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Cars and guns. Flags and freedom. Fast-food and air-conditioning. That’s what the United States is all about—or at least the stereotypical version of America, according to the internet. No matter how hard people try, it looks like there are some stereotypes that Americans just can’t shake.

Whether because of pop culture or anecdotal experiences with tourists, some foreigners have a very clear-cut picture in their minds of what American everyday life is like. Even though it actually varies so much. And redditor Pfl2020 wanted to find out what exactly non-Americans think that Americans can’t live without.

Check out some of the most interesting responses to their thread and remember to give the ones that you relate to a big ol’ upvote as you scroll down. We’d also love to hear your opinions on what you associate Americans with, dear Pandas. And if you’re from the US, share your thoughts and feelings about these stereotypes in the comments.

For instance, I personally associate Americans with extremely warm and friendly people, delicious homecooked meals, great education, excellent four square skills on the playground, flags, and… powdered donuts (yum!). I’m pretty sure there are unfriendly Americans out there, but I’ve yet to meet one in person. (They could be a myth conjured up by jealous Canadians.)

#1

The belief that they’re more free than the rest of the world.

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Foxxy (The Original)
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Definitely NOT. Every country has there issues but for a western country the US has some serious big issues that aren't as prevalent in other western countries.

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#2

The believe that America is the greatest of all democracies while it is just another empire on its way down...

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#3

30 Things Americans Can't Seem To Live Without, As Observed By Non-Americans Medical debt

victorianfolly , Tyler Report

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

Not just medical debt, but serious debt of many kinds. Everything paid on credit or loan, and people working just to pay interest while being "1 paycheck from the street" while the government will not help you if you get in financial or medical trouble, are hungry or face eviction.

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It’s best to think of cultural stereotypes as incredibly rough guidelines that sometimes help us navigate life, but you should never think that they’re completely accurate representations of reality. Life’s too complex and deep to be summed up in a couple of throwaway phrases.

Not all Americans are overweight, own a gun, only speak English, and tip their waiters all the time. But does the country have a problem with obesity? Yes, it does. According to the CIA, 36.2 percent of all Americans were considered to be obese in 2016. And the US ranked twelfth in the world by obesity. But it would be unfair to ignore that in such a vast country there are plenty of fitness enthusiasts and healthy eaters out there, too.

#4

A sense of superiority and a denial of the truth of their own history.

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

I am English and I am ashamed of MY country's sense of superiority and a denial of the truth of their own history. Especially concerning the slave trade and the way they treated the Irish during the Irish famine.

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

Our sense of superiority has led to Brexit. Can't wait for that to blow up in our faces. :-(

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

So many of them are against immigrants, like America is made of immigrants. How do they not know that?!

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Becca Gizmo the Squirrel
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Every one of us in America come from immigrants. Unless they live on an Indian reservation.

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

Yeah. Glad one of my teachers pointed out that Thanksgiving was just bringing a bunch of diseases to people with low immunity. Also that Columbus was a jerk.

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

Oh, so much worse than just a jerk. Criminal, actually. He was imprisoned when he went back to Spain, but they didn't teach us that in 1970.

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

The statement above is not reflective of all Americans just as the phrase that “French are rude aholes” is not reflective of all French people

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

A lot of Americans are ashamed of some portions of our history and so they want to pretend like those events were not a big deal or that they never happened. I think most countries are like this though.

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

I wonder how many people (idiots) believe that whites were given this land by God and we were justified in how we dealt with the native American population?

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

What people seem to forget is that when Ireland was in famine, so were western England and Scotland

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

Its not so much that they consciously deny their history, they are just oblivious of it due to their myth-oriented 'education' system.

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

They also only know about their own history and the small part they took in general history. They believe they won the WW2

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

In reality though, they are not superior at all. Just loud!

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

An inability to face their racism, or deal with the fact that the Confederacy was an armed, UDI insurgency . . . which lost; comprehensively, totally and badly!

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

Our history is YOUR history. You people came here and slaughtered the Indians and became us. And we are superior. Name a War we lost. Vietnam was never a war, so don't say that.

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

I reject the self-declared superiority. But I absolutely reject, 100%, without a moment's hesitation, the implication here that I should feel even a smidgeon of guilt over the history of the place where I happened to be born. I wasn't around back then, and all of the people who were are dead. That means I don't feel bad and there's no one to compensate.

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

Errrr.... That's all countries I've encountered north of the equator.

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

Yes, as an american, I think this is very true. As an explanation (not excuse), as children we were not taught the entire truth in history. For example, it wasn't until about 10 years ago that I knew what a complete rotter Columbus was. Also didn't know what an ass Edison was until about the same time.

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

I am ashamed of my countries past. I can't speak for all americans, but I truly am. We suger coat it and teach kids like me in school that we are the best, and that we were able to fight off all the other big bad countries. Now I'm not saying that there is some big bad political agenda (I hate politics) I'm just saying that we are raising very (too) proud children that think thier countries way is the only way (nothing wrong with being proud of your country btw)

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

Those both tie into the appalling education system, and how broken that is because each state does their own thing. Pile that onto texas is so large that how they want textbooks written, that will be how they are written, because they are the largest purchasers. So if they want to candy coat or omit facts or history, then that will happen, and suddenly history is just erased or glossed over.

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

My country could with taking pride in rich cultural history, stop feeling inferior and only when someone outside gives validation, we nod.

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

American history is ugly. As with almost every other country. I think we can do better. I think Mt Rushmore is a travesty. Columbus Day needs to go. Hawaii should regain its sovereignty. But I think of people like Kamals Harris. Children of immigrants that have become American and have achieved so much, given so much. And I remember how much potential the US has, and the opportunities that can exist. I don't think the US is superior to anyone else (I guess maybe in military?), but I do love my country and am proud to be American.

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

Columbus Day is now Native American Day or Indigenous Day or some such like.

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

There is actually a few theorists who say we should not teach the truth about American history in school because it was cause them to hate America. So they recommend that it be taught in College instead. This is actually the norm. But then the majority never get that history because the majority do not go to college.

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

Slavery was never legal in the entire country, only the south. The US was one of the first countries to recognize the country of Haiti, and one of the first countries to ban slavery. There has been slavery in the entire world since the dawn of time. Stop pretending like it's unique to the US.

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

That is ironic and fall down funny coming from a European. Shall we discuss Auschwitz?

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

This is such an idiotic comment. Are you trying to imply that every European country is responsible for the holocaust? Please go on, educate us on how countries like Iceland, Ireland or tiny little Monaco are responsible?

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Truth Monster
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3 years ago

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America isn't perfect, but at some point we have to look to the future and let the past bury itself. Mistakes have been made, but we have worked hard to overcome them and uphold the liberal ideals this country was founded on. As to America's sense of superiority, when the crisis is happening, everyone always seems to call America. When its time to fund all these humanitarian/peace efforts/ groups, its America they come to with their begging.

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Tiari
Community Member
3 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I would love to see the American reaction if Germany just buried WW2 and the Holocaust under the motto that „mistakes were made“. And for the rest: no. Not really. Look into Development assistance for example. And NOT in total values but relative to inhabitants or GNI. The US does not do well.

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#5

30 Things Americans Can't Seem To Live Without, As Observed By Non-Americans Fast food. I remember watching a piece about how fast food is sometimes the cheapest option for poor families. They literally can't afford to eat healthily.

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

The fact that even their fast food is worse... there is this show on youtube where they compare Uk and US fast foods from the same brand. example: chips in the UK have potatoes, vegetable oil, salt... in the US, it has 11 other ingredients.

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#6

30 Things Americans Can't Seem To Live Without, As Observed By Non-Americans Flags. You really care about showing off flags. Pro tip: Any place with lots of flags has a national identity crisis.

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

I mean, this flag site is probably a memorial/grave to veterans so yeah, this specific picture might be a tad offensive. However, as an American, I really don't understand why everyone is so obsessed with American flags. Although uh I'll take that flag over,,, certain,,, other flags that show up in the south :(

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Some stereotypes are nearly perfectly true, however. Like how much Americans love cars. They're not the only ones, though. The US really does have a car obsession and ranks fourth on Planet Earth by the number of motor vehicles per capita, but it falls right behind—you’ll never believe it—New Zealand. That’s right, our loveable Kiwis own more cars, on average, than Americans do. Who needs eagles when our hobbit protagonists could have headed to Mordor in a Volvo?

Plenty of Americans really can’t live without cars because they rely on them for their day-to-day lives. Those who argue against this would point to the fact that, in 2019, Americans also took a whopping 9.9 billion trips on public transportation. Which sounds very impressive...

...Until you realize that there were 328.2 million people living in the US that year and that they'd each end up using public transportation just over 30 times each, on average. All year. So there's some truth to the stereotype about loving cars after all. But it's not the entire story. Nor the whole truth and nothing but the truth. Not by far.

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#7

The goddamn Imperial System of Units.
I don't even live in the US but a lot of content on the internet is American and it annoys me when I need to multiply miles by 1.6 to get kilometers.

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

omg yes, this is terrible. I've been here over five years and I still can't get used to it. :"My god, the temperature is over 100? are we FRYING TO DEATH??"

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#8

30 Things Americans Can't Seem To Live Without, As Observed By Non-Americans A car. In European countries, it’s pretty common that you can get anywhere by public transport, but I haven’t heard about any properly functioning public transportation besides New York’s subway.

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

My friends are always confused when I tell them how there isn't any public transport in most of the US. They didn't understand why Uber was doing so well in the US, well thats why. You need a car to get anywhere and most people can't afford one

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#9

30 Things Americans Can't Seem To Live Without, As Observed By Non-Americans Bumper stickers informing others of their opinions.

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

And on t-shirts. If I wear a t-shirt with a graphic on it, it’s a band name or beer merch (because I get those free from work lol)

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#10

High Self confidence. Good thing in most people. Bad thing in flat earthers and antivaxxers

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

That is not all of us, just the loud ones. You really only see the loud ones.

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#11

30 Things Americans Can't Seem To Live Without, As Observed By Non-Americans Material consumption. This is true in most places but from my observation it seems to go to another level in America. Everyone spends so much time discussing the latest thing they bought and how great it is.

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#12

30 Things Americans Can't Seem To Live Without, As Observed By Non-Americans Insurance. If they get sick without it, they're [screwed]. Meanwhile, if I have an health issue in Europe, I'll get free assistance in case of emergency and pay a small fee (usually between 30€ and 70€) for a routine visit.

Zek_ , looseid Report

#13

30 Things Americans Can't Seem To Live Without, As Observed By Non-Americans A house. Even if you can't afford it. No flat — a house. Big house with two living rooms: one for family, one for ????

Iseult-benoit , daryl_mitchell Report

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Foxxy (The Original)
Community Member
3 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Maybe I am just privileged coz I could never live in a unit or apartment. I don't need 2 living rooms though. Just an extra room to clean lol.

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#14

Mentioning someones race/culture/sex etc. constantly

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

The history of the US is steeped in race/culture/sex atrocities. I think it is an attempt at over correction.

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#15

Overly-fat-saturated and sugary foods.

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#16

War? Jk but I read somewhere in all layout history you’ve only had 17 years when you weren’t at war with someone or the other

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

Some say that the USA is a culture of war rooted within a widespread ethos that uses military force in pursuit of self-interests. The truth is however that the USA has been continuously at war since the earliest days of its existence as a nation and the political, economic, cultural, and moral costs and consequences of war have reduced the USA's moral authority, political stability, and economic viability. Way out? I don´t know the right answer. Perhaps the USA must establish itself as a “culture of peace” by pursuing a new set of cultural ethoses.

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#17

News telling them who to be angry and outraged with this week.

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#18

30 Things Americans Can't Seem To Live Without, As Observed By Non-Americans Air-conditioning. That's usually the first complaint that American migrants have in Germany.

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

(Not) a fun fact: The USA consumes more energy each year for air conditioning than the rest of the world combined, and in fact more electricity for cooling than the entire continent of Africa uses for ALL purposes.

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#19

30 Things Americans Can't Seem To Live Without, As Observed By Non-Americans Guns, walmart, and deep friers

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#20

30 Things Americans Can't Seem To Live Without, As Observed By Non-Americans Soda pop. Spent some time in the southwest. Everyone had these enormous refillable beverage containers they would refill with soft drinks multiple times a day. While I agree it is important to stay hydrated, the jugs i saw held 1.75 quarts, and that much fountain drink could contain more than 200 grams of sugar.


LOUDCO-HD , Mike Mozart Report

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

Caffeine. It is the only reason any of us are awake. We don't take vacations, and our sleep patterns suck. Ergo, caffeine obsession.

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#21

30 Things Americans Can't Seem To Live Without, As Observed By Non-Americans Garburators, garbage disposal. Every time an American was house hunting on House Hunters International, the Americans always wanted a garburator and would be disappointed if the kitchens didn't have one.

Queef_Quaff , Chris Winters Report

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

I have never heard the word Garburator before and uh wow I like it much better than garbage disposal.

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#22

Fahrenheit... it’s such nonsense. Celsius is where it’s at!

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

I think both of these systems are equally arbitrary. That's why scientists use Kelvin.

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#23

30 Things Americans Can't Seem To Live Without, As Observed By Non-Americans A credit card. Not sure why people use it over there, possibly because of their weird credit system that seems to be so essential to their lives, or because of their even weirder mindset of liking to spend money they don't have. Probably both.

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

The system is an issue, first car I bought was told no credit score, aka living within your means was a red flag and I'd need a cosigner.

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#24

30 Things Americans Can't Seem To Live Without, As Observed By Non-Americans Ice. What's the deal with ice machines and them being such a big deal in any TV show or movie set in a hotel or motel?

halfshoe , Mike Mozart Report

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Foxxy (The Original)
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

These people must live somewhere with a cool climate coz we have ice machines all over the place from petrol stations, supermarkets and bottle-o's etc

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#25

30 Things Americans Can't Seem To Live Without, As Observed By Non-Americans Paper plates. Used in your own home? That’s quite bizarre to me.

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#26

Military.

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#27

Loans or debts of some sort, especially in their younger years. And i think Americans literally can't live without insurance.

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

We'd love to live without loans and debt, but for the majority, if you want a job you need a car which needs a loan. You want a job that pays an almost living wage? You need an education, for an education, you need a loan.

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#28

30 Things Americans Can't Seem To Live Without, As Observed By Non-Americans Red solo cups, they are such an American thing

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#29

30 Things Americans Can't Seem To Live Without, As Observed By Non-Americans Cheddar cheese, and jumbo everything

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

Cheddar cheese is a big deal in the UK too. After all it comes from the town of Cheddar in Somerset, England.

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#30

Automatic transmissions.

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

I drive a car with manual transmission (I'm in Europe), but I have no problem with automatic transmissions. They just make driving easier and more inclusive. Similarly, IMO there are no brownie points for being able to drive a manual. It's just a car. Drive what works best for you.

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