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!
#21
Grew up on American movies thinking prom was this glitter-bombed fairy tale with slow-mo entrances and no awkward dad dances—turns out my US cousin's was just sweatpants and pizza in a gym, but hey, the myth kept my teen dreams alive longer than reality ever could.
rancidmilkmonkey:
Prom really is like that (without the slo-motion part) depending on where you live. Every school does their prom differently. I went to a public high school school with a disproportionate amount of wealthy kids in Tampa. We usually had our proms in a nice hotel or large restaurant with everyone in full tuxedos and expensive dresses. It's not uncommon for a groups of kids to arrive in a limo. It was like that when my wife and I went there, our parents went there, and when my oldest son went there 7 years ago. I was a poor kid in a rich kids school, but anyone from Tampa can tell you the name of that school without me having to. Honestly though, most of the other local high schools have their proms hosted somewhere outside the school as well. Tuxes and custom dresses are common, limos not so much.
rancidmilkmonkey:
Prom really is like that (without the slo-motion part) depending on where you live. Every school does their prom differently. I went to a public high school school with a disproportionate amount of wealthy kids in Tampa. We usually had our proms in a nice hotel or large restaurant with everyone in full tuxedos and expensive dresses. It's not uncommon for a groups of kids to arrive in a limo. It was like that when my wife and I went there, our parents went there, and when my oldest son went there 7 years ago. I was a poor kid in a rich kids school, but anyone from Tampa can tell you the name of that school without me having to. Honestly though, most of the other local high schools have their proms hosted somewhere outside the school as well. Tuxes and custom dresses are common, limos not so much.
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1point
#22
Columbus Day is that a thing you guys still celebrate?
km89:
"Celebrate" is a strong word.
Schools, banks, and some workplaces are closed for the day, but there's no particular celebration attached to it. The vast majority of the country treats it as somewhere between "business as usual" and "a random day off." Nobody's booking a reservation for Columbus Day dinner.
km89:
"Celebrate" is a strong word.
Schools, banks, and some workplaces are closed for the day, but there's no particular celebration attached to it. The vast majority of the country treats it as somewhere between "business as usual" and "a random day off." Nobody's booking a reservation for Columbus Day dinner.
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1point
#23
How you guys are able to punch a hole through a wall. Where I’m from, all our homes are brick and concrete so if you punched a wall you’d be pretty screwed for life.
arrius01:
Most residential walls in the US are sheetrock which is fairly easy to punch through between the studs which are generally 16 in apart.
Before sheetrock, many walls were strips of wood covered in plaster. I think hitting one of those would not have gone well for the person.
There are lots of homes here with brick as well, but that is not as common, particularly portions of the country that aren't constructed pre-turn of the century
arrius01:
Most residential walls in the US are sheetrock which is fairly easy to punch through between the studs which are generally 16 in apart.
Before sheetrock, many walls were strips of wood covered in plaster. I think hitting one of those would not have gone well for the person.
There are lots of homes here with brick as well, but that is not as common, particularly portions of the country that aren't constructed pre-turn of the century
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1point
#24
Do y'all really drink soda a lot? Or is it just when special occasions or travelling or things?
Character-Lack-9653:
IME people either drink lots of soda or very little soda and nothing in between.
Personally I never drink soda, I think it's sickeningly sweet. Most people in my social circle don't drink much soda either. OTOH I have a few (very overweight) coworkers who continuously drink soda all day.
Character-Lack-9653:
IME people either drink lots of soda or very little soda and nothing in between.
Personally I never drink soda, I think it's sickeningly sweet. Most people in my social circle don't drink much soda either. OTOH I have a few (very overweight) coworkers who continuously drink soda all day.
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1point
#25
Do you guys really get mad when people speak other languages?
RandomGen-Xer:
Most don't. When they get mad is when you and your friend obviously look them up and down, then turn to each other and speak in another language, laughing about them.
RandomGen-Xer:
Most don't. When they get mad is when you and your friend obviously look them up and down, then turn to each other and speak in another language, laughing about them.
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#26
Is it actually true you're scared to call the ambulance or go to the hospital?
Lily_Lupin:
Called the ambulance in college once. Got a bill equal to several months’ rent afterwards. Haven’t called one since - uber or friends it is.
Lily_Lupin:
Called the ambulance in college once. Got a bill equal to several months’ rent afterwards. Haven’t called one since - uber or friends it is.
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0points
#27
Do your police systems/databases not talk to each other? Like you always hear “they crossed state lines we lost them” whereas in australia everyone is in the one database. You do something in one state? You’ll show up in the next.
protomanEXE1995:
We are remarkably divided among states and localities. The cultural demand for various levels of local sovereignty means that centralized control is heavily discouraged and rather uncommon.
protomanEXE1995:
We are remarkably divided among states and localities. The cultural demand for various levels of local sovereignty means that centralized control is heavily discouraged and rather uncommon.
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#28
Can you really pull yourself up by your bootstraps all on your own and achieve the American dream?
Amenmeit:
Unless you get extremely lucky or severely neglect your health, not anymore. Round about the mid to late nineties that fizzled out.
Amenmeit:
Unless you get extremely lucky or severely neglect your health, not anymore. Round about the mid to late nineties that fizzled out.
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0points
#29
How common are basements and attics in houses?
Is it exclusive for middle and upper middle class and above or most houses have them?
atomiku121:
Depends on the area you're in. In my area (Midwest) both are quite common for a couple reasons.
Attics are common because we can get a LOT of snow, so sloped roofs are needed to handle the load. Depending on the slope, the space may not be usable for much outside of storage, hence the attic. My home has an attic that was large enough to convert into a large master bedroom.
Basements are common here because the soil has a lot of clay and is generally soft enough to dig through without too much issue, and having a portion of your home below grade is very nice to have in the event a tornado comes through.
Is it exclusive for middle and upper middle class and above or most houses have them?
atomiku121:
Depends on the area you're in. In my area (Midwest) both are quite common for a couple reasons.
Attics are common because we can get a LOT of snow, so sloped roofs are needed to handle the load. Depending on the slope, the space may not be usable for much outside of storage, hence the attic. My home has an attic that was large enough to convert into a large master bedroom.
Basements are common here because the soil has a lot of clay and is generally soft enough to dig through without too much issue, and having a portion of your home below grade is very nice to have in the event a tornado comes through.
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#30
Is it true Americans have no job security and your boss can just fire you for no reason, like Trump in the Apprentice?
tstackspaper:
Yes this is true. It’s called “at-will employment”
It is illegal for an employer to terminate an employee for reasons that violate federal or state laws, however you’d be burdened proving this in a court of law so typically people just move on instead of waisting time trying to sue over it.
tstackspaper:
Yes this is true. It’s called “at-will employment”
It is illegal for an employer to terminate an employee for reasons that violate federal or state laws, however you’d be burdened proving this in a court of law so typically people just move on instead of waisting time trying to sue over it.
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#31
I had someone ask me if I live in a dorm "like in the movies." (Yes).
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-1point