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

The US and Europe (with a few notable exceptions) have much in common. They hold democratic elections, fight for human rights, and are conscious of their carbon footprint. But at the same time, they're an entire ocean apart and geography isn't the only thing separating them.

So we dug around the internet and found a couple of online threads (one and two) where people have been sharing what they believe to be the aspects of American culture that are foreign to the Old Continent. From the popularity of university sports to free soda and coffee refills, here are the most popular submissions to the discussion.

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“Still Illegal In Most European Countries”: 30 Things That Are Only Normal In The USA If you are an American citizen, you can choose to live in just about any climate and landscape that the Earth has to offer, and still be in the same country. Whether you like mountains, volcanoes, the beach, the desert, the arctic, the prairie, the rainforest, whatever, the US has it.

[deleted] , Explore with Joshua / Unsplash Report

Final score:

118points

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ElfVibratorGlitter 5 months ago

Yes. It's very geographically diverse. I moved from one side of the country to where I am now and I'm seeing animals I've never seen in nature in my life.

41points

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“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.

dimacq , Tim Depickere / Unsplash Report

Final score:

100points

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David Fox 5 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

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“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.

Firm-Boysenberry , RDNE Stock project / Pexels Report

Final score:

98points

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Ray Ceeya (RayCeeYa) 5 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.

64points

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

BuhrackOsama , Pranidchakan Boonrom / Pexels Report

Final score:

88points

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David Fox 5 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

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

BeepBeepWhistle , David Peinado / Pexels Report

Final score:

87points

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ORSOrama 5 months ago

This is the saddest thing I know about the US

56points

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“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.

Turtledonuts , Mike Esparza / Pexels Report

Final score:

63points

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Bruce Denney 5 months ago

We have the same laws in the UK

61points

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“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

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David Fox 5 months ago

But yet the USA has the worst public transport scheme.

32points

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“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.

[deleted] Report

Final score:

57points

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LavenderHippoInAJar 5 months ago

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

63points

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“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.

[deleted] , Arian Fernandez / Pexels Report

Final score:

55points

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Verena 5 months ago

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

79points

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#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

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Ray Ceeya (RayCeeYa) 5 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

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#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

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ElfVibratorGlitter 5 months ago

For schools with funding, yes.

47points

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#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

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Marcos Valencia 5 months ago

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

25points

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#13

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

dntExit , Shifaaz shamoon / Unsplash Report

Final score:

46points

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David Fox 5 months ago

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

32points

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#14

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

google_academic Report

Final score:

46points

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Captain Kyra 5 months ago

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

22points

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#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.

Strict-Promotion3250 , Chris Winters Report

Final score:

45points

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Trillian 5 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.

10points

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#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).

LeopardEmpress , Mike Mozart / Flickr Report

Final score:

43points

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Verena 5 months ago

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

24points

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#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

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Gillbella 5 months ago

It's of places have free public toilets across the world- with doors on them that stop people looking at you,!

36points

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#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.

[deleted] Report

Final score:

40points

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JuJu 5 months ago

Here, a Döner saves your life at 2 am

5points

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#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

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Ray Ceeya (RayCeeYa) 5 months ago

Debt. Massive student loan DEBT.

66points

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#20

The Grand Canyon.

[deleted] Report

Final score:

38points

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sofacushionfort 5 months ago

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

32points

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#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

Acrobatic_Budget_367 , Caique Morais / Unsplash Report

Final score:

36points

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Test Dummy 5 months ago

Not sure how this is a good thing.

38points

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#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

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3 Otters 🦦 5 months ago

Love American BBQ!

24points

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#23

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

theletterQfivetimes Report

Final score:

29points

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Brenda 5 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

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#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

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Queeqec 5 months ago

So that one place in Berlin is representing whole Europe?

65points

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#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

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LavenderHippoInAJar 5 months ago

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

23points

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#26

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

PinocchioWasFramed Report

Final score:

23points

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Emma S 5 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

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#27

Single country world series.

Lilylivered_Flashman Report

Final score:

23points

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PattyK 5 months ago

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

34points

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#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

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ElfVibratorGlitter 5 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

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#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.

TheBassMeister , Kendall Hoopes / Pexels Report

Final score:

18points

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Pandemonium 5 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

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#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

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Isabella 5 months ago

This is not necessarily a good thing.

30points

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Note: this post originally had 63 images. It’s been shortened to the top 30 images based on user votes.

What things about US do you find amazing?

Comparing the USA with 47 individual countries with individual language, landscape, culture, cuisines, laws, politics etc is just useless. It doesn't work that way.

35points

Nitka Tsar 5 months ago

ZGutr, every European country has their own states. For example: Germany has 16 states, that are as different from each other as the US states are. But somehow most Americans only know of and about Bavaria, which would be like me saying the whole US is only Texas.

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DB 5 months ago

It does on BP.

2points

JustAnotherPanda (she/they/he) 5 months ago

It’s not comparing, they’re just saying

-1point

calvin and hobbes 5 months ago

ugh. i thought it said americans wrote it, not people coming on to make fun of america. dont get me wrong, i know america has countless faults, but some people are proud of their country nevertheless, as anybody would be, and shaming them for that is just not okay. we do have unique, good things, that other countries dont have, and i thought that is what i would be finding in this article. instead, i found more hatred and teasing.

14points

I would love a list about positiv things the US has!

4points

BWC 5 months ago

Yep, the negativity and whataboutisms are running rampant in the comments.

0points

Megan Curl 5 months ago

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Corvus 5 months ago

Ugh, the list is so predictable. Free refills, fast food, and guns. This pretty much sums it up (and all other lists like it).

12points

Jrog 5 months ago

Also, the same weird obsessions, most likely by people that never traveled further than the next town over. National parks, ice in drinks, toilets, free refills... as if the rest of the world has never heard of nature, cold water and poo.

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

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