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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.

#1

30 British People Share "Totally Normal" Things That Are "Nonexistent" In America We don't have assault rifles because they are too dangerous.


America doesn't have kinder eggs, because, apparently, they are dangerous.

almacoby , Aaron Gustafson Report

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Ian Reynolds
Community Member
6 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Children choke on a Kinder toy, they get banned, students get shot in school, thoughts and prayers. It is mental!!!

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#2

30 British People Share "Totally Normal" Things That Are "Nonexistent" In America Dry British humor

fck_this_fck_that Report

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JuJu
Community Member
6 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Your mother was a hamster and your father smelt of elderberries!

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#3

30 British People Share "Totally Normal" Things That Are "Nonexistent" In America NHS

My dad spent some time in A&E yesterday after a bad fall, and we won't be getting a bill

LuinAelin , George Morina Report

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Cyber Returns
Community Member
6 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

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

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#4

30 British People Share "Totally Normal" Things That Are "Nonexistent" In America 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.

ciderlout , Amie Johnson Report

#5

30 British People Share "Totally Normal" Things That Are "Nonexistent" In America 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.

thesevenleafclover , Sarah Chai Report

#6

30 British People Share "Totally Normal" Things That Are "Nonexistent" In America People that take down a terrorist with a narwhal tusk, spear and fire extinguisher.

Royal_Visit3419 Report

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#7

30 British People Share "Totally Normal" Things That Are "Nonexistent" In America Scotland

unwantedaccount56 , v2osk Report

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Rob
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6 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Can confirm, English immigrant to Scotland. Absolutely lovely.

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#8

30 British People Share "Totally Normal" Things That Are "Nonexistent" In America 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)

mywerkaccount , Channel 4 Entertainment Report

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Jods
Community Member
6 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

QI. I can quite happily watch repeat, after repeat, day after day.

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#9

30 British People Share "Totally Normal" Things That Are "Nonexistent" In America Black currant. Oh the fruit pastilles, ribena, lord I’m sorry but I love black currant jam and yoghurt so so much

LeskoLesko , kahvikisu Report

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ybur
Community Member
6 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I'm a brit that absofuckinglutely despises blackcurrants bar ribena

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#10

30 British People Share "Totally Normal" Things That Are "Nonexistent" In America Paths (sidewalks) everywhere.

I don't understand living in a place where you can't walk down the street to the shops.

dokidokipanic , Dávid Ďurčo Report

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Donkey boi
Community Member
6 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

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...

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#11

30 British People Share "Totally Normal" Things That Are "Nonexistent" In America Philomena Cunk

Strikhedonia_1697 , netflix Report

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Tarrare
Community Member
6 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Ah, the brilliantly ignorant Philomena Cunk, the epitome of hilariously clueless satire. Her unique brand of humor has certainly provided a refreshingly absurd take on everything from history to current affairs. A true comedic gem! 🤣📚🎤

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#13

30 British People Share "Totally Normal" Things That Are "Nonexistent" In America 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.

doctor-rumack , Yelena Odintsova Report

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Bruni-Lou
Community Member
6 months ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

There are definitely better transport systems elsewhere in Europe but London and other British cities are decent ( not you northern line)

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#14

30 British People Share "Totally Normal" Things That Are "Nonexistent" In America 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.

snoee , Dan Burton Report

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Ian Reynolds
Community Member
6 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The only time the Royal family are of benefit is if there is a wedding or funeral on a weekday.

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#15

30 British People Share "Totally Normal" Things That Are "Nonexistent" In America Clotted cream...it's so good.

jar0fair , Malcolm Manners Report

#17

30 British People Share "Totally Normal" Things That Are "Nonexistent" In America 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

early_onset_villainy , Taylor Flowe Report

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ShaZam
Community Member
6 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

We can laugh at ourselves ... honestly, though. The Americans "suck" comments get a little old and overplayed. We just want equal opportunity for EVERY country to be told how they suck like we are told ... constantly

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#18

30 British People Share "Totally Normal" Things That Are "Nonexistent" In America Full English Breakfast,with proper bacon and Heinz beans..my nan would make fried bread to go with this..heaven

Impossible-Toe-7761 , Valeria Boltneva Report

#19

30 British People Share "Totally Normal" Things That Are "Nonexistent" In America Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogoch.

na_ro_jo , Rob Koster Report

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#21

30 British People Share "Totally Normal" Things That Are "Nonexistent" In America 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.

ellasfella68 , Arthur Franklin Report

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Donkey boi
Community Member
6 months ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

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.

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#23

30 British People Share "Totally Normal" Things That Are "Nonexistent" In America proper Cadbury chocolate

Jaybetav2 , alleksana Report

#24

30 British People Share "Totally Normal" Things That Are "Nonexistent" In America 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.

MrDundee666 , Castorly Stock Report

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Herringbone
Community Member
6 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

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.

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#25

30 British People Share "Totally Normal" Things That Are "Nonexistent" In America Walls that aren't made out of paper

questgamer2021 , Benjamin Elliott Report

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Christos Arvanitis
Community Member
6 months ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

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!

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#26

30 British People Share "Totally Normal" Things That Are "Nonexistent" In America British Indian Restaurants

davus_maximus , Pille R. Priske Report

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#28

30 British People Share "Totally Normal" Things That Are "Nonexistent" In America Christmas crackers & the little paper hats and bad jokes that go along with them.

mitten2787 , nualaimages Report

#30

30 British People Share "Totally Normal" Things That Are "Nonexistent" In America A self-deprecating sense of humour.

UsefulSolution3700 , Jonathon Burton Report

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Papa
Community Member
6 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That is not exclusive to Britain, or excluded from the US (except we spell it without the extra vowel).

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#31

The landscape of the Scottish Highlands.

Girhinomofe Report

#33

30 British People Share "Totally Normal" Things That Are "Nonexistent" In America Actual football where you kick the ball with your foot, but I'll admit that some American football fans give footie fans a run for their money. Love England and really all of the UK though, hope to live there before I die.

AVBforPrez , Jannik Skorna Report

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JammaCoast2Coast
Community Member
6 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

We have the MLS. The rivalry between the Seattle Sounders and The Portland Timbers is compared to EPL team rivalries. But go on.

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#35

Irn Bru

GoodTato Report

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Ace
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6 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

One of the few valid arguments for Scotland to be split from the UK.

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#36

Better rail systems

cloudydays2021 Report

#37

30 British People Share "Totally Normal" Things That Are "Nonexistent" In America Inside voices

BR41N_F4R7 , Antoni Shkraba Report

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JuJu
Community Member
6 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Yes, it's too easy to spot American tourists by hearing.

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#38

Malt vinegar on the table

Odd_Impact8987 Report

#39

Lorne sausage, haggis, black pudding, chocolate biscuits, decent public transport, Public Health Service, classism, VAT, royalty, buildings older than 200 years old.

randomlyme Report

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Weasel Wise
Community Member
6 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Haggis, black pudding, VAT, classism, and a "royal" family that solely leeches of the public in the name of tradition. Hard pass, England can keep all of that.

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#40

A huge selection of frozen Yorkshire pudding options. I was BEDAZZLED. Loved it.

eleanor61 Report

#41

Every other countries antiquities

Ok-Job7213 Report

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Ace
Community Member
6 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

You don't think American museums (and private collections) are stuffed full of artefacts looted from across the ancient world? Think again.

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#43

Banter

JacobMT05 Report

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#44

Safe power sockets and plugs

saigon2010 Report

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#45

Its own Language

MywarUK Report

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Donkey boi
Community Member
6 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Actually, no! English is a bastard language. Primarily a West Germanic, with Latin and French influences that developed at the early medieval period. Prior to that was (what we now call) 'Old English', a north Germanic/Norse mix called Anglo-Saxon.

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