Weird American Customs That The Rest of the World Doesn't Understand..

[@tonycasey3183]

The Pledge Of Allegiance thing in schools always feels a bit "North Korea" to me.

[@karstenbursak8083]

Or 1930s Germany … wich the US might not be far away from after the last election

[@Apophis371]

the us has brought in alot of Nazi's after the war, its logical if u think about it.

[@marcbaur677]

What, Harris doesnt win, or did she? Stop watching german Mainstream TV,. 🤣

[@crusaderh5502]

wtf are you an about i dont get your point ?​@@marcbaur677 + your point is dum bc trump takes the same steps as hitler you dont even need to watch tv to see that, a history book is Good enough.

[@fabr5747]

A bit? A BIT???

[@ramadaxl]

A friend of mine was in the USA at some event or other where they had the 'pledge'. He stood ( out of courtesy ) but did not do the pledge...and got called out for it...until he told them that 'pledging allegiance' to another country could actually be classed as Treason in the UK.

[@Tyu-f1s]

well, if he's not usaian, pledging allegiance to foreign flag is an act of treason.

[@flitsertheo]

As a civil servant I pledged loyalty to my king (which counts as a job contract for life) so pledging allegiance to another country or its leader would indeed be considered treason.

[@Asmodis4]

we had that in the 30s in germany. didnt worked out so well, so, we scraped it.

[@GrouchoEngels]

@@Asmodis4 We had WHAT in the 30s in Germany?

[@AnnetteLudke-je5ll]

OMG!!! 😱

[@24magiccarrot]

Not having the tax included on the price on items in stores is a weird practise.

[@annika5893]

Absolutely this.

[@gagada124]

Having pride in your Country isn't saying a pledge or continually waving thousands of flags every day. Thats propoganda. What is the old saying, "Empty kettles make the most noise".

[@mistycrom]

I have never heard that saying before, but it's really good.

[@karstensjstrmclausen1100]

@@mistycrom In Denmark we have kind of same saying: "Empty barrels rumble the most".

[@aussie6910]

We say "Empty ships".

[@mikkomalinen2641]

@@karstensjstrmclausen1100 Same in Finland.

[@DANCERcow]

Got it, you have no pride in your country or its people! Globalist cuck

[@desperadox7565]

Forcing kids to say the pledge of allegiance is the most fucked up shit of all. The Nazis did it in my country, people in a free country never would.

[@ceejay0137]

They even get upset at public events when foreigners don't join in! Dude, I'm British. If I have to swear allegiance to any flag, it won't be yours.

[@MARCBOIREAU]

Only free pledge of allegiance have value. Forcing plege have no value.

[@KevinWynsma]

All the way thru school only said the pledge in school a couple times and that was just to learn it. Never said it again.

[@lsax1028]

​@@ceejay0137that's a lie

[@krinkrin5982]

I've read somewhere that this was exactly the reason the US started doing it. They were afraid that people would look at Germans and think 'that thing they are doing is so cool, let's join them', so they preemptively forced the 'correct one' on everybody.

[@stephenfowles9541]

In the US, having an American flag outside of your house says 'This is the home of a true patriot'. In the UK displaying a union flag just says, 'this is the home of a total nutter'.

[@TheRealRedAce]

Or of a different four letter word beginning with "N" that social media doesn't like.

[@ObIitus]

So, same thing in both countries.

[@ninemoonplanet]

😆 agree. If you're a citizen of any country, you shouldn't have to "prove" it by using a piece of cloth. 🤪

[@wowkir]

In Denmark, it’s very common to have a flag pole in your backyard, which to many foreigners looks sickeningly patriotic. But it’s more a question of hygge and tradition, not nationalism. We have flags everywhere, but it’s honestly just a very innocent kind of celebration (like for birthdays).

[@charlotteinnocent8752]

In Ireland, the only flags you see are the county flags to show which hurling team you support. They get patriotic on March 17th, and the rest of the year they are normal. Unless the rugby team is playing... I hate the US flag thing. It seems like this wierd thing where if someone doesn't have a flag out they are peer pressured to an absurd amount and treated like some kind of traitor. They seem to feel hanging a flag equates being a "good person" a "patriotic" person. I have news: IT. DOESN'T. It is a completely empty gesture.

[@XtreeM_FaiL]

#9 If a soldier isn't old enough to drink, isn't he technically a child soldier?

[@GuZ76]

If you are seventeen and sent to Vietnam and are most likely to die, you certainly are a child soldier. This is a very sensitive topic I believe! :)

[@Shoomer88]

In the UK you can drink at 16 in a pub if having food and are accompanied by an adult. At home the legal age is 5 (that's not a typo it's five). Although we don't have too many 5 year old soldiers.

[@TheEndrass]

according to some studies or organisations you are official an adult with 25, in that case ....

[@skasteve6528]

I think the criteria should be if he or she is old enough to buy a drink.

[@Searover749]

@@TheEndrass more and more people never become adults, and act like spoilt kids all their life....even some presidents...

[@Divig]

1. It would suck even more to have a stillborn if one would have to go home and see all the baby-gifts from friends and family.

[@baumgrt]

Maybe this is where the bad luck part is coming from. In the past, child mortality was much higher and a lot of children (and mothers) would die during birth or shortly after. I can see how giving gifts before birth could be considered tempting fate.

[@maireweber]

This! For the same reason, German couples usually only announce a pregnancy after 12 weeks. Most miscarriages occur in the first trimester. That's why I find it so weird when Amercians, especially those having a hard time concieving, proudly announce "I'm 6 weeks pregnant!". Like, girl, that's usually the easy part...

[@youtube-handle-are-a-joke]

Exactly what came to my mind as to why it's a bad idea.

[@herstoryanimated]

​@@baumgrtit's still relatively high, the US having the highest mortality rate for all high income countries, and mortality rates for maternal mortality rising since 1990.

[@baumgrt]

@@herstoryanimated I was thinking about late mediaeval to early modern times, where most such beliefs originate from. I’m not terribly surprised about the US stats, though. From what I hear, health care is not really affordable for a lot of people. Recent legislation targeting reproductive medicine will certainly worsen the situation even further.

[@TheRealRedAce]

Its hard not to get the impression that the USA is a bit sort of "backward" in many ways, when compared to Europe.

[@surfaceten510n]

@@TheRealRedAce Sort of all the gear but no idea.

[@brucewilliams8714]

An interesting thought. To me, it stems from the implicit acceptance of superiority and insularity in the American psyche: We're the best, we don't need others. This is seen in KZbin videos of Americans abroad, unsettled and annoyed because language, food, customs, etc, are not those of America. Sad, really.

[@lsax1028]

Europeans are so smug and superior....for literally no reason.

[@bobh9492]

Backward how? We don’t start 2 of 2 world wars? Hmmm

[@MONKEY_BEAM]

a bit? tell me any other developed country where medical debt and healthcare bankruptcies exist, or one where gunfire is among the leading causes of death for children

[@thierryf67]

the difference in treatment of sex and violence, can be seen (imoa) as an indication of how the violence is part of the US society. but puritanism forbid nudity.

[@Erysea]

Yes, I do think the difference comes from the influence of religious groups, who care about puritanism but not at all about violence

[@walkir2662]

That happens when you send all tehcrazies even the Dutch couldn't stand to the other side of the world and let them unchecked for decades.

[@Anson_AKB]

when looking at age certifications of movies, i saw a movie that was restricted to 18 in germany and the usa. And there were edited/cut versions of the same movie only restricted to 12/13 (FSK12, PG13, thus practically the same considering the available levels). The german version had to cut 30 seconds of violence and none of the nudity, while the US version had to cut 30 seconds of nudity and none of the violence. How can 30 seconds of nudity or 30 seconds of violence be harmless in one country and reduce the age limit by SIX years for the other ?

[@etherealbolweevil6268]

Hang on a minute, there are around 10 'Commandments' one of which concerns killing/violence depending on the translation/language employed which are in the "Book" held up by Protestants, Catholics etc. as their guidance on behaviour. A very pick and mix approach is employed by the 'virtuous'.

[@Phiyedough]

And because social media platforms are based in USA the whole world has to abide by such rules.

[@turtix1029]

For me the pledge of alliance is so disturbing, actual cult behaviour. Even more so that its children doing it. In my country if someone forced us to sing the anthem and swear loyalty to the flag we would call them a nazi.

[@oszustoslaw]

In my country we do this on special days. American way looks like indoctrination.

[@johnchristmas7522]

@@oszustoslaw IT IS!

[@Itsukazutrap]

In my country we do it for sports events representing our country. Like football matches. When the national team plays. Not just a city

[@mhh7544]

Actually they were, but that was during the 30s

[@deperditus]

Here in Funland you have to sing the national anthem and you get added to the shitlist of everyone if you think the country taking care of you isnt good enough to get some respect. Honestly if you like the country so little that you cant bring yourself for even little nationalism and you think that is nazism please leave to some country that is better.

[@janetlynch1170]

9yr old Australian living in the U.S. got in trouble for not saying the pledge. I assured the teacher that child MUST be respectful, but wd NOT b pledging to another country’s flag🇺🇸.… we were expats working there for 3yrs. Teacher was offended. I then asked if she wd pledge to 🇦🇺 if living there temporarily. Teacher was now HORRIFIED…quote “I am a proud American”! But apparently, we shd coerce a 9yo to pledge to 🇺🇸. NO CLUE!

[@isaw9969]

5:30 i have a theory about this. In europe, in almost every big city you will find a statue of either a naked man or woman. the classic sculptors made nude sculptures. naked beaches are often located just beside normal beaches, so everything is technically in full view. nudity isnt inherently sexualised here as it is in America

[@yannicklucas1836]

Meanwhile in the US you mostly found statue of slaves owner in the south states.

[@Itsukazutrap]

Funny thing is, in France it is theoretically forbidden to be topless in an urban area. Yet people do it (running,...). But on screen it's okay. In the US, some states allow almost full nudity. But on screen, a tit is already too much

[@ruthfischer7615]

You realize that antique statues actually wore physical clothes made of cloth that later rotted, right? Since people did not know that they made more statues in that image. Nude bodies are normal and I love that even when I'm on the shier side in art I'm used to it but it happens in saunas for example, too.

[@AlexLR]

It's religious. A big part of that is the inability to question your beliefs logically.

[@shaunfarrell3834]

@@ruthfischer7615 Fascinating, and what evidence have you for this novel contention? When they wanted a statue clothed or partially clothed it was carved that way!

[@mavadelo]

Pledge of allegiance: Your are not basically the only country doing that... you are the only "officially not a dictatorship (yet)" country doing that. It is pretty normal in countries like North Korea and China. Monitoring Children: Americans "Why fix the problem if we just can make our kids miserable instead"

[@mariuszmoraw3571]

Also allowing bullies to harass victims. And then they are suprised why there's a lot of kids doing target practice in schools...

[@Dr_KAP]

China is far from a dictatorship these days lol. South Korea, Mexico and the Phillipines also pledge allegiance by the way.

[@user-aero68]

@@Dr_KAP China is still quite the dictatorship, at its best the system is still a highly authoritarian one party system and god forbid anyone try to cross it

[@walkir2662]

@@Dr_KAP Meh, most people are stuck in the 70s and think they're still communist. Then again, Americans would probably think Bismarck was communist if they know the name as anything but a ship.

[@Goldenhawk583]

@@walkir2662 the CCP is still the communist party of China, and they control the while country, no other political parties exist ( as far as I know), and they are not communist?

[@theflyingdutchguy9870]

i have never understood the tax thing. it feels like the US government tries their best to either put as many people as possible in prison or in debt, or both.

[@renehartung8877]

Americans spend billions every year for programms and/or consultants that help them get their tax right. And thats why every try of any government to change that was blocked by massiv lobbying.

[@EwMatias]

You'll think I'm shitting you, but it's TurboTax and other tax software companies lobbying Congress to make sure their products remain necessary. The IRS actually would prefer to just send you a bill and for you to just pay it and keep it simple. But that would leave a whole cottage industry out of jobs...

[@HubiKoshi]

Considering how US has one of the highest incarceration rates in the world and more official prisoners than China? You are not wrong.

[@peggedyourdad9560]

@@HubiKoshi Our prisons are privately owned for the most part so there's more incentive to have as many prisoners as possible. Slavery is also technically legal here as long as it is a punishment for a crime so we also use inmate labor for a variety of things. Yes, it is very messed up.

[@elifia]

Aren't American prisons for-profit and basically legal slavery? That seems like something that might be an incentive to send more people to prison.

[@GazilionPT]

Regarding the Pledge of Allegiance: in my country we had a dictatorship for 48 years - and even they were not brainwashy enough to force our kids a daily pledge of allegiance to the country.

[@paulocarvalho6480]

No, but I had to sing the national anthem every morning just before the start of school hours.

[@fjmmc9907]

@@paulocarvalho6480 Every morning? Me, I did have to do it only on saturdays. Until the 25A we did have classes saturday morning. And there yes, we did have to sing the national anthem. And until 1970 we did also have military drills, marching.... whatever 😅

[@snafufubar]

The pledge was only introduced in the 1950s along with in god we trust being put on the money. It was during the great communist hunt by McCarthy that in the end turned out to be false.

[@infin8ee]

​@@fjmmc9907I had to do a pledge, salute the flag, march to class etc and that was primary school in Australia in the 70's.

[@AndrewFishman]

@@infin8ee Our small all boys school, a Marist Primary school of maybe 100 students, had its own drum corp that marched us into class in the 70s. We'd sing the anthem, watch the flag being raised and step in time to class. Then we had to learn Advance Australia Fair in 1977 when we got a new anthem >

[@matthiasm165]

Where I'm from, buying things "on credit" means you cannot afford it so you shouldn't buy it in the first place. Credit cards are basically just used for online purchases or subscriptions, because that used to be the only way to be able to pay for stuff online. That has been fading out as well with purchases being paid by just scanning a QR code on your screen with your banking app.

[@KP-rm8eg]

Yes, credit cards are just for online shopping since the 90s. And before that just as an extra option for paying when travelling, e.g. for paying the hotel etc. Otherwise you just pay with your debit card. Or cash. Or bank transaction. Or app. With money you actually have.

[@yannicklucas1836]

I don't know if it's the case in the others countries, but in France what we call credit cards are in fact debit cards (you pay with your debit card and the amount is directly taken from your bank account). And we pay online purchases or subscriptions with debit card too. Credit cards are usually associated with consumer credit and are mostly used for purchases like household appliances or furniture that allows you to pay through 3 or 4 months but with high fees. The US "credit score" system to get a loan is just another ultra capitalist way to take more money from people. Can only happen in the US where their consumer rights protection legislation is as weak as their working rights protection legislation, all of that thanks to corporate money in politics only allowed in the US and considered bribery in the other western countries.

[@AndrewFishman]

@@yannicklucas1836 Credit and debit cards are actually different. Credit means you are getting an extension of a loan of money to cover something you may not have the immediate up front finds for. Debit cards take from what you have without extension of funds you do not have. Debit cards typically do not have an interest rate as you are spending your money (technically you should be gaining money on interest, but banks neuter that in fees). Whereas Credit Cards have an interest payable component on money extended. So a credit and debit card are essentially exactly opposing to each other.

[@solaccursio]

I always use my credit card for almost everything, and the money is taken from my account once a month, no debts or anything, no installments, but the whole sum. The problem with buying things you can't afford happens just if you delay payments.

[@JoriDiculous]

Here (Norway) we more or less only use Debit cards, even online. Even though most of the also have "Visa" etc on them, its the debit used. So when you buy something its pulled off the account almost at once (Can take some days if its weekend shopping, or a short "grace" period in case its a scam). You should however be able to use the CC part of the VIsa if your account is .. low.. but its hard finding shop that supports it or even know how

[@Liggliluff]

(10:20) You having pride in your country is one thing. Forcing propaganda on school children is completely different. That's the level of the Nаzіs and North Korea.

[@elpis_ezechiel]

I've heard of children studying abroad in the US being forced to say the pledge at school while not even being from the USA and just there for a few months or a year. It was so f-ing weird and creepy for them.

[@Alias_Anybody]

The credit thing is honestly hillarious. The way it was described to me that in the US, you need a track record of taking and reliably paying back loans to get more and bigger loans. This is complete madness to the Central European mind where it's generally the best to never have spent money on frivolous things and always stay in the green/net positive (the best loan is no loan). Basically, it sounds like you need to get shot and recover a few times to be allowed to join the army.

[@carolbrookes5748]

It's almost like everything in the US is designed to bankrupt it's citizens - you seem to take capitalism to the nth degree. The more you spend on credit, the more credit companies will lend you; your government spends almost twice as much on health care provision per head than ours does on the NHS, yet you're still expected to take out insurance to cover the cost; there is no statutory minimum wage, so your citizens are expected to close the pay gap by tipping your server (e.g. you pay both product and payroll costs for employers); we have PAYE for income tax (pay as you earn) which the IRS can do but don't because tax accountants have good lobbyists. There's lots that's quirky about the US that I definitely don't get - your lived experience is very different from mine in many respects

[@christopherjensen3034]

It's because its the banks testing if they can make good money on the customers. A person that never gets horrible debt is a bad customer. But a person that keeps high depts and pays the bank a lot for it is good business.

[@FantasticMrFrog]

Exactly, they don't want financially responsible people who don't spend more money than they have. They want cash cows that they can bleed forever with interests.

[@flitsertheo]

In Belgium they check at least one pay slip, if you have other credits outstanding and if you aren't blacklisted.

[@mabus4910]

Exactly. It's good not to get into debt. If you often buy things on credit, it's interpreted as meaning that you can't budget. If you want a loan, the bank will check what debts you already have, how much money you earn and what you want to buy. To get a property loan, you usually have to earn three times the monthly repayments so that the bank can be sure that it will get its money.

[@HairyGhostbear]

Pride (in your country) is something that should be earned, not enforced.

[@rosiefay7283]

I agree. And enforcing a ritual on people won't make them become proud, either.

[@lucylane7397]

Pride in things you didn’t do means you have to take responsibility for things you didn’t do. You can’t have it both ways

[@cnikkor]

If you're a child born in the US (or any country) just by accident. How can you be proud of such a coincidence? I'm born Germany, I'm not proud to be a German, I had nothing to do with becoming one, it's just how it ended up being. I'm happy to be German, it's a great country. I got lucky basically. But an immigrant swimming across the middle sea risking his life, going through all the pain and finally getting a German citizenship or passport, has way more right to be proud of being German then I could ever claim for myself. So for me it doesn't even appear to make sense in any shape or form, how this could be a thing. Unless it's part of some sort of premature manipulation or propaganda. Just like we know from non-democratic countries, which is wierd for a country which is claiming to be the democratic country in the world, so in the end, because of this practice there is even a lower incentive to be proud of it in the first place. I don't get it.

[@hardcorelace7565]

​@@lucylane7397you can be proud of the fact your country has done great things (like in proud that the uk took the initiative to end slavery on a national level) but you can also be disgusted by actions taken by your country in the past (I hope I don't have to explain that in context to the uk). And you can celebrate the first as long as you accept and remember that the second happened and try to ensure it doesnt happen again.

[@colonicus]

@hardcorelace7565 I don't get how I can be "proud" of someone else, especailly people years ago, for doing something. I'm not their dad. I can have respect for it, and do respect people who put their lives on the line for others or who fought for positive change etc., but being proud of them to me puts me above them as some sort of arbiter or judge. You can be proud of friends and family achieving something, or being tough in the face of adversity, but being proud of your country is a bit wierd. The same with being ashamed because people from your country did something terrible. It wasn't me, and if it happened now I'd fight them, so why should I be ashamed just because I was born a few miles down the road from where monstrerous people lived? It always seems very strange and a bit self-centred to me. Pride and shame to me are very personal things, like being ashamed of your past actions or proud of how much effort you put into something.

[@Janduin45]

7:00 The experience of doing the taxes as an average joe worker in sweden is very different than what it seems like in the U.S. Here you log onto the tax agency website, instantly see how much tax you owe or get in return, sign with the identification app on your phone and it's done. Literally a 2-3 minute thing with no hassle what so ever.

[@SuperStreetWarrior]

Did you borrowed that system from Estonia?

[@laurencefraser]

For income tax in New Zealand, if you're just a regular employee with a regular job, your tax handling consists of... making sure you're signed up in the right tax bracket and then completely ignoring it until such time as your sitaution changes such that you need to change which tax bracket you're registered as being in. Oh, and if you make charitable donations, keep the reciptes, you can claim a third of it back from the government (capped at the amount of tax you paid that year) if the charity in question is registered here. (there's some fun win-win-win shenanigans there where public services are provided (mostly support for the poor or disabled, but also various community facilities and events via churches and other institutions, environmental conservation projects,a nd various other htings), people get 'free' money, and the government gets to include part of any relevant charitable donations as counting towards it's internatonal aid obligations

[@xandraxandra1437]

​@SuperStreetWarrior If that's true, thank you Estonia 😊

[@lucylane7397]

We don’t even do anything in the uk it just all happens automatically

[@krinkrin5982]

In Poland you have to fill in a tax return form, but: 1. If you are a regular employee, most of it is pre-filled for you by the employer 2. You get a brochure with exact instructions from the tax agency together with the form 3. If you mess up anyway, they will contact you and tell you exactly where you messed up, so you can file a correction at no charge. This is done so that the government gets informed about all of your income sources, and you can declare all the different benefits you are eligible for, but for the regular people who only have their job, it is made as easy as possible.

[@GdzieJestNemo]

For Poland - School/Uni sports in Poland are close to irrelevant. They got no following outside the participants and are more like a hobby. It's not an academic field so it has no impact on academic related stuff like uni enrollment. You can however get scholarships/prizes for sport achievements - baby showers are not only weird but also a no-no (similar to giving birthday wishes before birthday) as it's seen as a way to jinx it. It's a preemptive celebration - white is also reserved only for the bride - Ice dilutes the drink. It's supposed to be chilled not chilled and diluted

[@janis7077]

The reason why uni sports don't matter too much in Europe is because there is no draft to the professional leagues. If you're good enough, you'll be playing professionally when you're university aged.

[@Drew-Dastardly]

The most important thing here is loads of ice cubes dilute the drink and everyone in Europe knows it is a total scam. The only reason it can not be a scam in the USA is because they have ludicrously huge cartons for cheap and free refills. This is only something I found in EU/UK Costco. But I never used the free refill because I had to drive there and back and don't want to piss myself in my car. Thankfully we just get a normal drink without tonnes of ice cubes.

[@yannicklucas1836]

@@janis7077 It's because of the clubs culture in Europe. Professional sports clubs have an amateur section which include the different young age category teams and later the best young join the formation center of the pro club. US franchises relly on draft from College / University sports teams to recrut their players. It's also the reason why european basket players are more and more dominant in the NBA. In Europe, the best 17-18yo players are already playing in the professional team, play against professional players and are ready earlier than americans young players who only play against other young players in college/university and only start playing against pro when they join the NBA. Not really the case in the other US sports as they are insignifficant in Europe (US Football, Baseball, etc...) because they are boring to watch for european sports fans... basically a giant 3h commercial sometimes interrupted by 30secondes of actual game play...😂😂😂

[@Anson_AKB]

@@Drew-Dastardly yes, and cold/freezing temperatures also kill the taste (on beverages including wine, on cheese, and on many other foods). i can drink "fridge cold" or a little warmer coke, but for pepsi (and coke light/zero, etc) it has to be freezing cold to not have a bad taste and aftertaste for me.

[@TheRockkickass]

What’s the size of the polish economy again? I’ll wait.

[@carro-xb9oz]

if i call in sick..im sick so its not my job to get someone go in for me its up to the boss or company ure working for

[@walkir2662]

Yep. The only time I have to care about someone caring for my "shift" is making sure not to take leave in a way that leaves the office empty. In other words, common sense and not being a jerk. If I call in sick, even that doesn't matter, though. Sick is sick.

[@michaelboyce7079]

@@walkir2662 If there aren't enough people to cover for you when you're off sick or on leave, you're employer is understaffed. IOW - their problem, not yours!

[@Debbie76]

Yes, the only time it's your responsibility to get someone to cover your shift is if you want to swap days off for whatever reason. If you're ill, then the manager needs to manage the situation and find cover or prioritise tasks for the remaining staff (or even roll up their sleeves and pitch in themselves if possible)

[@esaedvik]

Yup. If I'm sick, I'm sick. No matter if it's emotional sick or back pain, I'm out. I just send a message to my boss and it's fine, I can be off for 3 days straight. Fully paid.

[@dyslexiccowoom3991]

I agree that it should be that way here. For anyone interested in why it is not like that, the reason is because America has a very deeply ingrained "self-reliance" ideology. No one is ever supposed to have to care for you and vice-versa. They market it as "being in control of your own destiny" or "the entrepreneurial spirit". No matter the circumstances, you should never become a burden, financial or otherwise, on someone else. As if it's a choice. Honestly, I guess some people would say that it is a choice. Religion here is mainly a punishment based Christianity, so your own choices lead you to hell or salvation, and by that same logic, your own choices led you to not care for yourself properly or to not have the financial means to care for yourself. I believe that it started as a valiant and noble ideal born from harsh times of survival and expansion, but in modern times seems very selfish. Taking charity is seen as a failure, as you are unable to provide for yourself. There's many other factors into why this ideology is so prevalent, but the main point is that the worker being sick is seen as an inconvenience to their manager already, so they should not be further burdened with finding your replacement for the day. Not to mention, you're only allowed, usually 6 paid sick days a year. How many illnesses last only 1 or 2 days at a time? The whole thing is contradictory and maddening.

[@magillanz]

The weird things in USA are High School Graduation events also adding taxes at checkout instead of having the tax included in the stated price.

[@MusicalInquisit]

The sales tax makes sense to me because I actually know how much I’m being taxed, one of the few times I know (non-example being the income tax system). VAT can hide how much is being taxed out of you. It just screams like you can hide the amount, where certain items are more variable. At least with sales tax, I know right away. Also, high school graduations are a big deal in many countries too? I’m pretty sure Japan also has those graduation ceremonies, although not as grand. Plus, high school is a turning point in most people’s lives.

[@leadpaintchips9461]

@@MusicalInquisit Nah, the whole thing about taxes is to make it easier on businesses when they cross regional taxes. It's not there to make it easier to 'check' the various levels of government.

[@ericlayton8888]

The tax thing absolutely baffles me. If something is stated to cost a certain amount and then you’re charged more, that’s a scam

[@antonf.9278]

​@@MusicalInquisitI also know how much of my bill is tax, because it says it below the price. But I also know how much stuff actually costs when I stand at the shelf.

[@MusicalInquisit]

@antonf.9278 while it does state how much you are taxed, what it doesn’t state is that your employer also gets taxed the other half, so if the tax didn’t exist, then you would actually have twice the amount they took from you. The Social Security tax is split between employers and employees, each paying 6.2 percent of wages up to the taxable maximum of $168,600 (in 2024), while the self-employed pay 12.4 percent. Now, it could be possible you are not going to get more, but if you are self-employed, you are definitely screwed, and you still need to determine the amount anyway. EDIT: I just realized you were talking about something else, but what I said also applies.

[@lisehansen8875]

No baby showers in Denmark, bad luck is the risk of loosing the baby, so we wait until the baby is born

[@PavelD83]

I guess I get the superstition when like 1 in 4 kids used to die at birth. It’s quite ironic that this superstition prevails in European countries and not in the USA because IIRC the US has much higher rates of infant mortality than most of the countries in the developed world.

[@AnnetteLudke-je5ll]

Exactly!!!!!!🇩🇪

[@sharonmartin4036]

Once tradition becomes entrenched it would take a lot to change it, and for something simple like a baby shower, why fix what ain't broke?

[@keefsmiff]

Used to be like that in the UK too.

[@Pfooh]

In the Netherlands, I wouldn't know if it's considered 'bad luck', but it's kind of bad taste. You never celebrate something that didn't happen yet. You don't throw a birthday party before your birthday, only after. The same goes for this.

[@Henrik_Holst]

Sports are usually disconnected from school in Europe. The gymnasium might be on school property (since schools still have PE) but the sport activity itself is done outside of school hours and by sport federations not affiliated with any school, they just happen to utilize the school gymnasium when the school is closed. Also the thing with high scool sports in the US is that the athletes are forbidden from having a salary (due to being kids) so the schools rake in billions in profit, thus the schools have a major incentive to make the high school championships popular.

[@flitsertheo]

And we don't consider cheerleading as a "sport".

[@gabrielaribeiro6155]

That's pretty much how it works in Portugal. There are some schools with sports teams, and inter-school competitions (training and competition are always after school hours/saturdays), but it's all very low scale stuff. As you mentioned, most kids who want to do sports will go to sports federations/academies.

[@Dreyno]

School sports are important in Ireland. But not university sports. Nobody cares about that. By university age you’re already playing at the top level if you’re good enough.

[@JoriDiculous]

Same in Norway. But we have special "sports" gymnasiums ( as they are called), where the more top athletes go. Mainly since its is impossible to combine normal school with being a top athlete.

[@claudiakarl2702]

@@JoriDiculousWe have those in Germany too. First league football clubs often have arrangements with different schools in their town too.

[@mrbaker1739]

Toilets use potable water (treated), the more you use the more that goes into the sewer. The more sewerage the more that has to be treated. Having a lower level in the toilet saves water, saves the amount of water to be treated, lowers the amount of sewerage to be treated and there saves money.

[@HappyBeezerStudios]

and then there is splash protection.

[@ezraabbadon5082]

I'm from germany. Celebrating or congratulating someone on something that hasn't happened yet is seen as jinxing it. Be it birthdays or something else. Ive walked to school myself since i was 6. I lived max 10 minutes away, and you usually end up meeting other kids on the way. But i also know that some of the kids took the public bus by themselves at that age.

[@Drew-Dastardly]

10 minutes walk and they used the public bus? Is this why we are totally infected with pathetic troons?:

[@KP-rm8eg]

Yeah, celebrating before it happened... Like celebrating a graduation before the final exams. Like a house warming party before you've moved. Well, Americans buy stuff before they have the money too (on credit)...

[@marzok9632]

​@@Drew-DastardlyObviously he wasn't saying this? You only imply it - but why? What he was indeed telling: HE was walking around 10 minutes to school, while there were also children who take the bus (without ANY connection to the distance they lived away).

[@ezraabbadon5082]

@@Drew-Dastardly obviously I meant that some used the bus because they lived further away. . And we had a few kids with different disabilities, that had issues with walking. It is fascinating that you've immediately jumped to that conclusion...

[@samuelpinder1215]

Here in the UK, we do wish people happy birthday before if we're not going to see them on their birthday (maybe they're going away for their birthday, or they're only having family or something) and you say 'happy birthday for' and then the day of week it will be. So 'happy birthday for Tuesday' if you see them on the Sunday

[@kevanwillis4571]

An American thing, that has happened to me many times over the years, is within ten minutes of meeting someone, they then introduce you to a third party as 'a very good friend of mine'. 'No, I'm not a 'very good friend, fck off!'

[@ileana8360]

Yep, it seems there is almost no distinction drawn between friend, acquaintance, colleague or family member. Everybody is BFF and over the top friendly and chatty BUT it seems to lack substance. I just don´t get it. In Germany it is a sign of respect to name the relationship correctly instead of faking to be "best friends".

[@BoredSquirell]

It's just a difference in terminology. Americans use "friend" for what the rest of English speakers say "acquaintance". It's ok I guess, just a difference in dialect. What I find hard is to determine what a really emotionally close person is called because they don't have a separate word for that, they also say "friend".

[@gabrielaribeiro6155]

@@BoredSquirell took me quite a while to figure that one, but it's just as you put it, a difference in terminology. It sunk in for me while watching a tv show set in the 1800's - the word "friend" was used to signify "not a stranger/enemy".

[@Herzschreiber]

to me this is "abusing" the word friend /friendship. Aquaintances would be okay but following the German interpretation, a friend is a person as close as your relatives, if not even closer sometimes. Because concerning your family you cannot chose, but when it is about friendships you can!

[@januszlepionko]

​@@ileana8360 In Poland it's the same as in Germany.

[@PizzaMineKing]

Fun fact: the imperial system as used in practical application is based on the metric system, the metric system, however, is based on universal constants that do not change. A pound is defined as 0.4536 kilograms, a kilogram is originally defined as the weight of a liter of water, but has been redefined step by step to depend only on universal constants now (for anyone interested, it's using the plank constant in the unit (kg m²)/s, defining meter by the speed of light in vacuum and second based on the vibration interval of caesium atoms

[@marlyd]

The good thing about extracurricular activities being mostly disconnected from school means that if you don't fit in at your school, you can have hobbies and make friends completely outside of school and potential bullying. People don't like you at school? You can have a while different social life with zero overlapse for sports and other hobbies.

[@Henrik46]

*overlap

[@cnikkor]

We still have activities outside regular school lectures. A lot of kids do some sort of sport or art. It's quiet common as far as I'm aware and people/families put a lot of time and effort into it and are very proud. But at the same time it's not such a big deal for everyone in your class or school. Can be life-changing in the same way high school activities can be. It's just more suttle and quieter.

[@madness3025]

I agree, but it also makes it so that kids in a worse financial situation don't get to do it at all, because the activity centres are always so ridiculously expensive (in some countries, at least). I would have loved to have music lessons, or learn martial arts, for example. But I never had that option because schools don't have that "club culture" and outside places are insanely expensive. There's positives and negatives to both, I suppose! It would be nice to have the options both in and outside of school! :)

[@cnikkor]

@madness3025 but on the other hand, today kids have easy access to all kinds of stuff via KZbin, you can basically learn everything from free content in the internet and probably find like minded people nearby or connect with them, like you would do traditionally. Has its downsides as well, no doubt. But I never had the money for clubs and stuff and we were playing soccer, basketball, chess, swimming, cycling, whatever anyway, we didn't earn a trophy or anything but we socalized and improved some sort of skill. Money should never be an excuse. Nearby we have a public soccer field, and it's full every day, with people of all ages, all backgrounds, just enjoying the game working out. At times the whole family is there, it's lovely

[@madness3025]

@@cnikkor Absolutely, you can find people who have the same interests as you and use the community to create bonds and learn. It's not about the trophies, of course. But it still doesn't seem fair that some kids don't get the same chances just because they don't have the money. KZbin videos don't exactly teach you the same, and some things are just not even achievable that way, such as martial arts. I agree the sense of community can help, but not everyone is fortunate enough to live in a good community or neighbourhood, and not having the chance to be a part of those things because you have financial issues is simply not fair for the kids. Still, I was fortunate enough to have a super supportive mum who put some money aside for a long while so that she could finally gift me a guitar a couple of Christmases ago, and I've been teaching myself since! Not an easy feat, but goes to show that support will always matter most! ❤️

[@MickeyStartraveller]

The USA is a weird place... I just saw a police video where they arrested a woman because her 10 year old kid walked alone to his destination. That's bizarre. Another great story, a 19 year old girl was not allowed to enter a club where they served alcohol, so they made her sign a contract as a stripper, so she could get in but she had to "work". I also saw the police not allowing a drunk person to walk home, they wanted him to call a taxi or go to jail. Insane!

[@GoldenCroc]

Sure it might seem weird, but the stories above could have happened in quite literally any other western and/or english speaking nation. Nothing really US exclusive about it being possible.

[@normieloser6969]

@@GoldenCroc No, actually. Maybe Canada. What other western country do you think these could happen in?

[@Archangel591]

@@GoldenCroc Huh? In what other country isn't a 10 year old allowed to go anywhere alone? To the point where they'll arrest your parent for neglect? Like shit, I was leaving home at 5 years old to go out and play with friends. Back when there were no cell phones or anything. Everyone's parents basically crossed their fingers that the kids didn't wander too far from the familiar neighbourhood, lol. Even during winter when it was pitch dark at 3pm, we were playing in the snow as a group of 5-6 year olds, roaming the area, looking for better snow. Our parents had no clue where we were. Nobody really cared. They knew we'd come home when we got hungry. And 19 year olds can go drinking in the club in most countries. I got a job as a bouncer at a nightclub when I was 19, and partied there all the time on my days off. And cops around here will never take you to jail just for being too drunk. As long as you're not bothering anyone, you're free to stumble about all you want. Hell, the cops might even give you a lift home if it's a slow day, because taking your ass to jail is way too much hassle for them.

[@lesleycarney8868]

I thought that case of the 10 year old not being allowed to walk half a mile to his local small town was a bit crazy too. USA is a mad place.

[@EitBitSF]

@@GoldenCroc 1st and 2nd case - absolutely not. 1st - unless that child is neglected and/or put at risk, for example by leaving it in the middle of the woods, nothing will happen to the parent. A 10 year old child is capable of walking to school or to a store, do groceries and come back home. 2nd - In any other country, unless she's blak-out drunk or causing trouble, they would let her in instead of making her sign a contract to become a stripper in said club just to get in. 3rd case - unless belligerent, causing a disturbance or actively breaking a law - law enforcement will just leave you be to do your own thing when you're drunk

[@jomialsipi]

The pledge isn't pride in your country, that would be the national anthem. It's super creepy and disturbing.

[@LearnTechnicalSketching-y1e]

In the UK, it is not only considered bad lick to give baby gifts before birth, but also poor judgement, because if there is a problem with the pregnancy, say a miscarriage, then the distressed parents, especially the mother to be is left with items that are unusable and a reminder of what may have been if the baby had survived possibly deepening the sadness or trauma. Gifts are given after a healthy, successful birth, to celebrate that birth and support the new parents. HOA in the UK - no way. Not responsible enough to drink at 18, but responsible enough to drive at 16 and buy guns at 18, no questions asked in some States.We all have pride in our country but we don't have to chant a Pledge of Allegiance every day, Sounds a bit like 1930 Germany of present North Korea.

[@kathrynabbott5032]

My mother was concerned when my sister bought her pushchair prior to the birth of her baby.

[@kathrynabbott5032]

My mother was concerned when my sister bought her pushchair prior to the birth of her baby.

[@suepoole8323]

I did the knitting and crochet thing, but bought nothing, crib, pram etc all came in the week after my 1st was born, all my 4 were Christened at around 2 weeks of age so gifts came then from friends and family at the after party

[@samuelpinder1215]

​@@suepoole8323christening? I guess they were born a while ago. When it was fine to force religion onto children

[@laurencefraser]

Used to be in NZ you could drive (learners permit) at 15, but not drink* until 21 or so. They lowered the drinking age and raised the minimum age for driving... which is a bit of a problem because previously people actually got used to driving and had time to get most of the 'impared judgement because teenager' issues out of their system before the possiblity of booze was introduced to the mix. Mind you, it's not to say that having the drinking age be that high or the driving age be that low are ideal or reasonable independently, just that gap between the two was beneficial. *well, you could drink at basically any age... under your gardian's supervision and at their descretion. Couldn't just go buy your own booze or sit around drinking unsupervised, though).

[@Robert-e9m8r]

I went on business to Texas and the firm hired me a Ford F250 truck for 4 weeks. Absolutely no need for that massive thing as I work in software development and was literally taking a laptop to the office each day. In the UK I drive a mini

[@heneagedundas]

It's like they told you to take a bus, but you have to drive it yourself.

[@SatanKlause]

emmission regulations are different for trucks than for cars in USA ..soo US manufacturers heavily marketed trucks and SUVs because they are much cheaper to produce.

[@jacksonmagas9698]

​@@SatanKlauseit's not that they are cheaper, but that the profits on them are higher because they can sell for more

[@Tepid24]

​@@jacksonmagas9698 They can also sometimes end up actually cheaper in development costs by quite a lot, since a lot of expensive RnD on compact cars goes into reducing emissions. I wouldn't be surprised one bit if the cost of developing a new generation of, say, the VW Polo, costs the company more than it costs Ford to develop a new generation of the F-150.

[@scotthodgins7975]

My biggest problem with pickup trucks, coming from Canada, is that for 6 months of the year you have really horrible traction. That is unless you decide to put a huge heavy weight in the back, which destroys fuel economy. I did drive a pickup in the winter and the number of times my rear end slid out from just normal, easy (not panicked) braking, I couldn't count ... and that was with good winter tires too.

[@helengrierson2978]

In the UK, the price on the shelf is the total. No need to calculate the tax yourself!

[@PurpleAlienPlanet]

Kids here in Finland walk/bike or take the bus to school (not a dedicated school bus, just public transport). They also go out to play yards on their own after school.

[@moondaughter1004]

Same here in Sweden. I took the bus home either alone or with friends. No parental supervision

[@mixlllllll]

Well sometimes parents can drive you to school too but usually not everyday

[@liandren]

Same in Australia, I would hate to go down the path where our children couldn't walk 10 minutes down the street.

[@flitsertheo]

In Belgium schools do run their own buses when public transport is not sufficient. A nearby school managed to find some old MB O303 and later O404 buses from Germany, in very typical colours for that country.

[@101steel4]

Pretty much the same everywhere. It's an American thing to be that obsessed with kidnapping.

[@fridarey]

My daughter's friend was on an exchange in a Texas school. She caused a huge conflict because she didn't say the pledge (of course not, that would be betraying her country!). She was hugely grateful to have the experience in Texas but even some teachers didn't understand why she couldn't say it - they thought she was being disrespectful.

[@sebastianb.3978]

Gotta love the hypocrisy there. They want you to denounce your own country and get upset when you're loyal to YOUR home nation😂 Nevermind the whole pledge of allegiance is something funny mustache man was also really big on...

[@PizzaMineKing]

German here. HOAs here are usually limited to apartment blocks and only do stuff that affect the whole building, like painting the facade when it gets too dirty or handle the contracts with the garbage collectors (city recently outsourced the recycling binto a private company that stated only containers within 15 meters of the road are included, not good for a house full of the elderly and two families all of whom have work on garbage day with a garbage area 50 meters from the street...). we have a row of 4 almost identical buildings here and each has their own HOA to deal with this crap.

[@la-go-xy]

Exactly, appartments belonging to several owners/conodos. They are contracted by the owners and the group of owners has to make the decisions.

[@NotMeButAnother]

Yep, it makes sense for buildings, since apartments can be owned by different people who then have partial ownership of the building and ground, and things that affect the whole building have to be discussed with all owners. What HOAs do in the US is usually the job of the municipal government, but I guess they like privatizing things over there.

[@flatterkatz]

I walked to school every day when I was a kid (it was just a ~15-20 min walk tho). And we played on our own until sundown, somewhere outside. Us kids just went through the whole town and stuff, parents had no idea where we were. And that was before cell phones were a thing. I feel kinda sad for kids nowadays where that is less common. Exploring is half the fun of being a kid

[@walkir2662]

We kids always played at a small, dmaned up creek while our parents were out of sight and yell range - it was in a wooded "nano-canyon" (no idea how to call that section of the land the creek had cut out less than 20m deep) and they were gardening behind a street and on the other side of a few buildings. Not only were there no parents nearby - as the oldest, I was the supervision.

[@claudiakarl2702]

When I was a kid the rule was: go home when the street lights turn on

[@emmaoh4051]

My kids still do. (Not in the US)

[@esaedvik]

Yeah, same. walked and cycled to school from 7 till 17 and wandered off whenever. Zero dangers around where I was living back then (tbh even current place is dead boring). Never had a friend get nabbed, beaten, shot etc. Never seen a gun on the streets, never heard one, no one I know carries or even owns guns. To this day (I'm 47), only had one friend get shot and that was a drunken afterhours fight at a food joint at 4am and the dude just happened to have a .22 on him. Friend just fucked around and found out and got his eye shot off, but lived.

[@claudiakarl2702]

@ I checked the statistics for the USA: about 77% of abducted children get abducted by family ( e.g. former partner) or acquaintances. So families and friends are far more dangerous than strangers.

[@CurtisSmal]

it's the same here in nz with covering shifts too, that's on the manager, it is not my job to ensure the business runs smoothly in my absence.

[@fryke]

Same here in Switzerland. However: It is quite common, that if you have to miss a shift for unforeseen reasons, and you _like_ your workplace, that you'd try to reach a colleague who wasn't working that same day, whether they'd be available, just to make the call to the manager easier for everyone. You'd then also promise to cover one of their shifts, if they had a problem one day. But: It's not your duty, no-one would blame you if couldn't find a replacement or didn't even try.

[@Alakablam]

Same in almost every western country outside the usa, that's literally why the manager gets paid more, to take care of stuff like that.

[@UltraProchy]

@@fryke God i wish more people had respect for their work, or at least the people you work with. I always feel like an idiot because i dont want to annoy my manager with taking a day off when its literally not my problem.

[@MrPaulMorris]

​@@frykeUK view: Even if I wanted to help out my employer by finding someone to cover my absence (for example, if sick) I couldn't do so as I have no idea of my colleagues' contact details. What's more, since my colleagues work the same shift pattern as I do how could they cover my absence anyway? I guess 'covering shifts' would only be relevant in a 24/7 environment or where the majority don't work full time. In a standard 5 day 37.5 hour week, as is common across most of Europe, in the event of absence, the management just deploy available staff to cover the highest priority tasks or hire an extra agency worker for a day or two. If I'm sick, my contract asks that I call at least an hour before I'm due to start. What happens after that isn't my problem.

[@bigbrewer3375]

Same here in England

[@dumiauch]

1:30 In Germany it is considered bad luck if you celebrate before the event (a birthday/the birth itself). Of course you can congratulate when you find out about a pregnancy, but there's only a real celebration after the birth.

[@lionelbacchetti843]

Same in France

[@diananaus5529]

It's the same in the Netherlands

[@karstenbursak8083]

Extra curricular activities, like schools band or competitive school sports teams are almost unknown in most of europe. These activities can be done in member associations/Clubs outside the school environment, wich also gives the kids a chance to interact and deal with other kids from different neighbourhoods or socialeconomic backgrounds I remember my time as an exchange student in the US. There was little to no chance to interact with children outside these self inflicted bubbbles of home, school and church ... and the dependence on the Parent Taxi Service just fuels into this.

[@awmperry]

Apart from primary school, all the schools I’ve attended in Belgium and the UK have had school bands. Very different styles of band, of course - not marching bands with enormous budgets and comedy uniforms, just moderately competent orchestras, wind bands and jazz bands. Similarly the school sports teams often had competitions, usually in district leagues against other schools - but yeah, it was never big deals or televised and the like. Extracurriculars in Europe are for fun, not for building a CV.

[@mabus4910]

​@@awmperry It's the same here in Luxembourg. Schools don't usually have sports clubs or other clubs. These activities are organised by clubs outside the school. There was a choir at my school, but it was very insignificant. I only know about it because a friend was a member. I think they only had one public performance in the whole time.

[@awmperry]

@@mabus4910 My school jazz band in Brussels had a long working relationship with the jazz band at our sister school in Luxembourg - we went over to play with them pretty regularly. They were in the European School system, though, so they were both bigger and more elaborate than most domestic schools.

[@mabus4910]

@@awmperry My friend, have you heard about a guy calles Brian Molko and why he hates Luxembourg?

[@karstenbursak8083]

@@awmperryextracurriculars in the US seem to be more like an extended daycare for older kids

[@blueeyedbaer]

Babyshowers are weird. Imagine that something happens to the baby after the babyshower. All those presents and greeting cards would be a real sore for the parents.

[@Dr_KAP]

What rubbish. Other cultures have traditions and you’re just showing your cultural ignorance to suggest only your traditions are acceptable. Baby showers are just a nice get together before the baby arrives. People having a baby have already done the nursery and bought everything before baby comes anyway. So regardless of if something happens they’ll still have all their stuff. Get over yourself and let other culture do their thing.

[@jabo109]

@@Dr_KAP Name 2 cultures and what traditions they have? You are just blabbing. US is the only one with those massive stupid parties. And is not a culture, because babyshowers are fairly modern, so... big fail on that as well. And in a lot of places, and I mean A LOT of places, couples don't want to know the sex of their baby till the moment it arrive.

[@sharonmartin4036]

@@Dr_KAP Hey! No need to be nasty! Everyone has the right to their own opinion/tradition/culture. What gives you the right to diss them?

[@Searover749]

the US parents should ask for money, at the baby shower, coz giving birth in US will cost them 37.000 $ !!! (in EUR. , the cost is less than 100 €, and 0 € in france).

[@Sofasurfa]

@@Dr_KAP I would have phrased my comment differently but the OP makes a reasonable point. Here in the UK baby showers are starting to become a thing. My daughter has just given birth and politely declined one when her friends said they would like to give one. Instead last week, they threw her a baby welcoming party and all their friends came not just the women but hubbys mates as well. Everyone got to coo over the baby. In my family it was considered bad luck to bring the pram into the home before the birth, and in fact in the shop where she bought her pram they keep the pram on a standby basis, you can pay for it monthly after placing a deposit but should something awful happen they refund you the money. Oh and they didn’t want to know the sex of their baby. I’m in the UK.

[@fabiendalmasso]

French here about bidet : I'm quite surprised bidets seem to be on the rise everywhere. Here we have the exact opposite : bidets were common in any bathroom until the 80's, then it slowly faded out. They are like relics. some are now re-using them, but it's essentially an item of old times. I think it has to do with the fact that we wash manually less and less, and rather take a full shower every day. Maybe, I don't know.

[@mossygreen2790]

Same here in the UK, styles & trends changing. But on that note, the "newer" trend of just having a shower everyday, (maybe twice a day?) instead of using the older method of having a bath once or twice a week & having a good "wash" everyday, just using the sink & bidet. But now it's seems Doctors & the medical profession have seen a huge rise in people having skin issues, leading to severe skin conditions, not really associated with allergies, etc. It seems the constant showering everyday can strip the body of its natural "protection" e.g.= oils embedded in the skin & not easily replaced by using "topical" lotions &, creams. I think the notion = "too much of a good thing", doesn't help in the long run, perhaps?

[@JanHurych]

Yea. Kids alone in the streets is a no-no. Unless it's the last day of October, in the evening. Then it's ok to take candy from random strangers houses :-D

[@walkir2662]

Yeah, American blackmail day never made sense to me.

[@Phiyedough]

The sickening thing is that distasteful activity is also spreading to other countries like UK.

[@JanHurych]

@@Phiyedough Well, it's pagan Celtic thing right? So they took it from the UK, modified it and now they are exporting it back :-D

[@NaeniaNightingale]

@@JanHurych Pretty sure they weren’t talking about Halloween being sickening, it’s the fact kids need to be kept imprisoned and not being allowed to go out and be kids.

[@samuelpinder1215]

​@@Phiyedoughwhat

[@zaklinacz_gojow]

I walked around 1.5km to school on my own since the first grade (7-8yo). Sure my grandma took the walk with me for the first couple of weeks to make sure I know the way but after that I was on my own. I actually remember it as a nice walk to start the day, sometimes I would meet other kids on the way and we would talk and play as we went. After school I was walking back on my own as well. I don't think I was picked up or dropped off by my parents more than 10 times during primary and secondary school.

[@PolarBear4]

Yeah, I was walking to and from school with my sister (sometimes meeting friends en route) without a parent from about 9 years old. Once you got to 11 you could leave the school for lunch so I'd walk to and from home in the middle of the day too and eat there. By the time I got to high school (we had first/middle/high where I lived at the time so age 13?) pretty much everyone was walking or getting the bus by themselves no matter how far away they lived. I think the only time I ever got dropped off was if I had a Drs appointment or something first or if I had to be there really early for some reason and it coincided with the time Mum was driving past on her way to work. Same for being picked up. I'd sometimes even see my Mum driving past me on her way home from work and it was a rare day she'd stop and pick me up (unless it was a day where I had my PE kit, we'd been baking in home economics and I'd had my clarinet lesson all at once!). That never happened by high school. I even walked myself home after being sent home sick once instead of waiting for a parent to come get me. A neighbour did have to basically escort me the last bit though as I was so wobbly and shaky lol.

[@chrisperyagh]

Both in the UK and when I lived in Alberta I either walked to and from school and used both the bus and train from the age of 8 through to 15 back in the '80s if I couldn't get a lift in. If anything, it was a far longer journey in the UK as I lived around 7 miles away from the primary school I went to. I used the train to get to and from high school and also college until I passed my driving test. In Canada one elementary school out in the sticks had their own fleet of school buses laid on that did the rounds and the next school I went to in an Edmonton suburb it was only around a mile walk or bike ride - not fun in winter when it's -38°C (the schools close when it got to -40°C or below). Most of the time I used to get the bus and LRT to and from school - it felt more sociable doing a commute using public transport instead of walking.

[@thehoogard]

The ironic thing about the pledge of allegiance is how you shoe-horned "under God" in there (it wasn't there originally), right after 'indivisible', thus inserting and creating divison where there wasn't.

[@hosegnaasio]

In Estonia you can do taxes in few minutes. Log in - look your pre-filled tax report - accept - log out and see you again next year. Some people have to add some data there, but mostly it's all automatic. It's all so easy and electronic at least last 20 years or so.

[@leedsman54]

Here in the U.K. most people never have to fill in a tax return as taxes are taken from your wages . I fill one in as I am self employed but it is pretty simple online.

[@Searover749]

same system in france : very convenient.

[@mhh7544]

I haven done my taxes in 20 yrs, Finland. If theres a mistake its easy to right .

[@iCeRealz]

Danish here, I just get a mail once a year to let me know they have done my taxes and i can log in to a government website and check if its correct. Its not even required to check anything

[@hosegnaasio]

@@iCeRealz I think it's same here. If you don't do anything then you accept all things. But it's always better to check all things youself. Some people have to pay after declaring taxes. You get mail that informs you that. And some expenses give you a tax refund and you get income tax back after declaration (additional tax-free income in the event of child support, education expenses, donations, funded pension payments, foreign mandatory social security payments). Also, you have to add income that is not been withheld to the pre-filled income tax return (e.g. foreign income, gain from the transfer of property, business income).

[@baumgrt]

20:12 things like a casserole of mashed sweet potatoes with a marshmallow topping make an occasional appearance at thanksgiving in TV shows or movies **horrified European noises**

[@TheRealRedAce]

YUCK!

[@sytrostormlord3275]

2:00 energy is one thing, but... diffrent people have different bacteria... on them (and i'm not talking here about washing hands, but any malicious bacteria/virus you might spread simply by breathing, unaware of its presence in your body), less people visiting newborn= less chance of spreading anyting dangerous to infant. For example, in Poland: no children below age 10 (sometimes higher -> depends from hospital regulations) are allowed to enter maternity ward... reasoning: most childhood dieseses are lethal to newborns... so siblings are allowed to see their younger brother/sister after they get home from hospital

[@adriann2649]

The funniest custom in the USA is to visit another country and talk about its rights and constitution, believing that its rules and laws are the same all over the planet. Simple example: Travel to Spain and start recording people (You'll see what can happen to you. Warning, then don't cry if the result is very negative legally or "physically")

[@Krenisphia]

I like Spain more now.

[@e.458]

Even more ridiculous is that some Americans seem to think that they carry their "American rights" anywhere they go, but that they have more rights than anyone from any other nation - even in that nation. They think they have more rights than the Spanish - IN Spain! There's so much hubris in that ignorance.

[@e.458]

​@@KrenisphiaI think the rights to your own image (no photos/videos of you without your expressed permission - there are exceptions to that rule!) is an EU law.

[@esaedvik]

@@e.458 I think individual countries can still have some variance to those laws. In a public place, you can definitely take pictures of anything, people included, but you can't take pictures that make them look stupid, like make memes of people dressing in a way that you find funny and insult them. Also taking a pic and publishing them online is a totally different thing.

[@FakeSchrodingersCat]

The worst version of this is going to another country and then complaining that the locals don't speak English.

[@vtbn53]

One thing that gets me is how Americans continually make excuses for their mule-like stubbornness. Oh we are too big, oh we are too isolated, you even did it in this video. Europe is huge, Australia is huge, but we still get things done.

[@VampyrMygg]

It can be chaotic though, like when Sweden swapped from driving on the left side of the road to the right side, they just set a time when it was supposed to change... then chaos. XD

[@Merecir]

@@VampyrMygg Yes, and the people even had a referendum about it and voted NO with 83%.... but the govt did it anyway.

[@ouwesdebouwes3224]

@@Merecir thank f for that

[@JoriDiculous]

@@VampyrMygg What chaos? Its one of the smoothest transitions ever. Of course it took quite some planning and preparations, but when they did swap, over night, it was more or less no issues at all.

[@Phiyedough]

Yes, continually trivialising any accusations of wastefulness like the huge trucks, huge food portions etc.

[@triblex305]

In terms of football over here in germany it's club based, you can find a local club literally in the tiniest villages where you play while schools don't have teams due to that. The cheerleading I never understood either, it's just weird to me, incredible in terms of athletics but weird.

[@mossygreen2790]

Young girls/teens, etc, usually very pretty, attractive, et al, seems a bit weird? It sort of suggests that the crowds don't know who, or what to cheer for? (or chant for, Lol ) 🇬🇧

[@Robin93k]

Yeah I come from a village with 1660 inhabitants, and our football team celebrates its 130th birthday this year... 130 years ago, this village had less than 500 inhabitants.

[@UltraSuperDuperFreak]

Other country's also changes there entire previous system when they went over too metric. Russia, China, India etc did it . All very big countries and/or huge population. Your reason is mute ! :)

[@GuZ76]

why not use both for all official business? so any new roadsigns could state both, transition gradually.. give ppl a choice there is even a very short piece of Highway in the US that has signs all in KM's (but not in Miles as well I believe)

[@Escapee5931]

"Mute" generally relates to lack or reduction in sound or expression. I think the word you're after is "moot", which means debatable or still to be discussed. (It's a Norse word for a meeting of Viking elders).

[@sharonmartin4036]

"moot"

[@KjellEson]

Most countries in Europe switched to the meter system in the 19th century!

[@Thurgosh_OG]

The UK officially adopted Metric in 1965 but has done it in a very slow progressive way. Schools in the 60s-90s taught both but have moved to metric alone in more recent times. And we still commonly use Imperial measures but this will fade over time as the youngest generations do not get taught or even understand Imperial. Given that the UK is still on the road to full metric after 60 years, the US could easily do this, as well. The only non-metric using industry in the US today, it the construction industry. Almost everything else has moved to metric. It's just the common people of the US holding out for US Customary Units, that stops the US from following the UK gradual move to metric. Even NASA has to convert measurements into Customary Units for it's US press releases and website information, despite being fully Metric itself.

[@petebeatminister]

One of the weirdest things I heard so far, is that Americans put (hide) a fake pickled cucumber in their christmas tree. And then claim this is a old German tradition that they have adopted. The funny thing is, I never seen or even heard about that until lately. And I'm German and 66 years old. :)

[@tarwod1098]

The channel Feli from Germany searched for an explanation for that custom. She found out that there was a small region in Germany where people did this seemingly before and around the time some of them emigrated to the US. She assumed, and I agree, that the weirdness of this custom lead to the spreading around the country. Why it didn’t spread in Germany I have no idea 🤷🏼‍♀️

[@MorusRubra]

I saw a pickle christmas ornaments on some german christmas market (Dresden maybe, can't remember).

[@andyf4292]

a lot of americans arent proud of it, and so claim to be from another country

[@marcisdzerve9558]

​@@MorusRubranot of German origin, but I have a bunch of old Soviet baubles that are in the shape of fruits and vegetables, pickles included. My newest acquisition is a glass carrot ornament haha

[@HappyBeezerStudios]

@@tarwod1098 yet another thing that is extremely regional and was only done through a very specific time period, but is seen as a general thing everyone does. A bit like with "germans wear lederhosen" No we don't. Only some people in some parts of Bavaria do. And even this part of the population of a single state tends to do it only for certain events. It's like saying every american constantly wears a cowboy hat, chaps and spurs. Some do, but most don't. And most of those who do, will only do so for specific occasions.

[@SpaceMonkeyTCT]

How would the IRS know when you cheat or make a mistake on your taxes if they weren't doing your taxes? Just a thought

[@Henoik]

03:18 In Norway we have Home Owners Associations, but I feel like they are how they were supposed to be in the US. They don't micromanage how you do your own shit, but they ensure that the common spaces in your neighbourhood (like a playground or whatnot) is well maintained, or if there's a central heating system for the neighborhood or apartment block, they take care of that.

[@melanp4698]

Same her ein Denmark, but also a lot of small rules which i would call common knowledge. Like you cant just burn your garbage in the garden, mow the lawn at 2 am etc.

[@mbos14]

I think the USA also has good HOA's You just don't hear about them much. Same with in European countries will also have bad once's.

[@Henoik]

@@mbos14 Sure there are. But the "bad" ones in Norway simply give you an ugly look if you don't participate in the yearly leaf raking. They don't have the power to do anything really bad - I mean, some of them did try to issue fines to people not participating in the stuff such as leaf raking (which is only once a year anyway) but they don't have authority to demand you actually pay it. The worst that happens is that you're not so enthusiastically invited to the next neighbourhood BBQ (you're still invited, but with a few less people talking to you - so, win-win).

[@Henoik]

@@mbos14 Meanwhile, as I understand how it works in the US, you can actually not decide whether you're member of an HOA or not, they can actually impose fines on you (I thought that was just a meme), and they can have insane rules that even encompass your living room

[@thebigbadwolfe_27]

Here in Austraila, the local council (government body) takes care of playgrounds, parks and such. If you live in an appartment you pay for Strata which maintains the common areas, but have no say in what you do in your appartment (unless it affects others).

[@JMS-2111]

The pledge of allegiance and playing the national anthem at every event are very strange to me. In Slovenia, we don't have anything like the pledge, and the anthem is only played at national events on national holidays or when foreign dignitaries visit. As for baby showers. Not a thing, a couple will usually tell their families and make it a time for the family to come together and help them prepare for the newest member. I also don't get the ban on drinking until you're 21. You can get a driver's licence at 16 (and US cars are huge cars) but you have to wait 5 more years to buy a beer.

[@anniehope8651]

Yes, the national anthem at every minor sports event, sometimes combined with 'praying for the troups'. It creeps the hell out of me. In the rest of the world the national anthem is only played at the start of an international sports game, where the national anthem of the other team is played as well, or after you won something at an international competition where you were representing your country, and sometimes if you won a national championship. It is also sometimes played when the royal family is involved, but only at very formal occasions. It is special when the national anthem gets played. It means: 'You are of national significance'. Not 'We are going to play a game of basketball', or 'we are starting the school day now'. I hate it that some people from other countries are adopting the American 'hand on your heart'- gesture. Hand gestures scare me, especially when a flag is being raised.

[@HappyBeezerStudios]

Ironically the drinking age in the US is directly linked to the car industry. Basically, federal government sad that any state with a drinking age under 21 will get their federal highway funding cut.

[@patrickporter6536]

The way they stand grasping their left tit and singing with tears running down their faces is very disturbing. Very reminiscent of a certain European country in the 30s/40s. Does your heart live behind your left tit? I think not.

[@papermonkeyminer8116]

My grandparents live in a big building with lots of apartments, and they do have a homeowners association, but it mostly deals with things affecting the entire building, like building maintenance and the decision to have the roof insulated and put solar panels on it. It doesn't dictate what its members do in their own homes at all.

[@d34d10ck]

The pledge of allegiance is hella weird. There are only two other countries that do something similar. One is North Korea and the other was Germany in the 1940s.

[@TheMAmeph]

I think Cuba as well?

[@Searover749]

yes, only creepy countries do that sh.t...

[@TheRealRedAce]

The three most Nazi countries ever......

[@Fossil_Frank]

Something similar was common in sattelite states of the Soviet Union, though they were usually songs.

[@nullplan01]

Oh no, East Germany up till 1989 did something similar as well.

[@Bogey-4ever]

There is a "funny" alternative to ice in drinks ... you actually cool the drink! 😜 We don´t drink our water or coke/soda etc at room temperature, the whole thing gets cooled. With water its not that important, but every other type of drink gets watered down with ice. To be fair, a lot of States in the US have hot temperatures, but still it seems a little excessive how much ice you put in a drink.

[@PotsdamSenior]

For restaurants it makes sense. Frozen water is a lot cheaper than the actual drink. The more ice you can get into the glass, the more profit you make.

[@richieclean]

The more ice you put in a drink, the less it will get watered down, so it actually makes more sense to put lots of ice in, if you're going to use ice at all. A couple of cubes in a glass of Coke that had been stored at room temp will melt very quickly, and you just end up with diluted cola. But if, for example, you're serving a Gin & Tonic, the best method is to virtually fill the glass with ice and use chilled tonic. The rate at which the ice melts will be significantly slower, keeping your drink cooler for longer with far less dilution. By the time it becomes a problem, you've finished your G&T and you're ready for the next one...

[@frankj10000]

Yeah, it's like: don't they have a fridge?

[@KevinWynsma]

​@@PotsdamSeniorrefills are FREE

[@efad3215]

​@@richiecleanHuh? No ice is better than any ice in a drink

[@1Apep1]

Sports are organized very differently in Europe and most parts of the world compared to the USA. To focus on one specific sport, you usually join a club that is separate from school (or work). On amateur level, sports clubs are usually non-profit grassroots organizations, mostly run by volunteers, funded through membership fees and a few small sponsorships from local businesses. School sport is typically an introduction into a wide range of different sports, where you don't focus on any specific sport for more than a semester. There are a few programs for school teams, but they don't get much public attention and most students participating are also in a club for that sport.

[@whitecompany18]

As for baby showers in England, we tend to say 'dont count your chickens before they hatch' but i think they are becoming a thing as the youngsters get Americanized and want stuff.

[@Dreyno]

They’re a bizarre idea and anyone having one should be ostracised as a complete c&nt.

[@Dr_KAP]

We have baby showers in Australia I don’t see any problem with them, I had one for both my children and it was just lovely time with family and friends to get together before the baby arrives - no big deal. Different countries have different traditions but I’m not here to knock other cultures’ traditions unless they are a threat to human rights . I’m a relativist.

[@AnnetteLudke-je5ll]

Of course you will follow your traditions, but have you ever thought about families who listtheir baby before birth ???? Then it is not fun any longer...

[@samuelpinder1215]

Complaining about americanisation whilst spelling it with a z is funny

[@GuZ76]

2 - the nuance is that if you cannot be missed in your function, typically where there are shifts in say a hospital or factory - you will have to ask your holidays before the shifts are planned and communicated, typically one or two weeks in advance. If for some private reason you need a day off, it is common if you find a colleague that is willing to swap shifts with, you can propose that to your manager so they are more likely to give it a go ahead. That said - if you are sick, there is no question - the manager should have ppl on standby they can call - that is not your problem - you have the right to be sick and get better; which is also better for the company, because if you go sick to your work there could be bigger problems for everyone.

[@mattp994]

We *might* have an occasion once or twice a year where we sing the national anthem, but it's nowhere near the levels of pledging allegiance to the US flag. It seems kinda culty.

[@ozzgreek]

In Greece it is also considered bad luck to give gifts before the birth

[@Yolanda8419]

Yep, definitely. And we also don’t announce the pregnancy before we are sure that everything is going smoothly.

[@2ovob4ehko]

20:25 In my school in Ukraine, children from the age of 7 (1st grade) walked to school on their own, because the school was a maximum of 1 km away. The exception was those children whose parents drove 2 km to school. In the 9th grade, I transferred to another school, which was 2 km away from me, and it was the first time I traveled by public transport on my own. Because everything I needed to do before that could be reached on foot on the sidewalk. I remembered that at school I was given the task of writing a list of road signs that I see on the way from home to school. But there is only one sign that I see near the school, which is a pedestrian crossing. There were no other road signs on the playgrounds through which I walked to school.

[@TheDutchGuy6238]

9:44 The pledge of Allegiance ... To a flag and the country it stands for. This is the indoctrination happening in the US where people at a later age still think they live in THE BEST and MOST DEMOCRATIC country in the world, without ever questioning it. I heard politicians say this multiple times on tv. Read on ... To be the BEST: you need what the Happiest Countries in the World already have ... affordable healthcare, affordable education, paid sick leave, 16 weeks or longer maternity leave (starting at least 4 weeks before the baby is due), also paternity leave, at least 20 paid days of vacation (4 times the number of hours you work in a week) of which you are obligated to at least take 15 paid days in a year (I have 30 paid days a year now, working for an American company), family tax credit, universal child care, and much more. You would call them benefits, we call them rights! To be really DEMOCRATIC: you need to get rid of voter suppression, gerrymandering, the Electoral College, winner takes all, big money in politics, and more. Do normal people (demos) really have the power (kratos) or are just a few people (the rich) in control? Think critically and look at other countries. What is allowed in those countries and, especially, what is not! To increase quality of life for all (poor, middle class, rich, ultra rich, companies), the right people/organizations need to start paying more taxes. Poor people and middle class workers would get subsidies and have less out of pocket costs. The rich can easily pay more as they will be taxed additionally above a certain threshold. So don't buy their cries for help when taxes are talked about. They can also still innovate, looking at where the extreme profit is going now (CEOs, shareholders, stock buybacks). The government then needs to work on income redistribution, regulation (as deregulation only works for the rich and companies - that's why Trump for example offered deregulation to oil companies), and maintaining a welfare state once it's there. It's about a great country for many instead of just a few. More WE than ME! In my country (6th happiest country in the world), we call that a Social Democracy - not a Socialist Democracy (look for a definition of Socialist). Socialist will never happen! A social Democracy is a Capitalist country (what you like) with a government actually working for its citizens, spending money the right way, to make sure all have great quality of life. Is it flawless? Nope! Working on it. But Capitalism 'doesn't work for most' where a Social Democracy 'does work for most'. The disturbing thing with the US is that many Americans seem so outraged that their tax dollars could potentially be used to pay for universal healthcare/food stamps/accessible education/ housing/etc., for someone who didn't work as hard as they did, made the wrong decisions in life, became ill, or whatever other reasons caused them to need help. It seems so incredibly divorced from compassion, and a sense of community. So, they only want to share money if they choose to themselves, which is less effective to really get things done. You could have this organized, but Americans are very eager to say it is Socialism or Communism without ever having looked at the definition of the two. Politicians also keep playing the 'Communism card' as they belong to the rich and pledged allegiance to their donors. One exception ... Bernie Sanders. He would be considered a centrist in my country because we already have what he is still fighting for. Back to the '60s: Think not what your country can do for you, think what you can do for your country. And with a country meaning ALL citizens. Celebrate when everyone is doing fine, and enjoying it together, not when only you are doing well. Again ... Think WE, not just ME!

[@sugarnads]

What youre describing is literally marxist socialism. Which has been tried all over the wolrd. And failed. No Im not american btw.

[@gluteusmaximus1657]

About the water level in toilets. In Germany we got usually two buttons/levers to flush. A small one for small business and a big one for big business.

[@MsTtilly]

Dual-flush toilets were invented by an American 🇺🇸, but it wasn't until 1980 when Australian 🇦🇺company Caroma began mass-producing them. Due to the need for water conservation 💦, the Australian Government rolled out a policy to implement the immediate installation of Dual-flush toilets in every Australian home. Drought and Bushfire can stop the development of the entire Country. Every industry is affected - from mining & agriculture to Tourism & Hospitality. New Zealand 🇳🇿 followed suit soon after, along with countless European countries (such as Germany 🇩🇪).🫶 By the 2010s, America 🇺🇸 is finally starting to offer them to their citizens! 😂

[@liandren]

​@MsTtilly The American guy proposed the idea in a book, but never developed it or a prototype.

[@gabrielaribeiro6155]

As I understood it, it's not about the amount of water that flushes down, but rather the amount of water in the toilet hole, while you are doing your business. The waterline in europe (generalizing from what I've seen) is usually a good 10~15 cm lower than in the USA an image for reference: img.buzzfeed.com/buzzfeed-static/static/2017-09/26/12/campaign_images/buzzfeed-prod-fastlane-02/america-why-is-there-so-much-water-in-your-toilets-2-13932-1506442392-2_dblbig.jpg?resize=1200:*

[@Searover749]

@@liandren US don't understand the concept of ecology...

[@samuelpinder1215]

​@@Searover749ecology can come under geography. That's probably why

[@lifeandluggage]

25 - the high school stuff. Perhaps they meant exactly that, an obsession with what teenagers are doing. In most European countries, school functions are for the kids, and not for the whole town, for example school plays may be for the students (and not their parents). And while there are a lot of extra curricular activities available, it's less about "parties" and more about "doing things together with your peers". In America, it almost seems like a religion: whatever the local high school is doing, you have to be excited about it, regardless if you have children or not...

[@somethingclever8916]

Prom is a US thing

[@michaelboyce7079]

"you have to be excited about it...." You hit the nail right on the head! "Excited" must be the most over-used and mis-used word in American-English. Every time I see and hear a fully grown American person saying how excited they are about some thing that is, at best, highly and usually, fleetingly interesting, I think, "No, you're not excited - you're just emotionally immature! Grow the f*ck up!"

[@lifeandluggage]

@@somethingclever8916 I went to highschool in Estonia, and our (admittedly elite) school had a "100 day" formal dance (100 days before graduation), and the actual graduation party at school. So, it's kind of a prom, just called "end party" there :)

[@scoliasma6532]

Ive never experienced this. In my town nobody cares about whats going on at the high school as long as there arent any drunk teenagers disturbing people.

[@xapa10slb]

I live in Portugal, near the Capital Lisbon, and in my city the school organizes foot commutes to school, the parent can sign his/her child up and they will pass in your front door to pick the kid up and they all walk to school together. Inside the city limits but still a good initiative for every reason.

[@lunasilvermoon2283]

when it comes to the Netherlands, young kids going to school by themselves has a lot to do with our infrastructure. Most neighbourhood have their own elementry school are maybe one right between two neighbourhoods. As long the kids don't have to cross a busy 'artery'' road, it's relatively safe for them to hike it.

[@lucylane7397]

There isn’t even sidewalks on all of the streets in some places in America

[@danmayberry1185]

Elected sheriffs and judges is hella weird. The potential for corruption boggles the mind.

[@vtbn53]

I 1000% agree with that one. It's more than just potential it's pretty much mandatory.

[@abasudoh7459]

Elected coroners who don't have to have medical experience

[@asokawhite]

There was a few years ago a case, there Private Prisons paid kickbacks to ellected Jugdes, to sentence teenagers to Prison Time.

[@mabus4910]

I actually don't mind that. I don't see how it makes them more or less corrupt. In my country at least the justice system is full of technocrats and careerists who have never experienced anything other than their lawyers' bubble. I would like to see one or the other democratically elected person there.

[@missharry5727]

That one blew my mind when I visited NJ a few years ago and there was an election for judge going on. In the UK you apply to the Department of Justice and go through a selection process (I did this myself to become a judge at a specialist tribunal).

[@flyfaen1]

With regards to the toilet bowl water level... Like, really, it's gross having it that high. The splashing is one thing, but there is also the very real risk of having "junior" dipin' n' kissing "floaters" aswell (even without being particularly endowed) 🤣

[@wowkir]

3 weeks holiday in the US last summer, and I was quite disgusted with the experience of using the toilet because of that water level. Stuff just… floated around, plain to see. BLERGH!!!!

[@tammo100]

The bagging in supermarkets. I never got used to this when I was in the US. It felt so stupid. Why can't I bag my groceries myself (in my own bag btw)? It still makes no sense to me.

[@MARCBOIREAU]

Perhaps to avoid robery....or avoid lawsuit if a costuer harm himself with a product if he bagging himself?

[@HappyBeezerStudios]

@@MARCBOIREAU by putting objects they own into containers they own while in a public place....

[@IceFireofVoid]

This is the case in Canada too and during covid, we weren't doing it anymore. It's wild how many old people I had scream at me about how rude I was because I wouldn't pack their groceries for them in their old bag that stinks of cat pee. I'd lived there my whole life and I didn't get it either. I always insisted on packing my own bags when I did the shopping.

[@mossygreen2790]

I am British & though in some stores & supermarkets, etc, staff ask if you want help with packing, the majority politely refuse. This is really a "fairly" recent innovation bringing a "US style" of shopping to the UK. Here we have always packed our own items & I prefer it that way! I have packing down to a fine art after many decades of doing it that way. This involves common sense approach like, = soft items on the top = bread, rolls, soft fruits, even eggs, etc. Then = toiletries packed in a sperate bag, same with bottles, = wine, oils, spirits, condiments, etc. I can pack my shopping in such a way, so that it helps with "unpacking" ! E.g. = certain items are stored in different locations, so the certain bags go to the "relevant" location, = larder, cupboards, chiller, upstairs in bathrooms & other cupboards etc. It all helps to get the whole job done in an organised fashion, plus it's much quicker too! Lol Sound a bit "nuts", but there is a method in the madness, Lol 🤔😁👍🇬🇧

[@janemiettinen5176]

As a Finn, I would be weirded out, if someone tried to bag my stuff. Besides, I have a system - heavy stuff goes to the bottom, fragiles on top, cold & frozen stuff goes together and so on. I just like it my way, its easier to unpack too, unlike my husbands “just throw it in” mess.

[@SaturnusDK]

One thing that really bugged me when I lived in the States was that the price on the shelf in any store is almost never what you actually pay. And I'm not just talking about taxes added at the till but also weird discounts when you buy over a certain amount and don't even get me started on the coupon insanity.

[@mossygreen2790]

Omg the "coupon madness"/ "hobbby" lol. Hours of cutting hundreds of coupons! Also, knowing the "conditions" & terms for each promotion & product, talk about making shopping a headache ? Though, I understand that it might(?) help a poor family or person, but at the end of the day, do you really need lots of "said" items? Yes, it's odd 🤔😊

[@megarockman]

Psych studies have shown that the act of finding and using coupons gives the user a kind of high because they feel as though they accomplished something, which feels good and makes that person more likely to shop with that retailer again. Same reason department stores like Macy's always have sales and stuff going on -- on any given day about 2/3 of their inventory will be marked as discounted or on sale. The act of searching and discovering something as on-sale, even if it's from a really jacked-up "normal" price, is a well-known psychological trick. If you buy something from them that isn't on sale, you're a financial idiot.

[@SaturnusDK]

@megarockman Interestingly, both coupons in the American way, and having items perpetually on sale is illegal in Denmark, and I suspect most of Europe.

[@stuartfaulds1580]

The attitude towards Sox & Violence also applies to computer games, in the first Witcher game you could get intimacy cards, which in the UK showed Everything from the waist up, in the US were censored with pasties covering the "naughty" bits. Regarding the Pledge of Allegiance, the US also used to use the Bellamy salute (too similar to the forbidden salute) until late 1942 instead of the hand over the heart you do now.

[@tibsie]

The only thing that's similar to an HOA in the UK is if you live in a Conservation Area or a National Park. Those are the only places that will have rules about things like what colour you can paint your house, but that's a local government planning permission issue rather than a local militia of busybodies.

[@charlestaylor9424]

You get "factors" in Scotland who are responsible for outside public spaces and repair, upkeep of shared items. A roof over several flats for example. Factors must provide accounts annually and can be replaced by another factor on a vote.

[@samuelpinder1215]

​@@charlestaylor9424well they're clearly not effective since many Scottish towns still use grey depressing pebbledash for a lot of houses

[@charlestaylor9424]

@@samuelpinder1215 Scots aren't mindlessly flashy.

[@samuelpinder1215]

@@charlestaylor9424 Edinburgh still looks nice. And doesn't make use of pebbledash. Same with St Andrew's. Bricks aren't grey. The buildings don't need to match the sky

[@charlestaylor9424]

@samuelpinder1215 Nothing to do with the factor

[@Niegezien]

A truck might give u a nice view of the road.. but it does have a lot of blind spots with the high hood and all. A kid could stand in front of it and you wouldnt even notice

[@Searover749]

so it's not a nice view, it's a "blind" view...

[@mikkoolavijarvinen3653]

On the other hand, vans rule in this aspect, you sit higher than the cars and can see about everything (expect behind you, but that's for the mirrors).

[@la-go-xy]

...and if there are other trucks around you, that view is gone... When do you want flat vehicles to have a good view underneath all those lifted ones?? LOL

[@TattooedAussieChick]

Our local councils do sometimes impose rules on new suburbs in Australia. They might say you can’t have a front fence or can’t park your boat in the front yard. When new suburbs are built I know you have a set time period by which you have to have your driveway concreted and your garden completed. But for old established suburbs there are few rules except those for safety e.g. pool fencing.

[@Jeni10]

“Only three nations do not use the metric system today: Myanmar, Liberia and the United States.” “In 1866, the U.S. Congress authorized the use of the metric system and almost a decade later America became one of 17 original signatory nations to the Treaty of the Meter. A more modern system was approved in 1960 and is commonly known as SI or the International System of Units.”

[@somethingclever8916]

I think US uses it to gatekeep professions and education. Some fields require high levels of math abilities with decimals and fractions. With metric, you just need to be able to count to ten and add and subtract you're good.

[@carrie5490]

@@somethingclever8916it actually causes serious, expensive and sometimes dangerous stem mistakes. There have been a few international collaborations with science projects that have failed because of the inability to convert to and from metric properly.

[@DamianIbberson]

Those of us of a certain age, here in the UK, are perfectly able to use both metric AND imperial measurements.

[@susanwestern6434]

​@@DamianIbberson Very true. I tend to think of the height of people more in feet and inches. Also weight in stones and pounds. But measurements of small amounts I think of millimetres and centimetres.

[@samuelpinder1215]

​@@susanwestern6434no its KG for weight. Height and altitude is still in feet but measurements is metres and the other metres

[@SaturnusDK]

Schools is a place you go to study and get educated. If you want to participate in sports or other social activity you join a club.

[@Mmmeeee4]

You do know physical education is a thing right?

[@SaturnusDK]

@@Mmmeeee4 Seems you may want to re-read my comment.

[@robbedeboer2728]

I think a reason might be due to the car centric infrastructure of the US: kids can't easily independently bike or take the bus to their sports club or orchestra. So they just put it together in schools

[@akrogirl32]

My high school in England had a lot of sports options - skating, squash, tennis, field hockey, athletics etc. when I was there. They have since offered fencing, rowing and a few other things. In my area in the US, about the only sports offered in the schools are baseball, American football, “soccer” and basketball.

[@laurencefraser]

@@robbedeboer2728 That would make sense... if it was uniquely a US thing. School sports teams competing against each other to varying degrees is pretty common anywhere where British culture had a significant influence, to my understanding. School clubs, on the other hand, tend to be a bit of a case of 'the students are going to form groups to do this sort of thing anyway. Much less of a headache for the administration if it's organized and supervised', though at least in my experience the nature of such non-sports clubs tends to be a lot more limited in New Zealand than in the USA... And then you have Japanese schools, where to my understanding the sports teams are a subcatagory of clubs and it's not considered strange for the school to make membership and participation manditory.

[@sytrostormlord3275]

17:34 I think the biggest issue is: you'll be refused a lot when applying for mortage, if you don't have any credit history... so it's almost built in, that you have to create that credit history, even if you don't need credit, at a given time... that is biggest issue for me, and I saw that being reapplied to Poland years ago, but it seemed to me, it failed... unless there was a credit payment excecution forced on you, you're pretty much in good shape (at least in terms of mortage, don't know about other things).

[@isaw9969]

2:35 in the Netherlands, when i want a day free but i have been put in the roster that day (say, i forgot to ask for leave that day beforehand), i have to find a replacement/someone to switch with. if i cannot come to work because i am sick, or have last-minute important business, i do not have to find replacement and in that case it is the managers job to do so.

[@conallmclaughlin4545]

Somone bagging your stuff for you is weird! Thinking the constitution is amazing. It's 236 years old! In Ireland we have pretty regular referendums to make amendments to it.... You know... Cause times change

[@anniehope8651]

Yeah, every country has a constitution, but nobody is acting so weird about it as the Americans. And yes, sometimes amendments have to be made. A constitution is not set in stone. It's not a religion.

[@flynndean]

​@@anniehope8651*Not every country has a Constitution (including the UK, which is one of the oldest, most stable (relatively) legislatures in the World and which presided over the largest Empire ever built)

[@VampyrMygg]

@@flynndean Isn't the Magna Carta basically like a constitution of sorts?

[@flynndean]

@VampyrMygg Not really. It was primarily a 'destructive' document, expressing the Principal of the Monarch not being above the Law. None of it is "justiciable" (that is to say, none of it is enforceable Law in Present Day UK) which is a pretty important element of any Constitution...

[@infin8ee]

It's like the "holy grail" and they get very precious about it, " it's the constitution,it can't be changed (2A for instance). Yes it can , it's called an amendment.

[@BadgerOff32]

One that blew my mind was finding out that the listed price of things in a shop in America does not include VAT. You have to add that on yourself after. In England, tax is just included as part of the price. You don't have to add anything extra on top

[@conallmclaughlin4545]

21:10 check out Danish forest schools. Essentially an outdoor, in the forest school where kids learn how to use knives and how to appreciate the environment

[@heindaddel2531]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/gJzMmp1vma-Zmdksi=D5WRlGue2UHW7Wx-

[@flitsertheo]

Americans would skip the knives and learn to use guns instead.

[@JKristofferNielsen]

Preschool. Really a kinder garden level. Quite common in Denmark. Danish word is skovbørnehave which literally translates to forest kinder garden.

[@laurawallis7093]

We need that in Australia. Find out early what can kill you here lol

[@claudiakarl2702]

@@JKristofferNielsenWe have those in Germany too - Waldkindergarten.

[@lesleycarney8868]

It always makes me laugh when i notice what words get dubbed out in American videos lollll

[@diarmuidbuckley6638]

including this one !!

[@LoueeLouii917]

Yes "boobs" gets bleeped out, what a crack up

[@Shae_Sandybanks]

The ice in drinks one is weird. Especially if you're paying for it. You're paying for less drink!

[@Muck006]

#3 - We dont TYPICALLY have HOAs in Germany ... except when a bunch of multi-storey houses were built at the same time and then sold as flats ... there MIGHT BE a "council of owners" (EVERYONE has a vote) which decides about changes in management that affect everyone. It's not an HOA, because there is no boss". - The same applies to "Kleingartenanlagen", which are often enough a "Verein" with a chairman and so on. - HISTORIC CITIES are the only ones "meddling" in your decisions of what you can build/change, because they are preserving the character of the city AND they have requirements/restrictions for fire safety for example (because if your house burns down due to being badly protected, the other half-timbered houses next door are in danger.

[@Sofasurfa]

Pretty much the same in the UK it’s mainly if you own historical building that you could be told no you can’t do that. They are called grade one or grade two listed property and vary from homes, factories, swimming pools, water pumping stations to castles. If they have national historical significance then you have to consult with, I think, English, Scottish, Welsh and Irish Heritage or various forms of those bodies.

[@KKawackk]

Outside US we have sports clubs. That's why nobody cares about high school or college sports (well, maybe some mom cares).

[@sharonmartin4036]

High school/College are for learning. Sports should be for fun and extramural. It should NEVER be the thing that gets you a College scholarship.

[@HappyBeezerStudios]

@@sharonmartin4036 exactly, and I have yet to see a university where you study sports. And I don't mean the biological anatomy of sports, or the strategy of sports. But the study of doing sports. As in "you do sports and that is how you're graded"

[@AnalogOsprey]

The HOA thing depends on the neighborhood and either how it’s set up when homes are first built (esp if it’s a gated community) OR it’s based on agreements between the first home buyers in that neighborhood (new), or if shared amenities are created: neighborhood pool, gym, park, etc. In those instances, the HOA serves a valid purpose in maintaining those amenities for everyone. We don’t have amenities like that in our neighborhood, but the first part of the development here (small neighborhood in a small town in Texas) has no HOA, but I believe the second round of developments do have an HOA… so our neighborhood is divided in that sense. The newer homes in the newer segment have an HOA, but we do not, thank goodness. Unless I want serious access to a public neighborhood pool, I generally hate the concept of HOAs. They can get pretty strict on what is or isn’t allowed outside on your property. That’s typically to keep the home value up, but raising your home value just raises your taxes, so there’s not a lot of benefit, unless you absolutely plan on selling at some point in the future. We will eventually move to a state that doesn’t include Ted Cruz or can cause my car to become a convection oven in June… so… northward bound eventually… and when we do move, we will not be looking for an HOA. If I want a weird giant purple gorilla statue in my yard, that’s my damn weird business. Keep America weird. I’m all for crazy-ass shit that makes every home unique to the dweller… otherwise it’s just a damn cookie-cutter house. PS: Not a fan of the pledge of allegiance in schools or not allowing cashiers to sit… I’ve worked those jobs. On sex and violence censorship… you will totally have giant posters of bikini-clad models at malls, and that’s deemed acceptable, while those same people find breast-feeding babies in public abhorrent… wtf man Regarding taxes… the government has the resources to do everyone’s taxes automatically, but consumer tax software lobbyists keep the current system in place… hooray for capitalism. I will never go out for Black Friday deals. I’ve worked those hours at retail stores, and had to do a 24 hour shift starting at 11pm Thanksgiving night, and it was wretched. I won’t do that to other retail workers. I hate gender-reveal stuff. I miss the old days when you’d get on the phone, and just be like, “oh yeah, we’re having a boy.” Easy. Some people actually get injured or even killed when they go crazy overboard for those serious over-the-top gender-reveals. I 100% support using the metric system. It makes so much more sense than our Frankensteined system. It actually causes a lot of errors when some builders or engineers rely on metric and have to do any transitions to metric for one project. I think bidets should be more common here. It’s cleaner, healthier, and better for the environment. I think disposable paper product companies like Kimberly Clark contribute to suppressing a pro-bidet culture here. I think everyone would be happy to be done with the credit system, especially since you have stupid rules that cause your credit to decrease just because you decided to CLOSE a credit card (banks benefit from this bc they can keep raising your credit card limit, and they know you’ll hesitate to close the card bc it will hurt your credit). There is a problem with too much sugar in all kinds of foods (butter too), but America as a whole seems to be moving in a healthier direction. I think the kid monitoring thing would chill more if we didn’t have guns just everywhere. I’ve in drinks is probably the only thing I totally agree with. A club soda without ice is a sad club soda, and 100° summers without ice in tea or coffee is a total bummer. I do agree that Starbucks has really just become a type of milkshake store. They used to focus solely on quality European-style coffee, but then, you know, capitalism said “I want to play more!”

[@sevenfifteen]

The thing with the metric system is, we in Germany, being used to it, at the same time buy monitors and TVs by inch! No joke, we have an understanding of what size a 24" screen is, but need to calculate first, when it's given in cm. In shops, you will see them listed like this: 24 Zoll Monitor (61 cm)

[@Phiyedough]

The same with vehicle tyres, always in inches.

[@DamianIbberson]

Same here in the UK (both previous comments!)

[@esaedvik]

@@Phiyedough Except tire width, it's millimeters. or bolt pattern. or center bore.

[@melanp4698]

Same with stuff like water pipes and carpentry/leatherworking stuff etc in Denmark. The pipes are 3/4 inches and the wooden boards are 4x4 etc. It's usually always listed in metric as well though, but it's a bit funny.

[@Phiyedough]

@@melanp4698 In UK the copper water pipe sizes changed to metric in about the 1960s but iron pipes are still in inches and a lot of things like radiators are still made to fit the iron pipe threads. I was quite surprised when I moved to Hungary to find a lot of plumbing stuff wasn't metric.

[@Fujoshi13]

12:43 Not true. In Canada The Babyboomers gen was the last generation to use the same system as you then they changed it in April 1975. Your are Never too far gone to change.

[@la-go-xy]

And Canada's transition would be even more complete if there weren't the neighbours on the other side of the border...

[@la-go-xy]

@IWrocker Maybe you'd want to watch some of the television advertisements produced to facilitate the change to metric on Australian roads in July 1974...

[@Fujoshi13]

@@la-go-xy We did the same in Canada in April 1975. I was a baby so I don't have any recollection obviously but my parents told me the change started with ads and the weather report on tv.

[@QazwerDave]

The nationalism EVERYWHERE !! School, sports, etc. Pledge of allegiance, national anthem, US flags etc.

[@Outmind01]

I'll never understand the concept of Walmart greeters. So you have this frail old person who should be retired but can't live off of that income standing at the door and greeting people? Why is this a thing? Someone once replied to a similar question how they can point you to stuff in the store, but here in Europe the store usually has an info desk for that, or you can ask a cashier or any store employee. To me, having someone specifically there to greet you looks disingenuous and invasive.

[@stevemcgowen]

They are supposed to be for theft prevention. The idea is is someone greets them the criminal will be less inclined to steal.

[@PotsdamSenior]

We used to have them in European luxury department stores. Men in cutaway or morning coat, top hat, holding the door open for customers.

[@stevemcgowen]

@@PotsdamSenior We have them here in Prague at the Palladium. They wear black suits.

[@claudiakarl2702]

That’s one of the reasons Walmart wasn’t successful in Germany. They tried to implement all their US customs, but people just didn’t like it. Nor did the government like how employees were treated - not allowing unions etc. I think they only lasted about three years.

[@susanwestern6434]

Stores in the UK like M&S have security now with people, usually large men SIA trained, with armbands, not just random people.

[@RitaFMachado]

Regarding ice what I think we europeans don't get is why you shove ice in your drinks instead of simply store the bottle, can, whatever in the fridge and getting it out to drink cold.

[@leadpaintchips9461]

Ice is a much faster and convienent way to transfer the cold to a drink without changing the composition of it much.

[@tracey3426]

​@@leadpaintchips9461 it does though. It waters the drink down which affects the taste.

[@ShinxyMuro]

I think I just figured it out. Since so many of their drinks have extra sugar, it helps water them down, hence making them LESS sugary and MORE refreshing!

[@RitaFMachado]

@@ShinxyMuromaybe it's that because I can't imagine why someone would prefer ice instead of refrigeration in their drinks unless it was whisky or water (even water)

[@C0lon0]

Ice is free, at least here in Brazil, so why not have your drink a bit more colder? Also most places offer lemon also, so you get an cold Pepsi with ice and lemon and just pay for the Pepsi.

[@pilskadden]

Having a favourite everything. Americans often refer to their favourite fruit, colour, fragrance, food… I’ve never heard a European say that, except for 5-year olds.

[@anniehope8651]

25. School is very different from American schools, at least in my European country, because here it is just a school. Sports, music, hobby clubs you do outside of school at a different location. You meet kids there who attend different schools. People of all ages can attend these clubs. Often whole families are involved. So the sport you do or the musical instrument you play is not linked to your school in any way. So the status that you might have in your sport does not transfer to your status in school and vice versa. Also schools do not have their own sports teams or marching bands or anything. I think that's what that person meant. It might be different for boarding schools, which of course have more extracurricular activities, but boarding schools are quite rare.

[@Faunatic97]

My school in Germany had a school football team but I only found out about it like 5 or 6 years after I first went to that school and I was nearing graduation. The games were never really advertised for. Also we had a chess club that I joined until someday the teacher that managed the club got sick and the club was disbanded.