Movies and television shows do not reflect reality. They might be based on true stories at times or aim to be as realistic as possible, but let’s be honest, they’re not documentaries. So it’s difficult to get a sense of what a culture is truly like if you’ve only been exposed to it through the media. The best way to understand a place is to go and experience it yourself!
That’s certainly the case with the United States. There are plenty of stereotypes and assumptions that people make about the nation after seeing Hollywood films. Do people really wear their shoes while laying on their beds? And is it common for neighbors to just barge into one another’s homes? Well, people from around the world who have visited the U.S. have been discussing their experiences on Reddit, and it turns out, some things they’ve seen on screens actually do exist in real life. Enjoy reading through these replies that’ll give you some insight into what the Land of the Free is really like, and be sure to upvote the ones that you can’t believe are true!
#2
Promise rings and the obsession with especially a woman's virginity creep me the hell out.
What also blows my mind is the way that faith, god and Christianity as a whole seems to bee rooted in your way of life. Apparently there are people who believe that Jesus was American?
IMO communism isn't the way to go, but the USA is a perfect example that extreme capitalism is also a great danger to health, wealth and happiness.
What also blows my mind is the way that faith, god and Christianity as a whole seems to bee rooted in your way of life. Apparently there are people who believe that Jesus was American?
IMO communism isn't the way to go, but the USA is a perfect example that extreme capitalism is also a great danger to health, wealth and happiness.
64points
#3
The concept of American patriotism is very creepy and cultish. People have been brought up to think that The States is the best country on earth when they treat the average citizen horribly is crazy to me.
56points
#5
Being forced to go back to work, a couple of weeks after giving birth. What the actual F. It’s traumatising to be ripped away from a child that young. Most country have months if not nearly 2 years of maternity.
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55points
#6
The religion is wacky over there. How yall gonna tell me the whole town is crazy religious and WILL harass you over not being religious? We have religious nuts here, but nothing near the scale of what America has. Some of our churches can be corrupt too, but how yall churches running more like cults?????
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51points
#7
I had to ask my American gf this - You ppl really just hand over your credit card in restaurants??? Like the waiter leaves with it???
I would NEVER do that. if you cant bring the terminal to me then im coming to the terminal, you're NOT touching my card! I would get fired and most likely sued if I did this where I work!
I would NEVER do that. if you cant bring the terminal to me then im coming to the terminal, you're NOT touching my card! I would get fired and most likely sued if I did this where I work!
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42points
#8
Went to Sea World (I know, I know) in 2011, we thought they were joking when they asked all members of the Military to stand up so they could be clapped at.
It was the strangest, oddest, cultiest thing I'd ever seen considering we know how predatory their recruitment drives are (ya want an education but you're poor? If ya survive a tour of Afghanistan we might just send you to Community College! ) and how veterans are treated after they leave in general. Real life hunger games!.
Also, kids chewing on turkey legs bigger than their own legs (also in Sea World).
It was the strangest, oddest, cultiest thing I'd ever seen considering we know how predatory their recruitment drives are (ya want an education but you're poor? If ya survive a tour of Afghanistan we might just send you to Community College! ) and how veterans are treated after they leave in general. Real life hunger games!.
Also, kids chewing on turkey legs bigger than their own legs (also in Sea World).
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39points
#9
Your boss being able to fire you for any reason with no recourse on your part.
37points
#10
Pledging allegiance to a flag, Christianity being relevant, no public Healthcare, horrible maternal care, having to pay to see a physician, medical debt, wearing your god darn shoes in the house.
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36points
#11
The horizontal size of the people. I watched super size me and legit thought the guy had sought out XXL people for the show, until I went to miami and saw them in real life.
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33points
#14
Not turning off the lights anywhere in your house at night.
I saw once a movie or a show where the dad was presented as strict for constantly telling the kids to turn off the lights when they leave a room.
Well, I've recently been on a vacation with 2 couple (all of them Americans) and *the lights were never turned off anywhere.
I was literally the only one who turned them off in the hallway when we were all in the living room, or turning them off after finishing in the bathroom.
It drove me nuts.
I saw once a movie or a show where the dad was presented as strict for constantly telling the kids to turn off the lights when they leave a room.
Well, I've recently been on a vacation with 2 couple (all of them Americans) and *the lights were never turned off anywhere.
I was literally the only one who turned them off in the hallway when we were all in the living room, or turning them off after finishing in the bathroom.
It drove me nuts.
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28points
#15
The health care system as a whole. Not being able to pay for basic life saving medication and treatments, medical sales reps, the extreme costs of medical care and the most baffling: that there actually are people (outside of the ones that profit from it) AGAINST health care?
Add in your gun laws it really seems like the US government hates Americans and want them all to die, and it's not just this administration.
Add in your gun laws it really seems like the US government hates Americans and want them all to die, and it's not just this administration.
27points
#16
One of my favourite shows as a teenager was Friday Night Lights. I always thought all the pep rallies, the cheerleaders in uniform and the huge football stadiums were all exaggerated for the sake of the story.
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24points
#17
Advertisements for prescription medication on the TV.
Not sure if it’s still the same as a decade ago, but breastfeeding was not protected in all states - ie. it needed to be done in private and not in a public area.
Not sure if it’s still the same as a decade ago, but breastfeeding was not protected in all states - ie. it needed to be done in private and not in a public area.
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24points
#19
The sink blender thing. Thought it was made up for horror movies when I was a kid, turns out, they do exist.
23points
#20
Steam coming from subway grates. I assumed it was just added to make New York (and Gotham) look more spooky or grimy etc. Turns out it's real when I visited NYC!
We have subways too but none of them vent steam just onto the streets.
We have subways too but none of them vent steam just onto the streets.
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23points