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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We are actually pretty smart as a nation. The stupid ones are just the loudest and the most annoying
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.
There are actually more states than Texas, New York, and California.
Public toilets being free should be a standard
But this is to have clean toilets. Our public restrooms never look like yours…
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.
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.
No, but walking away won't ease things for America, only delay the inevitable in that if RU China alliance takes out the EU, then America will be its next target. You do know that this whole isolation thing is being pushed by RU China to stoke division because its easier to take control when countries stand alone? It might sound paranoid, but as a cyber tech the propaganda war is fought in cyberspace.
Tanning to that extent looks horrible stop doing that to yourselves (mainly for the UK)
As someone who spent a long time in Florida, I was shocked to see the number of sun damaged American folk there...I know some Brits worship the sun, but blimey these folks made me happy to embrace my paleness 😊
Our ideas of foreign cuisine are basically products of the immigrant experience.
I specifically try restaurants ,whom the owners are from the areas they claim. Moroccan,they are immigrants,from Morocco. That's an example..
You’re gonna need air conditioners in your homes pretty soon.
Given that USA is the biggest or second biggest carbon emitter, can we say "thanks for nothing" to that?
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.
Really? When was the last time european police killed an unarmed black man in the middle of the day in front of countless witnesses?
In the USA there's a ton of people that actually wear pajamas in public.
British people mock us for using Imperial measurements and then still order pints at the pub and use “stones” as a measurement of weight.
But still, UK switched to metric system. Only USA and Libera are using outdated imerial system now.
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.
Yes, you could also just ban guns. I mean they are called "constitutional amendments" meaning "Changes", not cast in stone dude.
Most every European I've met who hasn't been here before has been totally unprepared for the massive size of the US
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.
Peanut butter and jelly sandwiches are yummy.
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.
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.
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.”
The KFC Double Down will both disgust and delight you.
The boring chit chat y’all hate is actually pretty great. Just because someone says hi doesn’t mean they want something from you.
I think this really does depend where you live as growing up in the Irish and English countryside, everyone was friendly and chatty.It was only going to places like London that I started to see the difference. Guess it really depends on the people and the place.
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.
The way people drive in Italy makes me understand why they're so religious.
We don’t actually think about you as much you (apparently) think about us.
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.
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.
Horrified by the gun violence in the country, but doing nothing about it - is not an insult.
Note: this post originally had 33 images. It’s been shortened to the top 30 images based on user votes.
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.
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.
So, Americans post and, as usual, people bash in the comments. I love other countries, we as people all have flaws, our countries all have pros and cons. Can we please stop with the hostility?
Wow! It's not a thread about how things are better in the US, not a thread about how things are c**p in Europe. And yet the anti-US crowd spams all the comments full of "Yeah, well ... in the US it's worse". No wonder Americans have mixed feelings about us here in Europe. (No, I'm not American).
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.
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.'
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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)
Ooh, this one struck a chord. People need to realize the countries in Europe and the U.S all have pros and cons.
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
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.
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.
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...
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
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.
I have the idea this article isnt going the way you thought it would 😂
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.
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?
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.
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.
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.
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
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!!
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.
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.
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.
So, Americans post and, as usual, people bash in the comments. I love other countries, we as people all have flaws, our countries all have pros and cons. Can we please stop with the hostility?
Wow! It's not a thread about how things are better in the US, not a thread about how things are c**p in Europe. And yet the anti-US crowd spams all the comments full of "Yeah, well ... in the US it's worse". No wonder Americans have mixed feelings about us here in Europe. (No, I'm not American).
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.
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.'
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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)
Ooh, this one struck a chord. People need to realize the countries in Europe and the U.S all have pros and cons.
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
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.
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.
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...
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
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.
I have the idea this article isnt going the way you thought it would 😂
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.
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?
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.
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.
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.
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
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!!
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.