ADVERTISEMENT

The United States has plenty of pros and cons, just like any other country. However, you can’t deny America tends to have more of each and some of them are turned all the way up to 11 on the weirdness scale. Like having the police patrol your school, writing the date in a weird way (let’s not even talk about the Imperial measurement system), and having full-on smear ads against political opponents.

Welcome to the Wonderland that is the USA. And what better way to learn about the bizarre things that Americans think are completely normal than by asking non-Americans for their opinions? That’s exactly what one Reddit user (who told Bored Panda that they wish to remain anonymous because of all the attention they're getting) did in a viral thread that got more than 50.9k upvotes and over a whopping 38.9k comments. Scroll down, have a read, check out our in-depth interview with the original poster, and upvote the weird things that happen in the US that left an impact on you, dear Pandas.

#1

40 Things Only Americans Think Are Normal Bankruptcy because you went to the hospital

canesfan09 , David Syzdek Report

#2

40 Things Only Americans Think Are Normal Talking about their freedom as if they're the only country in the world who has it...

zohan360 , Denise Krebs Report

Add photo comments
POST
mphseti avatar
mph seti
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

We have to convince ourselves we're better constantly, because deep down, we know we aren't.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#3

40 Things Only Americans Think Are Normal Gratuitous violence in entertainment is normal. But show one boob and people lose their s**t.

danno49 , miramax Report

Add photo comments
POST
mphseti avatar
mph seti
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Puritans / fundamentalist Christians did this s**t. Public executions = Fine. A naked body = The DEVIL! To be fair, this is something we inherited from medieval Europe...You guys just outgrew it, and we haven't yet.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu

The redditor who posted the thread in the first place told us that they usually don’t hang out in the crowded default subreddits. “Either the thread gets too big for a conversation or it goes unnoticed in a sea of similar topics. In hindsight, it's not strange it got so much attention, Reddit is very diverse but a US-centric view is still dominant, and everyone wants to weigh in. Lots of people just wanted to vent, some had a strong political opinion, and some just wanted to ridicule the US.”

According to the Reddit user, they made the thread “on a whim” after they saw a comment by a redditor who was surprised to learn that not everyone has police officers at school.

“I did hope that starting this topic would end up in a couple of people sharing that kind of information among each other, because the US is going through some [crap], and it helps your morale to know that alternatives do exist.”

ADVERTISEMENT

They continued: “Some people took it as a competition of which country is better, but it was intended without any kind of nationalist feelings, more with an idea of people defining things among themselves vs. how things are shown to be in schools and TV shows, in and outside the US.”

#4

40 Things Only Americans Think Are Normal When you are 18 years old, you can be shipped to a foreign country to kill humans, but you are not allowed to drink alcohol.

K_51 , Fort Rucker Report

Add photo comments
POST
merlin240371 avatar
Richard Brown
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I laughed when Will Smiths son wanted to celebrate his 18th birthday in the UK because he would be allowed to drink legally!

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#5

40 Things Only Americans Think Are Normal Ambulance rides costing money seems pretty absurd to people from other countries

Meemesfourdayz , Paul Townley Report

Add photo comments
POST
mphseti avatar
mph seti
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Paying for healthcare (or internet access, IMO) is absurd. There's a reason all the smart countries socialize things. the US easily could too, if we started putting actual people before the wealthy and their profits.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#6

40 Things Only Americans Think Are Normal Paying people less than minimum wage. How is it a minimum if it's legal to pay less than that?

NZLion , 401(K) 2012 Report

Add photo comments
POST
jmchoto avatar
Jo Choto
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The US always has exemptions to such laws, and the whole service industry thrives on it.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu

One thing that the redditor did expect to see in the thread but was surprised to hear so many voices speaking against it was the “circumcision of infant males for non-medical, non-religious reasons but rather as a default procedure.” The redditor added: “Parents who decide against circumcising their newborn child but don't know how it works and what to teach their kid: there's a WikiHow!”

ADVERTISEMENT

The thread shone a light on a lot of problems in the United States and suggested that these things need to change. “The things that got repeated most in the thread were division of ethnic groups, gun culture, military drafting and continuous warfare, cop culture, nutrition issues, corporate lobbying... and wearing shoes in the house,” the OP explained.

#7

40 Things Only Americans Think Are Normal Wondering if you're sick enough to call that ambulance or if you should just risk ubering it.

Medical bankruptcy after you're charged $200,000 for a week long hospital stay and now you're homeless.

Being mentally ill and getting hospitalized by others for your own safety, but then getting a massive bill for it that you cant pay (which will totally help the suicidality right?)

Choosing between food and medicine.

Deciding that it's less expensive to just go into palliative care and die instead of fighting a disease like cancer.

As you can see I really hate the american medical care system.

greffedufois , Tomás Del Coro Report

#8

40 Things Only Americans Think Are Normal Turning scientific information into a political discussion.

everythihghurts , U.S. Embassy Phnom Penh Report

Add photo comments
POST
lyuboiv avatar
Vorknkx
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

When scientists talk, politicians should shut their mouths and listen, period.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
#9

40 Things Only Americans Think Are Normal Archaic, unhelpful standard units of measurement.

JSanzi , franchise opportunities Report

Add photo comments
POST
martti avatar
Martti Laurson
Community Member
3 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

In 1983 canadian airplane had a lucky escape when fuel was calculated in pounds not kilograms. 1 kg is 2,2 pounds. So more than half of the fuel was missing.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT

“It's not as if all those comments came from non-US redditors, a lot of the criticism was from US citizens with genuine concern and investment in their future and their surroundings. Combine that with getting active and finding each other, just as widespread protests are helping to create a framework of solidarity, I think change is already happening if you just keep at it,” they said.

“I saw a lot of people from outside the US who feel racism or racist police brutality are a typical US thing. It sure looks like there's a structural issue, but please don't use the US as a way to shift blame because ‘they're worse,’ to get out of examining the same structural issues in your own locality,” the redditor added.

#10

40 Things Only Americans Think Are Normal Putting a ton of sugar in products like bread.

TheThingsWeMake , Doug Waldron Report

Add photo comments
POST
jmchoto avatar
Jo Choto
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It really shocks me whenever I travel back to the US just how loaded all the food is with excess sugar and salt. Bread tastes almost like cake.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#11

40 Things Only Americans Think Are Normal Gun ownership.

only7inches , Paul Sableman Report

Add photo comments
POST
mphseti avatar
mph seti
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Many Americans are afraid all the time. It's a horrible habit, and our media/politicians reinforce it. It stems from the fact that our country was founded on genocide and slavery, IMO. White people fear BIPOC revenge that's never going to happen, and gun companies own the right wing of the government.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#12

40 Things Only Americans Think Are Normal Having only two parties: Republicans and Democrats. I know there are some smaller parties, but the system is stacked against them.

level 1 K_51 , Pom' Report

Add photo comments
POST
ed_25 avatar
Electric Ed
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

When you think about it, this turns out to be the root cause for so many other problems. If not all of them.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu

While the US thinks a lot of weird things are normal, the one that isn’t giving us any peace and quiet is that Americans write the date as mm/dd/yyyy. So, why exactly do Americans write the date by putting the month before the day?

ADVERTISEMENT

Of course, it seems completely logical to somebody who’s grown up with this system and uses it every single day of their lives. Nothing could be more natural, in their opinion. But from an outsider’s perspective, it looks downright weird and illogical. And the US is the only country in the world that does things this way.

There are several theories about this. One of them is that in certain cases, it’s more convenient to know the month first rather than the day. For instance, when somebody asks you when your birthday is, it’s more useful to know the month first to get your bearings right before zoning in on the exact day.

#13

40 Things Only Americans Think Are Normal Not putting the final price on the tag. I'm not sure whether it's still like this, but a few years ago one never knew whether the $1.00 item in McDonald's or Burger King is actually $1.00 or maybe $1.08.

TitanicBeta , JJBers Report

Add photo comments
POST
crabcrab avatar
Hans
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It is absolutely ridiculous that not the final price tag is put on products. The European Union now rules that any taxes and mandatory fees need to be put up front. Thing like flight ticket = 30 EUR but then having to pay mandatorily for seating are ruled illegal. The opposite in the US. I have literally seen: hotel room: 200 USD/night. + mandatory resort fee, 30 USD, + mandatory service fee, 40 USD, + mandatory gratuity, 12,5% + local tax 4,1% + state tax 3,7% (number from my head). Thus, this really is a ~325 USD hotel room. No comparison possible.

getsuyoubi avatar
Monday
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I don't understand not including tax on price tags either....it's far easier to budget properly when you know EXACTLY what you'll be paying.

Load More Replies...
chatuchuk avatar
Michael Hill
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I have been caught like that in some American shops when I have handed the money over, then been told to pay the taxes. If such taxes are compulsory, they should be in the stated price.

davenyc88 avatar
Dave P
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

1) Stores can if they wish and I know ones who do. 2) We do for gas, and this is why people don't realize 30% of what they pay in gas in most states is local, state and federal taxes. 3)However I do think this is stupid, however every state and every local has their own sales taxes, it would be too complex for such a system to be national, and people don't realize our system of taxation is not condusive to this

karenjohnston avatar
Karen Johnston
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I've never understood this. It sucked as a little kid when you went to buy candy, only to learn you didn't have enough money because of the tax.

cjucz22 avatar
Christina Uhlir
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Don't go to McDonald's, Burger King, etc., and save your health, health of our planet. and spare animals unconscionable suffering. American's alone gobble up more than million animals every single hour. They are the most wasteful nation on earth.

sb2288 avatar
Steve Borchard
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Yes let's have a VAT so the real amount of taxes your paying is hidden in your sweet even/rounded price. NOT. WTF difference does it make? You collect taxes, we collect taxes. Can't handle it...stay home.

terybriggs avatar
Mama Panda
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Because it would be a total nightmare for retail workers. First, prices change constantly on things due to many reasons but mainly due to the competition. Second, there are the possibility of federal (on some items) state, county and city taxes to be accounted for. Third, there are some states that don't charge tax on food items while others do and then fourth, and this is where it gets dicey for retail workers. Unless you are a mom and pop store, your home office is located in another state which has it's own state, county and city taxes that are different from each store. They are the ones that supply the price changes. Sure if you could have a program that would change everything for you and that would be great but if there is a glitch you are screwed! So instead of really messing everything up, we price our goods with just the cost minus the taxes. I get what you are all saying but after 20+ years in retail management, trust me, I know it would be a total headache!

ameliastephenson avatar
Amelia stephenson
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Yet most other countries in the world seems to do it fine, im sire American retail workers can not be this confused and slow

Load More Replies...
dodsonmichelle avatar
Celtic Pirate Queen
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Completely agree. Tips are a no-no in Europe as well because they actually pay their waitstaff a LIVING WAGE.

josephvallinoto avatar
Pascal Vallinoto
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

No matter how many taxes you have to pay, all that is due to you must be written and well exposed, not increased at the cash register, otherwise you end up in prison as in Europe.

pseudo_puppy avatar
Pseudo Puppy
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The reason? Inconsistent taxes from city to city, and state to state. And it's 'too hard' for each store to put a price tag on their products. eg Manhattan Island has an EXTRA tax, simply because the product is being bought on Manhattan Island. Get off the island - and you don't have to pay that "Manhattan Island" tax. Seriously. :(

cristina_steele avatar
Cristina S.
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Here is a really good explanation that I found: Sales tax applies to goods and services you buy. You pay them at the point of sale. There is no sales tax at the federal level, but states, cities and local districts may all have their own taxes. Not all places collect sales tax and different areas charge different rates, based on what you’re buying. For example, a state may collect a 2% tax on groceries but a 4% tax on all other goods. Sales tax is also a type of ad valorem tax; the amount you pay depends directly on the value of what you’re buying. There are also restaurant & hotel/lodging taxes. It’s a bit bananas when you think about it.

jack_candy avatar
Jack Candy
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That may be an explanation for the taxes, but not for the deliberate misleading of not including taxes in the price tag.

Load More Replies...
roadkillthebrave avatar
Roadkill The Brave
Community Member
3 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I see this one up a lot and here's the deal. We have Federal Tax, State Tax, County Tax, and City Tax. All apply in different rates in part because each State is responsible for taking care of itself, so they have to have their own tax's which is why we file State and Federal taxes at the end of the year. States have told their cities and counties the same thing, we'll fund your schools and major things, but you have to fund yourself' especially once the city reaches a certain size. Some cities are larger than one county but some aren't it depends on where you're at. So your City and County can each apply a tax on any product you buy in the area. I live in the Midwest and there are 114 counties in my State. This means 114 possible price point. Its not about the Corporations people its about the Local, State, and Federal Government. That's why tax is added at the register. Basic break down - Just apply a .07 tax on anything you buy, that's as high as it'll get usually. Depends though.

jack_candy avatar
Jack Candy
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Where's the problem? When shops are able to add the tax on the checkout, they also are able to add it on the price tag. Maybe there are 114 counties. But every shop is only in one county. Different taxes in other counties are irrelevant.

Load More Replies...
marsfka avatar
MarsFKA
Community Member
3 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

In New Zealand, we have had tax-included pricing from Day One. I've been to the USA several times and am always irritated by having to pay more than the posted price.

stormrise avatar
Storm Rise
Community Member
3 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

On paper, it's really cheap to live in the US, but then you start adding on sales tax and gratuity and healthcare (dear god- the cost of 'health' care!!!), and, and, and.... in the end, it's pretty damn expensive!

kirkinsd7 avatar
Kirk Mckeever
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Remember---local and state taxes can change from one town to another, or vary wildly in more crowded areas, due to different local, County, and/or State taxes....you gotta be practical, irritating or not.....

traveler_in_thyme avatar
Marcia Cash
Community Member
3 years ago

This comment has been deleted.

jack_candy avatar
Jack Candy
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is ridiculous. In Europe and other civilized countries this would be deliberate misleading and punishable. When shops are able to add the tax on the checkout, they also are able to add it on the price tag.

johnbaker avatar
John Baker
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Europeans have ways of doing things that don't make much sense to Americans too, but we don't go on the internet and whine about how inconvenient and stupid they are.

Load More Replies...
notyouagain1986 avatar
Wouldn't You Like to Know
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Unlike many countries, we can do math in our heads...well most of us still can anyway.

katboxjanitor avatar
katboxjanitor
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

In the US we have taxes imposed by the federal, State, county (a subset of a state), city\district or "unincorporated" locations. They can, and do, result in sales taxes, property tax, taxing the purchase of necessities like foodstuffs, clothing, and the weight or value of your automobile, some services, etc. Cross a state line and a whole different set of these are applied. It is a complex clusterf@#k/

lisachambers2018 avatar
Lisa Chambers
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That is how they cannot hide a 22% tax rate on any item sold. I prefer it the American way. And yes I have lived in a VAT country.

jana_boardman avatar
Jana Boardman
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That's the law. Stupid? Yes, it is. It came about because the government was trying to hide the penurious taxes levied on gasoline. It was made illegal to show the taxes on the pump, and it wasn't a stretch to move it to everything else.

schlachthof4 avatar
Nadine Khazaka
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It's because taxation differs from state to state in these united states.

wale101 avatar
Waleska Jungmann
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I've always hated this in the US. Why the hell won't you include the Tax? It sucks thinking you got a deal, and then go to the cashier and its like $10 than what you thought it was haha

erin_16 avatar
GirlFriday
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Because tax rates vary from jurisdiction to jurisdiction in the US and advertising is often purchased to run nationwide, the final price is left off of advertisements, signs, prints, etc.

wale101 avatar
Waleska Jungmann
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Regardless. It's about the price in-store mostly. That doesn't vary from jurisdiction to jurisdiction.

Load More Replies...
View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#14

40 Things Only Americans Think Are Normal Date Order (MM/DD/YYYY)

-Sinister-Shadow , InvestmentTotal.com Report

Add photo comments
POST
ed_25 avatar
Electric Ed
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

YYYY-MM-DD, please. Its an international standard, unambiguous, and sorts alphabetically. And equally uncomfortable for everybody :)

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#15

40 Things Only Americans Think Are Normal Portion sizes.

pourmewhineoh , Jerry Huddleston Report

Add photo comments
POST
emmi_blad avatar
Goth Nurse
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

While living in Texas (I am Finnish) I saw huge people and huge portion sizes, rarely a healthy option available. It was unbelievable how big the portion sizes were!

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu

Another theory is that American colonists inherited the monthly date format from the British Empire. In time, the British moved over to the European style where you put the day first, then the month, then the year. While Americans stuck with the old-school format.

ADVERTISEMENT

Oh, and in case you’re wondering, the International Organization for Standardization claims that putting the year first, then the month, then the day is the internationally accepted way to represent the date. To make things even more confusing, the US military uses the dd/mm/yyyy format for correspondence but it switches to the mm/dd/yyyy format when corresponding with civilians. Does that sound like a lot of info to take in? You bet! And that’s just one of the weird things that Americans think are normal.

#16

40 Things Only Americans Think Are Normal The plot of Breaking Bad being about a science teacher getting cancer and worrying about leaving his family with massive medical debt when he dies.

FeFiFoShizzle , imbd Report

Add photo comments
POST
crabcrab avatar
Hans
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The inefficency (do not mistake for ineffectivity!) of the US healthcare systrem combined with a missing social net is indeed unchallenged.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#17

40 Things Only Americans Think Are Normal My maternity leave was an unpaid 6 weeks, and I had to fight them on not shorting me because I went past my due date and didn’t keep working until the day I went into labor.

robot_cupcak3 , sergio santos Report

Add photo comments
POST
brittania_douglas avatar
Brittania Douglas
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Not to mention the hospital bill after having your baby. Like children aren't expensive enough without having to either pay for an at home doula\midwife, or a hospital birth.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#18

40 Things Only Americans Think Are Normal American flags everywhere. I traveled throughout Europe and the Caribbean and I usually only saw their flag on government builds and here and there. Where as here in the USA the flag is like Franks Red Hot. We put that s**t on everything. Magnets, churches, cars, condoms, every front porch, and street lamp. #murica

Gaby , Gaby Report

Add photo comments
POST
michaelghee avatar
MikeyG
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It does surprise me that the USA can be so proud of their flag and history, when their history is actually quite shameful and very short. A country less than 250 years old that seems to just ignore the native american history before that just astounds me.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#19

40 Things Only Americans Think Are Normal Doing the pledge of allegiance in the morning at school

flavener , John Beagle Report

#20

40 Things Only Americans Think Are Normal Identifying as your heritage instead of your nationality. Americans will say that they’re Italian, German, polish, etc. when they don’t speak the language and have no real connection to those countries anymore.

In other parts of the world people just identify with the country they were born in or have lived in for a significant amount of time regardless of their ancestry.

bluegreentree , IrishFireside Report

Add photo comments
POST
jmchoto avatar
Jo Choto
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Yeah, Americans love telling everyone what nationality they think they are, and then when they hear about foreigners, they tell them to go the hell back where they came from. Go figure.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#21

40 Things Only Americans Think Are Normal Had some American colleagues in Norway asking us how we celebrate 4th July

kevkippers , m01229 Report

Add photo comments
POST
merlin240371 avatar
Richard Brown
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Happens a lot. America seems to think the world is separated into 2 parts. America and Not America, yet.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
See Also on Bored Panda
#22

Big glasses of water WITH ICE at restaurants. I live in Texas usually and I drink ice water like 24/7. It’s a good habit here, especially in Summer. When I was in Europe I would get the smallest glasses of luke warm water that I had to ask for more every ten seconds. I felt annoying! Aren’t y’all thirsty?! Or am I missing something?

bunnysnitch Report

Add photo comments
POST
hellicopta avatar
HelgaMaria Gehrmann
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Yes, we are just as thirsty as everyone else;) But why should ice-cold water (especially) help against thirst? I have never understood (so do many people) why there are tons of ice in every drink. Especially when it is hot, it is totally counterproductive to drink such ice-cold drinks. It is much healthier and more effective against thirst to drink only slightly chilled drinks (directly from the fridge or 1/2 ice cubes max. ;) However, lukewarm water is rather unusual in restaurants ... unfortunately bad luck

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#23

40 Things Only Americans Think Are Normal Toilet cubicles, where people not only can peek, but an adult person could crawl into your cubicle, there is so much space under the "door".

TitanicBeta , Michael Coghlan Report

Add photo comments
POST
jmchoto avatar
Jo Choto
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

And the cracks between the frame and the door means you can quite easily see in the cubicle from outside.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#24

40 Things Only Americans Think Are Normal Willingly putting yourself massively in debt for a college degree.

I come from a place with free university education (which has its own drawbacks of course), and the fact that you can make such a huge, life-altering decision at 17 is considered normal over there, that seems downright bizarre to me.

I_hate_traveling , barnyz Report

Add photo comments
POST
bientje125 avatar
Sabienn
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Sadly, in Holland this is now normal to.... If you're parents aren't super rich, you have to get a loan to be able to pay for college. College isn't as expensive in Holland as it is in the USA, though

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#25

40 Things Only Americans Think Are Normal The enabling customer service culture.

It’s created excessive portions in restaurants, created Karen, gives way to a disposable attitude towards products, and generally gives a sense of entitlement where most people start adding it to their list of rights.

srocan , UPC Media Relations Report

Add photo comments
POST
troux avatar
Troux
Community Member
3 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Yes I always felt this was a weird business model.

View more commentsArrow down menu
#26

40 Things Only Americans Think Are Normal When I was there during the last election I was shocked at how phrases like ‘well they have the black vote’ or the ‘Latino vote’ came up all the time on the radio. Obviously it’s not racist but it’s just something that would never come up in my country. Like, why would latino people all vote for the same person?

Adam-West , kgroovy Report

Add photo comments
POST
jitka-zachova avatar
Pamela24
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Not all but when you have an openly racist candidate (not trying to point fingers...Trump...) it makes sense that majority of POC would avoid voting for that person.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#27

40 Things Only Americans Think Are Normal Actively avoiding healthcare visits/checkups because if there's something wrong and you don't have the money to pay for treatment, then you'd rather just not know

KingAceNumber1 , Yuya Tamai Report

Add photo comments
POST
bp_10 avatar
WilvanderHeijden
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

And that's insane. The sooner you start treatment on an illness the less it costs to cure. Seems that the basic rule of any maintenance schedule for machines is impossible to apply on humans in the US. That's what you get when your health care system is for profit instead of for everyone.

View more commentsArrow down menu
#28

40 Things Only Americans Think Are Normal This one is more on the positive side, because I think we could learn some from it.

Talking and sharing your life with complete strangers. I have met quite a few americans so it seems the norm that you share and engage with strangers in public. The bus, train, parks etc. And then you go on your way.

In Denmark you'd be a "freak" if you did that.

WuuutWuuut , Ben Grey Report

Add photo comments
POST
juhel avatar
Pixie
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Actual question: Why do you want to share your life with strangers on the street? I know I feel very uncomfortable if that happens to me (luckily seldom). Like, what am I to do with what you told me? I don't know you, I don't know if I like you, I don't know what you need as response...

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#29

40 Things Only Americans Think Are Normal Asking everyone “what do you do?” when you first meet them. I live outside the US and realized there are some people I’ve known for years and I still don’t know their job. I think in the US jobs are a bigger part of a person’s identity than in some other places.

Ssffxx , Loren Kerns Report

Add photo comments
POST
jmchoto avatar
Jo Choto
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Yeah, what job you have, implying what kind of salary you make, and people really care what kind of car you drive as well.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#30

The one that always shocks me (I’ve an L1B so I spent quite a bit of time in the last couple of years living & working in the USA - although back home in U.K. right now) is the whole ‘thank you for your service’ military thing. The military is treated like some sort of god level being. It first struck me at Seaworld when they would make all service personnel stand up. In the U.K. the military guys (a) wouldn’t do it and (b) would be embarassed. In most cases they would be actively told not to do it so they don’t get identified - the fear the IRA stoked still runs deep in the processes in the military of the U.K.

bantamw Report

Add photo comments
POST
brittania_douglas avatar
Brittania Douglas
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Another thing regarding military is how actively they recruit. I've never seen it in the past 17 years in the UK, but in the US soldiers go into schools to recruit, do talks, tell you how you get a career or can pay for college after military service, etc. Twice I was practically harassed in high school by recruiters because of my good grades.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#31

40 Things Only Americans Think Are Normal Side effects on medication adverts.

Friggin hilarious to us Brits.

With James' Hayfever meds, I can get through the day with ease!

Side effects may include:

Loss of sight

Loss of hearing

Loss of sense of smell

Coma

Headaches

Fever

Vomiting

Diarrhoea

Loss of consciousness

and death.

level 1 typicalcitrus , Jonathan Rolande Report

Add photo comments
POST
mphseti avatar
mph seti
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is because we allow pharmaceutical companies to advertise prescription drugs directly to the people.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
See Also on Bored Panda
#32

40 Things Only Americans Think Are Normal American Corporations have convinced us our work culture is totally normal.

Nesyaj0 , Jesús Corrius Report

Add photo comments
POST
aminat-temicheva avatar
Ami Temi
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The sad thing is, working more and having no employee rights, doesn't mean you have more money on the long run or that there's more productivity. Countries like Germany and Belgium have a very high productivity, but in less work hours and with better conditions. People have more time for their families, have days off and don't need to fear for their job or their lives when they're sick because of a social security system that works. I think the USA is a bit like Japan: they too, work an insane amount of hours, but one doesn't get more done in those hours. A Dutch woman wrote a book about that system and how it gives you a burn-out, for example. We certainly work just as hard as Americans, but the system is smarter and fairer. It's like with education, we pay less, but our Masters are equally as good as your American ones.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#33

Attack ads against political opponents, ads for law firms or lawyers. These kinds of ads are illegal and considered unethical in our country. Also expecting a teenager to be out of the house by the time they're 18. I live in Southeast Asia. There's no stigma about living with one's parents. Most of the time, there will be three generations living in one house.

HollowMist11 Report

Add photo comments
POST
chi-weishen avatar
chi-wei shen
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I am the youngest of 5 sons and it was expected that I stay at home in order to take over and care for my parents in the future.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#34

40 Things Only Americans Think Are Normal not owning kettles and MICROWAVING their water for coffee/tea

gibbylewd , Chris Lawrence Report

#35

Non-necessary, non-religious circumcision.

GoodLordChokeAnABomb Report

#36

Having second mortgages on a house. Taking massive loans they can't possibly pay off and buying stuff with it that decreases in value over time such as cars.

realultralord Report

Add photo comments
POST
troux avatar
Troux
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

"But I absolutely need this car because my car is 5 years old so it's basically dead." This myth and competition is such a waste of money and resources.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#37

40 Things Only Americans Think Are Normal Shoes inside

SpohieAuz , Architectural Digest Report

Add photo comments
POST
jmchoto avatar
Jo Choto
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

There's a lot of cultures that keep shoes on inside. Not just the US.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#38

Extra large bottomless cups for cola or soft drinks.... you could bathe in those....

SlyDigits Report

#39

40 Things Only Americans Think Are Normal being able to vote before reaching the legal drinking age

level 1 dingdongimprblywrong , hjl Report

Add photo comments
POST
crabcrab avatar
Hans
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Having a voting system where you can become president without getting the majority of votes.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#40

A flag in every corner of a classroom, and Americans being very patriotic to the stars and stripes. Other countries barely give a poop about their flags

Legendary-Lynx Report

Add photo comments
POST
jmscargill avatar
Scagsy
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

If you fly the flag in the UK you are generally looked upon as a far-rightist unless there's a football tournament on

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu

Note: this post originally had 73 images. It’s been shortened to the top 40 images based on user votes.