American culture has permeated the rest of the world so deeply that even people who have never set foot in the U.S. are familiar with it. Many people grow up watching American movies, following American influencers, and absorbing many aspects of American culture in the process. However, there are some things about the U.S. that are exaggerated, whether in fictional stories on the screen, comments online, or other forms of media.
Not every high schooler's experience is like that of HBO's hit show Euphoria, but some Americans are really afraid to call an ambulance because of the high medical bills. In fact, 23% of Americans admitted in 2024 that they didn't call 911 during a medical emergency precisely because of that.
Recently, one Redditor asked people all around the globe: "Non-Americans, what is something about the US that you've always wondered if it was real or just myth/hyperbole?" And people got a chance to dispel any misconceptions they have had about the U.S. and what life there is really like.
Bored Panda also got in touch with the Redditor who posted this thread, and they kindly agreed to have a chat with us. Read our conversation below!
#1
For those that are against universal healthcare because they don't want to be paying for other people's treatment, do they really not understand how medical insurance works ?
AllRhythmNoBlues:
Yes. They really do not understand. At all.
ETA: I should clarify that the health care system in the U.S. is purposely convoluted. There are a multitude of reasons for this thought process. Some, for example, may think everyone should simply be responsible for themselves, even though that is impossible in a functioning society. Mostly, it's corporate greed driven. Aside from the money structure which has been discussed in another answer, health insurance is tied to employment. It's seen as something to be earned or deserved for working. If you don't work, you supposedly don't deserve to be healthy? Very broadly speaking, the American perspective is that things should be earned and for some reason, your health is included in that. It's depressing on a whole new level because it's self-inflicted.
AllRhythmNoBlues:
Yes. They really do not understand. At all.
ETA: I should clarify that the health care system in the U.S. is purposely convoluted. There are a multitude of reasons for this thought process. Some, for example, may think everyone should simply be responsible for themselves, even though that is impossible in a functioning society. Mostly, it's corporate greed driven. Aside from the money structure which has been discussed in another answer, health insurance is tied to employment. It's seen as something to be earned or deserved for working. If you don't work, you supposedly don't deserve to be healthy? Very broadly speaking, the American perspective is that things should be earned and for some reason, your health is included in that. It's depressing on a whole new level because it's self-inflicted.
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1point
#2
Is it true that prices of goods in shops is displayed without the tax and you have to work that bit out yourself? Surely not.
ItsNotKenough:
The sales tax also varies from state to state and can even vary from counties and cities within each individual state. Typically people don’t take the time to calculate the sales tax and just know it’ll be more than the price tag.
ItsNotKenough:
The sales tax also varies from state to state and can even vary from counties and cities within each individual state. Typically people don’t take the time to calculate the sales tax and just know it’ll be more than the price tag.
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1point
#3
Are house numbers really as big as they are in movies. Every house is like 51234 something or other street. It's a rare road here in Oz that cracks more than 200.
Flame_MadeByHumans:
The beginning number of a house in the US usually relates to the cross street.
So all the houses between 42nd and 43rd street will be 4210, 4220, etc. It’s typically a codified system instead of houses 1-20 specific to a single street.
Flame_MadeByHumans:
The beginning number of a house in the US usually relates to the cross street.
So all the houses between 42nd and 43rd street will be 4210, 4220, etc. It’s typically a codified system instead of houses 1-20 specific to a single street.
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1point
#4
Is it true that millions of sedentary obese American citizens drive huge pickup trucks and hate cyclists & vegans?
AllieLoft:
If the other comments haven't answered your question- yes. All of those things: pickups, cycling, veganism, are tied to identity and politics at least loosely in this insane current political climate we have. At this point, a lot of us are programmed to make assumptions about people based on their car, eating habits, etc.
Basically, we're drowning in propaganda over here.
AllieLoft:
If the other comments haven't answered your question- yes. All of those things: pickups, cycling, veganism, are tied to identity and politics at least loosely in this insane current political climate we have. At this point, a lot of us are programmed to make assumptions about people based on their car, eating habits, etc.
Basically, we're drowning in propaganda over here.
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1point
#5
Do you just hang up the phone without saying goodbye, like in tv shows and the movies?
keirmeister:
No. That’s weird to us as well. I’m not sure where that concept in movies came from.
keirmeister:
No. That’s weird to us as well. I’m not sure where that concept in movies came from.
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1point
#6
Are there really beer kegs in big parties? Where do you even buy kegs?
GeorgeCabana:
Yes. Many liquor stores offer kegs (you have to return the empty keg and taps).
GeorgeCabana:
Yes. Many liquor stores offer kegs (you have to return the empty keg and taps).
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1point
#7
Do you really throw garbage down the sink? Doesn't it get clogged?
Kent_Knifen:
Some sinks are equipped with a garbage disposal. Think of it like a blender hidden just past the drain. It will chop up food particles small enough where they can go down the plumbing.
You would NOT use this for all garbage, just discarded food.
Kent_Knifen:
Some sinks are equipped with a garbage disposal. Think of it like a blender hidden just past the drain. It will chop up food particles small enough where they can go down the plumbing.
You would NOT use this for all garbage, just discarded food.
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1point
#8
Do schools really have their own police/security?
CuriousCuriousAlice:
Yes, the bigger ones. In my city you will see them in their own police cars that say ‘[school name] campus police’ on the side. Honestly, most of their time is spent dealing with traffic before and after school.
CuriousCuriousAlice:
Yes, the bigger ones. In my city you will see them in their own police cars that say ‘[school name] campus police’ on the side. Honestly, most of their time is spent dealing with traffic before and after school.
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1point
#9
One of our exchange students was floored when she found out that the yellow school buses are real.
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1point
#10
Does your front door actually lead directly to the living room? that's so wild to me. Like if I'm lounging on the sofa and my room mate comes home with maybe even another guest in tow, they'd be entering right into the living room and the door is opened to the outside?
Ironhold:
Depends on region, age of house, design of house, and lots of other things. Most of my apartments had some kind of entryway, at least. A few of my friends' houses front door was straight to the living room/front room and the back door was straight to the kitchen.
Ironhold:
Depends on region, age of house, design of house, and lots of other things. Most of my apartments had some kind of entryway, at least. A few of my friends' houses front door was straight to the living room/front room and the back door was straight to the kitchen.
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1point
#11
Shark Week.
Is it really just about sharks?
vixiecat:
Sure is! It’s great! All day and night, nothing on that channel but programs about sharks.
Is it really just about sharks?
vixiecat:
Sure is! It’s great! All day and night, nothing on that channel but programs about sharks.
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1point
#12
In The Sopranos, Tony quotes another character saying "Nowhere else in the world [do] people expect to be happy except here in this country and still we're not."
Do most Americans actually have that expectation?
jimb575:
As an American, I can unequivocally say that this is 100% true. I never understood this drive that people have here that they need to be happy. Not content, but happy. We’re taught that if you’re not happy then there is something wrong. In my view, this causes all types of issues - hyper-materialism, self doubt, false competition, etc…
And the worst part is that the people that expect to be happy usually expect someone else to make them happy…
Do most Americans actually have that expectation?
jimb575:
As an American, I can unequivocally say that this is 100% true. I never understood this drive that people have here that they need to be happy. Not content, but happy. We’re taught that if you’re not happy then there is something wrong. In my view, this causes all types of issues - hyper-materialism, self doubt, false competition, etc…
And the worst part is that the people that expect to be happy usually expect someone else to make them happy…
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1point
#13
From watching (admittedly too much) reality shows - how common is lip-fillers/Botox in people in their 20s/30s?
FluffyOwl30:
In every day people? Probably not high. In people who make money off their appearance? Probably high.
FluffyOwl30:
In every day people? Probably not high. In people who make money off their appearance? Probably high.
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#14
That you have to "earn" your sick days at work.
ATLDeepCreeker:
Not earn, "accrue".
When you start a job that pays by the hour, you accrue a certain percentage of PAID sick time per week. The same holds true for vacation time.
You can also take unpaid sick time. Some companies are flexible also, allowing you to use un-accrued sick time, before you actually earn it.
If you are on salary, its a bit different. All of my sick and vacation time is available to me on January 1st.
ATLDeepCreeker:
Not earn, "accrue".
When you start a job that pays by the hour, you accrue a certain percentage of PAID sick time per week. The same holds true for vacation time.
You can also take unpaid sick time. Some companies are flexible also, allowing you to use un-accrued sick time, before you actually earn it.
If you are on salary, its a bit different. All of my sick and vacation time is available to me on January 1st.
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1point
#15
The pledge of alliance, is that something that is children actually have to say daily?
Elegant_Bluebird_460:
Yes, in public schools and many private schools. I can't think of a time in my adult life I have ever said it. However, kids cannot be forced to say it according to the Supreme Court.
Elegant_Bluebird_460:
Yes, in public schools and many private schools. I can't think of a time in my adult life I have ever said it. However, kids cannot be forced to say it according to the Supreme Court.
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1point
#16
Do school kids really sell wrapping paper and cookies to make money?
budgie02:
Sometimes, school fundraisers are common. At least when I was in school we got a magazine of home items like candles, blankets and such and would have to canvas the neighborhood and our family to sell it. The kid who sold the most would win an Xbox, or something like that.
budgie02:
Sometimes, school fundraisers are common. At least when I was in school we got a magazine of home items like candles, blankets and such and would have to canvas the neighborhood and our family to sell it. The kid who sold the most would win an Xbox, or something like that.
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1point
#17
Haven't really thought about it "always", but become wondering some time ago if americans really can't go anywhere without car. Do they really can't come outside their homes and go by legs with friends to nearest park or some shopping mall to just chill there? Are they really imprisoned in their suburbs untill some parent drive them on their hammer 100 km to the nearest "fun place" or untill the same parents buy them a car?
LakeExtreme7444:
The more rural you are, the more dependent on a car you’ll be. Where I live, the closest gas station and grocery store are about 10-15 minutes away and I live 30 minutes from my work (this is all by car). We don’t have public transportation where I live, so if I didn’t have a car, I wouldn’t be able to work or buy things without a full day’s walk, at the very least.
Timtronic125:
My local park is about 1.4 miles away. That's 4 minutes by car, 35 minutes to walk.
I work in the next city over. 26 miles by interstate @ approximately 40 minutes commute time. Walking to work would take 9 hours. America is huge and really spread out. And I live in the suburbs. Couldn't imagine living in the Midwest.
LakeExtreme7444:
The more rural you are, the more dependent on a car you’ll be. Where I live, the closest gas station and grocery store are about 10-15 minutes away and I live 30 minutes from my work (this is all by car). We don’t have public transportation where I live, so if I didn’t have a car, I wouldn’t be able to work or buy things without a full day’s walk, at the very least.
Timtronic125:
My local park is about 1.4 miles away. That's 4 minutes by car, 35 minutes to walk.
I work in the next city over. 26 miles by interstate @ approximately 40 minutes commute time. Walking to work would take 9 hours. America is huge and really spread out. And I live in the suburbs. Couldn't imagine living in the Midwest.
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#18
I've always wondered if people really do have endless refills at restaurants or if it's just a thing in movies.
DonovanSarovir:
Yeah that's real, but generally only applies to fountain drinks like soda and cheap lemonade (NOT SPRITE), as well as black coffee. You'll pay once and they keep you topped up, or sometimes you can refill it yourself. Expensive drinks like cocktails and stuff are one-offs like other places though.
Soda is just so cheap because of corn subsidies that each glass costs them like five to ten cents.
DonovanSarovir:
Yeah that's real, but generally only applies to fountain drinks like soda and cheap lemonade (NOT SPRITE), as well as black coffee. You'll pay once and they keep you topped up, or sometimes you can refill it yourself. Expensive drinks like cocktails and stuff are one-offs like other places though.
Soda is just so cheap because of corn subsidies that each glass costs them like five to ten cents.
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#19
I often wondered if people really go to places in their pajamas sometimes. Ive lived in the US now for a long time and I know that that answer is "sometimes yes in certain places".
I also heard that highschoolers sometimes would go to their classes in PJs, I dont know if this is true or not (or for college classes for that matter).
AngryKitty57:
I see people at the gas station and Walmart in Pajama pants very very often.
I also heard that highschoolers sometimes would go to their classes in PJs, I dont know if this is true or not (or for college classes for that matter).
AngryKitty57:
I see people at the gas station and Walmart in Pajama pants very very often.
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#20
I was surprised that people wear shoes indoors in the US. I thought it was only a movie set thing.
LetsGoGators23:
It is very climate dependent I find. I grew up in snowy, muddy upstate NY and you absolutely took your shoes or boots off. The last 21 years in Florida, not nearly as necessary and you are in/out a lot more that makes it more impracticable to take them off. Not impossible, my Indian and Asian neighbors absolutely always take shoes off. It’s also heavily tiled indoors and it’s really hard on the feet/back to not have shoes on.
LetsGoGators23:
It is very climate dependent I find. I grew up in snowy, muddy upstate NY and you absolutely took your shoes or boots off. The last 21 years in Florida, not nearly as necessary and you are in/out a lot more that makes it more impracticable to take them off. Not impossible, my Indian and Asian neighbors absolutely always take shoes off. It’s also heavily tiled indoors and it’s really hard on the feet/back to not have shoes on.
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