From a fried chicken sandwich using chicken instead of bread, to free refills and no sidewalks, America really likes to do things differently. However, if you’ve never left the US of A, you might think that this is by and large just how things are. So it can be helpful to get an outsider’s perspective, one way or the other.
People online share the things Americans think are pretty normal but would be absolutely weird elsewhere and we’ve gathered the best examples. So get comfy as you scroll through, upvote your favorites and be sure to add your own thoughts and stories in the comments below.
#1
Donate money to the political career of billionaires.
"pLeaSe dOnAte tO mY reElEctIoN"
You're worth $2.5B and I'm trying to save $0.30 on groceries, donate to it yourself, fu**face.
"pLeaSe dOnAte tO mY reElEctIoN"
You're worth $2.5B and I'm trying to save $0.30 on groceries, donate to it yourself, fu**face.
115points
#2
I always find the sentence "the likelihood to die in a school shooting is ridiculously low" very irritating.
It shouldn't be low. It should be nonexistent.
It shouldn't be low. It should be nonexistent.
Report
115points
#3
Simultaneously being extremly prudish and sexualized.
JohnCavil:
Americans are the only ones ive ever seen who will sexualize so many things and kind of be obsessed with s*x while also being freaked out when they see a naked body, like at the beach or something.
Like they wont sit in a sauna naked, completely non sexualized, but they will just openly sexualize everyday things.
The shortest shorts and smallest bikinis i've ever seen was in America. Like buttcheeks hanging out at the mall. But show a nipple and they freak out. It's so strange.
JohnCavil:
Americans are the only ones ive ever seen who will sexualize so many things and kind of be obsessed with s*x while also being freaked out when they see a naked body, like at the beach or something.
Like they wont sit in a sauna naked, completely non sexualized, but they will just openly sexualize everyday things.
The shortest shorts and smallest bikinis i've ever seen was in America. Like buttcheeks hanging out at the mall. But show a nipple and they freak out. It's so strange.
Report
81points
#4
Go bankrupt paying medical bills.
F*****g insanity.
joomla00:
Very nervous and unwilling to go to the hospital.
HairWhipCEO:
From an American: "Because when we go to the ER, we wait four hours to be seen…for someone to treat us like drug-seekers…and then get charged thousands of dollars for it.
F*****g insanity.
joomla00:
Very nervous and unwilling to go to the hospital.
HairWhipCEO:
From an American: "Because when we go to the ER, we wait four hours to be seen…for someone to treat us like drug-seekers…and then get charged thousands of dollars for it.
Report
69points
#6
The evocation of God in politics always seems bizarre to me, especially when the separation of church and state is enshrined in the constitution.
I’ll hear a US politician talking about the economy or some such serious thing, and then suddenly they’re talking about what God wants them to do.
I’ll hear a US politician talking about the economy or some such serious thing, and then suddenly they’re talking about what God wants them to do.
Report
64points
#7
Thanking cops and soldiers for their service.
bentnotbroken96:
Frankly, it makes me uncomfortable. I am a veteran. I won't wear a pin or a hat that says I'm a veteran. My wife is much more proud of my service than I am. It was a job. It's done now.
bentnotbroken96:
Frankly, it makes me uncomfortable. I am a veteran. I won't wear a pin or a hat that says I'm a veteran. My wife is much more proud of my service than I am. It was a job. It's done now.
Report
63points
#8
Guns. The culture around them. The stubbornness. The ease of availability. The huge number of mass shootings yet no one cares to change anything.
Report
63points
#10
Taxes being added at the checkout.
I understand the logic behind why that happens, but at the same time it seems to be the sort of thing that could be fixed quite easily if the powers that be wanted it to be fixed.
I understand the logic behind why that happens, but at the same time it seems to be the sort of thing that could be fixed quite easily if the powers that be wanted it to be fixed.
Report
53points
#11
Getting served plastic plates in a cafeteria.
She asked for porcelain plates and was looked at like she was crazy.
I have never seen any place serve one use plastic dishes in Germany.
When she explained that we use dishwashers to clean the used dishes in cafeterias the clerk was like, "huh, that doesn't sound like a bad idea".
In general, the amount of plastics used in the USA is just so crazy to me.
She asked for porcelain plates and was looked at like she was crazy.
I have never seen any place serve one use plastic dishes in Germany.
When she explained that we use dishwashers to clean the used dishes in cafeterias the clerk was like, "huh, that doesn't sound like a bad idea".
In general, the amount of plastics used in the USA is just so crazy to me.
52points
#12
Circumcision.
Nyarro:
This country in general is too f**king obsessed about what's going between people's legs.
Nyarro:
This country in general is too f**king obsessed about what's going between people's legs.
50points
#13
I don't think they still do it but the pledging allegiance to the flag by school kids.
Big time north Korea vibes.
Big time north Korea vibes.
Report
50points
#15
Caring about school sports. In Europe nobody cares about some high school basket players.
Report
49points
#16
Commercial for a minor medical condition like Athlete’s Foot.
*Footage of a happy family enjoying the great outdoors while the overweight Dad smiles because his feet are fungus-free*
Voiceover: Side effects may include:
- Chronic n*b rot
- Impotence
- A**l cancer
- Testicular cancer
- Testicular warts
- Pancreatic cancer
- Heart palpitations
- Athlete’s foot
- Complete collapse of the Central Nervous System
- Rapid weight gain
- Depression
- Psychotic episodes
- Hair loss
- Rapid a**l hair gain
- Your n*b will probably fall off
- No one will like you
- Explosive diarrhoea in public spaces
- Instant death
- Inability to pass to the other side after death, so you may be doomed to roam the Earth as a lost soul for infinity.
Talk to your family Doctor about Footoxicil today!
-.
*Footage of a happy family enjoying the great outdoors while the overweight Dad smiles because his feet are fungus-free*
Voiceover: Side effects may include:
- Chronic n*b rot
- Impotence
- A**l cancer
- Testicular cancer
- Testicular warts
- Pancreatic cancer
- Heart palpitations
- Athlete’s foot
- Complete collapse of the Central Nervous System
- Rapid weight gain
- Depression
- Psychotic episodes
- Hair loss
- Rapid a**l hair gain
- Your n*b will probably fall off
- No one will like you
- Explosive diarrhoea in public spaces
- Instant death
- Inability to pass to the other side after death, so you may be doomed to roam the Earth as a lost soul for infinity.
Talk to your family Doctor about Footoxicil today!
-.
Report
44points
#17
Forcing you to use vacation days when you're ill. Some countries make employers change paid vacation days to paid sick days when you're ill on vacation.
Report
44points
#19
Make their government a reality tv show.
BunchesOfCrunches:
[American] elections are just political Super Bowls.
BunchesOfCrunches:
[American] elections are just political Super Bowls.
Report
42points
#20
Advertisements for pharmaceutical drugs.
oceanduciel replied:
It’s weird. Those corporations are so desperate for money they’re willing to sell any meds even if people don’t actually need them. Leave that s**t to doctors.
oceanduciel replied:
It’s weird. Those corporations are so desperate for money they’re willing to sell any meds even if people don’t actually need them. Leave that s**t to doctors.
Report
41points