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People Share 30 Things That They Think Are Normal In Europe But Horrific In America
We often read of things that are totally normal in America but look super crazy to the rest of the world. Like free refills, medical debts, the sheer portion sizes, you name it. But hey, the place and time is everything when it comes to which things we view as typical and which ones raise our brows.
So this time, we are setting our eyes on Europe and the weird customs, things, and manners people in its 44 countries have that look totally crazy to Americans. “What's considered normal in Europe but horrific in America?” someone asked on AskReddit, and 12.7k comments followed.
We picked some of the most telling and thought-provoking responses that prove European countries are also home to a bunch of weirdos!
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Old things. Houses especially. "Someone died in this house" yeah no s**t Sherlock, this house has been here more than your country
The metric system
Favorite metric system quote is by Josh Bazell. “In metric, one milliliter of water occupies one cubic centimeter, weighs one gram, and requires one calorie of energy to heat up by one degree centigrade—which is 1 percent of the difference between its freezing point and its boiling point. ... Whereas in the American system, the answer to ‘How much energy does it take to boil a room-temperature gallon of water?’ is ‘Go f**k yourself,’ because you can’t directly relate any of those quantities.”
Taking the bus. There is so much stigma around public transport in the US, especially busses, and in Europe it's just a totally normal way to get around because nobody wants to deal with driving and parking in a big city.
Also from an employer's perspective: 25+ vacation days minimum for all employees and unlimited sick days. The absolute horror.
Songs with swear words being broadcasted on the radio, or swear words not being covered with a beep tone on tv. It’s always felt weird to me that Americans are all about being free and freedom of speech but then again they are scared of some stupid words.
Pro union laws. Pro worker labour laws. Mandatory paid vacation days (including fines for companies if the workers don't take their vacation days or get them payed out. They NEED to actually leave work legally for around 25 days per year).
Letting kids go to school or walk around the neighborhood by themselves without supervision.
A Dutch family moved to the USA and their kids went to school on their bikes like they always do, after a while the police showed up on their doorstep and child protective services letting them know they’re being irresponsible and to not do that again.
Mailman doesnt leave packages unattended on your porch. He eather gives you it on the doorstep or you go get it at the post office. Much less infureating than getting it stolen or thrown accros your yard by a mailman...
I don't know if this would horrify Americans as I've never heard it discussed, but where I live in Europe (Luxembourg), voting is mandatory and you can get fined for not voting in an election. You can still spoil your ballot, so you don't have to decide between lesser evils if you don't want to, but you have to make the effort to go to the polling station or submit a postal vote. It guarantees a high voter turnout and by extension more representative elections, coupled with a proportional voting system so we're not locked into a two-party mess like the UK or the US - not that it's without its issues of course, but I think it's an improvement.
Being expected to know another language other than English.
At least in Germany, nudity. No one cares if you're naked, no one thinks you're a sex offender, no one thinks it's even sexual to be naked unless you're actively having sex, and no one makes it weird.
You can be naked in public parks to soak up sun, on beaches, swim naked in lakes. Saunas are all naked, mixed sex areas in spas and saunas are naked with no issues and in general, it's just not an issue.
At least where I live in Germany it’s NOT usual to be naked in parks or bathing naked in crowded places, except they’re designated as nude areas. Topless is tolerated in most urban parks, if you don’t Walk around. Otherwise it’s a "Public nuisance", which is an administrative offense and is punished by a penalty fee.
From what I’ve heard, allowing retail workers to sit. I’ve heard it’s regular for people to be sitting in Europe as cashiers, but in the us it is seen as lazy. Only store I know of that allows it is Aldi and that’s because it helps their cashiering metrics.
The number of rooms in the description of apartments. 1 room in the US usually means 1 bedroom, a living room ,and separate kitchen. Was shocked when I realized it means everything inside one room in most European countries
In the UK we normally describe properties as 1 bed, 2 bed etc. and give a separate count of other rooms. Studio is normally used to describe rooms of mixed use. So a 1 bed studio apartment will normally be a combined kitchen, living and sleeping space with a separate bath- or shower-room.
Not being super patriotic.
I love being Scottish, I love living here, the people (mostly), the accepting and open culture, the sarcastic swearing humour, that we can take the piss out of ourselves - but I don't feel the need to fly a flag on my doorstep or cover myself in Scottish symbols and scream about my freedom and rights and chant some verse every morning - im sure there are plenty of Americans who also think that the stereotypical over the top patriotic American is as odd as outsiders do - but they do tend to be the loudest
Long paid parental leaves and month long holidays (vacations).
Fun fact: These are all things that Unions achieved and next the government made them law. Some Americans would go bat shyte crazy over that. "The government has no right to force 25 mandatory vacation days on me!!!!"
Oh man... europe has so many different countries. Something that is completely normal where I live could be frowned upon as soon as I cross the next border. But in general we tip for good service, not bc we have to. A rude waitress won't get tipped by me. Also we usually remove our shoes before we enter a home. And yep, "free" healthcare.
Absolutely, what's acceptable in Spain wouldn't fly in Denmark and vice versa. All countries have their own cultures. The first time, years before the internet through reading American magazines, I came across 'Europe' being referred to as a homogeneous whole I was extremely confused. I was also highly entertained by all the adverts stating 'Everyone in Europe is using this product' for something I'd never seen in my life.
Not giving your debit/credit card to your server but doing it yourself
It prevents them from copying you card information and using them to commit fraud by buying stuff online with your creditcard information. In fact I think we ought to memorise the control numbers on the back of the card and then remove them for the card. Having them there is like writing the pin code on the card with a marker, it is just making abuse way too easy.
Sitting a foot away from a complete stranger and then completely ignoring them.
Americans get so bend out of shape over naked children running around the beach.
On every beach in Bulgaria I've been, naked children is the norm, women sunbathing in monokini is considered absolutely normal, while naked men are okay only in the nude sections of the beaches. And every beach has a nude section.
Not enrolling your kid in extracurricular activities. In Europe, some kids are enrolled in a sport or club and the older ones are mostly responsible for getting there and figuring out their schedule. In America, some parents are so obsessed with kids sports that the whole family's existence revolves around it, or they get judgemental when they hear that a kid isn't involved in any sports or clubs.
Almost every car having a manual transmission. when i visited ukraine, i only saw rich people with automatic cars
Charging for water at a restaurant.
In Norway you'll get tap water when you ask for water, and that's free.
Bidets? I was born and raised in the US and I think they're efficient and far more hygienic than TP, but apparently most other dudes in this country think it's gay to clean up after your business is done lol
The only really gay thing I know is falling in love with someone of the same gender as yourself. If cleaning your ass after you've been to the toilet is 'gay' to you, you have some real issues.
In Germany, looking for a apartment doesn't automatically mean it will come 100% with a kitchen. 90% they don't have them in and you have to buy them yourself.
That's one of the most stupid things in Germany. The kitchen should belong to the apartment.
Underage drinking seems more of a crime in the US - in most cases of a kid is caught with alcohol in the UK it's just confiscated and poured away. Strictly speaking the age you can drink alcohol is really low as well, so long as you're home with a parent I think it's like 5/6. When you're in a restaurant you're also allowed low percentage alcohol like cider with a meal so long as you're with an adult.
in germany you're allowed to drink beer/wine with 14 when you're parents are around, at 16 without them and everything else at 18
I was brought up having wine with meals on special occasion, including on holiday in Europe. I can't have been more than 8 or 9 when I was allowed some. But it was only on my parents say so. It was therefore not such a dramatic change when I could legally go out and drink at 18. What's more the only place I have even been asked for ID when ordering a drink was in the States. It seems so bizarre that you can drive at 16, own a gun at 18, but can't drink till you're 21. That just seems so f***ed up!
I've also never understood how someone can be considered old enough to join the military and potentially die for their country, but not old enough to buy a beer.
Load More Replies...Has to do with the car culture over here. In the UK and the Continent, people rely more on public transportation, meaning they’re not getting behind the wheel of a car if they drink. Every American teenager can take driver training in school and get their Learner’s Permit when they’re 15 1/2, and pass the test for their license at 16. Those whose parents can afford it—-or who worked weekends and all summer to save up for it—-have their own car. Combine that with underage drinking, then add in normal teenage horsing around and other distractions (texting and selfies are a problem), and it’s a pretty potent recipe for life-altering, or life-ending, accidents. That’s why it’s an issue in the states.
there is no more driver training in school in the US, at least not in CA.
Load More Replies...Silly alcohol culture plus ridiculous age limits infantilizes many Americans well into their adulthood.
Have you ever wondered why the US picked 21 in the 70s? Science
Load More Replies...You are correct the age you are allowed to buy a gun on your own is 18 you can own a gun at the age of 15 with a parents consent. Nobody can buy alcoholic drinks till they are 21.
Load More Replies...This doesn't apply to Norway. 18 years for beverages containing less than 22% alcohol (by volume), and above that it's 20 years.
That is wise. Strong liquor should be more regulated in other European countries
Load More Replies...This was kind of a stupid list.. Some of the things listed weren't true, you see them in America, and Americans are generally more relaxed than the world wants you to believe. It's so popular to hate on America though. I don't really jump on that bandwagon.
In Wisconsin, U.S.A. (which is known for its many bars and drinking culture), the law states, "Persons under age 21 may possess and consume alcohol beverages if they are with their parents, guardians or spouses of legal drinking age; but this is at the discretion of the licensee."
I brought my daughter up the European way. When she was small, she got a stemmed liqueur glass with a tiny splash of wine diluted with water. As she got older, the water was reduced. By the time she was 14, she had a glass of wine with dinner like the rest of us.
Actually, in many states, it's legal for kids in their teens to drink in their own home with their parents. People just don't know this. I do think the states need harsher drunk driving laws. I know many EU countries have far stricter DUI laws than we do but they also have better public transportation infastructures.
From 14 in the UK children can have beer or cider with a meal. They don't even have to be with an adult.
We had Prohibition, and it has left us with a lot of weird ideas and customs surrounding alcohol. Sorry, Europe. Anyway kids should not consume alcohol because their brains and other organs are not fully formed and it could be harmful. I’m a prime example🤪
I could see it started at 15 or 16...but 5 or 6!? That starts to hurt their health, doesn't it?
There are some states in the U.S. where you can drink in a restaurant at 16 if you are with a parent. I think Michigan is one.
Gold up hold up hold up... I'm not sure if I'm gonna count that as dangerous or crazy lucky. In america you can be out buying Ak-47s and grenades when you turn 18 but then you go into a bar before you turn 21 and you're outta there
You cannot buy grenades period. You can't by a actual ak without a special which you cannot get until you 21 . I mean automatic ak-47
Load More Replies...There is no drinking age in Denmark at all, you cant BUY alcohol unless you are 16, for Beers and low percentage drinks, and high percentage like vodka and rum, it is age 18, but if your mom and dad have bought it, and you are not in public, there is no rules, you just cant go into clubs and bars under the age of 18☺️
Yeah but the culture around alcohol in the US is a lot more toxic, and those two things are connected. We treat drinking like more of a crime/taboo and therefore more people have a drinking problem; whereas y'all treat alcohol as a normal part of cuisine and iirc there is less alcoholism.
Canadian - I was drinking a glass of wine with family at special meals as early as I can remember...including in restaurants!
You cant legally drink alkohol below 18. But pouring it away😱 here it might be confiscated and drunk by others...
We get American teenagers coming into Canada as soon as they turn 18. If you can vote and be conscripted in the army at 18, you can drink or buy weed.
Exchange Uni student here (Australia) go CRAZY because they are legal at 18!
When my daughter got married at age 19(her spouse was 10 or 11 years older) we went to a restaurant after the ceremony, and she was not allowed to have a drink, not even with mom's or new hubs approval. The US
When I was a kid in US the cops took it and dump it and sometimes drank it.
i live in the US and i think it is absolutely stupid and wrong that at 18, as a legal "adult" u can go to war and die for our country but yet cannot drink or smoke legally til age 21.
Because more people drive in America and we don't need drunk drivers
Underage drinking will bring you hell if you're the facilitator (US). But then again everything seems to be so demonized it's FUN and EXCITING to try the minute an adult isn't looking
Technically, in most states in America, a child can drink beer in public, as long as a parent is with them the entire time that they are consuming the alcohol. However, due to concerns about child welfare, a parent can often be charged with neglect or endangerment if they let their child drink in public. Also, business owners can refuse to serve the minors. A lot of kids drink at home here.
UK drinking laws: no lower limit for consumption (Holy communion etc), but parents can be prosecuted for abuse/neglect if a child is intoxicated. In a pub or restaurant with a license, a 14-year-old can have 1/2 pint beer/cider or glass wine with a "knife and fork meal" with parents. 18 is the legal age to purchase and consume alcohol in a club, pub or supermarket, however, many will not sell alcohol to under 21s, and ask for ID.
If you are old enough to hold a gun, you are old enough to hold a drink. America is twisted.
And as the US proves so regularly, there is no age high enough to hold a gun.
Load More Replies...It's really not prosecuted legally very often at all. Mostly, if you do something stupid but no one gets hurt, you are taken back to your parents.
Yes, when in USA with our 18year old daughter - it was a total headache trying to explain if we were eating a meal WE allowed her to drink alcohol. At home she could just go out with friends and have a drink - it's normal in UK.
Sounds like your daughter is the problem though, it's not hard to understand those laws. Things are different from country to country. American kids understand the laws, that's why they go to great lengths to drink their alcohol where they won't get caught lol.
Load More Replies...The number of people I knew that ended up in court for underage drinking, seems like another thing the police just don't have time for now.
We have age limits for buying alcohol in Denmark, it's 16 for beer and 18 for harder stuff, but no limit for drinking.
America will send you off to die in a foreign hellhole when you are 17 but won't let you drink or smoke until 21 (4 years later). This hypocrisy is embedded thoroughly in our culture where billionaires like Zuck send the poor to die for their personal profit.
But you do vote for no choice fascist Republicanism so what do you expect when it comes to hypocrisy and the Christian right?
Load More Replies...In Denmark 16 to 18 year old's are allowed to buy beer/wine (alcohol up to 18%)
It's only in recent years that the age of drinking has been cranked up in my country (it's 16 here now, it's enforced when buying in shops but it's not like you'll get carded at a party or something unless you really look very young). Heck, I could get (low percentage) beer at school when I was 12-13 in the cafetaria. The thing what really blows american's minds though is that we got vending machines selling beers all over the place, nowadays you need to insert your e-id into it to confirm your age though
I''m always 50/50 on this. I don't want children (teens) drinking alcohol on a regular basis, but also a 14/15/16 y/o asking their parents to try a beer, and the parents letting them in the safety of their own home, is a good thing. . . .. . . And looking at you "murica, seriously? You expect 18 year olds to literally put their lives at risk fighting wars, but you won't allow them to have a beer?
There are villages where parents give strong alcohol to their toddlers just to keep them quiet. It's true! And, as a journalist since 1990, I remember the case of a baby brought to the hospital intoxicated: he got drunk because of the alcohol in his mother's milk! Also true.
Wasn’t this common practice about 100 years ago? Think I read something like that somewhere?
Load More Replies...Not allowed to drink before 21yo but you can post your butt all over the net at 18...makes total sense coming from a country of pedophiles
1.We have old houses, too. That’s pretty common especially in the southern states where many plantations and Victorian homes are still around. 2.While metric system is obviously not used as our standard unit of measurement, we DO learn about it in school. Converting it, understanding, etc. Serious question and not a smart ass one, but do other countries learn the Imperial system? 3.Public transportation isn’t the best here. It can often times take an hour for what would normally be a 15 minute drive. That being said, some of the bigger cities like New York City and San Francisco have excellent public transportation. 4.Most of the swear words aren’t covered up. F*** is and for some reason “hole” is in A******, which I will never understand, but it’s not like we’re sensoring our stuff like it’s Sesame Street over here. 5.I WISH that were the case. Genuinely. I think we all do, but that being said, we can roll over what we don’t use into the next year usually and some jobs will pay
6.I walked to school with my friends all through my school years. My son currently walks himself to and from his elementary school. I know there are laws like that in some places, but that’s not the norm. 7.I really wish our mailmen/women wouldn’t do that, too. I agree that’s stupid. 8.Some people do, some people don’t. My parents always made us take off our shoes and most of my friends had that rule in their houses. 9.That would be wonderful. I wish voter turnout was better here. I agree with this one! 10.This is a pretty big misconception. In high school we’re required (in most places) to take two years of a foreign language in order to graduate. You probably won’t be fluent, but you’ll at least be able to kind of get by. My son’s elementary school has Spanish as one of his enrichment classes.
Load More Replies...We got caught drinking in parks many times when we 13/14, the police would just make us pour it away, occasionally just telling us to stay out of trouble and letting us keep the booze. The law is 5yrs old to drink privately.
The younger you start drinking the likelihood of addiction increases. The body is further developed by 21 than 14 or 16.
They're still drinking, they're just doing in secretly.
Load More Replies...as a moslem.. im glad i never drink alcohol, too much bad thing than good
OK, what you fail to realize is that kids drive in the US. We do not want them driving after drinking and if you think that wouldn't happen, have you ever met a teenager?
Yeah, the whole premise of this article is pretty stupid. There's something like 40 countries in Europe with huge variation in how people live.
Load More Replies...Doesn't apply to every european country, but prison sentences are a lot shorter. Life in prison without parole is extremely rare and many countries do not have such sentences. For example the maximum sentence here in Finland is called "Life in prison" but the avarage time spent in prison before release is 13-14 years for them.
I disagree with this as well. For small crimes (like dealing weed) their prison sentences should be short and focus on rehabilitation. But for major crimes they should be extremely long. Not “I gang raped a minor and got 13 years of prison and I will do 8”. You destroy a life, you should pay more than that.
Having an electric kettle.
This one comes up a lot on these lists. I use an electric kettle at home and at work. They are readily available at home goods stores in the US. I think they are not as foreign as it is imagined, they just aren’t a household staple, mostly because more people prefer coffee than tea in the US. I am an avid tea drinker myself, so I equipped my house accordingly.
Paying for bathrooms.
I am happy to pay for a bathroom if it is clean. The free toilets on the highway are mostly more than disgusting.
Being completely naked in a sauna (mixed men and women)
As a Czech person, my American wife was blown away that we let kids in pubs or bars.
Men on scooters. Apparently here in the USA I get made fun of... What?!! Even Mexico and London dudes on scooters is normal
Leaving your baby to sleep in a stroller outside. Be it at home on the balcony/garden or outside a restaurant.
Uh, where do I start? German here, living in the US. How about TV tax? I bet americans would go bonkers over it lol. I mean, so do Germans, but - wait for it, it's a classic - "what can you do?"
Some countries in Europe have church taxes (the state collects money through the taxation system and hands a slice of it over to the national church) and/or state-paid clergy.
The amount of people who still smoke. Especially smoking in restaurants restaurants. Nothing like sitting in a beautiful cafe and having someone at the table next to you light up just as your food arrives.
Also putting tobacco in weed.
Gotta say that "things normal in Europe" means you take more than 40 very different countries together. Example; The Netherlands doesn't have bagged milk at all, we don't allow underage drinking in the general sense and we don't leave kids in strollers outside. We're one of the few countries that use diseases as swear words, though :)
The same could be said for the United States. People love to generalize Americans, but the truth is we're vastly different from one another. I notice a lot of ignorance from Europeans about the differences in Americans. Like someone made a southern Texas joke towards me and I had to explain I'm from the east coast. It seems like they forget how big America really is.
Load More Replies...As an european who spend so much time in the states I just can't see the US as one country... there are so much differences depending on where you are... and I'm so just tired of those meaningless comparison...
This is even more true for Europe. They are lumping 40 different countries into this comparison.
Load More Replies...About half of these are just cultural differences that aren't "Horrific" one way or the other, and some even reflect badly on the Europeans, not to mention the whole "not all of Europe, but n a few places..." thing. So basically, the author is full of s**t.
I am not sure that anyone in the US finds these things “horrific.” I assume no Americans were consulted in the creation of this list? Bull fighting… this is an example of something horrific…
Yeah. It's awful. I think it's only parts of Spain though. (I could be wrong) not the kind of thing I want to google.
Load More Replies...One "European" concept I wish the US would embrace is free college/university!
Yup. It's very freeing not having to save up for my son's university.
Load More Replies...Yea. I mean… it’s just sad. All the other nations target America. But I’m used to it.
Load More Replies...One thing in North America I question is why women’s breasts are considered illegal. I suspect it has to do with the Puritan roots of NA but why does the USA love guns and violence (especially on tv, movies and video games) but as soon as a woman’s breasts are visible everyone throws a fit?
I like my guns, because I use it for hunting. Not for the sport of it, but because in my part of the US, groceries are pretty expensive, and good paying jobs that can support your family are few and far between. But god forbid women decide to go without even a bra 🙄
Load More Replies...So often articles like these seem based on stereotypes and Stupid American stories taken as fact. They also feel mean spirited.
Yet another post by someone who's never been to the US and doesn't actually know any Americans.
Definitely true. But considering there's so many untrue statements about Europe too it's easy to come to this conclusion. It's all or mostly just b******t.
Load More Replies...This is full of a lot of stereotypes, exaggeration, and people who have never gone to the US. It was cool to learn more about 'Europe'. (Europe is a bunch of different countries and cultures, you can't just group them all together like they did the United States.)
Yes. Sadly there's a bunch of people who lump together all European countries and people tend to lump together all of the US states too. European countries differ. Sometimes very much and sometimes less. And I know it's the same with many states in the US. Never hurt to learn though, which is why I ended up here. ;D
Load More Replies...I don't see anything horrific except for the hateful disdain expressed toward Americans.
Americans can be pretty damn disdainful of whole groups of people, it's the driving force behind much of our politics.
Load More Replies...The problem is that Americans are stereotyped by The politics of rural areas predominant primarily in the south and midwest even though that only makes up at a relatively small percentage of the total population. However that gets blown out of proportion because the American political system ensures a disproportionate amount of power to those areas. On the flipside Europeans are stereotyped based on the population of its large cities. But of course if anybody does just a little bit of investigation they will see that rural America and rural Europe are very similar (why do you think Brexit happened?) American cities and European cities are also very similar. Even more extreme many of the countries of Eastern Europe are considerably more conservative than even the most conservative parts of America.
I'm a bus driver. Taking a bus in America is not horrific, thank you very much.
It depends on where you live. My experience with buses in Atlanta was fine. My experiences with the buses in Alaska was awful!
Load More Replies...Looks like Americans aren't as "free" as they think they are and as they would like the World to see them.
So much content on BP is Europe vs USA. Like f**k off already... we don’t need any more division and hatred in the world
Agreed. I wonder why it is like that though? Maybe the states is a soft target for some reason.
Load More Replies...Please stop viewing Europe as one country. It's a group of very different countries, with different culture, different history, different languages, different customs, different way of life. European countries are NOT like US states, they don't really have nearly as much in common. And while they're a group and share a currency now (and it's only been 20 years) and all that, you cannot group all European countries and treat them like they're all the same. Enough of this, please.
Not all european countries are members of the eu though. But I agree, most european countries have many differences.
Load More Replies...So many of these are not even close to true. Someone is watching too many movies.
I have to wonder why these kinds of generalizations are only acceptable about Americans/America. Many of these would largely depend on where you live in America
This entire post generalizes the entirety of Europe as well. Most of these examples absolutely do not apply for the majority of countries in Europe.
Load More Replies...A lot of the things on this list isn’t true. Downvote me if you want.
definitely another bored panda Stigma induced post for both Europe and America. though it definitely likes to stir up hate in a lot of different forms of these stigmas of Europe and America I think it could have potential of having some fun conversations if delt right...*if* being key because for this Panda, that can't happen in heaven or hell it seems...this Boredpanda loves to just dump loads on America usually which really frustrates me. and this time had a bonus with Europe in it.
For those who misspell America, it just goes to prove you Europeans are a bunch of snotty little pricks.
The author simply revealed their ignorance. It’s embarrassing to see someone actually wrote this truly fact-anemic tripe. I will give one example. The “public purchase and consumption of alcohol” is illegal until age 21. However in 45 states, on private property, with parental consent children may consume any alcohol they wish. The drinking age in this case can go down to 12. The government limited public drinking but preserved parents rights to teach their children to drink responsibility. In America, on private property, one can enjoy a beer or 100 proof whiskey with their child…if they desire. Most parents choose to wait. A simple google search would do you well.
The only thing I would find horrific that is done in many parts of Europe is leaving your baby outside a shop in their stroller. I know its quite common in some places, (lived in many different European countries growing up). But if I saw that in America I would start freaking out lol. Cops would immediately be called by someone, it would be a whole thing.
Not saying ALL americans are patriotic. Although I myself would never feel the same need to defend my country like some (again not all) americans do here. Maybe I'm missing something, it's probably not a bad thing to defend your country. I just never get the urge to defend my country. Is that weird? I hope I am not offending anyone by asking this.
I have a home on 10 acres that is very remote no bus would come there. I also require a lot of tools to do my job and could not take them on the bus. I have never been shot nor have I shot anyone though I do enjoy match shooting g and own many firearms. I guess Europe has zero child molesters and kids are never abducted over there. We do have crime and kids can be abducted so to allow your kids to roam freely is negligent. Plus they might crash on their bike or be hit by a car. I don't know of any kids that are not involved in some kind of extra curriculum activity and I have never been charged for water. It is illegal in Arizona to not provide water if requested. We smile to be pleasant unlike Europeans.
First of all as an America has plenty of issues I will admit. We aren't perfect like you Europeans. Everyone I know removes their shoes when entering a home. Some may keep shoes by the door that are only worn indoors as they have foot problems and shoes provide comfort. To each there own but I have no desire to see old wrinkled sweaty testicle, or gray public hair or any public hair, sagging breasts or stretch marks that make it look like a person was mauled by a tiger. Fish belly white rolls of fat or even a naked super model naked. I took Spanish for 4 years in high school as a foreign language was required. As a business owner employees are given paid vacations, paid sick days, paid holidays and we are a Construction Company when an employees partner has a baby they get 3 days off to help the new mother and baby settle in paid. If the spouse can't handle a newborn after that then they shouldn't have had a kid. So many people abuse sick days though and screw over coworkers
I really take offense with the whole if u can't handle a new born after 3 days u shouldn't of had one. There can be literally hundreds of reasons a new mom needs help after delivering a child she could have had a c-section or a difficult birth the child could had birth defects or other issues that were unforeseen. The child could have colic there could be other siblings in the home and they are not adjusting to the new arrival there's also postpartum depression like I said literally hundreds of things and to judge a person after only three days and saying they shouldn't have had one what are they going to do put the child back because that's about how much sense your post made
Load More Replies...This is simply showing differences... one could just as easily say this is "European bashing" if you decide that the American side of the difference is the preferred version. (and in some of these cases, that would be an easy argument)
Load More Replies...Usa is like a fourth cousin twice removed of European countries that had the guts to jump over the wall to go see the world and so they evolved in their own way . And it doesn't seem so problematic to me. I love both.
So...pointing out differences means you're hating the country? Got it. Are there any other conditions other than patriotic paranoia you want to tell us about?
Load More Replies...Gotta say that "things normal in Europe" means you take more than 40 very different countries together. Example; The Netherlands doesn't have bagged milk at all, we don't allow underage drinking in the general sense and we don't leave kids in strollers outside. We're one of the few countries that use diseases as swear words, though :)
The same could be said for the United States. People love to generalize Americans, but the truth is we're vastly different from one another. I notice a lot of ignorance from Europeans about the differences in Americans. Like someone made a southern Texas joke towards me and I had to explain I'm from the east coast. It seems like they forget how big America really is.
Load More Replies...As an european who spend so much time in the states I just can't see the US as one country... there are so much differences depending on where you are... and I'm so just tired of those meaningless comparison...
This is even more true for Europe. They are lumping 40 different countries into this comparison.
Load More Replies...About half of these are just cultural differences that aren't "Horrific" one way or the other, and some even reflect badly on the Europeans, not to mention the whole "not all of Europe, but n a few places..." thing. So basically, the author is full of s**t.
I am not sure that anyone in the US finds these things “horrific.” I assume no Americans were consulted in the creation of this list? Bull fighting… this is an example of something horrific…
Yeah. It's awful. I think it's only parts of Spain though. (I could be wrong) not the kind of thing I want to google.
Load More Replies...One "European" concept I wish the US would embrace is free college/university!
Yup. It's very freeing not having to save up for my son's university.
Load More Replies...Yea. I mean… it’s just sad. All the other nations target America. But I’m used to it.
Load More Replies...One thing in North America I question is why women’s breasts are considered illegal. I suspect it has to do with the Puritan roots of NA but why does the USA love guns and violence (especially on tv, movies and video games) but as soon as a woman’s breasts are visible everyone throws a fit?
I like my guns, because I use it for hunting. Not for the sport of it, but because in my part of the US, groceries are pretty expensive, and good paying jobs that can support your family are few and far between. But god forbid women decide to go without even a bra 🙄
Load More Replies...So often articles like these seem based on stereotypes and Stupid American stories taken as fact. They also feel mean spirited.
Yet another post by someone who's never been to the US and doesn't actually know any Americans.
Definitely true. But considering there's so many untrue statements about Europe too it's easy to come to this conclusion. It's all or mostly just b******t.
Load More Replies...This is full of a lot of stereotypes, exaggeration, and people who have never gone to the US. It was cool to learn more about 'Europe'. (Europe is a bunch of different countries and cultures, you can't just group them all together like they did the United States.)
Yes. Sadly there's a bunch of people who lump together all European countries and people tend to lump together all of the US states too. European countries differ. Sometimes very much and sometimes less. And I know it's the same with many states in the US. Never hurt to learn though, which is why I ended up here. ;D
Load More Replies...I don't see anything horrific except for the hateful disdain expressed toward Americans.
Americans can be pretty damn disdainful of whole groups of people, it's the driving force behind much of our politics.
Load More Replies...The problem is that Americans are stereotyped by The politics of rural areas predominant primarily in the south and midwest even though that only makes up at a relatively small percentage of the total population. However that gets blown out of proportion because the American political system ensures a disproportionate amount of power to those areas. On the flipside Europeans are stereotyped based on the population of its large cities. But of course if anybody does just a little bit of investigation they will see that rural America and rural Europe are very similar (why do you think Brexit happened?) American cities and European cities are also very similar. Even more extreme many of the countries of Eastern Europe are considerably more conservative than even the most conservative parts of America.
I'm a bus driver. Taking a bus in America is not horrific, thank you very much.
It depends on where you live. My experience with buses in Atlanta was fine. My experiences with the buses in Alaska was awful!
Load More Replies...Looks like Americans aren't as "free" as they think they are and as they would like the World to see them.
So much content on BP is Europe vs USA. Like f**k off already... we don’t need any more division and hatred in the world
Agreed. I wonder why it is like that though? Maybe the states is a soft target for some reason.
Load More Replies...Please stop viewing Europe as one country. It's a group of very different countries, with different culture, different history, different languages, different customs, different way of life. European countries are NOT like US states, they don't really have nearly as much in common. And while they're a group and share a currency now (and it's only been 20 years) and all that, you cannot group all European countries and treat them like they're all the same. Enough of this, please.
Not all european countries are members of the eu though. But I agree, most european countries have many differences.
Load More Replies...So many of these are not even close to true. Someone is watching too many movies.
I have to wonder why these kinds of generalizations are only acceptable about Americans/America. Many of these would largely depend on where you live in America
This entire post generalizes the entirety of Europe as well. Most of these examples absolutely do not apply for the majority of countries in Europe.
Load More Replies...A lot of the things on this list isn’t true. Downvote me if you want.
definitely another bored panda Stigma induced post for both Europe and America. though it definitely likes to stir up hate in a lot of different forms of these stigmas of Europe and America I think it could have potential of having some fun conversations if delt right...*if* being key because for this Panda, that can't happen in heaven or hell it seems...this Boredpanda loves to just dump loads on America usually which really frustrates me. and this time had a bonus with Europe in it.
For those who misspell America, it just goes to prove you Europeans are a bunch of snotty little pricks.
The author simply revealed their ignorance. It’s embarrassing to see someone actually wrote this truly fact-anemic tripe. I will give one example. The “public purchase and consumption of alcohol” is illegal until age 21. However in 45 states, on private property, with parental consent children may consume any alcohol they wish. The drinking age in this case can go down to 12. The government limited public drinking but preserved parents rights to teach their children to drink responsibility. In America, on private property, one can enjoy a beer or 100 proof whiskey with their child…if they desire. Most parents choose to wait. A simple google search would do you well.
The only thing I would find horrific that is done in many parts of Europe is leaving your baby outside a shop in their stroller. I know its quite common in some places, (lived in many different European countries growing up). But if I saw that in America I would start freaking out lol. Cops would immediately be called by someone, it would be a whole thing.
Not saying ALL americans are patriotic. Although I myself would never feel the same need to defend my country like some (again not all) americans do here. Maybe I'm missing something, it's probably not a bad thing to defend your country. I just never get the urge to defend my country. Is that weird? I hope I am not offending anyone by asking this.
I have a home on 10 acres that is very remote no bus would come there. I also require a lot of tools to do my job and could not take them on the bus. I have never been shot nor have I shot anyone though I do enjoy match shooting g and own many firearms. I guess Europe has zero child molesters and kids are never abducted over there. We do have crime and kids can be abducted so to allow your kids to roam freely is negligent. Plus they might crash on their bike or be hit by a car. I don't know of any kids that are not involved in some kind of extra curriculum activity and I have never been charged for water. It is illegal in Arizona to not provide water if requested. We smile to be pleasant unlike Europeans.
First of all as an America has plenty of issues I will admit. We aren't perfect like you Europeans. Everyone I know removes their shoes when entering a home. Some may keep shoes by the door that are only worn indoors as they have foot problems and shoes provide comfort. To each there own but I have no desire to see old wrinkled sweaty testicle, or gray public hair or any public hair, sagging breasts or stretch marks that make it look like a person was mauled by a tiger. Fish belly white rolls of fat or even a naked super model naked. I took Spanish for 4 years in high school as a foreign language was required. As a business owner employees are given paid vacations, paid sick days, paid holidays and we are a Construction Company when an employees partner has a baby they get 3 days off to help the new mother and baby settle in paid. If the spouse can't handle a newborn after that then they shouldn't have had a kid. So many people abuse sick days though and screw over coworkers
I really take offense with the whole if u can't handle a new born after 3 days u shouldn't of had one. There can be literally hundreds of reasons a new mom needs help after delivering a child she could have had a c-section or a difficult birth the child could had birth defects or other issues that were unforeseen. The child could have colic there could be other siblings in the home and they are not adjusting to the new arrival there's also postpartum depression like I said literally hundreds of things and to judge a person after only three days and saying they shouldn't have had one what are they going to do put the child back because that's about how much sense your post made
Load More Replies...This is simply showing differences... one could just as easily say this is "European bashing" if you decide that the American side of the difference is the preferred version. (and in some of these cases, that would be an easy argument)
Load More Replies...Usa is like a fourth cousin twice removed of European countries that had the guts to jump over the wall to go see the world and so they evolved in their own way . And it doesn't seem so problematic to me. I love both.
So...pointing out differences means you're hating the country? Got it. Are there any other conditions other than patriotic paranoia you want to tell us about?
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