“Can Someone Please Tell Me”: American Says They Are “Confused” By These 30 Things In Britain
Even though Britain and America share the same language, these two countries couldn’t be more different. Whether it’s their quirky accent, absurd sense of humor, or baffling obsession with tea and the weather, Brits have a gift of leaving people on the other side of the Atlantic Ocean scratching their heads from confusion.
So when swfinds moved across the pond, they began noticing all the things in the UK that "puzzle" them. Getting to a new country and immersing in its culture left the American so baffled, they started a satirical TikTok account to create hilariously exaggerated videos and to make others laugh.
Bored Panda collected some of the "weirdest" things the user has posted. Check them out below and make sure to upvote the most comical ones. And if you have a funny explanation on hand, don’t be shy and share it with us in the comments!
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Cos mousies need homes with fancy schmancy front doors. In the UK the mice don't live like peasants. They be fancy AF. And it's cute.
Naturally, every country has its quirks that immediately strike you as different. But this time around, Great Britain deserves special recognition. From wondering what those yellow bins on the side of the road are to asking why the subway is called underground when it’s actually above ground, swfinds bio humorously states: “So many things in the UK confuse me!”
The user regularly posts exaggerated clips of "weird" things they encounter in the UK. Many people seem to find them entertaining since the creator has gathered more than 34.6K followers and 2.6M likes in just a few months. The simple and sometimes silly questions have irritated some Brits and Americans, leading to commenters saying that the account is in fact satire.
Here in Holland they are giant concrete balls and here they are meant to deter motorists from driving on the sidewalks. So I guess same but with metal cones?
While moving overseas can be a thrilling experience—meeting new people, tasting traditional foods, exploring unfamiliar cities—it can also be a difficult and overwhelming time. Although some people can fit in quite easily, others might take longer to familiarize themselves with the new country.
According to UWS London, we experience culture shock because of the specific challenges we face when we first move and how we deal with losing our familiar surroundings. So if your new environment is similar to the one you came from or if you have lived in another country before, you might be able to adapt quite smoothly.
True story, America did try to adopt them by pretending they invented them and calling them something like pastry dogs only to be called out globally for their bullsh*t
However, if you’re a foreign student or a first-time expat who has never lived abroad before, you might face some challenges. There are four stages of culture shock that you could experience in one year. Of course, every person has different experiences, and some process the changes quicker than others, but most people share similar feelings.
First is the honeymoon phase. When you move somewhere new, you can have great fun and enjoy unexpected things around you. It is also known as the “tourist” stage: [It] often includes the feelings of excitement that you have as you look forward to the new journey you are starting.”
Yet, the honeymoon eventually ends, and you have to deal with the reality. This is the negotiation stage, probably the worst one of your whole adventure. “You may feel exhausted and constantly tired of the discoveries you have been making. You may also feel frustrated by how different things are from what you are used to,” UWS London explained. "The aspects of your new life that you found endearing at first, may feel irritating or confusing when you’re in the negotiation stage.”
After that, you begin to adjust to your current living situation and learn how to manage your feelings. Your baffling thoughts that are trying to make sense of how and why things are so different, suddenly become clearer. “During this stage, you may still experience problems and negative feelings” but you begin to understand more about your surroundings.
The final stage of culture shock is adaptation and acceptance. Even if you may never fully accept your new home, you no longer feel isolated or lonely and are used to your day-to-day life and activities with friends. In this phase, “many people can permanently say goodbye to culture shock and feel happier and more secure in their environment long-term.”
Because many of our homes were built before we had proper roads. There wouldn't have been any cars when that house was built.
Why do they keep suggesting simple things are "dangerous"?
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You mean murder portals? It's for when unwanted guests. We push them out of the door hard into oncoming traffic
We have this in the USA. Especially on the eastern seaboard in the older city neighborhoods. Common all over PA. Apparently, this American OP of this thread is not very bright.
Well considering the fact that the majority of Amer. homes don't have those types of doors, doesn't mean OP isn't bright. It just means he/she comes from a part of the country that doesn't have them. You're the one who's not bright if you think that.
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The doors don't look any different than the ones here in the land of mass shootings and diabetes.
Dude with highest guncount in the world calls that nice piece of pavement dangerous lmao
My house is on one of the oldest streets in my town, and opens up onto the pavement but I don't mind so much as I have a front door then a storm door before the street so isn't too bad.
We don't all have space for a huge front lawn with sprinklers. It's a small frikkin' country.
Why would sidewalk be dangerous? Why should people live in a gated comunity with zero inducement like in a zoo?
In many US cities, front doors are elevated and have stairs because they didn't want horse poop to roll in the door when you opened it. The streets would have a very thick layer of poop. Also human poop, people threw it out the window.
Doors tiny because they open into the living room, without a porch or hallway. Only dangerous since the car was invented, many like this predate the combustion engine by 100 years or more!
It's not uncommon for homes to be one, two or even three hundred years old (with many even older) in the UK. These terraced cottages appear to date from the first half of the nineteenth century, and housing of this type was usually originally built to house workers during and following the industrial revolution. They were never intended to be fancy, and were built to the standards of the time. However they do tend to be very solidly made and make great starter homes, with lots of character.
Many of our homes were built before cars existed. Hell, many were built before the US of A existed.
The US version (think Philidelphia or Baltimore) tend to have a 'stoop' or a few stairs so it not directly door to sidewalk.
Many of these houses were built en masse by Victorian factory owners looking to house as many workers as possible in the smallest area. And there were no cars, so the areas would not have been so dangerous.
I live to read the comments, first of all, curiosity, second, COMIC RELIEF!!!!
Think about he fact you aren’t in the US, then think some more. You will figure it out.
Dangerous sidewalk? Whatever. Exit doors open inwards, so it's not as if a pedestrian will get whapped in the face. You'll find the same in Massachusetts cities.
I was in Philadelphia, and entire neighborhoods were like this.
You also find the same thing in older sections of some U.S. cities, such as Boston, New York, Philadelphia, Williamsburg, Georgetown in D.C., Alexandria, Va., etc.
Almost all?????? I don't think so! they are what used to be worker's houses for the mills and factories. The doors open out to give more space inside!
Not "most" homes, but many. These houses were often built by mill owners for their workers. They wouldn;t have had cars, in fact even the roads were cobbled as seen in ths photo. This is a small island with a ig populaton so we don;t have room for such niceties as gardens. I do believe we've had electricity and running water in recent years.....
This size of house is small for its design, the British don't go for huge houses. We live on a small island. That is a pavement for pedestrians. It is quite safe. This house was built before cars were common. These style of houses provide great accommodation for many people, and tend to be part of vibrant communities.
OP has never been to New Orleans I guess. Lol. Sometimes you open your front door and it's literally a river. But that's because the city is below sea level and floods even when it drizzles. Nevertheless, it's the exact same set up.
I'm sorry, but has this person been attacked by any "dangerous" sidewalks? Maybe it's a size thing. Brit living in the States, here. Look, a lot of Americans don't realise that England can fit into the state of New Jersey. The UK just isn't that big. Everything is massive in the USA, from the fountain drinks a small dog could swim in, the pick up trucks like the Ford 250 that people who don't work in labour/trades drive for giggles, the egos, the fun and the bloody country. The Mini would NEVER have made it past the drawing board if it had launched in America.
Older neighborhoods in the Middle East are the same. Doors open right up into small narrow streets. Was a nightmare of stress driving down those streets yet natives just barreled on through with no hesitation.
I think this is the coolest thing of all. I marvel at the thought of a political leader being literally on a street just like...a normal person. But then ya'll have "royals" who pretend to be appointed by "god" to be rich and chill. So it balances it out for me.
Because we're not as fat as you so an elephant sized door isn't necessary?
We also do not have the huge amounts of space to build houses with huge footprints. It's a small island; we don't waste it.
In case of fire inside the house, the door opens away from you. Easier to get out. PLUS it adds a bit more space inside the house
Not what they meant and not true. Not many homes in the UK have outward opening front doors. They merely meant that you step onto a street. Which is because the house came long before cars.
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Try to remember that the feelings you’re going through are completely normal and that most expats go through this too. Culture shock is not a sign things are going badly, but a part of the whole experience. One day, you will probably look back on this time and see that it was full of sweet moments.
Because they were often houses or shops that were converted to be restaurants by the look of it.
These are very unusual: possibly 2 on the country. The one in the town of Slough is known as the "magic roundabout".
Sometimes the crime rate is so high that the courts just put a tag on the whole town to save time
Feudal Realty. The seller chooses as many realty companies as they like and the best champions are chosen to represent them in the arena and fight to the death until either one survives or the house gets sold
Because we aren't as fat so we actually fit in. Plus most toilets aren't this small
One is hot. The plumber who installed this ran out of hot labeled taps.
Stop calling things "dangerous" that you don't understand! The top bit is metal so that it IS safe
We in europe don't wash the eggs the way the US does. So the layer that is naturally on the egg to prevent infection isn't broken and its safe to keep them out if you want.
Note: this post originally had 44 images. It’s been shortened to the top 30 images based on user votes.
I know this must be trolling, but my blood pressure as a Brit has sky rocketed
It was all meant to just be a joke. Remember this 'calm down dear? For once Michael Winner ( also used by David Cameron with typically poor judgement in the House of Commons) has a point.
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I'm amazed at how people are jumping on their horses about these ..common the guy is just making light jokes and trying to be fun. and find it even weirder if British people who are well known for their great sense of humor calls the dude an idiot or such
I forcused on the joke responses, much more the British way!
Load More Replies... Sorry pandas - but I really don't know how some of these questions (some are legit) but the majority must be asked by people who can't tie their own shoelaces! (I know down votes will be on most of my comments but geeze use your heads)
I know he's trying to be funny, but the whole post could be summed up as "Why isn't Britain America?"
Why isn't America Britain?, alternatively.
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I get that he's joking. I mean, it says right there in the title of the article that he's trying to be sarcastic. But....he failed miserably.
Yes, it is a piss-take. If you read the blurb at the beginning it clearly explains it is meant to be satire. You aren't alone in missing that apparently!
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Lmao at people getting heated but flappin their electronic lips every time a post is about America. Chill the f**k out and get over yourself
Please note* Not ALL Americans are this dense. Clearly, our American education system failed this silly one. Smh
I’m pretty sure this is why we’re known for being one of the least educated countries out there (I’m a American myself, don’t come for my head)
Don't be too hard on yourselves. All countries are a mix of abilities. It's meant to be a joke account - it might not be to many people's tastes but I certainly don't think it's representative of the average American. All the ones I've met in my travels have been smart, kind and funny.
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Can someone please tell me why I wasted 3 minutes of my life reading this post?
Did you really question everyone why you made a choice? OK here's my shot, your life is boring so you blankly stare at a screen and wonder why..
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Me, too, the only thing was the wand. I'm surprised he didn't recognize the mouse house door, though, and who goes noseying around a friend's home like that?
Load More Replies... It's just some very bored kid trying to annoy us Brits. I'm surprised they didn't take a photo of the Victorian actor outside the Baker St Holmes museum and ask why all Brits dress like that. Perhaps one of us should take similar idiotic pictures in the US and post them all over TikTok and Reddit. See how long it takes to get onto Bored Panda.
About 37 minutes I reckon. Especially given the number of comments complaining that BP is a US-bashing site. BP: come for the funny pics, stay for the rampant xenophobia
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I know two of these, mabey three. but these are LEGIT questions by Americans. british eggs aren't stripped with LYE to clean them, and don't have to take a week or two getting to market. the bricked over windows are because your property tax used to be done by your window count! they have seperate taps because they used to have rooftop storage tanks that critters would crawl into and die in; it was a way to have at least ONE tap of clean water. those biscuts aren't for breakfast, they're for tea and dessert. british cheddar is ACTUAL cheddar, not American processed cheeze (and brits, american chedder is bright yellow 'cause it wouldn' be recognized as cheddar if it wasn't). and obviouly, the washing machine is in the kitchen 'cause of limited space and so you don't have to run more plumbing.
USA eggs have cuticle, a natural protective layer on the egg, washed off, USDA regulations required. European eggs have to retain the cuticle. Thus US eggs would be illegal and vise versa
I am so disappointed. I recently moved back to the states from the UK and had many of the same questions, only to find a bunch of smart assed answers that think they are funny.
Can someone explain why they have so many guns in the US? It's so dangerous!
I feel like everything went from lighthearted to a hatefest. I usually come to connect and laugh but wow, so not the thread I guess.
As an American, I agree these posts are annoying.I really enjoyed the pics though! I admit I've never seen some of that stuff but you can figure it out if you use your head lol. Would love to visit someday!
Ps.. Also have never heard of New York buns 🤣 and author thinking everything is "'dangerous"'! 🤣 I can't
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I think the questions in the above article weren't written by an American. The tip off was the inquiry attached to #20. We call the items shown in #20 shopping carts. We do not call them trolleys. I've never heard these vehicles called trolleys in the US. Trolley is used by Brits. BTW, isn't the whole point of being a tourist in another land, to discover the other culture's oddities, traditions, culture? So if a tourist actually has these questions, why wouldn't it be considered normal?
Can someone please tell me why most of the posts are from the same dumbass tiktoker? I mean for f**k sake I'm an American and I recognized what and why most of these things were.
It's his account, his story, his channel...pick one🤦♀️
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The problem is that there's a mix of legit questions and legit trolling, so of course people don't know what to do with it. Not a good idea to use this one, BP
Well, uh, they don't seem to be American considering that they used "trolley" when they were talking about a shopping cart.. so.. maybe rethink that one, dude. And no, Americans are not stupid, ffs. I knew most of those.
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You guys really hate americans. Sorry our country isnt thousands of years old and attached to 20 other countries. Sorry we have so much undeveloped land we dont have to reuse buildings from before cars existed (except in places like new york). Sorry our depression era caused us to make shitty, overly sugary foods we still eat. Really sorry people lost interest in politics allowing politicians to run around like the kids in Lord of the Flies. Sorry we measure s**t weird, dont pay our servers, have the worst healthcare on the planet, talk loudly and have no concept of world geography. I am. But ya'll being snobby af. Acting like the "popular" kids at school and looking down your nose at us wont make us want to be your friend. Or learn about your culture.
No, this op is a typical American. Americans have an imperial attitude and complete ignorance of the rest of the world
Did you not read the opening info? It is a joke account and not meant to be taken seriously. Granted it isn't that funny but I've also seen worse.
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Or it is a satirical account as explained at the start.
Load More Replies... I'm calling Bullsh*t on a lot of these. Anyone who can read at the most fundamental level can see the information *on the packaging*. Someone's messing with us. I'm AMerican and got offended on the UK's behalf. And the US's behalf. HOw about someone post on "Things in the UK that *Germans* find weird"? Or the French? Or the Japanese? Heck, what about the weird sh*t you find in the US in some places? YOu ain't lived till you've stood by a *volcano evacuation route* sign, and, by turning around, found you were on the *tsunami evacuation route* too! (No, not common, but if the only place a Brit visited was the Seattle, WA region... )
It does say right at the start that it is a satirical TikTok account to create hilariously exaggerated videos. They haven't managed the 'hilarious' part but they do seem to me to have got it right with 'exaggerated'.
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I know this must be trolling, but my blood pressure as a Brit has sky rocketed
It was all meant to just be a joke. Remember this 'calm down dear? For once Michael Winner ( also used by David Cameron with typically poor judgement in the House of Commons) has a point.
Load More Replies... I'm amazed at how people are jumping on their horses about these ..common the guy is just making light jokes and trying to be fun. and find it even weirder if British people who are well known for their great sense of humor calls the dude an idiot or such
I forcused on the joke responses, much more the British way!
Load More Replies... Sorry pandas - but I really don't know how some of these questions (some are legit) but the majority must be asked by people who can't tie their own shoelaces! (I know down votes will be on most of my comments but geeze use your heads)
I know he's trying to be funny, but the whole post could be summed up as "Why isn't Britain America?"
Why isn't America Britain?, alternatively.
Load More Replies... I get that he's joking. I mean, it says right there in the title of the article that he's trying to be sarcastic. But....he failed miserably.
Yes, it is a piss-take. If you read the blurb at the beginning it clearly explains it is meant to be satire. You aren't alone in missing that apparently!
Load More Replies... Lmao at people getting heated but flappin their electronic lips every time a post is about America. Chill the f**k out and get over yourself
Please note* Not ALL Americans are this dense. Clearly, our American education system failed this silly one. Smh
I’m pretty sure this is why we’re known for being one of the least educated countries out there (I’m a American myself, don’t come for my head)
Don't be too hard on yourselves. All countries are a mix of abilities. It's meant to be a joke account - it might not be to many people's tastes but I certainly don't think it's representative of the average American. All the ones I've met in my travels have been smart, kind and funny.
Load More Replies... Can someone please tell me why I wasted 3 minutes of my life reading this post?
Did you really question everyone why you made a choice? OK here's my shot, your life is boring so you blankly stare at a screen and wonder why..
Load More Replies... Me, too, the only thing was the wand. I'm surprised he didn't recognize the mouse house door, though, and who goes noseying around a friend's home like that?
Load More Replies... It's just some very bored kid trying to annoy us Brits. I'm surprised they didn't take a photo of the Victorian actor outside the Baker St Holmes museum and ask why all Brits dress like that. Perhaps one of us should take similar idiotic pictures in the US and post them all over TikTok and Reddit. See how long it takes to get onto Bored Panda.
About 37 minutes I reckon. Especially given the number of comments complaining that BP is a US-bashing site. BP: come for the funny pics, stay for the rampant xenophobia
Load More Replies... I know two of these, mabey three. but these are LEGIT questions by Americans. british eggs aren't stripped with LYE to clean them, and don't have to take a week or two getting to market. the bricked over windows are because your property tax used to be done by your window count! they have seperate taps because they used to have rooftop storage tanks that critters would crawl into and die in; it was a way to have at least ONE tap of clean water. those biscuts aren't for breakfast, they're for tea and dessert. british cheddar is ACTUAL cheddar, not American processed cheeze (and brits, american chedder is bright yellow 'cause it wouldn' be recognized as cheddar if it wasn't). and obviouly, the washing machine is in the kitchen 'cause of limited space and so you don't have to run more plumbing.
USA eggs have cuticle, a natural protective layer on the egg, washed off, USDA regulations required. European eggs have to retain the cuticle. Thus US eggs would be illegal and vise versa
I am so disappointed. I recently moved back to the states from the UK and had many of the same questions, only to find a bunch of smart assed answers that think they are funny.
Can someone explain why they have so many guns in the US? It's so dangerous!
I feel like everything went from lighthearted to a hatefest. I usually come to connect and laugh but wow, so not the thread I guess.
As an American, I agree these posts are annoying.I really enjoyed the pics though! I admit I've never seen some of that stuff but you can figure it out if you use your head lol. Would love to visit someday!
Ps.. Also have never heard of New York buns 🤣 and author thinking everything is "'dangerous"'! 🤣 I can't
Load More Replies... I think the questions in the above article weren't written by an American. The tip off was the inquiry attached to #20. We call the items shown in #20 shopping carts. We do not call them trolleys. I've never heard these vehicles called trolleys in the US. Trolley is used by Brits. BTW, isn't the whole point of being a tourist in another land, to discover the other culture's oddities, traditions, culture? So if a tourist actually has these questions, why wouldn't it be considered normal?
Can someone please tell me why most of the posts are from the same dumbass tiktoker? I mean for f**k sake I'm an American and I recognized what and why most of these things were.
It's his account, his story, his channel...pick one🤦♀️
Load More Replies... The problem is that there's a mix of legit questions and legit trolling, so of course people don't know what to do with it. Not a good idea to use this one, BP
Well, uh, they don't seem to be American considering that they used "trolley" when they were talking about a shopping cart.. so.. maybe rethink that one, dude. And no, Americans are not stupid, ffs. I knew most of those.
Load More Replies... You guys really hate americans. Sorry our country isnt thousands of years old and attached to 20 other countries. Sorry we have so much undeveloped land we dont have to reuse buildings from before cars existed (except in places like new york). Sorry our depression era caused us to make shitty, overly sugary foods we still eat. Really sorry people lost interest in politics allowing politicians to run around like the kids in Lord of the Flies. Sorry we measure s**t weird, dont pay our servers, have the worst healthcare on the planet, talk loudly and have no concept of world geography. I am. But ya'll being snobby af. Acting like the "popular" kids at school and looking down your nose at us wont make us want to be your friend. Or learn about your culture.
No, this op is a typical American. Americans have an imperial attitude and complete ignorance of the rest of the world
Did you not read the opening info? It is a joke account and not meant to be taken seriously. Granted it isn't that funny but I've also seen worse.
Load More Replies... Or it is a satirical account as explained at the start.
Load More Replies... I'm calling Bullsh*t on a lot of these. Anyone who can read at the most fundamental level can see the information *on the packaging*. Someone's messing with us. I'm AMerican and got offended on the UK's behalf. And the US's behalf. HOw about someone post on "Things in the UK that *Germans* find weird"? Or the French? Or the Japanese? Heck, what about the weird sh*t you find in the US in some places? YOu ain't lived till you've stood by a *volcano evacuation route* sign, and, by turning around, found you were on the *tsunami evacuation route* too! (No, not common, but if the only place a Brit visited was the Seattle, WA region... )
It does say right at the start that it is a satirical TikTok account to create hilariously exaggerated videos. They haven't managed the 'hilarious' part but they do seem to me to have got it right with 'exaggerated'.
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