The United States is the third largest country in the world with a population of more than 335 million, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Here, a child is born every 8 seconds.
In addition to Indigenous Americans who were already living there before the Europeans discovered it, the country was built on immigration.
Because of this, the United States is one of the most culturally diverse nations in the world. It is sometimes described as a "melting pot", in which different cultures have contributed their own distinct "flavors" to American culture.
But as much as the distinctiveness fascinates foreigners, it also has them raising their eyebrows. This is especially evident in a recent Reddit thread, started by user 421continueblazingit, who asked non-Americans on the platform to share which of the local customs make no sense to them.
This post may include affiliate links.
Why is medical bankruptcy not at the absolute f*****g top of this list?
Kids beauty pageants.
Parents are willingly sexualizing their children.
It’s weird.
Why do politicians finish their speeches 'God bless America' and similar? It gives me shivers! Theocracy is not a good thing. Let's have separation between church and state and between religion and politics, shall we? I believe, in fact, that your country was actually built on the principle of that separation, was it not?
I also hate it when they call the u.s. “the greatest country in the world”. No it’s not, and I’m American.
Cashiers who aren't allowed to sit during their work
Like.... Why??
The rational is that customers will think they are lazy and just sitting around, which is dumb. You can still tell if they are working, even if they are sitting.
Calling a team "World Champions' of a sport that only your country competes in.
Home owner associations dictating the smallest details of your own home.
Having to find somebody to cover shifts when you're off on leave/sick.
Isn't that literally what the manager is there for?
Normally the manager does take care of it. I never worked a job where I had to take care of it myself. But low-paying jobs often don't have sick days or sick leave, so that would probably be where that would happen.
Gender reveal parties, I couldn't give a f**k what you're having and you shouldn't give f**k what I'm having. I hate that it's slowly becoming a thing in the UK.
Maybe if we start calling them sex celebration parties, they will die off
Paid maternity leave not being legislated as a basic employment right.
Fear of anything 'not capitalist' being somehow 'communist' . E.g universal healthcare. Yet at the same time being terrified of 'big pharma'. It literally works in 100s of other non-communist countries.
Most of these people couldn't tell the difference. A comedian hit up a MAGA rally recently and started pitching ideas from Marx's Das Capital, without using the words, communism, socialism, or capitalism and found some very enthusiastic supporters in red hats.
The tipping culture. Working a job and then having to depend on charity seems extremely wierd. I don't understand how people put up with that, having employment but having to basically beg for money to survive.
Tye s****y thing is if you protest this in the US, and you don't tip, it only hurts your server, and not the establishment that employs them.
American flags literally everywhere.
The number of people who keep large 'collections' of rusty cars & farm equipment in the garden.
The startling difference between the attitudes to sex & violence. Kids will see literally 100's of violent deaths on TV and no one bats an eye, but god forbid they should see a nipple.
Sales tax not being included in the price already. Wild.
I know - here (Aust) it's illegal to not include GST (sales tax) in the retail price.
How owning, buying and carrying guns is not more controlled and supervised.
mindlessly voting along party lines, even though the party's candidate is a complete fool
More the having to pre-commit to a party despite the rotation of candidates. The 'undecided' voter thing. Shouldn't that be everyone, each election?
Commercials for drugs. That you can't even buy yourself. But 'ask your doctor!'
I’d say the weirdest thing is how many side effects that are listed with them
People enthusiastically defending the health-care system that bankrupts people, sometimes even in reddit threads where people show off their horrendous medical bills
I like that the picture is from Breaking Bad. Another commenter in another thread pointed out that this show’s premise probably could not have existed in another country, and I can’t forget that
At 18 you can join the army, carry guns, f**k, drive car. But buy and drink alcohol only 21???
If I remember correctly it had something to do with reducing the number of fatalities from teens driving drunk. The statistics were pretty high. I could start drinking legally at the age of 18, but a few years later they changed the age to 19, then 21. My poor sister kept missing the boat.
The pledge of allegiance things at school. What in the actual f**k?
When I was in 5th grade there was a student who refused to pledge allegiance to the flag. He was made to stand in the hallway every morning because of it and was rumored to have detention once a week because of it, too. From what I remember, he never gave in.
The electoral college. WTF?
The opposite of democracy but the Republicans love it because Otherwise they would always lose.
Doing your own taxes, and being punished if you get it wrong by mistake.
Average UK tax paying person: 'Oh look, new financial year'. Carries on with their day knowing that the tax office will tell them if they've been paying too much or too little tax.
Black Friday. You spend Thanksgiving saying how grateful you are for what you have, and then have a massive free-for-all over stuff you want.
Putting quite a bit of sugar in things that don't require it, like bread and casseroles.
Televangelists springs to mind, there is one absolutely morally repugnant one with a massive house and private jets whose name I can't recall. I vehemently dislike organised religion at the best of times but why people actually listen to the ones that are very obviously money-grabbing lying scum is totally beyond me.
Edit: The one I was thinking of was Kenneth Copeland, seems to me he might be "worst among equals" as it were.
Oral Roberts was an evangelist from the '60's and '70's. My grandma sent him over ten thousand dollars. He sent her a Bible with our Lord Jesus Christ's words in red-- and Oral Roberts' name embossed in gold. Other than Roberts' name, I could have gotten Grandma the same Bible for less than ten bucks.
refusing to use metric
It is confusing for many of us too. A lot of our technical work does try to use metric instead
Having one week of paid vacation or sometimes not any time at all
Anything and everything related to belonging and participating in a Fraternity/ Sorority. ESPECIALLY the selection and hazing. ETA: actually, the selection and hazing are the problems
Absolutely. Fraternities and Sororities used to have a purpose, now it just seems like an excuse for bad behavior.
Baby showers. Here in Sweden it is generelly considered bad luck to give baby gifts before the baby is actually born. When the baby is born and the parents have gotten a few weeks alone with their newborn they usually start inviting people to meet them, but one or a few at a time, and then you bring a gift.
Pickup trucks as daily use cars. Of course I know that at this point most pickups are just SUVs with a small open bed in the rear, but it still boggles my mind how many people believe they absolutely need a pickup.
Mainly in certain parts of the country, and often in rural areas. To be fair, in rural areas they have their uses, but it has also become a status symbol in parts of the country, like the South.
The level of monitoring expected around children is wild to me. Over here, six-year-olds walk to school alone. (Of course within reason.)
It’s not usually anything the children are doing that causes this. ☹️
A lot of the High School stuff, like all the formal dances, Football, cheer leading. They’re such a big deal in the USA.
College sports. Why are they so popular, especially among fans who never attended any university, let alone the one they cheer for?
Not sure if it's a custom but i hate the fact that all children are expected to leave their family's house and live on their own by at least their 20s.
I come from the middle east where it's very common to live in multi generational houses. You'd probably never leave your family's house unless you are getting married or they literally just kick you out or something lol.
Actually many people choose to remain in their family's house even after marrying and having kids and what not. It's very normal here for a house to have like 3-4 different generations of the same family in it.
There are advantages and disadvantages to each system. The kind of system described here works well for a communal society, but it can also be stifling. I wouldn't have wanted to continue living with my very dysfunctional, overprotective and critical family far into my adulthood.
The whole "building credit" thing. Not sure it's a custom or just plain stupid. The amount of money that I can borrow is a reflection of my income and what it is that I want to borrow money for. The idea that you can't get a mortgage because you didn't pay for groceries with a credit card 10 years ago is absurd.
I suppose part of it is how the housing market works, it weird that if you can't pay your mortgage, then you can just drop the keys in the mailbox and it suddenly becomes a problem for the bank. Here if you can't pay your mortgage it's still your house and your problem. Sure the bank can use the law to make the government force you to sell to pay of debt, but that's different.
Paying your rent or your normal bills doesn't show up on your credit report is stupid.
Everyone is unbelievably so patriotic but also incredibly proud of their Irish or Italian roots. It’s fun to be American until someone mentions your natural tan.
An American lady once said to me '...of course, i'm Swedish'. She had been born in the US, no-one in her family had lived in Sweden since the late 19th century, she'd never been to Sweden, and spoke no Swedish. But, she maintained that she was 'Swedish'.
Putting ice in every drink no matter the temperature, season, or anything.
Whenever I can I actually avoid getting ice because it just waters down the drink
Ah, thank goodness! Another America bashing thread. I was worried since its been 5 days since they posted the last one
We should always boycott them - only way they'll stop. Trouble is people went to comment and defend, not unreasonably. Ignoring it completely would be the only way to deal with it really. BP only care about advertisers and want clicks and comments.
I sent an email about this article to BoredPanda addressing the disturbing amount of stereotyping against their US readers. I let them know how cruel stereotypes are and how these types of articles and constant censorship is alienating there readers.I highly doubt they will ever read it though. I was a member of this site when it first started and it makes me sad to see what it has become.
Thanks for doing that. It's not just that, it's every list is pretty much the same. "Guns, Trump, Healthcare, vacation, wages, and trucks". Like, get some new material.
Those lists are like never-ending broken records that that should have been rid of ages ago! I also long for the day of a BP article that shares something like 5 actual positive things about different countries for an actual change.
BoredPanda did that once and some hate-filled users still bashed users from the US and UK. I wonder what BoredPanda would do if a user made a listicle with harmful stereotypes about the Czech Republic (where most of the writers are based). They'd probably ban it.
Maybe we ask them to do more where we can hear about what the average American thinks of these topics. Not fringe loons: every country has these. What points do they want us to understand are valid, or that they themselves aren't ok with and wanna change. Or what are some cool 'seen in the wild' American stuff but it's them showing us the small things they see in their country that make them proud and happy?
Sadly, BoredPanda doesn’t listen to their readers. I email them and they never respond. They adore creating hate-filled drama like this because they know it’s going to generate controversy in the comment section, divide people, and drive traffic. I damned tired of standing up against cruel articles like this and getting downvoted or told to shut up. These site is just really mean spirited anymore. After seven years on this site, I’m about to call or quites.
KiwiTK: Occasionally BP does a list of good things about the US, but the Euro trolls pop up and say, "we have that too -- why are Americans always bragging?" Trying to explain to them that the list is about "good things" -- Not -- "good things only found in the US" is like trying to play the wack-a-mole arcade game. One cause of such negative comments from European Pandas stems from them being so defensive and insecure that it damages their reading comprehension. This causes them to jump to unsupported conclusions. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . An example of this is where I recently collected a, --15, and --8 (see 'S' below) for responding to a British Troll named Juaaawn who wrote ... "If BP produced an article like this about the UK, then us Brits wouldn't take it all SO personally because we actually know how to laugh about ourselves whereas Americans get so offended" ... I disagreed with this 'over the top' statement that stereotypes both Brits and Americans ... but my detractors were *unable to take this into account* and took my comment out of context ... then, they compounded their problem by feeling insulted when I said the English were being "thin skinned" in my example, instead of expanding it to include all Brits.
In case everyone is wondering about the freedom. Dunno about you, but I have very little choice but to lives within the constrains of my home country.
If BP produced an article like this about the UK, then us Brits wouldnt take it all SO personally because we actually know how to laugh about ourselves whereas Americans get so offended.
It isn't about one post, it's because there are tons.
It is on an almost weekly basis there is an article about the bad things in the US. Plus, on the last list from Monday, someone commented that it is always about the US. You don't get lists about other countries. Like where is the list about Haiti? Or Tunisia? Or Lithuania?
They did post an article with stereotypes about the UK and people were up in arms. I’m a Scot living and working here and I find the amount of articles stereotyping the users from the US to be bordering on cruel now. Stereotypes are cheap and never funny.
B******t, BoredPanda posted and article a couple of years ago stereotyping people from the UK and UK readers were up in arms.
I have no idea why the hell you’re getting downvoted for stating a fact. This site is really cruel anymore.
This comment is hidden. Click here to view.
Normal UK thing that makes the rest of the world confused: Poor reading comprehension.
This comment is hidden. Click here to view.
No, I know how to laugh at Brits as well
This comment is hidden. Click here to view.
Jaaawn: You are 100% wrong. I made a few sarcastic comments about 40º not being hot (joke about ºC vs ºF) in 2022 and English Pandas lost their minds. They had zero sense of humour about my little joke. This is just one example of English commenters being 'thin skinned' (I'm intentionally not including Scottish, Welsh, Irish). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . EDIT 1: I excluded people from Scotland, Ireland, and Wales because the Pandas who replied in 2022 and identified themselves either said they were English, or they reference a town in England where people felt sick due to the heat. I didn't have a reason to comment more broadly about the people in countries adjacent to England. This was done so as to NOT stereotype beyond the information / incident. It seems the Scottish and Irish Pandas who commented below would rather hear unpleasant news about people in their country lacking a sense of humour rather than be excluded from the conversation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . EDIT 2: My 2022 'post' referred to the B.C. Canada heatwave. I later added an EDIT to it that said, "No Canadians Were Injured In The Telling Of This Joke". If anybody didn't get the joke and had a right to be offended it was Canadians, but did they? -- no! ... For some reason (related to humour), English Pandas did. Furthermore, there was not a single Brit who pointed out it was a Fahrenheit/Celcius joke and that complainers needed to display the reputed (or at least self-perceived) British sense of humour.
Hah, as a Scot I'm going to disagree with you thoroughly S! We can be a dour, humourless lot and we dislike being slighted. We can be incredibly thin-skinned. I'll stick up for my English friends who have plenty of humour - because of course a few examples on Bored Panda clearly defines a country. I'll also add that saying all people of a nation is 'one-thing' goes down badly in the US because it's wrong, and the same goes for any country.
I'm Irish Alex, living in England and completely agree with you and Remi. Don't like the jabs at the Americans and don't like jabs at any country, including any parts that make up the UK. People need to stop with their inaccurate, sweeping generalisations 🙄
Alex, as another Scot I completely agree! What total bollix some people spout! I don't agree with the US bashing and all 'S' is doing here is bashing another country and then segregating them. Just as unpleasant wherever and whoever you pick.
The British ARE a very self-deprecating lot and will frequently poke fun at themselve. Not saying no other country has people who do this but S is wrong and the comment comes across as quite spiteful with the 'I'm intentionally not including the Scottish, Welsh, Irish'. I'm Welsh and choose to live in England, I don't agree with or appreciate the snideness of it. Stop criticising countries and their people - that IS what you have a problem with after all.
As a Scot living and working in the US I agree. I have family in Scotland, England, and the US. I remember BoredPanda posted a stereotype article about the UK a couple of years ago and people were up in arms. Yet when BoredPanda posts articles bashing the US and people complain and say how hurtful they are they are told to shut up by other users. I love laughing at myself, but stereotypes are cruel and hurtful. Yes, I’m freaking sick of hearing we are all like Groundskeeper Willie from the Simpsons or have bad teeth or are funny drunks. BoredPanda seems to think bashing the US is funny when it’s really just cruel and alienating their readers.
I genuinely just remember articles where most Brits join in, to be honest. Sure SOME people mind, because people aren't all the same. I remember people sharing explanations about why tea making matters and poking fun at our politcians (plenty there to work with) and more. The anti-comments will probably stick more in people's memories - human nature being what it is! Plus the articles about Britain are different in tone, they are more lighthearted in the first place and THAT'S a key factor. Let's be honest, a lot of Americans join in when they agree with the criticism too. Most Americans are realistic and fair. I think the issue is really that the US ones are week in, week out and there isn't any humour in it. If there had been any it's been beaten to death by now! These articles are absolutely devisive as it stirs up US anger at Europe and then Europeans get defensive and on and on and on. It gets way too much. It needs stopping.
S, I am intrigued, what was it that made the commenters clearly English, not any other part of the UK or Ireland, in your example?
This comment is hidden. Click here to view.
Mir Adwari: Thank you for asking a pertinent question instead of jumping to incorrect conclusions like the other Pandas who responded. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . To give my answer credibility, glance at what people wrote in regard to my response to Jaaawn. Notice how 4 of the 5 people (not counting yourself) identified their nationality (3 Scots, 1 Irish). This is what happened last year when I joked about the Canadian (B.C.) heatwave not being that bad since 35 degrees was coat/sweater weather. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Last year, nearly all of the Pandas who completely *failed* to display any sense of humour either directly identified themselves as English, or gave an example of people suffering in town "x" (which Google revealed was in England) when the temperature was in the 30's. … I eventually added an EDIT that said, "No Canadians were hurt in the making of this joke". Canadians either got the joke, or at least they didn't get hurt feelings. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . The reason I left Scotland, Ireland, and Wales out of my correction to Jaaawn when I disparaged the English was because I didn’t have any reason to include them. Now I do. Apparently Scots and Irish would rather hear unpleasant news about themselves than be excluded from the conversation.
I had some time to kill & as your experience was different to what I remember I thought I'd do a little search on BP re Britain. These links go to all I could find about stereotypes (as per Lokislilbutterknife) & a heatwave. Might not be the ones of course but shows how most of the comments are in good humour (though very different tone to US themed posts I appreciate). There are a few snotty comments, people being people! https://www.boredpanda.com/relatable-british-memes/ AND https://www.boredpanda.com/western-europe-heatwave-2019/ Humour is very subjective & culturally can be different & maybe those people had struggled badly with the heat & it had killed of their ability to laugh at it🤷🫤 Seems sad to write off a country that is known for self-deprecating humour based on just a few people, out of 56m, failing to display humour at a particular point on BP. Most of us in the UK do feel for those struggling with these above issues in the US - while having to cope with our own!!
I'm totally agreeing with you BTW.
It's almost like this country isn't as great as everyone says it is. Please bash more maybe it will get through to some people.
So you think harmful stereotyping is alright every week do you, L? Hmmm, that’s pretty damn sad. If you think all people in the US act like something you read in BoredPanda listicle you need to educate yoursel.
Dear Bored Panda Staff: Please try to get through one week without featuring an America-bashing post.
I'd also click on '50 things we love about America'
Why? People seem to be enjoying it. Not BP's fault America is a laughing stock.
Ahhh bless, so you think that stereotypes are alright then? How about we bash your home country ever week. Would you like that?
Says the troll with 60 downvotes. So you think it is alright to constantly bash part of your user base for living there? It’s obnoxious and flat-out cruel. Yes, I wholeheartedly agree that the US has problems, however, these articles and harmful and rely on stereotypes. If you think that’s alright that’s pretty darn sad. If any other country was bashed on this site people would be up in arms.
You do realize they have articles "bashing" other countries right? Simply because your bubble is small doesn't mean there isn't more beyond it. Also there "pro" America ones on here too. Get your panties untwisted
So you think stereotypes are alright? Hmmm. I’m waiting for you to share an article where BoredPanda bashed another country and people didn’t get angry.
B******t, don’t you dare patronize people on this site. You do know that I’m from the United Kingdom and think stereotypes in any shape or form are harmful? BoredPanda posts articles bashing their users from the US every week. Name one article where BoredPanda has bashed other another country? If you think stereotypes are alright that’s damn sad.
Just while I'm here there is one American thing that gets me every time ... in a funny way. I read a lot and love a good thriller. So I'm totally drawn into the storyline when it come to the bit about our hero needing a rest. He's 6'2" with a very muscular body. He goes upstairs a lies down on the cot. So, because I'm imagining the story as I read, for a split second I imagine him climbing into a UK baby cot with the sides pulled up. I come out of my reading trance and have to literally take him from the baby cot to a single bed. Because I'm never prepared for our hero to climb into a cot it gets me every time. It always makes me smile and I have to reread the last sentence with a single bed in my mind. This comment probably makes no sense to anyone but me.🙃
I know what you mean! Though I do love those little differences that make something clearly US or UK.
Same here. I also read a lot of books by Norway and Swedish authors. It's nice to notice the little differences between different countries.
I know a torch is a flashlight but I refuse to imagine it as anything other than a stick with an open flame at the end. Even (especially?) When it comes out of somebody's pocket or purse. It really is the little things.
Plus if he’s 6’2”, lying down on a cot, whether the UK or US version, will be uncomfortable
Allow me to be the first to chime in and say that this made zero sense to me, but in an entertaining way. :)
Sometime we have something ever so clearly in our head that when we attempt to write or say it then it comes out a messed up jumble of words. I even had to read, what I wrote, twice before I understood what I wrote.
You should see me translating UK English to US in my head and back. Now you say it, I'm reconsidering my mental stumbling block on "trolley"!
Ah, thank goodness! Another America bashing thread. I was worried since its been 5 days since they posted the last one
We should always boycott them - only way they'll stop. Trouble is people went to comment and defend, not unreasonably. Ignoring it completely would be the only way to deal with it really. BP only care about advertisers and want clicks and comments.
I sent an email about this article to BoredPanda addressing the disturbing amount of stereotyping against their US readers. I let them know how cruel stereotypes are and how these types of articles and constant censorship is alienating there readers.I highly doubt they will ever read it though. I was a member of this site when it first started and it makes me sad to see what it has become.
Thanks for doing that. It's not just that, it's every list is pretty much the same. "Guns, Trump, Healthcare, vacation, wages, and trucks". Like, get some new material.
Those lists are like never-ending broken records that that should have been rid of ages ago! I also long for the day of a BP article that shares something like 5 actual positive things about different countries for an actual change.
BoredPanda did that once and some hate-filled users still bashed users from the US and UK. I wonder what BoredPanda would do if a user made a listicle with harmful stereotypes about the Czech Republic (where most of the writers are based). They'd probably ban it.
Maybe we ask them to do more where we can hear about what the average American thinks of these topics. Not fringe loons: every country has these. What points do they want us to understand are valid, or that they themselves aren't ok with and wanna change. Or what are some cool 'seen in the wild' American stuff but it's them showing us the small things they see in their country that make them proud and happy?
Sadly, BoredPanda doesn’t listen to their readers. I email them and they never respond. They adore creating hate-filled drama like this because they know it’s going to generate controversy in the comment section, divide people, and drive traffic. I damned tired of standing up against cruel articles like this and getting downvoted or told to shut up. These site is just really mean spirited anymore. After seven years on this site, I’m about to call or quites.
KiwiTK: Occasionally BP does a list of good things about the US, but the Euro trolls pop up and say, "we have that too -- why are Americans always bragging?" Trying to explain to them that the list is about "good things" -- Not -- "good things only found in the US" is like trying to play the wack-a-mole arcade game. One cause of such negative comments from European Pandas stems from them being so defensive and insecure that it damages their reading comprehension. This causes them to jump to unsupported conclusions. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . An example of this is where I recently collected a, --15, and --8 (see 'S' below) for responding to a British Troll named Juaaawn who wrote ... "If BP produced an article like this about the UK, then us Brits wouldn't take it all SO personally because we actually know how to laugh about ourselves whereas Americans get so offended" ... I disagreed with this 'over the top' statement that stereotypes both Brits and Americans ... but my detractors were *unable to take this into account* and took my comment out of context ... then, they compounded their problem by feeling insulted when I said the English were being "thin skinned" in my example, instead of expanding it to include all Brits.
In case everyone is wondering about the freedom. Dunno about you, but I have very little choice but to lives within the constrains of my home country.
If BP produced an article like this about the UK, then us Brits wouldnt take it all SO personally because we actually know how to laugh about ourselves whereas Americans get so offended.
It isn't about one post, it's because there are tons.
It is on an almost weekly basis there is an article about the bad things in the US. Plus, on the last list from Monday, someone commented that it is always about the US. You don't get lists about other countries. Like where is the list about Haiti? Or Tunisia? Or Lithuania?
They did post an article with stereotypes about the UK and people were up in arms. I’m a Scot living and working here and I find the amount of articles stereotyping the users from the US to be bordering on cruel now. Stereotypes are cheap and never funny.
B******t, BoredPanda posted and article a couple of years ago stereotyping people from the UK and UK readers were up in arms.
I have no idea why the hell you’re getting downvoted for stating a fact. This site is really cruel anymore.
This comment is hidden. Click here to view.
Normal UK thing that makes the rest of the world confused: Poor reading comprehension.
This comment is hidden. Click here to view.
No, I know how to laugh at Brits as well
This comment is hidden. Click here to view.
Jaaawn: You are 100% wrong. I made a few sarcastic comments about 40º not being hot (joke about ºC vs ºF) in 2022 and English Pandas lost their minds. They had zero sense of humour about my little joke. This is just one example of English commenters being 'thin skinned' (I'm intentionally not including Scottish, Welsh, Irish). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . EDIT 1: I excluded people from Scotland, Ireland, and Wales because the Pandas who replied in 2022 and identified themselves either said they were English, or they reference a town in England where people felt sick due to the heat. I didn't have a reason to comment more broadly about the people in countries adjacent to England. This was done so as to NOT stereotype beyond the information / incident. It seems the Scottish and Irish Pandas who commented below would rather hear unpleasant news about people in their country lacking a sense of humour rather than be excluded from the conversation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . EDIT 2: My 2022 'post' referred to the B.C. Canada heatwave. I later added an EDIT to it that said, "No Canadians Were Injured In The Telling Of This Joke". If anybody didn't get the joke and had a right to be offended it was Canadians, but did they? -- no! ... For some reason (related to humour), English Pandas did. Furthermore, there was not a single Brit who pointed out it was a Fahrenheit/Celcius joke and that complainers needed to display the reputed (or at least self-perceived) British sense of humour.
Hah, as a Scot I'm going to disagree with you thoroughly S! We can be a dour, humourless lot and we dislike being slighted. We can be incredibly thin-skinned. I'll stick up for my English friends who have plenty of humour - because of course a few examples on Bored Panda clearly defines a country. I'll also add that saying all people of a nation is 'one-thing' goes down badly in the US because it's wrong, and the same goes for any country.
I'm Irish Alex, living in England and completely agree with you and Remi. Don't like the jabs at the Americans and don't like jabs at any country, including any parts that make up the UK. People need to stop with their inaccurate, sweeping generalisations 🙄
Alex, as another Scot I completely agree! What total bollix some people spout! I don't agree with the US bashing and all 'S' is doing here is bashing another country and then segregating them. Just as unpleasant wherever and whoever you pick.
The British ARE a very self-deprecating lot and will frequently poke fun at themselve. Not saying no other country has people who do this but S is wrong and the comment comes across as quite spiteful with the 'I'm intentionally not including the Scottish, Welsh, Irish'. I'm Welsh and choose to live in England, I don't agree with or appreciate the snideness of it. Stop criticising countries and their people - that IS what you have a problem with after all.
As a Scot living and working in the US I agree. I have family in Scotland, England, and the US. I remember BoredPanda posted a stereotype article about the UK a couple of years ago and people were up in arms. Yet when BoredPanda posts articles bashing the US and people complain and say how hurtful they are they are told to shut up by other users. I love laughing at myself, but stereotypes are cruel and hurtful. Yes, I’m freaking sick of hearing we are all like Groundskeeper Willie from the Simpsons or have bad teeth or are funny drunks. BoredPanda seems to think bashing the US is funny when it’s really just cruel and alienating their readers.
I genuinely just remember articles where most Brits join in, to be honest. Sure SOME people mind, because people aren't all the same. I remember people sharing explanations about why tea making matters and poking fun at our politcians (plenty there to work with) and more. The anti-comments will probably stick more in people's memories - human nature being what it is! Plus the articles about Britain are different in tone, they are more lighthearted in the first place and THAT'S a key factor. Let's be honest, a lot of Americans join in when they agree with the criticism too. Most Americans are realistic and fair. I think the issue is really that the US ones are week in, week out and there isn't any humour in it. If there had been any it's been beaten to death by now! These articles are absolutely devisive as it stirs up US anger at Europe and then Europeans get defensive and on and on and on. It gets way too much. It needs stopping.
S, I am intrigued, what was it that made the commenters clearly English, not any other part of the UK or Ireland, in your example?
This comment is hidden. Click here to view.
Mir Adwari: Thank you for asking a pertinent question instead of jumping to incorrect conclusions like the other Pandas who responded. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . To give my answer credibility, glance at what people wrote in regard to my response to Jaaawn. Notice how 4 of the 5 people (not counting yourself) identified their nationality (3 Scots, 1 Irish). This is what happened last year when I joked about the Canadian (B.C.) heatwave not being that bad since 35 degrees was coat/sweater weather. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Last year, nearly all of the Pandas who completely *failed* to display any sense of humour either directly identified themselves as English, or gave an example of people suffering in town "x" (which Google revealed was in England) when the temperature was in the 30's. … I eventually added an EDIT that said, "No Canadians were hurt in the making of this joke". Canadians either got the joke, or at least they didn't get hurt feelings. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . The reason I left Scotland, Ireland, and Wales out of my correction to Jaaawn when I disparaged the English was because I didn’t have any reason to include them. Now I do. Apparently Scots and Irish would rather hear unpleasant news about themselves than be excluded from the conversation.
I had some time to kill & as your experience was different to what I remember I thought I'd do a little search on BP re Britain. These links go to all I could find about stereotypes (as per Lokislilbutterknife) & a heatwave. Might not be the ones of course but shows how most of the comments are in good humour (though very different tone to US themed posts I appreciate). There are a few snotty comments, people being people! https://www.boredpanda.com/relatable-british-memes/ AND https://www.boredpanda.com/western-europe-heatwave-2019/ Humour is very subjective & culturally can be different & maybe those people had struggled badly with the heat & it had killed of their ability to laugh at it🤷🫤 Seems sad to write off a country that is known for self-deprecating humour based on just a few people, out of 56m, failing to display humour at a particular point on BP. Most of us in the UK do feel for those struggling with these above issues in the US - while having to cope with our own!!
I'm totally agreeing with you BTW.
It's almost like this country isn't as great as everyone says it is. Please bash more maybe it will get through to some people.
So you think harmful stereotyping is alright every week do you, L? Hmmm, that’s pretty damn sad. If you think all people in the US act like something you read in BoredPanda listicle you need to educate yoursel.
Dear Bored Panda Staff: Please try to get through one week without featuring an America-bashing post.
I'd also click on '50 things we love about America'
Why? People seem to be enjoying it. Not BP's fault America is a laughing stock.
Ahhh bless, so you think that stereotypes are alright then? How about we bash your home country ever week. Would you like that?
Says the troll with 60 downvotes. So you think it is alright to constantly bash part of your user base for living there? It’s obnoxious and flat-out cruel. Yes, I wholeheartedly agree that the US has problems, however, these articles and harmful and rely on stereotypes. If you think that’s alright that’s pretty darn sad. If any other country was bashed on this site people would be up in arms.
You do realize they have articles "bashing" other countries right? Simply because your bubble is small doesn't mean there isn't more beyond it. Also there "pro" America ones on here too. Get your panties untwisted
So you think stereotypes are alright? Hmmm. I’m waiting for you to share an article where BoredPanda bashed another country and people didn’t get angry.
B******t, don’t you dare patronize people on this site. You do know that I’m from the United Kingdom and think stereotypes in any shape or form are harmful? BoredPanda posts articles bashing their users from the US every week. Name one article where BoredPanda has bashed other another country? If you think stereotypes are alright that’s damn sad.