It may seem like an amazing idea to go to Times Square for New Year's Eve or do something very simple, like cutting in line at a supermarket. But oh boy, if you’re new to the American way of living and have little know-how of how things work over there, you may get into serious trouble.
“What should you never do in the United States?” someone wondered on the Ask Reddit community, and the thread quickly turned into a potentially problem-preventing guide for pinpointing what not to do in the US.
Below we wrapped up some of the most informative and illuminating responses, so if you are planning a trip to America, you may want to read this extra carefully with notes by your side.
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At least in Tennessee you should never say anything unkind about Dolly Parton
Not in this country, world, galaxy, or cosmos. Dolly Parton is the Keanu Reeves of country music. Frankly, I aggressively dislike most country music after growing up in Texas, but if I met Dolly I'd still be like, "OMG IT'S DOLLY F*CKING PARTON, Y'ALL GAHHHH" 🤯
Load More Replies...That's a no in all 50 states and each of our territories. Dolly is beloved in this country.
Idk if anyone will see this but I'm new to the panda community. I just learned how to make an account and I'm happy to be here!
Not in any way shape or form a fan of country music, but Dolly is a treasure.
That is sort of how we think of her here in East Tennessee. I am a transplant to East TN but she is nothing short of amazing. Her philanthropy is amazing. Her Imagination Library was just the beginning of her good deeds. (For those unaware of the Imagination Library, it is a free service whereby any child under the age of 5 will receive a book a month, free of charge, mostly to have the parents of the child, read the book to them.) When a wildfire swept through the Smokies and into the town of Gatlinburg, she donated millions to help people affected by the fires get back on their feet.
Load More Replies...Bored Panda reached out to a Tennessee resident and Redditor nicknamed Abe_Fromans_Day_Off who, as a response to this thread, wrote “At least in Tennessee, you should never say anything unkind about Dolly Parton.” His reply went viral, with many people noting that it’s not only in Tennessee where this is the case.
The Redditor said that he mistakenly thought Dolly was admired that way in Tennessee because she's from there. “What I discovered from that thread is that she's revered in other regions of the US, and even in other countries, to the same extent that she is in Tennessee.”
“I think to someone unfamiliar with her,” the Redditor continued, “it's important to know that she's known for her philanthropy, including funding local schools, funding the Moderna COVID vaccine, and the Imagination Library. She is also known as someone who celebrates our heritage in rural Tennessee while valuing and appreciating other cultures and belief systems. So she's just a generous, wholesome, respectful person and everyone loves her.”
Walk on to someone's property without permission, or knowing the owner. It's cool in many places around the world to be able to go wandering through the countryside. It is not cool in the U.S. You might end up getting arrested, held at gunpoint, or shot at if you're really unlucky.
Especially if you see purple paint on a fence post or tree, that means absolutely do not trespass. ETA: In US States with "purple paint laws," the presence of the paint satisfies the legal requirement for "willful or knowing trespass." So the property owner can potentially bring action against you for trespass without the need for any other signage.
Wait…really? I’m American and never heard the rule about purple paint.
Load More Replies...Some places, such as the UK, have "right to roam" laws. If there has been an existing right of way or walking path, it can't be closed just because the land has changed hands. There are walking paths that not only cut through privately owned farmland, but occasionally across peoples yards. There's a public walking path that cuts through the grounds at Chequers, (the Prime Minister's country house).
Out in the west at least this applies even to county maintenance roads running between fields. Technically the gov't owns them, but don't try to tell the farmers that. They don't care about the technicalities.
If you see a sign that only says "Posted" that also means no trespassing.
If there's a "trespassers will be shot" or "beware of dog" sign...most of the time , they're facts not suggestions.
This is just so bizarre to me. Us Swedes have “allemansrätten”, or “all mens rights”/“common rights”, meaning you can walk everywhere, camp everywhere except in peoples gardens and/or visible from someone’s house (except by agreement), as long as we leave everything in the condition it was when we arrived. And we do. Works pretty well here, but it’s been a law since the 800’s so we’re all used to it and how it works. Not being allowed in places that were here eons before us is just… weird. To me, I mean.
Purple? A dot or an "X" or just a board covered in purple? Does it matter what shade? I drive a lot in the country in Iowa. Guess it is safe here; no purple.
Grew up in a rural area where sport shooting and hunting were constant. It was prudent for hikers and adventurers to obey all posted signs.
My former boss, who was a lawyer, went to LA to witness in a court case there. One of the American lawyers invited him to dine with him and his wife one evening in their villa somewhere in the suburbs. As my boss got out of his rented car that evening he happened to ring the bell of the neighbours house. The door was opened by a big man holding a gun and it took them a little while to sort things out. Being Danish my boss was deeply shocked.
Dont underestimate the size of the us. Apparently some people think it can take only a couple hours to go to locations states away.
Disappointing when you want to see Niagara Falls and the Grand Canyon in the same weekend!
Friend of mine was laughing at an Irish friend of his who was visiting someone in Miami and told my friend (in Orlando) that he was driving up to see him and would be there in 45-minutes to an hour. After my friend got done laughing he told him how long it would take (4 hours) and asked why he thought it would only take an hour. "Well....it doesn't look that far away on the map....".
I remember when I first moved to Texas from northern England, I arrived in Houston and had a short drive to meet my new colleagues and get settled into my new apartment.. a 6 hour drive is not a short drive. I barely left Houston metro never mind the state of Texas.
Yes, but Houston is a pit of Hell, and the traffic is legendary.
Load More Replies...Oh, like Indian recruiters who think you can easily commute between Texas cities for a job. Dude, that’s like 600 miles away.
Superimpose a map of Europe over a map of the US and see for yourself.
With GPS this should be an old idea. Your GPS would say "12 hours to Dallas..."
Happens in NV all the time... An exec visiting Reno will call a friend in Vegas to meet for lunch. Yes, a flight is only 1.5 hours, but to drive is 8 hours... and, if it's winter, you have to account for high-desert snow and rural roads...
Get out of the vehicle during a traffic stop. I did not know this, here in Australia we are perfectly OK to get out of the vehicle unless the cop says otherwise.
Car in Park, window down, seatbelt on, foot on brake, both hands on wheel until instructed otherwise.
I am Australian and you should definitely not get out of the car during a traffic stop unless asked to by the officer or explaining why you need to get out. I did it once because my licence was in my bag in the boot. While I didn't get a gun pointed at me they did have their hand on their holster while asking me what the hell I was doing.
Actually, in Australia you are told to stay in the car until they get to you. If you get out, they are liable to tell you to get back in. It doesn't mean you can't, but it's for your own safety.
Wha…? Ok, this is a thing here as well. We don’t do that. It has a tendency to get people killed. Because car/human and all that.
Everyone in the US(whether you live here or are visiting) should carry these cards! They could save your life! https://iamerica.org/know-your-rights#:~:text=KNOW%20YOUR%20RIGHTS%20CARD%3A%20PRINT,OUT%20AND%20CARRY%20WITH%20YOU&text=family%20and%20friends.-,This%20card%20can%20protect%20you%20if%20immigration%20or%20the%20police,are%20exercising%20your%20constitutional%20rights.
You'll take the chance of being beaten senseless if you attempt to vacate your vehicle unless directed to do so.
The Redditor also pointed out that Dolly was inducted into the Rock n Roll Hall of Fame, and “she didn't seem to think she should be there because she's a country singer and doesn't perform rock music. So now in an effort to ‘do something to earn it,’ as she put it, she's working on a full-fledged rock album where she'll sing songs by Rolling Stones and Led Zeppelin,” he explained.
When asked if there are any cultural taboos to point out in the state of Tennessee, the Redditor said that it’s hard to do since “we're such a diverse state.” “Nashville in particular is home to people from all over the world. From the bigger cities to the college towns, small cities and rural unincorporated areas in the counties, what is seen as culturally sensitive will vary considerably,” he told us.
Get injured/ sick without insurance. You’re honestly better off just dying.
Republicans ruined it and made it more profitable for insurers.
Load More Replies...Ok, if you don’t have insurance, go to a public hospital like a local university one. There are private pay options and they’re usually cheaper than having insurance.
Where I live, we have free walk-in clinics. Let's scare the foreigners! You'll die!
How any country can call itself "the greatest" with a murder rate, crime rate, wealth disparity and healthcare system like that, is beyond me.
If a cop pulls you over don't get out of the car, place your hands on the wheel and wait they will come to you.
You're wise to be nervous given the statistics of killing by US police.
Load More Replies...You'll be fine. Police safely pull people over 99.9% time. The stop will be brief and business like provided you aren't under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Safely pull to the side of the road when you see emergency lights, if you are the person getting pulled over turn off your radio roll down your window and listen for instructions. Once you are safely stopped turn off your vehicle, make sure your window is down, if it's night turn on the inside light in your car and place both hands on the wheel. Do not reach for your wallet or pick something up from the floor, hands on the wheel until the officer gets to you. Be polite to the officer, try to be personable, if you are certain that they caught you breaking the law apologize and explain, sometimes they'll let you go with just a warning. Do not argue if they give you a ticket (you argue in court), sign the ticket when asked, bonus points if you thank them and wish them a good day.
Sorry, but I'm not thanking a cop for a ticket.
Load More Replies...And don't wait for them to overtake and pull up in front of you like the polis do here in the UK.
I would remove the keys and lay them on the dash as a way of letting the cop know I had no intention of fleeing. A relaxed cop is way easier to deal with.
Engage with someone acting like a crazy person on the road. They might shoot you.
'They might shoot you' The general perception of all Americans by the rest of the World.
Number of firearms per capita in the US is more than double any other country on the planet. Number of gun deaths US is fourth, behind the drug cartel violence of Brazil, Mexico and Columbia. Ahead of everyone else. So yes, that's a perception with statistics to back it up.
Load More Replies...This reminds me of the true story about the guy who posted a series of tweets showing him cradling his gun, and threatening anyone who pissed him off while driving. Inevitability, a guy did something that pissed him off. So he chased him into a parking lot, got out with his gun raised.... and the other driver shot him.
Cars are deadly themselves. Someone driving erratically will mess up traffic. An accident will mess it up even worse. It is easier to let them go, maybe with some rude language.
Don't engage with a crazy person anywhere. So then the person adds "They might shoot you." In middle East they might knife you.
On the road. On the sidewalk. In the store. At a club. In other words, assume every a-hole you see is carrying a loaded gun. Keep your mouth shut, eyes down, and move along. And remember, the US is the land of the free.
Engage with someone acting like a crazy person" - that pretty much describes 99% of Americans.
Go to Times Square on new years. The experience is so not worth it. Its romanticized for some reason.
Fun fact- many people wear diapers in Times Square on NYE. Or the just pee in the streets. It’s usually freezing cold, people shove and jostle and spill their alcohol on you, and it’s just not a good time. Watch it on TV from home!
My roommate made her BF take her to Times Square on NYE and he had a fever and it was -3 degrees out! What a waste.
I travelled to watch fireforks over Thames river in London back in 2006 or 2007. Got stuck in overcrowded tube, spent midnight on an escalator and missed about 95% of the fireworks. As a bonus got charged something like £12 on my Oyster card because to deal with the flow of people they opened the turnstiles and disabled the buttons - and they charge you maximum fee if you don’t check out. Then it took me over two hours to get back on tube.
Dude i live in Madeira Island, there is NOTHING in the world that beats us on that department, and we have the world Guinness Record to prove it. ( Just Google " Madeira fim de ano " and you'l see )
Born and raised in NYC...I have NEVER seen the ball drop live...real New Yorkers are having neighborhood block parties
Cut in line. I've been in countries (example: Spain) where lines/queues are more of a vague suggestion of who goes first, this is not true if you cut in line in the US. Cutting in line in the US can literally lead to violence.
America trains their people early, there are "line leaders" at schools!
I've done plenty of reckless things in my line, but cutting a queue is not one of them. I'm adventurous, not stupid.
As someone that's worked as a cashier in the US, I can vouch for the violence. I get it, people want to buy their sh*t and go. As employees, we also want them to buy their sh*t and go (and preferably not come back until absolutely necessary). Personally, if someone cuts in front of me, I figure it's just easier to let it slide and let them go ahead than make a scene about it, as that just wastes more of my time. But some people just dgaf out here. I can't tell you how many fights I've had to break up over line cutting. By adults. One of the most ridiculous things I have ever seen.
Don’t ever get a payday loan
The post is about "things that no one should do in America", not about what tourists shouldn't do in America. So this could apply to people already living here, or people who are planning to come live here. And not including this one, there are a few that may actually be helpful to tourists.
Load More Replies...It's the same in the UK. Land Sharks are everywhere on the Planet.
Don't think you can get a payday loan in Denmark when you visit there from Chicago.
Tell the people that despite being called "the land of the free" they have less freedoms overall than several countries
Rapidly heading towards "most" countries, particularly w.r.t. abortion and healthcare
Load More Replies...Not even in the top ten! The Land Of The Free is ranked 23rd. (https://www.cato.org/human-freedom-index/2022)
I read the index and then saw why many don't reference this index in arguments, they take all their points of reference and give it a scaled numerical score and then put those scores into a formula and you get the top output. They take crime and violence as a total score and use that as the number. So a smaller country like Switzerland has a very low crime and violence score per their population and it's not a percentage of total it's just total incidents assigned a numerical number, then you take the USA that has 300million plus people and they take the total crime and violence and assign a high score into the formula and boom USA is 15th curr on newest index. I am not saying America is perfect, far from it, but articles and "studies" like this are so flawed and are only used to push half-truth or false narratives. Without that crime index number top 20 countries would have been tied.
Load More Replies...Well we do have the freedom to die cold and alone from an easily preventable illness. That's something right?
I know, if you tell us Americans this, we might turn to you and say.... "yeah, I know." People do understand that there's tons of different kinds of people in the US and we're not all oblivious, right?
Yeah, sadly the vocal minority acting stupid is all other nations see. Trying being from Texas. It’s automatically assumed so much about me that’s not true.
Load More Replies...I’m American and have made the mistake of saying this once. Once. The hate I received was unreal. I actually received death threats.
Where on earth did you say this and get threatened? That’s just unhinged - you didn’t pick where to be born, for fυcks sake.
Load More Replies...Most of the citizens in America are very aware of this already. Go to any black community. Talk to to anyone who isn’t white and wealthy. We know. We can’t fix it. We solve it by moving to the middle of nowhere and building our own communities as independent of the government as we possibly can.
But it is the land of the free! - Free of universal healthcare, free of strict gun laws...
Free to ram religion down other people’s throats. Free to scream religious persecution when Starbucks makes red cups. Free to control women’s reproductive rights.
Load More Replies...The only freedom Americans have over Europeans is the ability for someone with a room-temperature IQ to buy a gun.
Don’t take pictures or record videos of strangers’ children. I’ve had to warn many people coming over from Asia about this. Some have ignored me and it has led to screaming and threats.
In Germany don't film or photograph any person specifically period. If you did not ask before. People don't like it. And publishing it in any way would be illegal.
Same in Sweden. Extremely rude, at best, illegal under many circumstances.
Load More Replies...Once you step foot out into the public sphere, you have no right to privacy. That includes kids. However, that law doesn't make filming kids a wise move, esp. in a country where half the population has a carry permit.
Don't illegally use a disabled person parking spot or pass a school bus with its stop sign out.
There is no place on earth where you should use a disabled person parking spot if you are not disabled.....
Tell that to the New York politicians who park their teslas in the handicap parking and just eat the tickets.
Load More Replies...I had been living in Texas for about 3 months when I went past a stopped school bus.. right in front of a state trooper.. it's fine in the uk.. not so much in Texas.. luckily the state trooper was a very understanding Anglophile and we're still friends to this day. I know right. Love you Tom.
Try and bribe a police officer
We were just in Egypt and they “tip” police. 🤔 That’s not… that’s not what that is called…
Don't bribe any public official. I had some sweet Chinese couple politely ask my interpreter how much it would cost to keep me from expelling their son from school for selling drugs in the bathroom. The kid had 20 bags of Marijuana, a big wad of cash, and a digital scale in his backpack. He'd been texting advertisements to his customers. We're pretty sure one of his competitors turned him in. Politely explained to his parents that that's not how things work in the US and they should save their money for a lawyer because their kid was getting arrested in the next room.
I think this is common in a lot of places. For example, I've heard stories about cops in Mexico expecting bribes and even jailing people who refuse to pay. Makes me not want to travel, because if that happened to me, I'd want to burn the place down. To be fair, I've only been to Mexico for a couple hours, so I don't have any experience with the cops there. The shuttle driver did rip us off though. That was over 30 years ago, and it still makes me angry to think about it. I really don't like thieves.
Load More Replies...I'm pretty sure the US isn't the only country to meaningfully enforce anti-bribery laws.
Regional language. Try and is the same as try to in places.
Load More Replies...Don't even try to bribe the security guard at a club or concert. Don't try to bribe the maitre d' at a fancy restaurant. It won't work.
Yeah. My friends who grew up in Mexico City tried this & nearly wound up in jail. Thankfully the lawyer just pretended the cops misunderstood them because of a language barrier & thought they were bribing when they misunderstood the cop when he brought up getting a ticket. He told the court that they thought they paid the ticket right there. Lol. Nope. They 100% tried to bribe the cops. They also spoke very good English. But thankfully they didn't even get a ticket. It was all thrown out. But yeah... I got shaken down in Mexico City by the cops. So I understand why they thought that. Lol.
Never leave your sleeping infant / child in a vehicle. This is fairly common in some places across the pond, but it is definitely NOT legal in the US.
If I went shopping with a little kid and he/she fell asleep afterwards on our way home I wouldn't wake them up for a stop at a gas station or at the bakery.
Load More Replies...For any significant length of time and/or in hot weather: yes, definitely. But if a toddler falls asleep in my car and I stop to buy a single donut at a bakery or gas up I wouldn't wake them up.
Load More Replies...A kid died in a parents car at the daycare I used to work at. Just don’t do it. If it’s a toddler, for the absolute love of all that is holy, just TEACH the toddler to behave so that taking them in places with you is not a chore.
"Just teach the toddler to behave" is a very naive comment. Until a few weeks ago, I literally had the best behaved toddler when we were in public. He has happy, he talked to people, didn't ask for stuff too much. But suddenly last week decided to scream at me for 10 minutes in the grocery store because I wouldn't buy him a watermelon.
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Get unintentionally pregnant in a red state.
They want to ban abortion but not bother helping the kids that this ban creates. One look at the foster care system in the US should’ve stopped this movement. One look at the freaking Consititution should have stopped this movement.
"bUt THe FoUndINg fAthERs SaID" Ben Franklin literally published instructions to safely induce an abortion, I don't want to hear it.
Load More Replies...They stop caring as soon as the kids are born. Ecamples: No supplemented childcare. No free school lunch. No mandatory maternity leave. They care more about the unborn than the born.
I heard that women have to pay for contraception in the USA? Pretty backward thinking imo. If it were free as it is in the UK, you'd not only reduce unwanted pregnancies, but women would have more autonomy (since men aren't the ones who suffer) over their bodies.
ya if you get raped they expect you to keep it, rather it be from a stranger or family member, us doesnt care
This wouldn't be the case if conservatives and evangelicals cared about children as much as they do fetuses.
Do not run or move fast and unpredictably when stopped by cops.
Cops spook very easily. Treat them as you would a feral animal that could kill you.
During the years I got the impression (and I might be wrong) that ever encounter with the US police is like if you meet a potential enemy instead of someone who is suppose to help the citizens. Complete oposite from where I live. You can aproach a police officer here without fearing he shoots you.
When you get ready to reach for your ID, registration and proof of insurance, do so slowly and let the cop know what you are doing before you move.
Not tip at sit down restaurant
Tipping is a con, if nobody tipped then staff would have to be paid properly. Tipping is how owners increase their profits instead of paying a decent wage.
If the staff were paid a living wage, tips would be unnecessary. I have nothing but contempt for people who "tip" with snark or religious tracts. They are right down there with terrorists and child molesters.
Load More Replies...Or your delivery driver! Most consider 15-20% adequate for decent sit down service (more if you're feeling generous or for truly exceptional service), and 10%+ for delivery service (more if you're getting an especially large/heavy order that has to be carried some distance after arrival, upstairs, etc). Yes, the tipping culture in the US sucks, but you're only hurting the middle-to-lower-middle-class workers who aren't being paid an adequate, living wage in many places if you choose not to tip. If you live in the US, START VOTING FOR CANDIDATES WHO WANT TO RAISE THE MINIMUM WAGE TO A TRULY LIVING ONE! If you don't live in the US, I suppose you can either 1.) not come to the US, 2.) make all your own meals or eat take out the entire time you're here, or 3.) try to find restaurants that pay their employees a living wage, and for whom tipping is truly unnecessary (there are some, but good luck finding many outside of major urban areas). In short, the whole damned thing is just a dumpster fire. :/
A 20% tip on top of a $5.50 "Delivery Fee" (That the driver does not get)
Load More Replies...So the point was to tip, not to start an argument. Thought we were trying to help people here.
Drive in the left lane on freeway unless you’re passing
You're supposed to do this but my experience driving in the US was that so many drivers are terrible at it. It's much better adhered to in the UK and Germany.
I think you'll be fine if you stick to the left lane in the UK ;)
Load More Replies...In some states you might get a ticket for driving in the passing lane. In others, it's perfectly fine.
I hate a slow driver in the left lane. Many of them are so clueless it makes me question their ability to drive. If they can't see they are holding up traffic behind them, and people are passing them on the right as soon as they can, maybe they are not observant enough to drive?
But what if I keep passing all the cars? if I move back to the right after I pass one, within seconds I'm changing lanes again to pass. Rinse and repeat. That seems more dangerous than staying in the left lane.
I've always known the far left lane as the "fast lane" too, maybe it's just a Florida thing. If you drive in the far left lane and start getting close to the person in front of you they are supposed to move over to the right so you can proceed past and then move back to the left (if they like). I would almost always take long trips entirely in the left lane because I prefer to drive around 100mph (160 kph) or so (safety/conditions permitting) on long trips when the speed limit is 75mph (121kph) and most people meander around 80mph(129kph) - and even then occasionally people approach me, so I move over one lane until they pass.
Load More Replies...This! Had a huge fight with a guy about this once. He said he went to another country and people were honking at him bc he was driving slow in the left lane and the left lane was for passing in that country, and wasn't that a good idea. And I was like, Dude! The left lane is supposed to be for passing in America too. He just would not believe me. Argued and argued. And this is why we can't ever get anywhere.
This is one of ny biggest pet peeves. It's not just the US. Here in Canada they've even put up signs at regular intervals on multilane highways that say "Keep right except to pass". They even have colorful pictures on them to make it easier to understand and people still regularly cruise in the passing lane like they're just taking a casual Sunday drive! It's extremely frustrating.
depends where, arkansas you drive in left lane and not passing, you get ticket. keep right
Talk about being atheist at work in The Bible Belt.
After all the Pilgrims were religious fundamentalists who wished to establish a theocracy.
I don't know why you keep downvoted for telling the truth. Oh well, I guess we can get downvoted together:)
Load More Replies...Easy one- don't talk about politics or religion with people you don't know very well. People with strong religious beliefs are also derided in some social circles in liberal states. Don't bring up these beliefs until you know your audience.
The old joke guy was asked in Northern Ireland pub, whether he's catholic or protestant. He answered he's atheist. After some time the clarifying question arrive: but are you catholic or protestant atheist?
I"m glad most science people are atheists. The last thing I want to hear after a surgery is Well, its in god's hands now. Oh hell no! Crack that medical book open and try again
Depends which field in science. for example, physics and biology they are, but Medicine and chemistry they are not, etc. And most are agnostic not atheist in those areas.
Load More Replies...I'm in atheist who has lived my entire life in the Bible Belt and not only can you not talk about it, it could cost you your job, your safety, your family's safety, or even in extreme cases, your life.
When I lived in the Bible Belt, I was in a place in my life where I was searching for something...some kind of faith, hope, god maybe. People in the Bible Belt fixed that...I left an atheist. 😂
Load More Replies...How about not talking about religion in the workplace. Anywhere. I live in the South, and unless you work FOR a place of worship, there's no reason to broach the subject.
I was looking into a job in North Carolina (still very much a southern state), and the person I was talking to warned me that if I were to work there, on day one people wouldn't ask me what religion I subscribed to. They'd ask me WHICH (christian) church I was going to join. Like, every person in the office would, one by one, come into my office, sit on my desk, and ask me this. I decided right then and there not to move south. And I'm in the Rust Belt of Pennsylvania. Not exactly a liberal paradise.
Southerner here. If people had done that in any of the places I worked, they wouldn’t have stayed employed much longer. I wish people would stop lumping together the entire South into one narrow category. Where I am, there are a lot of churches, but not everyone goes nor do they care if you go, either.
Load More Replies...I find this is just a rule of thumb as it relates to religion. If you are Atheist, Christian, Catholic, Jewish...I really don't care and I don't care to discuss religion at work. Especially if it gets into a pissing contest as to whose beliefs are correct or not. I had a friend that converted to being Jewish...he kept coming on our Fb feed and posting what Christians do that is incorrect or falsehoods. Like telling us to step away from Christmas because it's a combination of Christian and Pagan beliefs. It told him he had no right to come on our page and tell us our religion or beliefs were wrong. He has his faith, I have mine...stay in your lane and we'll get along just fine.
"Religion is like a dikk - about half the people have one, and that's totally fine, but you don't pull it out in public!" - coworker of my sister.
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Go to Florida for the beaches and forget about the wildlife.. Black Bears, gators, panthers, hogs, etc
Especially the humans. Beware the wild Florida man.
Load More Replies...Nah, humans with guns are dangerous, but not THE most dangerous creatures out there. It's Floridian humans WITHOUT guns! See, at least with guns, you know what they're going to do to you. But without them...who knows?
Load More Replies...Florida. The Australia of the USA, except the spiders are slightly smaller.
What, never any love for Burmese pythons? The ultimate immigrant success story
Are you kidding? I actually love snakes. I'd bring a Burmese Python home if I could. It's the people over there that scare me.
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Jaywalk....that s**t is apparently illegal
All my life I've been told it's illegal to jaywalk yet I've never heard of anyone being charged or arrested for doing it.
All you need is one cop with an attitude and god complex
Load More Replies...And rightly so. It's difficult enough maneuvering a vehicle around safely without a-holes darting out in front and expecting the driver to stop.
It's generally unenforced. Just don't wander into the street without looking and you'll be fine. There are crosswalks and curb cuts everywhere. Use them.
Jaywalkers should be shot. I hate it when they walk out in front of me every day on the way to/from work. It's like they start off with the intention of making you stop for them and assume you won't hit them if they get in the way. Just use the crossings and wait for the light. It takes 30 extra seconds. Edit: this only applies to downtown/ busy streets. Not side roads or suburbia.
In the rest of the world we just call it "walking". That thing you do that doesn't involve a car.
I don't know I've gotten a written warning from an officer for riding my bike no-handed. Anything is possible! On Wisconsin!
No flatfoot beat cop wants the aggravation of doing the paperwork because you weren't in the crosswalk. They might hassle you a bit.
-Public spitting isn't usually well received.
-The average American does not usually enjoy talking politics, in their frequented public spaces.
-Assume public transport is timely
-Light up a cigarette without knowing local laws, to the space.
FYI--Trigger words ahead--To add to the last point, if it's a cigarette, call it a cigarette. Please Don't use the term 'f_g' or the longer version of that around strangers in the US. If they overhear, they may think you are an insulting, hateful person. On the flipside, be ready to encounter old generation words like 'spunky' (spirited/plucky, here in US) from the mouths of nice people.
It's veeery common for young men in my country. They spitting like llamas! (And yes, it's nasty)
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Never assume that every business has a public bathroom. And for the ones that do, assuming you can just walk in off the street, use the bathroom and leave.
Sometimes if you need to go and you ask politely they will let you. But you have to ask.
And if they don't have a public restroom, I've found they usually just tell you the nearest place that does.
Load More Replies...Depending on the business, I sometimes like to buy some small token item if I use their bathroom.
And never assume the bathroom has been cleaned frequently...especially the door handles as you walk out.
Just buy something, they have to pay to keep the lights on the water running and someone to clean up
I think it's a universal given that most people know that when asking for a bathroom they want to relieve themselves rather than bathe.
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We know our tax system is dumb. There is no need to mention it.
Do not worry. We will not come to tax system because we are still discussing metric system, celsius/fahrenheit, health care, gun control, abortion, 2 party system with you. ;)
Don’t try to cheat the IRS. They will f**k your life into oblivion.
No, but someone new to the country might try.
Load More Replies...Unless you're rich. If you can afford to get away with it, the IRS won't bother, and will go after the poor.
Same in the UK. HMRC (allegedly) 'do deals' with the Elite/Wealthy, but God forbid a lowly, self-employed/subcontracted worker makes even a tiny mistake on a Tax Return. Someone in our Govt 'forgot' to mention £3M and made an 'acceptable offer' when it came to light.
Load More Replies...Since Trump defunded the IRS they have been understaffed and so tax cheaters have a low risk these days. Biden tried to restore the IRS funding and rehire workers but Republicans have blocked it. They have to protect their rich constituents.
who is staying in america for a vacation long enough to get screwed over by the IRS
Not really & that’s part of the problem. When caught by the IRS for not paying, as long as you have the money plus interest you will not get in trouble. That’s why so many rich people are tax cheats & never go to jail.
Same as anywhere, even make a genuine mistake and you are in for a world of problems and expected to rectify it immediately but on the other hand if it is them that has made the mistake such as charging you more tax than you owe you would be extremely lucky to get a refund in anywhere near a prompt timeframe
Especially if you're poor. If you're rich, you shouldn't have a problem.
Think that you can pee in an empty alley on your way home from the bars. A surprisingly large percentage of my European acquaintances have had to great experience of spending a few hours early morning hours in the drunk tank in various American cities - because it's really not that big of deal in most of Europe.
It's a fine for public intoxication, not for urinating (unless you're not even attempting to be discreet, in which case you're looking at indecent exposure and potential sex offender status)... Which, like jaywalking, is almost never enforced unless you're making a huge public disturbance or nuisance of yourself.
I've never understood why cities are set up in such a way that public toilets are practically non existent, and where they do exist, they close at some ridiculous time like 7 pm. And then people have the audacity to be upset that people will find a corner to pee in as if we should all just hold it until we get to our destination (which may or may not have a toilet available for public/customer use). There are many people who can't simply hold it in.
Costs between 35 up to 5000€ in Germany. In particularly severe cases even jail.
One time I was in open court with this kid, he just turned 21 & went out drinking for the first time, didn’t want to drive & walked home, went pee in an alley behind Safeway at 2:00am a cop seen him and arrested him. In court he took responsibility, told the judge the situation & said he accepts the punishment. The judge said “good job taking responsibility, 6 months in jail 2 years probation & register as a sex offender for life.” The kid started crying and said I will lose my job, car & house. The judge said “ do the crime, do the time.” One of the most F****d up things I’ve ever seen in my life. If I didn’t witness this myself I would not even believe this story.
Guess I have been lucky not to be in the European countries where peeing on the walk in popular. Can you tell me where that is so I can avoid them?
For sanitary reasons? My thought is, if it's that big of a need, maybe we should be providing facilities. Personally I don't really care if someone pees in the street or in an alley, but I guess if people did it a whole lot, it would smell bad.
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Never [mess] with Floridaman. He will beat you with experience every time.
Floridaman has become Floridagovernor and Floridastate it seems like.
oh lawd dont do dis. hes seen alligators shoved into wendys establishments
Don’t talk to your wife about trying New York pizza in arabic on a plane to New York.
And don't write mathematical equations whilst on a plane: https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/italian-economist-removed-terrorism/
I've listened to lots of folks talking in their native language on planes, and never once did I think they were plotting dastardly deeds somewhere.
I prefer people around me on a plane to speak a foreign language. (1) It's much easier to blot out as white noise. (2) There are so many things in so many conversations that I really don't want to know about.
Russian man in airort shouts to wife. ”Alla, ja v bar” (Alla, I will be in bar)
Talk openly about politics
This applies to so many other countries. Talking politics and religion with a group of people you do not know well can lead to some very awkward situation.
It wasn't like this before 2016, but now it's downright dangerous. As repeatedly mentioned, lots of Americans have dumb opinions and guns.
Talking to Americans about the politics in your home country might be worthwhile. Many Americans know little about how a multi-party parliamentarian democracy works. And with the current common dissatisfaction with our two-party system, you might get a lot of interested listeners on both the left and the right.
1/3 the population is psycho Republicans, 1/3 psycho Democrats & 1/3 decent folks.
My really BIG mistake in the USA was driving on the left side of the road. Not recommended. My other big mistake was leaving all my money in Las Vegas.
BoredPanda, why the hell is it that you can write positive listicles about other countries like Japan, yet ever single listicle you copy and paste from Reddit about the US has an extremely negative slant. I’m not even from the US, but the amount of negative listicles you post is truly disturbing and cruel. Do you think it’s alright to constantly bash a country? You are really going to lose a lot of readers. Do you have a quota of "The US is a Cesspool" quota you have to meet each week or you get fired?
Do not go to the touristy locations in the USA. There are a lot of amazing things to see that aren't in a tour book or travel guide. One way to find the best and cheapest places to eat is to ask the locals. I was at a hotel in the downtown area of our city for a conference. Some people from Canada had just gone to a local pizza place for lunch and seemed rather disappointed in the overpriced offerings. So I wrote down at least 4 different restaurants that were better, cheaper and that I knew the hotel shuttle could take them to. I ran into the mother the next day. She thanked me saying that her husband was over the moon with the southern style eatery I recommended. She said that was exactly what her husband wanted. Ask the locals, they'll point you in the right direction. Just keep it on the DL so it doesn't get overcrowded.....
Hm ... in germany, many of these apply, too. Appearantly, you can be a lot more laid back in contact with the police. But, generally, just peeing somewhere is frowned upon, unless nobody sees it. I once did so, into a drain gutter, because of desperation and my habit to favour wearing dry pants over p**s-soaked ones, at least most of the times, ... and the cops stopped by. "Hey, what you're doing there?" - "Peeing ... couldn't hold in any longer, no bushes nor restrooms around, I just figured this would be the least inappropriate option at hand, ... sorry ..." - "Ok, consider this a warning - don't do that again. Have a nice night! You need help getting home safely, or you're alright?" - the last sentence surprised me ... I mean, I did a very minor offense here, but still something not generally met with happiness. On another occasion, a cop tried to block me from entering the train station because it was "Chaos Days" and I looked "that way", but after explaining that I wanted to ride a train home and wasn't up to any riotery, the other cops waved me through and had a talk with him about how the police is meant to be friendly towards civilians, unless there's a valid reason not to.
Aside from the crappy politicians in charge, the large cities in Texas are fairly liberal and the general population tends to be friendly, open, and curious. Visit Austin, Dallas, and San Antonio. Great food, museums, music, and culture. Just not all in one day, ‘cause Dallas is about 5 hours from San Antonio and Austin.
Pretty much all of these are the same in England and I'm sure a lot of other places...! Most would just be expected of someone
Fairly or unfairly the US certainly has been dumped on. At least I'm fairly certain that a woman can dress the way she wants without being arrested by a bunch of religious fanatics. I think....i hope...
This site literally exists to just bash the USA. We know we stink. We get it. Don't rub our noses in it. We have to LIVE here. Y'all just have to read about it. How bout some terrible articles about Russia, an actual horrible country doing horrible things?
My really BIG mistake in the USA was driving on the left side of the road. Not recommended. My other big mistake was leaving all my money in Las Vegas.
BoredPanda, why the hell is it that you can write positive listicles about other countries like Japan, yet ever single listicle you copy and paste from Reddit about the US has an extremely negative slant. I’m not even from the US, but the amount of negative listicles you post is truly disturbing and cruel. Do you think it’s alright to constantly bash a country? You are really going to lose a lot of readers. Do you have a quota of "The US is a Cesspool" quota you have to meet each week or you get fired?
Do not go to the touristy locations in the USA. There are a lot of amazing things to see that aren't in a tour book or travel guide. One way to find the best and cheapest places to eat is to ask the locals. I was at a hotel in the downtown area of our city for a conference. Some people from Canada had just gone to a local pizza place for lunch and seemed rather disappointed in the overpriced offerings. So I wrote down at least 4 different restaurants that were better, cheaper and that I knew the hotel shuttle could take them to. I ran into the mother the next day. She thanked me saying that her husband was over the moon with the southern style eatery I recommended. She said that was exactly what her husband wanted. Ask the locals, they'll point you in the right direction. Just keep it on the DL so it doesn't get overcrowded.....
Hm ... in germany, many of these apply, too. Appearantly, you can be a lot more laid back in contact with the police. But, generally, just peeing somewhere is frowned upon, unless nobody sees it. I once did so, into a drain gutter, because of desperation and my habit to favour wearing dry pants over p**s-soaked ones, at least most of the times, ... and the cops stopped by. "Hey, what you're doing there?" - "Peeing ... couldn't hold in any longer, no bushes nor restrooms around, I just figured this would be the least inappropriate option at hand, ... sorry ..." - "Ok, consider this a warning - don't do that again. Have a nice night! You need help getting home safely, or you're alright?" - the last sentence surprised me ... I mean, I did a very minor offense here, but still something not generally met with happiness. On another occasion, a cop tried to block me from entering the train station because it was "Chaos Days" and I looked "that way", but after explaining that I wanted to ride a train home and wasn't up to any riotery, the other cops waved me through and had a talk with him about how the police is meant to be friendly towards civilians, unless there's a valid reason not to.
Aside from the crappy politicians in charge, the large cities in Texas are fairly liberal and the general population tends to be friendly, open, and curious. Visit Austin, Dallas, and San Antonio. Great food, museums, music, and culture. Just not all in one day, ‘cause Dallas is about 5 hours from San Antonio and Austin.
Pretty much all of these are the same in England and I'm sure a lot of other places...! Most would just be expected of someone
Fairly or unfairly the US certainly has been dumped on. At least I'm fairly certain that a woman can dress the way she wants without being arrested by a bunch of religious fanatics. I think....i hope...
This site literally exists to just bash the USA. We know we stink. We get it. Don't rub our noses in it. We have to LIVE here. Y'all just have to read about it. How bout some terrible articles about Russia, an actual horrible country doing horrible things?
