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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.

#1

Questions-For-Americans

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Ceredwyn Ealanta
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

But taking off shoes and socks when you come in is nearly as good as taking off your bra.

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#3

Questions-For-Americans

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GirlFriday
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

We have them. They are usually part of the cheerleader squad or dance squad. It is a sports thing. We take sports very seriously.

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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.

#6

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Brendan
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

An affective way to make the 'popular' kids feel even more popular.

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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.”

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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.

#8

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chi-wei shen
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

How else would you call them? Students wouldn't use the teachers first name.

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#9

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GirlFriday
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

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.

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#10

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GirlFriday
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

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.

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#11

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giraffescupcakesandlove
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

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.

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#12

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Potter
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Yes, and there are usually one or two questions where you have to read something and write a few pages for it.

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#13

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Kat Hoth
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Yes, and sometimes mail does get stolen even though it's a federal offense.

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#14

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#16

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Donny Cromwell
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Why would I dirty a fork when I'm eating nothing but a plate full of bacon.

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Rachel Adams
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Is it because American bacon seems thin and crispy? In the UK we have different types of bacon and having it for breakfast you use a knife and fork

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

Correct. American bacon is made from pork belly, which is very fast and gets very crispy, so it’s difficult to eat with a fork (sort of like a potato crisp). British bacon is meatier and therefore easier to eat with a fork.

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danielw
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

if you can eat it with a fork... it's not cooked fully. Bacon should be crispy. otherwise it's just ham.

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

This question is confused. American bacon, yes (there's no other way to eat it). English, Irish, or Canadian bacon - hell no, of course not. And American bacon is no more greasy than a potato chip

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

ive tried eating it with a fork but it ended up snapping in half. although not everyone cooks their bacon super crispy so it might just be me

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

American bacon is thin and crispy, so eating it with a knife and fork wouldn't work--it would shatter. Canadian bacon is more like ham to us, which is knife and fork food.

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

Yes. My hands, my feet, by the fistful. Any way I can get it. (I've given up meat right now, and I guess I'm really missing bacon.)

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

If cooked properly, bacon will not work with a fork. Do people in other countries use tongs, or do they just like to eat undercooked pork bellies?

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

Yes, but the term "bacon" refers to different cuts of the meat in different places.

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

What sort of savages use a fork? I thought the English were civilized

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

I dont think its only an american thing... dough hands can get greasy ;)

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

How else would you eat bacon? A fork doesn't seem like it would work very well...

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Arctic Fox Lover
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Uh, whaddya you do? Use a fork? Also no American says "Telly" XD xD

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

Exactly the writer's point. There's more to the world than the US. This was probably written by someone from the UK. In other countries bacon is seen as an ingredient rather than a standalone snack.

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

The thought of people eating bacon with a fork and knife is making me uncomfortable...

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

I've never seen Americans do this in film or on telly. In movies or on TV perhaps ... ;-)

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Tor Rolf Strøm
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Yeah I mean.. 330 million people, I'm sure they all eat it in identical fashion!

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

American bacon is SO crispy there is no other way to eat it...if you stab it with a fork it breaks up and flies everywhere!

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

What kind of fastidious fussy twit would eat bacon with a knife and fork?

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

No one suggested the finger part is what's wrong here. Bacon is more of an ingredient in other parts of the world.

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

I pick up (very crispy) bacon with my fingers and eat it. Bacon that needs handling with a fork or knife definitely hasn't been cooked long enough for me.

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b l a n c
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

i used to but then my mom told me it was rude and now i find it weird to eat bacon with your fingers

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

First, bacon isn't a common thing throughout the world. And what about knife and fork ?

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

Truth - I only eat bacon right out of the package, so for me it's 100% finger food. I've been eating it like that for 40 years, lol! I don't like it cooked because it's always burnt.

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

They eat a lot more with their fingers than in most western countries.

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CatWoman312
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

How f*****g else do you suppose to eat it with a spoon? Are you daft?

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

OK so as an American that is brown, if we did that with any kind of bacon we would get thrown out bc that is considered rude to my family (we eat chicken bacon I definitely recommend it)

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

Chicken bacon is like tofu chocolate. It is an abomination against civilization and dietary needs.

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

Yes, if done crispy. No, we don't have telly. We have TV. If the bacon is crispy enough, we'd wave that as a finger pointing out how much BETTER TV is than you whot-BBC-evs telly, and how much better our crappy crispy bacon is. And then .... *crunch*!

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Jo Choto
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3 years ago

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Worse than how it is eating, breakfast with bacon also involves sweet pancakes covered with syrup and sometimes pieces of melon, all eaten with the bacon.

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#18

Questions-For-Americans

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chi-wei shen
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

What's so unusual with this? I'm Austrian and my children's friends never used my first name.

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#22

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#24

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chi-wei shen
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I think children all over the world have to feel "slightly suicidal" to do this.

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#25

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80 Van
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

No, we call eye doctors “Optometrists,” and we call Opticians “Opticians.”

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#29

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Bill
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

most countries do because it has been a part of military training for centuries. They want inshape youth for military service.

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#30

Questions-For-Americans

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