In the current sociopolitical climate, the United States gets a pretty bad rap. Whereas 59% of 29 countries in October 2024 thought the U.S. will have a positive impact on world affairs, only 46% of people in the same countries felt the same way in 2025.
On social media, people like to dunk on the U.S. for simple everyday things as well. Those who live in other countries call out Americans' diets, habits, and opinions on almost a daily basis. Recently, we came across a discussion on Threads where non-Americans were sharing the things they found weird when visiting America.
"Non-Americans who have been to the US: What is the weirdest thing about America that Americans don't realize is weird???", @jenny_nuel1 asked. And, as is almost usual at this point, America got a pretty hilarious lashing in the comments.
#1
I’m Japanese and my observation is
1. Being afraid of guns
2. So many obese people
3. Artificial colors like blue cakes, green drinks
4. Huge drink sizes and food portions
5. Tipping
6. Homeless people everywhere
7. Wearing sports casual clothing like Lululemon everywhere
8. Electing a president with zero human decency
1. Being afraid of guns
2. So many obese people
3. Artificial colors like blue cakes, green drinks
4. Huge drink sizes and food portions
5. Tipping
6. Homeless people everywhere
7. Wearing sports casual clothing like Lululemon everywhere
8. Electing a president with zero human decency
104points
#2
The misreading and illogical allegiance to an 18th Century commitment to the right to bear arms, resulting in countless deaths of innocent children and adults.
101points
#3
That they think the world revolves around them
96points
#4
Abortion bans and shortest parental leave. It's the most inhumane, discriminative, misogynistic thing ever. It's heartbreaking to see a woman who's still bleeding, in pain after episiotomy/C-section, breasts swollen days after labor, crying at her workplace cause she wants to be with her newborn, but still needs to work to pay her bills. And it's inhumane to the newborns to not be able to be with their immediate family, and to be at daycare instead. As a former dc provider it's heartbreaking
96points
#5
Thoughts and prayers apparently being a solution to anything.
92points
#6
The healthcare system prices. It's absurd.
83points
#7
Thinking life is better in the US than anywhere else.
81points
#8
Americans get the most propaganda yet believe they are still free. At least the Chinese know their media is propaganda
76points
#9
The whole worshiping the military ‘thank you for your service’ cult. It’s a career, a job, a way to earn money, and they went into it with their eyes wide open. I personally find it cringeworthy.
73points
#10
My European friends tell me we are SO LOUD which i have witnessed when traveling. Lordy we are loud.
72points
#11
Today I saw a picture of an American family wearing a « Trump is God » shirt. All of them. We all have our stupids in every country but USA beats them all 😎🤷♀️
70points
#12
Being allowed to drive at 16 and married or enlist at 18 but not drink until 21.
Flags everywhere.
Tax not being included in the price tag.
Flags everywhere.
Tax not being included in the price tag.
63points
#13
That walking from one place to another is not normal.
60points
#14
When I first moved here from Canada, I thought the army recruitment commercials on TV were jokes or a form of satire. I was blown away by how much military propaganda there is in the States.
57points
#15
how young and sparsely populated it is as a country. also how un-free it is as a country. you're about 5-10 bad decisions from being outside of the system and bankrupt / homeless with little to no help.
55points
#16
Most of what I notice have been covered, butt I'll add the whole scenery of religious billboards standing next to gun show billboards standing next to adult depot billboards.
53points
#17
The entire condescending attitude towards anything different or not known to them.
The immediate solution to a problem is aggression, compromise, compassion and understanding is seen as weakness
The idea of fairness being evil and unfair (I must get mine and you must suffer)
The immediate solution to a problem is aggression, compromise, compassion and understanding is seen as weakness
The idea of fairness being evil and unfair (I must get mine and you must suffer)
51points
#18
Calling something "World Famous" when NOBODY outside of the US or even perhaps the city it is in, knowing anything about it.
New York is expert at this.
New York is expert at this.
Report
49points
#19
Where I'm from, once you have a seat at a restaurant, you can take all the time in the world to eat, chat, order some dessert and a coffee or tea, chat some more, etc.
In the US, the waiters are lurking around me like sharks, waiting for me to get my last bite so they can throw me the bill, which I am expected to pay right away and leave.
In the US, the waiters are lurking around me like sharks, waiting for me to get my last bite so they can throw me the bill, which I am expected to pay right away and leave.
48points
#20
Sugar. Literally everywhere.
47points