The internet's fascination with America—anything about it really, from the culture to its people to everything that it offers and everything that happens there—is beyond anything at this point.
Don't believe me? Bored Panda had a chance to talk about it on multiple occasions, such as here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, and here. There's more, believe you me. No, it never stops.
This time around though, we return to Reddit where folks have been pointing out incredibly American things that Americans might not really see as a solely American thing. But it is.
Scroll down to check out people's best responses, comments, witty remarks and everything in between from the now-viral thread that nearly 33,000 people have upvoted. And why not share your thoughts and add your own suggestions in the comment section below. Oh, and don't forget to smack that upvote button. Or just press it. Your choice.
More Info: Reddit
#1 Thanking Military Veterans
gerginborisov said:
Thanking military people for their service...
Thanking military people for their service...
BadTemperedBadger replied:
Then not actually supporting them in any meaningful way.
Then not actually supporting them in any meaningful way.
frozenstorm08 replied:
Met a Vietnam Vet in Dallas VA.
Met a Vietnam Vet in Dallas VA.
Man had been fighting for 40 years for benefits because he had grenade shrapnel through his chest. He had X-rays SHOWING the shrapnel in his chest.
Doctors said, “that’s not a military related injury”
To this day I’m not sure where else that shrapnel could have come from
107points
#2 Tax Not Included In Pricing
rubs_tshirts said:
Not including tax on prices displayed in stores.
Not including tax on prices displayed in stores.
raph_84 replied:
That feeling when you want to spend your very last Dollar on a can of Arizona Ice Tea (Famously: "The price is on the can!") and the cashier asks for $1.07.
That feeling when you want to spend your very last Dollar on a can of Arizona Ice Tea (Famously: "The price is on the can!") and the cashier asks for $1.07.
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87points
#3 Smiling
slavname said:
American here. When I studied abroad, I was smiling and friendly to strangers. In London they looked like I wanted to steal something from them!
American here. When I studied abroad, I was smiling and friendly to strangers. In London they looked like I wanted to steal something from them!
jew_biscuits replied:
Saw this with my American friends when I lived in Moscow. They walked around with this pleasant, anticipatory smile on their face and people thought they were mentally challenged.
Saw this with my American friends when I lived in Moscow. They walked around with this pleasant, anticipatory smile on their face and people thought they were mentally challenged.
ACaffeinatedWandress replied:
Hah. I remember a Russian friend explaining to me that Americans just look like idiots, smiling for no reason all the time. Russians apparently smile when they have something to smile about.
Hah. I remember a Russian friend explaining to me that Americans just look like idiots, smiling for no reason all the time. Russians apparently smile when they have something to smile about.
I read a paper that basically says it is because of our high-immigrant past. Apparently, when people with diverse languages who cannot understand each other verbally all the time are in close quarters with each other, they use physical cues (such as constant smiling), to communicate.
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79points
#4 Socialism = Communism
MD564 said:
Thinking that anything remotely socialist is communism.
Thinking that anything remotely socialist is communism.
djamp42 replied:
We all pay and share for fire and police resources but the second you mention everyone paying and sharing health resources it's the end of the world. I'll never understand it.
We all pay and share for fire and police resources but the second you mention everyone paying and sharing health resources it's the end of the world. I'll never understand it.
SL1Fun replied:
Healthcare is a lucrative racket and it’s built on the legal SOP that the government can’t set prices or compete in the market. It’s quite possibly the most anarcho-capitalistic market in the US but also has the most insane overhead cost barriers.
Healthcare is a lucrative racket and it’s built on the legal SOP that the government can’t set prices or compete in the market. It’s quite possibly the most anarcho-capitalistic market in the US but also has the most insane overhead cost barriers.
68points
#5 Paying For Medical Care And Crowdfunding
prettypinkpuppy said:
Paying $10,000 for a live birth and thinking that's okay.
Paying $10,000 for a live birth and thinking that's okay.
Temmere replied:
In a more general sense, going bankrupt because of medical bills even when you have insurance. So many people in America rail against socialized healthcare and seem to be completely unaware how much we're paying and how little we're getting out of it compared to other countries.
In a more general sense, going bankrupt because of medical bills even when you have insurance. So many people in America rail against socialized healthcare and seem to be completely unaware how much we're paying and how little we're getting out of it compared to other countries.
dopiqob replied:
Pretty sure the number of people using "gofundme" and stuff like that to cover medical expenses is a pretty American thing. I'd guess they do it in some other places as well, but not to the extent it happens here.
Pretty sure the number of people using "gofundme" and stuff like that to cover medical expenses is a pretty American thing. I'd guess they do it in some other places as well, but not to the extent it happens here.
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67points
#6 Being Louder
Speaking very loud in public places. I think that’s the number one reason American tourists stand out like a sore thumb.
I’m talking about a normal conversation. I get that people get louder when they are drunk or enthusiastic or super happy. But the phenomenon I’m describing here is just day to day conversation in a very loud voice. It’s like there is a lack of awareness of their surroundings. If no one is talking that loud, neither should you.
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58points
#7 Free Refills
that1guycalledpeter said:
Free refills at restaurants.
Free refills at restaurants.
SnowbackMcGee replied:
My daughter and I went on a Caribbean cruise together and our first night in Orlando, we went out to explore. We had dinner at IHOP, because why not, and had some delicious raspberry lemonade.
My daughter and I went on a Caribbean cruise together and our first night in Orlando, we went out to explore. We had dinner at IHOP, because why not, and had some delicious raspberry lemonade.
As we were leaving and after paying the bill, the waitress says "you want to take some lemonade to go?". What? Sure. So she loads us up with a couple of new large raspberry lemonades and sends us on our way.
We still joke about to go drinks whenever we go out for dinner, because that's is definitely NOT a thing in Canada.
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57points
#8 Payments By Card
browncoat47 said:
Handing your credit card to a stranger, having them walk away, swipe it, then bring it back to like they didn’t just put a down payment on a new house with it…
Handing your credit card to a stranger, having them walk away, swipe it, then bring it back to like they didn’t just put a down payment on a new house with it…
draw_it_now replied:
When I first started working in hospitality, I had an American customer who just gave me their card. I took it to the register, paid the order with a swipe and gave it back. I was told by my manager to never do that again.
When I first started working in hospitality, I had an American customer who just gave me their card. I took it to the register, paid the order with a swipe and gave it back. I was told by my manager to never do that again.
KJdkaslknv replied:
That wouldn't have been even slightly unusual here in the US. Sometimes you'll even hand a waiter or bartender your card without receiving the check, if you're in a hurry.
That wouldn't have been even slightly unusual here in the US. Sometimes you'll even hand a waiter or bartender your card without receiving the check, if you're in a hurry.
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52points
#9 Driving Pickup Trucks (And Driving In General)
xTheHunt said:
Daily driving pickup trucks.
Daily driving pickup trucks.
-captn- replied:
Not only that, but driving everywhere. I've been living in Germany for 20 years now and when family friends visited us in Germany they were shocked how much we walk or use public transportation here. I (30f) don't even have a drivers license, its never been needed for any of my jobs haha.
Not only that, but driving everywhere. I've been living in Germany for 20 years now and when family friends visited us in Germany they were shocked how much we walk or use public transportation here. I (30f) don't even have a drivers license, its never been needed for any of my jobs haha.
Before people misunderstand: I'm talking about taking the car places that are 5-10min walking distance away due to bad city planning, pedestrian unfriendly places and no sidewalks.
51points
#10 Singing The Anthem
dinerdefilles said:
Singing the national anthem at every possible opportunity, even when the event does not involve any other countries.
Singing the national anthem at every possible opportunity, even when the event does not involve any other countries.
Lotions_and_Creams replied:
It’s national propaganda. Until recently, the DoD paid the NFL ~$2M/year for “patriotic displays” (national anthem, flyovers, etc.).
It’s national propaganda. Until recently, the DoD paid the NFL ~$2M/year for “patriotic displays” (national anthem, flyovers, etc.).
premiumfeel replied:
I quit doing this in high school because it started to dawn on me how uncomfortable it made me feel to face the flag with my hand over my heart and declare my love for my country. I didn't feel like that, so it felt wrong to be out here saying things that, at the time, felt fundamentally untrue for me specifically. I have friends who just stopped as well and a few of them have actually been confronted/were punished for it. Which I found somewhat ironic.
I quit doing this in high school because it started to dawn on me how uncomfortable it made me feel to face the flag with my hand over my heart and declare my love for my country. I didn't feel like that, so it felt wrong to be out here saying things that, at the time, felt fundamentally untrue for me specifically. I have friends who just stopped as well and a few of them have actually been confronted/were punished for it. Which I found somewhat ironic.
I don't hate my country, but I'm not about to perform a daily ritual that makes me uncomfortable.
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50points
#11 Air Conditioning
Air conditioning. I'm very surprised no one has said this yet.
It's not that other countries don't have heating and AC. They do. But our use of them, especially the latter during the summer, is astronomically higher than anywhere else on the planet, even when compared to other first world countries.
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50points
#12 Getting The Bill Without Asking
Ok_Independence_5025 said:
Not having to ask for the bill.
Not having to ask for the bill.
frgs72 replied:
This was me today at a restaurant in Oslo. It felt rude to call the waitress over to ask for the bill. Am American.
This was me today at a restaurant in Oslo. It felt rude to call the waitress over to ask for the bill. Am American.
Ariia_ replied:
It's curious, I'm European and if someone gave me the bill without asking I would think it's rude because it feels like they're rushing me to leave
It's curious, I'm European and if someone gave me the bill without asking I would think it's rude because it feels like they're rushing me to leave
49points
#13 Drive-Thru ATMs
cbeiser said:
Drive thru ATMs and everything else. I didn't learn we had drive thru liquor stores until later in my life.
Drive thru ATMs and everything else. I didn't learn we had drive thru liquor stores until later in my life.
Kemalist_din_adami replied:
Drive thru atms???
Drive thru atms???
cbeiser replied:
This is super normal in the USA.
This is super normal in the USA.
In fact they aren't always machines. We have drive thru banks. Most banks have a drive thru section you can do simple bank stuff from the car. I've seen this my entire life.
weird_turn_pro replied:
Sometimes, as a kid, they would send candy in the tube with my parents' transaction. Those were the best days! Banks still do this! And they often have dog treats too!
Sometimes, as a kid, they would send candy in the tube with my parents' transaction. Those were the best days! Banks still do this! And they often have dog treats too!
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48points
#14 High School And College Sports
Christdawarlock said:
The Cult Of Highschool/College Sports.
The Cult Of Highschool/College Sports.
Natty_D replied:
It seems strange to anyone from Europe, but after starting to watch US sports I realised that a lot of states either don't have a team in a major league or will only have one. It's not like here in the UK where there are 92 teams in the football league and even more below that, most of the major leagues in the US only have 30-40 teams. That's why people are so invested in college sports, a lot of the time they're the only local teams.
It seems strange to anyone from Europe, but after starting to watch US sports I realised that a lot of states either don't have a team in a major league or will only have one. It's not like here in the UK where there are 92 teams in the football league and even more below that, most of the major leagues in the US only have 30-40 teams. That's why people are so invested in college sports, a lot of the time they're the only local teams.
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48points
#15 Pointing Out The State You Live In Instead Of The Country
Might just be me, but I do notice when you ask Americans on the internet where they're from, they reply with either a state or a city instead of their country.
The thing is, it doesn't cause any confusion, since most people know most American states and at least the major cities.
You don't often see an Indonesian person, for example, say they're from West Java. Just that they're from Indonesia.
I'm not saying it's a bad thing, just an American one. I also don't think it's because of cultural variation or population. I'm Indian and I've never seen anyone say that they're from Rajasthan or Kerala on a more global level. A lot of Indian states speak different languages, have different cuisine, and live on different terrain. I think it has more to do with the fact that people broadly know American states and the distinctions between them through movies and American news and politics.
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47points
#16 The Pledge Of Allegiance
Pledging allegiance to the flag or singing the national anthem outside of special events. I went to see a kids talent show in a small rural town, there were maybe 8 acts and 30 people watching and they all stood and pledged allegiance to the flag and sang the national anthem before hand. It was extremely strange.
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46points
#17 Prescription Drug Commercials
Dhk3rd said:
Prescription drug commercials.
Prescription drug commercials.
Orchid_Buddy replied:
"Ask your doctor". Only place I know where it's the patients who tell the doctor which drugs to take.
"Ask your doctor". Only place I know where it's the patients who tell the doctor which drugs to take.
moeburn replied:
In Canada, drug companies are only allowed to advertise if they never say the name of the drug, OR if they never say what the drug does. They can't do both.
In Canada, drug companies are only allowed to advertise if they never say the name of the drug, OR if they never say what the drug does. They can't do both.
So if you watch any Toronto Blue Jays games lately you'll see ads behind the plate that say something like "Ibuflovazin - ASK YOUR DOCTOR" and you're just like "what the fu*k is ibuflovazin".
Or sometimes you'll see a commercial that says "Do you suffer from high blood pressure? There is treatment available, ask your doctor", but without specifying any drugs.
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42points
#18 "Aluminum", "Jaguar", And The Red Solo Cups
Am American. When I moved to Australia I was constantly asked three questions:
1 - How do you pronounce "Aluminum"
2 - How do you pronounce "Jaguar"
3 - Are red Solo cups a real thing? In all the movies whenever there is a house party everyone has a red Solo cup.
2 - How do you pronounce "Jaguar"
3 - Are red Solo cups a real thing? In all the movies whenever there is a house party everyone has a red Solo cup.
I was caught completely off guard by the Solo cup question. Ever since then I've been very attentive to these damn red cups. They really are everywhere.
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40points
#19 Casseroles
calls_you_a_bellend said:
Mixing three different canned foods together and calling it a casserole.
Mixing three different canned foods together and calling it a casserole.
LordChefChristoph replied:
Don't forget to add cheese!
Don't forget to add cheese!
surfinberrypunch replied:
And breadcrumbs on top. Lol y'all are making me hungry.
And breadcrumbs on top. Lol y'all are making me hungry.
BasicWitch999 replied:
Or those little dehydrated French onion bits.
Or those little dehydrated French onion bits.
vikingrooster replied:
They are deep fried, not dehydrated.
They are deep fried, not dehydrated.
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39points
#20 "Hey, How Are Ya?"
Cycleofmadness said:
Asking a complete stranger "How are you doing today?"
Asking a complete stranger "How are you doing today?"
softprotectioncream replied:
And then just walk past them and ignore the answer.
And then just walk past them and ignore the answer.
Alpha_Decay_ replied:
Well, it's not actually a question. It just means "hello". That's why it's completely appropriate to respond with "hey". Even when someone responds with "good", they aren't actually answering a question. In that context, "good" also just means "hello". Imagine saying "hello" to someone passing by and then they just start telling you about their day. That's what it's like if someone treats it like an actual question.
Well, it's not actually a question. It just means "hello". That's why it's completely appropriate to respond with "hey". Even when someone responds with "good", they aren't actually answering a question. In that context, "good" also just means "hello". Imagine saying "hello" to someone passing by and then they just start telling you about their day. That's what it's like if someone treats it like an actual question.
magrufs replied:
Got a call while at work, a guy called and informed that one customer had a software license needing renewal. He asked how I was and I said I was fine, and I didn't ask back he said: "I'm fine thank you for asking", almost rudely. I'm from Norway, we don't ask strangers how they are.
Got a call while at work, a guy called and informed that one customer had a software license needing renewal. He asked how I was and I said I was fine, and I didn't ask back he said: "I'm fine thank you for asking", almost rudely. I'm from Norway, we don't ask strangers how they are.
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39points