35 ‘The European Mind Can’t Comprehend This’ Memes To Confuse And Amuse You (New Pics)
Interview
Social media can be a bafflingly hilarious place at times. It’s very hard to guess what memes will go viral (or why!). Nor can we ever be certain what will end up becoming a part of internet culture in the long run. However, the relatability of a meme is one major factor to keep in mind. Case in point, ‘The European Mind Can’t Comprehend This’ memes continue to raise eyebrows as they both amuse and confuse internet users in the United States and Europe.
To put it simply, these witty and slightly self-deprecating memes are a way for Americans to gently poke fun at European culture—as well as their own—by showing how different they think they are. The entire point is to post something from the US that might (semi-ironically) ‘shock’ someone living in Europe. Scroll down for the freshest memes and a reminder about how strange internet humor can get.
Bored Panda reached out to Substack blogger and X (formerly Twitter) user @JSlaughterEsq, one of the people who created some of the first 'The European Mind Can't Comprehend This' memes. He was kind enough to share some of his thoughts about the popularity of these memes, as well as American culture and self-perception. You'll find his insights below.
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No. No. Let me tell you the correct response. F**K YEAH!!!
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This looks delicious. Biscuits and gravy is fantastic for breakfast or dinner.
As a Brit I would say this is savoury mini scones in a savoury sauce. Either way, I'd eat it, and probably enjoy it.
Apparently we can't agree on terminology or spelling, but flavor(our) outranks both.
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ngl, the white gravy with the sausage lumps always puts me off because it looks a bit vomit-esque, but yet.. I'd still be willing to try it.
Some places just give you the white gravy, but it's like eating paste without sausage.
Load More Replies... This looks more like a bechamel sauce than gravy too me but whatever rocks your boat...
Similar to each other, white Southern sausage gravies don't have cheese in them though.
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As a Dutchie, I can say that southern biscuits with the gravy are quite tasty, but a whole bowl of them?
Well, they're tiny. My dad took stale biscuits & lard to school for lunch in the 40s.
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Southernees don't eat their biscuits and gravy that way. The biscuits are split and the gravy is spooned (or poured) over them. That said, I would eat those mini biscuits dipped in gravy.
They would probably be even crispier. My mom used to take leftover biscuits the next day, then open face them with cheese on top & put in the toaster oven. Even better.
Load More Replies... A lot of these posts the European mind chooses not to, rather than can't.
I love when Brits look at biscuits and gravy and say, “Those are not biscuits, and that is not gravy.” Sorry not sorry, but in the US, they are.
They want their arteries to harden much faster, their diabetes to take the feet, and heart attacks to be fatal.
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We also had creamed beef from the US Army. My dad used to make creamed beef on the weekends. We'd have 4 extra kids at the table because the neighbors kids would come over and we'd all stuff our faces. Creamed beef is one of the few things I learned to cook!
I had biscuits and gravy but never had mini biscuits and gravy like this. Would like to try this sometimes if I came across it.
This actually does look really good but I'm so confused because those do not look like biscuits and that does not look like gravy. It looks like savoury puff pastry in some kind of warm garlic ranch type dressing?! Or cheese and mushroom?! Also if someone could explain to me how this is a breakfast food that would be great! Would love to try it though!!
I would eat the scones, no problem. I would try the white stuff, but you' have to hold a gun on me. A decent gun, .38 or bigger. I'd risk a hit from anything smaller than that.
It may be delicious, but from here (Scotland) it looks like mini-scones in lumpy bechamel sauce - there's plenty of US dishes I'd truly love to try, but this isn't one of them.
Normally large biscuits with gravy on top eaten with knife and fork.
Those aren't biscuits. That's not gravy- a British person
There are many European dishes similar to this. I'm part Slovak, and have spent much time there and in Europe in general. We have something like biscuits and gravy, but with potato-based ingredients.
I think the gravy is like what some European countries call a "ragout". And ragout goes great with bread-like products. So personally I see no problem here, looks good. But as a breakfast? Ehmm maybe not for me.
Sausage gravy. Made with sausage meat and milk (along with flour or another thickener, like other gravy). We have regular gravy like you're used to, made with meat drippings, water, and thickener, too, but this is the kind that goes with biscuits. Like, in most contexts, this stuff would not be Default Gravy, but if you said "biscuits and gravy" and then it was beef gravy or chicken gravy, that would be extremely weird. (Milk-based gravy with other meats is a thing, also, but then it's usually called "country gravy." Like you could have fried chicken and country gravy, and that would be chicken gravy with milk as the liquid.)
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OMG NO! I've never ever heard of this and it was so much better that way. 🤢
"OMG NO! Another culture eats a food I know of in a way that is different than I do, and I can't accept it nor handle it! Unacceptable!" /s
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We have a gigantic cuisine here in Anatolia but I can still say that must have tasted heavenly if everything is fresh.
Substack blogger and X user @JSlaughterEsq shared his thoughts with Bored Panda about why 'The European Mind Can't Comprehend This' memes have been such a big hit on the internet.
“I believe the meme is popular with Americans because we have something similar to an inferiority complex, and the meme allows us to project our culture as something that is too extreme, rugged, or masculine for Europeans,” he shared his perspective.
"It is partly a defense mechanism but simultaneously speaks to the reality that America has a rugged spirit that appears nonexistent in Western Europe."
Some internet users who see these sorts of memes take them a tad too personally. We were curious to get the blogger's thoughts on how everyone can learn to take these memes, as well as themselves, slightly less seriously.
"I think people need to realize there is truth in most memes—that is why they are funny, and that laughing at our differences is a way for us to better understand each other," @JSlaughterEsq said.
The blogger also shared a few thoughts about the possible culture shocks that someone from Europe might face when they visit the United States for the very first time.
"The size of the US is something that may shock most Europeans," he said. "Visiting New York is not the same as visiting Alabama. It would be similar to visiting Germany and comparing that experience to Spain."
He added that the Southern US is incredible when it comes to hospitality. "Many Europeans would be shocked at how friendly Southerners are. Plus, the gun culture is something most Europeans cannot seem to understand.”
This is how you know it's going to have the one product you can't find anywhere. These things.
The trend to create and (re)share ‘The European Mind Can’t Comprehend This’ memes first started taking root on the X social network less than a year ago.
At the core of the meme is the idea of posting jokes about real or perceived cultural differences between living in the United States and the European continent.
According to Know Your Meme, the earliest recorded version of a ‘The European Mind Can’t Comprehend This’ meme was spotted on July 27, 2023. The post on X featured performer Micahel ‘Chili Dawn’ Castleberry, who played the guitar using a beer bottle, using it as a slide. That particular post, made by user @TPropositi (now @JSlaughterEsq, whom we got in touch with), got 26k likes in a month.
Actually many European countries have rare monster truck tours (shows? whatever they are called), but one or two days per year is more than enough to entertain everyone inrerested.
Two days later, after that popular post, the meme took its first steps toward even greater virality. X user @rob_mcsta shared a photo of an ice box with the tag ‘The European Mind Can’t Comprehend This’ and got 3k likes in a month. Things ramped up after that. On September 4, user @powerbottomdad1 shared a screenshot of how long it takes to travel from NYC to LA by car, getting 67k likes in just two days.
In response, some X social network users started posting ‘The American Mind Can’t Comprehend This’ memes. Some popular examples of this meme, which got thousands of likes on the platform, included pictures of a handle being used to crack open the top of the window, as well as a European Union ID card.
Yeah, Ranch dressing is big here. I'm guilty of putting ranch on lots of things... save salads. I prefer Italian or vinaigrette.
Many folks enjoy these memes, as evidenced by the constant stream of activity on the X social network. X users love making new memes. Other internet users, however, aren’t such big fans of the concept behind ‘The European Mind Can’t Comprehend This.’ They believe that the memes are ‘evidence’ that one culture is ‘better’ than the other. Or they see it as an ‘attack’ on American or European culture. This can’t be further from the truth.
LOL it's not in the US, it's in Ontario - why get damp ogling Niagara Falls with this bad boy down the road? Move over US! (Though if BP asked for "American" eyesores, it would be a win.)
Most of these content creators only ever make these memes to make people laugh and smile. They do this by sharing spot-on insights, purposefully exaggerating cultural differences, or using irony to hone in on popular stereotypes. This doesn’t mean that we should celebrate low-level humor (it’s important to be honest with ourselves about what is and isn’t funny).
However, it does mean that we owe it to ourselves not to be overly serious about something as straightforward as silly internet pics. Travel broadens the mind, and if anything, these memes are an invitation for everyone to expand their cultural horizons.
Most of us probably know that all cultures have their pros and cons. A big part of humor means being self-aware and comfortable enough to accept reality and to gently make fun of our own flaws.
In this case, this means acknowledging that one’s culture might not be ‘perfect’ and embracing those quirks with the help of some lighthearted content. It’s meant to be amusing, not analytical.
Since humor is the main topic here, we have to accept that some of these posts are going to be subjectively (un)funny to some people. Simply put, we tend to like different jokes. Also, you can’t expect all of these cultural comparisons to make sense—many of these differences are hyperbolized to a massive extent, all for the sake of comedy. Some people love it. Others don’t.
The point is not to take the memes (or oneself) too seriously: these images are not objective insights or in-depth analyses of culture. There might be a kernel of truth in them, but the focus is on the comedy!
Cheers Doodles, or that there are different brands in different countries..? 208231011_...716858.jpg 
Again, nobody wants this. It might be made for Americans, but nobody I know would drink that.
I mean, you add some veggies and swap out a meat or two and you've got a Full English. Which leads me to the idea that this should be called a Full Kansas City (or a Full Research Triangle depending on your sauce).
What are your thoughts about these silly memes, dear Pandas? What do you personally enjoy the most about American and European culture? Did you experience any serious culture shocks when you traveled to the US or Europe for the very first time? We always enjoy hearing your opinions, so feel free to share yours in the comment section.
Wait? America has water, frozen into blocks to keep drinks cold? I’m learning so much
They absolutely have stores like this in the EU....even here in Romania. Auchan and Carrefour are akin to walmart, Metro, and selgros are wholesale stores much like costco...though admittedly they do not sell guns, caskets and engagement rings
As an American, I can say that I cannot comprehend most of the things on the list... because many/most of them are not common, albeit a few are. Short version- every country has its bizarre things.
I've lived in New England most of my life, and I can't comprehend a lot of things that are common in other regions.
Load More Replies... Bored Panda continues its quest to create strife between the United States and the rest of the world.
Creating strife is the job of the MAGAts and Retrumplicans. They don't need any help from BP.
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BP isn’t “bashing” Americans. The curate the content of others. Are the top of the page says, this came from Twitter. Take it up with the guy who started the thread; BP had nothing to do with its creation. The info is there; you have only to read it. Then remember this from now on every time you wanna bash BP over what they post.
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It’s just as easy to put together a list for Europe. We have our fair share of weird / odd stuff.
now do one where americans can't comprehend that the worst exists outside the USA
Re comments below - It's not that serious - a Floridian American. I love to see the differences between countries & cultures, and all of them have good & bad & funny. It's like looking at the world from another point of view. But then my favorite movies are fish-out-of-water plots.
The European mind really couldn't give a toss about any of this.
Here's one: King Ranch in Texas is still privately owned: 825,000 acres (over 3,300 square kilometers), and has over 35,000 cattle.
Anna Creek Station has an area of 23,677 km2 (9,142 sq mi; 5,851,000 acres). It is 8,000 km2 (2,000,000 acres; 3,100 sq mi) larger than its nearest rival, Alexandria Station in the country's Northern Territory.
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I thought this was going to be another one of those tired, lame bash-America posts. But claiming Europeans can't understand most of these seems like bashing Europe.
So it's only okay when it's bashing Americans but not when it's bashing Europeans?
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My European mund could not comprehend any if this, Americans are a different breed.
Most Americans can’t either, we are not a monolith
Load More Replies... As an American, I can say that I cannot comprehend most of the things on the list... because many/most of them are not common, albeit a few are. Short version- every country has its bizarre things.
I've lived in New England most of my life, and I can't comprehend a lot of things that are common in other regions.
Load More Replies... Bored Panda continues its quest to create strife between the United States and the rest of the world.
Creating strife is the job of the MAGAts and Retrumplicans. They don't need any help from BP.
Load More Replies... BP isn’t “bashing” Americans. The curate the content of others. Are the top of the page says, this came from Twitter. Take it up with the guy who started the thread; BP had nothing to do with its creation. The info is there; you have only to read it. Then remember this from now on every time you wanna bash BP over what they post.
Load More Replies... It’s just as easy to put together a list for Europe. We have our fair share of weird / odd stuff.
now do one where americans can't comprehend that the worst exists outside the USA
Re comments below - It's not that serious - a Floridian American. I love to see the differences between countries & cultures, and all of them have good & bad & funny. It's like looking at the world from another point of view. But then my favorite movies are fish-out-of-water plots.
The European mind really couldn't give a toss about any of this.
Here's one: King Ranch in Texas is still privately owned: 825,000 acres (over 3,300 square kilometers), and has over 35,000 cattle.
Anna Creek Station has an area of 23,677 km2 (9,142 sq mi; 5,851,000 acres). It is 8,000 km2 (2,000,000 acres; 3,100 sq mi) larger than its nearest rival, Alexandria Station in the country's Northern Territory.
Load More Replies... I thought this was going to be another one of those tired, lame bash-America posts. But claiming Europeans can't understand most of these seems like bashing Europe.
So it's only okay when it's bashing Americans but not when it's bashing Europeans?
Load More Replies... My European mund could not comprehend any if this, Americans are a different breed.
Most Americans can’t either, we are not a monolith
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