Last year, a video went viral featuring a performer named Michael 'Chili Dawg' Castleberry showcasing his unique guitar skill—using a beer bottle as a slide. The caption read, "The European mind cannot comprehend this." People quickly began attaching the phrase to other things that they believed were foreign to the Old Continent, and thus, a new meme was born.
Now, Europeans and their allies from around the world are playfully flipping the script to get back at Uncle Sam — "The American mind cannot comprehend this" pictures are meant to single out what the United States is lacking.
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My mom realized her passport expired... in the airport. They gave her an extention until she returned to our country. Took them 40 minutes.
"Culture encompasses religion, food, what we wear, how we wear it, our language, marriage, music, what we believe is right or wrong, how we sit at the table, how we greet visitors, how we behave with loved ones, and a million other things," said Cristina De Rossi, an anthropologist at Barnet and Southgate College in London.
The United States is the third largest country in the world, with one of the most diverse topographies and climates of any region.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, it has a population of 337 million, a child is born every 8 seconds, and a person dies every 10 seconds.
neither can they comprehend cramming the cars so full that station workers have to push people at the doors inside, so the doors can close.
lol Apparently you've never been to rural America. I guess the European mind can't understand that most of the US is farmland and small agricultural towns. And this kind of thing is common. When I lived in NV the freeway would come to a halt to let cattle pass. Same with mules and wild horses. Yes, wild horses.
In addition to Indigenous Americans, who were already living on the continent, the country was built on immigration from other countries. Now, a new immigrant moves here every 27 seconds.
Because of this, the United States is one of the most culturally diverse countries in the world. You could argue that nearly every region of the world has, in some way, influenced American culture, but most notably it was the English who colonized the lands in the early 1600s.
I hate this so much! I know it is for the nature,but damn when you need to drink water at night and the only thing that gets water is my nose and some scrathes added.And don't even mention screwing it back half asleep. Effing struggle.
Just a little practice. I'm now pro how to flip it back enough to be for me comfortable. But yeah, I had for months your problems.
Load More Replies...My UK mind can't comprehend this either. Attached bottle caps have been in thing in the UK for a few months now and they are a PITA. Drinks companies have decided after more than 40 years that we can no longer be trusted to recycle our bottle caps along with the rest of the bottle.
Must be a bit slow then, have you seen our beaches recently? These caps used to be littering the beach near my parents house, this summer when I went home there were none.
Load More Replies...These really annoyed me when they were first introduced but I don't mind them now. The lid can usually be pushed right back so it's parallel to the top and out of the way. They can be annoying to close though, sometimes it takes a few tries to get it right.
I guess I'm one of the few people who are not bothered by it at all. On the contrary, I like that I don't need to hold the cap in the hand while drinking. On the other side, I don't drink from these kind of bottles everday so maybe I just don't have the chance to learn to hate it lol
Poor you!! Some people have to walk miles for water. In fact, more than half of the world’s population live on less than $2.00 US per day. But yeah - poor you with your lid problems!! 😢
Neither can anyone else. Idle politicians thinking up new ways to justify their salaries.
When this was first introduced I had no problems (wasn't really necessary as I'd always sqished the bottle for recycling and obviously used the cap for that) However, for the past year or so, I've had problems screwing the cap back on. Checked with other family members and they are saying the same.I knocked over a bottle of carbonated water 'with the cap on' and it spilt all over the carpet. So now, I rip the cap off completely in order to be able to get it back on again. Still gets recycled together, but rather a faff.
The ease of opening/closing depends on the manufacturer, but I agree that it is easiest to cut the cap off.
Load More Replies...All caps are detachable in my house. I *make* them detachable. And yes, we recycle the cap with the bottle, so perhaps this whole thing wasn't as necessary after all.
I think that, as usual, a few rotten apples have spoiled it for the rest of us.
Load More Replies...I buy 0.5 litre cartons of chocolate milk. I used to drink them straight from the carton (I'd finish it in one sitting without putting it back in the fridge and nobody else in my house would want to drink chocolate milk). Now having first shaken the carton before opening there is some of it stuck in the lid after opening. When I drink straight from the carton that drip falls onto my shirt. So now I use a glass that then needs washing up afterwards so uses more resources. First world problem but an unnecessary one.
Milk/juice cartons etc. are the worst, often when you first open them the cap breaks and comes completely off the container.
Load More Replies...I've actually found some bottle tops in the US that are very similar. The cap will not separate due to one thickened space on the ring. I use scissors or an exacto to cure that issue.
It is not only the american mind who cañnot comprehend this stupid BS. ..
It's the law in some European countries that the bottle cap can't (easily) be removed from the bottle, so that caps are recycled with the bottle and don't become trash.
Load More Replies...The American mind can't comprehend why you'd do something so stupid.
I hate these, I twist them until they come off, use them as normal
Ah, the good old Aussie reverse tipping taxis: "The fee is $20.23. Tell you what, mate, just make it $20." Alas, a dying breed in the cashless economy.
The United States is sometimes described as a "melting pot", in which different cultures have formed their own distinct "flavors" of American culture.
But the way people "melt" in the United States differs. "Different groups of immigrants integrate in different ways," De Rossi said. "For example, ... Catholic Spanish-speaking communities might keep their language and other cultural family traditions, but are integrated [into] the urban community and have embraced the American way of life in many other ways."
But we would like to...except, of course, for when we want/need something from a business that's close for the "summer holiday", however long that is. "Where I work should be closed for a few weeks/months, but I need all other businesses to be open for my convenience." How does that work, anyway? I mean, surely you can't close all of the grocery stores/markets for a week at the same time... I would think any business that can close for an extended period of time can't be any kind of necessity to society.
Nearly every known religion is practiced in the United States, which was founded based on religious freedom, but at least 70% of Americans identify themselves as Christians, according to information gathered by the Pew Research Center. They also found that about 23% had no religious affiliation at all and around 6% of the population is made up of non-Christian religions.
neither can the minds of almost every other country where bagged milk isn´t a thing. like my german mind.
Many holidays are celebrated just in the United States. For example, Americans commemorate their independence from Britain on July 4; Memorial Day, held on the last Monday in May, honors those who have died in military service; Labor Day, which comes on the first Monday in September, celebrates the country's workforce; Thanksgiving, another distinctive American holiday, falls on the fourth Thursday in November and dates back to colonial times to celebrate the harvest.
While these memes poke fun at some aspects of American culture, it's important to remember that its image isn't all bad, far from it. According to a survey of 16 advanced countries, including Canada, France, Germany, Australia, Japan, and others, the most positive elements of America's image are tied to some of its most famous exports, with the U.S. receiving considerable praise for its technology. When asked to compare American technological innovations with those of other developed nations, respondents gave favorable reviews of the home of Silicon Valley. Across the 16, a median of 72% say U.S. technology is the best or above average. The US, home to Hollywood, also received high marks for its entertainment, such as movies, music, and television — a median of 71% think American entertainment is the best or above average.
Yup, you're right. I can't wrap my head around being without AC in the hot months. Just can't live like that.
And yet, strangely enough, you can find a copy of this in Williamsburg, VA. And Saem, Massa. And Wright's Landing. The La issue in Chicago. Yep, Americans are baffled
I live in Queensland, and most of the time _I_ can't understand it (especially the bl**dy tackling rules).
If you're going to America bash BP at least make an effort. This article is pathetic.
Don't worry, it'll be Brit bashing tomorrow, "boomer" bashing the day after that, "What men find (insert word here) about women", "what women find (insert word here) about men", Gen X/Y/Z bashing, then back to America bashing and so ad infinitum.
Load More Replies...Hey, BP: instead of trying to divide people, single people out, irritate people just to get more comments, why don't you go back to kind of content you had when I first starting coming to BP. Back then, the content was cute, funny, warm, positive. This was known as one of the most positive places on the net, which is why I came here: to escape my crippling depression. But recently, all I see here is negativity. Couldn't you have found a way to present these pictures without bashing Americans? BP: you can do better.
Absolutely! The last few years, BP has really gone downhill.
Load More Replies...Bored Panda. This was by far the dumbest load of America bashing I've seen. Please can we stop this and focus on good stuff from America.
It wasn't focusing on negative stuff from America I don't think. Just focusing on positive stuff from other cultures and then stupidly assuming Americans don't have that stuff. Obviously written by someone who hasn't seen very much of America.
Load More Replies...One of the worst set BP has ever published. Did the leadership of BP change?
No, they're just desperately trying to be Buzfeed, TMZ and Ebaum's World rolled into one
Load More Replies...I am American, and therefore have an American mind. And it can comprehend every one of these things.
Yes, make a list about "Trump's mind can't comprehent this:" but I fear the list would be several thousand entries long
Load More Replies...Are the people who picked these pics raving idiots? Because most of these are fairly normal in the US, some originated in the US, and others are myths perpetrated by people who have idea what the US is
Or clearly what other countries are as well. Several of these like the Japan mutual understanding... straight up false. Authors who never left home, I'm afraid.
Load More Replies...Presumably, Americans are the only group that it's socially acceptable to insult casually. Kinda rude, if you ask me!
Load More Replies...I'm Cornish and can't comprehend 90% of this list. Also kind of offended for Americans as it's just a bollocks post seemingly digging at Americans. Just doesn't make sense
BP, I'm all in favour of a bit of good-natured mickey-taking, but please try to do better than this. As someone else has pointed out: why not go for the funny, warm, positive stuff?
I seriously think many of those who created these need to visit the US and not just watch US shows on TV.
They think all Americans are from the backwoods or something.
Load More Replies...Don't worry Americans! Not all Europeans have two braincells like it is shown in this thread ❤️❤️ I love you all!
Dear US Pandas, even though l didn't write this post of almighty shït, I apologise for it's existence. If I had written it, I would expect to get banned for hate speech.
Absolute trash. Some of these are so obscure it's annoying. US phobic name calling by teenagers ignorant of the world I guess. I'm in the UK and I'm ashamed if these are the best Europeans can muster. The UK food examples are particularly egregious given they are clearly regional cuisine not national.
Yes yes all Americans are so stupid and uncultured 🙄 I am so sick of these articles
BP, if you are going to try to charge people to look at your articles, why put out sheer dreck like this?
OOOOOH! Let's make the Americans look like morons! You are dangerously close to losing me over your incessant bashing of both the US and the 'boomers' who reside here, BP.
They keep using that word (comprehend). I do not think it means what they think it means.
Where's the stupid poll they like to put at the end of articles now? Nm....I'll make one.
Not an American but I agree this article was a waste of time. After the first 20, I skipped the whole thing
In British and I found this post negative and boring and gave up about a third of the way through. Surprised I got that far tbh!
A lot if these were just pictures and no explanation. How are people supposed to know what we are comprehending?
I'm trying to figure out how to configure my Google News feed so that the only Bored Panda items I see are the good ones—those about cats. And these people think we're going to pay them for "Premium" — 𝑺𝑵𝑶𝑹𝑻!
Why is this in the top of my favorites when it's at -69. Tired of all the same America bashing. At least be funny and not repeating the same 4 made up anti-American jokes. I come to BP because they *don't* do that. No sense coming here otherwise. It's all 3 days late memes otherwise.
This American mind can't comprehend the idiot who compiled this list... have they ever been to the US? FFS... one of the worst BP posts yet. Seriously.
Ok, so, are the Americans confused enough already? Anyone? Confused?
Not a good list. Half of that is just BS, Americans are not all that stupid or ignorant.
I logged in just to say most of this is inaccurate or actually downright common in America. Also some statements are just falsely made blanket statements about countries other than America. This article sucks and clearly the people have never left their hometown if they think these things are so rare.
The reason BP regurgitates Twitter and Reddit posts like this is because WE (myself included) in this posts. We get triggered and we argue and chastise BP for sharing divisive nonsense and it's all engagement that means they will continue to post. People have to choose to ignore these in order to stop them.
It’s funny the National that has saved Europe twice and at least 80% of the people ancestors come from, they sure are full of themselves about what Americans understand. I wonder if they would understand noodling? Under mudding? Sitting on the front porch in a swing drinking lemon aid while listening to the Bob whites call each other?
You ever notice when somebody posts bashing America, they never tell you where they're from?
There's lots of reasons to make fun of Americans. These are not any of them.
One of the things that I couldn't understand was when I was in Italy, I was given an umbrella to use on a snowy day. Made absolutely no sense to me, like going to a restaurant and having appetizer, first plate, second plate, desert and cappuccino. I still don't know why I had to order both first plate and second plate.
Did people not read that this was in response to an American thread, "Europeans can't comprehend"? All this showed me is we Americans are super defensive and can't take a joke.
You must be new to BP. There is a xenophobic anti-American thread here weekly if not more often. "Europe is the best at everything" threads are commonplace. How would you like "all Europeans are the same and suck" threads ran here as often as the anti-American ones? BTW lumping all Americans into one xenophobic rant is about as stupid as lumping all Europeans into one xenophobic rant. The US may be one country but we are diverse socially, culturally, racially, etc. We cannot even agree on the color of the sky.
Load More Replies...If you're going to America bash BP at least make an effort. This article is pathetic.
Don't worry, it'll be Brit bashing tomorrow, "boomer" bashing the day after that, "What men find (insert word here) about women", "what women find (insert word here) about men", Gen X/Y/Z bashing, then back to America bashing and so ad infinitum.
Load More Replies...Hey, BP: instead of trying to divide people, single people out, irritate people just to get more comments, why don't you go back to kind of content you had when I first starting coming to BP. Back then, the content was cute, funny, warm, positive. This was known as one of the most positive places on the net, which is why I came here: to escape my crippling depression. But recently, all I see here is negativity. Couldn't you have found a way to present these pictures without bashing Americans? BP: you can do better.
Absolutely! The last few years, BP has really gone downhill.
Load More Replies...Bored Panda. This was by far the dumbest load of America bashing I've seen. Please can we stop this and focus on good stuff from America.
It wasn't focusing on negative stuff from America I don't think. Just focusing on positive stuff from other cultures and then stupidly assuming Americans don't have that stuff. Obviously written by someone who hasn't seen very much of America.
Load More Replies...One of the worst set BP has ever published. Did the leadership of BP change?
No, they're just desperately trying to be Buzfeed, TMZ and Ebaum's World rolled into one
Load More Replies...I am American, and therefore have an American mind. And it can comprehend every one of these things.
Yes, make a list about "Trump's mind can't comprehent this:" but I fear the list would be several thousand entries long
Load More Replies...Are the people who picked these pics raving idiots? Because most of these are fairly normal in the US, some originated in the US, and others are myths perpetrated by people who have idea what the US is
Or clearly what other countries are as well. Several of these like the Japan mutual understanding... straight up false. Authors who never left home, I'm afraid.
Load More Replies...Presumably, Americans are the only group that it's socially acceptable to insult casually. Kinda rude, if you ask me!
Load More Replies...I'm Cornish and can't comprehend 90% of this list. Also kind of offended for Americans as it's just a bollocks post seemingly digging at Americans. Just doesn't make sense
BP, I'm all in favour of a bit of good-natured mickey-taking, but please try to do better than this. As someone else has pointed out: why not go for the funny, warm, positive stuff?
I seriously think many of those who created these need to visit the US and not just watch US shows on TV.
They think all Americans are from the backwoods or something.
Load More Replies...Don't worry Americans! Not all Europeans have two braincells like it is shown in this thread ❤️❤️ I love you all!
Dear US Pandas, even though l didn't write this post of almighty shït, I apologise for it's existence. If I had written it, I would expect to get banned for hate speech.
Absolute trash. Some of these are so obscure it's annoying. US phobic name calling by teenagers ignorant of the world I guess. I'm in the UK and I'm ashamed if these are the best Europeans can muster. The UK food examples are particularly egregious given they are clearly regional cuisine not national.
Yes yes all Americans are so stupid and uncultured 🙄 I am so sick of these articles
BP, if you are going to try to charge people to look at your articles, why put out sheer dreck like this?
OOOOOH! Let's make the Americans look like morons! You are dangerously close to losing me over your incessant bashing of both the US and the 'boomers' who reside here, BP.
They keep using that word (comprehend). I do not think it means what they think it means.
Where's the stupid poll they like to put at the end of articles now? Nm....I'll make one.
Not an American but I agree this article was a waste of time. After the first 20, I skipped the whole thing
In British and I found this post negative and boring and gave up about a third of the way through. Surprised I got that far tbh!
A lot if these were just pictures and no explanation. How are people supposed to know what we are comprehending?
I'm trying to figure out how to configure my Google News feed so that the only Bored Panda items I see are the good ones—those about cats. And these people think we're going to pay them for "Premium" — 𝑺𝑵𝑶𝑹𝑻!
Why is this in the top of my favorites when it's at -69. Tired of all the same America bashing. At least be funny and not repeating the same 4 made up anti-American jokes. I come to BP because they *don't* do that. No sense coming here otherwise. It's all 3 days late memes otherwise.
This American mind can't comprehend the idiot who compiled this list... have they ever been to the US? FFS... one of the worst BP posts yet. Seriously.
Ok, so, are the Americans confused enough already? Anyone? Confused?
Not a good list. Half of that is just BS, Americans are not all that stupid or ignorant.
I logged in just to say most of this is inaccurate or actually downright common in America. Also some statements are just falsely made blanket statements about countries other than America. This article sucks and clearly the people have never left their hometown if they think these things are so rare.
The reason BP regurgitates Twitter and Reddit posts like this is because WE (myself included) in this posts. We get triggered and we argue and chastise BP for sharing divisive nonsense and it's all engagement that means they will continue to post. People have to choose to ignore these in order to stop them.
It’s funny the National that has saved Europe twice and at least 80% of the people ancestors come from, they sure are full of themselves about what Americans understand. I wonder if they would understand noodling? Under mudding? Sitting on the front porch in a swing drinking lemon aid while listening to the Bob whites call each other?
You ever notice when somebody posts bashing America, they never tell you where they're from?
There's lots of reasons to make fun of Americans. These are not any of them.
One of the things that I couldn't understand was when I was in Italy, I was given an umbrella to use on a snowy day. Made absolutely no sense to me, like going to a restaurant and having appetizer, first plate, second plate, desert and cappuccino. I still don't know why I had to order both first plate and second plate.
Did people not read that this was in response to an American thread, "Europeans can't comprehend"? All this showed me is we Americans are super defensive and can't take a joke.
You must be new to BP. There is a xenophobic anti-American thread here weekly if not more often. "Europe is the best at everything" threads are commonplace. How would you like "all Europeans are the same and suck" threads ran here as often as the anti-American ones? BTW lumping all Americans into one xenophobic rant is about as stupid as lumping all Europeans into one xenophobic rant. The US may be one country but we are diverse socially, culturally, racially, etc. We cannot even agree on the color of the sky.
Load More Replies...