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.
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.
Taking the bus.
It's mostly a class thing. People who take the bus are usually thought of as being part of the lower class. Too poor to afford a car. A person driving around a car that is made up of 50% duct tape repair is seen as being part of a higher class than someone who relies on the bus to get around.
Yeah, I know that may seem weird to non-Americans. But they don't have the car culture we have here.
I've heard on these BP articles that some places in the USA are not geared towards pedestrians and cyclists? I would not expect to wait more than a maximum of one lights cycle (maybe a minute or so, area depending) to cross as a pedestrian 🤷♀️ I suppose in such a vast country, the infrastructure was built around personal vehicles perhaps more so than alternative transportation?
You have to tip if you go to a dine-in/takeout restaurant. Don't tip at subway or pizza hut or any other national franchise restaurant like that.
Wait, takeout?! As in, you go by yourself and pick up your order which you then proceed to eat at home?
Walking places in the suburbs or smaller cities. It's dangerous, and you'll be seen as suspicious. I've had friends get towed because they parked in front of one store and then walked across the street to another.
In the South, you might get your a** kicked for honking your horn.
It's rare, but it happens. People getting out of their cars, yelling out the window and even waving guns. For some people, it's a constant battle to determine which driver is the true supreme owner of the....*checks notes* publicly funded roads.
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Never heard of this and I’ve heard plenty honking in the south. Maybe in inbred-land, but not the south in general.
You've got to be careful of road-rage. But I guess these days that's true anywhere.
It depends. I grew up on the east coast and we used horns conservatively. I live near Seattle now (west coast) and my boyfriend does not like it when I use the horn for any reason.
Laying on the horn or for honking your horn in a situation that can't be remedied by the gesture such as a long back up of cars will get you very dirty looks. As well will honking your horn 1 nanosecond after the light changes to green. Jeez folks, it does take a second or two to physically move your foot from the brake to the gas and where I live so many people run red lights to proceed immediately when a light turns green can get you killed. This is worse at some intersections than others.
You might get your ass kicked for being an ahole no matter where you are. Why are you honking your horn? Are you being an ahole? These are the questions we must sometimes ask ourselves.
Southerners are some of the most polite and friendly people God ever made. I can't imagine a honking horn angering them. (I'm a northerner)
haha definitely not. since they (we) value politeness so much, people get pissed when you honk. i’ve had a drink thrown out someone’s window at me for honking in the south
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When dining out, the waiter comes to you. It is considered rude to call the waiter over.
I was born in the US and have traveled to almost every state. Let me give a couple based off of the state. California- A completely overrated state that is a total hell hole. It is a total No-Go if you want to keep your sanity and money. Everything is extremely expensive there and the tourist traps are just not worth it at all. Arizona- Don’t p*ss off the drivers, state troopers, and just anyone in general. Everyone tends to just mind their business and it’s hit or miss if they’re polite or not. I suggest just having decent manners and always being friendly with others. Texas: Do not be racist, rude, or belligerent. Texans are very religious and nice. Some idiots say that Texas is extremely racist and everyone there hates those who are different but honestly it’s the complete opposite.
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
