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33 Things That Are Normal For Americans But Not The Rest Of The World
It is only after you begin traveling more widely that you realize how different social conventions are around the world. Many of the behaviors that you wouldn’t even notice back home, might instantly make someone else raise an eyebrow when you’re abroad. Similarly, when someone visits your home country, they might be shocked by some of the conventions and traditions that you take for granted.
American Reddit users opened up about the things that are socially acceptable in the United States but not elsewhere, in two viral r/AskReddit threads here and here. We’ve collected some of their most interesting insights and opinions to share with you, Pandas. They might give you a fresh perspective on life in the US, and might make you think more deeply about all of the social conventions that you’re used to in your daily lives.
As you’re scrolling down, remember to upvote the comments that took you by surprise and the ones that you agree are true. Smiling a lot, tipping culture, and weird ads on the TV are just the tip of the iceberg.
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The Harvard Business Review notes that cultures around the world can be broadly categorized into ‘peaches’ and ‘coconuts.’ The US and Brazil, for example, can be considered to be ‘peaches.’ People there smile frequently, are open to sharing information about themselves, and ask personal questions. However, at some point, you’ll reach the “hard shell of the pit where the peach protects” who they really are inside.
On the flip side, you have ‘coconut’ cultures like in Germany. ‘Coconuts’ tend to be more closed off: they rarely smile, don’t ask personal questions right off the bat, and are very wary of what information they disclose to new acquaintances. Over time, however, they open up and become warmer. Though it takes more time, relationships with ‘coconuts’ tend to last longer.
#6
Commercials for medicine Prescription medication specifically. Ads for [excitement] pills and depression medicine etc. bombarding all ages all day long
One of the most stereotypical ways to tell that someone is probably from the US is to see how often they smile. A study done in 2018 showed that European American students smiled twice as much as East Asian students in their ID photos. The former were also more likely to display ‘excited’ smiles, Naveed Saleh shares on Psychology Today.
Moreover, students at US universities were more likely to smile while walking on campus, compared to students at Chinese universities. Over 29% of Americans were spotted smiling, versus barely 3% of Chinese students. There are two possible explanations for this.
First of all, this rate might show a difference in life satisfaction between the two countries. Secondly, it indicates that different cultures value different things. For example, Americans tend to value high-intensity positive emotions. Hence the smiling!
#8
Military recruitment centres in schools, general worship of those serving or who have served.
In the US, it’s normative to maintain eye contact for around three seconds at a time, take turns during the conversation so as not to interrupt someone else, and to allow two or three feet of personal space between you and others, according to Natali Kerr, PhD.
What’s more, Americans tend to use the phrase, “How are you?” as a greeting, rather than a legitimate question in its own right. If you want to aim for a deeper, more meaningful connection with someone, try to use the question more sparingly and with intent. Actually ask someone how they’re doing when you want to find out, not as a way to extend your “hello.”
#10
In Sweden you either take your shoes off when you enter someone's home or we saw your dirty f*****g feet off.
#13
Smiling at strangers. Back in high school, I spent some time in St. Petersburg, Russia as a short-term exchange student. As someone ethnically ambiguous, I assumed most Russians would think I was from one of the Central Asian Republics, like Uzbekistan. Nope, they guessed American every time. "Olga, how does everyone know I'm American?" "You smile too much and have good teeth."
#14
You can get fired for any reason. Or no reason. Just if the boss feels like it From an external point of view, that's f****d up, going to work must be terrifying each day knowing that something like wearing the wrong shoes or whatever could get you sacked on the spot
#15
The car as the priority on the road. In the U.K. We have a policy that the more vulnerable the road user, the more rights they have. Therefore, people have the most rights, then horse riders, cyclists, bikers, cars and so forth.
#16
I love explaining to non Americans that we can go buy beer, food, televisions and guns at the same store.
#19
Mobility scooters and wheelchairs for obese people who are capable of walking. Went to disneyworld and people were using wheelchairs becuase they were lazy. They'd literally wheel them up to a shop get up walk around the store and then back to the chair. You could say well that was one person so it doesn't count but there were multiple people doing the same thing, even entire families sometimes.
#21
Customers in restaurants or any other store staying past closing, I work in a restaurant and this annoys me beyond belief.
#23
I think in America its way more socially acceptable to drive .2 miles to your destination than to walk.
#24
Talking about money. How much you earn or don't earn. How much debt you are in, how bad or good your credit is. People don't really talk about those things even with close family members other places I've been.
#27
America was influenced heavily by the post WWII "nuclear family" model where everyone should be independent and own their own houses, live as a family unit etc. I married a Filipino and it changed my world like they have everyone in one baller house going back to great grandma. And it's amazing like when you have kids it's so much easier, if your car breaks down and need something it's easier, if you need a loan they pool all the money and give micro loans among their extended family with virtually no interest. I'm like wait, we've been getting f****d in America. Ultimately we decided to embrace it and pool together with my mom who lived next to us anyways and buy a baller a*s house for us and the kids and it costs us nothing because we share the cost. She left and now I'm stuck living with my mom in my 30's until I can refinance or sell but still was worth it.
#28
I don't know about every single place in the world, but compared to a lot of Asian cultures, the way Americans treat moving out of our parents' home as a huge achievement is pretty weird. Adult kids still living with their parents isn't embarrassing in Asia. In America, it's still considered somewhat weird, although it's getting more common for financial reasons
#29
Ads that compare one brand to another openly, like Duracell vs Energizer, rather than Brand X.
#30
In many African countries/cultures, looking at someone dead in the eye when talking to them, particularly adults, is very very rude. In Murica, looking an adult in the eye is a sign of respect/confidence in the speaker
#31
I am English and have lived in America for over twenty five years. As a nosy person I ADORE the way Americans will show you the interior of their houses. In England the deeply curious usually find them selves in a locked bathroom examining the contents of the hosts cabinet. This is the last resort for the nosy person as access to the rest of the place will not be encouraged. Americans will walk you around the house from top to bottom and show you everything. In England you only get to do that when you know your host very well indeed.
#33
when I studied abroad in Spain they extensively warned us about how rude it is to stretch at the dinner table... I never realized how much I love stretching at the dinner table till I got in trouble for doing it
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