/tea maybe (if brewed well). Soda: Why encourage obesity?

24points

#17

“Still Illegal In Most European Countries”: 30 Things That Are Only Normal In The USA Free public restrooms and toilet seat covers.

ec0114 , Minh Nguyen Report

Final score:

40points

POST

Queeqec 6 months ago

Hahaha we do have lots of public toilets here. Yes, free - oh,and doors without peekaboo gaps, we enjoy total privacy on those toilets.

14points

#18

Diners. Fast cheap American food available at all hours. One of the best meals you will ever eat is American diner food at 2 am.

Final score:

40points

POST

JuJu 6 months ago

Here, a Döner saves your life at 2 am

5points

#19

“Still Illegal In Most European Countries”: 30 Things That Are Only Normal In The USA Massive student loan.

WhinyMrFring , Pixabay / Pexels Report

Final score:

38points

POST

Ray Ceeya (RayCeeYa) 6 months ago

Debt. Massive student loan DEBT.

66points

#20

The Grand Canyon.

Final score:

38points

POST

sofacushionfort 6 months ago

A Soviet traveler described it as a mold that could be used to make mountain ranges

33points

Acrobatic_Budget_367 , Caique Morais / Unsplash Report

#21

“Still Illegal In Most European Countries”: 30 Things That Are Only Normal In The USA Giant superstores where you can buy groceries, furniture, a pet fish and a handgun

Final score:

36points

POST

Test Dummy 6 months ago

Not sure how this is a good thing.

37points

#22

THE F**KING BBQ!

Thank the cosmos I live there and travel alot. States seem to have their own twists and specialities and it's all so f**king good I can't decide what I like more.

The Texas BBQ Pit I went to once was an experience.

Before I came here, BBQ meant store bought frozen burgers and sausages on a grill in the garden during summer. One thing I don't miss about the UK lol.

Pink_Flash Report

Final score:

34points

POST

3 Otters 🦦 6 months ago

Love American BBQ!

24points

theletterQfivetimes Report

#23

The 4th of July. True fact, in Europe it goes straight from the 3rd to the 5th.

Final score:

29points

POST

Brenda 6 months ago

England has Bonfire Night (Guy Falkes) [November 5th - my birthday]. The US has July 4th. Every country has a holiday other countries don't. BTW, Bonfire Night was the best birthday I ever had!

20points

#24

Good Mexican food. It doesn't exist in Europe. I ordered a burrito in Berlin, and it was worse than Taco Bell.

graciasasere Report

Final score:

28points

POST

Queeqec 6 months ago

So that one place in Berlin is representing whole Europe?

64points

#25

American who lived in Europe for a time. (The Balkans)

Things I have here that I didn't have there:

Cheap gas (yes, it's still quite cheap in the US)

Larger appliances with words on them (my appliances there had graphics on them, the washer had a Half Mushroom Cloud setting)

A zillion kinds of breakfast cereal (when I came back, I routinely got overwhelmed in the grocery store)

Lol, diplomatic immunity

Things I had there, that I don't have here:

There was a produce/meat market that was open every day, that I could walk to, it ruled

Cafe culture

The newsstand sold lots of rowdy porn.

rotatingruhnama Report

Final score:

27points

POST

LavenderHippoInAJar 6 months ago

I feel like the price of gas really depends on where in America you are

23points

PinocchioWasFramed Report

#26

Turning right on a red light. I think that's still illegal in Germany and most other European countries, isn't it?

Final score:

23points

POST

Emma S 6 months ago

Well you'd be on the wrong side of the road in the UK, Ireland, Malta and Cyprus so don't do that. 😆

43points

Lilylivered_Flashman Report

#27

Single country world series.

Final score:

23points

POST

PattyK 6 months ago

No; there’s a major league baseball team in Canada, the Toronto Blue Jays.

34points

#28

The mountains in the Mountain West and the Red Rocks. I’ve lived next to the Red Rocks in Utah and Colorado. I grew up and worked in the Tetons. We’ve lived on the Wasatch, and super close to the Rockies. Europe is so beautiful but the Mountain West is one of the most beautiful regions on earth.

anon Report

Final score:

23points

POST

ElfVibratorGlitter 6 months ago (edited)

No doubt it's absolutely gorgeous here, I live in Colorado. Europe is no joke either. Also has a variety of beautiful places to visit.

16points

TheBassMeister , Kendall Hoopes / Pexels Report

#29

“Still Illegal In Most European Countries”: 30 Things That Are Only Normal In The USA Truck Nuts

At least I haven't really seen them over here in central Europe. Then again also Pickup Trucks are a pretty rare sight in Europe.

Final score:

18points

POST

Pandemonium 6 months ago

Discussion between my brother and me: Me: Truck nuts must only ever be bought as gag gifts for one's too-tough friend. I can't imagine that any dude would ever buy truck nuts for himself. Bro: And THAT is why you were surprised that Trump won in 2016.

43points

#30

“Still Illegal In Most European Countries”: 30 Things That Are Only Normal In The USA Large meal portions.

MrXenocryst , Nadin Sh / Pexels Report

Final score:

18points

POST

Isabella 6 months ago

This is not necessarily a good thing.

29points

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#31

“Still Illegal In Most European Countries”: 30 Things That Are Only Normal In The USA Ranch dressing. Believe it or not, I know Americans who have packed bottles of ranch when moving to other countries.

Ssalmaa , Mike Mozart / Flickr Report

Final score:

15points

POST

Ace 6 months ago

One of the things I miss from the UK is Salad Cream. Sometimes available these days in French supermarkets catering for tourists. At only about twice the UK price.

5points

Acrobatic_Budget_367 Report

#32

Corn tortillas. I'm sure they're somewhere in Europe but not so much in Britain. Just things called corn tortillas that are 90% flour.

Final score:

14points

POST

Kira Okah 6 months ago

On a quick search, yep, can get corn masa tortillas at Morrisons, and also online Mexican food shops. Zero wheat flour. But I see what they mean, so many "corn and wheat tortillas" out there, geez.

9points

#33

Gigantic parking lots everywhere. For the best examples, look at satellite views of stadiums. In the US, they are surrounded by asphalt so all the attendees have a place to park. In Europe, people use public transit to get to the game.

___1___1___1___ Report

Final score:

14points

POST

StrangeOne 6 months ago

I call them concrete deserts. Feels like it.

10points

#34

It's a whole style of refrigerators -- at least in French they're widely and even officially called "frigos américains".

It's the larger fridges with larger freezers. Usually with the two separated door sections. Often stainless steel. Even moreso with the automatic ice machine etc included.

They've become one of the trendy things people want in a home here now - a bit like the wave of granite countertops being a big 'must-have' in the US a few years ago.

PhiloPhocion Report

Final score:

14points

POST

Captain Kyra 6 months ago

As it has been mentioned the US isn't walkable so many Americans shop once a week. If you're going to have food at the end of the week you need a place to store it.

15points

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

#35

“Still Illegal In Most European Countries”: 30 Things That Are Only Normal In The USA 24 hour access to food. The majority of the world doesn't have late night fast food places let alone 24 hour grocery stores. In America if I need groceries, a hammock, and some engine oil at 3 am, I'll just head over to Walmart real quick.

StarChild7000 , C.C. Chapman / Flickr Report

Final score:

14points

POST

Ceil 6 months ago

It may be different in urban areas but I haven't seen a Walmart open past 11 P.M. since before the COVID shutdown.

23points

#36

S’mores, southern style biscuits.

FabulousTea716 Report

Final score:

13points

POST

axle f 6 months ago

...biscuits & gravy!!

19points

#37

2 year long presidential campaigns.

GreenCountryTowne Report

Final score:

13points

POST

Ray Ceeya (RayCeeYa) 6 months ago

Donald Trump has been campaigning continuously for almost 10 years. He won in 2016 and he kept having rallies through his presidency. He lost in 2020 more campaign rallies. Now it's 2024 and he's running again. Someone please make this craziness make sense! I just want the orange man to go away forever.

30points

#38

Shame about casual nudity (I wish we didn't have this).

bigtex2003 Report

Final score:

12points

POST

RosenCranzLives 6 months ago

I blame the Puritans. The US would be so much more chill if they had died at sea.

23points

#39

Boozy Sunday brunches.

The only other country I saw have these is England. Most countries are rather closed on Sundays. Not the US. Unlimited mimosas and football.

soonerguy11 Report

Final score:

11points

POST

Trillian 6 months ago (edited)

It's true that stores are closed on sundays but you can certainly eat out and brunches are very popular.

7points

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

#40

“Still Illegal In Most European Countries”: 30 Things That Are Only Normal In The USA This one I'll give you. Universities play each other in sports, but nowhere to the scale in America. For football (soccer), most players can be in clubs' academies from the age of 5/6, finish school at 16 and then just go straight into reserve/first team squads, whereas in America they play sports in school, university, then get picked up by clubs.

Oneinchwalrus , Pixabay / Pexels Report

Final score:

11points

POST

Rinso The Red 6 months ago

I honestly think one of our issues in education (in US) is it's athletic systems. WAY too much money going into sports. While I agree athletics are important, it shouldn't be the primary reason for the existence of a school, and that certainly seems to be the case in many instances in the US.

24points

#41

Death penalty.

beraleh Report

Final score:

10points

POST

Carl Roberts 6 months ago

Only in certain states.

12points

#42

Mac and cheese that comes in a box with dehydrated cheese.

YourMothersButtox Report

Final score:

9points

POST

David Fox 6 months ago

What is the obsession with Mac and cheese. It's bleeding orrible stuff. I tried Kraft Mac n Cheese and it was just rubber.....

8points

#43

Easy access to root beer.

-PM-ME-BIG-BBS- Report

Final score:

9points

POST

Did I say that out loud? (he/him)cis/het 6 months ago

I tried root beer here in the UK once. Is it supposed to taste like Listerine mouth wash?

14points

#44

The mind numbing hellscape known as "suburbia" and the ability to regularly set our ovens to 420°.

VampireGeese Report

Final score:

8points

POST

Pandemonium 6 months ago

That's not all we set at 420

27points

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

#45

Massive tubs of cheap peanut butter. Its rare to find and expensive in most of Europe, sold only in small 4- to 8-ounce jars.

Ok_Mortgage3754 Report

Final score:

7points

POST

Queeqec 6 months ago

Never been to the Netherlands, I guess.

10points

#46

Easy access to isopropyl / rubbing alcohol?

I remember trying to find some in Ireland. At the time you could get it in the states for well under $1. It's great for cleaning cuts and removing water in your ears. But trying to find it in Ireland...discovered it was kept behind the pharmacy counter and was about 10 Euro a bottle. Don't remember what it was called - mineral/essence/spirit something.

AnusEinstein Report

Final score:

6points

POST

quentariel 6 months ago

Every pharmacy here has them, but the bottles are quite small and buying more than one gets raised eyebrows.

4points

Prestigious-Winter61 Report

#47

Crocodiles. Seriously, look it up.

Final score:

5points

POST

ElfVibratorGlitter 6 months ago

Technically, just barely. More impressive I'd say are our alligators!

9points

#48

Pecan logs, corn dogs, scrapple, Twinkies, jambalaya, etouffee, KoolWhip, direct-to-consumer corn syrup.

Expatriot_II Report

Final score:

5points

POST

Sleestak 6 months ago

Hey, the jambalaya and étouffée are a different story.

6points

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

See Also on Bored Panda

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

#49

“Still Illegal In Most European Countries”: 30 Things That Are Only Normal In The USA So much diversity when it comes to food. In most given US towns, you'll find so many cuisines. I have a Mongolian restaurant next to a Korean BBQ restaurant next to a Hawaiian restaurant next to a Greek restaurant, etc.

lautrecompte1 , Malidate Van / Pexels Report

Final score:

4points

POST

ElfVibratorGlitter 6 months ago (edited)

Yeah, but this doesn't match the title which is things that don't exist in Europe and every major city I've been in Europe has foreign cuisines and a variety of local dishes as well.

51points

#50

Perfect conditions for road trips. Nice roads, no border control, gas stations, sights, motels. It's perfect.

Angelz5 Report

Final score:

4points

POST

ElfVibratorGlitter 6 months ago

Hahahaha, no. Guess they've never heard of the Schengen Area?

30points

#51

Ice in our drinks.

DustyPlume Report

Final score:

3points

POST

Brenda 6 months ago

I prefer LOTS & LOTS of ice in my drinks. I don't like warm drinks.

6points

#52

Netflix selection throughout Europe is pure s**t.

nanowolfex Report

Final score:

2points

POST

Carl Roberts 6 months ago

Trust me, it's no better in the U.S.

7points

MJB88 , Sulav Jung Hamal / Pexels Report

#53

“Still Illegal In Most European Countries”: 30 Things That Are Only Normal In The USA So many soft drinks. I really envy the variety in the US. There are so many great options, even in the sugar-free category. It's improving here in the UK, but our selection is still pretty minimal by comparison.

Final score:

2points

POST

Ace 6 months ago

No, it's most certainly _not_ "improving" in the UK, however you may define it. First off, dozens of brands and flavours of fizzy drinks have been readily available for decades; secondly, most of them are now only available in disgustingly-over-artificially-sweetened versions since the "sugar tax".

7points

Woman Refuses To Chip In For Babysitting Because She Doesn’t Even Have Kids, Asks If She’s A Jerk

See Also on Bored Panda

“This Breaks My Heart”: People Stunned—And Angry—After Woman Buys Lost Luggage From Airport

#54

In my hometown we have a drive-through liquor store.

Grendelbeans Report

Final score:

2points

POST

Chefette67 6 months ago

We have drive through liquor stores in nearly every suburb in Australia...we call them bottlos

13points

#55

Free tap water offered to you at restaurants. In Europe, you have to specify that you want tap water — otherwise you'll automatically be charged for a fancy bottle.

Final score:

0points

POST

Queeqec 6 months ago

Nope. Not true for Europe. Please specify which country in Europe you are talking about.

26points

Acrobatic_Budget_367 Report

#56

Giant superstores like Walmart where you can buy groceries, furniture, a pet fish, and new glasses all in the same place.

Final score:

0points

POST

Vermonta 6 months ago

one stop shopping

1point

#57

Las Vegas.

Arctic_RedPanda Report

Final score:

-2points

POST

Jihana 6 months ago

Other countries don't have American cities. Never saw that one coming...

31points

#58

Whataburgar and fried pies franchises.

anon Report

Final score:

-2points

POST

Wubedhheij 6 months ago

What? Whataburger is delicious

3points

#59

Imperial units instead of Metric.

vinsant7 Report

Final score:

-10points

POST

Pandemonium 6 months ago

Give us an inch and we'll take a mile.

19points

"I Didn't Start The Dryer": Karen Gets Taught A Lesson After Throwing Out Neighbor's Wet Clothes

See Also on Bored Panda

Guy Divorced 3 Years Ago Drops Off 3 Y.O. With His Ex-Wife Completely Out Of The Blue

#60

There are 11 million black people in all of Europe, most of them in France and the UK. Europe has a population of almost 800 million people.

anon Report

Final score:

-11points

POST

Jihana 6 months ago

Well, Europe didn't import them as slaves.

34points

#61

Stronger protections for speech.

hastur777 Report

Final score:

-15points

POST

Libstak 6 months ago

Free speech is commonly protected throughout the western world. However, hate speech against any particular group is more easily prosecuted and I'm all for that.

24points

#62

Anyone can hunt if they choose.

Theropolis Report

Final score:

-18points

POST

mysterious(all pronouns) 6 months ago

I live in Wisconsin, which is a state with a lot of people who hunt. This statement is very broad. First off, there are specific seasons for hunting, and you need to have a license. The number of licenses available is proportional to the population of the animal you're hunting in your specific part of the state. The majority of hunters are hunting for food, not trophies. It's not people hunting all the time, it's a few weeks in the fall where you can hunt if you've taken the proper steps.

8points

#63

Chick-fil-A.

mrhijack13 Report

Final score:

-19points

POST

Ray Ceeya (RayCeeYa) 6 months ago

Never had it and with the owner's politics I'm never going to have it. I boycott homophobes.

31points