As a non-American, what American things do you find strange or confusing?

[Waffles's iconWaffles]

some people are just jackasses who lack self-awareness and can't comprehend most things outside of their own existence. i can probably guarantee you that those people probably suck at everything and seeing someone who's learning another language probably made them feel insecure and worthless because they lack the ability to improve themselves.
people with an iq higher than an ice cube are usually very supportive of others learning and improving their own skill sets. if that happens again, just ignore those people. they don't deserve the attention.
and for a side note on your english skills; i forgot most of the time that english isn't your first language. that's how good you have gotten at it.

That means a lot, thanks.

Wouldn't bother me nowadays, but it sure did back then.

 

[bjork]

Isn't it scary to be "given" a license? I mean accidents are no jokes.

You have to pass a written test for a permit and a behind the wheel exam for the actual license, though.

 

[Strategist's icon Strategist Strategist]

NGL, the first time I got to be on the receiving end of some targeted racism was because SOME (but by no means all) Americans on a room decided that me being unable to speak properly was a serious crime. It was pretty jarring, especially considering that a lot of other people were quick to commend me for even trying at such young age (I must have been around 15 at the time, so eleven years before I considered myself a good enough speaker).

Don't take it personally. There are a certain segment of Americans who assume people are dumb because they have an accent. Especially a Spanish/latin american accent. I lived in the United States for a decent amount of my life for various reasons and experienced it myself. It doesn't bother me that much but it pisses me off when they treat my parents like they are stupid because they have a thick accent. My parents are career teachers and way smarter than me and 99% of the American population, to be honest.

 

[Ikagura Ikagura]

Don't take it personally. There are a certain segment of Americans who assume people are dumb because they have an accent. Especially a Spanish/latin american accent. I lived in the United States for a decent amount of my life for various reasons and experienced it myself. It doesn't bother me that much but it pisses me off when they treat my parents like they are stupid because they have a thick accent. My parents are career teachers and way smarter than me and 99% of the American population, to be honest.

But even American English has an accent compared to British English. In fact saying British Accent is nonsensical.

 

[Strategist's icon Strategist Strategist]

But even American English has an accent compared to British English. In fact saying British Accent is nonsensical.

Heck, even southern American English has an accent vs New York American English. Every state has its own unique lingo. Discriminating against Spanish speakers for having an accent is silly when you think about it, but Americans don't tend to be very self reflective.

Post automatically merged: May 11, 2025

Although I'd say that an unified language helps a lot. English is talked by many when it comes to international businesses and trading.

Europe having different languages, money and even within the European Union the Shengen and Euro zones aren't always the same so it makes it less unified than the United States.

At least we still have translators.

I don't mind the government choosing English as the unified language for all official documents and communication, but Americans can't be normal about anything. There's this patriotic movement about the American identity being connected to the English language that is absurd considering the waves of immigration from various countries, many of them that didn't speak English natively. And the people who were in the United States before English settlers didn't speak English, they spoke native languages or Spanish.

 

[Waffles's iconWaffles]

Don't take it personally. There are a certain segment of Americans who assume people are dumb because they have an accent. Especially a Spanish/latin american accent. I lived in the United States for a decent amount of my life for various reasons and experienced it myself. It doesn't bother me that much but it pisses me off when they treat my parents like they are stupid because they have a thick accent. My parents are career teachers and way smarter than me and 99% of the American population, to be honest.

Anyone who considers a teacher to be "stupid" deserves to be fired from humanity.

As for the other thing... It has lost a lot of its bite because I grew up, matured, and leaned to defang such pathetic attempts at cruelty. That and I also read the best comeback ever: "You speak English because it's the only language you know. I speak English because it's the only language you know".

 

[PrismRed]

They drive on the right (wrong?) side of the road.

 

[Tonberry]

Their video game box art (in like 99% of cases)

 

[Nebulon_Galaxy]

Pancakes and waffles being such a dominant breakfast when French toast is easier to make and tastes better.

Meat and potatoes being a really common lunch/dinner despite how uninteresting it is.

Sliced breads being more common or more popular than buns or flatbreads despite the latter two just being better.

Lamb being… actually I do get lamb not being as popular, it’s pretty expensive unless you’re in an area that’s predominantly Jewish, arab or Muslim. But yeah lamb is just great.

The “buying a single slice of pizza” thing that New Yorkers do. Why. “But it’s so big and think”. It literally isn’t…it’s also a bit expensive. But it’s NY, everything is expensive.

Biscuits being called cookies.
Chicken burgers being called “chicken sandwiches”
Fish burgers being called fish o fillet although I do think that has a nice ring to it so it’s fine.
This one is just personal but steaks aren’t that good imo.
Waffles being a weird bread and not just a straight up cake always bothered.

Some Americans REALLY hate Ketchup, mayo or both. I don’t get it.

Some Not being able to eat pickles. Which is just silly. Some don’t like eating tomatoes either.

The Digimon/Pokémon rivalry thing doesn’t exist. At all. They’ve never once interacted and fans of both are pretty chill with each other in non-English speaking communities.

The constant dunking on sonic that eventually spread into the internet as a whole.

I think all the food being so big is bad.

GameCube was seemingly really huge in the US. I’m ok with this cuz I like the GameCube so I’m more confused as to why it seemingly only had a scene in primarily the English world but I could be wrong on this. I’m also probably speaking as someone who really wished they owned one.

This one I can sorta get and sorta not, it really depends on the person but I’m always surprised when I talk to an adult online who doesn’t know how to drive. I have zero issues with that and it’s probably not just Americans but I’d leave it out there anyways. It’s mainly just surprise though.

American chocolate brands abusing chocolate laws to make their chocolate candy bars taste nothing like chocolate is so silly. Apparently, the FDA only require chocolate in America to have a bare minimum of 10% chocolate so brands in USA just fill the rest with artificial brands. Which is why European chocolate bars taste better cuz they’re forced to have more chocolate. Shoutout to this polish brand. It’s my favorite childhood chocolate. Still tastes great.

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There’s much more I can mention but this is Just off the top of my head.

french toast has a lot of carbs, i rather eat my protein pancakes then a slab of bread on syrup

 

[Yousef]

french toast has a lot of carbs, i rather eat my protein pancakes then a slab of bread on syrup

I said that a year ago. I don’t really like French toast that much anymore tbh. It caused me quite a bit grief a while back. Really unpleasant month time for me.
As a general note if you see something I wrote last year I probably forgot I said it or changed my mind slightly on it.

 

[Nebulon_Galaxy]

I said that a year ago. I don’t really like French toast that much anymore tbh. It caused me quite a bit grief a while back. Really unpleasant month time for me.

Yeah, i was combing the forums and when i posted that responds i wasn't aware how old these posts are. STILL pancakes have never failed me. even if i barely eat breakfast, its my go to happiness meal

 

[Yousef]

Yeah, i was combing the forums and when i posted that responds i wasn't aware how old these posts are. STILL pancakes have never failed me. even if i barely eat breakfast, its my go to happiness meal

Yeah, I included another edit in my comment earlier while you were replying to expand a bit on my thoughts. you can scroll a bit if you want.
I generally just go for chapatti these days but it’s difficult to describe what it’s like to westerners. It’s a slightly fatty flat bread that’s pretty great and is usually dipped here with a cream called geymar, another local thing. Most western breakfast/lunch options aren’t favored here and seen as a little too greasy or expensive. Chapatti tastes great and is only a couple of cents, great when financially low. Kabsa rice is common for lunch.

 

[WesternYokai]

I don't like all the usage of the word "America" to denote just the US.

 

[Ikagura Ikagura]

I don't like all the usage of the word "America" to denote just the US.

While I understand since technically Mexico and Canada are also America let's be honest: the USA had a massive cultural influence over the world.

This is the same reason why in Antiquity we could say Rome for the Roman Empire even outside of Rome itself.

I'd still won't say "Acktyually it's the United States of America not America" each time someone says it.

 

[Nebulon_Galaxy]

Yeah, I included another edit in my comment earlier while you were replying to expand a bit on my thoughts. you can scroll a bit if you want.
I generally just go for chapatti these days but it’s difficult to describe what it’s like to westerners. It’s a slightly fatty flat bread that’s pretty great and is usually dipped here with a cream called geymar, another local thing. Most western breakfast/lunch options aren’t favored here and seen as a little too greasy or expensive. Chapatti tastes great and is only a couple of cents, great when financially low. Kabsa rice is common for lunch.

the problem with something that cheap for me is that it doesn't fill me up. I consume so many calories and burn so much in a small amount of time. Explains why I can't gain any weight. It's going to cost me more than a few cents if I visit your area!

 

[WesternYokai]

While I understand since technically Mexico and Canada are also America let's be honest: the USA had a massive cultural influence over the world.

This is the same reason why in Antiquity we could say Rome for the Roman Empire even outside of Rome itself.

I'd still won't say "Acktyually it's the United States of America not America" each time someone says it.

I don't bother to rectify this lol. It's just annoying and creates an strange feeling of ostracism for us from the south america.

 

[Tonberry]

I don't like all the usage of the word "America" to denote just the US.

Yeah, this one goes both ways. I get annoyed when non-Europeans refer to Europe as EU, because to us it’s an actual institution (the European Union, which not every European country is part of) more than an abbreviation like US, they’re not 100% interchangeable.

It’s also weird when yanks say ”We went on vacation to Europe!” when they only went to Paris for example. Europe isn’t a system of states like the US, they are independent countries.
It’s like saying you went on vacation to Asia, when you only went to Tokyo. It’s not wrong, but it’s also kinda wrong lol

 

[Strategist's icon Strategist Strategist]

While I understand since technically Mexico and Canada are also America let's be honest: the USA had a massive cultural influence over the world.

This is the same reason why in Antiquity we could say Rome for the Roman Empire even outside of Rome itself.

I'd still won't say "Acktyually it's the United States of America not America" each time someone says it.

Let's be real, it is because of the imperial ambition of the United States that occasionally rears its ugly head. Some of the past heads of government believed in some crazy shit like "Manifest Destiny" and believed the entire continent should be part of the same nation.

Part of that imperial ambition involved the conquering of the place I call home.

 

[Ikagura Ikagura]

I don't bother to rectify this lol. It's just annoying and creates an strange feeling of ostracism for us from the south america.

I understand the feeling but South America is more clearly separated despite that it's the same continent (minus Panama).

It's the same reason why when we say Asia we're implying the Eastern side with China, Korea and Japan, not the India subcontinent, Siberia nor the Arabic Peninsula despite being part of the same landmass.

Yeah, this one goes both ways. I get annoyed when non-Europeans refer to Europe as EU, because to us it’s an actual institution (the European Union, which not every European country is part of) more than an abbreviation like US, they’re not 100% interchangeable.

Despite the Cold War being over we still have, in Europe, a psychological separation of West and East (mostly with the ex-USSR countries and ex-Yugoslavia) due to the lifestyle and wealth.

Let's be real, it is because of the imperial ambition of the United States that occasionally rears its ugly head. Some of the past heads of government believed in some crazy shit like "Manifest Destiny" and believed the entire continent should be part of the same nation.

Part of that imperial ambition involved the conquering of the place I call home.

I would prefer avoiding going into a political talk about what happened in the last two decades (and a half) but I'd also argue that the US has had a massive influence over the world that technically even Europe got soft powered from the US with how many cultural things we got from them (from movies to consumable products such as food, toys, etc...).

They went full paranoia when Japan had the Speculative Bubble (as seen in many 80's movie showing how Japan may have conquered the industry) until its burst so they did what they could to prevent getting companies bought by them.

 

[Tonberry]

Despite the Cold War being over we still have, in Europe, a psychological separation of West and East (mostly with the ex-USSR countries and ex-Yugoslavia) due to the lifestyle and wealth.

True, but many of those are just also internal geographical and cultural definitions. Like how Denmark is ”northern” Europe even though it’s on the same latitude as Scotland.

 

[DeadVoivod]

Donald Trump.

 

[Ikagura Ikagura]

Donald Trump.

Let's avoid politics.


The only thing I'll say is that you don't manage a state the same way you manage a company, that is all.

 

[Strategist's icon Strategist Strategist]

Donald Trump.

That one is easy to explain. He is a reflection of the values of the majority of people in certain regions of the United States.

 

[Spike's iconSpike]

We don't do politics here and this thread inevitably goers that way.