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The United States—the land of the free. The home of the brave. And the nation of some very peculiar habits, according to the internet. Other countries in the world are confused by some of the things that Americans do. Like calling tuna “tuna fish” and putting too much cheese on everything. I find it endearing, others find it strange.

Bored Panda has collected some of the best tweets that show how confused foreigners are at what some Americans do. Scroll down and upvote your faves. And be sure to check out our previous post about Europeans who shared what problems are too American for them to grasp.

Culture clashes are nothing new. After all, if every country and culture were the same, there’d be no point in leaving your home, right? (Spoiler warning: due to the coronavirus pandemic, you shouldn’t be leaving your home either way.) Benny Lewis, founder of the Fluent in 3 Months blog, spent 4 years living in the US and has some gripes about the culture. Including how Americans are too politically correct while at the same time they think that everything is “awesome.”

#1

Things-Americans-Do

hesthehabit Report

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

It makes sense to start with the day, but I guess it's what you get used to

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#3

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Montberte Report

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

We choose from a lot more at first, eventually narrowing it down to two and choosing from them.

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According to Benny from Ireland, Europeans traveling around the US will find a lot of things weird. Like the fact that Americans smile way too much and it’s difficult to know when they mean it and when they’re smiling out of reflex.

Another thing that Benny found very unusual is something a lot of people complain about when they arrive in the US. Yup, you guessed it—tipping! “I really think tipping as a means of waitresses and others earning the vast majority of their living is ridiculous. If I have to pay, say 15% anyway, then include it in the bill! It's not a bloody tip if it's mandatory!” Benny expressed his opinion. Some of us can agree that mandatory tipping is sneaky and that servers should earn a decent wage that isn’t based on tips.

“Why not tip everyone who you interact with in some way—bus drivers, or leave money on your trash can for the garbage man? It's inconsistent, and waiters, hairdressers, and taxi drivers should just charge us what needs to be charged,” Benny writes in his blog.

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#4

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

This also goes for strict gun laws. Why do Americans think strict gun laws won't work in their country when it works in literally all other developed countries?

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#5

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

As an irish person I dont mind it, it is nice for people to be proud of their heritage. What I do mind is when they ask do I know paddy mcsomething from donegal. I know Ireland's small but we don't all live in one village. Oh and the accent impersonations are damn annoying...although in my experience the English are the worst for imitating accents.

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#6

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

The other day when they announced America now has the highest C19 infections of any country an american in the comments said "BS, I'm sure Europe has more". Seems some Americans think Europe is a country.

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He also has issues with how in some parts of America prices aren’t what they seem because the tax isn’t included to make the cost seem lower than it really is.

Of course, taxing is different in different states, but this doesn’t excuse corporations from printing up different product costs for each state. Or, as Benny puts it, “We have the same product sold across many European countries and somehow someone in the company found the time to punch numbers into a $1 calculator in advance to tell people how much they are actually paying.”

#7

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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

Why was fahrenheit even invented? The metric system just makes so much more sense. Freezing point is 0C and boiling point is 100C. A litre is 1000millilitres, 100 centimetres is 1 metre etc.

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#8

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

thats not just American. I think it depends on the person. I have local friends who do and local friends who dont, and American friends who do and dont.

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#9

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

I don't know about other Americans, but at our house, we just call it TUNA.

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But before you start thinking that all Europeans have it out for the US, Benny also mentions some awesome things about Americans. For example, nobody can deny that Americans have an incredible work ethic and how open-minded and diverse most of the country is. It’s a country with plenty of positives, peppered with a whole lot of bizarreness.

#10

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

Because you don't need a bloody scale to measure grams. All you need is a simple cup with lines. DUH!

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#11

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

Well actually, most of the time we say that we don't give a s**t, so.....

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#12

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

I tried changing it to "the poopery" but people won't listen to me

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#13

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

I don't think that, nor have I ever thought that. I don't know anyone who does. Where did you even come up with that nonsense.

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#14

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Mette Olsen Douglas
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I don't think I know anybody who lives like they have free healthcare - quite the opposite actually. "Is it truly bad enough to go see a doctor or can we survive without going"? Nobody want those bills that follows a doctors visit!!

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#15

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

Some Americans also love making fun of people who speak English with a foreign accent, when they themselves can only speak one language

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#16

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

Anything to not use the metric system whats next: glazed donuts per bald eagle who knows

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

I don't actually do this, but it's an instant visual for most.

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

Europeans do measure in soccerfields, too. It's just a good way to imagine space, no matter where you're from.

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The Girl on Fire
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It's just a fun way to show how big something is. Good grief, this whole list is so petty.

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

Well to be fair, the British measure things against a London Bus. Which is totally acceptable. Right?

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

I am British and never measured anything or heard of anything, being measured by a London bus.

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Karen Da Manager
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3 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Because everyone in the US knows the relative size of a football field. So people will understand what you’re talking about

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

Europe does the same thing. Watched a doc on A380

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

That is correct, and the weird thing is, European football (soccer) fields all have different sizes...

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

It’s just a comparison used when describing the size of something, to help the person/people you’re talking to get a sense of its size. I mean, if you tell me something is 1250 feet—-or 381 meters—-tall, I can’t really visualize it. But tell me it’s as tall as the Empire State Building, and I immediately understand its height.

idrow avatar
Id row
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Why do you measure things in stones? You can at least picture the length of a football field, how do you picture a bunch of stones as anything accurate?

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

It a very common size we automatically know. Football fields are everywhere and used for many things. Even high school and college band which is very big!!!

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

Most US citizens have been to at least one football game. It gives an easy reference point to visualize distances.

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

because a football field is a perfect measurement of 100 yards

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

Why do British people talk with an accent if they just speak English anyway? We could go on and on and on

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I Just Changed My Name
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Most people know the length of a football field here and it's large which is why it's equated for long distances.

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Pamela24
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Other countries do that as well and this makes sense. You need something to compare it to. In the Czech Republic the media often used Skoda Fabia car and football fields as well.

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

Because for many years all Americans watch/played american football and it was a sense of scale easily pictured due to familiarity. I've oft wondered if other countries use cricket pitches or football fields.

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

We also measure unusual bodily masses in terms of citrus fruit.

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

We don't have pitches here, so we wouldn't know what it meant.

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

It's not used as a measure, it's used for scale. Like none of you do this?

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

Easy frame of reference. If you were 1000 yards out and I was looking at you through the reticle of my optic I would measure you in doorways to know how much to adjust for bullet drop compensation. Door ways are about the same size world wide so it makes a great frame of reference.

420003 avatar
Amanda Ric
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Because football fields are a universal length! We all know how long a football field is, and we're pretty good at estimation with football fields.

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

Because they make sense! Everybody knows how long a football field is, and nobody cares how long a mile is, unless it's in football fields.

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

Journalists like using those metrics around the world.

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

So everyone needs to have the knowledge of sport fields? That just looses all the nerds out there. At least measure in macbooks or iPhone Xs and whatnot.

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

What? The only thing that I KNOW of that is measured "in football fields" is during the game itself. (How far the FOOTBALL is carried or caught after being thrown.) Simple concept, really.

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

Because all americans know football field but cannot imagine what 100 yards look like. It is same as saying "it is like going from Paris to Prague instead of calling it 1000 kilometers. Or megameter. I know, nobody uses megameters but it sound cool. Or you can say eleven hours in car.

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

convenience ... a football field is 100 "yards" (a yard is 36" inches)(an American football field is about and ost everyone has been to a football field for American football (we call Futbol Soccer) it is a visualization tool.

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

It's easier to picture in your head because a lot of Americans know how big they are.

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Bláthnaid O’Loughlin
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Also, how big is an American football field? Is it like a Gaelic football field (very big) or more like a soccer field (not as big)?

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

We do the same in Europe which infuriates me because I have no idea how long a football field is but have pretty good idea how much a meter is

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

For the football field reference, think of it as simply an easily accesible reference tool.

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

Ive never heard of that Why do morons lump in a small group with a whole continent. NM dont answer you are probably one of those said morons!

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

Who does that? Go down the street a football field and a half and there is the store you are looking for.... Never happens m'dear.

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

I think they new a football field would be huge and just took a measurement that already existed and stuck it as standard field size. Either that or they knew it would be huge and wanted to have something to call something that size.

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

lol, in Australia tv commentators seem to use Olympic swimming pools for measurement

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

Because just about everyone knows the measurement of a football field. And, yes, horses are still measured by "hands."

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

because its a common, regulated thing that helps you relate it to your own size. [blank] miles or [blank] kilometers is harder to relate to than [blank] football fields.

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

Why do non-Americans snivel and whine and b***h about Americans?

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

It’s not so we don’t have to use the metric system, where I’m from football is HUGE. It’s like international rugby, but just in the trust are area, so it’s a familiar size that we know

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Kori K. Warriner
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Good question. I only assume it is because a lot of Americans understand distance in the example of football fields. Sad...

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

The real question is: Why are Americans OBSESSED with football??!!

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

Stereotype! Not all Americans are "OBSESSED" with football! Also why do you care why someone likes what they do? When did that become a basis for popular content? Actually that goes for this whole article too. Big. Thick. Stereotype.

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

I’m not sure, we also like to count 100 apples & subtracting some to see how many apples are left, or sometimes we are forced to wonder why Karen bought 56 watermelons & we have to figure out some s**t for Karen. F**k you Karen!

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

I HATE when people tell me that! I assume what they are telling me is BS if they are using football fields as measurements

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#17

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imwafflingg Report

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

I hear it said at least 3 different ways depending on what news channel you watch

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#20

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

Because educators didn't want parents to think E meant "Excellent"

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#21

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

Don't get me started on how Americans pronounce 'mirror'. They miss out the 'o' and say "mirrrrr". Madness!

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#22

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brndizzle Report

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

High school was pretty much the worst time in my life. My daughter is going through it now and I wish I could just fast forward her outta there.

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#23

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

Americans get MAD? Rather they probably just don't know which sport you're speaking of. In America, football and soccer are two different sports. That's probably why they don't know what you're talking about. As for being "mad..." I doubt they are mad about it, LOL.

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#24

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Marcellus the Third
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Yeah but then you also have 'drinks halls' in germany with liquor, beer, water, soda... Why? Also you're ignoring the "dry county" thing where within one state many counties may sell absolutely zero alcohol and the next does.

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#26

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#28

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BANGTANDIOR Report

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

They are handy when you bring cooked food to a meeting/people etc.

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#29

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phoebehalliwels Report