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“Talking In The Lift”: 47 Offensive Things Americans Do In Other Countries Without Even Realizing It
As an American, you might think nothing of blowing your nose in public, striking up a conversation with strangers in the lift, or asking someone you just met what they do for a living. But try this in certain other parts of the world, and don't be surprised if you get a few looks of disgust.
It often doesn't occur to many of us that what we deem completely normal may be seen as terribly rude and offensive to others. This is especially true while traveling to a different country or visiting/speaking to someone of a different culture. In Japan, China, or South Korea, for example, tipping a server is considered highly inappropriate. While in some parts of Asia, Africa, and the Middle East, eye contact is seen as disrespectful, aggressive, and confrontational.
Someone once asked, "What are some common American customs that are seen as offensive in other countries?" and the answers read like a Lonely Planet Guide to Global Etiquette. So whether you're planning a trip abroad, feel like globe-trotting from the comfort of your own couch, or are just curious about social norms and customs around the world, keep scrolling. Bored Panda has put together a list of our favorite tips to keep you in the good books when interacting with people outside of your comfort zone.
This post may include affiliate links.
#1
TALKING LOUDLY ON PUBLIC TRANSPORT. Sincerely England.
StrangeOne 13 hours ago
I guess it depends on the region in England, because in Manchester the locals talk a lot on the bus, and some loudly.
Charles McChristy 12 hours ago
That is definitely not the majority. Sure, you may have some loony on the bus, but that's why you always bring headphones.
Asking someone you've just met what they do for a living might seem like harmless small talk. But that largely depends on where in the world you find yourself or who you're asking. For example, in France, you may be met with blank stares, or worse yet, anger.
“They will be offended, believing you’re trying to put them into a box,” explains Julie Barlow, a French-Canadian author. “And they just don’t think it’s interesting to work for a living. There are other things they’d much rather talk about.”
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#2
As an Englishman i'd have to say your weird bathrooms. Surely the cubicle is designed with privacy in mind? Nope lets stick a big old gap around that door. I feel uncomfortable with someone in the next cubicle let alone making eye contact with passers by.
StrangeOne 13 hours ago
I take a long strip of toilet paper, ball up one end and stick it in the gaps, so it's hanging like a party streamer, just to keep prying eyes out of my bathroom business.
Dragons Exist 8 hours ago
It's because it's cheaper & so janitors can check for homeless people
#3
Complaining about poor service at restaurants and asking to call the manager. You guys do it like its nothing. At my place, if you're gonna complain, it better be something big.
Sam Trudeau 11 hours ago
The thing missed here is that just because people do it doesn't mean they don't get ridiculed for doing it
R Dennis 12 hours ago (edited)
I was in restaurants and the food industry starting when I was 15. How I deal with poor service is reflected in the tip - Excellent service: 25-100%, average service: 15-20%, poor service: 10%, awful service: a few pennies (I don't want them to think I didn't tip and they can figure out why). If it was something else, I close out my bill, tip accordingly (server shouldn't be poorly tipped for something they weren't responsible for), and talk to the manager. By paying the bill first, they know I'm not looking for something free and maybe take it more seriously.
Barlow, who co-wrote the book, The Bonjour Effect: The Secret Codes of French Conversation Revealed, adds that French people believe conversations are for exchanging points of view, not finding things in common.
The French, according to Barlow, are more likely to kick off a conversation with something along the lines of “Which part of the country are you from?” or another question about geography or the food in a person’s hometown or region.
#4
Handing me the bill at a restaurant before I've asked for it.
This happened to me a lot in America. I eventually asked some friends I made what it was all about. In Europe handing someone the bill means you want them to get out. In America if they don't hand you the bill they worry you think they've forgotten you.
I could never get used to it!
Fat Harry (Oi / You) 17 hours ago
I think this is part of a bigger cultural thing. In Europe you eat, chat, relax, take your time, maybe order another bottle of wine or some coffees, then ask for the bill. In the US they want you in and out fairly quickly so they can use your table for the next patrons.
Bur* 13 hours ago
Tip culture. They want to turn the table so they can get the tip off the next group. Servers here (Michigan) make wages around $3/hr without tips
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DeoManus Argentem 9 hours ago
I've never had this happen in the US either. "Can I interest you in coffee or a desert?" "No, thank you, I'm full." "Is there anything else I can get you?" "No, thank you." "Alright, I'll be right back with your cheque." Is pretty much the way it goes.
Jonas Fisher 8 hours ago
I worked for quite a few years as a server in the US. The biggest category of complaint about my service (not about food) was a lack of promptness. I learned to take the water pitcher to the table before I was asked, pick up plates before I was asked, and yes, bring the bill before I was asked. Now, for the last one, I wouldn't just set it down and walk away, but I'd bring it to the table with me when I was checking to see if they needed anything else. If they said no, then I set down the bill. Doesn't seem that odd to me.
StrangeOne 14 hours ago
It doesn't happen all the time in Canada, but when it does I do feel the rudeness. It feels like I'm being kicked out before I can ask for the dessert menu.
Wyrdwoman 17 hours ago
They can see it. If you order more they take it back and give you a new one.
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Ellinor she/they/elle 11 hours ago
You know you can just... Ask for the bill ?
Load More Replies... #5
In Japan tipping (like restaurant tipping, not tipping something over) is rude.
In France you don't talk about money.
In certain European countries the "rock on" or "devil's horns" hand sign is offensive.
In the UK be careful when doing a "peace" hand gesture, if your palm is facing you it's essentially like giving someone the finger, but palm facing away from you is okay (which is technically how the "peace" sign is supposed to be).
NapQueen 17 hours ago
Being British, I think flicking the v's is one of our more friendly insults!
Nicola Roberts 13 hours ago
I agree. I think the last time I used a V I stuck my tongue out at the same time. This might have been in the 70s
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Katharina Sei. 17 hours ago
I want to add: The ok singn can stand for the hole at your bottom.
Smeghead Tribble Down Under 17 hours ago
The ''two-finger salute'' OP is referring is used in Australia too. It means ''up yours'' ;)
BrunoVI 14 hours ago
In America, if you hold your thumb out as you raise your 2nd and 5th finger, that means "I Love You," since it's a combination of the letters I, L, and Y. That's what most music fans do. If you hold your thumb out and you raise your 5th finger, that's a symbol of longlorn cattle and is used by Texas A&M fans. Or it means "hang loose [be chill] by surfers. If you raise your 2nd and 5th fingers but tuck your thumb in, that's the "devil's horns," used chiefly by 80s metal bands that were fascinated with Satan.
#6
Asking someone you just met what they do for a living.
In the US, this is a VERY common small talk topic.
In many places it's considered rude. Basically it's seen as you asking how much money they make.
White Sauce Hot Sauce 11 hours ago
Doing something most people don't like is generally considered rude.
Load More Replies... Jonas Fisher 8 hours ago
I find this odd. Often, a person's profession is where they spend most of their time, is likely the result of a ton of investment in training, thought, and focus in life, and almost certainly the topic they know the best. How would that be rude to ask about?
Dill 4 hours ago
I don't have a problem with it personally (would make a change to be honest!!) but I've heard the following reasons: I'm so much more than my job, when I'm not there I don't want to talk about it, I have interests that I'd rather share... that kind of thing. I've been friends with a group of people for about 6 years - fairly sure that they know a) I worked for charities (might name one or two b) I've got a qualification in marketing (they'll have no idea what). They have zero knowledge about what I actually did (currently run business with husband)! We just don't really talk about work. One person does talk about their past jobs... but to be honest, it's seriously boring to listen to. I've personally never found 'job chat' of interest. Just my view though. Corrected that downvote - you asked a perfectly reasonable question!!!
Load More Replies... R Dennis 12 hours ago
Because we are conditioned to think work = your value... even though our society is inherently skewed towards straight white males... the other one I hate is: Where are you from? I'm a mutt, so people have a hard time placing me. But I discovered that your answer determines how you're treated and I stopped answering in my teens. I actually started (and never finished) writing a book about it "Growing Mixed Up in America".
Multa Nocte 11 hours ago (edited)
This part about where you're from in the US is so true. I lived in 10 different states in the US, all of them but one for at least several years, so I hate to answer because people make assumptions about you depending on which part of the US you lived in. I am a mutt, as Bill Murray would say.
Load More Replies... Nicola Roberts 13 hours ago
In the UK, I think it's very common small talk. I hear it on the radio every morning with a phone in competition.
Fat Harry (Oi / You) 17 hours ago
If not rude, it's considered crass. My parents (UK) went on a cruise and were seated with Americans. Virtually the first thing the Yanks asked was "So, what do you make?". Talking about money with strangers like that is just seen as crass.
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Rick Murray 6 hours ago
What do I do? Oh, I'm a cleaner. I tidy up other people's problems. I make them, and the evidence, go away. I'm very good at my job. 😂
Zig Zag Wanderer 12 hours ago
It's not rude. And we DO NOT treat it as a question about your income. That seems to be an American obsession.
If you're someone who likes to show a thumbs-up instead of verbalizing "yes" or "good job," you may want to reconsider if you plan on visiting parts of the Middle East, Latin America, or West Africa. What you deem as an innocent gesture takes on a whole new meaning in those regions and is actually seen as the equivalent of the middle finger.
The same goes for the peace sign and a host of other hand signals...
"The Greek moutza, an open palm thrust forward, is deeply disrespectful. The chin flick, used in Italy and France, is a strong dismissal or insult. The forearm jerk, known as the bras d’honneur, is a crude insult in France and Brazil," warn the experts at travel protection company Global Rescue.
#7
US shop assistants really offend me. They literally pounce on you the minute you walk in the door, try to talk to you and engage you in a conversation, follow you round and try to sell you things. In the US, instead of just being able to get on and look around the shop, I end up trying to hide from the shop assistants.
Usually in the UK, if you go into a shop, the assistants are more aloof and will treat you with a certain amount of disdain and leave you to get on with browsing. I like to look at things without feeling under pressure. I am more likely to buy if there is no pressure.
That being said - US shops are great and have lots of great stuff to buy - it's just the over friendly shop assistants I find problematic.
Signed,
Reserved English Person.
Oliver 17 hours ago
Usually this is because they are paid minimum wage + commission and the commission goes to the person who helped you first / most.
Pferdchen 11 hours ago
Not to mention that they can be reprimanded, penalized and even dismissed for failing to meet sales targets, as if they can control the marketing, product selection, amount of foot traffic and general economy.
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TotallyNOTAFox 14 hours ago
That was one of the reasons why Walmart failed here in Germany, people really disliked that overly friendly and pushy attitude
Betsy S 8 hours ago (edited)
I would substitute the "over friendly" with "obnoxiously pushy". If someone greets me and asks if they can help, that's fine. Once I've said, "no thanks", they need to GET AWAY FROM ME and let me shop! If they approach me yet again, I will smile sweetly, put down what I'm looking at and walk out the door.
Rick Murray 6 hours ago
An idea that I saw (here, I think) that we need more of is colour coded shopping baskets. One colour for "I need help" and another for "leave me alone". Then you can pick the basket to suit your desired shopping experience.
Spittnimage 7 hours ago
I've never had that problem. I get an anything I can help you with? No. Leaves me alone.
CrazyKnitter 8 hours ago
I worked at a store where if we didn't greet a customer within the first two minutes they were there, we got reprimanded. I was really uncomfortable doing it, but it's just the way things are here.
UselessKnowledgeFont 2 hours ago
I can't help but wonder if there's a cultural misunderstanding or if this OP is giving off potential theft vibes
Jonas Fisher 8 hours ago
This UK person has gone to exactly one shop, or else is choosing to remember only one or two experiences. That's light years away from a US norm.
#8
ITT: People who don't know what customs are.
Also, I'd go with saying the pledge of allegiance in schools. I feel like a lot of other countries would find doing something like that horrible.
TotallyNOTAFox 14 hours ago
We had pledges here in Germany too - Around the 30s/40s and in the eastern part till 89'
The Other Guest 10 hours ago
The Pledge of Allegiance is awful. Nothing creepier than a classroom of first graders intoning "I PLEDGE aLLEgiance (pause) to the flaaaag (pause) of the U-NI-ted STATES of AmERica..." in that horrible cadence everyone uses.
Julie S 9 hours ago (edited)
Until the Second World War Americans did what we would now call the "Natzi salute" when they did the pledge of allegiance.
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PenguinEmp 16 hours ago
I do find that quite stupid. Pledges? Why not a blood oath every morning.
Tim Gibbs 5 hours ago
I spent a week in an American school and when they did the pledge I said god save the queen the kids laughed the teachers not so much! 🤣🤣
UselessKnowledgeFont 2 hours ago
That would have worked better if they were singing "My Country Tis of Thee"
Load More Replies... tarryn norwich 6 hours ago
I work local government in America, and we say it at the beginning of meetings... I find it super weird.
#9
Some Americans reply to a "Thank you" with "Mhm" or "Yup" instead of "you're welcome".
Some foreigners are really off put by this, I've found.
Huddo's sister 15 hours ago
In Australia, 'cheers', 'no worries', 'no wakkas' (same as no worries), and 'all good' are all reasonable replies.
Malor Brycington 11 hours ago
I usually get a lot of, "No Problem" or "of course!" which seem like fine responses to me.
StrangeOne 13 hours ago
I'm noticing this more of a generational communication shift. I've noticed this is happening with the younger people in Canada, too. I still say you're welcome.
Earonn - 17 hours ago
I mean, these are normally not sounds of appreciation. "How do you like your new house?" - "Mhm.".
Charles McChristy 12 hours ago
Maybe for you, but it is perfectly normal over here. If you don't like our slang stay home.
Load More Replies... The Global Rescue team adds that a fig sign (thumb between index and middle fingers) is considered rude in both Russia and Turkey, while the “devil horns” rock symbol would suggest someone's spouse is cheating in Italy and Spain.
"Crossed arms might signal defense in the West, but politeness in Japan," adds the site. "Pointing feet at someone is rude in Thailand and many Arab countries. Tapping the temple means cleverness in the U.S. but implies mockery in parts of Europe."
#10
Tipping servers is sometimes offensive in some countries. My experience: Offended a server by giving him a 25% tip and was asked to take my money back and leave.
Shark Lady 15 hours ago
I believe it is offensive in Japan as it suggests that the restaurant isn't paying their staff adequately.
Multa Nocte 11 hours ago
In my part of France there is generally a tip jar at the cash register when you pay and if you are in the mood, you can leave a little something in the jar. It is rarely as much tip as people would leave in the States because people are paid decent wages here. Most of the people I know who run or work at these places say that the owner generally puts it in a pot somewhere and uses it for fun activities for the staff or splits it out at some point in the year for the staff. However, not everyone tips in these jars. My personal experience is that it is more the Americans and the British who do it here.
Rick Murray 6 hours ago
A bar I used to go to (was near where I worked, understood British tea) had a protocol that when something was added to the tip jar, he'd let drop the clapper on a ship's bell hanging at the end of the bar. The tea was €1,70 so I'd leave the €0,30 change. DONG! 🔔
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BrunoVI 14 hours ago (edited)
Apparently, tipping in Japan is offensive, but restaurants and hotels often include a "service charge" (a.k.a. mandatory tip). Also just learned this while looking it up: Minimum wage in UK can be as low as £6.80 and is typically only £11.20. (Under 21 years old get the lower minimum wages.) The median (it varies by state) minimum wage in America is almost $14 and can be as high as $18. Some states like mine get as low as $7.25, but no English-speaking adult gets paid that low; basic food service start at $14 where I live recently. (Most major states [California, Florida, New York, Michigan, New Jersey, Illinois, Ohio, Virginia] have higher minimum wages, but major states with low minimum wages include Georgia, Pennsylvania, Texas, Wisconsin, and North Carolina.) Contrary to internet legend, tipped workers are subject to the minimum wage; the alternate minimum wage is ON TOP of tips.
Julie S 9 hours ago
Minimum wage in the UK is £12.21 and is going up to £12.71 in April.
Load More Replies... #11
Overthrowing democratically elected leaders.
Norfolk and good 18 hours ago (edited)
This aged well. 😳 Btw, in the UK, we've removed plenty of democratically elected Prime Ministers.
David Andrews 17 hours ago
I think this is more referring to the USAs history of supporting and backing the overthrow of democratically elected leaders on other countries
Load More Replies... Kelly Scott 7 hours ago
And after doing this in so many countries, think about how Americans whined and cried because Putin got the orange monkey elected in 2016. I just said what goes around, comes around and we don't have a leg to stand on when it comes to foreign idiots putting American idiots in power.
Zig Zag Wanderer 12 hours ago (edited)
Well, we actually lost one of ours in Australia, so there!
#12
Patriotism. Not *American* patriotism, necessarily, but I've been strongly reprimanded because apparently people shouldn't care that much about their countries.
Earonn - 17 hours ago
There's a difference between patriotism that is being happy about / for your country and wanting to help it thrive, and the plastic patriotism of making a big fuss about a flag but being quiet about the problems of the country - or even denying them - and declaring one's own country the 'greatest" all the time.
Nea 15 hours ago
Patriotism by itself is only a positive concept, the word we may need is ultranationalism or jingoism.
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LilliVB 17 hours ago (edited)
It's the blind patriotism that bothers me, to be honest. The idea of being the greatest in every aspect and incapable of doing any wrong seems to me more like indoctrination than patriotism. I'm Italian and I'm really proud of certain aspects of Italy (food, culture, our landscapes and history, our friendliness...) but I have a list a mile long of things I absolutely despise about my country.
Onan Hag All 13 hours ago
American "patriotism" is a joke. How can a person unwilling to pay a cent more in tax and willing to see his fellow countrymen die for lack of health care be "patriotc"? Also the level of hate for anyone different there is shocking.
Multa Nocte 11 hours ago
Hey Christian patriots - remember that part in the Bible where Jesus said that people from Jerusalem were the best and everyone else sucked? Oooops, neither do I.
Nicola Roberts 13 hours ago (edited)
I hate idolising a flag as a patriotic front, thinly masking hatred against someone/something else.
Rick Murray 6 hours ago
As a Brit, who is used to seeing the flag for big sporting or cultural events or when some random royal does something...it really doesn't sit well with me this current obsession in flying the flag all over the place, hanging it from every lamppost. I can't help but feel that if you were to strip away the fake patriotism, what remains would be something quite malevolent.
Load More Replies... UnclePanda 13 hours ago
"You love your country, always, and your government when it deserves it." ~ Mark Twain. I've been running that on an internal loop for about 10 years now.
Kelly Scott 7 hours ago
I'm America and I like the country and most of the people. But I also know all its faults, so no, I'm not going to be the most patriotic person around, and I'll say straight for the record: S***w all our politicians and I hope there's a special place in hell for all Republicans and especially Trump. America is NOT the greatest country in the world.
Showing someone the peace sign might seem like a friendly gesture, be very careful about where your palm is facing if you're in the United Kingdom.
"The peace sign with the palm facing inward, often seen in selfies, is the equivalent of a middle finger in the U.K. Pointing directly at someone with your index finger is acceptable in the US but aggressive or rude in China and Malaysia," warns Global Rescue, adding that holding up your pinky can mean also be taken the wrong way. It might mean “small” in America but suggests infidelity in East Asia.
#13
Maybe I've just gotten too used to the UK, but here when you arrive at someone's house they will usually offer you a tea, it's a nice gesture to let people know they are welcome and you want them to be comfortable. I went to visit some family in America and they didn't even have tea! Who doesn't have tea?!?
Norfolk and good 18 hours ago
The Irish do this as well. Ah, go on, go on, go on, go on, go on.
Fat Harry (Oi / You) 16 hours ago
Hmmm, pretty inconsiderate for those not visiting Boston! ;)
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Robert T 13 hours ago
Likewise. I make tea for people and I have no idea how my tea tastes, as my grandma put me off drinking it for life. I can't stand the smell of it. Any tradespeople that visit for more than 5 minutes are always offered a brew.
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UnclePanda 13 hours ago (edited)
Oh, be honest Britishers. Even if we did have tea, it wouldn't be the right type, heated in the wrong way, served out of the wrong ceramic pot, in an insufferable tea-bag. Why even try to swim upstream against such predetermined judgement over what is, in fact, leaf water? (note - I'm enjoying my black bean water right now, and will have some ginger-lemon leaf water later)
MoMcB 8 hours ago
Will have mine made in a mug with a tea bag (but not microwaved).
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Rick Murray 6 hours ago
Let's see. I can do Tetley (proper, not export), PG Tips, Typhoo, Japanese Sweet Sakura (black), and an organic green tea with lemon. You are, however, SOL if you drink coffee. However if you appreciate tea and understand that this is my safe space and don't think that introversion is something that needs "fixed", then pull up a chair and I shall be mother.
#14
Walking in people's homes with shoes on. It's not even offensive per se because a lot of Asians would just be shocked- why would you not take off your shoes?
Robert T 13 hours ago
No. Always offer to take your shoes off. Let them say you can keep them on.
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Lady Eowyn 11 hours ago
Where I grew up, you kept your shoes on inside unless they were muddy or wet.
Rick Murray 6 hours ago
Same here, and I continue the tradition. It's a cold tile floor and I can wield a mop, so keep your shoes on.
Load More Replies... #15
Refering to the entire UK as 'England' or refering to the current monarch as 'the Queen of England'. It's not really as offensive in England or to the English since they're not being identified incorrectly but it can be annoying to the Scots and Welsh, and since it's a common mistake I usually let it go.
Still not as bad as an American tourist I once saw in a pub when I was visiting England. He was trying to order an 'Irish carbomb' as a drink. U fkn wot m8? In honesty he didnt mean anything by it he was just oblivious so no one can hold it against him. Still, I dont go to your country and try and order a 9/11 suprise, who thought that was ok?
I love America though, they're alright guys.
Francois 17 hours ago
This England / Britain mix up thingy is not limited to American. Pretty much the whole world does it.
Kelly Scott 7 hours ago
I finally had to get a drawing of the UK and Ireland to see which parts were called what. And I still get confused.
Load More Replies... R Dennis 12 hours ago
We're definitely not alright now... millions of us are awful fascists. To go along with the Irish car b**b is ordering a black & tan. Tbf, most Americans don't understand what the Irish have had to endure. Much like I didn't fully appreciate the English obsession with WWII... until I went to the Imperial War Museum in London. It became real and very visceral after that. I walked out say "Okay, I get it now!"
Zig Zag Wanderer 12 hours ago (edited)
9/11 surprise! My new cocktail 😂 (side note, a LOT of said carbombs were financed by Americans. It wasn't nice. We don't forget, either.)
MoMcB 8 hours ago
This is true. We were bombed continually in my town, so a car b**b cocktail would not go down well. Don’t care what side you support, violence is never OK.
Load More Replies... Rick Murray 5 hours ago
I will pointedly reply "écossais" when somebody at work calls me "anglais". Because 🏴 is not 🏴 especially when they meant 🇬🇧 but find the word "britannique" to be too much of a mouthful (heh, how about "citoyen du royaume uni"? 😂).
Multa Nocte 3 hours ago (edited)
I am American, so I after I tell my French neighbours how much I hate Trump, I then tell them I am "Ricaine" (slang for American) or "Amerloque" ("Yankee"), and then they tell me that I am too nice to be an "Amerloque," because the Amerloque are the people who would like Trump. But sometimes I just get nervous and lie and tell people I am Canadian. I figured I lived in Seattle, Washington (where I met Mr. Multa Nocte), so that's close enough. ;-)
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BookFanatic 7 hours ago
Now I kinda want to know if a "9/11 Surprise" is an actual drink...(probably not, but I'm curious)
Nota Robot 14 hours ago (edited)
There was a cocktail named Irish Carbomb in Belfast in the early naughties. I was introduced to it by my northern-Irish students. I was under the impression that the drink was called that of the effect it has on you when you leave the pub. I literally had to grab hold of the doorframe to prevent falling over backwards when the cold air hit me.
General Anaesthesia 15 hours ago
The post that BP scraped from Reddit is ten years old. The "emperor_of_prydain" link below the image takes you there.
Load More Replies...If you think head movements like nodding for "yes" and shaking for "no" are universal, think again. Those seemingly innocent gestures have totally opposite meanings in some parts of the world, like Bulgaria and certain areas of the Middle East.
To make matters even more confusing, in India, a head wobble can mean yes, no, maybe, or all at once, depending on context. "A finger snap, casual or musical in the U.S., might come off as dismissive or rude in Latin America and Eastern Europe," adds the Global Rescue site.
#16
I really hated how Americans would own up to their heritages like it defines them. I'm Dutch with Dutch parents, born and raised. In America, some people would tell me they were Dutch too. Cause some great grandma somewhere in her family was German.
Stardust she/her 17 hours ago
I’m a non American but I think that it could be because the average white American feels like they have no culture of their own so they latch onto anything that makes them feel unique such as that great great grandma from Germany
Geoffrey Scott 14 hours ago
And yet, criticize those who are african american when they celebrate their roots. "maybe they should go back where they came from".."well, Wilbur, first of all the majority of ancestors had no choice in the matter.."
Load More Replies... Sam Trudeau 11 hours ago
I respond to those posts with "then I'm Europe incarnate" because my family ancestry dates back to several European countries. I'm Canadian though
Nota Robot 13 hours ago
Upon finding out I am Dutch, a family I was talking to reveled they were '12% Dutch'. Dutch pride! I awkwardly explained that there is no such term as Dutch Pride in the Netherlands, at least, not back then.
Rick Murray 5 hours ago
My father was Scottish with Irish, possibly black Irish, ancestry. My mother was American, ancestry unknown (but she thought maybe a mix of native and Spanish). So I am... just Rick. I don't feel like I came from any place or that I belong to any place. And increasingly these days I'm wondering if there's an alternative to admitting that I am human, because it's getting a bit embarrassing.
Gavin Johnson 15 hours ago
I’m English with all English ancestry right back through the eight generations apart from one Welshman way back in generation seven, I’ve decided to follow the U.S. custom and I’m now Welsh English. PS I’m clearly joking and my Welsh sister-in-law will be glad to hear it!
#17
TIL in other countries it's rude to talk to anyone or look at anyone or touch anyone or ask anyone anything about themselves or display any sort of genuine interest or affection for anyone. 😕
EDIT: Jeez people, in America it's not like strangers constantly talk to one another or rub all over each other. It's just that it's not considered rude if you do happen to strike up a conversation with a stranger or ask them what they do for a living. Now the touching; I mostly meant touching your SO in public which is considered taboo in some countries.
#18
*Not* kissing people of the same gender on the cheek as a greeting.
Edit: I meant the exact opposite. Americans don't kiss and others will find that offensive.
Wyrdwoman 17 hours ago
Most countries would NOT find it offensive. Even in countries that do it, they only do it to people they know.
Betsy S 8 hours ago
Is it an actual contact kiss though? Seems more like a cheek to cheek air kiss, than an actual lips on cheek sort of kiss.
Multa Nocte 3 hours ago (edited)
It's contact, but generally cheek to cheek while you make your kiss an air kiss. (Ed.) Ironically my experience here is that it has been the British men who do actual face kisses to the women, but they may just be the group I know.
Load More Replies... Zig Zag Wanderer 12 hours ago
In Europe it's quite common. Even men kissing each other on the lips isn't an issue in some countries. Europeans are a lot more 'kissy' than UK or US.
Kelly Scott 7 hours ago
Sorry, I ain't gettin' that close to people I don't know - and even to ones I do.
Pointing at someone with your index finger is considered rude in China, Japan, Malaysia, and a few other destinations. And you might be surprised to learn that waving at someone with the palm of your hand facing outward (like "hello" or "goodbye") might seem like a cheerful greeting but is a deeply insulting gesture in Greece. It basically means, “To hell with you.”
"Similarly, the 'come here' motion with palm up and fingers curling, while common in America, is offensive in the Philippines, where it’s used to beckon dogs," the site cautions.
#19
My wife is French. She and her family, when they come to the US and go out to a restaurant, the tendency of waiters in the US is to clear a plate/the table as individuals are done. This is perceived as being rude - like, "get out of here." I guess in France waiters wait until the entire table is done before clearing it.
Geoffrey Scott 14 hours ago
I appreciate the occasional "would you like me to clear some of the empty dishes?"
Rick Murray 5 hours ago
Quick hack for breaking the brain of a French waiter: put your bread roll on a plate. 😂
#20
Talking to strangers.
R Dennis 11 hours ago
So, which is it? We're bad for not knowing other cultures or we're bad for talking to strangers. You can't c**p on us for both, so pick one. Personally, I like talking to strangers to get different perspectives... unless they're MAGA. They can go f**k off.
Woke George Washington 11 hours ago
Fr it’s dang if you do dang if you don’t. Can’t make anyone happy!
Load More Replies... #21
Start talking on a random stranger on the street ^^ish . It would not be offensive, but it would be annoying and wired here in northern Europe.
#22
I'd say excessive use of superlatives, makes you seem incredibly fake and dishonest.
Being blatantly ignorant about someone's culture paired with a tendency to talk a lot.
Charles McChristy 11 hours ago
Yet, when you are ignorant about American cultures, (yes, plural, we have many) someone has to make a BP article about it.
R Dennis 11 hours ago
Complaining about superlatives is like complaining about friendliness. I smile a lot and am gregarious, though a terrible introvert. But it isn't to be fake. I try to be kind and pleasant unless/until someone gives me a reason not to be and I refuse to be grim because others want it. So if a view is incredible or a meal is amazing, I will say so with a smile on my face because I mean it.
Zig Zag Wanderer 12 hours ago (edited)
In France, the highest compliment might be "Not too bad!"
sturmwesen 7 hours ago
In southern Germany we have a saying"not complaining is enough of a praise"
Load More Replies... #23
Calling black people African American is a big no-no too.
Stardust she/her 17 hours ago
I mean yeah? If I go to any country and meet a dark skinned person, why would I call them African American when they aren’t even American? And you get black people all over the world, not just Africa so it makes no sense to generalise them all as African
Zig Zag Wanderer 12 hours ago (edited)
This is extremely odd to pretty much every other country. People have claimed that they do, but I've not come across it anywhere else, and I'm way more travelled than most. 'Vietnamese Australians', for example, aren't a thing. They're Australian. They might be referred to as Vietnamese occasionally to specifically signify their ethnicity, but that's it.
Kelly Scott 7 hours ago
African Americans call themselves African Americans. If there was a situation in which I would have to refer to their skin color, I would call them black because it's much easier to say and type. But if they want to be called African Americans, then I will respect that and that's what I will call them. Although why we can't just call them - and everyone else - people is beyond me.
Norfolk and good 12 hours ago
I saw a YouTube video recently where an American asked if the next James Bond should be African American. 🙄
#24
Blowing your nose in public is apparently a massive faux pas in Japan.
Putting your legs up (exposing the bottom of your feet/shoes) is a very offensive in arabic countries.
NapQueen 17 hours ago
You also shouldn't expose the bottom of your feet in Thailand. If you drop a coin, you also cannot stamp on it to stop it rolling away, as you're stamping on the King's face. I do find these cultural customs fascinating though!
Rick Murray 5 hours ago
Ah, yes, Thailand has quite a thing with lèse-majesté. Don't ever insult their royals. [come to Britain and insult ours instead: we have the Harry/Meghan drama *and* gutter press that is unnaturally obsessed with a little girl *and* the Andrew formerly known as Prince, take your pick! 😂]
Load More Replies... BookFanatic 7 hours ago
Yes to the feet/shoes. My BF (US) was in a meeting with some folks from Saudi Arabia. His boss (also US) crossed his ankle over his knee about halfway through the meetings. BF had to explain to the boss why the rest of the table started scowling at him.
Nota Robot 14 hours ago
It is a terrible faux-pas to point at something with your foot in Myanmar, or so I've read.
#25
Talking in the lift in the UK.
Fat Harry (Oi / You) 16 hours ago
Everyone knows the traditional British custom when entering a lift is to fart and act like it wasn't you.
#26
Eating an entire block of cheese.
Kelly Scott 7 hours ago
Give me a day or two and I can demolish a block of cheese. Provided it's good cheese.
Load More Replies... Rick Murray 5 hours ago
That's just greedy. I break my block in two. Speaking of which, that sounds like a decent enough plan for an "I can't be bothered to cook anything" dinner, thanks. 🧀
#27
Eye contact is one of the worst acts of disrespect in some cultures.
Woke George Washington 10 hours ago
I’m American and I don’t do eye contact anyway, so I assume I’m safe from that haha.
#28
Thumbs up as a way to show approval. In Iran, it's akin to the middle finger.
Patting a child on the head. In Thailand, that's sacrilege.
Eating cattle. In some areas of India, cows are sacred animals.
Public displays of affection, especially kissing. In some places, kissing is considered innately inappropriate.
Tipping. In some places, it's VERY offensive to tip.
And oddly enough, thanking someone. While it is considered a very kind thing to do in Anglo America (pretty much expected of you in Canada), in some places some things are expected to be done and thanking people for certain deeds can be construed as offensive.
Moving Enigma 12 hours ago
I'm curious, can anyone share where thanking someone is offensive, it's a new one to me.
Kelly Scott 7 hours ago
Well, as I don't plan to travel to any of those countries in the near future...
#29
If somebody says to me 'How are you', they shouldn't act surprised when I tell them. If I say 'how are you' to somebody and they respond with 'hello', I wonder which bit of the question they didn't understand or hear. Maybe that's just me...
NapQueen 17 hours ago
Ah, see in the UK we just say 'alright?' or 'you okay?' as a hello :) other variations, too. We have an American colleague who sometimes visits and he gets confused when we say it!
Fat Harry (Oi / You) 16 hours ago
Many years ago, some friends and I bumped into a teacher out of school and one of our group said "Alright, sir?" and the teacher responded with a (very cheery), "Yes, thank you Christopher! I am alright. How are you?". I guess he didn't get the memo that the response is just "Alright". Really, it's a bit like the French "Ça va?" - "Ça va, merci".
Load More Replies... Rick Murray 5 hours ago
French people often say "ça va?". It's taken me a while to understand that they don't want a proper answer, so I now reply "toujours vivant" (still alive). Some people get the humour, others really don't and they say things like "well that's the general idea isn't it?". Since I'm British and snarkiness is an innate part of my personality, I break them a little more by saying "you have clearly never met me first thing on a Monday morning. Just a few weeks ago somebody missed the point so spectacularly that she replied "but this IS first thing on a Monday morning?". 🤦🏻♀️
Multa Nocte 3 hours ago
After the reciprocal "ça va"s, I always wait to see if the person really wants to talk or if it is just the social grease of life.
Load More Replies... Lady Eowyn 11 hours ago
In the US, at least the parts I know, the "ritual" is : how are you? good (or OK) and you? Good. That's all. Unless you're with a friend and you know they really want to know. Otherwise, it's no more than a casual greeting.
Kelly Scott 6 hours ago
It took me forever to figure it out myself. I always told people how I was. LOL
#30
Talking back or "expressing yourself" to your parents is pretty much a no no in a lot other places. From what is portrayed, it looks like it is acceptable for a child to show frustration to their parent. You'd better find some place else to live but with more westernization going on, things are changing with the phasing out of the older folk. Africa.
Kelly Scott 7 hours ago
There's a fine line there. If I were a parent, I'd accept that if I were to raise a child to question things, to stand up for himself, or to step outside the box, I'd also have to accept the fact that that child is going to do all those things to me eventually. The difference is in knowing when a child is actually questioning authority the way he was raised to, or if that child is simply being obnoxious. And of course, when it comes to danger, sometimes you have to step on that independence a little and insist a kid follow your rules. I don't envy being a parent.
#31
We eat a lot of foods with our hands. Ribs, chicken, corn, fries, clam chowder. I feel like in a lot of places in Asia eating that many messy foods with your hands would seem pretty barbaric.
dean tirmizi 17 hours ago (edited)
This person seems to think Asia most be one country. Except for east Asian countries nearly all other Asian countries eat with their hands. Also who eats clam chowder with their hands, that's Barbaric
Stardust she/her 17 hours ago
Which Asia did OP go to where they think eating with hands is barbaric? Besides maybe east Asia, the rest of us Asians eat with our hands. I just had lunch with my hands before reading this list
Fat Harry (Oi / You) 16 hours ago
Eating with the *left* hand is a no-no in some countries, but not eating with the hands in general.
Unicorn 13 hours ago
You shouldn't hand food to a Moslem with the left hand: it's the one for wiping your behind with (hence also the expression kack-handed).
Load More Replies... BookFanatic 7 hours ago
I'm paranoid about eating with my hands in other countries/ethnic restaurants because I'm left-handed. I know eating with the L had is considering incredibly rude in some cultures.
#32
I believe in ~~Japan~~ China it is offensive if you don't leave some of your food on your plate. Clearing it implies that the chef didn't provide enough food to satisfy you.
I've been living a lie :(.
Fat Harry (Oi / You) 16 hours ago
The double hyphens would strikethrough text on Reddit, so this is OP correcting himself from saying Japan to saying China. BP loses the formatting.
Jonas Fisher 8 hours ago
I visited an Eastern European country where this is true. As a US Midwesterner, I was taught to clean my plate. I did that there, and they kept adding more food, even when I said no, when I begged no, when I tried covering it. Eventually, they won. I left feeling horribly bloated and sick, but there was still food on my plate. I found out about their custom later and everyone thought it was a funny misunderstanding.
Rick Murray 5 hours ago (edited)
That's why my mom told me, in between telling me that I should clean my plate. 🤷🏻♀️
Load More Replies...
#33
Speaking to people you don't know in public.
Spunds ridiculous to Americans but if you do that here there's something seriously wrong with your social skills. Keep a respectful distance and politely ignore each other.
Woke George Washington 10 hours ago
How many times am I gonna hear the same thing repeated in this post, man? 😭
Betsy S 8 hours ago
This makes me curious. How do people make friends? How do they get to know people in a general sense if you're not allowed to engage them in conversation? Genuine question. What other ways are there to get to know people other than by speaking to them?
Multa Nocte 3 hours ago
In my part of France we see people throughout the week and we nod at each other and say hello. We will usually see them in the weekly marché or at one of the cafés. After a few months of this, something will generally come up (a communal event or something that has happened in the area) or an activity (such as the evening marchés in July and August) and we will talk about the current activities. Then after that we might sit together at a café having a coffee or wine. It takes time. Then after a while you are thick as thieves, but you generally don't rush it. For example, the first time I meet you I would rarely know whether or not you are married, what you do for a living, or even where you live. There is no need to rush things here.
Load More Replies... #34
More a habit than a custom but I've noticed that Americans are generally quite rude to people serving them. Here in Australia I married into an American family and whenever we're out for a meal they don't look at the person serving them, they bark what they want without saying please and then do not thank them when they bring them their food. I find that SO SO SO weird!! I get that they're used to waiters going above and beyond for their tips but they can still be nicer to the people serving them.
Side note: I've been to the USA many times and have witnessed it in many states there too. So it's not just the family I married into lol. Also I'd like to add, I love Americans. Just a habit I've noticed.
NapQueen 17 hours ago
Good thing I'm not a waitress in America, I would always be asking 'what's the magic word?'
Rick Murray 5 hours ago
No you wouldn't, because tolerating that nonsense is the only way you'll make tips, and you need to make tips to make enough to survive on. They really do have their wait staff over a barrel, don't they?
Load More Replies... Charles McChristy 11 hours ago
There are definitely people like that over here, but again, it is not the majority by far. It does ell me everything I need to know about your in-laws however.
R Dennis 11 hours ago
This is a small percentage of people. Generally, the only time they have power is when dealing with people in customer service and they think treating them as less-than somehow makes them superior. This is not common and definitely not just "American". *Was in restaurants and the food industry for 30+ years.
Nota Robot 13 hours ago
Not acknowledging the waiterwhen the order is being served is very much not restricted to the US, I'm afraid.
Kelly Scott 6 hours ago (edited)
That's why in America people say everyone should work a service job. Also I, like many other people, feel that how someone treats a service worker in public is indicative of their intelligence and compassion. If I were on a date and that date snapped his fingers at his server or barked at them, I'd have more than a few words to say. I called out my own mother when she walked into Target once and grabbed a folded top from the bottom of a pile, flipping all the other ones around, and then threw the top she wanted to look at back on the now messy pile. I asked her if she was going to refold the pile and she said, "That's someone else's job." So I told her, "I guess I'm someone else, then," and made her wait while I refolded every top. I was driving so she had no choice but to wait. I don't know if she learned anything, but she never did that again while I was with her.
Jonas Fisher 8 hours ago
I think this person just married into a family of jerks. I see the side note, but I'm guessing that OP's observational skills are far more keen when sitting at the same table as people they eat with frequently, as opposed to "seeing it in many states."
#35
Took off my shirt in Taiwan. I'm make, it was hot and had rained recently so I was soaking wet from the scooter ride. Lots of looks, several comments. They were not pleased. Idk, we were in a park so it's not like I went into a store or something.
NapQueen 17 hours ago
I still don't like seeing men walk around with their shirts off in public - I just think save it for your home!
Zig Zag Wanderer 12 hours ago (edited)
While hitching in France as a youth (a long, long time ago!), i changed my shirt to a cooler one. While it was off, a trucker stopped and picked me up. Later, he strangely paid for me to have a shower. He stopped for the night, and made some story about there being only one bed in the cab (getting a picture, yet?). I wasn't 'in the mood' unfortunately for him. Grumpy took me to the next town and dropped me off. I later discovered that hitching without a shirt is a gay magnet 😂 (BTW I was never under threat, he was polite but grumpy. I was actually quite sorry about the misunderstanding)
#36
Allowing women autonomy.
Michael Fernandez 17 hours ago
Not since 2020, for about half of the women in the U.S. Ireland had one woman die because she was refused medical care, and they quickly legalized abortion. The U.S. has had at least five women die since abortion rights were pushed back to individual states; all were denied medical care.
Dirk Daring 8 hours ago
Hahaha, that's a good one! Wait, you were serious? OK, let me laugh even harder.
Kelly Scott 6 hours ago
We may not have complete autonomy, but it's an ongoing process. We surge ahead, we fall back, but trust me, we'll surge ahead again one day. I am confident in saying that at least here in the US, we have the RIGHT to fight for our rights. There are a lot of women who want to take the path of being subservient and if that's what they want, fine for them. For the rest of us who want freedom and autonomy over our bodies and our lives, if push comes to shove, there will be a lot of women who will die before they knuckle under. Take my word on that one.
#37
Holding hands in public if you are not married.
Nea 15 hours ago (edited)
How do you tell if someone is married before you judge whether you are offended or not?
Kelly Scott 6 hours ago (edited)
I may be wrong, but is it in Saudi Arabia that you can't hold hands unless you're married? Seems to me a couple was arrested when they held hands on the beach there once. Correct me if I'm wrong. At any rate, being able to hold hands before marriage is something good in America. Did the Duggars write this one?
#38
Jaywalking. Public displays of affection. Tipping. Spitting. Wearing revealing clothes. Going into a private home with your shoes on. Hugging people you just met. Talking loudly on a train, or in other public spaces. Talking on your cellphone in a train. Blocking the passing lane on the escalator (some Americans also consider this rude but it's still common, in other countries the social etiquette is more rigid). Eating on a commuter train. Walking or sitting on a public lawn, in some countries you are expected to stay off the grass. Littering is rude in the U.S. but often tolerated -- some countries don't tolerate it socially, and enforce fines for littering.
Rose the Cook 16 hours ago
A real problem in China. Asked a group of children what would solve the problem. One small boy suggested that everyone carry a stick and give offenders a '"good smack".
Load More Replies... Kelly Scott 6 hours ago (edited)
Define public displays of affection. A hug? A kiss? Lip locking? And yes, we can wear revealing clothes in public. It's still an issue, but we are working on training our males that they can actually control themselves if they want and the intelligent ones do so. And there's a big difference between what is rude, what is illegal, and what is in violation of health laws in the US. Not everyone does all those things and most of us would look down on the ones who spit or talk loudly or litter. Other things are more normalized and need to be taken as a case by case basis.
#39
Eating while walking down the street. It really grosses foreigners out and makes Americans look like we cannot manage our time well enough to eat our McMuffin at a table.
Jan Rosier 16 hours ago (edited)
Perfectly ok in Belgium, as long as it's a box - or even beter a paper cone - fillled with fries and a big clot of mayo on top, and you're eating it with a short wooden fork.
Kelly Scott 6 hours ago
Dude, if Americans are working two and three jobs, commuting an hour each way, having to go home and take care of kids and clean the house and cook and shop and do laundry, they'll eat whenever they can. It has nothing to do with time management and everything to do with the amount of money we don't get paid when we're working for a living. And that being the case, I really don't care if foreigners who have enough money to travel here for a vacation get grossed out by it. Either deal with it or stay home.
Multa Nocte 2 hours ago (edited)
In my part of France we have food vans and we have lots of food that is sold at stalls at the evening summer marchés, but you rarely see anyone walking around eating it, except for possibly an ice cream. The towns provide tables and chairs, and little cafés will set out extra chairs. People in France almost always sit when they eat and when they drink, and if you see someone walking by doing this, some people will quietly call out "Bon appétit !" while shaking their head and grinning. It's culture. We have all the time in the world here and don't want to cram food in our faces while rushing from thing to thing. That's why most French people get a one to two hour lunch every day, something I would have killed for when I lived in the US.
Load More Replies... #40
Calling someone significantly older than you just by their names. In Indonesia and many Asian countries, this is offensive to the older person, no matter who he/she is, though the degree of offence may vary in different countries.
Geoffrey Scott 14 hours ago
Kids thought they hit the lotto when I was the custodian and used the southern 'way'. Instead of Mr. Smith, it was Mr. Jason. They love calling those in authority by their first name.
#41
I'd be screwed in Europe apparently. I say "How are you today?" and just talk to everyone. It's just how everyone else is here.
I'd probably get yelled at, quite a bit. I asked a friend from the UK how is day was once and he just exploded on me "AWFUL, ARE YOU HAPPY NOW?!?".
#43
Leaving your shoes on inside the house.
S Bow 6 hours ago
So many people are bothered by this but there may be reasons. For example, I live in the desert southwest US and my house frequently has bark scorpions which are extremely venomous. I've been stung more than once and it's excruciating for days. Everyone always wears shoes in the house here if for no other reason than self protection.
#44
Probably not in all of America but wearing your shoes inside the house, on your bed, on the couch just seems so unhygienic. I mean, no matter how often the streets are cleaned, it is still gonna collect dirt, filth, stuffff fast, and you're bringing all that into your home.
Lady Eowyn 11 hours ago
I wear shoes in the house. On the floor. Shoes on inside is normal where I live. Shoes on beds or furniture is not.
Zig Zag Wanderer 12 hours ago
I often let people enter my house wit shoee. It's a pain to take them off for short vists. On your bed or couch, just NO.
Rick Murray 5 hours ago
Wait, wait... Shoes in the house is one thing. On the freaking bed? No, that's a whole different cauldron of Osteichthyes!
#45
Mentioning your father's coworkers wife's name at dinner.
In Saudi Arabia, they forcefully excuse you from dinner.
Zig Zag Wanderer 12 hours ago (edited)
What is this arcanaery? I can't even work out who you're referring to!
FlamingZombies 8 hours ago
So let's say your dad's coworker is Mr. Johnson This post is about you saying something about Mrs. Johnson
Load More Replies... Kelly Scott 6 hours ago
Well, since I'm never traveling there either, I see no reason to worry about it.
#46
Letting your wife leave the house without a male companion.
Norfolk and good 18 hours ago
Another American who thinks the US is the only "free" country in the world.
Zig Zag Wanderer 11 hours ago
Didn't America invent freedom, or something.....?
Load More Replies...
Kelly Scott 6 hours ago
Half of these I can't tell if it's an American or someone from another country writing them. Thing is, there's a lot of incels in America who could have written this as a complaint against America.
#47
Being friendly to strangers. You ask somebody if they're having a good day in Wycombe, you're gonna get shanked. Good luck trying to help that person who just fell down the escalator at Marylebone, they'll apologise, and you'll feel terrible. Never help anyone, never be friendly, always apologise. Welcome to Britain.
Andi 16 hours ago
Sorry, but I've seen too many incidents when something bad happens - such as an older person falling over, or a car crash, and Brits form an instant swarm to help; some looking after the person, some finding help. We may be a bit distant compared to some nations but we are a small densely packed land we know that we have to help each others. It may only be at times of instant need or crisis, but it is engrained. There is a horrible growing trend of people just filming it instead of helping, but nobody like them!
Aileen Grist 13 hours ago (edited)
Wycombe must be an odd place then. Not like that anywhere else in the UK that I know of. I'm british and have lived all over the ;place in the UK
Zig Zag Wanderer 11 hours ago
I suspect that OP has been vilified for being an arrogant yank everywhere they go in Britain. It happens.
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What do you think ?
Did I say that out loud? 17 hours ago
As usual most of these aren't specific to one country and I personally wouldn't consider anything on here "offensive". Mildly annoying perhaps, but nothing to get particularly upset about.
Gavin Johnson 15 hours ago
Thinking that saying you want a sovereign nation means you get it? When you meet resistance you throw your toys out of the pram and start a temper tantrum. You can’t have your Greenland until you’ve finished your Venezuela ok?
nicholas nolan 12 hours ago
Alright, let's be real here. There is exactly one guy that wants Venezuela and Greenland. He didn't even campaign on that s**t, so you can't even through that at the feet of his rubes.
Load More Replies... Rick Murray 5 hours ago
One Americanism that I find weird, which was demonstrated by the Smarter Every Day guy when he did a video with his dad was constantly using the word "Sir" with him (and I'd imagine "ma'am" with his mother). Why so painfully formal with your own parents? It doesn't sound, to me, like a loving family relationship to be so formal with your own parents. Maybe it's just a quirky Southern thing? 🤷🏻♀️ (mom, from MD, told me the only time she'll accept me "ma'am"ing her is when she's in a nursing home 😂)
Trillian 16 hours ago
Offensive is too much but: The way they eat at a table. Like cutting everthing in bits, switching the fork to the right hand, often holding it like a shovel und the other hand under the table. Whenever I see this I can hear my mom and grandmother yelling in my head about table manners.
Papa 9 hours ago (edited)
Maybe that's different, but why would that bother you?
Load More Replies...
Sarah Suelzle 7 hours ago
Yay! Yet ANOTHER "lets talk trash about American" article. Just because people do things differently than you doesn't mean a da_mn thing. It just means its different. I could see where the first time it happened you could be put off but once you realize, or even are told, that its just the culture and its not meant to offend, maybe you could get over yourself and move on. If you're that fussed about people that do things differently, why are you even here?! Stay TF home. Or instead of being b******t and judge-y...you could ask questions and learn about the place you're visiting. JFC
Lady Eowyn 11 hours ago
The rest of the world doesn't know what most of America is really like.
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Did I say that out loud? 17 hours ago
As usual most of these aren't specific to one country and I personally wouldn't consider anything on here "offensive". Mildly annoying perhaps, but nothing to get particularly upset about.
Gavin Johnson 15 hours ago
Thinking that saying you want a sovereign nation means you get it? When you meet resistance you throw your toys out of the pram and start a temper tantrum. You can’t have your Greenland until you’ve finished your Venezuela ok?
nicholas nolan 12 hours ago
Alright, let's be real here. There is exactly one guy that wants Venezuela and Greenland. He didn't even campaign on that s**t, so you can't even through that at the feet of his rubes.
Load More Replies... Rick Murray 5 hours ago
One Americanism that I find weird, which was demonstrated by the Smarter Every Day guy when he did a video with his dad was constantly using the word "Sir" with him (and I'd imagine "ma'am" with his mother). Why so painfully formal with your own parents? It doesn't sound, to me, like a loving family relationship to be so formal with your own parents. Maybe it's just a quirky Southern thing? 🤷🏻♀️ (mom, from MD, told me the only time she'll accept me "ma'am"ing her is when she's in a nursing home 😂)
Trillian 16 hours ago
Offensive is too much but: The way they eat at a table. Like cutting everthing in bits, switching the fork to the right hand, often holding it like a shovel und the other hand under the table. Whenever I see this I can hear my mom and grandmother yelling in my head about table manners.
Papa 9 hours ago (edited)
Maybe that's different, but why would that bother you?
Load More Replies... Sarah Suelzle 7 hours ago
Yay! Yet ANOTHER "lets talk trash about American" article. Just because people do things differently than you doesn't mean a da_mn thing. It just means its different. I could see where the first time it happened you could be put off but once you realize, or even are told, that its just the culture and its not meant to offend, maybe you could get over yourself and move on. If you're that fussed about people that do things differently, why are you even here?! Stay TF home. Or instead of being b******t and judge-y...you could ask questions and learn about the place you're visiting. JFC
Lady Eowyn 11 hours ago
The rest of the world doesn't know what most of America is really like.
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