It’s no secret—the rest of the world looks at how peculiar American culture can be and wonders if it’s even real.
‘Cause let’s face it—even if it looks fine for us, that doesn’t mean that having police patrol your school, paying for a ride to the hospital, and calling the toilet “restroom” when we all know very well there ain't nobody going there to have a rest shouldn’t raise a brow for others.
So this time, we are looking at what American things make our fellow non-American friends scratch their heads in simple, yet very spot-on questions below. Our dear American Pandas are also welcome to help separate what’s real, what’s rumors, and what only happens in movies in the comments! And after you're done with this post, check out our previous one with things Americans do that require an explanation for non-Americans.
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But taking off shoes and socks when you come in is nearly as good as taking off your bra.
We have them. They are usually part of the cheerleader squad or dance squad. It is a sports thing. We take sports very seriously.
Even though Americans and Europeans share many things, like commitment to democratic principles, a strategic alliance, and some of the highest standards in the world, there are still some very notable differences between them.
A 2016 study done by Pew Research Center was very revealing in that respect. First of all, it showed that Americans are more likely to believe they control their own destiny.
The research showed that a staggering 57% of Americans disagreed with the statement “Success in life is pretty much determined by forces outside our control.” The percentage was higher than in any other European nations polled.
The second interesting thing the Pew poll showed is that “Americans prioritize individual liberty, while Europeans tend to value the role of the state to ensure no one in society is in need.”
When it comes to religion, it turned out that over half in the US (53%) say religion is extremely important in their life, which is nearly double the share with the same view in Poland.
In France, for example, only 14% consider religion a very important aspect of their lives.
How else would you call them? Students wouldn't use the teachers first name.
Some schools are more strict than others and require them. My schools didn't require them. We just excused ourselves and went to the restroom when needed.
No. They don't - at least the schools that I went to and my nieces and nephews don't (they are ages 4 - 17). In the past, students were made to recite the "pledge of allegiance" each morning, but I think this is something that has fallen by the wayside.
Some schools don't allow it, but at the schools I went to we were allowed to. It was fun! You can put magnets, quotes, pictures of loved ones.
What's so unusual with this? I'm Austrian and my children's friends never used my first name.
I think children all over the world have to feel "slightly suicidal" to do this.
Note: this post originally had 34 images. It’s been shortened to the top 30 images based on user votes.
The weird part is that someone would give a rat's a*s about Americans microwaving water or how they eat bacon. Apparently no one has the same questions about Russians, Chinese, or even Lithuanians. Give it a rest Panda.
I think it's becase more people around the globe see American movies or TV shows than they see movies made by Russians, Chinese, or Lithuanians.
Rule the world. Good joke.
You'd think if someone watches a person heat their water in the microwave, they'd go, hey that looks easier than what I'm doing, and try it.
This comment is hidden. Click here to view.
yeah, americans basically rule the world. that's why everybody knows about everything happening in america first before most other things. america is just a big influencer country so we see more american things that anything else
American movies and TV shows are widely seen around the world, which is why they wonder if certain things they see are real or not.
That's because the ability to act in ridiculous ways can be found everywhere, but nobody outside of the states see it as something to be proud of
BP is obsessed with America, Instagram vs real life, and Disney princesses.
And cats, but nobody get tired of those and for good reason.
And also with illustrations about modern society problems.
We have had most of these questions before as well. I know we might not see as much of other countries different cultures but all the more reason to share about questions and answers about them. Please Bored Panda do a different country to the US!
Lucas Good response!
U mad? Boiling water for tea in the microwave is f*****g weird
Frankenfrog haha
The price of being famous. Or infamous.
I think Bored Panda is pretty western culture centric, nothing wrong with that, it's just the states is perhaps the biggest influence on western culture.
sorlag110 haha
Because the whole world sees Americans microwaving water on TV and in movies. If my culture aimed to entertain the whole world, I would at least make sure that the characters in my movies don't do absolutely ridiculous and unhealthy things like, for example, microwaving water. It serves no point whatsoever in the movie plot and looks silly.
Excuse me, what is unhealthy about microwaving water? It's heated. And setting a kettle to boil never does much for any plot I ever saw. I happen to have a kettle ready to put on the boil at any given moment, but there are many who heat water in the microwave for a quick cuppa.
I would venture to say not very many homes have a kettle to boil water unless they are tea drinkers. We are a coffee culture for the most part. I microwaved waved water yesterday for a rare cup of tea.
Deborah Chapman love
half of those things are also done in europe and south america.....
i thought so too, it's not just americans. it happens most places. like the pb & j, and prom
Do Americans actually have that violent bullying culture at schools, with football players and cheer leaders on the social top and geeks on the bottom? Or senior students bullying first-graders? Please, tell me it's all a movie thing!
It's not as openly expressed as in movies, but unfortunately yes. Bullying is a huge problem. Most schools "anti-bullying programs" are some posters and maybe a talk about how bullying is bad every month or so. I remember in seventh grade I was just the kid everyone hated for no reason. It got pretty bad and I was already dealing with some stuff that comes with growing up, but I know the bullying was a huge part of it. I know of lots of other kids who have had to deal with bullying too. It's really sad, but the whole social cliques and bullying thing is very real.
If you believe t.v. English boarding schools are even worse and it's taken for granted.
Never mind movies, there's enough in the news about that. But boarding schools everywhere tend to have the same problems.
It used to be that way, but luckily nowadays our social tiers are topped SJWs and LGBTQIA activists. Strangely enough, the switch from physical bullying to psychological bullying has not really reduced the number of suicides or school shootings. That said, when I was a youth long ago, bullies of all types were soon ganged up on by people who refused to take the abuse anymore, and quite often by brave individuals who stood up for themselves.
Jim Ellington good
It's a movie thing. Bullying exists somewhat but most groups leave each other alone. My kids just finished high school, and similar to when I was in school, you didn't really interact with popular kids unless you were in their group, and they didn't pay attention to non popular kids.
Are you implying that this is just an American thing? That's just nonsense, humans are the same everywhere and bullying is universal.
Tv is not reality
No, it's for real. Not in every school, of course, but it does happen.
Michael Capriola Jr. good
A senior bullying a first grader would be ridiculous. An 18-year old vs a 7-year old? No.
Movies exaggerate it quite a bit.
I'm homeschooling my daughter because of a bully problem at our school. In the last year they've lost 30% of kids. The school only had 300-some kids to begin with.
Yeah most public schools specifically, the teachers don't give a rat's ass and a lot of bullying actually stems from racism/sexism/homophobia/ableism which the teachers don't want to admit. for example, people are often bullied for being "weird" when the "weirdness" in question (generally things like being quiet, struggling in some classes and doing great in others, not making friends easily) are common traits among neurodivergent people.
its not sorry to say
It's not!
Yes. It's common in all cultures. There will be cliques. THere will be Alphas. There will be victims. Is it as "bad" as the movies? Probably not *everywhere*, all the time, but... Yeah. It's real.
The weird part is that someone would give a rat's a*s about Americans microwaving water or how they eat bacon. Apparently no one has the same questions about Russians, Chinese, or even Lithuanians. Give it a rest Panda.
I think it's becase more people around the globe see American movies or TV shows than they see movies made by Russians, Chinese, or Lithuanians.
Rule the world. Good joke.
You'd think if someone watches a person heat their water in the microwave, they'd go, hey that looks easier than what I'm doing, and try it.
This comment is hidden. Click here to view.
yeah, americans basically rule the world. that's why everybody knows about everything happening in america first before most other things. america is just a big influencer country so we see more american things that anything else
American movies and TV shows are widely seen around the world, which is why they wonder if certain things they see are real or not.
That's because the ability to act in ridiculous ways can be found everywhere, but nobody outside of the states see it as something to be proud of
BP is obsessed with America, Instagram vs real life, and Disney princesses.
And cats, but nobody get tired of those and for good reason.
And also with illustrations about modern society problems.
We have had most of these questions before as well. I know we might not see as much of other countries different cultures but all the more reason to share about questions and answers about them. Please Bored Panda do a different country to the US!
Lucas Good response!
U mad? Boiling water for tea in the microwave is f*****g weird
Frankenfrog haha
The price of being famous. Or infamous.
I think Bored Panda is pretty western culture centric, nothing wrong with that, it's just the states is perhaps the biggest influence on western culture.
sorlag110 haha
Because the whole world sees Americans microwaving water on TV and in movies. If my culture aimed to entertain the whole world, I would at least make sure that the characters in my movies don't do absolutely ridiculous and unhealthy things like, for example, microwaving water. It serves no point whatsoever in the movie plot and looks silly.
Excuse me, what is unhealthy about microwaving water? It's heated. And setting a kettle to boil never does much for any plot I ever saw. I happen to have a kettle ready to put on the boil at any given moment, but there are many who heat water in the microwave for a quick cuppa.
I would venture to say not very many homes have a kettle to boil water unless they are tea drinkers. We are a coffee culture for the most part. I microwaved waved water yesterday for a rare cup of tea.
Deborah Chapman love
half of those things are also done in europe and south america.....
i thought so too, it's not just americans. it happens most places. like the pb & j, and prom
Do Americans actually have that violent bullying culture at schools, with football players and cheer leaders on the social top and geeks on the bottom? Or senior students bullying first-graders? Please, tell me it's all a movie thing!
It's not as openly expressed as in movies, but unfortunately yes. Bullying is a huge problem. Most schools "anti-bullying programs" are some posters and maybe a talk about how bullying is bad every month or so. I remember in seventh grade I was just the kid everyone hated for no reason. It got pretty bad and I was already dealing with some stuff that comes with growing up, but I know the bullying was a huge part of it. I know of lots of other kids who have had to deal with bullying too. It's really sad, but the whole social cliques and bullying thing is very real.