As I read British and Australian opinions on America's strangeness

**Rocl** · 2012-01-26 09:41

COULDA BEEN SOCCER SEASON THOUGH??? idk i didnt follow sprots even overseas

**Lucienne** · 2012-01-26 09:43

I actually didn't really mind the flags. I think I took them as a part of my American experience.

**Conrad** · 2012-01-26 09:50

Originally Posted by Rocl

COULDA BEEN SOCCER SEASON THOUGH??? idk i didnt follow sprots even overseas

phillies start soon

**Rocl** · 2012-01-26 09:51

Originally Posted by Linliel

Some things I've noticed on various trips to the US:
1) US flags EVERYWHERE. The blatant patriotism is pretty scary.

idk if it's scary or just obnoxious

2) Massive bottles of milk. Though I've heard recently that this is because they last for about 6 months or something, which in itself is kinda freaky. I usually buy a pint (or 600mL in Australia) and it'll be off within the week, which is how it should be! lol.

you can merge this with 16!

3) I like how the NY subway goes all night. The tube closes down a bit after midnight and they basically clean it all up nicely for opening time at about 4-5am. There are night buses though. Actually perhaps the lack of closing down explains why the NY subway is so grimy? idk.

This is exactly why I think most public transport is grimy and why most Americans have an aversion to it. You have ideas of homeless people etc living/masturbating in there. Originally that's what I expected the Tube to be and obviously it was very different.

4) It really feels like each state is a different country. Like, almost European levels of different country. idk why you even bother with a federal government to be honest.

Generally each region imo, but some states in themselves could be a country. I don't think New Jersey could live on its own though, it needs someone to try to emulate while still being AMURICAN.

5) Actually yeah, politics. US politics is the most convolutedly stupid system I've ever encountered. Everything is aimed at the rich, not at general people. I think you gotta go back to the drawing board on that one.

All the history/polisci students couldn't understand how the UK exists without a main Constitutional document. Also the whole Parliament system STILL confuses the fuck out of me. I can understand just about 2/3rds of basic American gov't, but I legitimately tried to get British gov't and just ended up deciding it was magic and the Queen is still King of the world.

6) MASSIVE CARS - omg seriously it's like going back to the 70s or something! Also I thought wood panelled station wagons only existed in movies, turns out they're real, LOL

massive people need massive cars!

7) Cheques! Hah, only my grandma uses those any more.

i only see checks in banks, old people, and when paying out something like a security deposit

8 ) TV ads are bizarre. They really get on my nerves. Also, lol @ the "fine print" reading out.

there was an ad in the UK with like every Hanna Barbera cartoon that was selling yogurt wtf

9) orange cheese that isn't red leicester

ma'am that's american cheese, KRAFT SINGLES REPRESENT

10) terrible coffee (and non-dairy creamers, shudder)

european coffee nearly killed me ;;

11) Tipping

yeah, well, when you see someone working for like $3/hr and giving you food it's courtesy to let them know they're worth more!

12) the really fake sounding "how are you" type small talk greetings and conversation in shops

man, i always thought people were making it up when they said america was polite/nice but i guess not! (several foreign professors here [quite obviously] commented before we went to London that America was the most accepting place [wtf?] they ended up and they were shocked how nice people were, how readily people said hello etc. etc. and i was like LOL WHAT BUT APPARENTLY you are telling me all of Europe is DICKS)

13) putting your outgoing mail in your mail box. Genius!

idc

14) how do you tell your money apart?

ADDRESSED

15) sales tax not being included in the price tag.

This has to do with different states having different taxes, I think? So there's the retail price or w/e then state tax and federal tax is applicable. Some states don't have sales tax; Delaware iirc advertises TAX-FREE shopping.

16) more food than I could possibly eat for three meals being served as an entree in a restaurant

portion size is definitely inflated yeah

**Rocl** · 2012-01-26 09:52

someone who is more american can correct me idc

**ⒻⓊⒸⓀⓎⒺⒶⒽ** · 2012-01-26 09:55

Originally Posted by Rocl

LOL WHAT BUT APPARENTLY you are telling me all of Europe is DICKS

All of Europe is socially awkward. Trufax.

**Lucienne** · 2012-01-26 10:02

Originally Posted by Rocl

european coffee nearly killed me ;;

I feel guilty of this.

**Kiarax** · 2012-01-26 10:04

Originally Posted by ⒻⓊⒸⓀⓎⒺⒶⒽ

All of Europe is socially awkward. Trufax.

Or just dicks.

**ⒻⓊⒸⓀⓎⒺⒶⒽ** · 2012-01-26 10:04

Or that.

**ⒻⓊⒸⓀⓎⒺⒶⒽ** · 2012-01-26 10:05

Idk, I was always under the impression that all coffee is bad.
Tea and Iced Tea is delicious.

**Linliel** · 2012-01-26 10:06

Originally Posted by Qalbert

I do think that the antiflag thing is a bit silly. Displaying a flag doesn't automatically make one an ignorant jingoist.

IN AMERICA yes but we were talking about what is WEIRD about America. Hence I raised the issue. It's weird to me and Australians generally (not the bogans and racists), and to most Brits I know.

**Rocl** · 2012-01-26 10:08

Idk, I was always under the impression that all coffee is bad.
Tea and Iced Tea is delicious.

both are delish

**Conrad** · 2012-01-26 10:08

Originally Posted by Rocl

ma'am that's american cheese, KRAFT SINGLES REPRESENT

kraft singles isn't actually cheese lol

**Kiarax** · 2012-01-26 10:09

Yeah flags everywhere is fucking weird you only see England flags around here during football world cup and they disappear the second we're out.

**Linliel** · 2012-01-26 10:10

BTW those english flags lying around might have been a relic of the recent football and rugby world thingamajigs. Also probably the Royal Wedding, which had flags coming out the wazoo.

**Linliel** · 2012-01-26 10:10

Originally Posted by Kiarax

Yeah flags everywhere is fucking weird you only see England flags around here during football world cup and they disappear the second we're out.

word

**Qalbert** · 2012-01-26 10:10

weird is one thing, but you called it scary which is just lol

**ⒻⓊⒸⓀⓎⒺⒶⒽ** · 2012-01-26 10:10

Welsh flags however should be everywhere.
Dragons and shit.

**Conrad** · 2012-01-26 10:11

I guess I shouldn't tell you folks that we had a pledge of allegiance every day in school where we cover our hearts with our hands and face the flag while we say it

**Qalbert** · 2012-01-26 10:11

99% of americans are too lazy for patriotism to actually mean anything other than oh yes I have a flag

Thread: As I read British and Australian opinions on America's strangeness

Thread Tools

Latest Threads

Up & Coming Threads

Hottest Threads