When we're traveling abroad, we often get away with things locals simply wouldn't. "I'm just a tourist. I didn't know!" we say after we get caught for something we (knowingly) did wrong. But sometimes it's not enough.
So in an attempt to figure out when this seemingly ultimate excuse is worthless in the United States, Reddit user u/firebullmonkey made a post on the platform, asking: "People from the US, what's a no-go in American culture?" And their question was answered.
From dealing with authorities to tipping servers, here are some of the most popular answers!
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Do NOT get out of the car to greet the officer if you're pulled over by a cop!!! Stay in the car and let the officer come to you. If you need to reach for something like your license, tell the cop you are doing so before you do it.
Unless it is a clear and DIRE emergency, you ask someone if they need an ambulance before you call for one. It’s the most expensive taxi you will ever take and it can ruin most people financially for years.
Be careful not to trespass on private property, in a lot countries just walking through is fine but that can get you shot in the US.
When passing a funeral procession on the road you pull over and wait for them to pass out respect.
We don't have funeral processions on the streets (Hungary). Maybe in little villages. They usually begin at the gate of the cemetery then they go to the grave. I drive for almos 30 years but don't remember if I ever saw a funeral procession on the streets.
Don't ask black people about their hair. I saw a german kid asking a black girl if he could pet her hair. Just don't.
Conversations about religion, politics, or other personal beliefs. It will most likely devolve into one person trying to convince another that their viewpoint is correct and that the listener is wrong.
In the South, being called 'hun' or 'honey' is a great compliment. Conversely, if they yell your name across the house you f**ked up bad.
Am I correct in understanding that that is a polite way of informing you of intellectual deficiencies on your part?
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From to the south and moved to CA. DON’T call people honey or any pet name there unless you want them for think you’re trying to pick them up. In the south, we call strangers “honey” if we don’t know their name and call everyone we do know “honey” because we like them.
Can confirm. Don't take being called "honey" or any variation as a come on. A lot of us call about everyone that. Hell, I call guys I work with "honey", and Im not into guys.
In the south ma'am and sir are also used a lot, and every lady is Miss * insert first name* . Those identifiers are not usually required in the northern states. Regional differences. 😀
This is how I greet residents at the skilled nursing facility I work in. “Miss or mister” and their first name.
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And if you are Latino and you see your mum taking her flipflop off, you better run! La chancla!
This is the UK or atleast where I live if my mum shouts my name across the house then she wants something or I'm about to get my ass beat
Or calls you by your first, middle, and last name.
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TBH knowing the local gentle address is a good idea in English. In England it's not unknown to be addressed as 'duck', 'luv', or even 'me loverr'...
And if your FULL name gets yelled....best run for cover.... at least that is how it was for me.
It may be normal to them there but in every other place in the world it's condescending. Especially when the person you are calling that is older than you.
This too is regional. America is vast. It can be divided into numerous regions. The basic would be the coasts & the middle.
Well, that Southern "charm" can stay down there. Taking your chances of spit in your food up North.
Lot's of complimentary say'ns in the South. Kinda nice, unless sarcastic.
My aunt would call me Terry Lynne because she was very fond of me. When my mom called me that, I was probably in trouble for something. Context is everything!
If some older relative yells your first and middle names, you are in trouble.
In California honey is not a compliment. In most cases it sounds condescending af
I've noticed in the South, as opposed to Northern U.S., they say "Yes, Ma'am" all the time. Now, I'll say it if a woman asks me a question that deserves a 'Yes, Ma'am' answer, but down South, they say it all the time. They'll cut you off mid-sentence with a "Yes, Ma'am". If I thank them, I get a "Yes, Ma'am". They'll ask if I like the area and I'll start to answer and they will cut me off and say, "Yes, Ma'am." Wait, there's more; I've introduced myself, gave them my name, and they will still refer to me as Ma'am and say, "Yes, Ma'am." Someone explain this to me. It feels and sounds so cold or standoffish. I mean, it's used so often that it doesn't sound professional, polite, or even kind. It doesn't sound like they are agreeing with the reply, as one would make sounds to show that they are listening. Back home in the Northern States, once you give us your name, that is what we call you. It feels like a Southern way of telling me to shut the hell up. Which I do, I shut the hell up.
It is said to give a polite response. Even as an older woman, Ma'am, and Sir are still used by me.
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Now hang on a tic. It was just mentioned above that foul language is a no no, yet here we are using words that require asterisks. Just a little hypocritical me thinks.
It's not a "great compliment". They literally call everyone that... It's f'n annoying. Like, I don't know you, you're not endearing, stop that.
This is becoming a “no no” I saw a lady get a stearin talking to for calling another lady “hun “
Never cut in line. I saw that a lot in Europe. Here, you might get shizzled.
A hug or a one of the cheek touch greetings are a big no no. Physical touch is VERY personal to us Americans. If you introduce yourself like that, especially to a man, you might get laid out. Shake hands or nod an acknowledgment and say hello.
This is true!! Americans take personal space very seriously. Don't touch people without their permission
Picking up after yourself. Cleaning your table off at a fast food restaurant is the one that comes to mind. My personal stance on it is if they brought the food to your table then they clear it, if you brought the food to your own table you clear it and yet people still leave mountains of trash when they leave. This also applies to litter and not cleaning up after dog poop and such. Just clean up your own messes or you’ll get a lot of dirty looks.
Americans may be friendly in passing, but that doesn't mean we want to take you home and be best friends. We tend to be called fake a lot, we make an effort to be nice (especially while working at customer service jobs)....but many don't have time, or money, to devote to friendships.
So if you press too much you might get blanked/ghosted over time.
Don’t ever dress up as a clown at 2am and try to scare people in a parking lot, sidewalk, neighborhood etc…. You will get shot or worse! And just Don’t dress up as a clown anywhere, ever! Not funny!
When someone asks you how you are the answer is "good", "great" or any variation thereof. It doesn't matter if your husband just left you, your dog died and you have been diagnosed with cancer, nobody wants to actually know how you are. If you expect to die in the next couple of days you can say something like "hanging in there". If you slip up and say something like "not too great" quickly catch yourself and add "but it's getting better" so that the questioner can reply with something positive like "glad to hear that" and move on. The whole exchange is just an elaborate way of saying "Hi". In other countries people ask this to find out how someone is doing and the person answering is giving an assessment of how they are. If they don't want to know they don't ask. It's often meant as the opening to a longer conversation. Not so in America.
Don't use any bad words, because some that are used casually in other countries are unforgivable insults here - fighting words that will make you an enemy for life.
I've learned from reading BP that the c**t word in Australia is not a big deal. In the US, that word is way worse than saying F**k or calling someone a B***h.
Talking about your salary. Talking about someone’s weight. Driving too slow in the left hand lane. Not tipping. In Chicago, putting ketchup on a hot dog.
I talk about my salary because it finally became clear to me that ít is a way for corporations to underpay employees since most don't know how much their colleagues actually makes.
Reusing the same plate when you go up for a second round at the buffet. You've got to get a new one.
Don’t call someone’s house “Homely” in America. Out here it’s an insult.
Homely means drab and unattractive: homey means cosy and comfortable: homie is a friend, usually from where you grew up.
Well when you live in the stix, you wave at people while driving on the back road (usually one or two finger wave) or they think you’re from the city/up to no good
Unless your both driving a Jeep then it is expected to wave.. it's a Jeep thing.
Americans like personal space. Leave room between you and the person you're speaking to or lining up behind.
Only true, when compared to Southern Europe, for example. When compared to Northern Europe, yeah right 😂 😂 😂 You guys like the personal space of Middle Europe...
Sleeping during your lunch break. Alcohol at your desk or during lunch (besides work parties). Being touchy (as in hugging people, touching their arms, etc).
Ironically, I've done all of these, but my point is don't do them unless you know your company's culture and the people around you, else you may get a warning from management or HR.
Alcohol at your desk seems like it would be a bad idea everywhere though?
Putting cash or cards on the counter, instead of handing them to the staff, is often considered rude in America but polite in other places. Especially throwing them down on the counter - super rude.
Many Americans aren't afraid of confrontation. A lot of them will be nice as a formality, just to get to know you and be a good neighbor but they won't shy away from talking s**t if it comes down to it.
Might be a NYC thing MIND YOUR BUSINESS AND WHAT EVER YOU DO DONT STARE. Unless you want the " waddaya lookin at? mind ya f**king business!"
This is true. Don't stare! Very rude. No matter what the person is wearing or looks like.
Walking on the left side of a hallway or passage instead of the right side.
You mean like traffic? Is everywhere else one big mosh pit the second you get out of your car?
In the elevator with multiple people, everyone faces the door and doesn't talk to anyone. It's an awkward silence, especially if you're a big guy around smaller women. the worst thing you could do is ask your elevator-mates how their day is
Learning accurate history about our nation and others, apparently.
I'm sure about all americans will do so prior to visit countries in Europe ...
In Alaska, you’re better off to assume that every local has no sense of humor. They’re still friendly but none of us ever smile or laugh.
Note: this post originally had 36 images. It’s been shortened to the top 30 images based on user votes.
Many of these are applicable everywhere because they are common sense, common etiquette. Many others are oddly specific or too absurd to believe. I think the only one I read without knotting my brows is the Keanu Reeves, spot on.
Well, this was uhm ... lemme think ... very very uninspired and uninteresting.
About half of these were made up and wrong. The other half are common sense. If you want to bash America, BP, try harder.
The hard thing about this post is that the US is very large, with very different cultures depending on location. Not everything in this applies everywhere, though a lot of it applies somewhere.
The overwhelming majority of these are not universally true. Don't hate on Keanu, though.
And when visiting the American South, do not EVER, EVER EVER EVER, mention the Civil War. Some people are still mad and very sensitive about that. It is also wildly inappropriate in restaurants to ask where the segregated section is. And don't say s**t about the rebel flag if you see one. Just keep going and find you some boiled peanuts. Seriously though, there's still a lot of feelings about certain things and stereotypes down there, and with reason. I'll be the first to tell you though, that our southern Folks are among the best, and most hospitable people that you'll ever meet. I worked down south a lot over the years, and it was great.
Who in their SANE MIND would ask where the segregated section is?!?!?!! I can attest with absolute certainty that if this question came up ANYWHERE in our country, your ass better RUN!! You will 100% have major consequences from literally every person within earshot regardless of race or ethnicity.
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I used to have a roommate from Russia and our biggest miscommunication and reason we couldn't understand each other was personal space and inviting yourself into people's homes without invitation. She would bring her laundry to my grandparents house without asking first, expected me to open up personally to her, and was very invasive. I was young and offended easily. Looking back I should've realized the difference in our perspectives but there was such a culture shock between us that our relationship was doomed from the beginning.
1. Americans don't like discourtesy. So don't blast your music driving in small neighborhoods. Or make huge amounts of any noise that bothers people around you. 2. Wear deodorant. I don't care what your personal feelings, religious beliefs, or allergy says otherwise....WEAR DEODORANT. If you have an allergy, find an alternative. Being smelly is never going to be okay. I worked with a guy who refused to wear deodorant as a religious thing and it's like...okay but then you can't work in close environments with other people. That's your choice. 3, don't compare our country to yours in front of us. It's like hating your sibling; you may hate them and pick on them all the time, but if someone else does it you immediately go into protection mode. Other people aren't allowed to be rude to my family- that's my job.
I used to work high end private security. Not mallcops but state license and armed security with some powers. Ideltwith a lot of people from other countries at the hotels the company was contracted with. A lot pretty much refused to believe that security can tell you to keep it down or completely kick you off a property. Got into many "well in my country" arguments
Many of these are applicable everywhere because they are common sense, common etiquette. Many others are oddly specific or too absurd to believe. I think the only one I read without knotting my brows is the Keanu Reeves, spot on.
Well, this was uhm ... lemme think ... very very uninspired and uninteresting.
About half of these were made up and wrong. The other half are common sense. If you want to bash America, BP, try harder.
The hard thing about this post is that the US is very large, with very different cultures depending on location. Not everything in this applies everywhere, though a lot of it applies somewhere.
The overwhelming majority of these are not universally true. Don't hate on Keanu, though.
And when visiting the American South, do not EVER, EVER EVER EVER, mention the Civil War. Some people are still mad and very sensitive about that. It is also wildly inappropriate in restaurants to ask where the segregated section is. And don't say s**t about the rebel flag if you see one. Just keep going and find you some boiled peanuts. Seriously though, there's still a lot of feelings about certain things and stereotypes down there, and with reason. I'll be the first to tell you though, that our southern Folks are among the best, and most hospitable people that you'll ever meet. I worked down south a lot over the years, and it was great.
Who in their SANE MIND would ask where the segregated section is?!?!?!! I can attest with absolute certainty that if this question came up ANYWHERE in our country, your ass better RUN!! You will 100% have major consequences from literally every person within earshot regardless of race or ethnicity.
Load More Replies... I used to have a roommate from Russia and our biggest miscommunication and reason we couldn't understand each other was personal space and inviting yourself into people's homes without invitation. She would bring her laundry to my grandparents house without asking first, expected me to open up personally to her, and was very invasive. I was young and offended easily. Looking back I should've realized the difference in our perspectives but there was such a culture shock between us that our relationship was doomed from the beginning.
1. Americans don't like discourtesy. So don't blast your music driving in small neighborhoods. Or make huge amounts of any noise that bothers people around you. 2. Wear deodorant. I don't care what your personal feelings, religious beliefs, or allergy says otherwise....WEAR DEODORANT. If you have an allergy, find an alternative. Being smelly is never going to be okay. I worked with a guy who refused to wear deodorant as a religious thing and it's like...okay but then you can't work in close environments with other people. That's your choice. 3, don't compare our country to yours in front of us. It's like hating your sibling; you may hate them and pick on them all the time, but if someone else does it you immediately go into protection mode. Other people aren't allowed to be rude to my family- that's my job.
I used to work high end private security. Not mallcops but state license and armed security with some powers. Ideltwith a lot of people from other countries at the hotels the company was contracted with. A lot pretty much refused to believe that security can tell you to keep it down or completely kick you off a property. Got into many "well in my country" arguments
