ADVERTISEMENT

There’s nothing wrong with being weird.

Originally, weird used to mean ‘having the power to control destiny’ and later ‘unearthly’. In a sense, the term has a positive meaning and should be treated as such. After all, folks tend to gravitate towards unique things more than the same ol-same ol; being weird makes folks seem more authentic and empowering; above all else, it fuels creativity and leads to a more unorthodox approach to problem-solving.

But, somewhere along the way, the idea of being weird got skewed by humanity’s ignorance and so here we are—burning bridges and building walls when it should actually be the other way around. And so here we are, seeing yet another thread discussing the weird aspects of American culture.

#1

50 Strange, Weird, And Straight-Up Bizarre Parts Of American Culture How they pretend to be Christian while doing the exact opposite of what Jesus would do in every situation.

Judge_Rhinohold , Caleb Oquendo Report

Add photo comments
POST
Bell-icose
Community Member
Premium
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Religiosity is dropping in every developed country except the USA. Jesus and guns baby!

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#2

Also we are so focused on women (people) getting pregnant and having babies that we take away their bodily autonomy and try to restrict birth control but then we don't provide maternity leave/pay (in some situations) or childcare benefits so mom has to go to work to pay for food and childcare but then when she can't afford the childcare and has to stay home we also don't want to give her snap benefits or free lunches for the kid because then she's leaching off the system , you guys I just can't with this backward a*s country and their hatred for women and mothers in particular. Sorry for the run on sentence but it irks the p**s out of me.

nikkip7784 Report

Add photo comments
POST
Lori T Wisconsin
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Republicans are not pro-life, they are anti-woman. All the laws to protect a fetus, but once it's born, no assistance for health care, education, childcare etc. The great George Carlin once said, "Conservatives want live babies so they can raise them to be dead soldiers".

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#3

Guilt is put on the consumer, not the corporations.

The customer has to tip because servers don’t make a livable wage. The customer has to recycle and watch their carbon footprint because the environment is deteriorating. The customer has to eat better because cows are being slaughtered and chickens are trapped in cages.

100% of the world’s problems are caused by giant corporations, not the average person.

Burrito_Loyalist Report

ADVERTISEMENT

Recently, the r/AskReddit community brought up (again) the question of the weirdest things about American culture. The post garnered 1,800 upvotes and generated a discussion consisting of 3,200 comments before being taken down by the moderators.

These days, it’s become quite a common question to discuss online. In fact, it’s so common that Bored Panda has covered it on a number of occasions, mostly from the perspective of what folks from outside the US find weird about the global superpower.

And that last term is key here—global superpower. Some speculate it to be the key as to why there are so many discussions revolving around America out there. And it doesn’t seem to matter what aspect of it is: culture, psychology, sociology, political or religious climate. Anything goes.

#4

50 Strange, Weird, And Straight-Up Bizarre Parts Of American Culture We're fine with whatever level of violence and gore you want to put on TV, as long as there aren't any female nipples showing!!

Shoegazer75 , Andres Ayrton Report

Add photo comments
POST
Mike Crow
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

What is wrong with women’s breasts/nipples? People celebrate the AR-15 but demonize women’s breasts. Why???

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#5

As an outsider (UK) I think all the right wing Christians are weird as f**k.

LeftConsideration919 Report

ADVERTISEMENT
#6

50 Strange, Weird, And Straight-Up Bizarre Parts Of American Culture I’m from America but I think our pharmaceutical ads are really f*****g weird and annoying

Formal_Coyote_5004 , Guto Macedo Report

Add photo comments
POST
The Idaho Potato
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

USA and NZ are the only western countries that allow direct-to-consumer pharmaceutical marketing.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu

General curiosity and human flaws aside, the idea behind America being a point of discussion in a lot of places can be traced back to just how influential its culture is on the rest of the world. Following World War II, the US promised “to build a new world,” one that functions as a huge global village of organizations that would unite nations and thus push back any ideas of conflict. This in turn meant that any idea of kicking your neighbor in the shins would essentially mean you’re shooting yourself in the foot. And nobody likes that.

A lot of the world thus agreed to it—who would be against things like freedom and free flow of information and culture? Soon after everything from news agencies to Hollywood studios to the rock and roll scene started seeping to the rest of the world. Some call it coca-colonization or Americanization.

#7

50 Strange, Weird, And Straight-Up Bizarre Parts Of American Culture We make the most dimwitted people among us our leaders.

Alarming_Serve2303 , ICSA Report

Add photo comments
POST
R Dennis
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Or... the voters are even dumber. Our education system is pretty terrible.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
#8

50 Strange, Weird, And Straight-Up Bizarre Parts Of American Culture Celebrating a holiday to give thanks for the things in life you already have, and then the next day fighting people over a new appliance for a 25% discount.

snukebox_hero , Daniel Ramirez Report

ADVERTISEMENT
#9

50 Strange, Weird, And Straight-Up Bizarre Parts Of American Culture The number of people who are willing to blindly vote for a candidate that obviously does not have their best interests in mind.

PacoMahogany , liz west Report

Add photo comments
POST
RaroaRaroa
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

To be fair, the whole US electoral system with it's heavy emphasis on the President rather than the party is weird.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu

But it came with a drawback of sorts. The US has led the world into creating a kind of Western culture on an economic, cultural, and even political level. However, while it exported so much, it imported very little, creating a one-way street without reciprocity. Think visa regulations, educational exchanges and the like. Becoming the center of the world naturally started drawing discussions about the elephant in the room.

The weirdness factor is another point of attraction. As mentioned previously, being weird ain’t a bad thing—being weird makes you unique, helps you stand out and, in the words of Marcus Buckingham and Ashley Goodall, “sameness is not worth following”. Weirdness brings out creativity and authenticity in humans, and it also triggers something in others that makes them come closer.

ADVERTISEMENT
#10

50 Strange, Weird, And Straight-Up Bizarre Parts Of American Culture Gun culture and the Second Amendment

Bob-Sakimano , Karolina Grabowska Report

Add photo comments
POST
Ray Ceeya (RayCeeYa)
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

We already have restrictions on arms. You can't walk into a Walmart and buy an M60 machine gun because they are classified as a "weapon of mass destruction". All most of us want is for assault rifles to be classed the same way. It's not a huge thing to ask and it was done before in 1994 with the assault weapons ban.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#11

50 Strange, Weird, And Straight-Up Bizarre Parts Of American Culture For a country built off the backs of slaves and immigrants, there is so much hatred toward immigrants.

JustAzConfusedAzYou , Alex Green Report

Add photo comments
POST
R1MV4Superleggera
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Funny thing though! Those who hate immigrants are, like it or not, known as 'anchor-children' of immigrants who fleed whatever country they left behind. Now, the only people who can express their discomfort are the Native American-Indians. Don't believe me? Look for the YT video: 'Native American confronts anti illegal protesters' Just look an listen

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

My canned response when someone demands they "go back where they came from"..."Oh...so what tribe or percentage native American are you?".."I'm not" ..."Then get the f*** out"

Load More Replies...
R Dennis
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

"BuT ThAt wAs a LoNg tImE AgO. EVeRyThInG iS EvEn NoW! If AnyTHiNg WhItEs ArE OpPReSSeD!"

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

Did you know that people who use screen readers struggle to make sense when people write in this format? Just thought I'd mention it as you seem a very reasonable person judging by your comments.

Load More Replies...
Monkey
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Isn't it funny how Trump is the greatest hater of all immigrants and yet all of his wives were immigrants.

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

The ones chanting "F-R-E-E-D-O-M" are the ones most anxious to take it away from anyone who's not like them.

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

For me as European I see all but the native as immigrant over there

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

Just curious, does that mean you vote for the far right in Europe ?

Load More Replies...
Elio
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

There's a racist stereotype about black people being lazy that is just weird considering slavery. Rich white people in the south had slaves because they didn't want to pick their crops or pay anyone to do it.

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

All of them, accept the suppressed natives are immigrants or offspring of immigrants. So actually there are only a few non-immigrants there and they have no real chance to speak up.

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

Aren't we all immigrants? The only people who should be allowed to say get off my lawn are First Nation people.

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

It is even more absurd that this hate is also directed against the "real" indigenous population, which in case of America certainly were not white anglo-saxon protestants.

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

No one should ever discriminate against them just because they are immigrant. It's basic human decency. These people don't know what the immigrants had to go through in their countries and if they had they would have ran away with their tails tucked between their legs.

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

I don't get it.. It's very culturally diverse country, and a lot of people living there are descendants of immigrants.

Mod.92A1
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

They were good in the beginning because we needed them, but now they're helping to mess up the economy... the ones coming in now aren't the ones that helped build it. (American me)

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

I know very few that are against legal immigration, it's illegal immigration that is the issue.

detective miller's hat
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

And that hatred seems to be reserved only for non-white immigrants. No one batted an eyelash when my parents moved us here from England.

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

It is true. And very pathetic. Despite the promoted image of a country where "everyone is welcome and given the chance to have a better life as a free person in a relatively classless society (which is questionable), racism and prejudice have made it dam* hard for everyone to benefit from that idea. The fact is the original pilgrims who made it to North America to escape prejudice and poverty in Europe pretty much established their own prejudicial guidelines once they got here. Those ex-Europeans tried to erase the Native Americans from the land, lived and got wealthy off the labor of black slaves and the under-paid labors of many other ethnic groups, and STILL TODAY their descendants are trying their best to make it a society where they get wealthy at the expense of underpaid workers, and they control what a person's place is in American society.

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

The USA welcomes legal immigrants. When my grandparents came here in the early 1900s, they had to pass health screenings (I still have my grandmother's health cards), they had to have a sponsor who was responsible for getting them a legal job, and they could not be a burden on the American taxpayer.

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

Incredible hypocrisy! And yet nobody literally seems to recognize it! Baffling!

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

this is true of western europe as well...just b/c you did it in colonies far away, doesn't change a damn thing...

Cherryblossom90
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Very true but unfortunately also for many other countries... Many people in Europa also hate the immigrants that come here (sometimes from war countries) to do the work we don't want to do ourselves. Sometimes immigrants work under inhuman circumstances. So we (native people) cannot do it because we are too aware of our rights so it's harder to abuse us by these modern slave keepers (yes, in the Netherlands there is also modern slavery).

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

Don''t forget colonials designed & financed the lot. Now, there's also hatred of THEM . It's a bad age. 😪

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

Also there is so much hatred for people who are born US citizens but have a look from another country.

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

Illegal migrants are different from legal immigrants who could spend years seeking entrance and are expected to support themselves vs those who walk over an unprotected border and expect to receive a range of taxpayer funded benefits. Big difference.

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

Nonsense! If you're an illegal immigrant to the USA, you're not eligible for taxpayer funded benefits. The illegals are mostly entering the US in the hope of earning money by working at underpaid jobs with no security of any sort at all.

Load More Replies...
Noname
Community Member
1 year ago

This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

The the USA wasn't built off the backs of slaves - it was built by immigrants

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

Immigrants to the west side of the Atlantic whose fabulous wealth came largely from working enslaved people to death. The practice began with the British, and Britain continued to benefit from US slavery by way of the cotton trade long after it had outlawed the practice itself. The history of the transatlantic slave trade is long and dark and very, very nasty. The USA is one guilty party, but by far from the only one.

Load More Replies...
View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#12

50 Strange, Weird, And Straight-Up Bizarre Parts Of American Culture Health Insurance yet we still have crappy healthcare. 591$ a month WTF! That’s more then my car payment and insurance.

yogilove2017 , RF._.studio Report

Add photo comments
POST
Celia McReynolds Tinsley
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

With stupid high deductibles that a healthy person will never reach so basically Americans are being forced to pay outrageously high rates for nothing more than major medical and if you're lucky, one wellness visit each year.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu

It’s akin to the allure of scary and disgusting things: disgusting things capture and retain people’s attention more effectively. It’s one of many of evolution’s tricks to help us stay away from harmful stuff. But it’s one that folks can enjoy, despite the very obvious deterrent that is ew, that’s disgusting, kill it with fire. But you’d watch that fire with awe. Humans are weird.

ADVERTISEMENT

And so it all perpetuates itself: we talk about the elephant in the room and we talk about weird things because we can’t but talk about it. If anything, it provides insight into the other. And from an educational standpoint, understanding the other only increases our chances of understand the world. Oh, and surviving. Can’t forget about that.

#13

50 Strange, Weird, And Straight-Up Bizarre Parts Of American Culture In all things: Money before people.

A40 , Karolina Grabowska Report

#14

50 Strange, Weird, And Straight-Up Bizarre Parts Of American Culture Tipping. For everything. For the smallest things. For people simply doing their jobs.

AestheticCopacetic , Lukas Report

#15

Being puritanical about sexual themes but glorifying violence in media

Landsharque Report

Add photo comments
POST
Bad Alchemy
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Well, the Puritans were quite a sexually-repressed, violent group of people. They did not hesitate to use violence to "carry out God's plan", whatever they happened to think that was: assaulting and tormenting old women they thought were witches, burning Native Americans alive, persecuting Quakers, etc. They'd fit right in with today's GOP.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#16

50 Strange, Weird, And Straight-Up Bizarre Parts Of American Culture Being able to fight and die for your country before being allowed to purchase and drink a beer. I hate alcohol, and I didn't serve, but still, this is pretty silly, and I think it actually contributes to alcoholism by making it taboo (and therefore cool) in your teen years.

thechosenwunn , George Pak Report

Add photo comments
POST
Sara Wilson
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Yep! U can legally murder people for ur "country" and (supposedly) vote who will run it, but not capable of deciding if u should smoke or drink

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
#17

From a foreign perspective - guns. Every country has them but it like seems like a religion in the US.

WLDB1988 Report

Add photo comments
POST
Roxy Eastland
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

In other countries guns serve a purpose, from sport to guerrilla warfare, but it seems in the US they are owned to feed the fantasy of the owner one day getting into a shoot out like in the films.

View more commentsArrow down menu
#18

50 Strange, Weird, And Straight-Up Bizarre Parts Of American Culture Absurd costs for medications and even routine doctor visits.

Everyone just shrugs, like paying $600 for a 30 day supply of pills is normal.

brady2gronk , Thesis Report

Add photo comments
POST
Mint Sauce
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Big pharma calls the shots and the government has never had the courage to stop them.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#19

50 Strange, Weird, And Straight-Up Bizarre Parts Of American Culture All the celebraty worship that we engage in by far.

Snowtwo , Wendy Wei Report

Add photo comments
POST
Gimme that Cash
Community Member
1 year ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

You haven't seen kpop, cpop and jpop stans ( or stans of pretty much any asian celebs). Before anyone calls me out for 'racism', I'm asian.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#20

50 Strange, Weird, And Straight-Up Bizarre Parts Of American Culture People b***h about roads being bad, schools being bad, etc but then vote down levies to fund them.

Also wanting everyone to have decent healthcare coverage that doesn't cost a fortune somehow makes you an evil communist.

ghunt81 , Sora Shimazaki Report

Add photo comments
POST
Michael P (Perthaussieguy)
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

A 2% charge on our taxable income gives us 'Universal Healthcare' here... I didn't realise we were an 'Evil Communist Country' Doesn't feel like it, feels more like the freedom country Americans shout about but don't have.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#21

50 Strange, Weird, And Straight-Up Bizarre Parts Of American Culture The poor are obese. In most other countries when you see abject poverty you can see people starving with their ribs poking out

epochwin , Timur Weber Report

Add photo comments
POST
TeenieMeanie
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Poor folk in the US have to buy shelf-stable high calorie food. Lots of pasta, bread, canned food. Often theylive in food deserts where they have to travel long distances (not easy if you’re poor and there’s no public transport) to get to any kind of decent grocery store. Plus added sugar in everything. Please don’t judge too harshly. The stupids are drowning everyone who want to make things better.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
#23

50 Strange, Weird, And Straight-Up Bizarre Parts Of American Culture that showing blood and gore to children is simply entertainment but a women’s breast is taboo

antiquasi , Vidal Balielo Jr. Report

Add photo comments
POST
Forrest Hobbs
Community Member
1 year ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Of course, because all children are exposed to death and bloody violence from the moment of birth and never, ever see a woman's breast. Obviously, I mean how could they? It's not like women's breasts feed babies, is it? (who, me, sarcastic? Never!)

View more commentsArrow down menu
#24

50 Strange, Weird, And Straight-Up Bizarre Parts Of American Culture The size of food portion given in restaurants.

Expensive-Ad7181 , Markus Winkler Report

Add photo comments
POST
PlatinumThe8-BitCat
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I usually have to get to-go boxes, once at a restaurant I got a burger and a salad and I was already almost full by the time I finished my salad since it was so big and I had to take the burger home

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#25

Sugar in everything

GodHatesPOGsv2023 Report

#26

They think the world revolves around what's going on in America

micka_88 Report

#27

We shoot ourselves in the foot with who we elect, acting like were free when it's really just a corporate tyranny and not democracy.

Ralph_Nacho Report

Add photo comments
POST
Luke Branwen
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

"But I've never thought they would eat MY face!" cried the woman who voted for the Leopards Eating People's Faces party.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
See Also on Bored Panda
#28

50 Strange, Weird, And Straight-Up Bizarre Parts Of American Culture We banned most cigarette advertising decades ago. But I cannot watch a football game with out seeing every alcohol ad a million times.

CantStopWontStop7777 , Sebastian Coman Photography Report

Add photo comments
POST
V
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I can't watch sports in Australia any more. The amount of gambling ads just make it unwatchable.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#29

50 Strange, Weird, And Straight-Up Bizarre Parts Of American Culture Bragging about working ourselves to death

tarheel_204 , Andrea Piacquadio Report

#30

Misunderstanding their own history.

Xceptionlcmonplcness Report

Add photo comments
POST
Michael P (Perthaussieguy)
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Not necessarily just 'misunderstanding ' it, also being taught only certain aspects and having some parts being left out.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#31

50 Strange, Weird, And Straight-Up Bizarre Parts Of American Culture Making 14 year olds famous “actors” and “singers” and, if they’re girls, immediately sexualising them.

Alarmed-Web-916 , Wendy Wei Report

Add photo comments
POST
Rostit. .
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Umm Alizée is not American. This is a worldwide problem. P**s off

View more commentsArrow down menu
#32

How we have such a stigma around sex and can't show nudity on TV, yet there's this total acceptance of brutal violence. My fiancé is Dutch and the relationship with sex in the Netherlands seems *so* much more open and healthy, whereas they aren't as desensitized to violence. Makes much more sense to me.

LadyWoodstock Report

Add photo comments
POST
Mabelbabel
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Countries where there is age appropriate sex and relationship education in schools and easy access to birth control have lower rates of sexually transmitted disease, lower rates of teen pregnancy, and older age at first intercourse. There's also data showing that in those countries, young people are more likely to report that they felt emotionally happier and content about their first sexual experience.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
See Also on Bored Panda
#33

50 Strange, Weird, And Straight-Up Bizarre Parts Of American Culture The fascination with college sports.

Fresh-Hedgehog1895 , football wife Report

#34

50 Strange, Weird, And Straight-Up Bizarre Parts Of American Culture Simultaneously over sensitive and violent.

Advanced_Algae1913 , Polina Zimmerman Report

Add photo comments
POST
David A Paterson
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I think we're talking news media here, not people. The news American media reacts violently to the smallest provocation.

View more commentsArrow down menu
#35

Television ads for prescription medication

I-need-ur-dick-pics Report

#36

Infant male circumcision. Only 30% of males are circumcised on the planet. The vast majority of that percentage is religious circumcision. Most of the rest is tribal practices. America is this sole weird country that on a large scale just randomly does it and no one can really say why.

I remember when I was a kid and learned that the penis naturally comes with a foreskin and all the penises I’ve seen in my life were operated on. It felt like my own country was this weird foreign place I no longer understood.

wheatfields Report

ADVERTISEMENT
See Also on Bored Panda
#37

50 Strange, Weird, And Straight-Up Bizarre Parts Of American Culture Glorifying politicians. Apparently, we believe their lies every time.

_SuperCoolGuy_ , August de Richelieu Report

Add photo comments
POST
Celia McReynolds Tinsley
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Several years ago I watched a movie about a man who had the same name as a politician who was the incumbent but had died. The man ran for the same office and won because, in my opinion, people just vote for the names they recognize instead of taking the time to actually research the candidates. This is why, again, my opinion, we have politicians that are over 80 running this country with the majority of them completely out of touch with the struggles and hardships their constituents are constantly dealing with.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#38

50 Strange, Weird, And Straight-Up Bizarre Parts Of American Culture The commercialism of everything. Everything is an ad. Everything is to get you to buy something.

ZenoSalts , Negative Space Report

Add photo comments
POST
Forrest Hobbs
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That's a picture of London - Piccadilly Circus to be precise. The red double decker bus is a bit of a hint that it's probably not the US. The aluminium statue (behind the camera) is of Anteros, not his more famous brother Eros.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#39

Tipping. America is one of the only countries where tipping a large percentage of a bill at a restaurant is not only accepted but, if you don’t tip the waiter around 20% or whatever, you’ll get shamed for it. And even beyond that, tipping is now starting to creep into, for example, tip jars at pick-up counters where there’s no wait staff and tip jars at some retail outlets and such.

It’s a weird, uniquely American custom that as I recall started around the Great Depression with rich patrons tipping wait staff to get seats or food more quickly. Then the restaurant owners realized they could get away with paying the waiters next to nothing and letting them live primarily on tips, and ever since then there’s been a constant assumption in the US that whatever you get charged on the menu you just add the 20% or so to what you pay. It started as a total scam to underpay employees and employees to avoid paying taxes on cash tips and it just continues mainly due to social inertia to this day.

bodyknock Report

Add photo comments
POST
TMoxraaaar
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Cash tips ARE taxed. In fact the IRS (US tax authority) assumes a minimum amount of tips and servers have to pay it EVEN IF THEY DON'T RECEIVE THAT MUCH.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
See Also on Bored Panda
#40

Cheese in a spray can

anon Report

#41

50 Strange, Weird, And Straight-Up Bizarre Parts Of American Culture Sending photos of yourselves as a Christmas card

B-Goode , RDNE Stock project Report

Add photo comments
POST
Karl
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The narcissistic Xmas card (& the irritatingly smug “Round Robin” letter) is in the UK as well.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#42

The "temporarily down on your luck millionaire" mindset that allows people to politically support millionaire and billionaire politicians who do not represent their interests. More like -we're all one hospital visit away by cause of a serious accident to being millions in debt.

Chateaudelait Report

Add photo comments
POST
Luke Branwen
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Fry from Futurama said something like "One day, I may become rich - and then people like me better watch out."

View more commentsArrow down menu
#43

14-16 to get a job, drive, and take college courses

18 to vote, buy certain legal drugs, and join the military

19 to buy tobacco and be exempt from most curfews

21 to buy alcohol

23 to rent a car and book a hotel room

trainmobile Report

Add photo comments
POST
PlatinumThe8-BitCat
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

What!? I didn’t even know that you had to be 23 to rent car or get a hotel room, that’s ridiculous

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#44

50 Strange, Weird, And Straight-Up Bizarre Parts Of American Culture The fact Americans forget how freaking huge and populated America is. Which means living in different areas and states can mean a completely different lifestyle, cultures, priorities, and issues but no one wants to think about that when they can’t figure out why they have different viewpoints.

Also how they exaggerate opposing viewpoints instead of just being realistic. But I think that’s human nature, not USA.

Mandajolene123 , Fred PO Report

ADVERTISEMENT
See Also on Bored Panda
#45

50 Strange, Weird, And Straight-Up Bizarre Parts Of American Culture The dichotomy between the love and hate for the rich/elite.

SXOSXO , Dinielle De Veyra Report

#46

What you do as profession being a personality or making it a big deal. Our pride of self-independence (or faux self-independence, really - other cultures create “meaning” together, are more willing to help others. US Americans are highly competitive and believe in making your own meaning (probably, hence, acting like your job is a way bigger deal than it is or getting “lost in work” to not have to examine your life.) Our views on masculinity. There is a lot of research that guilt is largely US American. And finger pointing - probably both going back to our “independence.” Something either has to be our fault and burden or squarely aimed at someone else…vs accepting the totality of life and relationships and circumstances.

STLDH Report

Add photo comments
POST
2x4b523p
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I feel like the classes don’t mix much in USA. I have very small sample to judge, but a few relatives who live there only make friends from the same middle class neighbourhood who all live in identical houses all doing similar jobs. It’s not exclusive to USA, I noticed this in many countries with huge disparity between the richest and the poorest and it’s sad. In my country people from all classes and backgrounds would be in same friends group, actually asking someone what they do for a living is way down the line when forming friendships.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#47

We love getting our free refills and love the drive throughs for food and drink.

Necessary_Speech1096 Report

ADVERTISEMENT
See Also on Bored Panda
#48

American here: Americans who despise everything about america.. Somehow we are the most racist, misogynist, terrible poverty hating nation in the world whose human rights have not improved since "bad thing example from 100 years ago". This opinion being largely held by middle class white people.

BrainmanKhan Report

Add photo comments
POST
Helena
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It isn't a matter of being the MOST, it is a matter of not living up to our own principles.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#49

Being anti-American.

I'm not saying you need to tattoo the flag on your calf, or ride a bald eagle to work or anything. But a lot of Americans lately are so anti-American, they're basically foaming at the mouth for their own country to fail. I can't understand that viewpoint, I want the country to improve and I think it can. But I also acknowledge that currently, it's still a pretty damn good place to live despite its flaws.

Idk, I just dont understand that pessimistic view, it doesn't help anything or anyone to wish failure on a nation you're part of. Millions are trying to get here right now to make their lives better. Check your privilege.

Robot3GX Report

Add photo comments
POST
Emeraldunicorn
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I'm an American that moved abroad. Seeing how other countries live, especially work-life balance, more simple lifestyle, health insurance that doesn't cost an arm and a leg...I'm never moving back. I served in the military so I've been around and seen both sides. My humble opinion is that it's not the greatest place to live. People love what they know and most will never leave mainly because of friends/family and comfort. People that are clamouring to get to America are desperate and are sold the American dream. They still believe it's there....

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
See Also on Bored Panda
#50

50 Strange, Weird, And Straight-Up Bizarre Parts Of American Culture The most American thing seems to be hating America.

OozeDebates , Jordan Bergendahl Report

Add photo comments
POST
Mabelbabel
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That's a ridiculous comment. Disagreeing with issues or not liking certain aspects of life, your national culture, or your country's sociopolitical character does not equate to hating it. Debate, criticism and disagreements are part of life-blind worship without thought is cultish and ignorant.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu