What is normal, anyway? Just think about it: in some countries, women are supposed to cover themselves from head to toe. In others, bikinis are pretty sufficient. And baskets? People carry them in their arms or on the head. Very rarely is there one right way to do anything. It's all relative.
Recently, we at Bored Panda stumbled upon two posts on Reddit by u/ojlol2 and u/monitonik that essentially ask the same thing: what's typical and common in your country but is considered weird in others?
To say they went viral would be an understatement. As of this article, the two questions have received a combined total of 53,000 comments, including plenty of eye-opening answers that are bound to expand your understanding of the world. Here are the ones that interested us the most.
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Everyone rags on the US for using imperial, but can we talk for a second about how weird we are here in the UK for using both inconsistently?
You buy a pint of milk or beer, but a litre of coke and 25ml of whiskey
People know how many miles to the gallon their cars get, but you buy fuel at pence per litre.
You watch the weather forecast and the temperature is in Celsius but the wind speed is in miles per hour
Most people can tell you their weight in kilograms, and their height in feet, and if they can't give you kilograms they can probably give you stone instead, which is even older than pounds, which nobody uses as a unit of measurement, probably because of the confusion between lbs and £...
It's a glorious mess.
It is a glorious mess, and I love how well we do it. When I'm buying meat or fruit and veg by weight I ask for the amount that's less words to say. If I want a certain amount I'll ask for 'a pound' because it's less effort to say than 'five hundred grammes' but if I want twice as much I'll ask for 'a kilo' because it's less effort to think about than 'two pounds'.
One of the people who kick-started this discussion, u/monitonik, is known in real life as Monika Mazunaite, and she got interested in the topic when she was simply sitting in her room, browsing YouTube. "I was looking for something to watch and ended up scrolling through YouTube shorts, finding myself in a r/AskReddit wormhole, listening to different questions and answers," Monika told Bored Panda.
"Eventually, I got inspiration from other Redditors' questions, and the question I posted popped into my head randomly. My brain generated it in an instant and I didn't think it would get as much attention as it did. So I'm very happy with everyone's input!"
After going through the answers, she learned that people from all over the world have so many different traditions, they often don't even realize how unique their cultures are. "It was all really interesting. I think that countries in Asia and in Oceania have the most unique customs, such as going to the shops barefoot!"
Eating with our hands.
In 1969 (the same year the man landed on the moon), Miss Gloria Diaz coveted the Philippines' first Miss Universe Crown. During the preliminary Q&A, she was asked "Is it true that you Filipinos use your hand when you eat?" To which she replied "Why? Do you use your feet?" and went her way to winning the crown.
I used to lodge with a Bangladeshi family and the elegance with which they could all eat a curry and rice with their hands was inspiring. So neatly done. I make more mess using cutlery (as my jumpers will bear out).
I concur with you. Ate meals in India with hands, yeah it was weird for me (20'ish) but I accepted it and it was better than eating with utensils. Grab a chunk of nan bread, use it to spoon in some sauce and rice. Heaven!
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We have strong East Indian and African roots in the Caribbean so eating with your hands was normal. My grand parents didn't even use forks....spoons only for soup and even then they'll drink from the bowl.
There are hand foods, and fork foods-- soup is hard to eat without a spoon, fried chicken and pizza (especially in JNY) are meant to be eaten with fingers-- only tourists use forks--
It is way better to eat with your hand. Cleanliness comes in if you are one of those who likes to wash hands before eating. Plus, you will keep your nails clipped coz you do not want to get anything stuck there. Plus, less stuff to clean while doing dishes.
Or just a fork, so many people struggling to cut something up with their fork, for heaven's sake use your knife.
Don't you use your hands to eat french fries? (NOT BEING SARCASTIC-)
"According to some studies over 1.5 billion people eat with knife, fork and spoon; 1.2 billion with chopsticks, 350 million with knife and hands; and several billion with their hands only."
I prefer using hands unless whatever I’m eating has sauce, broth, or something similar, or if it’s tiny, like rice. Everything else is just easier with hands tho.
Depends on the food...some foods are just wrong with cutlery, but many foods are weird without cutlery... Or is that just another English peculiarity?
I always eat chips with my hands. If I am having dinner at a fancy place, I need to remember to use my fork.
And if you knew how much bacteria was already inside of you which actually make your body systems work as they should...
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I teach in Japan, but grew up in America. The other day my students asked me wide-eyed if Americans really wear their shoes inside. I told them yes and that sometimes my dad would cross his legs like this while we sat on the sofa and I could touch the bottom of his shoes. They were super grossed out. “Eew, why would you wear shoes inside! That’s so dirty!” These kids are 2nd graders so it starts pretty young.
I never understood this. It's way more comfortable without them so why wear them when you don't need to?
However, there are concerns that the efficiency and appeal of wireless communications, electronic commerce, popular culture, and international travel — globalization — have been making the human experience essentially the same wherever you look at it. But although homogenizing influences do exist, this is probably an overstatement and we're far, far away from creating anything akin to a single world culture.
What we do see is the emergence of global subcultures. Arguments have been put forth that a rudimentary version of world culture is taking shape among certain individuals who share similar values, aspirations, or lifestyles. The result, according to these comments, is a collection of elite groups whose unifying ideals transcend geographical limitations.
According to The Clash of Civilizations (1998) by political scientist Samuel Huntington, the "Davos" culture is a perfect example of this phenomenon. It comprises of an elite group of highly educated people who operate in the rarefied domains of international finance, media, and diplomacy, and these insiders share common beliefs about individualism, democracy, and market economics. They are said to follow a recognizable lifestyle, are instantly identifiable anywhere in the world, and feel more comfortable in each other's presence than they are among their less sophisticated compatriots.
But supporters of globalization argue that it has the potential to make this world a better place to live in and solve some of the deep-seated problems like unemployment and poverty. I wonder, can we have the best of both worlds?
Scottish here. We deep-fry our pizzas. No even sorry. Tasty wee bastards.
United States.
The cracks that are just wide enough to be able to see in and out of public restroom stalls. I’ve heard it’s thought of as weird since many other countries enjoy the luxury of privacy.
As a Canadian, when these types of lists are published I think everyone forgets we are not part of the United States. 75% of the "weird" stuff about the U.S. exists here too, like these gaps. I just stuff a length of toilet paper in there, not because I have anything to hide, but it's weird to make random eye contact with someone when you're pooping
Norway.
Leaving your baby alone outside for their nap, even if it rains or snows.
US.
Taxes. We have this weird system where the government really kind of knows what we should pay, but they offer us an opportunity to guess and maybe pay the right thing, but if we don't pay the right thing, we get penalized. I remember listening to a podcast where people all over the world were super confused about how the US does taxes. Most other places the government sends you a bill, and you pay it, and you're done.
India.
We have matrimonial ads in newspapers and sites to find grooms and brides which I think don't happen in western countries and they find it strange. The ads are mostly published by parents. It's like tinder supervised by parents.
They are the best source for amusement. The demands are amazing and quite specific.
Direct democracy in Switzerland. It often baffles me when I read what the government can pull off in other countries without ever involving the population. Like...yea, you get to elect representatives but it often seems to me that those people then elect someone who elects someone who elects someone...is it really still democracy if you're about five steps removed from the actual decisions?
the people who came up with representative government say they don't want "mob rule" since open democratic town hall meetings where everyone has an equal vote tend to turn into a shouting match followed by mob violence and riots. What they are really afraid of is that they will lose control. It is much easier to control a small group of representatives than the people at large. It's a control thing, based on the "Golden Rule". The Golden Rule says he that has the gold makes the rules.
UK.
Whole restaurants cheering when a plate or glass is smashed. Once was in a Canadian bar/restaurant on holiday and a waiter dropped a tray of glasses, the local looked horrified when i was out of my seat screaming “wheyyyyyy”
We yell "Taxi" when that happens. It's a joke insinuating that someone has knocked a glass over coz they have drank too much so they need a taxi to get home.
Poland.
In my friend's country, Easter is when gangs of boys roam the countryside, pouring water over girls and beating them (gently) with sticks. The girls then have to thank them for it.
I thought that was pretty weird.
Pole here. It's a tradition that symbolises washing off dirt, diseases and sins at the end of winter time, when spring comes around. Nowadays, the tradition is mostly gone, and instead pouring water on girls, they are sprinkled with perfume.
Moldova.
A short while ago they stopped selling alcohol after 10pm. At some stores you couldn't even get non-alcoholic beer. What's weird tho is that wine is not considered alcoholic drink so you can buy it anytime. Welcome to Moldova
There's this sport in Finland called eukonkanto, where men participate in running a specific distance, all while carrying their wife or girlfriend. Winner gets their woman's weight in beer.
South Africa.
Being middle-class with a property having a 6' wall, electric fencing linked to an alarm, automated gate and garage doors (with security clamps over the gate motor to prevent theft of the motor), security gates over every door, burglar bars, and a house alarm system with infra-red sensors linked to armed response with a reaction time of under 3-4 minutes.
Germany.
Legal drinking age of beer and wine is 16
In Japan, there are public toilets in a few places where after urinating, you can opt to view a general health assessment report.
Latin America.
Putting broken glass bottles on the walls around your house so burglars cant jump it and rob you. I moved to Canada and they don't even have walls around the houses!
This isn't allowed in the UK anymore. While the right wing press like to whinge about burglars having too many human rights, it's basically because anyone might need to, or actually, vault that wall, such as the emergency services or a passerby being a good Samaritan, and it isn't the luxury of anyone to cause that level of injury.
UK.
A teeny tiny nation with atleast 50 different accents.
Canada.
No fences between houses. It's almost considered rude to put up a fence.
Finland.
Strangers sitting totally naked skin to skin in a steamy room heated to +80 to +100C... and us having competitions on who can last the longest in there.
I found the sauna culture really healthy for society when I was in Finland. It is very normal for young children to go into the sauna, for example at the swimming pool, and see naked adults of their sex of all ages, shapes and sizes. Amongst family and friends they are going to be comfortable around naked bodies of all sexes and experience everyone treated all shapes and sizes as perfectly normal and not worthy of comment. People don't care that their significant other was naked in a sauna with other people, and so on. Not saying Finland is perfect or there's no problems, but I found that part of the culture admirable.
US.
Pharmaceutical commercials
This is a bit vague. If you mean for prescription-only medicines, then USA. If you mean that the TV is full of ads for over-the-counter remedies, then Poland would be very high on that list. And they're not complete without someone in a white coat and a disclaimer that is in such tiny text you can't really read it and usually it is repeated by the world speed-talking champion!
UK.
Walking all over the countryside along ancient footpaths (as well as bridleways and byways, and a lot of disused railway tracks that have been designated as footpaths). These paths often go across privately owned land; the landowners are required by law to keep the paths clear, and if they put up a fence to provide a gate.
If you're walking with a dog, you're expected to keep it under control around livestock and when the path crosses a road, but otherwise it's just accepted that dogs are going to run around sniffing everything.
China.
Boiled Coca Cola with lemon and ginger.
In university we thump the tables to "applaud" our professors. Instead of actually applauding. Or doing nothing.
During my exchange semester everyone not from Germany was looking at me confused why I did this.
Saudi Arabia.
Until recently, no women drivers.
Australia.
Putting cable ties, branches, fake eyes etc on helmets, buckets and hats in spring time to scare away the birds. Magpies are vicious bastards
Only 10% of Australian Magpies swoop and for about 6 weeks every year during nesting season. They aren't vicious, they are protecting their chicks. They don't do it just to be assholes. It's not that common for people to put deterrents on their helmets/hats. They are extremely intelligent birds and are good at remembering people's faces. They also have beautiful sing song called carolling. And FYI that magpie pictured is NOT an Australian magpie.
Bavaria.
Drinking beer before 12 o‘clock and seeing it as part of the culture
Note: this post originally had 49 images. It’s been shortened to the top 30 images based on user votes.
Well done whoever compiled this list. About half of the posts towards the end don't mention the country. Some you can guess, but the "copy and paste without even reading" energy is strong here
The posts lately are made very lazily! Most of them are copy paste and i wonder what is the point of having authors for each post if they don't check them?
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Gave up because so many people decided to make it a guessing game. Would have been interesting if people had included the countries.
They edited the countries in now, if you're still interested :)
Load More Replies... I wish there was a more detailed comparison list we could do. I think it would really help us all to know more about other people's cultures.
Lists like these are skin deep. I don't think they'll help us understand other cultures. Though to get a bit more pseudo-philosophical - can you ever understand other cultures? Can you understand your own culture? What is culture? Does it even exist? Etc.
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Changing rooms with only 1 or 2 stalls at the swimming pool. This was a culture shock when I came to Germany because in England I'd never even think about getting naked in front of strangers to put my swimsuit on. Stall every time!
This is actually why the locker room debate gets so much traction, I think. A lot of countries don't have qualms about stripping off in front of strangers... but God forbid there's a trans woman in there. I honestly can't fathom a world where I'd look at anyone else's body while I'm changing.
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In Canada, McDonalds has poutine. Not authentic poutine because they use chicken gravy instead of beef gravy. But it's not terrible. Just tastes a bit... unauthentic. We also pay an ever so slightly different price depending on if you pay with card or cash. Since Canada did away with the penny the sticker prices have not been rounded off to the nearest nickel (5 cents), that has to be done at the till. If something costs, say, $5.53 and the customer pays with cash they're actually paying $5.55, but if they pay with a card then they pay the $5.53. If something costs $5.52 with cash, they pay $5.50.
Well done whoever compiled this list. About half of the posts towards the end don't mention the country. Some you can guess, but the "copy and paste without even reading" energy is strong here
The posts lately are made very lazily! Most of them are copy paste and i wonder what is the point of having authors for each post if they don't check them?
Load More Replies... Gave up because so many people decided to make it a guessing game. Would have been interesting if people had included the countries.
They edited the countries in now, if you're still interested :)
Load More Replies... I wish there was a more detailed comparison list we could do. I think it would really help us all to know more about other people's cultures.
Lists like these are skin deep. I don't think they'll help us understand other cultures. Though to get a bit more pseudo-philosophical - can you ever understand other cultures? Can you understand your own culture? What is culture? Does it even exist? Etc.
Load More Replies... Changing rooms with only 1 or 2 stalls at the swimming pool. This was a culture shock when I came to Germany because in England I'd never even think about getting naked in front of strangers to put my swimsuit on. Stall every time!
This is actually why the locker room debate gets so much traction, I think. A lot of countries don't have qualms about stripping off in front of strangers... but God forbid there's a trans woman in there. I honestly can't fathom a world where I'd look at anyone else's body while I'm changing.
Load More Replies... In Canada, McDonalds has poutine. Not authentic poutine because they use chicken gravy instead of beef gravy. But it's not terrible. Just tastes a bit... unauthentic. We also pay an ever so slightly different price depending on if you pay with card or cash. Since Canada did away with the penny the sticker prices have not been rounded off to the nearest nickel (5 cents), that has to be done at the till. If something costs, say, $5.53 and the customer pays with cash they're actually paying $5.55, but if they pay with a card then they pay the $5.53. If something costs $5.52 with cash, they pay $5.50.
