American Living In Scotland Shames These American Tourists Who Think The Whole World Revolves Around Their Country
It’s not rare for people from all over the world to come together online to express their frustration with American tourists. And as a new viral TikTok video shows, that includes their compatriots too.
Earlier this month, content creator Elisheva, who currently lives in Scotland, turned to the social media platform to share a few stories she witnessed at a local pharmacy that illustrate the (in)famous notion of US citizens thinking the whole world has to revolve around their country.
Of course, ignorance isn’t exclusive to just one nationality. It’s universal. However, with so many travelers coming from this corner of the globe, theirs is often on display the most.
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Meet Elisheva, an American currently living in Scotland who witnessed just how ignorant her fellow citizens can appear abroad
Image credits: elisheva_says
She recalled the worst ones on TikTok
Image credits: Tbel Abuseridze (not the actual photo)
Chances are, we’ll be hearing more similar accounts (and not just about Americans).
International tourism saw a close to 200% year-over-year increase in the first quarter of 2022, and even though several related statistics are still well below 2019 levels, gradual recovery is expected to continue throughout the year, according to June analysis from the United Nations World Tourism Organization.
In fact, almost 50% of experts surveyed by the organization believe that international tourism will return to those pre-pandemic levels from three years ago in 2023, while 44% said it could be 2024 or later.
For Americans, the most popular international destination is Mexico, a place where they find plenty of beach resorts, from high-end to low, and lots of culture, great food, and vegan yoga retreats. Even during the pandemic, Americans continued to skip – at times controversially – over the border separating the two countries.
Following the neighborly trend, Canada is the second most popular destination, with Britain (and mainly London) making an appearance in a distant third.
And many nations are actually waiting for its travelers. Not only is the U.S. one of the most important countries for tourism, but it’s also now one of the most vaccinated in the world.
Furthermore, as writer Yasmeen Serhan pointed out in The Atlantic, those Americans lucky enough to have saved money during the pandemic are suddenly finding themselves with disposable income, which, at least, is what European countries are counting on, as tourism makes up 10 percent of the continent’s GDP, and significant shares of the economies of tourist destinations such as Italy, Greece, and Spain.
While the sector may survive one lost summer season, the millions of people it employs can’t afford to lose another.
So, as with most things in life, we can’t judge these examples in black and white.
Her video instantly went viral, racking up 1.5 million views
@elisheva_says Why?! #americans #tourists #scotland ♬ original sound – Elisheva
Elisheva has turned the topic into a series
@elisheva_says Replying to @lugubus Part 3. #american #tourists #travel #europe #australia #newzealand ♬ original sound – Elisheva
And has been working on it ever since
@elisheva_says Pt 2 of your encounters. #americans #american #tourists #uk #europe ♬ original sound – Elisheva
Covering subjects such as accents, national holidays, and guns
@elisheva_says Part 5, feat. British husbans. #american #americans #tourists #travel #british ♬ original sound – Elisheva
Here’s what people have said after watching her videos
Unfortunately I've seen people act like that while here in the US too. It's not just because their a tourist, Some people are just morons.
I live in a huge snowbird area. Used to get people asking for medications that we had to google to find out what it was while getting asked, "You don't know what xyz is? Sigh." Only to discover it wasn't approved in the US. Also people getting mad that we don't accept their country's insurance cards.
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I have read, that if you need something in pharmacy in different country, it is better to ask for the active substance from it. Like "diclofenac" and they'll handle you whatever it is called in their country. Last year we were in Croatia and my husband had pain in the leg that he had broken a year before. No specific reason, no fall, twist, anything. So we went to pharmacy, told the lady about it and she handled us some neofen gel and something I don't remember how it was called. And when we needed something for alergy in Zagreb, they gave us something as well, only based on word "allergy". Well, better. It worked like a charm. Never found that again in CZ pharmacy. At least not without prescription.
It's always best to know the generic name for the medications you're taking, including over the counter medicines, that way the woman asking for Advil would have known that Advil is just a brand name for ibuprofen. Most prescription medications, unless dispensed as written are filled with generic equivalent medications because they're a lot cheaper and easier to get because they are more likely kept in stock at pharmacies. It's also easier to find better prices online using the generic name on apps like Good Rx and Singlecare for pricing.
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No one calls pediatric dietary supplements "toddler milk", and we have a million different forms of ibuprofen in the US, so most people don't call things like Motrin "advil". I know it's fun to hate Americans online, but her stories weren't even believable. If you are going to invent stories for tiktok views, at least make them realistic, I suppose.
I’ve encountered people getting upset about the chemist not having tylenol here (in the UK it’s called paracetamol and is the exact same thing) so I do believe her.
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this is because most of the americans who can afford to travel outside of the US are the entitled ones who only buy name brand and never had to develop common sense. Americans on a budget, who can't travel, know the generic names or non-brand names for things like ibuprofen/advil, acetaminophen/tylenol, etc. the wealthy are giving down to earth americans a bad name by behaving poorly abroad
That can be somewhat true, but I've known people on strict budgets who still insist on name brand products over generic for some odd reason. I don't know if it's a lack of intelligence, or a sense of entitlement, but whatever it is, I tend to give up after trying to explain anything to those folks after 1 or 2 tries.
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My only (American) niece came to visit several years ago. She was the rudest, most entitled, opinionated person I have ever met. Walking away from restaurants to take photos without offering a penny towards the bill, helping herself to drinks from my fridge and never offering anyone else, using my washing machine without asking... Telling me how to pronounce words in my own country, insulting my possessions, assuming I am a taxi. Being cold ALL THE TIME in June, telling me my toilets don't flush properly. And worst of all, never a please or thank you the whole visit. She had me in tears at least once and blowing my top on several occasions. Needless to say, she will NOT be invited ever again.
That's awful, especially from a relative. I'm in the U.S. & have a few family members who are like that, and nope - they'll never be invited to my house!
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Stupidity has no nationality, ethnicity, culture, etc. Every country has stupid people. Every American I know who has traveled outside the US has taken the time to familiarize themselves with the country they'll be visiting. There are always outliers, of course, but they do NOT represent everyone.
I remember having breakfast at a B&B in France. Some tourists from the US joined us. They were frustrated about their experiences the day before and couldn't understand why so many things in France closed at noon. The host informed them that it has to do with laws that have been in place in the country for more than 700 years. And then he added "yes, it's been the law here for good reason more than 3 times as long as your country has even existed. If you want everything open all the time, stay in America. Go to Las Vegas." They fell silent. I think the US tourists were still trying to wrap their heads around the "700 years" part. And yeah, the host was a bit of a d**k.
As a Brazilian historian, I can confirm the difference between the concepts of "old" for the american continent (not just US, but North America, Central America and South America) is far different from the rest of the world. We have basically no reference from before the europeans invaded, 500 or so years ago, mainly because they wipped anything, everything, and everyone else in their path. That includes every single bit of our history. So, we simply have no reference there. So, yes, 500 years for us is old. 700? Faaar older. Europeans have furniture older than my entire country's history. And well, who is to blame for that? Yep, I honestly wouldn't use this argumment if I was an European, because I would risk to receive this answer. I normally hate how entitled some american tourists can get (we get them too, a LOT), but personally, I found it far ruder from the host's part. Sadly, there is no recovering for that.
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By another American no less! And why the hell didn't she speak up & help the tourists from her HOME COUNTRY!!! Guess she's too special now that she's living in Scotland, smh
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Not necessarily. Some of us are foreigners were brought up learning manners.
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I know it's cliché to make fun of US online, and we already know US people reading this kind of blogs will feel offended at the thought of people from other countries cataloguing the entire US population in a bad way thanks to those morons, that could potentially exist in other countries too, but there's no denying that there really is something about people from the US and the way they're raised that doesn't show up as often in other cultures. Again, stupid people exist everywhere, here in Mexico we may have our own version of "Karen" and other kind of sub-humans, but there is this thing about Americans and how they're raised thinking they deserve everything, they have rights to everything, they know better than any kind of authority in any field, and again, pedantic people exist all around the world, and if you're an American and you're not like this, congratulations, but there's a huge chunk that are like this, and us foreigners have had to deal with it more than with other cultures
People tend to be utterly idiotic on some level in some way in every naton, and take it with them on vacation.
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My mom knows that Advil is just Ibuprofen but she's stubborn and is worried any other brand will interfere with her many meds lol. So idk I give the first woman a pass, people can be very specific about their meds which I think is reasonable even if it seems unreasonable. But wtf is toddler milk? Is that like pediasure? I've never heard the phrase "toddler milk" before and I can't find any products with that name lol
To Brits: Come to the US and ask for "a f*g". See? It works both ways. Chill out, everyone, and look up "words to know before you go" even if you think you all speak English. C*nt in England, no big deal. In the US, very bad term. F*g in England can mean as cigarette; in the US, a gay man. If you have product needs ----- such as this case ----- it's only sensible to make sure the product is 1. available and 2. you know what to call it. If you're not sensible or you have a brainfog moment, then you're human. Ever seen a Canadian try to remember what they call "that thing you hit a puck with"? Yeah, someone answered, "A face?" We're all idiots. Peace out, humanity.
Oh for crying out loud, BP: F- A- G. It's a word, and its connotations vary. We are not so delicate we can't *learn*, are we?
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Mine is called aphasia from too many head trauma's. Let not group everyone together. Some people have a reason for a mental block and mine isn't stupidity.
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I was at the high school of tourism in Lisbon and I have studied for receptionist, something that I always wanted because of the connection with the clients and everything around. Maybe you going to think that I'm weak, but I gave up because I couldn't handle,after many many experiences, the American tourists. I'm sorry, I know that not all are like that, but the level of rudeness, stupidity and self entitled it's beyond your imagination. It was the worst experience in customer service that I ever had and still after 25 years of working in different things.
I always wondered what Advil was... people say it all the time in films... I guess now I know!! So what's a Xanax?
Apparently Xanax is Alprazolam but it's only available on private prescription in the UK. The ones I'm aware of though is that Prozac is Fluoxetine here, and Valium is Diazepam.
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I don't think this has anything to do with being American but with sheer stupidity
I've been berated by multiple male Indian tourists who complained at my previous job because I wouldn't give them a discount in a shoe that I watched them damage.. I was the manager. No one above me. They refused to listen because I wasn't a man & I "had no authority" & I know what you're thinking... why label their race & gender... well because this same thing almost to a T has happened to me on atleast 6 separate occasions. All tourists. All rude as f**k. Wouldn't listen when I said I can't barter on prices. Then then chewing me out & demanding I get the man in charge. Not every Indian man is like this. I know plenty that are the nicest, most respectful men on the planet. Most are! But what I'm getting at is that I don't judge all tourists or indian people in general based in these men. All people suck. No matter what. Yes Americans are ignorant sometimes. But y'all acting like you don't come here & do the same s**t.... HAVE SOME SELF AWARENESS b
As an American who lived overseas for a good portion of my life I can confirm the amazing level of stupid in American tourists, along with all other tourists, but as a rule we never would help them out because dumb American is just so much fun to watch.
To be clear, I am an American and have never heard anyone call anything "Toddler Milk." Is that East Coast terminology?
There is no excuse for this anymore people. You have google right there on your cellphone if you get confused.
I'm an American, and I can confirm that our education system isn't the best. We learn, yes, but it could always be better, you know? Also, common sense does not exist here, lol.
It's not really about education though. No country teaches what "Advil" is. We grow and become aware of things, and we generally realise that our phrases, names for things, brands, aren't universal as we have experience with other cultures and peoples. Often people from the US seem to have been stuck in one culture, one way of speaking and thinking that they cannot comprehend the complexity and diversity of the world outside thier bubble. There does also seem to be a mentality of "American Exceptionalism" among many, though not all, that the US way of thinking speaking acting is "normal". It does seem like brainwashing starting with the pledge of allegiance at school, flags everywhere, "freedom" dogma, and the media.
Load More Replies... Considering the labels on the bottles here in the US by law must show both of the names, (example Advil = ibuprofen and Tylenol= acetaminophen) these people are just idiots and you can find them everywhere.
My favourite is when Americans on Facebook post questions on international groups about US-centric topics without specifying that's where they are, just assuming that (I guess) everyone else is either in the US, or has the exact same experience as the US. Sometimes if you're lucky they'll post "I'm in OH" as of the whole world is familiar with state abbreviations. Just blinkered to their own US-centric assumptions
There is a chance that the first lady is allergic to something in the generic aspirin that's not in the brand name (it's rare, and I think they are usually allergic to something not listed in the ingredients); however, I don't think that's the case because those people would usually make sure they have enough of their medication.
I blame education for not encouraging critical thinking skills. People are on record saying they don't want that taught because people might start not believing in the church crapola they force-feed their kids. Those kids grow up and travel.
ExPat from Italy here, I could tell you such stories that would make you jaw drop!
"Give a Monkey a Brain and He'll Swear He's the Center of the Universe" Fishbone
If you think about it, every living thing is the centre of (its own) universe. You exist as an individual entity and EVERYTHING revolves around YOU. It's just a simple fact.
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It's not just Americans. It is stupid people/Karen's. But mostly stupid people.
I only prefer Advil because I can’t swallow pills whole and chew them, and Advil has a bit of a sugar coating on it. You know what Mary Poppins says…
I'm sure there would be the same product overseas, just under a different brand name ;)
Load More Replies... I'm an American and I'm nothing like this and the majority of Americans aren't like this. I will agree many Americans feel a sense of entitlement that I don't understand because we're not the center of the world but we are a Melting Pot country, so we're all nations, not just one. But I truly believe our system is dumbing down our kids and our citizens and that's frightening to me. I have watched some question and answer programs that should be very simple for anyone to answer and people are completely clueless and I think what is happening to people that they don't know these answers?! Is there something in the air? In the water they drink? I know I'm not drinking that, but what's going on to cause this of density? Not knowing Advil is Ibuprofen, he's telling you exactly what it is and he's a trained pharmacist, you should at least trust him. I've suffered over 100 concussions, 4 major closed head injuries and 8 strokes and I'm nowhere near that dense!
All those head injuries, can't help but wonder what field you were employed in/what sport you played and why you didn't get out of it.
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I blame the marketing of well, not just medical stuff, but darn near all brand name items here in the USA. Advertisements pound these brand names into our brains so heavily that the average person just doesn't understand generic names vs brand names. Additionally we do have a fair number of dunderheads here so there's that.
I'm a former nurse who studied pharmaceuticals and I do the opposite because I get angry with the pharmaceutical companies because I know just how little it costs to make those medications and it's disgusting how much they overcharge customers! The real expensive part of creating a medication is the research and testing and then initial production and advertising, but once that's done it's cheaper to produce and they're raking people over the coals and that's wrong!
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Americans have thought that they are the best in the world since WWII. They have been taught in school that they won WWII single-handedly and are now the "greatest country in the world." It's rather sad, because, yes, their educational system totally sucks and the ignorance (and arrogance) shown when in other countries is breath-taking.
Universally accepted fact that US Industrial capacity made the difference in the War. Lend-lease. You can find historian verified quotes from Stalin and Kruschev regarding its impact to the Soviet Union. It sustained Britain long enough to keep resisting Nazi Germany. Then the millions of tons of warships and aircraft required to beat Japan. Americans aren't taught we single handedly on the war. We are very aware of who was doing the shooting and who was getting shot at long before we every crawled out of our isolationist hole.
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I honestly wonder how they survive with this c**p education they receive... In 2th grade, my class was drawing the world map, with all countries and marking the most important cities. We studied the entire history of Europe, Africa, Asia and Australia, not only Brazilian's or the American continent's (not to mention the whole drama from people who can't understand the difference between three continents and a single country). Oh and the whole "English, please"... I can understand cultural differences, got tangled in some too (some embarassing, some just hilarious, anyway, I learned a lot). But some of them look like they refuse to learn, or even care about the way they portray themselves. It's just sad.
Americans must be the worst. Arrogant and expecting everything to be the same as at home. I enjoy the differences. In Paris our tour guide and her group got kicked out of Collins Bergeres. Could not believe it. I loved Paris and the people were gracious and wonderful
Unfortunately I've seen people act like that while here in the US too. It's not just because their a tourist, Some people are just morons.
I live in a huge snowbird area. Used to get people asking for medications that we had to google to find out what it was while getting asked, "You don't know what xyz is? Sigh." Only to discover it wasn't approved in the US. Also people getting mad that we don't accept their country's insurance cards.
Load More Replies... I have read, that if you need something in pharmacy in different country, it is better to ask for the active substance from it. Like "diclofenac" and they'll handle you whatever it is called in their country. Last year we were in Croatia and my husband had pain in the leg that he had broken a year before. No specific reason, no fall, twist, anything. So we went to pharmacy, told the lady about it and she handled us some neofen gel and something I don't remember how it was called. And when we needed something for alergy in Zagreb, they gave us something as well, only based on word "allergy". Well, better. It worked like a charm. Never found that again in CZ pharmacy. At least not without prescription.
It's always best to know the generic name for the medications you're taking, including over the counter medicines, that way the woman asking for Advil would have known that Advil is just a brand name for ibuprofen. Most prescription medications, unless dispensed as written are filled with generic equivalent medications because they're a lot cheaper and easier to get because they are more likely kept in stock at pharmacies. It's also easier to find better prices online using the generic name on apps like Good Rx and Singlecare for pricing.
Load More Replies... No one calls pediatric dietary supplements "toddler milk", and we have a million different forms of ibuprofen in the US, so most people don't call things like Motrin "advil". I know it's fun to hate Americans online, but her stories weren't even believable. If you are going to invent stories for tiktok views, at least make them realistic, I suppose.
I’ve encountered people getting upset about the chemist not having tylenol here (in the UK it’s called paracetamol and is the exact same thing) so I do believe her.
Load More Replies... this is because most of the americans who can afford to travel outside of the US are the entitled ones who only buy name brand and never had to develop common sense. Americans on a budget, who can't travel, know the generic names or non-brand names for things like ibuprofen/advil, acetaminophen/tylenol, etc. the wealthy are giving down to earth americans a bad name by behaving poorly abroad
That can be somewhat true, but I've known people on strict budgets who still insist on name brand products over generic for some odd reason. I don't know if it's a lack of intelligence, or a sense of entitlement, but whatever it is, I tend to give up after trying to explain anything to those folks after 1 or 2 tries.
Load More Replies... My only (American) niece came to visit several years ago. She was the rudest, most entitled, opinionated person I have ever met. Walking away from restaurants to take photos without offering a penny towards the bill, helping herself to drinks from my fridge and never offering anyone else, using my washing machine without asking... Telling me how to pronounce words in my own country, insulting my possessions, assuming I am a taxi. Being cold ALL THE TIME in June, telling me my toilets don't flush properly. And worst of all, never a please or thank you the whole visit. She had me in tears at least once and blowing my top on several occasions. Needless to say, she will NOT be invited ever again.
That's awful, especially from a relative. I'm in the U.S. & have a few family members who are like that, and nope - they'll never be invited to my house!
Load More Replies... Stupidity has no nationality, ethnicity, culture, etc. Every country has stupid people. Every American I know who has traveled outside the US has taken the time to familiarize themselves with the country they'll be visiting. There are always outliers, of course, but they do NOT represent everyone.
I remember having breakfast at a B&B in France. Some tourists from the US joined us. They were frustrated about their experiences the day before and couldn't understand why so many things in France closed at noon. The host informed them that it has to do with laws that have been in place in the country for more than 700 years. And then he added "yes, it's been the law here for good reason more than 3 times as long as your country has even existed. If you want everything open all the time, stay in America. Go to Las Vegas." They fell silent. I think the US tourists were still trying to wrap their heads around the "700 years" part. And yeah, the host was a bit of a d**k.
As a Brazilian historian, I can confirm the difference between the concepts of "old" for the american continent (not just US, but North America, Central America and South America) is far different from the rest of the world. We have basically no reference from before the europeans invaded, 500 or so years ago, mainly because they wipped anything, everything, and everyone else in their path. That includes every single bit of our history. So, we simply have no reference there. So, yes, 500 years for us is old. 700? Faaar older. Europeans have furniture older than my entire country's history. And well, who is to blame for that? Yep, I honestly wouldn't use this argumment if I was an European, because I would risk to receive this answer. I normally hate how entitled some american tourists can get (we get them too, a LOT), but personally, I found it far ruder from the host's part. Sadly, there is no recovering for that.
Load More Replies... By another American no less! And why the hell didn't she speak up & help the tourists from her HOME COUNTRY!!! Guess she's too special now that she's living in Scotland, smh
Load More Replies... Not necessarily. Some of us are foreigners were brought up learning manners.
Load More Replies... I know it's cliché to make fun of US online, and we already know US people reading this kind of blogs will feel offended at the thought of people from other countries cataloguing the entire US population in a bad way thanks to those morons, that could potentially exist in other countries too, but there's no denying that there really is something about people from the US and the way they're raised that doesn't show up as often in other cultures. Again, stupid people exist everywhere, here in Mexico we may have our own version of "Karen" and other kind of sub-humans, but there is this thing about Americans and how they're raised thinking they deserve everything, they have rights to everything, they know better than any kind of authority in any field, and again, pedantic people exist all around the world, and if you're an American and you're not like this, congratulations, but there's a huge chunk that are like this, and us foreigners have had to deal with it more than with other cultures
People tend to be utterly idiotic on some level in some way in every naton, and take it with them on vacation.
Load More Replies... My mom knows that Advil is just Ibuprofen but she's stubborn and is worried any other brand will interfere with her many meds lol. So idk I give the first woman a pass, people can be very specific about their meds which I think is reasonable even if it seems unreasonable. But wtf is toddler milk? Is that like pediasure? I've never heard the phrase "toddler milk" before and I can't find any products with that name lol
To Brits: Come to the US and ask for "a f*g". See? It works both ways. Chill out, everyone, and look up "words to know before you go" even if you think you all speak English. C*nt in England, no big deal. In the US, very bad term. F*g in England can mean as cigarette; in the US, a gay man. If you have product needs ----- such as this case ----- it's only sensible to make sure the product is 1. available and 2. you know what to call it. If you're not sensible or you have a brainfog moment, then you're human. Ever seen a Canadian try to remember what they call "that thing you hit a puck with"? Yeah, someone answered, "A face?" We're all idiots. Peace out, humanity.
Oh for crying out loud, BP: F- A- G. It's a word, and its connotations vary. We are not so delicate we can't *learn*, are we?
Load More Replies... Mine is called aphasia from too many head trauma's. Let not group everyone together. Some people have a reason for a mental block and mine isn't stupidity.
Load More Replies... I was at the high school of tourism in Lisbon and I have studied for receptionist, something that I always wanted because of the connection with the clients and everything around. Maybe you going to think that I'm weak, but I gave up because I couldn't handle,after many many experiences, the American tourists. I'm sorry, I know that not all are like that, but the level of rudeness, stupidity and self entitled it's beyond your imagination. It was the worst experience in customer service that I ever had and still after 25 years of working in different things.
I always wondered what Advil was... people say it all the time in films... I guess now I know!! So what's a Xanax?
Apparently Xanax is Alprazolam but it's only available on private prescription in the UK. The ones I'm aware of though is that Prozac is Fluoxetine here, and Valium is Diazepam.
Load More Replies... I don't think this has anything to do with being American but with sheer stupidity
I've been berated by multiple male Indian tourists who complained at my previous job because I wouldn't give them a discount in a shoe that I watched them damage.. I was the manager. No one above me. They refused to listen because I wasn't a man & I "had no authority" & I know what you're thinking... why label their race & gender... well because this same thing almost to a T has happened to me on atleast 6 separate occasions. All tourists. All rude as f**k. Wouldn't listen when I said I can't barter on prices. Then then chewing me out & demanding I get the man in charge. Not every Indian man is like this. I know plenty that are the nicest, most respectful men on the planet. Most are! But what I'm getting at is that I don't judge all tourists or indian people in general based in these men. All people suck. No matter what. Yes Americans are ignorant sometimes. But y'all acting like you don't come here & do the same s**t.... HAVE SOME SELF AWARENESS b
As an American who lived overseas for a good portion of my life I can confirm the amazing level of stupid in American tourists, along with all other tourists, but as a rule we never would help them out because dumb American is just so much fun to watch.
To be clear, I am an American and have never heard anyone call anything "Toddler Milk." Is that East Coast terminology?
There is no excuse for this anymore people. You have google right there on your cellphone if you get confused.
I'm an American, and I can confirm that our education system isn't the best. We learn, yes, but it could always be better, you know? Also, common sense does not exist here, lol.
It's not really about education though. No country teaches what "Advil" is. We grow and become aware of things, and we generally realise that our phrases, names for things, brands, aren't universal as we have experience with other cultures and peoples. Often people from the US seem to have been stuck in one culture, one way of speaking and thinking that they cannot comprehend the complexity and diversity of the world outside thier bubble. There does also seem to be a mentality of "American Exceptionalism" among many, though not all, that the US way of thinking speaking acting is "normal". It does seem like brainwashing starting with the pledge of allegiance at school, flags everywhere, "freedom" dogma, and the media.
Load More Replies... Considering the labels on the bottles here in the US by law must show both of the names, (example Advil = ibuprofen and Tylenol= acetaminophen) these people are just idiots and you can find them everywhere.
My favourite is when Americans on Facebook post questions on international groups about US-centric topics without specifying that's where they are, just assuming that (I guess) everyone else is either in the US, or has the exact same experience as the US. Sometimes if you're lucky they'll post "I'm in OH" as of the whole world is familiar with state abbreviations. Just blinkered to their own US-centric assumptions
There is a chance that the first lady is allergic to something in the generic aspirin that's not in the brand name (it's rare, and I think they are usually allergic to something not listed in the ingredients); however, I don't think that's the case because those people would usually make sure they have enough of their medication.
I blame education for not encouraging critical thinking skills. People are on record saying they don't want that taught because people might start not believing in the church crapola they force-feed their kids. Those kids grow up and travel.
ExPat from Italy here, I could tell you such stories that would make you jaw drop!
"Give a Monkey a Brain and He'll Swear He's the Center of the Universe" Fishbone
If you think about it, every living thing is the centre of (its own) universe. You exist as an individual entity and EVERYTHING revolves around YOU. It's just a simple fact.
Load More Replies... It's not just Americans. It is stupid people/Karen's. But mostly stupid people.
I only prefer Advil because I can’t swallow pills whole and chew them, and Advil has a bit of a sugar coating on it. You know what Mary Poppins says…
I'm sure there would be the same product overseas, just under a different brand name ;)
Load More Replies... I'm an American and I'm nothing like this and the majority of Americans aren't like this. I will agree many Americans feel a sense of entitlement that I don't understand because we're not the center of the world but we are a Melting Pot country, so we're all nations, not just one. But I truly believe our system is dumbing down our kids and our citizens and that's frightening to me. I have watched some question and answer programs that should be very simple for anyone to answer and people are completely clueless and I think what is happening to people that they don't know these answers?! Is there something in the air? In the water they drink? I know I'm not drinking that, but what's going on to cause this of density? Not knowing Advil is Ibuprofen, he's telling you exactly what it is and he's a trained pharmacist, you should at least trust him. I've suffered over 100 concussions, 4 major closed head injuries and 8 strokes and I'm nowhere near that dense!
All those head injuries, can't help but wonder what field you were employed in/what sport you played and why you didn't get out of it.
Load More Replies... I blame the marketing of well, not just medical stuff, but darn near all brand name items here in the USA. Advertisements pound these brand names into our brains so heavily that the average person just doesn't understand generic names vs brand names. Additionally we do have a fair number of dunderheads here so there's that.
I'm a former nurse who studied pharmaceuticals and I do the opposite because I get angry with the pharmaceutical companies because I know just how little it costs to make those medications and it's disgusting how much they overcharge customers! The real expensive part of creating a medication is the research and testing and then initial production and advertising, but once that's done it's cheaper to produce and they're raking people over the coals and that's wrong!
Load More Replies... Americans have thought that they are the best in the world since WWII. They have been taught in school that they won WWII single-handedly and are now the "greatest country in the world." It's rather sad, because, yes, their educational system totally sucks and the ignorance (and arrogance) shown when in other countries is breath-taking.
Universally accepted fact that US Industrial capacity made the difference in the War. Lend-lease. You can find historian verified quotes from Stalin and Kruschev regarding its impact to the Soviet Union. It sustained Britain long enough to keep resisting Nazi Germany. Then the millions of tons of warships and aircraft required to beat Japan. Americans aren't taught we single handedly on the war. We are very aware of who was doing the shooting and who was getting shot at long before we every crawled out of our isolationist hole.
Load More Replies... I honestly wonder how they survive with this c**p education they receive... In 2th grade, my class was drawing the world map, with all countries and marking the most important cities. We studied the entire history of Europe, Africa, Asia and Australia, not only Brazilian's or the American continent's (not to mention the whole drama from people who can't understand the difference between three continents and a single country). Oh and the whole "English, please"... I can understand cultural differences, got tangled in some too (some embarassing, some just hilarious, anyway, I learned a lot). But some of them look like they refuse to learn, or even care about the way they portray themselves. It's just sad.
Americans must be the worst. Arrogant and expecting everything to be the same as at home. I enjoy the differences. In Paris our tour guide and her group got kicked out of Collins Bergeres. Could not believe it. I loved Paris and the people were gracious and wonderful
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