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When Americans make the trek across the pond and visit Europe for the first time, there are plenty of differences they might notice: a wide variety of languages, new foods, accessible public transit, paying to use a public restroom, and being made fun of for using the word ‘restroom’ in the first place.
One Reddit user was curious about what people from the US have observed in Europe, so they recently asked Americans to share the hot takes they think Europeans aren’t ready to hear. Readers did not hold back in the replies, from concerns about smoking to pointing out racist behavior, so we’ve gathered some of the most thought-provoking answers below. Enjoy reading what Americans have to say about Europe, and be sure to upvote the points you agree with, whether you’re from the US, Europe or anywhere else in the world!
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#1
Most every European I've met who hasn't been here before has been totally unprepared for the massive size of the US
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#2
We're not "uncultured" it's a 10 hour flight to a foreign country. We can't just drive over to another country for a weekend getaway.
Roger C 2 years ago
Much like Europeans don't care too much about what's going on in Bangladesh, Americans don't care too much about what's going on in Belgium. There's a reason you know more about Brexit in France than Americans. There's a reason you know to start a conversation with someone from France with "Bonjour" before starting to speak. You experience it. There's a reason Americans know more about what's going on in Wisconsin (a US state). There's a reason Americans know to time the 14 hour drive from Ohio to Florida to NOT be driving through Atlanta between 4:00 and 6:30 PM that day because of traffic. It affects Americans. How do you accept a business card from someone from Japan? It's a cultural thing. But if you don't experience it, or need to know, it's not "uncultured" to not know. Do you put beans in Southwest chili in Texas? How about in Michigan?
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David Marchisotto 2 years ago
That's not a real answer. Proximity to another culture isn't what makes you cultured. Part of the issue in the US has a constant stream of know-nothings who tell us that this is the greatest country in the world without paying attention to the facts. When you think everyone else is second to you, you will never become more cultured. You're too close-minded to do so.
Disa Marnesdottr 1 year ago
@Peter Liddle - I know this is old, but good god, I am tired of this stupid comment. The Caribbean is 3500 miles away from me. Mexico is 1300 miles away. Canada is 110 miles away. I've been to Canada.
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Kitti B. 2 years ago
You have internet, libraries. Knowledge isn't based on travelling. Doing research isn't as difficult. You are making excuses.
censorshipsucks 2 years ago (edited)
Er for those of us in Africa it's also a 10-hour flight to the EU. We can get cultural information online and via TV etc., ie by consuming media from other countries. However, it does seem correct that USAns do not broaden their horizons in that manner either, e.g. learning other languages etc. I don't live in EU but understand about 3-4 EU languages, know their history, etc. You can broaden horizons without travel. Also, you don't ONLY get culture from EU! you can read up on any culture.
The Original Bruno 2 years ago (edited)
Imagine if you lived in Pennsylvania, and New York, Maryland, New Jersey, Ohio and West Virginia all spoke different languages. You'd be MUCH more likely to learn multiple languages. Why don't Americans learn multiple languages? Well, I learned French in High School. Spent 3 years. I practically never have had the chance to use it, other than to show off that I've retained a very basic vocabulary and grammar... which I did almost everywhere I went in Quebec, out of respect. And then thankfully the conversation shifted to English, after something like asking for a wormful of soda.
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Bols 2 years ago
Just try to know other cultures when you travel, not stay in resorts :) and please make an effort pronouncing words and names in other languages.... I once was in Barcelona on a walking tour and there was one Spanish girl Ophelia and ALL Americans we've met this day were calling her Opheelia. Not even once trying to pronounce it correctly. It was not even a hard name. I hear this a lot in movies/tv shows.
Weasel Wise 2 years ago
I agree with Brittania, this is an excuse to not read or to participate in a cultural festival. That said, there is a good chunk of southern states that, to this day, have people actively working to erase anything that isn't white. So if you don't have money, it's nearly impossible to become culturally aware.
Llama_flower93 2 years ago
I think what they mean is that because they are so far removed physically from other countries it has created a societal norm of being uncultured. There's not a great need to know about other parts of the world, especially because America is so big itself. Not saying they shouldn't try to be more cultured, as it is greatly beneficial, but I think that's a broader reason as to why many people don't go out of their way to do it.
Adam Jeff 2 years ago
Mexico and Canada are countries too, you know. And you can fly to one of them in under 4 hours from any international airport in the US (except Hawaii).
CC Boom 2 years ago
$$ and passports which also cost money and taking vacations can be difficult since most places don't offer much PTO if at all.
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Debby Keir 2 years ago
You have to learn 2 languages (at least) at every European secondary school.....how many are compulsory in the US?
Jared Gasper 2 years ago
Mexico is close and has a great culture. Canada.... I went to college in Victoria (beautiful city) but it's culture is 90% similar to the US. Exception: Quebec.
Rachael Cox 2 years ago
Depends where in the us you live silly... I most definitely can drive to another country any day I would like to.
CC Boom 2 years ago
For those who say there are plenty of close by countries: this place is enormous. Tickets are not cheap. You have to take time off work which means less money. You can travel if you're rich but for most of us it's not feasible. We do not have mandatory vacation days like many of you. And our education system is absolutely garbage so learning about other countries and cultures isn't exactly a priority. A lot of us are interested in learning more but have to spend our lives slaving away to make some a******s money and live in debt. We don't have time or energy to become cultured. I have an interest in studying many countries cultures but who has the time? And so many Europeans p**s on Americans for things that are largely out of our control. It's ridiculous.
Gardener of Weeden 2 years ago
I get a 2 week vacation, boss allowed me to take one at a time.
Ana Ferreira 2 years ago
Libraries exist, the internet exists, television exists. You don't actually have to fly to ither countries to learn about them. You don't actually have to meet people from other cultures in person to learn about them. You just have to get your head unstuck, realise there's far more to the world that the little circle of your personal experiences, and try to know more about it.
Samantha Kalitzki 2 years ago
Von Staat zu Staat ist das gleiche wie von Deutschland nach Holland, Frankreich 🤔
Wim Cossement 2 years ago
Yes you can if you live close to the borer. And since your country is oh so diverse as you claim it is another county could be a weekend getaway.
Aimee Osborne 2 years ago (edited)
Americans aren’t “uncultured” at all. America is simply not homogenous in the way that many European countries were for centuries, for various reasons. American culture is a vast melding of thousands of separate cultural influences, mixed with a few aspects that have evolved to be “purely American”, like the tendency to hug while still expecting personal space, or speaking enthusiastically and loudly while walking or in public. It’s difficult for any American to blend seamlessly into any other culture, European or otherwise. That’s certainly not to say that Americans couldn’t do a much better job of learning the language and expectations of the cultures they visit, but that applies to every traveler.
Josie Jones 2 years ago
I don't have a border with Africa but I still know it's a continent. Also US has a border with Mexico so...
Thatkamloopsguy 2 years ago
That's funny. You have Canada at one end and Mexico at the other. No 10 hour flight to either.
BewilderedBanana 2 years ago
I'm not saying all USians are like this, but let's say many of the ones i met and spoke to always compare whatever country they're in to the US. "Oh but our roads/cars are so much bigger", "Our buildings are taller", "You'd never do it that way in the US"... I've heard them complain about Italian food in Italy... because "Italian food in the US is so much nicer". Nothing wrong with preferring things as they are in your own country, just appreciate that you're in a completely different country and enjoy the differences. What's the point of that 10 hour flight if you expect everything to be exactly as it is at home? And of course, like many people here pointed out, you don't need to travel to be more cultured. You can learn about other countries and customs without ever leaving your home these days :) I think this isn't something exclusive to USians really - but it does seem to be more common there.
karen Young 2 years ago
That is why the U.S. has festivals! Bet some Europeans don't experience other countries or cultures.
#4
The boring chit chat y’all hate is actually pretty great. Just because someone says hi doesn’t mean they want something from you.
#6
Racism isn’t just an American thing.
#8
We are actually pretty smart as a nation. The stupid ones are just the loudest and the most annoying
#9
In the USA there's a ton of people that actually wear pajamas in public.
#11
There is genuine isolationist vibe happening in the US which only being held at bay by people who feel we should still stay engaged with the world and of course our military industrial complex. Anti European sentiment is seeping into both sides of the political spectrum and even the center.
The question "why should we get involved in yet another European war?" Is being asked a lot right now.
If the US goes isolationist and leaves the EU to deal with the RU China alliance on their own you won't just have some retirement age issues to worry about.
Roland Gosselin 2 years ago
That is overly ethnocentric. America NEEDS the EU badly too, trust me...
#12
Air conditioning, ice, and free potable water are all nice things to have
#13
**A lot** of you are doing the same work and getting a lot less for it than you would in the US. Not if you're poor or close to it, then you're probably equivalent or better off in Europe. But if you are even moderately successful in your profession then your going to have a significantly lower standard of living in practical terms. When I lived in Frankfurt my roommate had a computer science degree and a successful consulting firm but still had to share an apartment with me and take the S-Bahn everywhere. I moved back to the states to make more money, he finally moved to Texas (the scourge of many Europeans ideas of America) and now has a house. Still has everything he had in Europe, just now has more money, space, and independence. Everyone knows the US isn't perfect in this regard, but working hard in Europe doesn't really get you that much. I'm glad I was there when I was young but as I've gotten older I've lost the desire to move back.
Pattie B 2 years ago
I used to work at a company that worked a lot with the UK, Germany, and Belgium, and while this is technically true it's offset by things like public healthcare and a massive amount of vacation days. I actually had an in depth conversation with a British guy about how he could make a better salary in America but still preferred the financial incentives and overall work culture of being in the UK.
#14
Europe is more racist than the US in many ways, but it’s not politicized like it is in the USA. I have black American friends who have been told they can’t eat inside certain restaurants in Europe which would never happen in the US today. Not to mention the way the Roma/g*psies are discussed by Europeans. I was shocked to hear such casual racism there. Often while criticizing the racism in the USA.
Pattie B 2 years ago (edited)
This will probably offend a lot of people, but I once did a deep dive on anti-Black racism in Norway for a school project and it literally made me sick to my stomach. Obviously that's just one place, but damn.... definitely a myth that all Europeans are automatically antiracist.
#16
When people say "Americans are ______" I feel like they don't realize how huge America is. We span 6 timezones which makes it hard to be consistent in anything and it's really impossible to lump us ALL into a single group.
#17
Peanut butter and jelly sandwiches are yummy.
#18
Our ideas of foreign cuisine are basically products of the immigrant experience.
Laura Lett 2 years ago
I specifically try restaurants ,whom the owners are from the areas they claim. Moroccan,they are immigrants,from Morocco. That's an example..
#19
Americans have big portion sizes in restaurants because we have a big leftovers culture. While some people will eat their whole meal, it’s completely normal if you don’t and you’ll be offered a to-go box to take it home. There isn’t really a big expectation to finish your meal at restaurants.
#20
When I lived in Germany: German Girl: “I’ve read that Mexicans in Los Angeles experience a lot of racism.” Me: “Yes, Mexican people in Los Angeles do experience racism. Probably similar to the Turks here in Germany.” German Girl: “That’s different. The Turks aren’t suitable here. They don’t fit in.”
#21
Depending on the European country: your healthcare system sucks, too. I was shocked to find out that friends of mine were just paying for private insurance on top of the government healthcare they had already paid for, and that some of them were coming to the US for medical procedures because they couldn't get them scheduled because the government had decided that they weren't important enough.
Part of the reason you have access to some of the drugs and procedures that were really expensive to develop is that the US taxpayers and patients are paying high prices. Then, after the company recoups the cost, they also sell them to countries with single-payer healthcare.
Please note: I said "too." Our system is awful. I hate it. Most Americans hate it. Crony capitalism.
#22
You’re gonna need air conditioners in your homes pretty soon.
censorshipsucks 2 years ago
Given that USA is the biggest or second biggest carbon emitter, can we say "thanks for nothing" to that?
#24
You have a drinking problem. It’s not a thing to brag about.
The level of alcoholism in some areas of Europe is troubling. I’m amazed at how often people miss work as a result. The levels of colorectal cancer are also twice the rest of the world in countries with the highest consumption.
#25
A very large mixed race country that has guns written into its constitution is a lot harder to govern that any country in Europe. A lot.
censorshipsucks 2 years ago (edited)
Yes, you could also just ban guns. I mean they are called "constitutional amendments" meaning "Changes", not cast in stone dude.
#26
British people mock us for using Imperial measurements and then still order pints at the pub and use “stones” as a measurement of weight.
#27
Stop trading insults with us by saying "school shootings" and then dropping the mic. Many of us are also horrified by the gun violence in this country, but using dead children to win an argument about who has better food does you no credit.
#28
We know other countries do it differently. I am sick of how everytime an American explains their problems, someone pipes in with "well in my country we do it this way". We know. We know our healthcare, politics, and media are f****d, there are a lot complicated reasons for why and simply saying that your country doesn't do it that way isn't helping anything.
#29
Public toilets being free should be a standard
Winnie the Moo 2 years ago
But this is to have clean toilets. Our public restrooms never look like yours…
#30
As a country of immigrants, people will talk about what ethnicity they are. Don’t get mad at me for saying I am of Irish, polish, French and Italian ancestry because I am not ethnically native to this country, unlike a whole other group of people who are. Also yes, native folks do still exist. It’s not like European Americans are the new natives now.
#31
Tanning to that extent looks horrible stop doing that to yourselves (mainly for the UK)
#32
Your population is getting older on average and there aren't enough young people to keep your economies as large. There will be a long period where the quality of life will be stagnant at best.
#33
Quit smoking
What do you think ?
BdW 2 years ago
I do not understand and very much dislike the almost hostility in both the European comments and USA posts. USA is amazing, Europe is amazing. We can learn from each other. Let’s be constructive and nice.
Caro Caro 2 years ago
Such a pity that I read a lot of nasty comments on this thread. The USA isn't a horrible country, has it's pros and cons just like any other country. People went into defensive mode and that was not necessary. Let's be nice.
Leo Domitrix 2 years ago
Gobsmacking how some people sneer at Americans while demonstrating the exact qualities they claim they don't have but Americans do. We're all humans. We're all a-hats sometimes, all nationalist/tribalist sometimes, ignorant sometimes, etc. And we're all most concerned with what's nearest our homes. It's bizarre to be accused of being uncultured by someone in Europe who speaks fewer languages fluently than I do, has been to fewer nations than I have (which takes talent, if you live in Europe), and they don't acknowledge that the Americas had cultures .... until European colonialism wiped them out. Yay, Europe? ...??? I'm confused and depressed after this.
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Alecto76 2 years ago (edited)
For one we are not all the sterotypes Europeans make us out to be. There are a lot of us. Each state is like a different country - different laws, culture, accents. I do take issue with criticizing us for saying we are "going to Europe" instead of specifying the country- its really expensive for us to get there. Its usual to visit as many countries as possible as it may be the only chance we have.
Colin 2 years ago
Yes indeed. I felt more comfortable with my North Carolina friends than the ones I had in Michigan, New York and Ohio
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Mama Penguin 2 years ago (edited)
I love how nasty and defensive some of the comments are when people are sometimes just genuinely trying to say, 'Hey it's not bad here all the time and we're not all gun toting, gas guzzling racists.'
Dave Roger 2 years ago
Oh no, you’re absolutely not allowed to say that here. According to people who comment here, we are all disgusting fat slob idiots with no education who have never traveled outside our own towns and refuse to walk more than 5 feet. The stereotypes here are sickening. And I love how Europeans who have never stepped foot in the US pretend to know everything about this country and the people in it. For people claiming Americans are arrogant, it sure comes across as arrogance to me to believe you know everything about a place you’ve never been.
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Alecto76 2 years ago (edited)
One thing that irritates me is the condescension about how amazed we are by traveling so easily, safely and quickly between countries in Europe. At home, we really can't. I live in Chicago, north middle of US. I would have to drive 8 hours to get to Canada. The other direction to Mexico would take me 29 hours. And that is into the border states which are not safe. A couple of weeks ago, 4 US citizens crossed from Texas. They were kidnapped and 2 of them were murdered. While this was considered a possible case of mistaken identity, and sure the controlling cartel handed those responsible over, its not advised to cross the border right now. If I was to keep driving for 47 hours, I would be in Guatemala, Honduras or El Salvador, which are some of the most dangerous countries in the hemisphere. So of course, the fact you can go safely from Belgium to Luxembourg to France in about 6 hours IS amazing to us.
Dan Holden 2 years ago (edited)
I always wonder why the Canada/US border is so tightly controlled when compared to a lot of European counties. It really seems pointless. Open borders would encourage tourism between the two countries. It's not like there's a lot of illegal immigrants going either direction (and the ones that are crossing that border almost entirely consist of people that reside in neither country), and if it's drugs they're worried about, they're pretty much all coming from elsewhere too.
Load More Replies... Weasel Wise 2 years ago
So glad to know it's not just me noticing constant hostility towards the US by a lot of posts here. I can be sensitive but this thread proved it; every single highly rated comment is someone being defensive and bashing.
30_Helens_Agree 2 years ago (edited)
I’m so glad that I’ve never met any Europeans in my travels who are as prone to stereotypes and hatred as many non-US commenters on this site. I’ve found people to be friendly in every country I’ve been to, but judging by how Europeans and people from other countries talk about people from the states, I’m so glad I’ve never encountered anyone in real life as rude as you guys. Truly, some of these comments are despicable. Not every American is the same. Just like not everyone from your country is the same.
happyhippie 2 years ago
I’m trying to figure out why I even come to this site anymore. I’m sick of being bombarded about what a f*****g idiot I am for being born in the country I was.
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Kate Jones 2 years ago
Wow. I could look up on BP right now at least a dozen 'funny things about america' -style posts and we are usually able to be self-effacing or laugh or agree with certain things with occasional defensive comments but... there some seriously defensive posts on this thread that are downright nasty. Americans get knocked by other countries all the time. You are quite a sensitive bunch.
Mama Penguin 2 years ago
Some people here do need to lighten up and broaden their views a bit.
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Christos Arvanitis 2 years ago
Seems like posts like this are created simply to drive a wedge between Americans and Europeans. These posts are mean spirited and the comments aren't kind, productive or conducive to a good conversation. There are great aspects to all of our societies and peoples and not-so-great aspects as well.
Nenya 2 years ago
Thinking out loud here: It’s almost as if Europeans want to be seen as individuals rather than ‘Europeans’, just like Americans want to be seen as individuals too…? (And I’m sorry for yet keep calling people Americans and Europeans, but as a person living in a European country, I’m just not bothered by that myself)
Jacob Emmanuel Corsiga 2 years ago
Ooh, this one struck a chord. People need to realize the countries in Europe and the U.S all have pros and cons.
Matthew Cook 2 years ago
I'm sorry. I love Bored Panda but I'm not a huge fan of poking sticks at hornets nest like I've seen with recent posts/threads. We aren't doing anything but creating discord. I'm an American. I hate guns. I'm a parent. I fear for my two teenage boys at school. But I love everyone. I want us all to enjoy and embrace and celebrate our differences. Love your Pandas! I love mine
TMoxraaar 2 years ago
Disabled people are treated WAAAAAAY better in the US than in Europe. I'm an ASL interpreter and I lived in England for two years (not interpreting - I don't even know the BSL alphabet). My job was seen as kind of - dirty. The casual cruelty of how they discussed people with any disability was pretty disgusting. Yes, there are still systemic problems and loud people who are jerks, but we at least have the ADA and it's not widely accepted in our culture to treat people with disability as if they are bad for having them.
Nikki Sevven 2 years ago
I'm actively questioning why I spend time on this site every day. The hostility, sheer nastiness, and hatred have left me depressed af. Reading the news would be more relaxing. And most of you are talking out your asses, spewing misinformation and stereotypes as fact, judging all Americans by the tiny minority of loud, willfully ignorant jerks. You're doing the equivalent of judging all Germans by Hitler, never seeing the hypocrisy you're spewing from your high horse.
LokisLilButterknife 2 years ago
This site never used to be like this from someone who has been a reader since it first started about 8 years ago. It was a site that celebrated artists from around the world and shared cute and uplifting news. Now it has become a site that censors users and creates drama for traffic. It also has some of the worst trolls I’ve ever seen on a site and we have no way to block them. There are still som fun listicles, but I miss the days when this was a site that focused on artwork and not a mini Buzzfeed.
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LilliVB 2 years ago
And I thought that by complaining that I didn't like them I could suggest to BP staff to stop doing USA bashing articles. They did, and now they are starting doing Europe bashing articles. If I complain about them too, they will start with another country/continent? Because this wasn't exactly my goal...
oddly_informed_raven 2 years ago
all the comments from Europeans saying how stupid these posts are, and i don't recall anything like this on all those articles where it's things Americans aren't ready to hear
Cold Eagle 2 years ago
Whoops, meant to post here silly phone: Seriously what's with the snarky reply to every post. Yet if the positions are reversed the comments are not the same.
Petra Schaap 2 years ago
I have the idea this article isnt going the way you thought it would 😂
Adam Jeff 2 years ago
The article is 'things Europeans aren't ready to hear' and Europeans are up in arms in the comments - I'd say it's going exactly as expected
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Erik Ivan 2 years ago
And we all hear about the worst things in other countries - and not much else if you don't go look for it. I mean, in my country (Sweden) we all hear about the protests over changed reiterment age in France. And that's it. Nothing else, more then that Macron apparently did not have a wrist watch on some interview. I guess the same goes for most countries: you hear about things from other places that makes the headlines, and nothing else.
Brittania Kelli 2 years ago
I strongly encourage people to do the question/survey at the end of the article where it asks whether you liked the article. If enough people feedback that we don't like these types of articles then maybe they'll not do them?
PeridotPlatypus377 2 years ago
Americans and Europeans keep acting like they know everything about how each other experience their lives in their home countries. How is it possible that we all know everything there is about people we’ve never met in a part of the world we’ve never lived in ourselves. Even by moving one European country over to another or one American state over to another the cultural differences are obvious. Even City to City there are cultural differences. Maybe we don’t really know near as much about each other and how they actually experience their lives as we keep telling ourselves. This whole “my country is so much better that yours” argument that everyone seems to love has always been destined to go nowhere. These kinds of arguments are better at making people feel superior about where they live than they are at actually determining which countries really are superior. Winning this argument is impossible for everyone. Why are we all so invested in it.
Erik Ivan 2 years ago
Every country in the world has wonderful people. And every country in the world has a number of horrible people. Sometimes it's even the same person that are both, depending on whats going on. Also, every country in the world has places that are more or less a paradise. An older man from Lebanon told me this, and nothing I have ever seen has even suggested otherwise.
Brittania Kelli 2 years ago
I have gone through and I believe I have found all my comments and have deleted them. I don't actually think posts like this should appear on Bored Panda. BP, for me at least, is lighthearted and interesting articles. Posts like this do nothing but stir up hate, cause arguments and bring out the troll inside a lot of normally nice people, myself included. I'm happy to find a lot of people sharing the same sentiment down here, I just wish I had come to this realisation before getting into heated disagreements. Sorry if I offended anyone.
Wim Cossement 2 years ago
America is in many ways still a backwater shithole and it's getting worse... Please evolve for the better. https://www.huffpost.com/entry/american-exceptionalism_n_4170683
Tony Dadson 2 years ago
If Americans would just quit screaming WERE NO 1! USA! USA! to every situation imaginable, the rest of us might not be so eager to point out your faults!!
LokisLilButterknife 2 years ago (edited)
It is a load of bullocks. Stereotyping in any shape or form is cruel. BoredPanda has constantly posted listicles bashing users from the US. However, when these users from the US spoke up about how cruel and hurtful these posts were they were down-voted or told to be quiet by some users based in the UK and Europe. As someone who has lived in the US, Europe, and UK, stereotypes hurt. I think this thread taught a lot of European and UK readers what some of the US readers might have felt. BoredPanda really needs to stop pitting people against each other.
Load More Replies... Colin 2 years ago
If you're in any establishment with me and claim you're Irish I'm going to ask where you were born. Once you tell me your grandparents were born there then I'm going to call you American after that. Just because you can get a passport due to your grandparents still doesn't make you Irish. As for Turkey, people are still resentful over the Ottomans. Most of Europe doesn't like Turkey.
North45 2 years ago
Right. Europe definitely doesn't have any questionable leaders.
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LokisLilButterknife 2 years ago (edited)
Ah bless. So it’s alright for people on this site to bash users from the US, but nobody can say anything bad about Europe? That’s a wee bit hypocritical, no? Maybe if you stopped believing all these stereotypes and actually talked to someone from the US you would feel differently.
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LokisLilButterknife 2 years ago (edited)
Stereotypes are cruel in any shape or form. However, this site has constantly bashed people from the United States. When readers from the U.S. have complained that these types of threads are harmful they are down-voted and told to shut-up. Now readers from Europe and the UK (I happen to be from the UK) are on the receiving end of these false narratives and are realizing just how truly nasty and cruel stereotypes. So, why is all right for the U.S. to be bashed on this site, but not alright for other countries? Why is alright for some user from other countries to constantly bash users from the U.S but Europe cannot get bashed? NEITHER ARE OK. Stereotyping in any shape or form is wrong-period! We should be learning about and respecting one another's unique cultures instead of spreading hate.
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BdW 2 years ago
I do not understand and very much dislike the almost hostility in both the European comments and USA posts. USA is amazing, Europe is amazing. We can learn from each other. Let’s be constructive and nice.
Caro Caro 2 years ago
Such a pity that I read a lot of nasty comments on this thread. The USA isn't a horrible country, has it's pros and cons just like any other country. People went into defensive mode and that was not necessary. Let's be nice.
Leo Domitrix 2 years ago
Gobsmacking how some people sneer at Americans while demonstrating the exact qualities they claim they don't have but Americans do. We're all humans. We're all a-hats sometimes, all nationalist/tribalist sometimes, ignorant sometimes, etc. And we're all most concerned with what's nearest our homes. It's bizarre to be accused of being uncultured by someone in Europe who speaks fewer languages fluently than I do, has been to fewer nations than I have (which takes talent, if you live in Europe), and they don't acknowledge that the Americas had cultures .... until European colonialism wiped them out. Yay, Europe? ...??? I'm confused and depressed after this.
Load More Replies... Alecto76 2 years ago (edited)
For one we are not all the sterotypes Europeans make us out to be. There are a lot of us. Each state is like a different country - different laws, culture, accents. I do take issue with criticizing us for saying we are "going to Europe" instead of specifying the country- its really expensive for us to get there. Its usual to visit as many countries as possible as it may be the only chance we have.
Colin 2 years ago
Yes indeed. I felt more comfortable with my North Carolina friends than the ones I had in Michigan, New York and Ohio
Load More Replies... Mama Penguin 2 years ago (edited)
I love how nasty and defensive some of the comments are when people are sometimes just genuinely trying to say, 'Hey it's not bad here all the time and we're not all gun toting, gas guzzling racists.'
Dave Roger 2 years ago
Oh no, you’re absolutely not allowed to say that here. According to people who comment here, we are all disgusting fat slob idiots with no education who have never traveled outside our own towns and refuse to walk more than 5 feet. The stereotypes here are sickening. And I love how Europeans who have never stepped foot in the US pretend to know everything about this country and the people in it. For people claiming Americans are arrogant, it sure comes across as arrogance to me to believe you know everything about a place you’ve never been.
Load More Replies... Alecto76 2 years ago (edited)
One thing that irritates me is the condescension about how amazed we are by traveling so easily, safely and quickly between countries in Europe. At home, we really can't. I live in Chicago, north middle of US. I would have to drive 8 hours to get to Canada. The other direction to Mexico would take me 29 hours. And that is into the border states which are not safe. A couple of weeks ago, 4 US citizens crossed from Texas. They were kidnapped and 2 of them were murdered. While this was considered a possible case of mistaken identity, and sure the controlling cartel handed those responsible over, its not advised to cross the border right now. If I was to keep driving for 47 hours, I would be in Guatemala, Honduras or El Salvador, which are some of the most dangerous countries in the hemisphere. So of course, the fact you can go safely from Belgium to Luxembourg to France in about 6 hours IS amazing to us.
Dan Holden 2 years ago (edited)
I always wonder why the Canada/US border is so tightly controlled when compared to a lot of European counties. It really seems pointless. Open borders would encourage tourism between the two countries. It's not like there's a lot of illegal immigrants going either direction (and the ones that are crossing that border almost entirely consist of people that reside in neither country), and if it's drugs they're worried about, they're pretty much all coming from elsewhere too.
Load More Replies... Weasel Wise 2 years ago
So glad to know it's not just me noticing constant hostility towards the US by a lot of posts here. I can be sensitive but this thread proved it; every single highly rated comment is someone being defensive and bashing.
30_Helens_Agree 2 years ago (edited)
I’m so glad that I’ve never met any Europeans in my travels who are as prone to stereotypes and hatred as many non-US commenters on this site. I’ve found people to be friendly in every country I’ve been to, but judging by how Europeans and people from other countries talk about people from the states, I’m so glad I’ve never encountered anyone in real life as rude as you guys. Truly, some of these comments are despicable. Not every American is the same. Just like not everyone from your country is the same.
happyhippie 2 years ago
I’m trying to figure out why I even come to this site anymore. I’m sick of being bombarded about what a f*****g idiot I am for being born in the country I was.
Load More Replies... Kate Jones 2 years ago
Wow. I could look up on BP right now at least a dozen 'funny things about america' -style posts and we are usually able to be self-effacing or laugh or agree with certain things with occasional defensive comments but... there some seriously defensive posts on this thread that are downright nasty. Americans get knocked by other countries all the time. You are quite a sensitive bunch.
Mama Penguin 2 years ago
Some people here do need to lighten up and broaden their views a bit.
Load More Replies... Christos Arvanitis 2 years ago
Seems like posts like this are created simply to drive a wedge between Americans and Europeans. These posts are mean spirited and the comments aren't kind, productive or conducive to a good conversation. There are great aspects to all of our societies and peoples and not-so-great aspects as well.
Nenya 2 years ago
Thinking out loud here: It’s almost as if Europeans want to be seen as individuals rather than ‘Europeans’, just like Americans want to be seen as individuals too…? (And I’m sorry for yet keep calling people Americans and Europeans, but as a person living in a European country, I’m just not bothered by that myself)
Jacob Emmanuel Corsiga 2 years ago
Ooh, this one struck a chord. People need to realize the countries in Europe and the U.S all have pros and cons.
Matthew Cook 2 years ago
I'm sorry. I love Bored Panda but I'm not a huge fan of poking sticks at hornets nest like I've seen with recent posts/threads. We aren't doing anything but creating discord. I'm an American. I hate guns. I'm a parent. I fear for my two teenage boys at school. But I love everyone. I want us all to enjoy and embrace and celebrate our differences. Love your Pandas! I love mine
TMoxraaar 2 years ago
Disabled people are treated WAAAAAAY better in the US than in Europe. I'm an ASL interpreter and I lived in England for two years (not interpreting - I don't even know the BSL alphabet). My job was seen as kind of - dirty. The casual cruelty of how they discussed people with any disability was pretty disgusting. Yes, there are still systemic problems and loud people who are jerks, but we at least have the ADA and it's not widely accepted in our culture to treat people with disability as if they are bad for having them.
Nikki Sevven 2 years ago
I'm actively questioning why I spend time on this site every day. The hostility, sheer nastiness, and hatred have left me depressed af. Reading the news would be more relaxing. And most of you are talking out your asses, spewing misinformation and stereotypes as fact, judging all Americans by the tiny minority of loud, willfully ignorant jerks. You're doing the equivalent of judging all Germans by Hitler, never seeing the hypocrisy you're spewing from your high horse.
LokisLilButterknife 2 years ago
This site never used to be like this from someone who has been a reader since it first started about 8 years ago. It was a site that celebrated artists from around the world and shared cute and uplifting news. Now it has become a site that censors users and creates drama for traffic. It also has some of the worst trolls I’ve ever seen on a site and we have no way to block them. There are still som fun listicles, but I miss the days when this was a site that focused on artwork and not a mini Buzzfeed.
Load More Replies... LilliVB 2 years ago
And I thought that by complaining that I didn't like them I could suggest to BP staff to stop doing USA bashing articles. They did, and now they are starting doing Europe bashing articles. If I complain about them too, they will start with another country/continent? Because this wasn't exactly my goal...
oddly_informed_raven 2 years ago
all the comments from Europeans saying how stupid these posts are, and i don't recall anything like this on all those articles where it's things Americans aren't ready to hear
Cold Eagle 2 years ago
Whoops, meant to post here silly phone: Seriously what's with the snarky reply to every post. Yet if the positions are reversed the comments are not the same.
Petra Schaap 2 years ago
I have the idea this article isnt going the way you thought it would 😂
Adam Jeff 2 years ago
The article is 'things Europeans aren't ready to hear' and Europeans are up in arms in the comments - I'd say it's going exactly as expected
Load More Replies... Erik Ivan 2 years ago
And we all hear about the worst things in other countries - and not much else if you don't go look for it. I mean, in my country (Sweden) we all hear about the protests over changed reiterment age in France. And that's it. Nothing else, more then that Macron apparently did not have a wrist watch on some interview. I guess the same goes for most countries: you hear about things from other places that makes the headlines, and nothing else.
Brittania Kelli 2 years ago
I strongly encourage people to do the question/survey at the end of the article where it asks whether you liked the article. If enough people feedback that we don't like these types of articles then maybe they'll not do them?
PeridotPlatypus377 2 years ago
Americans and Europeans keep acting like they know everything about how each other experience their lives in their home countries. How is it possible that we all know everything there is about people we’ve never met in a part of the world we’ve never lived in ourselves. Even by moving one European country over to another or one American state over to another the cultural differences are obvious. Even City to City there are cultural differences. Maybe we don’t really know near as much about each other and how they actually experience their lives as we keep telling ourselves. This whole “my country is so much better that yours” argument that everyone seems to love has always been destined to go nowhere. These kinds of arguments are better at making people feel superior about where they live than they are at actually determining which countries really are superior. Winning this argument is impossible for everyone. Why are we all so invested in it.
Erik Ivan 2 years ago
Every country in the world has wonderful people. And every country in the world has a number of horrible people. Sometimes it's even the same person that are both, depending on whats going on. Also, every country in the world has places that are more or less a paradise. An older man from Lebanon told me this, and nothing I have ever seen has even suggested otherwise.
Brittania Kelli 2 years ago
I have gone through and I believe I have found all my comments and have deleted them. I don't actually think posts like this should appear on Bored Panda. BP, for me at least, is lighthearted and interesting articles. Posts like this do nothing but stir up hate, cause arguments and bring out the troll inside a lot of normally nice people, myself included. I'm happy to find a lot of people sharing the same sentiment down here, I just wish I had come to this realisation before getting into heated disagreements. Sorry if I offended anyone.
Wim Cossement 2 years ago
America is in many ways still a backwater shithole and it's getting worse... Please evolve for the better. https://www.huffpost.com/entry/american-exceptionalism_n_4170683
Tony Dadson 2 years ago
If Americans would just quit screaming WERE NO 1! USA! USA! to every situation imaginable, the rest of us might not be so eager to point out your faults!!
LokisLilButterknife 2 years ago (edited)
It is a load of bullocks. Stereotyping in any shape or form is cruel. BoredPanda has constantly posted listicles bashing users from the US. However, when these users from the US spoke up about how cruel and hurtful these posts were they were down-voted or told to be quiet by some users based in the UK and Europe. As someone who has lived in the US, Europe, and UK, stereotypes hurt. I think this thread taught a lot of European and UK readers what some of the US readers might have felt. BoredPanda really needs to stop pitting people against each other.
Load More Replies... Colin 2 years ago
If you're in any establishment with me and claim you're Irish I'm going to ask where you were born. Once you tell me your grandparents were born there then I'm going to call you American after that. Just because you can get a passport due to your grandparents still doesn't make you Irish. As for Turkey, people are still resentful over the Ottomans. Most of Europe doesn't like Turkey.
North45 2 years ago
Right. Europe definitely doesn't have any questionable leaders.
Load More Replies... LokisLilButterknife 2 years ago (edited)
Ah bless. So it’s alright for people on this site to bash users from the US, but nobody can say anything bad about Europe? That’s a wee bit hypocritical, no? Maybe if you stopped believing all these stereotypes and actually talked to someone from the US you would feel differently.
Load More Replies... LokisLilButterknife 2 years ago (edited)
Stereotypes are cruel in any shape or form. However, this site has constantly bashed people from the United States. When readers from the U.S. have complained that these types of threads are harmful they are down-voted and told to shut-up. Now readers from Europe and the UK (I happen to be from the UK) are on the receiving end of these false narratives and are realizing just how truly nasty and cruel stereotypes. So, why is all right for the U.S. to be bashed on this site, but not alright for other countries? Why is alright for some user from other countries to constantly bash users from the U.S but Europe cannot get bashed? NEITHER ARE OK. Stereotyping in any shape or form is wrong-period! We should be learning about and respecting one another's unique cultures instead of spreading hate.
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