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INSANE: American habbits confusing brits - The Real Truth
America’s influence around the world remains undeniable, whether through films, music, or consumer brands. However, many facets of its culture may seem confusing to those outside the United States.
This was a recent topic of discussion in a Threads post where someone asked about American habits and customs that British people might find weird. Some were baffled by the healthcare-related bankruptcies, while others questioned the obsession with weapons and the military.
For other non-Americans with similar sentiments, feel free to voice them in the comments below.
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#2
Expecting customers to subsidise staff wages in restaurants.
#3
Electing a clearly crooked and insane president, twice.
Skywitness 14 hours ago
I lived in Germany for 3 years and wondered how the German people could have ever followed Hitler. I have a much better idea now.
#4
Throwing a tantrum to get a perfectly correct red card overturned.
Jane Doe-Doe 15 hours ago
Temper tantrum trump throws a hissy fit about a game he knows nothing about
#5
Obsession with the military.
#6
100% belief in American Exceptionalism.
persephone134 14 hours ago
That's because it's spoonfed into them from an early age onwards. Schools, the media, politics, ... they are all harping on the same theme.
#8
Obsession with religion.
Multa Nocte (she/her/86 47) 14 hours ago
Obsession with pushing one's own religion onto others.
#9
The price on the item you are buying, isn't the final price.
#12
Pledging allegiance to the flag at every opportunity and singing the national anthem at seemingly every group gathering
#13
Voting a reality TV host in as president.
#16
Excessive Nationalistic propaganda easily on a par with North Korea: ‘We are the GREATEST in the world at absolutely everything’
Jane Doe-Doe 15 hours ago
I watched a YouTube video earlier with someone reading ‘ s**t Americans say ‘ and a lot were about how America was the greatest country in the world and EVERYONE wants to move there 😂😂😂
#17
Chemical food.
Jane Doe-Doe 15 hours ago
Yes, their bread would be classed as cake in a lot of other countries
#18
Obsession with flags.
#19
Instead of protecting kids in school, y’all just have drills.
For kids.
Like, little kids.
“Well, it’s going to happen, so sit under a desk. Cool, we get our funding now.“
WTH?
Jane Doe-Doe 15 hours ago
I still can’t wrap my head around that, little children having ‘ school shooter’ drills
#21
Underpaying waiting staff and mandatory tipping to give them a liveable wage.
StrangeOne 10 hours ago
That's just part of the American capitalism. Everyone is trying to take, take, take as much as they can, even if it means leaving others with little or nothing.
#23
World series... "World"...
Uncle Schmickle 5 hours ago
I finally discovered the history behind this. Many years ago, a newspaper called " The World " sponsored a sporting series ..... hence the name stuck. Please correct me if this is wrong.
#24
The concept of other countries having a different currency is completely alien to them.
#25
Being afraid to go to the doctor because it might bankrupt you.
Verfin22 1 hour ago
Just because we pay into coverage doesn't mean the company okays the treatment. They can deny payment if they think it's unnecessary, even if a doctor says it's needed. They make you jump through lots of steps until they deem they'll pay when you spent a certain amount of money for bogus stuff that wasn't helpful.
#26
Being sure America is the greatest country in the world when you’ve never been abroad.
Rose the Cook 7 hours ago
My father was like this about Australia but he had never left the state he was born in.
#27
Bread that tastes sweet and cheese that has a weird plastic consistency 😝
Tabitha 6 hours ago (edited)
Folks, you also can choose products that are neither. You can buy real cheese that tastes like it’s supposed to, and bread that is just like yours at home. All versions are available to you, so your argument holds no weight—-which is another point. Not all Americans are overweight. Most aren’t, in fact. It’s just that, when you compare the numbers that the percentage represents—-and the percentage is not all that different than the percentages in other developed countries—-the fact that we have such a huge population makes the numbers look scary big to people from way smaller countries (the entire populations of which may be smaller than just the percentage of Americans with weight issues). It does NOT mean the percentage in America is any different than the percentages elsewhere. Don’t confuse percentages and the actual numbers they represent, when talking about countries with WAY different population totals.
#28
Politicians 'hearing messages from God.'
Skywitness 14 hours ago
If you talk to God that's called prayer. If God talks to you, that's schizophrenia.
#29
No women's rights;
No workers' rights.
sweetpea 14 hours ago
During a tour of a Ford factor discussing the impact of his tariffs, a worker yelled at him about hiding the epstein files, as a worker and human he is aloud to do this. here is Trump, the President of the United States responding and afterwards tried to have him fired. (As Trump walked along a factory catwalk, 40-year-old worker TJ Sabula shouted criticism at the president, reportedly calling him a "pedophile protector" in reference to the Jeffrey Epstein case files) *In cell phone footage, Trump can be seen pointing, mouthing "f--- you" twice, and raising his middle finger*
#30
At the moment, nothing is normal in the US
#31
The idea that everyone wants to live in the US/be American.
Skywitness 14 hours ago
With current conditions, many of us living here don't want to be here.
#32
"Tell your doctor you demand THIS medicine!" adverts on TV
persephone134 14 hours ago
If you listen to local American radio stations, you will be bombarded with ads for medicine / local pharmacies, but also lawyers and car dealers. Those seem to be in high demand.
#33
Saying thank you for your service to random military people and those military people expecting preferential treatment on planes etc.
#35
Working late and not taking holidays.
StrangeOne 9 hours ago
Those are one thing. It's those who think of it as a flex to work that much extra who are on a whole other level.
#37
Pharmaceutical adverts on TV.
Skywitness 14 hours ago
How else will you know what new, likely ineffective, prescription will bankrupt you?
#38
The incredibly long paying process which involves the bank card being taken away, a pen, and calculations.
StrangeOne 9 hours ago
No one will be grabbing my bank card and taking it away. If a bank finds out you allowed someone to take your card when you report a fraudulent charge, they may deem you complicate and may not help you get your money back.
#39
Insurance culture, expensive healthcare provision, lack of annual leave or maternity leave.
#40
Poor public transport.
Tabitha 5 hours ago (edited)
Again, you need to take into account the SIZE and distances between cities in the US. Yes, in the tri-state area around New York City, with so many people commuting to jobs on that tiny island, you HAVE to have decent public transportation. However, they also drive their personal cars to the train station. If they don’t live in the city, they need their cars. Granted, traffic jams and exhaust aren’t a sustainable alternative. But right now, it’s all we have. Come up with a feasible solution, or invent a cleaner alternative, and the majority will use it, believe me, and we’ll work on bringing the knuckledraggers into the 21st Century as well.
#41
Being asked for ID to buy cigarettes,when you're in your 60s.
StrangeOne 9 hours ago
This is many places that have age limit laws to obtain controlled, adult only products, like liquor, tobacco products, vape products, lottery and cannabis. It's just the clerks doing their job. Some people look old for their age. Some look young for their age.
#42
The 'American Dream'.
#43
Drive in everything.
Also fake cheese with everything.
And also the friendliness of the people. Can be a bit overwhelming to us cold Northern Europeans
Nathaniel He/Him Cis-Het 14 hours ago
The only thing liberal about the US is their definition of cheese.
#44
Things being inaccessible on foot.
#46
Waiters who keep pestering you.
StrangeOne 9 hours ago
Doing check ins every minute is too much. Once during the meal is just fine. Being ignored is worse.
#49
Drive-though everything, including banks.
#50
The high water level in the toilets.
Skywitness 14 hours ago
TBF I never did get used to the "continental shelf" when I lived in Germany.
#52
The huge portion sizes in restaurants with the intention of taking leftovers home.
StrangeOne 9 hours ago
I'm sure the prices wouldn't be so extra if the portions were more reasonable.
#53
Service staff (even in fast food restaurants) calling you sir or ma'am. It's weird.
#56
Calling everything a sandwich.
#57
Using paper plates.
Loosey Goosey 3 hours ago
Putting the knife down after cutting up food and eating with only a fork in your hand.
#58
Crushed ice.
#59
Ranch dressing.
Jupiter Davis 2 hours ago
and yet people crave them after coming here for the world cup and taking them back to europe and the uk
What do you think ?
Mari 14 hours ago
I am sorry American friends but your clownesk president made the whole nation unpopular in the rest of the world.
Liana Bullock 2 hours ago
My last salary was $8750, ecom only worked 12 hours a week. My longtime neighbor yr estimated $15,000 and works about 20 hours for seven days. I can't believe how blunt he was when I looked up his information, This is what I do..... 𝐉𝐨𝐛𝐀𝐭𝐇𝐨𝐦𝐞𝟏.𝐂𝐨𝐦
Load More Replies... Mari 14 hours ago
I am sorry American friends but your clownesk president made the whole nation unpopular in the rest of the world.
Liana Bullock 2 hours ago
My last salary was $8750, ecom only worked 12 hours a week. My longtime neighbor yr estimated $15,000 and works about 20 hours for seven days. I can't believe how blunt he was when I looked up his information, This is what I do..... 𝐉𝐨𝐛𝐀𝐭𝐇𝐨𝐦𝐞𝟏.𝐂𝐨𝐦
Load More Replies... 
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