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From Hollywood to PBJ sandwiches, there are countless incredible things for which we can be thankful to no one else than the US.

In Europe, millennial kids grew up watching Powerpuff Girls, wearing Vans slip-ons, and listening to The Smashing Pumpkins in their teenage years. Fast forward to a more recent age and the music world would never be the same without Queen B or controversial Ye. It’s fair to say that the impact of American culture around the globe has been unequaled since the dawn of time, and it’s time to celebrate it!

So today, we looked at this Ask Reddit thread to find out what American staples have found their popularity abroad, according to people, and the responses are very interesting!

#1

Someone Asks "What Wouldn’t Be Nearly As Popular If It Wasn't For The US?" And 30 People Answer Gender reveal parties. One of the worst gifts the US has given

67th_Noodle , Tima Miroshnichenko Report

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

Gender reveal party = celebrating the baby's genitals. Weird s**t, if you think about it

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#2

Someone Asks "What Wouldn’t Be Nearly As Popular If It Wasn't For The US?" And 30 People Answer GPS

The American military gave away one of the coolest technologies to the world. No service fees, no subscriptions. Imagine if Meta or Apple had invented it.

shingogogo , Brecht Denil Report

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

If they had invented it, it would have probably had unskippable ads. Lots of them!

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#3

Someone Asks "What Wouldn’t Be Nearly As Popular If It Wasn't For The US?" And 30 People Answer National parks. It was started in America by future Republican president Theodore Roosevelt and quickly it became a world wide practice.

Zachmcmkay , Johannes Andersson Report

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

"Many mistakenly think America’s Yellowstone National Park is the oldest in the world but there’s one that was created a century earlier. Established by the Mongolian government in 1778, the area surrounding Bogd Khan Uul Biosphere Reserve is actually the oldest in the world. It is located south of the capital, Ulaanbaatar, and takes three to four hours to hike. You’ll find many cultural sites surrounding the park, including the ruins of Manzushir Monastery, Buddha Park, and Zaisan Memorial."

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#4

Someone Asks "What Wouldn’t Be Nearly As Popular If It Wasn't For The US?" And 30 People Answer Blue jeans

WolfThick , Tamara Bellis Report

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LilliVB
Community Member
1 year ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The patent is American (Levi Strauss, XIX Century). But that particular kind of fabric emerged around three centuries prior, between the Italian city of Genoa and the french city of Nîmes. (Edit: dates, I didn't remember the date of the patent correctly)

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#6

Someone Asks "What Wouldn’t Be Nearly As Popular If It Wasn't For The US?" And 30 People Answer Peanut butter

in-a-microbus , Matthew Paul Argall Report

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

I'll give them this one because the title says 'America' and not 'the US'. Peanut butter can traced back as far as the the Aztec.

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#7

Someone Asks "What Wouldn’t Be Nearly As Popular If It Wasn't For The US?" And 30 People Answer Coca-Cola

destro23 , Adrian Scottow Report

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

It would be even more popular if it included BOTH of the ingredients it is named after!

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#8

Someone Asks "What Wouldn’t Be Nearly As Popular If It Wasn't For The US?" And 30 People Answer Hamburgers, with pickles mustard etc. It’s a strange combo. Delicious but I doubt the entire world would have that as a common item

prestigiousuniverse , amirali mirhashemian Report

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Donkey boi
Community Member
1 year ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It was extremely common in Europe before the Americas were even discovered. When the colonists travelled to the new world, it was those people gabbing a snack at the port of Hamburg that carried the idea over the pond. I would argue that America made the cheap, poorly made hamburger popular, but not the hamburger.

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#9

Someone Asks "What Wouldn’t Be Nearly As Popular If It Wasn't For The US?" And 30 People Answer Superheroes and their movies.

anon , Mike McKone and Morry Hollowell / Marvel Comics Report

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Mistiekim
Community Member
1 year ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

What about anime? Has that been around longer than the American comics, or is that genre not considered a superhero like medium? *Edit to add - my question here is not about anime being first, but that if it was already popular internationally then the US didn’t necessarily contribute something unique? I’m not versed enough in anime or manga to say if there is any kind of superhero similarities.

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#10

Someone Asks "What Wouldn’t Be Nearly As Popular If It Wasn't For The US?" And 30 People Answer Disneyland and Disney.
It’s not surprising they’ve been able to expand out to other countries. There’s all the magic, happiness, and whatnot that comes with it.

That, and they are using “It’s a Small World” to hypnotize us all.

yogos15 , Barry Mulling Report

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#13

Someone Asks "What Wouldn’t Be Nearly As Popular If It Wasn't For The US?" And 30 People Answer Hip hop.

Try_to , Wallace Chuck Report

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

Hip hop is art, and just like any other form of art, it’s subjective. You don’t have to like it or understand it, but you will shake your a*s when Rump Shaker comes on I don’t give a f*** who you are 😂

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#14

Someone Asks "What Wouldn’t Be Nearly As Popular If It Wasn't For The US?" And 30 People Answer Spam in northeast-asia, especially South Korea

American soldiers ate it during the Korea war and it gained popularity to the point that it's a common food for both Koreans, Japanese, and some Chinese cultures such as Shanghainese

Front_Tomorrow , Kanesue Report

#15

Someone Asks "What Wouldn’t Be Nearly As Popular If It Wasn't For The US?" And 30 People Answer Christmas lights strung outside of the houses!

luhrenzo , Juliana Malta Report

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Donkey boi
Community Member
1 year ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I think you'll find that was actually Germany. From there it spread throughout Europe, then moved westward to the Americas.

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#16

Someone Asks "What Wouldn’t Be Nearly As Popular If It Wasn't For The US?" And 30 People Answer The Kardashians. Yes. The world hates you

Redhfx22 , imdb Report

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

They do a lot of harm. Poor young girls who believe these plastic dolls are beautiful women.

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

They are only popular in any country, US or otherwise, because people buy into the product. I'm American and don't follow them or care. And if that was everyone - they wouldn't be famous. Same for other countries. If they are popular there it is because you (collectively) are making them money.

Yeah, okay.
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I have never bought a product of theirs nor do I want to. Their tacky TV program keeps them front and center - and I've never watched it. either. Vapid attention-seeking shills, the lot of them, but they are skilled at it because I'm Canadian, you're German, and we both are familiar with who they are.

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

I’d kind of say fascinated horror mixed with bemusement rather than hate. Hate is a big word. Save it for dictators (staring right at ya, Vlad) and mosquitos. And maybe middle aged spread.😉

Iustin Vreme
Community Member
1 year ago (edited)

This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

and that's one of the reasons for hate - we can laugh, we can talk, but never forget the business, me giving my precious time is only to make you a tool of it.

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

That has to be one of the most awkward family photos I've ever seen. Can anyone even imagine hanging that up, like "yes, what a great family photo - so much love!" 🤣

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

In the balance of interest I'm going to post a positive comment about the Kardashians - nope, can't bring myself to do it, and seeking immediate psychiatric help for the random passing thought ;)

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

So do a lot of us from the U.S. Hate isn't the right word, but just "yuck." Yuck, the worst of us shown everywhere.

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

Ugh. Am over the Hollywood reality TV folks... Wait, was never interested. ;)

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

I think the world has always had wh0res, the USA televised them

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

Why limit it to the K's? The whole influencing thing started in the good ole USA

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

Not all of us like the Kardashians! Please don’t blame the majority for the interests of the minority and please don’t stereotype the rest of us, based on the few who do follow the Kardashians’ careers with some interest!

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

I've seen some articles where they do a lot of charity for women and misplaced families/domestic violence

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

As a French, I call them ''the Kardachiantes'' , ''chiante'' being a slur word meaning ''ultra annoying '' but really not kind at all

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#21

Hating the U.S.

OneSaucyDragon Report

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

We don't "hate" you. We just like to bring you back down à notch or two when your superiority complex goes overboard. 😇

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#22

Someone Asks "What Wouldn’t Be Nearly As Popular If It Wasn't For The US?" And 30 People Answer McDonald’s

MF_Ghidra , Mike Mozart Report

#25

Someone Asks "What Wouldn’t Be Nearly As Popular If It Wasn't For The US?" And 30 People Answer Hollywood

SuvenPan , Shinya Suzuki Report

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Cuppa tea?
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It's not like there weren't other towns and cities names Hollywood before. OP is most likely refering to movie industry based in town called Hollywood, California.

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#26

Someone Asks "What Wouldn’t Be Nearly As Popular If It Wasn't For The US?" And 30 People Answer Proms... in other countries some schools host proms just because they see it on TV.

RedpilledChris , Long Truong Report

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

No, other countries have "Debutante" dances at a similar age. The name has perhaps changed, and more decorations maybe, but the event was there.

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#27

Crocs

sev45day Report

#28

Someone Asks "What Wouldn’t Be Nearly As Popular If It Wasn't For The US?" And 30 People Answer Black Friday. It’s a worldwide thing now even though only the US has TG the day before.

MochaUnicorn369 , CardMapr.nl Report

#29

Marvel Comics

SkinnyObelix Report

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Den Ver
Community Member
1 year ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

These 53 BP Posts = "POPULAR". ... Not, 'x' also exists, or, "it wasn't first".

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#30

Someone Asks "What Wouldn’t Be Nearly As Popular If It Wasn't For The US?" And 30 People Answer The Irish. Since we emigrated in the 1800s, all of the big American celebrities say “I’ve got Irish roots” and it’s attracted attention to that little Green island that isn’t part of England. Particularly the west coast of Ireland.

Pitiful-Bass-535 , Anna Church Report

#31

The internet, preceided by the ARPANET, which was funded by the U.S. Department of Defenses.

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

Yeah, the 7 main servers that control The internet are located in the good old USA thanks to ARPANET. This is obviously due to the fact that one Telephone and Telegraph company held a monopoly over. The US, and it was easy for them to connect everything. They also owned Bell labs, the birthplace of UNIX and the C programming language.

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#32

Unix

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

Granted. Very important. For those who do not know, the original that inspired Linux, which now is the system that runs most of internet and cloud.

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#33

Honestly? A lot of stuff. American culture has become so widely accepted and ingrained in the zeitgeist of other nations that many people no longer even identify American cultural paradigms as distinct from their own. Things like Jazz, Burgers, Hip Hop, Basketball and Rock & Roll can now be found the world over. Hell, even some things that didn't even originate in America are identified more with their American version than they are with their original format. When most people picture Halloween, they're thinking of the version of it that they've seen in American TV shows and movies. Most places you go in the world, if you mention pizza people are gonna think about the thick crust style that Italian Americans created in lower Manhattan, not the Neopolitan original served with a knife and fork. American culture is everywhere, and it has been for so long at this point that people often don't even see it anymore.

JJKingwolf Report

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

"... if you mention pizza people are gonna think about the thick crust style that Italian Americans created in lower Manhattan ..." No they're not.

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#34

NASA 🛰🔭🚀🪐⭐️

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#35

Someone Asks "What Wouldn’t Be Nearly As Popular If It Wasn't For The US?" And 30 People Answer Reddit. Americans make up ~50% of the user base.

Kvothetheraven603 , Brett Jordan Report

#37

Taking credit for other people's achievements :)

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

I wouldn't necessarily say so. People have been doing that for literal millennia.

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#40

Being interested & incredibly proud of your heritage.(To the point of DNA testing and rumors.)

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#41

Madonna,Merilin Monroe and Elvis Presley

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

And Michael Jackson! Man I have seen posters of him in small mountain villages from India to South America.

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#42

Being delusional or ignorant about your country's achievements.

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

Sorry, this has always been a popular thing. You can read all sorts of outrageous boasting about cultural origins and achievements in the ancient literature of many different nations.

#43

cars. sure they were invented in germany, but they were extremely expensive until assembly lines became a thing. if im wrong please, as always correct me

Cythis_Arian Report

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

Yes you are and you're not lol, self propeled vehicles where actually invented in France ( Steam Cars ), internal combustion engine vehicles those where indeed invented in Gemany, and yes, widout Ford's invention of the assembly line, Cars would be extremelly expencive.

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#44

Marshmallows.
We only saw them in Hollywood movies or cartoons, tried em and didnt really like em. But they're now present in quite a few desserts.

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#45

Being interested & incredibly proud of your heritage.(To the point of DNA testing and rumors.)

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#46

Air Conditioning

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#47

Wolfman Jack on AFN.

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#48

Marshmallow fluff!! And fluffernutters! From my home state, MA!

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#49

Madonna,Merilin Monroe and Elvis Presley

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#50

MTV

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#51

Graduation ceremonys for children/teens who haven't gained a degree.... Rendering the actual graduate celebration somewhat not as special as it once used to be. Thanks.

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

I think it's cute when little children 'graduate' from nursery to school, or from primary school to secondary school. It's purely for fun and an opportunity children and parents to take some nice photos and memories before the children leave. I don't think it takes away the specialness of an actual university graduation.

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#52

Celebrity culture

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#53

Being interested & incredibly proud of your heritage.(To the point of DNA testing and rumors.)

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#54

Marshmallow fluff!! And fluffernutters! From my home state, MA!

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#55

Tobacco.

It came from the area now the US but before the original colonies were set up it was an occasional drug used by the tribes as it was not cultivated. When the colonies were set up it started to be grown commercially, the varieties became much more nicotine rich and addictive too. Then after independence of the US it became a major cash crop that the new country depended on. Without the US, it is plausible it would never have reach the level of global addition it got to in the 20th century, and still remains high in the 21st despite concerted efforts to reduce demand for health reasons.

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

They kinda say themselves that America DIDN'T make it popular, but the foreign invaders, slavers and traders did...

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#56

Cee-lawn-tro..........on EVERYTHING.

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Apatheist Account2
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It's not even called that in the UK - we prefer coriander. Cilantro always sounds to me like a character from Don Quixote.

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#57

I scrolled for awhile without seeing it. Um.... fast food? Lol

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

Streetfood is all over the world long before the US. Pompeii even has an outdoor wine/food stand from 2 millenia ago.

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#58

Fast food

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#60

Someone Asks "What Wouldn’t Be Nearly As Popular If It Wasn't For The US?" And 30 People Answer Competition BBQ.

....also weight loss products!

anon , Tony Fischer Report

#62

Country music

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#63

Baseball.

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

No that's still very much seen as an American thing here in the UK. Or as Del boy called it 'silly boy rounders'.

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#64

English.

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#65

Someone Asks "What Wouldn’t Be Nearly As Popular If It Wasn't For The US?" And 30 People Answer Baseball or American Football

herumdegumff , Chris Chow Report

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

But lol, where in the world is that popular? Lol, yea Japan loves baseball, but thats because it became an American " colony " after WW2 lol, apart from that no One Cares about those 2 sports.

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#66

BBQ, the US, especially the south has made it this giant thing, when really if anyone had smoked meat for longs periods of time and called it something else, it’d be considered a “foreign food”

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

Smoking meat to preserve it has been around for hundreds (at least) of years. "BBQ" might be American, but smoked meat is not.

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#67

Someone Asks "What Wouldn’t Be Nearly As Popular If It Wasn't For The US?" And 30 People Answer Tik Tok is a Chinese app that became popular in the US and then spread through the rest of the world.

anon , May Gauthier Report

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#69

People caring about famous people daily life

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

Incorrect. Celebrity culture existed for millenia. That's why we still know about Julius Caesar, Hannibal of Carthage, Alexander of Macedonia, Cleopatra, etc. etc. Not just history books per se. People have been fascinated with notable and outstanding characters since time began. They are called "heroes" in previous times and ended up in leadership positions. Their private shenaningans, like Cleo cheating on Julius with Mark Anthony, are well-known.

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#70

Japan.

It's highly influenced by post war American reforms and culture so it would be wildly different without the US.

An american poet, Ezra Pound, is responsible for how westerners translate Japanese which in turn affected the country proper. The literal translations are very dull he gave translations of japanese their current form.

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

You can't claim entire countries as being successful because of the US. Japan and Ireland already, any others?

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#71

A lot of important modern every-day technology including electricity, the internet, microwave ovens, the lightbulb (popularized and made practical for mass production by Americans although originally prototyped by others), TVs, and cars.

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#72

Capitalism.

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

No. It was created in the UK. The first stock market was set up in I think 1571 in the UK. America did not exist. Google "Adam Smith".

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#73

Someone Asks "What Wouldn’t Be Nearly As Popular If It Wasn't For The US?" And 30 People Answer Red solo cups.

wocketywack , Michael Fousert Report

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#74

Tipping culture

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#75

Someone Asks "What Wouldn’t Be Nearly As Popular If It Wasn't For The US?" And 30 People Answer Elite education and training. Top students from across the world flock to America's universities for education in engineering, finance, math, medicine, law, and everything else. The smartest (and often richest) high school students in other countries frequently will move to a different country to go to Harvard, Princeton, and even highly regarded public universities like University of Wisconsin or Michigan. But it's extremely rare for top students in the US to leave the country for education elsewhere.

anon , Vadim Sherbakov Report