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Very rarely will a situation come about in anyone’s life that will make them note only question themselves, but their culture simultaneously. Many of us are just trapped in our little world, be it an American one, a Chinese one, an Irish one, or maybe even a Russian one. That’s especially true in America, which is ironically referred to as “The Melting Pot” country because of all the different ethnicities and cultures we harbor.
But about America is strange to most other countries? What do we do that makes others think, “What the fuck is going on in that country over there?” Well, I took it upon myself to research it and find out. Below are 5 things that Americans do that most other countries find strange.
1. Soccer and Football Are Not Synonymous
This one really shouldn’t be news to most people. The majority of countries refer to soccer as futbol. So what’s football called in other countries? The Spanish word for football is ‘Futbol Americano’ while other countries call it ‘handegg’, referring to the players hand and the ball as the ‘egg’.
The other weird part about this sport is the lack of excitement Americans tend to have towards it. In many countries, soccer is their football. If you play soccer, the only people who seem to care in America are other people who play soccer, which is strange, seeing as our team is almost always in FIFA. And still, very few Americans watch it.
2. We Don’t Advertise Product Taxes
Here’s another one that seems to baffle other countries. America is another amongst the few countries who does not include the sales tax on the price tag, no matter what it is that you buy. In fact, the closest you’ll get to it is if you’re buying a car or a house, and they tell you your APR. But if you ever visit America, just know, that $600 laptop isn’t really $600.
And you still have to be careful because each state has it’s own taxation laws on what they do and do not tax. For instance, the Obama administration added a sugar tax to soft drinks everywhere. But, in the state of Ohio, everything is taxed except food and non-sugary drinks. Hop in your car, drive to Delaware, and nothing is taxed. But if you travel to Illinois, you’ll be getting a grocery tax.
Yes, it’s weird. But…America!
3. We Fear Nudity
Before anyone comments, no, I’m not referring to porn. I’m referring to how offended we get by the naked human body. It's hilarious because nudity is banned from public television, but violence isn't. Even if it is a medical show like Dr. Oz (I use the term loosely for him), you will not see a naked person on the television screen. I mean, come on, we all remember that Janet Jackson/Justin Timberlake Superbowl incident. If I could post it without it being removed, I would, but you can always YouTube it.
Anyway, for those who do not know, during their halftime performance, Janet Jackson suffered a wardrobe malfunction at the hands of Justin Timberlake, and her left breast was revealed for all to see. It was the talk of everyone for at least two weeks. And people are still offended by it.
Meanwhile, in Britain, they don’t opening their shows like Supersize vs. Superskinny are not subtle at all with the naked body. Again, I would post a video, but alas, rules. But just Youtube Supersize vs. Superskinny season 1, and you’ll see what I mean.
4. We Don’t Use The Metric System
There’s literally only two other countries in the world that don’t use the metric system besides us. Instead, we dare to be different and use the USCS, or the United States Customary System. Apparently, it’s very similar to the British Imperial Measurements. Unfortunately, this means that we have to translate measurements way more often than the rest of the world. For instance, when it comes to weight, some countries use Stones. 1 Stone = 14 pounds. 1 kilogram = about 2.2 pounds. You get the picture. With the development of the internet and other technologies, it’s really not a big deal anymore. Still, it makes us stand out from the rest of the world.
5. We Expect Everyone To Speak English
I’m not sure if this is a fact or a stereotype, but from what I’ve read, many people in foreign countries don’t understand why so many Americans are hung up on everyone speaking English, especially since we don’t have a national language. That’s right. America does not have a national language, meaning that if your neighbor only speaks one language, then so be it. It’s part of what is supposed to make us the “Melting Pot” nation where are. There are Americans who don't care, but not nearly as many who see it as a problem. Refer to the video above to see what I mean.
Several countries, even the ones with English as their national language, house citizens that are bilingual or even trilingual. And, no, they’re not immigrants. They’re natives of that nation. This is mostly found in European countries. Either way, Americans that get upset over immigrants not speaking English are only seen as ignorant assholes to everyone else.
It's okay to be different. No one's saying that America is wrong in anything that it does. Well...except for the non-English speakers being mistreated in the video I posted... That's just rude. But just remember, what we perceive as normal is not necessarily normal to others. So when someone points out that something we as Americans do is weird, it's because, to them, it is.
But hey, what's life without a little weirdness?
What Girls & Guys Said
11 25English is your national language no problem with having people learn it.
I'll add a couple more
You don't have PIN numbers for credit cards.
WTF you just swipe and go.
In Canada there is a tap and go system but it limits how much can be purchased without a PIN.
Your waiters are paid less than minimum wage. How is that even legal?
Tips are supposed to be for good service not because your boss is too cheap to pay your salary.
You vote for delegates who vote on your behalf. Well I guess it's kind of similar to our system we vote for an MP from a certain party and the party with the most elected MPs forms government with the party leader as the PM.
Your first statement is incorrect. The US does not have a national language, and never has. English is the majority language, but there's nothing "official" about it.
@DinosaurKnight Yup yup. And we do have PIN numbers for credit cards. Mine has one, but you have to register it I think. I don't think it's required to have one. And servers technically must be paid minimum wage on their paycheck. I was a server and if I didn't make enough in tips, then the restaurant had to compensate us for it, though you're right, we should have just been making minimum wage from the start. But you're definitely right. Our electoral college is a joke.
I weard they were thinking about implementing the metric system officially, dunno if it's really true...
by the way, if i don't tip the hotdog guy, can i be punched? :p
how can you leave out TIPPING?
Because it's a list of 5 and that would make 6 lol
The irony is strong in #3. You claim Americans fear nudity, but put a meme of a Game of Thrones character, which has a lot of nudity (granted it's on HBO).
4. I started using the metric system in my personal life. it's loads easier than the British system, that's not even used by the British.
5. America does have a national language, it's Spanish. lol.
I do expect people in America to speak English, as I would try to learn their language if I went to their country.
English is our primary language, and still people live happy lives here. This country's perfect for people that don't know English, and they still get by.
Yes indeed very strange :P
That third thing in the list for children who are underage and as for violent shows, disclaimer does ask for adult supervision or tells if it's adult only. Now yes you can YouTube it but not many 8 year old can do that you see (12 year old do this, agreed)
Wait till your 35 you will wish the above listed were the only things you have to worry about
I didn't know about the tax thing, that's so strange!
Another weird thing is that guns are legal, or is that just in some states?
Guns are legal in all states. However the lengths you have to go through to be able to obtain the license needed to carry it on your person while out in public can vary greatly from state to state. In some states it's so difficult it's almost impossible while in others they practically give them away.
What I don't understand are non-Americans calling Gridiron Football "handegg" when a Rugby ball and Australian footballs are closer in shape to an egg than a Gridiron Football but no one ever calls those games handegg. An egg is pointy on one end and round on the other. An American football is symmetrical with no round end. So, why is it that Rugby (officially known as Rugby Football) is not known as handegg or Australian Football, but gridiron football is? I think it just has to do with the rest of the world (those calling it handegg) wanting to hate on anything American.
Americans, the Irish, Australians and other countries have their own version of football and refer to association football as soccer or something equivalent in their native tongue. Football is a game played on foot with a ball with different variations and rules. As[soc (cer)]tion football is just one of them. Whatever the dominant form of football is played in a specific country is the one called football. For Americans, that would be American or gridiron football. For Irish that would be gaelic football. For Australians that would be Australian football. So, why is it only Americans that get called out on this? That's what I don't understand... The only thing I can come up with is the desire to hate on anything American. If football to you is association football then feel free to call American football "gridiron" or something like how Americans and some other countries refer to association football as soccer.
#5 seems to be an issue in specific parts of the country. You'll get some dirty looks simply having a conversation in another language in public.
How about spelling colour like color
Soccer is a contraction of Association Football (er), when it was coined there were many sets of rules for how to play football and those who played by Association Rules were Soccers. by the way that's English Association Football, the word soccer was coined in England. Those rules became internationally adopted and now to most of the world it's just 'Football' but in America where we had lots of other games called football it continued to be called soccer.
Americans like having sales tax added so it can't just be raised without people noticing. Enjoying your 15% hidden sales taxes are you?
Can't explain the (until recent) aversion to nudity, leftover religiosity I suppose.
The metric system is all over the US, it just doesn't have a monopoly.
I think it's a good idea for all the people in the same political body to speak the same language. If you want to live in a country you should learn the language, whatever it is.
You... didn't read what I wrote, did you? I never said soccer was incorrect, just most countries find it weird. I also never said Americans don't like tax. That entire portion was about how we don't add tax until the end of the purchase but it's not displayed on the advertisements with tax included. The metric system is not the standard system in the U. S. And our country doesn't have a language as I so eloquently stated.
If they find it weird it's because they are ignorant. I was pointing out the advantages of tax transparency versus hidden taxes. If people find tax transparency weird they better like being taxed because the politicians will raise taxes every chance they get. There is no official language because there is no need to make it official. What purpose would that serve? Why is it the business of government?
Well, you can't tell someone to learn our language when we don't have one lol. Also, I was pointing out the other countries just have it on there already instead being totaled at the end. I wasn't saying it was bad, but I know it confuses some people that visit our country. I actually have a student who said that the taxes and coin sizes confused his family for a while when they first moved here from somewhere in Europe, forgot what specific country. I know he said his dad was from Ireland, but I think my student was born somewhere else.
I lived in Europe for five years, four in the UK and one in France. The British particularly like to amuse themselves with tales of "funny foreigners", though they can also laugh at themselves so there is that. VAT is an evil invention, sales tax may be confusing but it gives a very necessary check and resistance to the extravagance and wastefulness government is always and everywhere prone to. The more hidden and 'painless' a tax is the more you should distrust it.
I guess we don't consider it painless because we already know it's not on there. And legally, the state has to disclose it's taxation to you. So like if food tax is like %5 in a state, you can still do the math before checkout, just that most people don't.