The United States detached from the British Empire in 1776 and although they've been intertwined in some ways, the two nations have been forging unique identities ever since.
So when Reddit user Appalachian_Hatachi made a post on the platform asking "What does Britain have that America doesn't have?", people who have been to both places had plenty of observations to share.
From differences in their health systems to contrasts in weather, here are some of the most popular entries to the now-viral discussion.
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We don't have assault rifles because they are too dangerous.
America doesn't have kinder eggs, because, apparently, they are dangerous.
Children choke on a Kinder toy, they get banned, students get shot in school, thoughts and prayers. It is mental!!!
NHS
My dad spent some time in A&E yesterday after a bad fall, and we won't be getting a bill
I want the Americans to realize that the only people who will suffer from national healthcare for all would be the health insurance companies and the pharmaceutical companies. Health insurance will no longer take peoples money and refuse to pay out on a technicality and pharmaceutical companies will have to argue with the government about their prices and we all know how governments like to spend...not
Pubs.
There was a documentary about a US aircraft carrier meeting up with the new British aircraft carrier.
In the US navy they are not allowed to drink on ship.
The British aircraft carrier has a pub.
The look on those American sailor's faces. Lol.
Maternity leave that doesn’t result in an 8 week old at daycare.
Healthcare that doesn’t result in bankruptcy should you develop diabetes or need life saving surgery.
Most importantly, Tesco.
People that take down a terrorist with a narwhal tusk, spear and fire extinguisher.
Top quality Panel Shows (8 out of 10 cats, Countdown, Would I Lie To You?, Taskmaster, QI, Big Fat Quiz, etc).
American comedians are just too competitive to do it proper (Whose Line is it Anyways? is the closest)
Black currant. Oh the fruit pastilles, ribena, lord I’m sorry but I love black currant jam and yoghurt so so much
Paths (sidewalks) everywhere.
I don't understand living in a place where you can't walk down the street to the shops.
I got stopped by police so much when visiting the states. Always asking if I'm ok or need assistance, 'Nah, I'm just going for a walk and exploring', only to be told that 'people don't normally walk here'. Well they might do if you had a proper footpath...
Philomena Cunk
Clean and efficient public transportation. I know Londoners aren't always happy with the Underground, but as an American it was the cleanest, safest and most efficient rail system I have ever seen, especially for the scale of the operation. Of course I'm from Boston so there is a very low bar with ours, but still.
Most salaried jobs in Britain give you 25 days of holiday, plus the extra 8 (or more depending on royal shenanigans) bank holidays. So 33 days off a year.
The only time the Royal family are of benefit is if there is a wedding or funeral on a weekday.
Safety in schools, the ability to laugh at ourselves, public transport, time off work, kinder eggs
Edit: it’s always odd to me how Americans trawl these posts just to get angry and complain about the answers lmao
Full English Breakfast,with proper bacon and Heinz beans..my nan would make fried bread to go with this..heaven
Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogoch.
History. There are hundreds of pubs older than the US. My mediocre city’s cathedral just celebrated its 900th anniversary. We’ve been doing s**t a *long* time.
So has America. It's just that the Europeans erased most of it when they "cleansed" the land of those that practiced oral history instead of written.
As a sparky I’m proud to say we have the Type G plug. The best standardised plug anywhere in the world. British wiring standards in general. 230v FTW. Boiling water in microwaves you heathens.
My electrician (UK) told me that the least safe thing about our sockets is the plastic covers you can use to stop children sticking fingers in the holes. It's too easy to fit them upside down in the earth hole, so that the live and neutral holes are opened.
Walls that aren't made out of paper
Where does this notion that US walls are made out of paper come from? They are made from drywall aka gypsum board screwed into metal or wood studs. Try carrying a 4' x 8' sheet for drywall by yourself and tell me it's made out of paper!
Christmas crackers & the little paper hats and bad jokes that go along with them.
A self-deprecating sense of humour.
Note: this post originally had 46 images. It’s been shortened to the top 30 images based on user votes.
I do not live in either the US or the UK. I am absolutely sick of these articles where the authors thinly disguise their supposed superiority over the US. I don't even like the US that much, but this is getting insufferable. Just stop. If you want an article where a country brags about the things it thinks are remarkable about itself, you can do that without jabbing at another country. It makes me feel as if the Bored Panda panel of authors has some inferiority complex about the US. You're like a little child who has a crush on someone who doesn't like them back and then attacks them to save their pride, and then the Bored Panda readers who also have this same shame pile on like bullies.
I sometimes go on things like this because it looks like it's going to be an actual comparison. It is not
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One week, can we PLEASE go ONE WEEK without taking potshots at countries?
Remember, it works both ways.. Go ahead, Give us hell..
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I reckon the best thing that UK has over the USA is that they don't have Donald Trump!
They do have BoJo but he's not as much of a Bozo.
Load More Replies... I do not live in either the US or the UK. I am absolutely sick of these articles where the authors thinly disguise their supposed superiority over the US. I don't even like the US that much, but this is getting insufferable. Just stop. If you want an article where a country brags about the things it thinks are remarkable about itself, you can do that without jabbing at another country. It makes me feel as if the Bored Panda panel of authors has some inferiority complex about the US. You're like a little child who has a crush on someone who doesn't like them back and then attacks them to save their pride, and then the Bored Panda readers who also have this same shame pile on like bullies.
I sometimes go on things like this because it looks like it's going to be an actual comparison. It is not
Load More Replies... One week, can we PLEASE go ONE WEEK without taking potshots at countries?
Remember, it works both ways.. Go ahead, Give us hell..
Load More Replies... I reckon the best thing that UK has over the USA is that they don't have Donald Trump!
They do have BoJo but he's not as much of a Bozo.
Load More Replies...