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50 Things Americans Have Said That People In This Online Community Thought Were Weird
Different places in the world have different cultures and general outlooks on life. But we try to learn more about others and try to understand them so we can get along better. It just so happens that in some places, there is more interest about different people and in some places, there’s less of it.
Often the ones that are ridiculed for not knowing what’s happening in other places in the world are Americans. Bored Panda has a couple of articles in which we gathered lists of people poking fun at Americans. In this article you can see people joining a TikTok trend of sharing the dumbest things Americans have ever said to them and in this one you will find an assortment of screenshots of Americans being completely clueless.
But the people from the United States keep on surprising us and the stories of non-Americans meeting peculiar Americans are never-ending. Reddit user u/esq__ asked “Non-Americans of Reddit, what's the weirdest thing an American has said to you?” Nearly 12k people joined the discussion and they were sharing not only weird encounters but quite absurd questions you wouldn’t expect an adult to ask.
More info: Reddit
This post may include affiliate links.
#1
"Why do you brits (I'm not British) call an elevator a lift when it goes both up and down?"
I responded that Americans didn't call an elevator a descendevator when it moves down.
RELATED:
#2
At customs in LAX:
Customs Agent: “Where are you from?”
Me: “Denmark”
CA:“Sir, please don’t lie about your nationality”
Me: “Excuse me?”
CA: “Denmark isn’t a real country, now please tell me your country of origin.”
Me: “Sir, you are literally holding my passport, which is from Denmark, in your hand. How can you sit there and tell me that my country doesn’t exist?!”
CA: “Sir, Denmark is a region of Sweden, and not a recognised independent nation”
The swedes would be fond of this encounter.
Panda Kicki 4 years ago
As a swede I am highly amused. Of course we dont really want those smorrebröd eating lazy bastards, but anyway... 😜 We pay for your postal service, you know (terrible deal made by crazy politicians...)
#3
I once had an american tell me I need to try the “real” Gouda cheese they have in the US because everything else was fake Gouda… I’m Dutch and actually lived near Gouda
#4
Talking about my SIL
“Do you look alike?” “no, she’s black” “You can’t say that!!!” “What should I call her then?” “African American” “But…. She’s British/Guyanese….”
Nikki Sevven 4 years ago
"African American" is insultingly reductionist, if you ask me. It homogenizes the myriad African cultures. If someone called a white American "European American," he'd be likely to deny the homogenization and tell you his ancestry. We need to do better. (Yes, I'm aware that most black Americans don't know their roots, absent a DNA test, because there was certainly more than one slave route. We still need to do better. People should know their ancestral roots. I can't imagine not knowing mine, how lost I'd feel.)
#5
I’m British, was travelling in the states. Got talking to a guy at a bar while we’re waiting for service, and he recommended I try a pint of Guinness while in the US. He informed me they don’t sell Guinness in the UK.
I politely explained that they do indeed have Guinness in just about every pub in the UK. He disagreed, adding that he’s never been himself but his son in law went to London on business and told him so. I explained I’d lived in the UK including London my whole life. He looked at me lost in thought for a few moments, and said: “They don’t have Guinness there,” and walked away.
Thorfin Wolfsbane 4 years ago
it seems an unfortunate trend in America now is to live in an alternate reality where facts are dismissed if you don't agree with them.
#6
I swear on my mothers life that this happened:
I was on a student exchange between my German school and a school in San Francisco in the late 90s.
When the Americans came to visit us, we had a welcome party for them at a friends place. That friend had a dog, and at some point he gave the dog a command in German. The dog obeyed, and one of the American kids asks how we managed to teach German to the dog.
He wasn’t joking either, he seemed convinced that all pets are somehow born with knowledge of the English language, but all other languages need to be taught to them.
H.L.Lewis 4 years ago
Lol, American here. My first dog was abandoned by some people who were from Puerto Rico. He chose me after my neighbor saw him tied up, the house empty. And him on a 2ft chain. Very smart doggo. He ended up bi-lingual. My only problem with him was that he was trained in Spanish. Lol. I just taught him the same commands in English. He caught on quick! Good boy.
#7
When an American asked me what it's like to have an accent. They thought that they had no accent and their voice was 'default' basically
#8
“I don’t need affordable healthcare. I need freedom.”
This is an actual quote.
Anyway, the full cost of my kid’s birth including all scans, midwife, obstetrics appointment, labour, innoculations, heel stick and follow-up antenatal was $180.
Wayne Dorman 4 years ago
There's a reason why there's so many cases of bankruptcy and suicides due to crippling debt caused by medical bills. Healthcare should not be a luxury reserved for the rich.
aj B 4 years ago
But if the poor can afford healthcare then the Evil Red Menace WINS!!!! /s
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JennyLaRue 4 years ago
I don't understand what freedoms some Americans think they have over all the other western countries.
Ozacoter 4 years ago
Apparently the freedom of becoming bankrupt if you need surgery
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Sarah Tate 4 years ago
As an American I honestly will never understand the crippling idiocy that makes a large population of people here think that we don't need universal health care. These are the same people who will start a Go-Fund me page (and ask for thoughts and prayers) when their mother can't afford the life-saving cancer treatment she needs.
Viviane 4 years ago
You're part of a majority in your opinion - a bit over 60%.
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Frances M 4 years ago
Full price for all my kids to be born in hospital with epidural, two-weekly (once every two weeks) full scans and treatments for pregnancy related illnesses? €0 Plus any time off that I needed from work in relation to any doctors appointments was at full pay and not deducted from my sick leave or annual leave. I’m never emigrating from Ireland.
Ivy la Sangrienta 4 years ago
I had a c-section and 5 nights in hospital. 0 moneyz paid.
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Robert T 4 years ago
I'm looking at that and thinking that $180 is expensive. We literally pay nothing.
Bob Belcher 4 years ago
My daughter is 9. She was perfectly healthy but because she didn't eat for the first 4 hours after birth they put her in the NICU. She stayed for 4 days and then they released her. $60,000 bill of which I had to pay 10% of. I swear not only is our system expensive as f**k, they look for reasons to pad the bill and if you protest they make you look like a horrible person and call CPS on you.
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Nicki 4 years ago
Those people are idiots, I (an american) have great insurance because my husband is retired military, but I wish EVERYONE had the same care we have. I don't care if I have to pay a little more in taxes, I hate to hear stories of people who have to use crowd funding sites to raise money because of medical bills, it breaks my heart...
Honu 4 years ago
And we still pay about 2x per capita for our healthcare than other developed nations with national health coverage. It's insane that people see that as freedom. It's graft.
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Hugh Cookson 4 years ago
Funnily, those of us out here in the civilised World have universal healthcare - the cost of my wife's recent cancer scare - nothing. The cost of my recent health check up - nothing. The cost of my ex wife's treatment for Breast Cancer (Double Mastectomy, Chemo, Radiotherapy, therapy for a year and follow up treatment for 3 years ) - nothing. You people in the USA need to wake up and start kicking your politicians in the nuts for NOT allowing you to access free healthcare for everyone, if you don't you are more stupid than I ever thought possible ....
Philly Bob Squires 4 years ago (edited)
Won't happen because... 'murica! Weez not soshe-list! /s (And you can downvote all you want!)
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Aunt Messy 4 years ago
The Republican health care program: We don't need a health care program. I feel fine today.
Id row 4 years ago
This is how ignorant most of our country is. We have socialized police, fire and school systems in place, also *social* services and *social* security, but you mention socialized health care and these idiots tell you to move to Russia if you don't like freedom. The health care industry and insurance companies love these idiots for getting them rich.
Philly Bob Squires 4 years ago
The same ones who wore shirts that said "I'd rather be Russian than a Democrat" are the ones telling YOU to move to Russia! LOL
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BetweenTheCracks 4 years ago
B-b-but affordable healthcare is sOsHuLiSm!!!1!!! The merest hint of that dog-whistle word sends the slapheads who love to moo about "freedom" into a tizzy 11 out of 10 times. 'Murica!
Load More Replies... Miss Frankfurter 4 years ago
🇨🇦 here. When working in the US many patients would ask me about the Healthcare system. One patient commented that he would never want our system because he didn't want his tax dollars going to anyone else's Healthcare. I said " What do you call the County hospital next door? It's your tax dollars at work."
BetweenTheCracks 4 years ago
Somebody should tell that patient about public roads, the fire department, their precious precious police department...........
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IlovemydogShilo 4 years ago
That's $180 more than what you would pay for it in the UK. And guess what? We have freedom here too. For free.
Ryan Deschanel 4 years ago
You don't "need" freedom to survive... But you do need affordable healthcare.
Viviane 4 years ago
That is definitely a problem. I have an excellent therapist, but it's not free. Even with a health plan from work, it can be a luxury.
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Leigh C. 4 years ago
I'd rather pay a few bucks in taxes ( I say a few bucks because I know I pay more but for other services we get, but what comes out of the taxes for healthcare is only part of the fraction.) than be so deep in debt that it would soar in so much interest my kids, and their kids would inherit the debt, as well as theirs. I don't even know how Americans are affording to pay hundreds of thousands just to stay alive.
Frankenfrog 4 years ago
You wouldn't even have to pay more. You pay more in insurance than you would with universal healthcare
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Cthulette R'lyeh 4 years ago
As a currently pregnant woman in the US who had to save for YEARS to not be completely crushed by debt just to start a family.... that last sentence makes me wanna cry.
Alice Teasdale 4 years ago
Australian here. Paid about $1.75 for months of appointments and my daughter's birth. The bill was because I made a phone call from the ward.
Jennifer Doscher 4 years ago
There are sooo many t***s out there making noise and waving our flag. They only speak for themselves. I had the "luck" of being born in the USA and I would LOVE affordable healthcare! Poor health is miserable. Debt is worse. I digress...
Lauren Lee 4 years ago
There’s Americans who sincerely believe that they have the best healthcare system in the world 🤦🏻♀️
LJ Robinson 4 years ago
Had a heart problem, I'm insured. I am so many thousands of dollars of debt that I don't even know where to turn. It's hopeless for someone like me. I truly don't know what to do.
Jenifer Halpern 4 years ago
So, why do you think so many people are becoming expatriates of out "great United States of America!"? In my dreams I'm one of them!
NinjaWolfy94 4 years ago (edited)
I paid almost double that for a dentist check up the other day (in Australia)... Oof.
NinjaWolfy94 4 years ago
As in, the dentist checked my teeth for anything that needed fixing and noted it down for next time. No work was done.
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Caroline Seguin 4 years ago
The full cost of my kid's birth including everything and a c-section was 0$
Sam Ward 4 years ago
No, it wasn't. The full cost was likely in the thousands. It's just that you forced other people to pay your bill for you.
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Vermillion Ace #443 4 years ago
The word "freedom" is more of a meme now than it is an ideal in the US.
Ms LaDonna 4 years ago
These are the people who voted to put a T.V show host in the white house, you really can't expect much from them.
All's Gravy 4 years ago
An NHS birth at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital in London: all the scans, amnio, normal delivery, recovery = £0 at point of use. Same set up/staff at the same hospital, different decor in recovery suite, but private = £12,000. And one still is paying National Insurance contributions! It is a literal fool who would opt for the second. Completely private hospitals would be 3 or 4 times that amout, paying for privacy and security presumably?
Pollymere 1 month ago
The full cost of my kid's birth including scans at least once a month, having pregnancy complications and ending up in the best Baby Hospital in London, being transferred by ambulance to my local hospital, being induced for three days, having a caesarian on a public holiday, staying in hospital another five days... Zero.
Glenn St-Germain 1 year ago
I spent three weeks in the hospital last spring with pneumonia. Total cost to me: zero. (Canadian)
steven mayes 1 year ago
In the UK healthcare is free, paid for by the extortion prices we pay for hospital parking.
Turgut Kalfaoglu 1 year ago
Lovely! Probably an American would have paid $200K and sold his house, and enslaved himself to Big Money for the rest of his life.
Geir Waldeland 2 years ago
I'm Norwegian and had to spend between six and seven months in hospital some years ago, starting with a helicopter flight, after a car accident + about a year and a half with treatment two days a week after I was discharged, and I haven't paid a penny, because it's covered by the government.
Derek Claridge 4 years ago
"Canada has freedom. Japan has freedom. The UK, France , Italy, Germany, Spain, Australia, BELGIUM has freedom! 207 sovereign states in the world and like 180 of them have freedom..."
CharliAnn Olney 4 years ago
I thank the good Lord on a regular basis I have fully paid health care!
k1ddkanuck 4 years ago (edited)
Here in Canada we have both. I know to our cousins to the south it sounds like heresy, but freedom need not come at the cost of survival. And spoiler alert: America is a lot less free than most places with healthcare. Canada included.
Daniel Collins 4 years ago
Taxes pay for your "free healthcare".... and the wait times alone are why each year the amount of Canadians coming to America to pay for procedures is a thing.
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Marilyn Ransberry 4 years ago
Cost in Canada is whatever the spouse paid in parking at the hospital.
Hugo A-niro 4 years ago
Why aren't people looking into the afford able care act ? If you let the repubkicans have their way insurance will leave you with nothing
BlackPearltheSeaWing/NightWing 4 years ago
I actually can't believe America is making us being healthy and living cost so much freaking money. I mean, that's just the worst thing for sick poor people since they definitely can't afford it!
Martha Meyer 4 years ago
This is like saying "I don't need chcocolate ice cream, I need vanilla ice cream." Ever thought of just getting... both?
Roxy Eastland 4 years ago
My births cost me nothing. And I had them at home with minimal interventions. I'm not sure what yoke I'm living under that Americans are free from? It usually comes down to guns.
Dandy Andy 4 years ago
Wow sorry to hear you had to pay $180, that's terrible! If only you were lucky enough to be British then you wouldn't have to pay anything.
Whawhawhatsis 4 years ago
My husband was in the military when my son was born in the Air Force hospital. His birth cost me absolutely nothing. And now my husband qualifies to get all his healthcare from the VA, so his only charge is $8/month for prescriptions. So he had major surgery a couple of years ago for under $50. I pay more than that to see my doctor in his office, and I have good insurance!
BetweenTheCracks 4 years ago
One of the biggest failures in the US was not letting the "freedom lovers" gasp out their final Covid-laden breaths in an open field, instead of a hospital bed that could've been used for someone with living brain cells. Can you imagine how much more collectively intelligent this country would be right now if that had happened?
Stacey Montebello 4 years ago
I spent that much by my 2 and prenatal visit with good health coverage...
Chris Zaydel 4 years ago
$180 ? All those involved had to split $180? lol, Your kids birth cost thousands, but 99% of it was paid for by tax money, Taken by force of law.
TheReader19 4 years ago
This is is of the most stupidest, uneducated statements I've ever heard
TimesNewLogan 4 years ago
I swear, this is primarily in the Southeastern US. We're not all this stupid!
Truth Monster 4 years ago
The funny part is that all Americans if you talk to them and not at them, agree that healthcare in this country is broken. The problem is that many of us do not trust the government to make it better. They never make it better, they just run it into the ground, campaign on fixing it, throw money at it, rinse repeat. Meanwhile the average schmoe dies in red tape waiting.
Daniel Collins 4 years ago
Ya'll act like you don't pay taxes to cover this "free healthcare".... this coming from an American living in Canada. Yea, f**k all these taxes I pay each year in Canada even if I do not go to the hospital or Doctor that entire year. Not to mention the wait times for a simple procedure took over a year. Why do you think more and more people are going to the US to have procedures done?
Derek Clark 4 years ago
You pay insurance. Monthly, and since everyone in my country pays that insurance monthly, (no choice in the matter) it's a lot of money that can go to all the healthcare needed. It's around a 100 euros and no, it doesn't cover everything, then you need additional insurance and that would be around 50 euros more then. On top of that we pay around 380 euros a year if we use the hospital or certain medication. But that does mean no surprise bills, it means no worry about being pregnant or needing a doctor or the hospital. You don't have to worry about being in debt for needing an ambulance and if you need months in the hospital, then that's also not something we have to worry about.
Load More Replies... Frankenfrog 4 years ago
True, but socialised health care is better for everyone in the long run, as you wouldn't riddle people with debt and unemployment because they're too sick to work and thus they would be contributing to those taxes. Either way,, you have an insanely inflated military budget and you already pay more in ignorance than you would to universal health care. If it's as bad as people say it is, how come USA is the only supposed civilised country that doesn't have it?
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Leslie Burleson 4 years ago
This is such bs . Honestly I'm getting so sick of hearing how dumb Americans are. We aren't the only country with stupid people , criminals, racists , or big egos . Your free health care isn't free , you pay for it with higher taxes. It takes months sometimes to see a doctor for you guys , but we can make immediate appointments . All countries are different , all people within those countries are different . America is full of good people who actually look up to people from other countries , and enjoy being around them.
#9
I live in the southern hemisphere. Talking to an American online in December, and I mentioned it was summer for me. She kept asking which month I was in (kept insisting it must be June) and couldn't seem to wrap her head around the idea that it was simultaneously December and summer in the southern hemisphere.
#10
“Wait, y’all have IKEA?”
Im Swedish
Panda Kicki 4 years ago (edited)
Well, we in Sweden generally dont own our personal IKEA place , but there are plenty of them to visit. But in the north you can have a couple if hours ride to get to one.
#11
An Austrian friend and I were told about about this magical thing they have in America called Fireworks and how we should go see it at least once in our lives.
Sharon Heim 4 years ago
The Chinese invented fireworks, like, 2000 years ago! Surely by now one can see them outside the US? LOL
#12
Canadian here. I was 7 and in Florida telling my new also 7 year old friend about our money system. I told her we don't have dollar or two dollar bills they are coins and called a loonie and a toonie. She goes and asks her parents and they told her I was lying.
#13
"Ya'll are part of the USA, you just have a different flag 'sall." Umm... no. I assure you Canada us not part of the US.
#14
I was asked if France is part of the United Kingdom. When I tried explaining him what the United Kingdom is, he told me England is no longer part of the UK because of Brexit.
Wayne Dorman 4 years ago
To be fair, that seems to be about the level of understanding most people who voted to leave the EU had about Brexit too.
#15
"Speak english this is america!" It was online, but yeah. The sheer stupidity struck me hard.
Panda Kicki 4 years ago
The idea that the internet is America somehow seems to spread, have seen that several times.
#16
Met a cool group in Belgrade, they were very surprised they could have beer at 21. That was so sincere, I kinda felt sorry for them in a good way. Decided to be a good host and show them the REAL good time. Took them parties, river clubs, cave clubs, found them drugs (they asked) ...all in all we had a pretty epic week, the kind of young people of 21 can make for themselves in capital city. Somehow the conversation went to God, I mention I don't really believe in that, and they were so f*****g pissed. Literally, instant change. Whole group started explaining me Jesus stuff, angrily, they were disappointed and angry they spent a week with me. I was so f*****g surprised, I mean we drinked, drugged, and did a lot of s**t Bible I presume doesn't approve. Couldn't held a conversation that evening, couldn't change subject, they kept pushing. Aggressively. Went to the bathroom, went home.
#17
"How can Canadians offer free healthcare? Why would any doctors want to work for free? This is slavery!"
Chich 4 years ago
I was in the states a few years back and when people found out I had free healthcare it became a topic of conversation. The attitude that surprised me most was that many of the people who were opposed to it were against it because they did not want to pay to help other people. Others got sick? it was their problem.
#18
Had a black american assume that I was "african-american also" because I'm black. I had to explain to him that the ethnically specified title "african-american" is only used to describe black people from america, not black people from other countries, and that black people from other countries are not specifically labeled by heritage, race or ethnicity. Afterward I revealed to him that I am actually bahamian.
Despite all that explaining, he still proceeded to ask "Oh! so you're an african-bahamian then?" I felt the vein on the side of my head twinge a little lol.
Edit: The term is not "african-bahamian" because I am not inherently attached to african citizenship or heritage. This term would be used for someone who is actually from africa, but is also a bahamian/ vice versa, OR someone who is closely attached to that heritage (say, a bahamian whose parent/s were african.) Over here we would just say that we are Bahamians of african decent, but only if the topic came up.
#19
"How long did you take you learn to use metric instead of normal measurements?"
He genuinely didn't understand that metric was a system we actually used every day, we weren't constantly having to mentally convert meausrements to feet or pounds to understand how big they really were.
#20
'I didn't know it was this cold in Cuba' we are in Spain. Spain, Europe. Stupid f****r came to university here on a scholarship for six months and didn't even know which country was coming into nor thought it was strange how long the flight was, he also didn't think about googling the place to see where it was, the weather... dunno, INFORMATION about the place he was going to live for six months. Only packed flip flops, tshirts and shorts. We're in the North of Spain, we have UK weather. He had to spend quite a bit for winter clothes in October because he had nothing to wear. He was also bummed because he couldn't find tacos here (you can)
#21
As a Brit, I had to bite my tongue when asked 'Do you celebrate Independence Day?'
Wayne Dorman 4 years ago
You mean celebrating the day America officially severed from the England? We don't, but upon reading some of the entries on this list makes me think we should start doing so.
#22
“I love the African-American culture here!”
— said in Cape Town, South Africa
#23
I live in NZ and worked in retail, so there's been a few. Funniest was "You have to serve me!" after they made a racial remark (wasn't too bad, but still f****n rude), threw a tantrum in the store because they didn't look at the prices before they used one of our products, then started trashing the place. When my manager told them no I certainly did not have to serve them (by law) and she was calling the cops for destruction of property the lady made an O face then took off without paying. Cops got her like an hour later. I just wish I was still at work when they brought her in to pay for all the stuff she broke/stole/used.
#24
I’d say it’s a toss up between:
“Is England in London?”
“Do you still like, drive horses to get around in Europe?”
And a guy trying to smack talk on Xbox who after I told him nobody cares said “Who cares what you think?! You’re foreign!” I said “So are you?” And he laughed and said “No r****d, I’m American”
#25
I met an American tourist who was adamant that my country [Iceland] was a home ruled territory under the US government.
He said this during our nations independence day.
He assumed we shared a similar status with Puerto Rico.
He was convinced of the error of his ways after confronting two other natives and a Google search.
Thorfin Wolfsbane 4 years ago
Oooooh, an American that changed their mind after some research. A rare find indeed!
#26
"Are your parents Democrats or Republicans?"
eh, have different political parties here luv
#27
The typical stuff. Do you have cars /trees/dogs/in Germany. Another favourite : Is Hitler still alive?
#28
Asking how much I copay for insurance. I don't even know what copay means.
#29
A middle aged American was surprised to find out Venice was so old (and an actual city for centuries), and not built in the 20th century for tourist purposes
Sarah James 4 years ago
Probably thought it was built by the same people that created the Vegas attraction !
#30
Englishman, living in the US for 15 years now. I’ve been asked a lot of bizarre things but one of the best was someone who asked what language we speak in England, and how long it took me to learn English when I moved here.
JennyLaRue 4 years ago
I just don't understand how they don't recognise the connection between "England" and "English"
#31
Poking fun at me with France stereotypes. I'm not from France, my parents are not from France, and I've never been to France. My first language is French, that's enough for Americans to treat me like I'm from France.
Karin Jansen 4 years ago
Ha! I once travelled with a friend from Belgium to NY. She was flemish and therefore spoke Dutch. She spoke some French, sure, as Belgium is a bi-lingual country and she was taught in school, but she wasn't really good at it to be honest. The receptionist at the hotel we stayed insisted on speaking French to her the entire time and after she explained she'd rather speak English as it was better than her French, he genuinely accused her of lying as "Belgium is a part of France, so French is your first language."
#32
"Ah, you're from Denmark. Where in Canada is that again?"
#33
you can't be from country that doesn't speak English, you are white!!
#34
"I can't believe you would live in a country where you're living under the dictatorship of the queen."
I am Canadian.
JennyLaRue 4 years ago
Dictatorship? The only power she has is luring tourists in to pay to tour her castles 🤣
#35
"You speak real good English for a foreigner" - I'm British and she knew that.
Edit, because a lot of people seem to think that no American could ever say this and mean it: it was a lovely, sweet, older woman who thought she was paying me a genuine compliment. We sat and chatted in her garden for about an hour as she plied me with her homemade lemonade and asked me about my life and what brought me to Washington State. I thanked her, because she was saying something lovely (albeit weird), and we continued chatting.
Robert T 4 years ago
My colleague was marked down on a feedback form after giving a presentation in the US. It said "Broken English, non-American". He's British, and as far as I am aware the only language he speaks is English. He was however slightly nervous. Considering how varied American accents are, I was surprised at the lack of tollerance.
#36
Had a taxi driver in New York ask how we got there (from Ireland). When we said by plane, he was like „you have airports?!“.
Also thought we were still getting round on horses.
#37
I’m Australian and in 2015 I was doing a cruise around New Zealand with my family. Might add that I have an Autistic daughter who was 14 at the time and despite being Autistic is incredibly sociable, but has a tendency to strike up unusual conversations with strangers. We needed to get to one of the restaurants a few floors above us and decided to use the lift instead of the stairs. The lift arrived on our floor and we entered with an elderly couple already inside. My wife and I greeted them and they duly greeted us back and we soon ascertained they were American. Seconds later, my Autistic daughter stated the obvious that we were all travelling in a “lift”. A random throw-away comment, but that’s just who she is. The female literally barked at my daughter and told her the correct word was in fact an “elevator”. At this point I interjected and politely mentioned that where we are from it’s called a “lift”, but this couple were adamant that it was an “elevator”. Their attitude was we were wrong and they were right. Fortunately we never did get to see them the remainder of the cruise. We share a common language being English and there are going to be differences how we say things depending where we’ve been brought up - it’s about being open minded and accepting. Unfortunately it appeared that the world revolved around this couple.
jleitner 4 years ago
Truthfully, their attitude is ignorant and offensive to me as an American. Regional differences in language are everywhere, including within the USA. In NY, the little sugary pellets you put on ice cream are called "sprinkles", but not far away at all in most of the New England states they're called "jimmies".. A hoagie and a wedge and a sub are all basically the same kind of sandwich, but it can differ within 50 miles depending if you're from northern New Jersey or southern New Jersey, etc. Anyone insisting that "the correct word in English is..." is not a very good observer of English, and people in general.
#38
“Wow you speak American very well for a foreigner”
Thanks lady, I’m Canadian and “American” is the only language I know
Thorfin Wolfsbane 4 years ago
You could really blow her mind by telling her that Canada, Mexico, etc. are all in America since America is actually two continents constituting an entire hemisphere
#40
I once spoke to an American that was surprised that black Australian individuals had an Australian accent. It's so weird but you can also see it coming somehow in how they often think about race: the same thing that one was surprised that black Dutch individuals of course had Dutch names.
#41
A friend was dating an American, and a bunch of us went out for a pub meal (UK). Now, there's a stereotype that Americans can be a little loud. And, unfortunately, this was the case with this girl. Literally everyone in the pub was giving her side-eye, but noone says anything because that would be rude. My friend very subtly tries to make her aware of the noise level, and she talk-yells, "oh no, honey. I'm not loud. All y'all are just too quiet! Such a quaint little country, y'all need to use your outdoor voices!" We were quite clearly inside...
Memere 4 years ago
There could be two other reasons for her being so loud: 1) she has hearing loss & doesn't realize how loud she's talking, or 2) most American bars/nightclubs play music so loud that it's impossible to have a conversation without shouting. But neither of those are obviously not her problem since she said what she did about it.
#42
"Europe is communist"
#44
One American guy I met instantly told me where he lives, why he left America, why he married his foreign wife, when he shot his first gun and how his father made him do it (7 years old IIRC), and why he thought that was a good thing and built character, and a bunch of other stuff I can't remember. I genuinely couldn't get a word in edgeways to get away. My wife had to come pull me away saying we needed to leave. This was in a supermarket in southeast Asia. He just came over and said "Are you American". I said no. He launched into his life story and wouldn't stop. Wife said I'm way too polite but how do you deal with that, just walk away while he's still talking?
meta dillard 4 years ago
USA is like everyplace else. We have educated people and uneducated people, smart people and not-so-smart people.
#47
I lived for a while in an old house in Somerset. It was once owned by Rev Thomas Budd who travelled to America on The Mayflower. Had quite a few Americans turn up on the doorstep (there's a blue plaque) expecting me to drop everything and provide a house tour and have expert knowledge of Thomas Budd.
#48
My wife was staying at a hostel in Athens a few years ago. She shared a room with an American in her 20s. They got talking about where they’ve stayed in the past, and my wife told her that she used to live in Sweden for a few years. The American didn’t know where or what Sweden was. My wife said “It’s a country, next to Norway”. “Oh Norway!”, the American burst out, “Ole is from there! Do you know Ole?!”
Panda Kicki 4 years ago
Well, we can just inform LAX staff that Norway is now a region in Sweden, ask Ole for more info, all the 10 million swedes know him 😝 ( actually if she meant movie star Olr, Ole Bramserud, he is known by a lot of us as he is in an old, very popular, series of films, Sällskapsresan)
#49
Canadian here, worked for AT&T. Where I worked in Windsor, I could SEE America. The number of questions about snow and igloos whenever anyone found out was too high. I swear I spent 15 mins trying to convince a woman FROM Detriot that the criss crossing lights in the sky came from Ceasars Windsor and that there is no snow here right now, it's July
#50
“Spaghetti with eggs kinda weird”. “That’s a Carbonara”!!!
What do you think ?
Nikki Sevven 4 years ago
If you think the US has the monopoly on native stupidity, I suggest you travel more. Stupidity and willful ignorance are worldwide.
ThePracticalSarcastic 4 years ago
Stupidity and stereotypes are everywhere. I lived abroad for 10 years and met people who asked me the many of the same questions listed here about America... "You can't be Native American...you're white"
A.Armos 4 years ago
This is hilarious. Explain that to a 'Native American'.
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Logic and Reason 4 years ago
You know, posting articles that are socially conscious and then posting something xenophobic like this makes all your credibility go straight down the tubes. Rightfully standing up against most forms of bigotry but harboring and trying to spread your own biases is insanely hypocritical.
ivan bolitekurac 4 years ago
I can't belive you got so many upvotes for calling bp xenophobic and hypocritical while bp is supposed to stand for the opposite.Thank you for your comment,have an upvote
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John Baker 4 years ago
It just wouldn't be BP without the daily dose of USA bashing. Downvote for the post.
Lauren Caswell 4 years ago
Actually it's been a while since there's been one, not really daily is it
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• Lemønchu • 4 years ago (edited)
Jeez, I know everyone thinks we're stupid, but that's not all of us! And it's now just America either, stupidity is worldwide. I'm so frustrated with these dumb stereotypes. And why is it always "Non-Americans list reasons why America sucks" I wouldn't mind turning the tables and listing why other places suck. Or even better! Not doing this at all!
Carolyn Gerbrands 4 years ago
I agree with those here stating that it is "US bashing". I have met many americans and they were all nice and fun loving. I do think that the US is such a big country that you don't need to go abroad for a holiday (and if you can afford it). So you tend to be ignorant of the world around you. Heard many silly things but understand.
Martha Meyer 4 years ago
I agree that you can find dumb/ignorant people everywhere, but I've definitely heard more such stories about Americans than others.
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Leo Domitrix 4 years ago
If ever there's a case against homeschooling (or Texas textbooks).... this post is it.
Octavia Hansen 4 years ago
Works both ways . . . I'm from Texas and one of my Brit friends asked: "You live so close to Mexico, do you speak Spanish?" In London, she lived closer to Africa than I did from Dallas to Mexico. The other was when I mentioned I was from Texas and someone would ask, "Do you know --some person--?" Oh, yea, right, I'll know this one person out of 29 million!
Becklass 4 years ago
My son (we are English) went travelling round Germany. While on a train he went to help out a confused American tourist. He speaks a little bit of German so talked to the train guard on behalf of him. After this he got chatting with the friendly American and his family for an hour or two. At the end of the conversation the guy said he was massively impressed how good my sons English was, my son had already told him he was on holiday from England. The American still didn’t seem to grasp that English people’s native language is English.
Martha Meyer 4 years ago
I'm German and when I was a kid we had a new boy in class who was from Austria. A friend of mine asked me in amazement how this boy had learned German so fast, thinking that Austrians spoke "Austrian", not German... We were like 13 at the time.
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ToGo 4 years ago
I'm Scottish and this even makes me uncomfortable. You're writing about idiotic Americans, there will be idiotic non-Americans reading this and assuming all Americans are this ignorant. I get that some of these are entertaining but if you're writing an article about this it shouldn't single out one country. There are ignorant and/or uneducated people EVERYWHERE. It's just the wrong way to go, in my humble opinion.
Anita Pickle 4 years ago
Just another BP american bashing. When BP, or any other site, generalize an entire populous it really makes you see where the true ignorance lies.
Rannveig Ess 4 years ago
How did this go from "weirdest things Americans said" on Reddit to "Members Of This Online Group Share 50 Things Americans Have Said That Made Them Question Their Intelligence" on BP? Oh wait, I know....
blugeagua 4 years ago
Oh look another article of many people wanting to paint all us Americans with the same brush, even though there are over 300 plus million of us. 🙄
ivan bolitekurac 4 years ago
I find it sad how bp stands for diversity and tries to fight for equality but on the other side they bash men and christians and they are xenophobic towards americans.That is hypocrisy of the worst kind
JennyLaRue 4 years ago
When I was travelling in South East Asia in the days before smartphones an American guy at the table next to us asked us if we were travelling with our parents. After he eventually over the fact a group of people in their mid 20's were all travelling independently he said "but how do you find your way around?". I had to say "do you mean the world, or around towns?". Had to then explain that maps and guide books exist.
Leslie Burleson 4 years ago
Honestly that's just rude . The more I read in this article the more I see parallels with rudeness and lack of knowledge that is the same no matter what country you're from. We genuinely don't sit around talking about how shitty other nations are. We genuinely enjoy meeting people from other countries . Most people with an accent are considered intelligent , especially if it's a British accent. Your countries have ugly people just like ours. You guys do some things great , and some things not so great... just like my country. I'm getting really tired of Bored Panda posting these let's make fun of Americans post. By size alone I think Americans make up a large part of your audience . It would kind of suck for you if we decided to black list you for repeated hate and ignorance ... which is what you're accusing us of . Seriously... I know my business isn't a speck on your radar , but if I see one more of these posts focusing on hate and untruth , I'm out . Y'all are being huge hypocrites
Hexenfox 4 years ago
Can you please find another group of people to talk crap about????? Seriously.
Aliquid A 4 years ago
USA is the most influential country in the world (although China is quickly catching up). Most people are far more interested in knocking someone off a pedestal than kicking someone that is minding their own business, or already down.
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lara 4 years ago
Oh, yes, all Americans are stupid. You non-Americans are all so lucky to live in countries with perfect educations, governments, free everything, and all of you speak at least ten languages and are totally and completely knowledgeable about American History. We are all so honored to be allowed to live on the same planet with you paragons of virtue.
Rens 4 years ago
When I was applying for my Dutch citizenship, I was sitting at a table with two African ladies; one was from Burkina Faso, the other from Nigeria. When asked where I was from, I said South Africa. They both looked at me, then at eachother, and said "but you're white!" I looked down at my arms, and said "Really? I never noticed that before! " Yes there really are white people in South Africa.
Kathy Weaver 4 years ago
"You're from America? Do you know - Adam Smith, Joe Blow, Whoever" Like US is the size of England and we all know each other." "We're going to take a week and travel across America." Like it's the size of Ireland. Call us rude? Ever been to France? And would you all be where you are today if the Americans hadn't come to fight in WWII?
Aliquid A 4 years ago
(1) Americans do that too, "you're from Africa, do you know ___" (2) There are numerous stories of Americans wanting to "take a week to travel across Canada"... not comprehending that Canada is BIGGER than America. (3) Nobody called American's rude, just ignorant and arrogant. It is well known that other countries have a monopoly on being rude (4) "would you all be where you are today"... so you are assuming that every anti-American post are from countries threatened by WWII? I looked, and less than half of the posts were from people living in places that were threatened by the Nazis... besides, I know this is hard for an American to believe, but the Allied Forces would still have won WWII if the Americans didn't get involved. It would have taken a lot longer and a lot more people would have died, but historians agree that the Nazis would likely still have lost.
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Lynne Pierce 4 years ago
Now how about a nice article about the stupid things people from other countries say, especially about the US. I've traveled and it's unbelievable what comes out of people's mouths. It gets pretty boring when all you want to do is take shots at the US.
GenericPanda09 4 years ago
I was living in the states when attached to their military from the UK one and the 1st time I went into a bar (obviously around 30yrs old too) and at the door the guy asked me for my ID and I handed him my passport. Him: This isn't valid ID. Me: Well it worked for getting into the country dude Him: Well it doesn't have your height on it Me: Why would you need my height on it, it has my photo and I'm stood right in front of you if you wanna see how tall I am. Him: I need a driving licence Me: OK, but that doesn't have my photo on it either ( in the days before the UK went with photo driving licences). Him: But at least it's a driving licence. It was literally a bit of torn paper - far inferior the f**king passport ID.
Mimi M 4 years ago
You want an (unfortunately true) stereotype? Travel in the Middle-East and you can find Mein Kampf and The Protocols of the Elders of Zion (an antisemitic forgery) for sale in almost every corner bookshop and street bookseller. And they are for sale because they are popular. So quit the constant America bashing, BP, it's tiresome.
H.L.Lewis 4 years ago
I really hate it when posts seem to trash the US. But honestly, we deserve it a Lot of the time. I'm willing to bet that the most ignorant people in these posts never pick up a book, let alone read one. And spend all their time off watching the trash american tv shows, or just sports. Mostly American football. Our education system is truly lacking.
Terry Tobias 4 years ago
When I started reading the posts on BP, I was impressed by the tolerance and humor of fellow pandas. However, this topic actually depressed and angered me!!! I had no idea that people from all over the world had such a poor opinion of my country and were so intolerant of us! I know that the last four years show us in a very poor light, but most of us aren't represented by the portrayals listed here. We have respect for other cultures and and love learning about their people. I understand the world is looking at us right now and shaking it's collective head. Believe me...I am too. I'm afraid for our future but I have to believe that we still have a chance and will someday earn the world's respect again. As for stereotypes, for a long time television in other countries had portrayed Americans as all being cowboys or from Texas, (I think that was the fault of 'Dallas'), so we're not the only country to do this. Anyway, please don't paint us with the same brush!!!
Ramona Rhein 4 years ago
In our defense, we’re not all bad, but the willfully ignorant ones get all the press.
Jo Firth 4 years ago
Australian here - friend's sister though all immigrants in every country were 'new Australians'. No matter how we tried to explain it, she couldn't grasp why someone from Africa who moved to New Zealand and never came to our country, would NOT be a new Australian. Stupidity is everywhere, not just the US.
Zedrapazia 4 years ago
Once had an American friend visit me I'm Switzerland. The guy was very upset that the city of Zürich wasn't build on top of a mountain with cows, goats and people in traditional clothes. He was also very surprised we had McDonald's here, apparently he thought that's an American only business.
Miss Cris 4 years ago (edited)
A USA coworker went one day to the beach in Spain and was terribly upset because it wasn't full of turtles and coconut palm trees.
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Martin Kaup 1 month ago
OK, so there is stupidity everywhere but the concentration to the US is off any scale.....
Bill Mcilwain 1 month ago
I firmly believe that on average Americans are the most stupid race on the face of the planet
Learner Panda 1 month ago
I would love the spend time with some of these people who are not only ignorant and poorly educated, but also refuse to be corrected.
Terri Williams 4 years ago
I'm an American and live in a small town. It's frustrating that so many people here don't want to learn anything different from what they were taught by their parents or in school. I'm 65 and not a really smart person. However, if I have misinformation, I want to know the actual facts and not continue to live in stupidity. When we moved here we were warned that if we go for a nice drive and start to hear "banjo music", turn the car around and get out of there as fast as you can. We don't go for leisurely drives outside of town.
Luna Lovebug 4 years ago
We have relatives living in Australia. The now grandma and her family moved there when they were kids. Had families of their own and had grandchildren. The grandchildren are my age (early thirties) and when they came to visit us in the Netherlands a few years ago they asked me how where I leaned English. Because how could a Dutch citizen even understand and speak English. Told them we learned it in school, just like we learn German and French in school. Was told to be a liar. These no way one person could speak more than two languages. Apparently according to their resources a brain only has enough storage for two languages to stick...
Elodie Bourry 4 years ago
Oooh! I have a good one!!! On a bus tour in Ireland, there was this loud fat Texan couple behing my parents and I. The tour guide somehow ends up mentioning that Irish cops don't have guns. BIG GASP from all the American in the bus... And the shocked Texans "insecurity must be so high!!!" "There must be soooo many casualties in your law force, you still find people to do the job?" "How did you end up there" and so on and so forth... Innocence is not always blessed :/
Bernadett Gazdag-Horony 4 years ago
It was in 2001 when I was asked in Italy if we really had coffee, hair-drier and stuff. They were very shocked to learn we had everything they had. I'm Hungarian and Hungary is basically in central-Europe, quite close to Italy, I mean I didn't come from some untouched Island! Also, they didn't want to accept the fact that Hungarian is NOT a Slavic language and kept calling me Svetlana 🙄 It was so annoying.... . Well, of course, it was just a bunch of youngsters, not all Italians, but still...
Markus Holstein 4 years ago
"Why did the Nazis call themselves >>Nazis<< when the term has such negative connotations?"
Anthony Picco 4 years ago
No one said citizens of other countries are all smart... the list is titled "Weirdest Things Americans Said"
Caroline Pe 4 years ago
Is not just USA, every country has people like that. I live in UK but originally I'm from Poland and questions like:do you have TV, do you have polar bears (someone in UK though that POLAND is from POLar bear...) Sometimes people thinks Poland is Russia what really upset me 😑so typical ignorant people, they are everywhere.
Patti Vance 4 years ago
after reading these it is not hard to imagine why some people can swallow any 'alternative fact' and swear they are correct and everyone else is wrong. also, makes sense as to why other nations sometimes refer to us as 'ugly americans'.
Leo Domitrix 4 years ago
We inherited our superiority complex from "the Mother Country": England.
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Dick Mitchell 4 years ago
Had a friend ask if hospitals closed on Sundays. Two Americans, in The U.S.
Random person 4 years ago
Thpugh it isn't only the USA, like this morning a younger friend thought you had to be 21 to drink alchohol here, in Ireland xD
Amber Cook 4 years ago
Now, I do see 'Idiocracy' (a funny movie, if you haven't seen it, please do) happening all around me. But not everyone in the US is that 'special' there are a few of us out here that aren't inherently 'special'.
Random Anon 4 years ago
To be fair, I really do not think Americans are as obtuse as sometimes portrayed. It's just that those that are, are really proud and adamant about their foolishness.
Leo Domitrix 4 years ago
It's rather ironic you say that, since people from other nations judge Americans by their own standards. It's a human failing to do that.
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Commander Rex 4 years ago
When it’s only America? Sure I’m pissed about it, I’d be pissed if it were only Ireland, or Sweden, Russia, the list goes on, can we get some mixed hate here? Hate everybody equally maybe, not just Americans?
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ivan bolitekurac 4 years ago
Because this stuff gets posted at least once a week and it is always the americans.It just gets xenophobic if you try to trash on a whole nation over and over again.I am not even an american and this things just sad.Having a laugh (even at americans) is one thing but after some time it turns from comedy to hate
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Ozacoter 4 years ago
You mean when they joined the war extremely late and only aftrr they got threatened? Because usa didnt join ww2 out of charity...
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Leo Domitrix 4 years ago
And she's back! You sure hate the US a lot. Oh, and instead of insulting and cussing, you could try explaining and educating? For example, I know about Latin American dirty wars, the slavery, the genocides against the indigenous peoples, and I was educated in the US. Yet you class me with "they". thanks, but no.
Load More Replies... Nikki Sevven 4 years ago
If you think the US has the monopoly on native stupidity, I suggest you travel more. Stupidity and willful ignorance are worldwide.
ThePracticalSarcastic 4 years ago
Stupidity and stereotypes are everywhere. I lived abroad for 10 years and met people who asked me the many of the same questions listed here about America... "You can't be Native American...you're white"
A.Armos 4 years ago
This is hilarious. Explain that to a 'Native American'.
Load More Replies... Logic and Reason 4 years ago
You know, posting articles that are socially conscious and then posting something xenophobic like this makes all your credibility go straight down the tubes. Rightfully standing up against most forms of bigotry but harboring and trying to spread your own biases is insanely hypocritical.
ivan bolitekurac 4 years ago
I can't belive you got so many upvotes for calling bp xenophobic and hypocritical while bp is supposed to stand for the opposite.Thank you for your comment,have an upvote
Load More Replies... John Baker 4 years ago
It just wouldn't be BP without the daily dose of USA bashing. Downvote for the post.
Lauren Caswell 4 years ago
Actually it's been a while since there's been one, not really daily is it
Load More Replies... • Lemønchu • 4 years ago (edited)
Jeez, I know everyone thinks we're stupid, but that's not all of us! And it's now just America either, stupidity is worldwide. I'm so frustrated with these dumb stereotypes. And why is it always "Non-Americans list reasons why America sucks" I wouldn't mind turning the tables and listing why other places suck. Or even better! Not doing this at all!
Carolyn Gerbrands 4 years ago
I agree with those here stating that it is "US bashing". I have met many americans and they were all nice and fun loving. I do think that the US is such a big country that you don't need to go abroad for a holiday (and if you can afford it). So you tend to be ignorant of the world around you. Heard many silly things but understand.
Martha Meyer 4 years ago
I agree that you can find dumb/ignorant people everywhere, but I've definitely heard more such stories about Americans than others.
Load More Replies... Leo Domitrix 4 years ago
If ever there's a case against homeschooling (or Texas textbooks).... this post is it.
Octavia Hansen 4 years ago
Works both ways . . . I'm from Texas and one of my Brit friends asked: "You live so close to Mexico, do you speak Spanish?" In London, she lived closer to Africa than I did from Dallas to Mexico. The other was when I mentioned I was from Texas and someone would ask, "Do you know --some person--?" Oh, yea, right, I'll know this one person out of 29 million!
Becklass 4 years ago
My son (we are English) went travelling round Germany. While on a train he went to help out a confused American tourist. He speaks a little bit of German so talked to the train guard on behalf of him. After this he got chatting with the friendly American and his family for an hour or two. At the end of the conversation the guy said he was massively impressed how good my sons English was, my son had already told him he was on holiday from England. The American still didn’t seem to grasp that English people’s native language is English.
Martha Meyer 4 years ago
I'm German and when I was a kid we had a new boy in class who was from Austria. A friend of mine asked me in amazement how this boy had learned German so fast, thinking that Austrians spoke "Austrian", not German... We were like 13 at the time.
Load More Replies... ToGo 4 years ago
I'm Scottish and this even makes me uncomfortable. You're writing about idiotic Americans, there will be idiotic non-Americans reading this and assuming all Americans are this ignorant. I get that some of these are entertaining but if you're writing an article about this it shouldn't single out one country. There are ignorant and/or uneducated people EVERYWHERE. It's just the wrong way to go, in my humble opinion.
Anita Pickle 4 years ago
Just another BP american bashing. When BP, or any other site, generalize an entire populous it really makes you see where the true ignorance lies.
Rannveig Ess 4 years ago
How did this go from "weirdest things Americans said" on Reddit to "Members Of This Online Group Share 50 Things Americans Have Said That Made Them Question Their Intelligence" on BP? Oh wait, I know....
blugeagua 4 years ago
Oh look another article of many people wanting to paint all us Americans with the same brush, even though there are over 300 plus million of us. 🙄
ivan bolitekurac 4 years ago
I find it sad how bp stands for diversity and tries to fight for equality but on the other side they bash men and christians and they are xenophobic towards americans.That is hypocrisy of the worst kind
JennyLaRue 4 years ago
When I was travelling in South East Asia in the days before smartphones an American guy at the table next to us asked us if we were travelling with our parents. After he eventually over the fact a group of people in their mid 20's were all travelling independently he said "but how do you find your way around?". I had to say "do you mean the world, or around towns?". Had to then explain that maps and guide books exist.
Leslie Burleson 4 years ago
Honestly that's just rude . The more I read in this article the more I see parallels with rudeness and lack of knowledge that is the same no matter what country you're from. We genuinely don't sit around talking about how shitty other nations are. We genuinely enjoy meeting people from other countries . Most people with an accent are considered intelligent , especially if it's a British accent. Your countries have ugly people just like ours. You guys do some things great , and some things not so great... just like my country. I'm getting really tired of Bored Panda posting these let's make fun of Americans post. By size alone I think Americans make up a large part of your audience . It would kind of suck for you if we decided to black list you for repeated hate and ignorance ... which is what you're accusing us of . Seriously... I know my business isn't a speck on your radar , but if I see one more of these posts focusing on hate and untruth , I'm out . Y'all are being huge hypocrites
Hexenfox 4 years ago
Can you please find another group of people to talk crap about????? Seriously.
Aliquid A 4 years ago
USA is the most influential country in the world (although China is quickly catching up). Most people are far more interested in knocking someone off a pedestal than kicking someone that is minding their own business, or already down.
Load More Replies... lara 4 years ago
Oh, yes, all Americans are stupid. You non-Americans are all so lucky to live in countries with perfect educations, governments, free everything, and all of you speak at least ten languages and are totally and completely knowledgeable about American History. We are all so honored to be allowed to live on the same planet with you paragons of virtue.
Rens 4 years ago
When I was applying for my Dutch citizenship, I was sitting at a table with two African ladies; one was from Burkina Faso, the other from Nigeria. When asked where I was from, I said South Africa. They both looked at me, then at eachother, and said "but you're white!" I looked down at my arms, and said "Really? I never noticed that before! " Yes there really are white people in South Africa.
Kathy Weaver 4 years ago
"You're from America? Do you know - Adam Smith, Joe Blow, Whoever" Like US is the size of England and we all know each other." "We're going to take a week and travel across America." Like it's the size of Ireland. Call us rude? Ever been to France? And would you all be where you are today if the Americans hadn't come to fight in WWII?
Aliquid A 4 years ago
(1) Americans do that too, "you're from Africa, do you know ___" (2) There are numerous stories of Americans wanting to "take a week to travel across Canada"... not comprehending that Canada is BIGGER than America. (3) Nobody called American's rude, just ignorant and arrogant. It is well known that other countries have a monopoly on being rude (4) "would you all be where you are today"... so you are assuming that every anti-American post are from countries threatened by WWII? I looked, and less than half of the posts were from people living in places that were threatened by the Nazis... besides, I know this is hard for an American to believe, but the Allied Forces would still have won WWII if the Americans didn't get involved. It would have taken a lot longer and a lot more people would have died, but historians agree that the Nazis would likely still have lost.
Load More Replies... Lynne Pierce 4 years ago
Now how about a nice article about the stupid things people from other countries say, especially about the US. I've traveled and it's unbelievable what comes out of people's mouths. It gets pretty boring when all you want to do is take shots at the US.
GenericPanda09 4 years ago
I was living in the states when attached to their military from the UK one and the 1st time I went into a bar (obviously around 30yrs old too) and at the door the guy asked me for my ID and I handed him my passport. Him: This isn't valid ID. Me: Well it worked for getting into the country dude Him: Well it doesn't have your height on it Me: Why would you need my height on it, it has my photo and I'm stood right in front of you if you wanna see how tall I am. Him: I need a driving licence Me: OK, but that doesn't have my photo on it either ( in the days before the UK went with photo driving licences). Him: But at least it's a driving licence. It was literally a bit of torn paper - far inferior the f**king passport ID.
Mimi M 4 years ago
You want an (unfortunately true) stereotype? Travel in the Middle-East and you can find Mein Kampf and The Protocols of the Elders of Zion (an antisemitic forgery) for sale in almost every corner bookshop and street bookseller. And they are for sale because they are popular. So quit the constant America bashing, BP, it's tiresome.
H.L.Lewis 4 years ago
I really hate it when posts seem to trash the US. But honestly, we deserve it a Lot of the time. I'm willing to bet that the most ignorant people in these posts never pick up a book, let alone read one. And spend all their time off watching the trash american tv shows, or just sports. Mostly American football. Our education system is truly lacking.
Terry Tobias 4 years ago
When I started reading the posts on BP, I was impressed by the tolerance and humor of fellow pandas. However, this topic actually depressed and angered me!!! I had no idea that people from all over the world had such a poor opinion of my country and were so intolerant of us! I know that the last four years show us in a very poor light, but most of us aren't represented by the portrayals listed here. We have respect for other cultures and and love learning about their people. I understand the world is looking at us right now and shaking it's collective head. Believe me...I am too. I'm afraid for our future but I have to believe that we still have a chance and will someday earn the world's respect again. As for stereotypes, for a long time television in other countries had portrayed Americans as all being cowboys or from Texas, (I think that was the fault of 'Dallas'), so we're not the only country to do this. Anyway, please don't paint us with the same brush!!!
Ramona Rhein 4 years ago
In our defense, we’re not all bad, but the willfully ignorant ones get all the press.
Jo Firth 4 years ago
Australian here - friend's sister though all immigrants in every country were 'new Australians'. No matter how we tried to explain it, she couldn't grasp why someone from Africa who moved to New Zealand and never came to our country, would NOT be a new Australian. Stupidity is everywhere, not just the US.
Zedrapazia 4 years ago
Once had an American friend visit me I'm Switzerland. The guy was very upset that the city of Zürich wasn't build on top of a mountain with cows, goats and people in traditional clothes. He was also very surprised we had McDonald's here, apparently he thought that's an American only business.
Miss Cris 4 years ago (edited)
A USA coworker went one day to the beach in Spain and was terribly upset because it wasn't full of turtles and coconut palm trees.
Load More Replies... Martin Kaup 1 month ago
OK, so there is stupidity everywhere but the concentration to the US is off any scale.....
Bill Mcilwain 1 month ago
I firmly believe that on average Americans are the most stupid race on the face of the planet
Learner Panda 1 month ago
I would love the spend time with some of these people who are not only ignorant and poorly educated, but also refuse to be corrected.
Terri Williams 4 years ago
I'm an American and live in a small town. It's frustrating that so many people here don't want to learn anything different from what they were taught by their parents or in school. I'm 65 and not a really smart person. However, if I have misinformation, I want to know the actual facts and not continue to live in stupidity. When we moved here we were warned that if we go for a nice drive and start to hear "banjo music", turn the car around and get out of there as fast as you can. We don't go for leisurely drives outside of town.
Luna Lovebug 4 years ago
We have relatives living in Australia. The now grandma and her family moved there when they were kids. Had families of their own and had grandchildren. The grandchildren are my age (early thirties) and when they came to visit us in the Netherlands a few years ago they asked me how where I leaned English. Because how could a Dutch citizen even understand and speak English. Told them we learned it in school, just like we learn German and French in school. Was told to be a liar. These no way one person could speak more than two languages. Apparently according to their resources a brain only has enough storage for two languages to stick...
Elodie Bourry 4 years ago
Oooh! I have a good one!!! On a bus tour in Ireland, there was this loud fat Texan couple behing my parents and I. The tour guide somehow ends up mentioning that Irish cops don't have guns. BIG GASP from all the American in the bus... And the shocked Texans "insecurity must be so high!!!" "There must be soooo many casualties in your law force, you still find people to do the job?" "How did you end up there" and so on and so forth... Innocence is not always blessed :/
Bernadett Gazdag-Horony 4 years ago
It was in 2001 when I was asked in Italy if we really had coffee, hair-drier and stuff. They were very shocked to learn we had everything they had. I'm Hungarian and Hungary is basically in central-Europe, quite close to Italy, I mean I didn't come from some untouched Island! Also, they didn't want to accept the fact that Hungarian is NOT a Slavic language and kept calling me Svetlana 🙄 It was so annoying.... . Well, of course, it was just a bunch of youngsters, not all Italians, but still...
Markus Holstein 4 years ago
"Why did the Nazis call themselves >>Nazis<< when the term has such negative connotations?"
Anthony Picco 4 years ago
No one said citizens of other countries are all smart... the list is titled "Weirdest Things Americans Said"
Caroline Pe 4 years ago
Is not just USA, every country has people like that. I live in UK but originally I'm from Poland and questions like:do you have TV, do you have polar bears (someone in UK though that POLAND is from POLar bear...) Sometimes people thinks Poland is Russia what really upset me 😑so typical ignorant people, they are everywhere.
Patti Vance 4 years ago
after reading these it is not hard to imagine why some people can swallow any 'alternative fact' and swear they are correct and everyone else is wrong. also, makes sense as to why other nations sometimes refer to us as 'ugly americans'.
Leo Domitrix 4 years ago
We inherited our superiority complex from "the Mother Country": England.
Load More Replies... Dick Mitchell 4 years ago
Had a friend ask if hospitals closed on Sundays. Two Americans, in The U.S.
Random person 4 years ago
Thpugh it isn't only the USA, like this morning a younger friend thought you had to be 21 to drink alchohol here, in Ireland xD
Amber Cook 4 years ago
Now, I do see 'Idiocracy' (a funny movie, if you haven't seen it, please do) happening all around me. But not everyone in the US is that 'special' there are a few of us out here that aren't inherently 'special'.
Random Anon 4 years ago
To be fair, I really do not think Americans are as obtuse as sometimes portrayed. It's just that those that are, are really proud and adamant about their foolishness.
Leo Domitrix 4 years ago
It's rather ironic you say that, since people from other nations judge Americans by their own standards. It's a human failing to do that.
Load More Replies... Commander Rex 4 years ago
When it’s only America? Sure I’m pissed about it, I’d be pissed if it were only Ireland, or Sweden, Russia, the list goes on, can we get some mixed hate here? Hate everybody equally maybe, not just Americans?
Load More Replies... ivan bolitekurac 4 years ago
Because this stuff gets posted at least once a week and it is always the americans.It just gets xenophobic if you try to trash on a whole nation over and over again.I am not even an american and this things just sad.Having a laugh (even at americans) is one thing but after some time it turns from comedy to hate
Load More Replies... Ozacoter 4 years ago
You mean when they joined the war extremely late and only aftrr they got threatened? Because usa didnt join ww2 out of charity...
Load More Replies... Leo Domitrix 4 years ago
And she's back! You sure hate the US a lot. Oh, and instead of insulting and cussing, you could try explaining and educating? For example, I know about Latin American dirty wars, the slavery, the genocides against the indigenous peoples, and I was educated in the US. Yet you class me with "they". thanks, but no.
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