113Kviews
50 Hilarious Times People Caught “American Tourists In The Wild” And Shared Their Experiences
Tourists tend to stand out, gawking at sights that are commonplace for locals, getting confused by public transportation, and pointing at things a lot. An annoyance or economic opportunity, you be the judge, but one constant is that American tourists stand head and shoulders above the rest when it comes to baffling actions and requests.
So one TikToker gathers all the stories her viewer's share of bizarre encounters with American tourists who often do not understand that being in a foreign country means things are done differently. Prepare to laugh and roll your eyes as you scroll through and be sure to upvote your favorites and comment your own experiences below.
More info: TokTok
This post may include affiliate links.
At the root of many of these bizarre encounters is the deep-seated belief in American exceptionalism. Whether directly or indirectly, many Americans do think their nation is different, set apart and this, over time, leads to a stunning degree of ignorance about the outside world. In some ways, they are right, the United States is a very, very unique place and one worth visiting for anyone who hasn’t been.
The idea that America is an exception, ironically, is not American in origin. In fact, it was the French aristocrat, diplomat, and political scientist Alexis de Tocqueville who first called it an “exceptional” place. The United States is very big, after all, encompassing multiple biomes, cultures, and religions, how could it not be special?
And in many other ways, the US is an outlier, a republic founded in an age of monarchies, not an economic giant, and probably the largest melting pot of cultures, music, food, and style in the world. A person could travel around the United States and its territories and have a good variety of holidays, from nature excursions to world-class museums and a wonderful selection of food. Indeed, many Americans never even leave the country, let alone their home state.
UK tourists in America doing this would have been shot. Very different worlds.
The result could be a sort of “Americentrism,” which might be the driving factor behind many of these encounters. For example, the style of English writing more often than not now reflects how Americans might do it, leaving British English behind. Why wouldn’t things abroad be like “back home,” if everyone understands your English? This is deeply incorrect, but some people can be forgiven for thinking this way.
Genuine question from a super naive American teen here, what are people of color called in other countries? In America we use African American, Chinese American, and so on and so forth. I'm so sorry if this is offensive to anyone and I am not trying to be rude or racist, I just dont know and am genuinely curious
Despite the old phrase that “when in Rome, do as the Romans do,” certain tourists prefer to do things their way. Now, in their defense, the Americans in question may not actually know how the Romans do things. Living in a place and visiting a historic center while staying in a hotel is so vastly different that one could be forgiven for missing many of the intricacies. Similarly, unless one is from a more multilingual area, it’s easy to forget that there are lots of languages out there.
Im American and i don't Join, i refuse to elaborate further to avoid being down voted for my opinion though . Edit: okay wow I did not expect your support like that o.o so the truth is i had a history teacher tell me the pledge is patriotic brainwash. Personally, and this is me personally i agreed 100%. Another reason i stopped, and ive heard they changed it but can't confirm. I am not Christian, im more a spiritualist and when id hear "one nation under god" it honestly insulted me. Not just to myself but to other religions out there. If we are a land of free belief thats not a good way to imply it in my opinion. Okay rants done thank you so much again i read so many of your comments ^^
There are certain things about the pledge that make me refuse to say it
Load More Replies...
Its been a long time since I was asked to say the Pledge. But I would refuse. I staunchly believe in the separation of church and state, so no to the religious elements. And until there is fairness, justice and absolute equality, its all a meaningless charade. Give me secular equality for all (all without exception), then sure, I'll pledge. Once and again Americans, vote in our interests.
Disney pass member here, I have never seen nor heard of this happening at Disney (in Florida).
Load More Replies... Most of the tenants of the pledge of allegiance are completely lost on most Americans, along with it's national anthem. I only stand for it at sporting events to honor the servicemen/women that gave me the right to sit or stand, and to avoid confrontation.
How did killing kids thousands of miles away give you any rights? *tenets
Load More Replies...
Oh you mean we still do that cult s**t, even outside of school? So they do it at school, and then Disneyland, both places where children frequent. Definitely some brainwashing s**t going on, and someone gets yelled at whenever they refuse? Damnnnnn
This feels wrong to say, but the only good Nazi is the Soup Nazi from Seinfeld.
Load More Replies...
No, you should show respect by not talking during it, but you certainly don't have to join in.
I do not talk during it because I am not rude, not out of respect of the flag. I am with the kneelers as well.
Load More Replies...
In Kenya they will arrest you if you don’t stand for the national anthem, regardless of where you are from. That’s different from a pledge of allegiance, of course.
OMG! This drives me crazy. It is truly disturbing how enraged people get if you do not say the Pledge. In American schools, kids need to say it every single day. When I was a teen, I went through a period where I didn't want to; you would have thought I had declared I was a spy for another nation. Kids and teachers alike looked at it as if it was treason. Most Americans truly don't understand how indoctrinated they are and how cult-like it is to make kids pledge alleigance every single day.
Legally, you don't even have to say it. First, your protected by the 1st amendment and freedom of speech, and while some schools do it, that's also not a requirement, due to Jehovah's Witnesses fighting against it, as they are against worshiping/pledging to objects.
mysterious: I'm not surprised Jehovah's Witnesses are against the pledge, but the organization that bankrolled the lawsuits is the ACLU (American Civil Liberties Union). If you value the principles of fairness and freedom written in the US constitution, this is the organization to contribute to.
Load More Replies...
I’m American and I don’t join in the pledge. I’m also Autistic so I am extremely confrontational when people try to give me a hard time.
Are foreigners allowed to pledge allegiance to a flag that isn’t theirs?
In the indian pledge (though being quite a religious country) we just pledge to treating everyone equally and striving for the well being of all people and stuff. When I studied this in 7th grade I was genuinely shocked to know that a secular country with a rule to separate the government and church mentions God in its pledge!
I stopped standing for the pledge in high school homeroom. Vietnam era. The under God c**p was added to the pledge by President Dwight D. Eisenhower.
Gotta admit, as an Aussie who lived in the states for almost a year, the pledge of allegiance freaked me the f**k out. Like, I get Americans are used to it and I'm not going to tell them how to feel about their national ceremonies or whatever, but you have to understand how creepy it is to an outsider the first time you go to an event and hear a whole crowd of people enthusiastically chanting it in unison. It's like walking in on a cult ritual. One of them was actually crying while saying it. It was definitely a culture shock.
Ellie A: Thanks for your comment. I'm used to people standing (and some singing) the National Anthem at the start of sporting events, but not the "Pledge" - I'm wondering what the event was that you were attending. ...The question I really want an answer to, however, is whether I handled a situation with a young Australian student when the pledge was said one-time (not daily, or semi-regularly) in a school setting. I didn't participate in reciting it and I didn't have my hand on my heart (US Republicans were weaponizing it as a stunt), but I was standing. When I saw Lachlan was the only person sitting I made a little motion for him to stand, which he did. I immediately regretted it, but, at the same time, I thought he would probably be better off standing, as a sign of Neutrality, if he was in this setting in the future (not outwardly supporting or opposing this activity). I feel like I missed a teachable moment in congratulating Lachlan for not standing, and offering support to his classmates if they decided not to stand. . . . . . . . . NOTE: This was before Colin Kaepernick (US football team leader) decided to take a knee when the National Anthem was sung -- which started a national debate and created polarization around the subject.
Load More Replies...
Why do you pledge to a flag anyways? Inanimate objects don't really care.
The flag is a symbol representing the US Constitution, which the laws are based on. The only thing that makes Americans "Americans" are the principles/laws which they believe in. The movie, "Bridge of Spies" with Tom Hanks, does a great job of illustrating this point.
Load More Replies...
I look at it this way. When I joined the Army, I took my oath of enlistment one time for each term of enlistment. If once every three or four years was good enough there, it should be good enough in civilian life. Saying it every day or at every public event is a holdover from the paranoia of the McCarthy era and it's anti-communist fear mongering.
Friend of mine was doing a university history exchange for a year, and was asked in class what he thought of George Washington. They didn't like it when he pointed out that as a traitor to his government he should have been publicly hanged.
As an American I don't and won't pledge to the flag. I used to get dhit for it in school but as an adult people really take it personally.
When I was in Canada my sister dragged me to an ice hockey game. I felt very awkward when the American team entered and almost everyone around me stood up. Really weird too that the home team didn't play their anthem.
The whole idea of the pledge seems creepy to me!- kinda cult-ish or dictatorial!? And also a if the American in this story believes a non-American should pledge to the flag- wouldn't that be kind of Treasonous to the individuals ACTUAL country!? Lol
I refused as a teen and was sent to the principals too often to count. It used to be acceptable to force children to be indoctrinated.
I got in trouble a few times for this, too. Was an argumentative child with a good vocabulary. I think they regretted it every time, especially since it never changed my behavior.
Load More Replies...
Uhm, excuse me? doing that in school is weird enough, but in a amusement park? what the actual eff?
i get this a lot when participating in some races/sports events there. i just stand quietly and get glowered at
I stand up whenever we’re forced to do it in school, but I refuse to pledge my loyalty every f*****g day
I attended a British Naval Academy in Wales... My first morning there, they played 'God Save The Queen' .. which is exactly the same tune as 'America The Beautiful' ... I was impressed that they'd go out of their way to play a song honoring me... We don't stand for 'America The Beautiful'... Soooo.. I was the only one sitting through 'God Save The Queen' and I was reamed for that error by the Headmaster .. Sigh.... LOL!
Enjoyed the story, but it's "My Country 'Tis of Thee," (also called just "America" per the internet) not "America the Beautiful" - different songs.
Load More Replies...
Doesn't the money in the USA still say in God we trust? If so have people stopped using it because of being offended because God is on it?
The pledge is the most capitalist thing ever, had nothing originally to do with politics, god, right-wing crazies,etc. it was literally made up to boost flag sales. If they can make something up to require all classrooms to have a flag they can sell a ton.
jaredsbanta: In the 1890's, the US had so many immigrants from every corner of the world (most of them fleeing authoritarian governments) that some way of having them value the principles written in the US constitution was necessary. A quick Google search will reveal your "flag sales" conspiracy to be complete BS.
Load More Replies...
Nope. I mean, I guess maybe I'd get kicked out, but I don't HAVE to say the pledge anywhere.
Load More Replies...
Americentrism has all sorts of other “fun” effects, like US ad texts using terms like “everywhere” when just referring to the United States, or Americans using US name brands to refer to objects like calling a hot tub a Jacuzzi (which is a brand, not a generic name,) or chapstick, kleenex, and popsicles. This is more a result of a lack of alternatives and the ubiquity of marketing in US life than “ignorance.”
Hahahaha! Well that's just rude! They should know better.....we ask the sheep politely to please cough it up when it is properly cooked, of course.
Fun fact: that tsunami changed the fish stick and fishing industry for years and years. Cheap, processed fish products used a whiting called Hake. It was largely caught between Australia and Indonesia, Phillipines, etc. until thousands of people were washed out to sea no one wanted to eat fish that fed on humans. I was a commercial fisherman in Alaska at the time. Pollock prices went through the roof. I also made a ton of money off the Japanese tsunami that destroyed their black cod fishery.
However, in the age of the internet and global media, it’s hard to excuse this level of ignorance. First and foremost, one can just Google anything, or if they have some more time, ask the internet through the multiple dedicated forums out there. The travel subreddit, r/Travel, is quite popular for this very reason. Similarly, “silly American tourists,” is such a popular subgenre of internet content that one would think they could learn something from it.
Yeah but there's been bugger all on it worth watching ever since!
Huh, Germany has higher standards for signage on their road systems than most countries. These idiots surely drove by dozens and dozens of speed limit signs
Idi Amin claimed to be the king of Scotland, maybe these two are soulmates!
Most Americans don't realize the English spoken abroad is largely English English not American English.
You should have asked the tourist why she quit school at such a young age that she didn't learn anything.
Do Australians riding kangaroos have to give way to Norwegians on polar bears?
No, because English is the default language for the entire world, of course /s
She should go to Tromsø, in Norway. There's a place called Åsgård there (Asgard). The most exciting thing in Åsgård is a Psychiatric hospital. (I'm sure she could even meet some gods there.)
I would say just turn on the subtitles but that would require this person to have reading comprehension skills, so...
Sure, why not! One president for all of Latin America! Just like we have one Miss Universe and, uh, Elon Musk, future Governor of Mars.
I wonder if they ever found out that AccaDacca's an Australian band, and that the Youngs were born in Scotland - mind would've exploded!
I just have to throw this in. My dad and his buddies started fishing in Northern Ontario.....70-80 years ago....before I was born. When I turned 12, he convinced my mom to come with him, because my mom thought that Canada was this wild uncivilized country. So, in July, my mom packed my parka and boots and asked my dad if we would have to take a dog sled part of the way. I mean, because Lake Nipissing is near the north pole, right.....right? My mom was college educated.........
Note: this post originally had 95 images. It’s been shortened to the top 50 images based on user votes.
TBF, stupidity is found world-wide, lol. BP really seems to hate Americans (I'm a Brit, btw). We all have our 'village idiots'. ;)
Yeah, it does seem that way. I have seen quite a few articles on dumb Americans but I have never seen one for any other country.
Load More Replies...
Living in the US in a tourist invaded place I can tell you that people from everywhere are often on their worst behavior. On the upside, it has made me a very good tourist.
I accept the downvotes. I am tired of these articles of how dumb we are. I am well versed in geography and speak a few languages. I have relatives and friends in European countries and, to my knowledge, I have never embarrassed them. I did experience a few people who were disappointed that I didn't fit into the stereotypes. But I am a stereotype. I'm buried under student loans, live in fear of the illness/accident that bankrupts me, hates the government's love of guns over lives. And that's exactly it. Our "government." Its not in the hands of the people. Its the rich, corporations and pandering to the religious right. In rural areas. Many want change, but our system is set up to screw us. Making things better for the common man means convincing millionaires to go against their own interests. Its discouraging when the world keeps kicking us when we are down.
Reply to Yoyo here. There are 339M people in this country and yes statistically you can expect thousands of absolute morons that have been baptized in the coolaid. However, giving you a glimpse into US life: crippling debt, waking up every morning to a new mass shooting and watching our "government" do nothing, watching new Hitler rise in Florida banning books and controlling the content of education, being a woman and seeing the "government" believes its more important to allow a child to be born into complete poverty rather than allow a woman to choose her own destiny. I would go on, but I feel the rest of the world knows what were are dealing with here. I feel completely powerless daily. You are wrong. Neither I nor anyone I know is going around saying any such thing. I apologize to BP for my rant, but sometimes getting kicked around because I was born into this shitshow gets to me.
Load More Replies...
1. There are idiots from every country. 2. Some of these are true, I'm sure and some of them are BS 3. Why does BP hate Americans so much? 4. Let's do some posts about, I don't know, "Rude Chinese Tourists" or "Tourists in Europe Getting Ripped Off" or "Romanis Scamming people in France, Greece, Spain..". Why? Because these are prejudicial, divisive, generalizations. Enough with this c**p BP. (In case anybody missed my stupid American sarcasm, I'm not advocating for those topics... just pointing that they are as offensive as the anti-American posts).
i just got downvoted for saying more or less the same and im not even American.
Load More Replies...
I didn't even read this one because I'd so freaking disgusted by all the America bashing. Some Americans are a******s. Some British, German, Spanish, whatever, are a******s. OK BP, pick another country at random and we'll bash them for a change.
Have you seen the recent article on Eastern Europe? Let me reassure you, we don't live that way.
Load More Replies... Just to make Americans feel a bit better about themselves: way too many Brits don't understand the difference between Europe and The EU, have no clue how an island relates to a continent and think that everything east of Berlin is either Poland or Russia. Meanwhile, I had to explain to someone from E Europe, that there are white people living in SA and Afrikaans is not in fact a black tribal language. I also had to explain to people living in a neighbouring country, that we do have electricity and know what tap water is. Neighbouring country. Like literally right next door.
I feel you. My mom's fam is from Eastern Europe and half my childhood was spent explaining that we were, in fact, not happy about Stalin/Communism/Soviet Union/etc. And that we're still *Europe*, thanks so much, despite the Western European tendency to pretend we don't exist until it's time for a land grab.
Load More Replies...
Sadly, after the past 7 years and a total nimrod as a role model.... I think we should have encouraged him to drink bleach. So much entitlement, we aren't all that bad.
Just a reminder: Every nation has their own morons, it's just easier to spot the English speaking ones because we understand what they're saying. Like if someone is saying the stupidest thing, but they're doing it in let's say Finnish, you'll probably never know.
So true. OK let's pick on the nicest people IMHO and do one called "Incredibly Rude Canadian Tourists who Just Pretend to be American Because People Can't Tell the Difference". Soooory
Load More Replies... ... and how about a post like "Europeans tell of how impressed they were with Americans visiting their country". I was just in Greece for ten days. I'm a first generation Greek American. My Greek is not perfect. I had delightful conversations with people everyday who wanted to know where my family was from, why my Greek accent was actually pretty good, etc. They would tell me that they have relatives in Boston, have always wanted to go there, etc. The point being for every idiotic interaction by ignorant people, there are plenty of delightful and wonderful interactions from citizens of different countries.
Entertaining post. But where are the posts bashing China? Or Russia? Sometimes BP looks a lot like propaganda funded by one of those.
i wouldnt say progoganda funded but getting tired of always seeing the American tourists are stupid hurr durr durr posts. Im not American. I just met a lot of tourisits that are way dumber. Why not an "dumb tourists" in general topic? Im Dutch, do you know how dumb Dutch tourists can be?
Load More Replies...
yayyyy we can bash americans again yayyy... fun fact: stupid tourits excist in all nationalities.
As an American, all I can say is that our schools suck, education is mostly focused on American history and not the rest of the world, and our knowledge of geography outside of the country is laughable. I only released that I liked history after I started learning about other countries, not just AMERICAN HISTORY IS THE ONLY HISTORY!
And even then they get the history wrong. It's absolutely horrible when they start teaching about Thanksgiving
Load More Replies... Decades ago I some friends and I were on a tour in Mammoth Cave and a tourist asks the guide, “how much of this cave is under ground?” Spit take! Lol. That’s when we invented the word “touron. That’s combination of tourist and moron.
On behalf of all the normal people in the United States, I would like to apologize for the many stupid individuals you've all encountered. I would also like to apologize in advance for the future increase in American stupidity... many us open-minded, culturally respectful people are opting to raise fur-babies and not actually reproduce... but guess which people ARE still greatly contributing to future generations? ...
There is 8 billion people in this globe. Does it not enough for you?? I pray for those who has only "fur babies". And you should be greatful to them. Jeeeeez......
Load More Replies...
I once had American tourists ask me for directions to Buckingham Palace in London. They didn't believe me when I replied no, cuz apparently English people know every corner of London even if, like me, they live elsewhere and are just visiting. They refused to leave me alone so eventually I just made up some directions. Dunno if they got to Buckingham Palace or not, but at least they were gone.
I know an American disappointed when he came to Jordan & found people living in villas & flats but not tents, riding in cars & buses bot not camels.
I'm sorry all of these people met our idiots. I don't understand how you all get so unlucky to have to deal with them. What is the common issue? Are they poor, rich, from a certain area of the US? I have ties to all socio/econ classes of Americans, except for the super rich. I do not know any one as stupid as these people.
Where I live, tourists from Europe are the ones we hide from. Nothing i sgood enough. Our food, our roads, our hiking trails (?!), our wildlife (seriously, they WANT a black bear to walk up?), and my personal favorite, "your trees aren't the right green!" Um.... I don't know what green they expected. And they're furious we don't speak German, Czeck, Swedish, British English (of course not, we don't expect Aemrican English in the UK or Australia, or at least 90% of us don't).... So if you want "jerks", just look around. They're in every country, every town, every home. Our species is pretty weird/stupid/bizarre, really. I mean, who goes to the US to complain that the trees aren't like "back home" in Bavaria? isn't travel meant to be for *new* experiences?
I was in a "Mister Donut" in Japan, having a coffee and donut and a foreign couple walked in, looked at the donuts and then began trying to order ... in English. The poor guy behind the counter, with panic in his eyes, began speaking in Japanese saying "I'm sorry, I don't speak English!" I was about to get up and go assist them, when the foreign guy began repeating his order SLOWLY and more LOUDLY in English, as if that would help. I had to fake coughing to cover up my laughter.
A polar cruise captain once told me (I worked security in the harbour) that a US couple had asked him when the other sun would come up. He asked them what they meant, and they said something like "The other sun, you know, the midnight sun? When does the normal sun go down and the midnight sun come up?". They wouldn't believe him when he said there was only one sun. 😅
What? That can't be real? Why would anyone think that there are more than one sun? Stars, yeah, billions and billions and billions. But our sun? SMH
Load More Replies...
BoredPanda, you really like to portray countries and people as monoliths. You also really seem to have this weird dislike a very creepy obsession with how “horrible” and “stupid” your US are and this is coming from an expat reader from the UK. Enough with the stereotypes. There are horrible and ignorant tourists all over the world 🌎
I do think there is a pretty good chance you can find incredibly ignorant people of every nationality. That probably wouldn't fly on BP, though.
I apologize for my countrymen who have no sense of decency, respect, decorum, etc while traveling. BTW, Bored Panda, why all the hating on Americans? America: the country everyone loves to hate
Back in 1997, my wife & I were on holiday in the US & went to a cafe in a mall in Eugene, Oregon. The server noticed my accent & asked me where I was from, when I said Australia she asked me if we'd driven & how long we'd been there. I told her we'd flown in 3 days ago. She then asked if we liked it better in America or in Australia.
That would be astonishing if you could drive over oceans! Lol
Load More Replies...
I've had many encounters with American tourists and a couple of American partners and all of them were well travelled or at least not completely oblivious, but many years ago a pair of American girls asked a coworker and l what was the best route to drive back to the States... from Spain. We directed them towards Portugal and imagined they'd figure it out when they got to the ocean.
These are examples of an inadequate education system. While the U.S.A. boasts some of the best universities in the world, their elementary schools and high schools don't seem to know that the rest of the world exists.
Came down here to say just that. I, an American in High School, barely know *anything* about geography because *they don't teach it*.
Load More Replies...
So, in keeping with this theme. This is from a Norwegian sketch show, no subtitles other than Norwegian I'm afraid, but the point is that at the end she's talking to some American ladies, and they're offering her one dollar bills like trinkets... I mean, who are these Karens? It's so cringe... https://www.nrk.no/video/humor/ferie-uten-penger-null-stress_79575212-d5a2-46ae-bde3-f1a11105c06b
Omg.. I am sorry. We are the same side. I misunderstood you so much!! (english is not my first language). Sorry again. I read your comment through again so now I know where I took the mistake. By the way I have three cats and I love them to bits. I absolutely agree with you. And again, sorry for being rude.
In about half of these, it's only a case of minor brain malfunction. If you set aside your provincial prejudices and concentrate on what they're trying to say or ask then what they're saying actually makes sense.
Things like this just embarrass me. I apologize on behalf of the non ignorant Americans who realize the US is NOT the center of the universe and that there are other countries and cultures that have been around MANY MANY years longer than ours. I hate seeing these posts as someone who enjoys traveling and seeing all the amazing cultures in the world I'm so embarassed.
When I was younger and visiting Seattle, a well-meaning American couple asked me if we had "spaghetti in Finland and did I know how to eat it?" Oh dear....no, we Finns live in holes in the ground and hunt mice - except when devouring reindeer carcasses left over from wolves...
I’m an American. I’m also a teacher in a very poor area. Gotta say, some of these are just clearly a lack of exposure by people to other cultures and experiences. I mean, for context. Many of my students will never see money from another country. They will never leave the state of Florida. Hell, they may never leave the city of Jacksonville. However. I have no clue what the excuse is for an American who threw up with the means and education to know otherwise.
I am tired of apologizing for the behavior of fellow Americans. I would much rather have the hooligans responsible found so they can apologize themselves. =P That said, I'm sorry for anything I might have done, but for what it's worth, a lot of people in the US don't think Alaskan are American either.
Got asked by an American shop assistant where I was from. I replied "England". She said she thought I was from the UK. I said that technically I was from the UK as well. She then asked me "is the UK part of England?" Easier to just say "Yes" and take my goods.
I worked at a few of the 'sight seeing tourist' places a whiiiile back (student years)... and every. time... meet people from aaaaall over the world... and without fail... it will be the American (loudly and proudly American, btw, they need to make sure you know) tourist who says things like "Well, so what if it says pence? It's yer money too, ain't it? You got the queen on your money, so does this. All the same." Or... "Har har har... good to see you take REAL money here (referring to American currency)".
I’ve been in the US for 28 I’m originally from a small country in the Balkans. Some of the questions I’ve been asked are. “Do you have cars there? How are you Muslim if you’re white? (this one has been asked by more people than I can remember) Oh isn’t your country in South America? Isn’t that in Oklahoma??” When I explained where it was they asked if we got here by car and how long it took. Were super confused by the accent marks in my name and were convinced my name was made up, that I was just messing with them. Super confused about my southern accent and once again that I’m white but also technically a foreigner. Been asked a couple times if we celebrate 4th of July there and why not. Few people have made really ignorant comments about the war that happened there and how anyone who left was a p*ssy, how they should have stayed and fought.
Just wanted to add I’ve also met a lot of very intelligent Americans who are nothing like the idiots. Ones who amazed me by the knowledge they had about my tiny little home country. Ones who genuinely want to educate themselves about the world.
Load More Replies...
Part of me wants to believe that some of the comments were done in jest but the other half is WTH
Apparently, we have a monopoly on the export of idiots. I would like to apologize on behalf of my nation for any inconvenience this may cause.
Of course, not all Americans are like that. Ignorant people exist in all countries. But we like to laugh at the faults of others... and our own! EH! 😉
I can’t think of any other species where I regularly read of how the members of one region are described as so highly contrasted from the members everywhere else in offensive behavior.
Then you really need to read more books/articles about wildlife, especially squirrels. :D
Load More Replies...
Me and my family live in a 120-y.o. mill house that is reasonably small. Wouldn't be surprised if idiots from this list thought that the area we live in should be a 'Area of Historical Importance' sight. Also, they'd be amazed at how we spoke English without a cockney accent.
French here : an American friend wondered how we could eat disgusting things like snails and frog legs. Told him we eat rats too. He believed me.
Well, if you'll eat snails, rats aren't much of a stretch.
Load More Replies...
On my last trip to Fiji there were mostly American and Australian tourists. The Aussies were all so nice, and so were the majority of Americans, but the one's that weren't were so absolutely mind-blowingly entitled. We were having a dinner at the resort restaurant terrace and a couple from Colorado ordered a bottle of red wine. The waiter brought it with a cooler and the woman went: "Oh nooooo no no, honeyy, you don't bring ice with red wine!" *chuckles to her husband* "Red wine is meant to be room temperature!". Lady, we're outside where the temperature is 32°C (~90F). The idea of red wine being room temperature comes from an era where the room temperature in Central Europe was around 18°C (65F). So I basically had to order us a bottle of red wine just to loudly ask if I can get a cooler and wink at the server. The American couple (mostly the lady) were also loud and bothersome, and clearly the hotel owners were annoyed by their entitled behaviour. The
I've also had US tourist get mad when they can't pay with US dollars (in the UK) and amazed that we had microwaves. This was in the early oughts but still. Dumbasses...
I am a huge book reader. And an American. I don't think any books should be banned or burned. Ridiculous.
Load More Replies... 
Ahh yes, every single one of the 330 million Americans think and act the same. Not one of us is capable of critical thinking, not one of us is educated, nobody in the entire country is well traveled, and we all *truly* believe we’re living in a utopia! So glad you were able to figure out the mind of every. Single. American ever. Your comment absolutely does not reek of ignorance and stereotyping!
Load More Replies... 
When you're always the brunt of the joke, it becomes less and less funny over time.
Load More Replies...
TBF, stupidity is found world-wide, lol. BP really seems to hate Americans (I'm a Brit, btw). We all have our 'village idiots'. ;)
Yeah, it does seem that way. I have seen quite a few articles on dumb Americans but I have never seen one for any other country.
Load More Replies... Living in the US in a tourist invaded place I can tell you that people from everywhere are often on their worst behavior. On the upside, it has made me a very good tourist.
I accept the downvotes. I am tired of these articles of how dumb we are. I am well versed in geography and speak a few languages. I have relatives and friends in European countries and, to my knowledge, I have never embarrassed them. I did experience a few people who were disappointed that I didn't fit into the stereotypes. But I am a stereotype. I'm buried under student loans, live in fear of the illness/accident that bankrupts me, hates the government's love of guns over lives. And that's exactly it. Our "government." Its not in the hands of the people. Its the rich, corporations and pandering to the religious right. In rural areas. Many want change, but our system is set up to screw us. Making things better for the common man means convincing millionaires to go against their own interests. Its discouraging when the world keeps kicking us when we are down.
Reply to Yoyo here. There are 339M people in this country and yes statistically you can expect thousands of absolute morons that have been baptized in the coolaid. However, giving you a glimpse into US life: crippling debt, waking up every morning to a new mass shooting and watching our "government" do nothing, watching new Hitler rise in Florida banning books and controlling the content of education, being a woman and seeing the "government" believes its more important to allow a child to be born into complete poverty rather than allow a woman to choose her own destiny. I would go on, but I feel the rest of the world knows what were are dealing with here. I feel completely powerless daily. You are wrong. Neither I nor anyone I know is going around saying any such thing. I apologize to BP for my rant, but sometimes getting kicked around because I was born into this shitshow gets to me.
Load More Replies... 1. There are idiots from every country. 2. Some of these are true, I'm sure and some of them are BS 3. Why does BP hate Americans so much? 4. Let's do some posts about, I don't know, "Rude Chinese Tourists" or "Tourists in Europe Getting Ripped Off" or "Romanis Scamming people in France, Greece, Spain..". Why? Because these are prejudicial, divisive, generalizations. Enough with this c**p BP. (In case anybody missed my stupid American sarcasm, I'm not advocating for those topics... just pointing that they are as offensive as the anti-American posts).
i just got downvoted for saying more or less the same and im not even American.
Load More Replies... I didn't even read this one because I'd so freaking disgusted by all the America bashing. Some Americans are a******s. Some British, German, Spanish, whatever, are a******s. OK BP, pick another country at random and we'll bash them for a change.
Have you seen the recent article on Eastern Europe? Let me reassure you, we don't live that way.
Load More Replies... Just to make Americans feel a bit better about themselves: way too many Brits don't understand the difference between Europe and The EU, have no clue how an island relates to a continent and think that everything east of Berlin is either Poland or Russia. Meanwhile, I had to explain to someone from E Europe, that there are white people living in SA and Afrikaans is not in fact a black tribal language. I also had to explain to people living in a neighbouring country, that we do have electricity and know what tap water is. Neighbouring country. Like literally right next door.
I feel you. My mom's fam is from Eastern Europe and half my childhood was spent explaining that we were, in fact, not happy about Stalin/Communism/Soviet Union/etc. And that we're still *Europe*, thanks so much, despite the Western European tendency to pretend we don't exist until it's time for a land grab.
Load More Replies... Sadly, after the past 7 years and a total nimrod as a role model.... I think we should have encouraged him to drink bleach. So much entitlement, we aren't all that bad.
Just a reminder: Every nation has their own morons, it's just easier to spot the English speaking ones because we understand what they're saying. Like if someone is saying the stupidest thing, but they're doing it in let's say Finnish, you'll probably never know.
So true. OK let's pick on the nicest people IMHO and do one called "Incredibly Rude Canadian Tourists who Just Pretend to be American Because People Can't Tell the Difference". Soooory
Load More Replies... ... and how about a post like "Europeans tell of how impressed they were with Americans visiting their country". I was just in Greece for ten days. I'm a first generation Greek American. My Greek is not perfect. I had delightful conversations with people everyday who wanted to know where my family was from, why my Greek accent was actually pretty good, etc. They would tell me that they have relatives in Boston, have always wanted to go there, etc. The point being for every idiotic interaction by ignorant people, there are plenty of delightful and wonderful interactions from citizens of different countries.
Entertaining post. But where are the posts bashing China? Or Russia? Sometimes BP looks a lot like propaganda funded by one of those.
i wouldnt say progoganda funded but getting tired of always seeing the American tourists are stupid hurr durr durr posts. Im not American. I just met a lot of tourisits that are way dumber. Why not an "dumb tourists" in general topic? Im Dutch, do you know how dumb Dutch tourists can be?
Load More Replies... yayyyy we can bash americans again yayyy... fun fact: stupid tourits excist in all nationalities.
As an American, all I can say is that our schools suck, education is mostly focused on American history and not the rest of the world, and our knowledge of geography outside of the country is laughable. I only released that I liked history after I started learning about other countries, not just AMERICAN HISTORY IS THE ONLY HISTORY!
And even then they get the history wrong. It's absolutely horrible when they start teaching about Thanksgiving
Load More Replies... Decades ago I some friends and I were on a tour in Mammoth Cave and a tourist asks the guide, “how much of this cave is under ground?” Spit take! Lol. That’s when we invented the word “touron. That’s combination of tourist and moron.
On behalf of all the normal people in the United States, I would like to apologize for the many stupid individuals you've all encountered. I would also like to apologize in advance for the future increase in American stupidity... many us open-minded, culturally respectful people are opting to raise fur-babies and not actually reproduce... but guess which people ARE still greatly contributing to future generations? ...
There is 8 billion people in this globe. Does it not enough for you?? I pray for those who has only "fur babies". And you should be greatful to them. Jeeeeez......
Load More Replies... I once had American tourists ask me for directions to Buckingham Palace in London. They didn't believe me when I replied no, cuz apparently English people know every corner of London even if, like me, they live elsewhere and are just visiting. They refused to leave me alone so eventually I just made up some directions. Dunno if they got to Buckingham Palace or not, but at least they were gone.
I know an American disappointed when he came to Jordan & found people living in villas & flats but not tents, riding in cars & buses bot not camels.
I'm sorry all of these people met our idiots. I don't understand how you all get so unlucky to have to deal with them. What is the common issue? Are they poor, rich, from a certain area of the US? I have ties to all socio/econ classes of Americans, except for the super rich. I do not know any one as stupid as these people.
Where I live, tourists from Europe are the ones we hide from. Nothing i sgood enough. Our food, our roads, our hiking trails (?!), our wildlife (seriously, they WANT a black bear to walk up?), and my personal favorite, "your trees aren't the right green!" Um.... I don't know what green they expected. And they're furious we don't speak German, Czeck, Swedish, British English (of course not, we don't expect Aemrican English in the UK or Australia, or at least 90% of us don't).... So if you want "jerks", just look around. They're in every country, every town, every home. Our species is pretty weird/stupid/bizarre, really. I mean, who goes to the US to complain that the trees aren't like "back home" in Bavaria? isn't travel meant to be for *new* experiences?
I was in a "Mister Donut" in Japan, having a coffee and donut and a foreign couple walked in, looked at the donuts and then began trying to order ... in English. The poor guy behind the counter, with panic in his eyes, began speaking in Japanese saying "I'm sorry, I don't speak English!" I was about to get up and go assist them, when the foreign guy began repeating his order SLOWLY and more LOUDLY in English, as if that would help. I had to fake coughing to cover up my laughter.
A polar cruise captain once told me (I worked security in the harbour) that a US couple had asked him when the other sun would come up. He asked them what they meant, and they said something like "The other sun, you know, the midnight sun? When does the normal sun go down and the midnight sun come up?". They wouldn't believe him when he said there was only one sun. 😅
What? That can't be real? Why would anyone think that there are more than one sun? Stars, yeah, billions and billions and billions. But our sun? SMH
Load More Replies... BoredPanda, you really like to portray countries and people as monoliths. You also really seem to have this weird dislike a very creepy obsession with how “horrible” and “stupid” your US are and this is coming from an expat reader from the UK. Enough with the stereotypes. There are horrible and ignorant tourists all over the world 🌎
I do think there is a pretty good chance you can find incredibly ignorant people of every nationality. That probably wouldn't fly on BP, though.
I apologize for my countrymen who have no sense of decency, respect, decorum, etc while traveling. BTW, Bored Panda, why all the hating on Americans? America: the country everyone loves to hate
Back in 1997, my wife & I were on holiday in the US & went to a cafe in a mall in Eugene, Oregon. The server noticed my accent & asked me where I was from, when I said Australia she asked me if we'd driven & how long we'd been there. I told her we'd flown in 3 days ago. She then asked if we liked it better in America or in Australia.
That would be astonishing if you could drive over oceans! Lol
Load More Replies... I've had many encounters with American tourists and a couple of American partners and all of them were well travelled or at least not completely oblivious, but many years ago a pair of American girls asked a coworker and l what was the best route to drive back to the States... from Spain. We directed them towards Portugal and imagined they'd figure it out when they got to the ocean.
These are examples of an inadequate education system. While the U.S.A. boasts some of the best universities in the world, their elementary schools and high schools don't seem to know that the rest of the world exists.
Came down here to say just that. I, an American in High School, barely know *anything* about geography because *they don't teach it*.
Load More Replies... So, in keeping with this theme. This is from a Norwegian sketch show, no subtitles other than Norwegian I'm afraid, but the point is that at the end she's talking to some American ladies, and they're offering her one dollar bills like trinkets... I mean, who are these Karens? It's so cringe... https://www.nrk.no/video/humor/ferie-uten-penger-null-stress_79575212-d5a2-46ae-bde3-f1a11105c06b
Omg.. I am sorry. We are the same side. I misunderstood you so much!! (english is not my first language). Sorry again. I read your comment through again so now I know where I took the mistake. By the way I have three cats and I love them to bits. I absolutely agree with you. And again, sorry for being rude.
In about half of these, it's only a case of minor brain malfunction. If you set aside your provincial prejudices and concentrate on what they're trying to say or ask then what they're saying actually makes sense.
Things like this just embarrass me. I apologize on behalf of the non ignorant Americans who realize the US is NOT the center of the universe and that there are other countries and cultures that have been around MANY MANY years longer than ours. I hate seeing these posts as someone who enjoys traveling and seeing all the amazing cultures in the world I'm so embarassed.
When I was younger and visiting Seattle, a well-meaning American couple asked me if we had "spaghetti in Finland and did I know how to eat it?" Oh dear....no, we Finns live in holes in the ground and hunt mice - except when devouring reindeer carcasses left over from wolves...
I’m an American. I’m also a teacher in a very poor area. Gotta say, some of these are just clearly a lack of exposure by people to other cultures and experiences. I mean, for context. Many of my students will never see money from another country. They will never leave the state of Florida. Hell, they may never leave the city of Jacksonville. However. I have no clue what the excuse is for an American who threw up with the means and education to know otherwise.
I am tired of apologizing for the behavior of fellow Americans. I would much rather have the hooligans responsible found so they can apologize themselves. =P That said, I'm sorry for anything I might have done, but for what it's worth, a lot of people in the US don't think Alaskan are American either.
Got asked by an American shop assistant where I was from. I replied "England". She said she thought I was from the UK. I said that technically I was from the UK as well. She then asked me "is the UK part of England?" Easier to just say "Yes" and take my goods.
I worked at a few of the 'sight seeing tourist' places a whiiiile back (student years)... and every. time... meet people from aaaaall over the world... and without fail... it will be the American (loudly and proudly American, btw, they need to make sure you know) tourist who says things like "Well, so what if it says pence? It's yer money too, ain't it? You got the queen on your money, so does this. All the same." Or... "Har har har... good to see you take REAL money here (referring to American currency)".
I’ve been in the US for 28 I’m originally from a small country in the Balkans. Some of the questions I’ve been asked are. “Do you have cars there? How are you Muslim if you’re white? (this one has been asked by more people than I can remember) Oh isn’t your country in South America? Isn’t that in Oklahoma??” When I explained where it was they asked if we got here by car and how long it took. Were super confused by the accent marks in my name and were convinced my name was made up, that I was just messing with them. Super confused about my southern accent and once again that I’m white but also technically a foreigner. Been asked a couple times if we celebrate 4th of July there and why not. Few people have made really ignorant comments about the war that happened there and how anyone who left was a p*ssy, how they should have stayed and fought.
Just wanted to add I’ve also met a lot of very intelligent Americans who are nothing like the idiots. Ones who amazed me by the knowledge they had about my tiny little home country. Ones who genuinely want to educate themselves about the world.
Load More Replies... Part of me wants to believe that some of the comments were done in jest but the other half is WTH
Apparently, we have a monopoly on the export of idiots. I would like to apologize on behalf of my nation for any inconvenience this may cause.
Of course, not all Americans are like that. Ignorant people exist in all countries. But we like to laugh at the faults of others... and our own! EH! 😉
I can’t think of any other species where I regularly read of how the members of one region are described as so highly contrasted from the members everywhere else in offensive behavior.
Then you really need to read more books/articles about wildlife, especially squirrels. :D
Load More Replies... Me and my family live in a 120-y.o. mill house that is reasonably small. Wouldn't be surprised if idiots from this list thought that the area we live in should be a 'Area of Historical Importance' sight. Also, they'd be amazed at how we spoke English without a cockney accent.
French here : an American friend wondered how we could eat disgusting things like snails and frog legs. Told him we eat rats too. He believed me.
Well, if you'll eat snails, rats aren't much of a stretch.
Load More Replies... On my last trip to Fiji there were mostly American and Australian tourists. The Aussies were all so nice, and so were the majority of Americans, but the one's that weren't were so absolutely mind-blowingly entitled. We were having a dinner at the resort restaurant terrace and a couple from Colorado ordered a bottle of red wine. The waiter brought it with a cooler and the woman went: "Oh nooooo no no, honeyy, you don't bring ice with red wine!" *chuckles to her husband* "Red wine is meant to be room temperature!". Lady, we're outside where the temperature is 32°C (~90F). The idea of red wine being room temperature comes from an era where the room temperature in Central Europe was around 18°C (65F). So I basically had to order us a bottle of red wine just to loudly ask if I can get a cooler and wink at the server. The American couple (mostly the lady) were also loud and bothersome, and clearly the hotel owners were annoyed by their entitled behaviour. The
I've also had US tourist get mad when they can't pay with US dollars (in the UK) and amazed that we had microwaves. This was in the early oughts but still. Dumbasses...
I am a huge book reader. And an American. I don't think any books should be banned or burned. Ridiculous.
Load More Replies... Ahh yes, every single one of the 330 million Americans think and act the same. Not one of us is capable of critical thinking, not one of us is educated, nobody in the entire country is well traveled, and we all *truly* believe we’re living in a utopia! So glad you were able to figure out the mind of every. Single. American ever. Your comment absolutely does not reek of ignorance and stereotyping!
Load More Replies... When you're always the brunt of the joke, it becomes less and less funny over time.
Load More Replies... 
