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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.

#1

European-Things-Americans-Dont-Get

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Sergio Bicerra
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4 weeks ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My mom realized her passport expired... in the airport. They gave her an extention until she returned to our country. Took them 40 minutes.

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    #2

    Things-Americans-Dont-Get

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    htbq
    Community Member
    4 weeks ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I've lived in Japan my whole life and not once have i seen or heard of this.

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    "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.


    #3

    European-Things-Americans-Dont-Get

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    René Sauer
    Community Member
    4 weeks ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    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.

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    #4

    European-Things-Americans-Dont-Get

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    Ron Man
    Community Member
    4 weeks ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    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.

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    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.

    #6

    European-Things-Americans-Dont-Get

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    Treelioness
    Community Member
    4 weeks ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    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.

    Petra Peitsch
    Community Member
    4 weeks ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    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.

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    Liz The Biz
    Community Member
    4 weeks ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    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.

    Pernille
    Community Member
    4 weeks ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    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.

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    KnightOOwl
    Community Member
    4 weeks ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    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.

    Roxy222uk
    Community Member
    4 weeks ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I twist them right off. I'm perfectly capable of putting the cap back on once I've finished.

    Koalafied to komment
    Community Member
    4 weeks ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    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

    Altea
    Community Member
    4 weeks ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    this is very recent and my european mind can't comprehend it either

    Ellinor
    Community Member
    4 weeks ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Small tips : You need to hold the cap between your middle finger and your ring finger.

    Kevin Boos
    Community Member
    3 weeks ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    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!! 😢

    Luis de Avendaño
    Community Member
    4 weeks ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Neither can anyone else. Idle politicians thinking up new ways to justify their salaries.

    Debby Keir
    Community Member
    4 weeks ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    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.

    pebs
    Community Member
    4 weeks ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    The ease of opening/closing depends on the manufacturer, but I agree that it is easiest to cut the cap off.

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    Pittsburgh rare
    Community Member
    4 weeks ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    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.

    ManuelQue
    Community Member
    3 weeks ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I think that, as usual, a few rotten apples have spoiled it for the rest of us.

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    Will Tiernan
    Community Member
    4 weeks ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    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.

    pebs
    Community Member
    4 weeks ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Milk/juice cartons etc. are the worst, often when you first open them the cap breaks and comes completely off the container.

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    Leah C
    Community Member
    4 weeks ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    It's not that we can't comprehend. It's that we aren't used to it.

    Roni Stone
    Community Member
    4 weeks ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    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.

    PeakyBlinder
    Community Member
    4 weeks ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    It is not only the american mind who cañnot comprehend this stupid BS. ..

    SCamp
    Community Member
    4 weeks ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Can’t comprehend an open bottle? 🤔 What am I missing here?

    G R
    Community Member
    4 weeks ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    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.

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    #7

    Things-Americans-Dont-Get

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    Kenneth Barns
    Community Member
    4 weeks ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    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.

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    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."

    #10

    European-Things-Americans-Dont-Get

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    Zena
    Community Member
    4 weeks ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    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.

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    #12

    European-Things-Americans-Dont-Get

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    Bill
    Community Member
    4 weeks ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Anything older than 200 year baffles us. Imagine living in a cottage that was built in the 12'th century lol

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    #13

    European-Things-Americans-Dont-Get

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    SCamp
    Community Member
    4 weeks ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Am I the only person finding this thread incredibly confusing? 🫤 I can’t see anything incomprehensible in any of the pictures so far

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    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.

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    #14

    European-Things-Americans-Dont-Get

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    René Sauer
    Community Member
    4 weeks ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    neither can the minds of almost every other country where bagged milk isn´t a thing. like my german mind.

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    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.

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    #21

    European-Things-Americans-Dont-Get

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    Helena
    Community Member
    4 weeks ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Of course we can, we put it in a bun and ironically call it a sandwich.

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    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.

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    #22

    European-Things-Americans-Dont-Get

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    Bad Alchemy
    Community Member
    4 weeks ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Yup, you're right. I can't wrap my head around being without AC in the hot months. Just can't live like that.

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    #23

    European-Things-Americans-Dont-Get

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    Ron Man
    Community Member
    4 weeks ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    That's not the French version of Subway, but at the same time America is aware that Subway is a trash sandwich, which I guess Euroland is not?

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    #26

    European-Things-Americans-Dont-Get

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    S Bow
    Community Member
    4 weeks ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Probably because most Americans don't watch the euros, some do, but it's not as popular here.

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    #28

    European-Things-Americans-Dont-Get

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    Lee Gilliland
    Community Member
    4 weeks ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    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

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    #29

    European-Things-Americans-Dont-Get

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    Kenneth Barns
    Community Member
    4 weeks ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I live in Queensland, and most of the time _I_ can't understand it (especially the bl**dy tackling rules).

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    #30

    European-Things-Americans-Dont-Get

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    ninjaTrashPandaBoom
    Community Member
    4 weeks ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Naked and apparently invisible as well, how boring! Oh wait, they're naked ghosts! ;)

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    #32

    European-Things-Americans-Dont-Get

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    Petra Peitsch
    Community Member
    4 weeks ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Hm, that's the austrian Burgtheater. But I really don't get it. You guys in the USA also have theaters, isn't it?

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    #35

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    Ron Man
    Community Member
    4 weeks ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Costal? Do you mean Coastal? And mustard on a burrito? No, that's something I'm unwilling to ever comprehend.

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    #38

    European-Things-Americans-Dont-Get

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    Brian Droste
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    4 weeks ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Nope. Can't comprehend a 4 dollar meal because that sandwich would be 4 dollars itself or more.

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    #39

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    DE Ray
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    4 weeks ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Ah, the UK. The only country where the cuisine was improved by war rationing. They plundered the entire world for spices, then refuse to use them.

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    #43

    European-Things-Americans-Dont-Get

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    Bad Alchemy
    Community Member
    4 weeks ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Just FYI, toothbrushes aren't typically locked away. That happens in small convenience stores or wherever there has been a lot of shoplifting. Now infant formula. That's regularly found in a locked case.

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    #49

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    DE Ray
    Community Member
    4 weeks ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Yes and no. In rural areas of the US, lots of farmers have kei trucks. Are they legal to drive on the roads? Nope. Do the farmers care? Also nope.

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    #51

    European-Things-Americans-Dont-Get

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    René Sauer
    Community Member
    4 weeks ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I doubt that. drinking beer while watching sports isn´t a european thing alone. not every get-together in america is a frat party.

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    #54

    European-Things-Americans-Dont-Get

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    Eric Brown
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    4 weeks ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I'm pretty sure if anyone can comprehend a basket of candy, it's Americans.

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    #58

    European-Things-Americans-Dont-Get

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    Eric Brown
    Community Member
    4 weeks ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    This is the most American thing I've seen in this post. I've been to dozens of stores like this.

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