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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
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    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
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    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
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    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.

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

    Do these people not realize that Americans travel? I have not been to that particular cathedral but I've been to several others throughout Europe and they are amazing and spectacular but my brain is able to comprehend what I'm seeing. Does this thread assume Americans just can't comprehend anything at all?

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

    Strasbourg Cathedral. Strasbourg's city center -named Petit France- is beautiful

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

    The little I know about Gothic architecture - flying buttresses is about it - has me completely amazed that the Cathedral of Notre Dame was rebuilt.

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

    This is in Strasbourg ❤️ love it! Just don't visit during christmas market, except you love a lot of people

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

    What is this supposed to be showing? These pictures need an explanation.

    EmJay
    Community Member
    1 week ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I would love to agree with this but we have something pretty close to this in utah, yeah it wasnt made in the same time but still amazing to look at

    Panda Panda Bo Banda
    Community Member
    3 weeks ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    We can't comprehend it but we sure do like it. Most of us are jealous of European architecture.

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

    Sorry do they have this in Mongolia, Kenya, Saudi Arabia?! What does this thread have to do with America?!

    gerard julien
    Community Member
    1 week ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    no they don't simply because they are not christian countries (except for Kenia now, but not back then ) ! lol

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

    Yanks tear down 20 year old stadiums and call them "outdated". Yanks have no history because they want to rewrite history (e.g. pretend slavery never happened).

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

    Slavery is not an American invention. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_slavery; https://worldpopulationreview.com/country-rankings/countries-that-still-have-slavery

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    medcrest
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    3 weeks ago

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    We don't have cathedrals that took 300 years to complete while paying for it with indulgences sold the the peasants.

    Jrog
    Community Member
    3 weeks ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Yes, it took you just 87 years with modern machinery -and roughly 50 TIMES the original budget- to build the Washington National Cathedral, a very basic structure by Cathedral standards. Still better than St. John the Divine in NYC, running strong at 132 years of construction as of today and far from done, currently just exceeding $180M over budget. But rejoice! You have the amazing feat of architecture known as St. Paul in the originally named city of St. Paul, MN. 109 years to build a copy of a French XVII century church, a design that was repeatedly scaled down and created delays because it was too complex yet went 3300% over budget.

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    #13

    European-Things-Americans-Dont-Get

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    SCamp
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    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

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    René Sauer
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    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
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    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

    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

    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

    European-Things-Americans-Dont-Get

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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

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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
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    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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