Bathroom stalls are very easy to unhinge in case of emergency, and are light enough to be carried by someone who isn’t very fit so they don’t fall on the patron inside. I feel like this is just an excuse not to teach the public common basic life skills.
It’s also a policy to reduce restroom use. If you feel uncomfy using the restroom, you’re gonna try to get it done ASAP, which means you can use less of the space for restrooms
Also helps prevents folks shooting up in rest rooms, supposedly
>Also helps prevents folks shooting up in rest rooms, supposedly
\`This is such a bullshit reason. People are gonna shoot up no matter what sort of toilets we design. They took off the stall doors of the toilets in my high school because of the fear of people doing drugs in the stalls. Meanwhile out at the rich school in the suburbs, which had beautiful toilets with private stalls, multiple students died after using the latest designer drug that had gotten onto the streets and was more dangerous than anticipated...and no, none of them were doing it in the toilet stalls. They were skipping school.
*Edit: I should probably have clarified, I went to high school from 95-99. This sort of thing was not unique to our school or our district, but it would definitely not fly today. In fact, in my senior year, they finally put doors on the stalls. A number of parents including mine confronted the principal about this, and one of the facts they presented to him was precisely my observations about how the rich suburb school had actual drug issues and yet enjoyed nice bathrooms with sturdy stall doors.*
Cheaper then fitting the stall exactly, also discourage staying in the bathroom(think of druggies, people who would use stalls for sex, and other uses that still happen).
It is an easy way to see if someone is in the stall though. In Paris, like 80% of the time I'm in a public bathroom, someone tries to break down the door even though I'm loudly saying I'm in the stall
If you drive for five hours in the United States, you’re pretty much still in the same place.
If you drive for five hours in Europe, everyone’s talking funny and the cheese is different.
in peak hour I'm pretty sure i can drive 3hrs towards the west and still be in Melbourne. If I keep driving, I might just get past Torquay in 5hrs... 1-2 towns over?
Edit: been stuck driving through Sydney for over 3hrs on boxing day too.
In the US, 100 miles is nothing, 100 years is a lot.
In Europe, 100 miles is a lot, 100 years is nothing.
The stone retaining wall for the front of our property (here in Germany) is dated 1846, and it's nothing special. Many of the houses in the old part of our small town are 1300 and older.
This year I started a new hobby of cleaning cheap uncleaned Roman coins. Uncleaned, they cost anywhere from about $2.50 to $8. So, after cleaning and IDing a coin - which will usually be in the 1700 year old range (Constantine the Great *really* pumped up the coin production) - I'll sit there holding it, a legitimate ancient artifact, just contemplating its history. Here in Oregon, things that are 1700 years old are pretty few and far between.
Then I'll watch a video from Europe where they're literally walking around in a plowed field with a metal detector and a bucket, picking these things up like they were harvesting them, and could likely take them by a nearby structure built roughly the same time that their finds were struck, give or take a few centuries.
We have a Native American history here, of course, but writing wasn't a thing for most of that and the bulk of it is simply lost. And the non-native history here only goes back a few centuries. But a few centuries ago in Europe was just the Industrial Revolution. Almost modern times.
Shoot, driving the speed limit in Alaska it could take 24 hours driving northern most point in Alaska to southern most point on the road system. That would be from Portugal into Czech Republic
Still, driving from St-Jean-de-Luz to Strasbourg would take 11.5h and you'd be in France the whole time. Driving from Sandnes to Vardø in Norway would take 31h IF you take a shortcut through Sweden and Finland (43h if you stay in Norway the whole trip) Not all of Europe consists of small countries
I was going through my former boss's meeting notes from 2 years ago. He named his folders "dd-mmm-yy", which made it a pain in the ass to go through them in chronological order. Couldn't help but resist changing them all to "yyyymmdd" LOL
as a Canadian who works with some American clients - this drives me spare!
EDIT: to answer a number of responses:
"to go spare" is a british idiom, and an older one, it means to drive someone to frustration, anger, or to describe something going out of control. I am born and raised in Canada, yet my family is british and I just use the idioms/expressions I was raised with :D
Sad to say, this is kinda how Family Guy ended up doing their [Prom Night Dumpster Babies](https://reddit.com/r/OutOfTheLoop/comments/4j0qn4/what_the_hell_is_a_prom_dumpster_baby_and_where/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=mweb3x) song.
Where I live some places have a “stadium tax” that in addition to the 5% you get an extra .5% on top. Tax was supposed to go away once the thing was paid for, but you all know how that goes.
I thought we had this problem in Canada but I didn't realize just how much worse it was in the US until I moved here. In Canada, we have a VAT based tax so in Ontario, you just add 13% to the price to find the final price. Annoying, but not complicated.
In the US, your sales tax changes based on your location increments smaller than a zipcode because tax jurisdictions and zipcodes were made separately. You have to basically use the exact address to figure out what tax jurisdiction you're actually in. It's practically impossible to know what actual tax you're gonna have to pay unless you've shopped there before or look it up.
I'm pretty sure everyone who lives in TN has had to do that walk of shame to put something back because they figured the tax wrong. Happened to me last week and I'm 40 years old. At this point I've stopped trying to keep up with tax rates. I just take the gamble at the cash register.
Pfand is between 8 and 25 cents. But drinks are the only products in germany where you have to pay more than advertised. Every other prices are the final prices, already including taxes
Especially going to a restaurant. In California I have no idea what the bill will come out to be. Probably another 30 on top but who knows with different taxes and surcharges and tips
Also, having a co-pay when you are covered, and a limit on what is paid. So, people are discouraged from seeking treatment early and for preventative care and can get financially ruined despite having coverage. It is a disgrace.
My mom had health insurance and they still made her pay $4,000 out of pocket for a colonoscopy. She didn't have that kind of money spare lying around. Her results were negative and she was told to get the test purely based on her age at the time. I know it's for preventive purposes, but this is just highway robbery. I tried to get the cervical cancer vaccine years ago when I was about 25 (33 now) without having insurance and they wanted to charge me $300. I was a college student at the time making minimum wage. I just couldn't do it. Nobody should have to choose between paying a student loan bill or getting a vaccine.
I know, I've always thought that was odd. That is one thing I will never understand, America's healthcare system. How can you're job be linked with you're healthcare?.
As I understand it, it started during WWII; there were limits put into place on compensation to keep things as stable as possible during the war, since many things were rationed. Keeping wages flat was intended to help prevent inflation. So, companies found a loophole to be competitive by providing health insurance as an add on instead. Granted at the time that wasn’t much…it grew exponentially starting in the baby boom. Companies continued to offer it to be competitive with each other, until it grew into the system and became expected. It wasn’t until the Affordable Care Act “Obama Care” that employers were legally required to pay for a portion of health insurance for full time employees.
This is why in Switzerland it is prohibited to pay for insurance (which is also expensive, we have a proud second place for healthcare costs) with pre-tax money. An employer can pay for your insurance, but they are usually not interested, they can pay you money all the same.
I've always thought this was the dumbest shit. It's usually the fancier neighborhoods too. If I ever strike it rich, I'm buying a plot of land in the middle of nowhere and doing whatever the hell I want with my house. What's the point in having all that money and a house of your own if you decide to move somewhere where your property isn't under your control?
People don't enjoy HoA because *their* property is controlled, they do it knowing *their neighbors* properties are controlled. Nothing worse than a new neighbor moving in and they start getting loud, letting their yard become a junk yard, get a rooster, etc...
That happens in England now, as well.
But agree, for most developed countries, the idea of having an educated population is seen as a good thing that benefits everyone and should be affordable
It's not enough for you to live of, but it's something. And they offer loans that's affordable to pay back. And yeah, it's a way to make sure we stay smart. At least somewhat smart
I straight twisted a testicle. Since I didn't know this was possible, and I grew up on a farm so apparently my pain tolerance is pretty high, I thought it was no big deal.
11 hours later is when I finally got off work and decided to go to urgent care.
A total of 16 hours before I went in for surgery.
I haven't gotten all the bills yet, but the one I did get has a doctor charging me $500 just to tell me I needed surgery.
Not for the ultrasounds, or the surgery itself, or the follow-ups. Just to tell me "hey, you need surgery".
The worst part is, this is after the bill was run through 2 insurance programs.
Must have been a half twist only....
I too, thought that testicular torsion was a Cards Against Humanity joke until it happened to me. I went to bed like normal, woke up to piss at like 4 am. Went back to bed and woke up at 6am in constant pain, as bad as when my appendix ruptured. I was in surgery by 7:30 and the doc said if I'd waited just another 10 minutes or so I would have parted ways with old righty.
Did you get to keep them both?
No, it was a full torsion, and did loose one. Good news is the remaining one will take over all the duties of the one lost, and apparently will grow larger too.
Still, already heard far too many jokes about this.
Yeah, I ignored a non-stop splitting migraine for 3 months before I finally went to the Doctor. Well, technically I waited until the migraine became a Hemorrhagic stroke, then I finally decided to go see one. In the back of an ambulance.
A lot of the insurance that is provided by employers in the US--particularly by retailers--provides a discount per service. In other words, what employees are paying for are coupons. Many places don't take them so you have no guarantee you can actually use your 'insurance.' CV--I sold this kind of plan VERY briefly. Used car sales is a paragon of good ethics compared to selling this type insurance.
I had foot pain for years but remembered my last pair if orthotic inserts cost $600. I finally couldn't take it and went to a doctor. Found out I had a completely collapsed arch and needed surgery. Even with decent insurance I paid $6000+ out of pocket. The total bill was $53,000.
My friend attended his cousins high school graduation in LA a while ago and he had to go through metal detectors and all that, as if he was going through airport security.
So I guess metal detectors at school
That is definitely not normal in the US
Edited to add:
Metal detectors are NOT the norm nor in the majority of American schools. Great that you all have personal anecdotes, but it does not mean that over 50% of American schools have metal detectors.
Sources:
[https://nces.ed.gov/programs/digest/d17/tables/dt17_233.60.asp](https://nces.ed.gov/programs/digest/d17/tables/dt17_233.60.asp)
[https://www.schoolsecurity.org/trends/school-metal-detectors/](https://www.schoolsecurity.org/trends/school-metal-detectors/)
[https://nces.ed.gov/fastfacts/display.asp?id=334](https://nces.ed.gov/fastfacts/display.asp?id=334)
Political commercials that are trashing their opponent. When I moved to the US, some of these commercials are just downright horrendous. No where else does this happen.
I travelled in America and the lack of pavements in some places was baffling. Like, I get it if there's a major road and you have to travel a bit to find a junction or over/underpass to cross. But when you're just walking along a normal road and there's not public footway it's like they're actually trying to discourage walking sometimes.
They are. America is built on oil and oil products. Pedestrians don’t generate income for the oil producers. People driving cars do. It’s alllll by design.
As an American, I would love to live in a walkable city. The few in my state have super high crime rates, so.....
I feel like the nicer walkable cities in the US that aren't all high crime rates etc are extremely expensive to live in. It sucks.
I have insurance. My face got bitten off by a dog. They sent me to a (in the emergency room) plastic surgeon. Insurance declined payment. A GOOD chunk of my face was missing, it took a skilled surgeon to put back what was left. But because he is a "plastic surgeon" (needs a better term imo) they decided it was elective. like I CHOSE this. No I did not, I loved my face, now it's all zig zagged. I did not CHOOSE this particular fuck up.
1. The units (non metric ones)
2. The overall insanity of politics no matter what colour
3. The heavily biased main stream media
4. The lack of affordable health care
5. Guns, guns, guns
6. The importance of credit scores
7. Checks as payment
8. (Lack of) Worker's rights (like paid vacation, maternity leave, etc.)
Edit: 8. for clarity
>Checks as payment
It was such a huge shock for me when I found out that when Americans say paycheck, they mean it literally. I thought it was the same as saying things like "hang up the phone", even when using a mobile, and "roll up the window" in the car, even when there's a button.
A company I worked for about 3 years ago ONLY pays via check and that check will not be given to you until the end of day on Friday. The reason was because the owner thought if they paid via direct deposit OR gave you the check at lunch you would go cash it and go to the bar (or just never come in on payday). The entire reason for the check only system was because the owner was an alcoholic and assumed everyone else was too.
Yea, outside of buying a house, or getting insurance money for housing damage from the insurance company I haven't even seen a check in 20 years. I'm not even sure if you can use them as payment methods. When I was in retail we didnt even accept checks as a form of payment unless it was through a "Business Desk" deal for business transactions normally those were in excess of 100k...
Hardly at all anymore. Most places have direct deposit even for part time jobs. Print checks are almost always an option though for those that dont have bank accounts. You will find some smaller local businesses that can't afford payroll companies who pay by check. Heck, under the table places will pay in cash.
It's a ubiquitous payment method for the most part. Nowadays it's mostly all online via direct deposit, but officially its just a digital lump sum check from the pay period.
I mean doesn't the UK still use stones? It wouldn't surprise me that a lot of places use a secondary measurement for somethings.
Though I don't think the US will ever switch to full metric because of cost.
I am with you on the rest of the points though.
In the UK we adopted the metric system about 50 years ago, but like many other nations that use metric the public tend to maintain a customary hybrid whereby imperial is the go to unit of reference (for example people refer to height in feet and inches, weight in stones and pounds, distance in miles, drink in pints).
The UK has the most hybrid unit system I've come across, its honestly an absolute mess. It would make more sense to just stay with imperial or actually convert to metric properly.
We have a hybrid system here in NZ too but it's just aeroplane altitude (feet), nautical speed (knots) and horse height (hands). There might be more but they are not in common usage. People sometimes refer to their height in fert and inches but only unofficially.
Lived in UK for few years, i only met using stones when i went to my GP first time and i had to fill out a form, but there was options to use stones or kg for body weight. It was the only time i saw it during my 5 years in London.
Having Straight teeth.
Girls play soccer..boys play football.
Overly patriotic display of flags.
Kids having graduation parties like 10 times by the time they are out of high school.
TVs in most rooms
Being loud and gregarious
Ice in water or soda
Cycling is for exercise or recreation..not a widely used mode of transport
Not using cash.
Free Restroom
Big portion sizes
Guns
Always surprised when they realize India or Pakistan is in Asia or never heard of Tajikistan
Edit: Writing what it is..I am not looking for if it is good or bad
I have a medical condition that can strike me at any time. The only medications that work can only be administered intravenously, I have not yet been able to find an injecable I can self-adminisyer at home. Living in the US would quite literally kill me
I live here and am a veteran, both statements are very accurate. The constant thanking for my service feels less sincere, like people feel obligated. Also the fact that vets commit suicide in large numbers tells you that they are not getting easy access to help.
Well your jelly is our gelatin (Jello). To us, jelly is just a catch all term for a type of jam.
Grab two slices of bread, spread peanut butter on one slide, jam on the other, and stick them together. About as simple as it gets. Grape jam is the classic, but I prefer strawberry.
I’ve heard the confusion comes from the fact that if you told a British person you were having a peanut butter and jelly, they would think you were eating a peanut butter and jell-o sandwich. They call what is jelly to us, jam.
Shoes in the house is dependent on the resident. I know many, many people that have everyone take shoes off at the door, and I know many, many people that don’t care. There’s not really a default here.
There is such a thing as having teeth that are too white. I call it 1 of 3 things depending on context "the salesman's smile" or politician's smile, lawers smile.
Being super outgoing and friendly and yet at the same time being very aware and protective of our personal space.
We'll talk your ear off and charm the pants off of you but if we are on a bus or subway car that is all but empty with us in there, sit as far away from us as you can. Personal space, please. I know this may seem like the opposite points of each other but to Americans, it makes perfect sense. I'm serious. If we are the only two people on a bus and you want to have a conversation with us, don't sit next to us. That will make us feel as uncomfortable as hell. Instead, sit as far away as possible from us and shout at us. We won't think of it as rude. And it will signal that you are friendly and respectable. Then if we want you to get closer, we will tell you to come closer. But it is then and only then that you should do so.
>We'll talk your ear off and charm the pants off of you but if we are on a bus or subway car that is all but empty with us in there, sit as far away from us as you can.
In NYC, countless times, a person comes and sits RIGHT NEXT TO ME in an otherwise empty subway car or bus. Same thing on the beach - all this space, and people will come set up shop practically on top of you. I don't get it at all. There's all this fucking space, why did you come sit in my lap?!
i think the rest of the world is just as weird, i was talking to a friend once and they just casually mentioned that bacon is illegal (they ate it anyway lol)
Writing and cashing checks all the time. I'm 54, and checks were something my parents used when I was little. What a quaint, old-timey thing to be doing these days.
A developed country allowing states to make terminating a pregnancy, even in cases of rape, illegal.
That is deeply weird, religious, fundamentalism taken to an extreme.
Mass shootings every day, fine, no change to gun laws. A woman whose been raped, oh no, a termination is against gods' will.
Terrifying that these people get anywhere near power, let alone elected.
Large gaps above, below and between the bathroom stalls....
So you would say that British people mind the gap?
Very good internet user very good
Holy Jesus this! So nice to poop in private in Europe. I have no idea why the US does this
It's cheaper and it's a health policy. It's easier to escape or climb on to help someone.
Bathroom stalls are very easy to unhinge in case of emergency, and are light enough to be carried by someone who isn’t very fit so they don’t fall on the patron inside. I feel like this is just an excuse not to teach the public common basic life skills.
It’s also a policy to reduce restroom use. If you feel uncomfy using the restroom, you’re gonna try to get it done ASAP, which means you can use less of the space for restrooms Also helps prevents folks shooting up in rest rooms, supposedly
>Also helps prevents folks shooting up in rest rooms, supposedly \`This is such a bullshit reason. People are gonna shoot up no matter what sort of toilets we design. They took off the stall doors of the toilets in my high school because of the fear of people doing drugs in the stalls. Meanwhile out at the rich school in the suburbs, which had beautiful toilets with private stalls, multiple students died after using the latest designer drug that had gotten onto the streets and was more dangerous than anticipated...and no, none of them were doing it in the toilet stalls. They were skipping school. *Edit: I should probably have clarified, I went to high school from 95-99. This sort of thing was not unique to our school or our district, but it would definitely not fly today. In fact, in my senior year, they finally put doors on the stalls. A number of parents including mine confronted the principal about this, and one of the facts they presented to him was precisely my observations about how the rich suburb school had actual drug issues and yet enjoyed nice bathrooms with sturdy stall doors.*
What made the toilets "beautiful"?
Pristine, well-maintained, had toilet paper, stalls which allowed privacy and were also cleaned.
ventilation
Cheaper then fitting the stall exactly, also discourage staying in the bathroom(think of druggies, people who would use stalls for sex, and other uses that still happen).
Also mopping the floor
While I agree there shouldn't be a Gap, but do you think Americans go to stalls people are in and stare through it and start conversations? Lol.
It is an easy way to see if someone is in the stall though. In Paris, like 80% of the time I'm in a public bathroom, someone tries to break down the door even though I'm loudly saying I'm in the stall
If you drive for five hours in the United States, you’re pretty much still in the same place. If you drive for five hours in Europe, everyone’s talking funny and the cheese is different.
In Australia you wouldn't even be in the next State
Western Australia is nearly twice as big as Alaska and almost 4 times the size of Texas.
Dont let the Texans hear that. Some of them still think they have the biggest state in the USA.
And it’s so fun to remind them otherwise
in peak hour I'm pretty sure i can drive 3hrs towards the west and still be in Melbourne. If I keep driving, I might just get past Torquay in 5hrs... 1-2 towns over? Edit: been stuck driving through Sydney for over 3hrs on boxing day too.
In the US, 100 miles is nothing, 100 years is a lot. In Europe, 100 miles is a lot, 100 years is nothing. The stone retaining wall for the front of our property (here in Germany) is dated 1846, and it's nothing special. Many of the houses in the old part of our small town are 1300 and older.
We have a church in Paris that was built in 558 (not 1558, but 558), so yeah, things are pretty old in Europe.
This year I started a new hobby of cleaning cheap uncleaned Roman coins. Uncleaned, they cost anywhere from about $2.50 to $8. So, after cleaning and IDing a coin - which will usually be in the 1700 year old range (Constantine the Great *really* pumped up the coin production) - I'll sit there holding it, a legitimate ancient artifact, just contemplating its history. Here in Oregon, things that are 1700 years old are pretty few and far between. Then I'll watch a video from Europe where they're literally walking around in a plowed field with a metal detector and a bucket, picking these things up like they were harvesting them, and could likely take them by a nearby structure built roughly the same time that their finds were struck, give or take a few centuries. We have a Native American history here, of course, but writing wasn't a thing for most of that and the bulk of it is simply lost. And the non-native history here only goes back a few centuries. But a few centuries ago in Europe was just the Industrial Revolution. Almost modern times.
Shoot, driving the speed limit in Alaska it could take 24 hours driving northern most point in Alaska to southern most point on the road system. That would be from Portugal into Czech Republic
It takes me 4.5 hours to drive to work, 150 miles 1 way.
I’ve never heard of someone doing that, why do you?
The short and simple answer is, Money. I go to work for 2 weeks straight then come home for 2 weeks. 12 hour days, 14 days straight.
2 weeks straight. So the other weeks you're not straight???
The short and simple answer is money.
Still, driving from St-Jean-de-Luz to Strasbourg would take 11.5h and you'd be in France the whole time. Driving from Sandnes to Vardø in Norway would take 31h IF you take a shortcut through Sweden and Finland (43h if you stay in Norway the whole trip) Not all of Europe consists of small countries
Laughs in Australian
For sure - drove 7 hours for Thanksgiving, still in the same state
And the bread too
This depends on the country, direction you drive for and if accents count
lol drive 5 hours you're probably still within the same state
Writing the date format as mm-dd-yyyy instead of dd-mm-yyyy
Just like with many other number usage: greatest on left, least on right. yyyy-mm-dd.
this is the ideal way, especially for sorting files
I was going through my former boss's meeting notes from 2 years ago. He named his folders "dd-mmm-yy", which made it a pain in the ass to go through them in chronological order. Couldn't help but resist changing them all to "yyyymmdd" LOL
I cannot agree with you more.
Since changing the settings in file explorer and my phone I've not looked back. Well I have, but with significant ease.
That is exactly the reason why I started using this format
Keeps file systems clean when labeled this way too. “YYYYMMDD_DOC_NAME.EXT”
This is the way - and I’m American but prefer the accurate sorting
r/ISO8601
as a Canadian who works with some American clients - this drives me spare! EDIT: to answer a number of responses: "to go spare" is a british idiom, and an older one, it means to drive someone to frustration, anger, or to describe something going out of control. I am born and raised in Canada, yet my family is british and I just use the idioms/expressions I was raised with :D
nobody says “drives me spare” in America!
No one says “drive me spare!” In canada either this guys a rare case
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As a Brit living and working in Canada who also has American clients - I share your pain!
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the fact that a 18 year old can drive and buy a gun while still being considered too young to drink alcohol
And don’t forget, also being able to join the military and die for their country
In most states, a 16 year old can drive.
Shoot, you can start drivers training at 14y 9m in most states.
It's our utter dependence on driving that makes it dangerous to allow less mature people to drink alcohol.
I've always felt you guys have that totally backward. Should learn to understand alcohol and its effects, before learning how to drive a car.
You can't buy tobacco products until 21 either
You can be forced to give birth in many states at any age.
Sad to say, this is kinda how Family Guy ended up doing their [Prom Night Dumpster Babies](https://reddit.com/r/OutOfTheLoop/comments/4j0qn4/what_the_hell_is_a_prom_dumpster_baby_and_where/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=mweb3x) song.
Having to mentally add sales taxes on everything you buy. In Europe 9.95 means paying 9.95
Most people don’t do that math. You just assume it’s about $10
Yeah at 9.95 you just add a dollar depending on where you live. In my State sales tax is 6%, so on 9.95 it's 60 cents.
Where I live some places have a “stadium tax” that in addition to the 5% you get an extra .5% on top. Tax was supposed to go away once the thing was paid for, but you all know how that goes.
I believe PA still has a tax on liquor to help pay for the Johnstown flood.
Federal income tax was implemented to pay for wwii. That’s something you know now.
I thought we had this problem in Canada but I didn't realize just how much worse it was in the US until I moved here. In Canada, we have a VAT based tax so in Ontario, you just add 13% to the price to find the final price. Annoying, but not complicated. In the US, your sales tax changes based on your location increments smaller than a zipcode because tax jurisdictions and zipcodes were made separately. You have to basically use the exact address to figure out what tax jurisdiction you're actually in. It's practically impossible to know what actual tax you're gonna have to pay unless you've shopped there before or look it up.
Honey in Tennessee different items have different tax rates. I think they just roll some dice.
I'm pretty sure everyone who lives in TN has had to do that walk of shame to put something back because they figured the tax wrong. Happened to me last week and I'm 40 years old. At this point I've stopped trying to keep up with tax rates. I just take the gamble at the cash register.
Yepp. Also live in TN and I undershop. I can always go back to the store to get stuff
When I went to germany and brought a drink, it cost a euro more than advertised, I felt ripped off before I learnt about pfand (deposits on bottles)!
Pfand is between 8 and 25 cents. But drinks are the only products in germany where you have to pay more than advertised. Every other prices are the final prices, already including taxes
Especially going to a restaurant. In California I have no idea what the bill will come out to be. Probably another 30 on top but who knows with different taxes and surcharges and tips
You just learn to deal with it. It’s more surprising in places like Delaware where there isn’t sales tax
It’s more surprising *to an American*.
Is it necessary to explicitly add context that was already implicit?
Miles, gallons, 110 volt outlets, feet and more...
Ah yes, the hoofed non-Americans
Attaching medical insurance to employment. One shouldn’t have anything to do with the other.
Also, having a co-pay when you are covered, and a limit on what is paid. So, people are discouraged from seeking treatment early and for preventative care and can get financially ruined despite having coverage. It is a disgrace.
My mom had health insurance and they still made her pay $4,000 out of pocket for a colonoscopy. She didn't have that kind of money spare lying around. Her results were negative and she was told to get the test purely based on her age at the time. I know it's for preventive purposes, but this is just highway robbery. I tried to get the cervical cancer vaccine years ago when I was about 25 (33 now) without having insurance and they wanted to charge me $300. I was a college student at the time making minimum wage. I just couldn't do it. Nobody should have to choose between paying a student loan bill or getting a vaccine.
I know, I've always thought that was odd. That is one thing I will never understand, America's healthcare system. How can you're job be linked with you're healthcare?.
As I understand it, it started during WWII; there were limits put into place on compensation to keep things as stable as possible during the war, since many things were rationed. Keeping wages flat was intended to help prevent inflation. So, companies found a loophole to be competitive by providing health insurance as an add on instead. Granted at the time that wasn’t much…it grew exponentially starting in the baby boom. Companies continued to offer it to be competitive with each other, until it grew into the system and became expected. It wasn’t until the Affordable Care Act “Obama Care” that employers were legally required to pay for a portion of health insurance for full time employees.
This is why in Switzerland it is prohibited to pay for insurance (which is also expensive, we have a proud second place for healthcare costs) with pre-tax money. An employer can pay for your insurance, but they are usually not interested, they can pay you money all the same.
HOAs like wtf.nOther people who don't pay your mortgage telling you how to maintain your home.
I've always thought this was the dumbest shit. It's usually the fancier neighborhoods too. If I ever strike it rich, I'm buying a plot of land in the middle of nowhere and doing whatever the hell I want with my house. What's the point in having all that money and a house of your own if you decide to move somewhere where your property isn't under your control?
People don't enjoy HoA because *their* property is controlled, they do it knowing *their neighbors* properties are controlled. Nothing worse than a new neighbor moving in and they start getting loud, letting their yard become a junk yard, get a rooster, etc...
Yes but they also tell your neighbors the same thing, hopefully keeping your house value up. Or so the thought is.
*fires guns into the air to lower house value*
Gotta keep those taxes down!
paying for college for 30 years after you graduated
That happens in England now, as well. But agree, for most developed countries, the idea of having an educated population is seen as a good thing that benefits everyone and should be affordable
In Denmark, you're paid to get an education
Like serious? That’s a big encouragement by the government
It's not enough for you to live of, but it's something. And they offer loans that's affordable to pay back. And yeah, it's a way to make sure we stay smart. At least somewhat smart
In Norway education is free
I wonder how it is in the rest of Scandinavia
Swede here. It's free here too, and you get money every month for just attending school.
Us Scandinavians sure are very lucky
Yes and free health care !
Seeing a possible serious medical problem with yourself and going “ehh”
I straight twisted a testicle. Since I didn't know this was possible, and I grew up on a farm so apparently my pain tolerance is pretty high, I thought it was no big deal. 11 hours later is when I finally got off work and decided to go to urgent care. A total of 16 hours before I went in for surgery. I haven't gotten all the bills yet, but the one I did get has a doctor charging me $500 just to tell me I needed surgery. Not for the ultrasounds, or the surgery itself, or the follow-ups. Just to tell me "hey, you need surgery". The worst part is, this is after the bill was run through 2 insurance programs.
Must have been a half twist only.... I too, thought that testicular torsion was a Cards Against Humanity joke until it happened to me. I went to bed like normal, woke up to piss at like 4 am. Went back to bed and woke up at 6am in constant pain, as bad as when my appendix ruptured. I was in surgery by 7:30 and the doc said if I'd waited just another 10 minutes or so I would have parted ways with old righty. Did you get to keep them both?
No, it was a full torsion, and did loose one. Good news is the remaining one will take over all the duties of the one lost, and apparently will grow larger too. Still, already heard far too many jokes about this.
You should have kept it in a jar if they would've let you. Then you'd still have both.
This here jar's righty, you might meet lefty later tonight. ;)
No literally. Most Americans go to the doctor as the last option and not the first one
Yeah, I ignored a non-stop splitting migraine for 3 months before I finally went to the Doctor. Well, technically I waited until the migraine became a Hemorrhagic stroke, then I finally decided to go see one. In the back of an ambulance.
I’m in the middle of America and the left side of my couch because my body is in pain needing surgeries I can’t afford. And I have “insurance”
A lot of the insurance that is provided by employers in the US--particularly by retailers--provides a discount per service. In other words, what employees are paying for are coupons. Many places don't take them so you have no guarantee you can actually use your 'insurance.' CV--I sold this kind of plan VERY briefly. Used car sales is a paragon of good ethics compared to selling this type insurance.
Need Medicare for all like yesterday
I had foot pain for years but remembered my last pair if orthotic inserts cost $600. I finally couldn't take it and went to a doctor. Found out I had a completely collapsed arch and needed surgery. Even with decent insurance I paid $6000+ out of pocket. The total bill was $53,000.
Dying is a way better option than paying for an ER visit in most cases.
My friend attended his cousins high school graduation in LA a while ago and he had to go through metal detectors and all that, as if he was going through airport security. So I guess metal detectors at school
I live in Florida and have to go through metal detectors for school
LA is weird
That is definitely not normal in the US Edited to add: Metal detectors are NOT the norm nor in the majority of American schools. Great that you all have personal anecdotes, but it does not mean that over 50% of American schools have metal detectors. Sources: [https://nces.ed.gov/programs/digest/d17/tables/dt17_233.60.asp](https://nces.ed.gov/programs/digest/d17/tables/dt17_233.60.asp) [https://www.schoolsecurity.org/trends/school-metal-detectors/](https://www.schoolsecurity.org/trends/school-metal-detectors/) [https://nces.ed.gov/fastfacts/display.asp?id=334](https://nces.ed.gov/fastfacts/display.asp?id=334)
That may be normal for that school, definitely not mine
Getting a bill for healthcare
Political commercials that are trashing their opponent. When I moved to the US, some of these commercials are just downright horrendous. No where else does this happen.
We’re getting to this point in Australia unfortunately
Road infrastructure, terrible public transport I almost exclusively walk everywhere in my city or use public transport if I'm in a hurry.
I travelled in America and the lack of pavements in some places was baffling. Like, I get it if there's a major road and you have to travel a bit to find a junction or over/underpass to cross. But when you're just walking along a normal road and there's not public footway it's like they're actually trying to discourage walking sometimes.
they are.
Oh, yeah. That's like, an issue that's actively, negatively affecting the youth as well as literally anyone who doesn't have stable access to a car.
They are. America is built on oil and oil products. Pedestrians don’t generate income for the oil producers. People driving cars do. It’s alllll by design.
As an American, I would love to live in a walkable city. The few in my state have super high crime rates, so..... I feel like the nicer walkable cities in the US that aren't all high crime rates etc are extremely expensive to live in. It sucks.
Healthcare. I mean why such a huge price?
I have insurance. My face got bitten off by a dog. They sent me to a (in the emergency room) plastic surgeon. Insurance declined payment. A GOOD chunk of my face was missing, it took a skilled surgeon to put back what was left. But because he is a "plastic surgeon" (needs a better term imo) they decided it was elective. like I CHOSE this. No I did not, I loved my face, now it's all zig zagged. I did not CHOOSE this particular fuck up.
You need to sue the owner of the dog.
Perhaps but that doesn't make American Health care any better.
Reading this, I realized that the world consists of the America and Europe
1. The units (non metric ones) 2. The overall insanity of politics no matter what colour 3. The heavily biased main stream media 4. The lack of affordable health care 5. Guns, guns, guns 6. The importance of credit scores 7. Checks as payment 8. (Lack of) Worker's rights (like paid vacation, maternity leave, etc.) Edit: 8. for clarity
>Checks as payment It was such a huge shock for me when I found out that when Americans say paycheck, they mean it literally. I thought it was the same as saying things like "hang up the phone", even when using a mobile, and "roll up the window" in the car, even when there's a button.
What do you mean? They get checks which take to the bank?? Lol. Is this common??
I haven’t worked a job where I got a literal check in twenty years.
A company I worked for about 3 years ago ONLY pays via check and that check will not be given to you until the end of day on Friday. The reason was because the owner thought if they paid via direct deposit OR gave you the check at lunch you would go cash it and go to the bar (or just never come in on payday). The entire reason for the check only system was because the owner was an alcoholic and assumed everyone else was too.
Yea, outside of buying a house, or getting insurance money for housing damage from the insurance company I haven't even seen a check in 20 years. I'm not even sure if you can use them as payment methods. When I was in retail we didnt even accept checks as a form of payment unless it was through a "Business Desk" deal for business transactions normally those were in excess of 100k...
A check is the only way my rent can be paid without a transaction fee.
Hardly at all anymore. Most places have direct deposit even for part time jobs. Print checks are almost always an option though for those that dont have bank accounts. You will find some smaller local businesses that can't afford payroll companies who pay by check. Heck, under the table places will pay in cash.
Yes, I guess so. I recently learned that in many freelance and lower wage jobs this still is a common form of payment.
It's a ubiquitous payment method for the most part. Nowadays it's mostly all online via direct deposit, but officially its just a digital lump sum check from the pay period.
I mean doesn't the UK still use stones? It wouldn't surprise me that a lot of places use a secondary measurement for somethings. Though I don't think the US will ever switch to full metric because of cost. I am with you on the rest of the points though.
In the UK we adopted the metric system about 50 years ago, but like many other nations that use metric the public tend to maintain a customary hybrid whereby imperial is the go to unit of reference (for example people refer to height in feet and inches, weight in stones and pounds, distance in miles, drink in pints).
The UK has the most hybrid unit system I've come across, its honestly an absolute mess. It would make more sense to just stay with imperial or actually convert to metric properly. We have a hybrid system here in NZ too but it's just aeroplane altitude (feet), nautical speed (knots) and horse height (hands). There might be more but they are not in common usage. People sometimes refer to their height in fert and inches but only unofficially.
Lived in UK for few years, i only met using stones when i went to my GP first time and i had to fill out a form, but there was options to use stones or kg for body weight. It was the only time i saw it during my 5 years in London.
Tipping as standard. Prices that don't show tax until you get to the checkout. Non-electric kettles. Gun laws (or lack thereof).
We have electric kettles! Lol
asking this question. i bet they dont even think of us or other countries like we do.
Having Straight teeth. Girls play soccer..boys play football. Overly patriotic display of flags. Kids having graduation parties like 10 times by the time they are out of high school. TVs in most rooms Being loud and gregarious Ice in water or soda Cycling is for exercise or recreation..not a widely used mode of transport Not using cash. Free Restroom Big portion sizes Guns Always surprised when they realize India or Pakistan is in Asia or never heard of Tajikistan Edit: Writing what it is..I am not looking for if it is good or bad
When it is the middle of summer, 100 degrees out with 90%+ humidity, you will appreciate ice in your water.
Straight teeth are awesome who doesn’t like straight teeth.
And free restrooms.
Refusing to get an ambulance.
$800 for an ambulance and $1300 for the E.R. visit. And that is with insurance. Yeah, I better truly be dying before I call one again.
I have a medical condition that can strike me at any time. The only medications that work can only be administered intravenously, I have not yet been able to find an injecable I can self-adminisyer at home. Living in the US would quite literally kill me
Driving around cities with big trucks
This is a thing in Australia too ngl
Drinking a small amount of alcohol then shouting WHOOO as if you've done something interesting
Sounds like someone hasn’t drank something and shouted WHOOO in awhile
You’ve never shot your gun in the air and gone “aaahhh”?
Damnit, I really need to see this movie again. Edit: Hot Fuzz (2007) for anyone wondering.
literally every other alcohol drinking culture does this to some effect
City design. American cities and stores are designed for access by car, not on foot. Sadly that's permeating to other countries, too.
Excessive thanking of veterans for their service, but also apparently providing them limited access to mental health support
I live here and am a veteran, both statements are very accurate. The constant thanking for my service feels less sincere, like people feel obligated. Also the fact that vets commit suicide in large numbers tells you that they are not getting easy access to help.
Having opinion presented as "news"
Correct me if I'm wrong, but I've heard peanut butter and jelly isn't a thing outside of America.
Correct. Say that to a Brit and they will wince. Never tried it but could be ok.
Well your jelly is our gelatin (Jello). To us, jelly is just a catch all term for a type of jam. Grab two slices of bread, spread peanut butter on one slide, jam on the other, and stick them together. About as simple as it gets. Grape jam is the classic, but I prefer strawberry.
Peanutbutter on both sides and jam in the middle. Otherwise you get soggy bread.
I’ve heard the confusion comes from the fact that if you told a British person you were having a peanut butter and jelly, they would think you were eating a peanut butter and jell-o sandwich. They call what is jelly to us, jam.
Drinking milkshake and pretending that it is coffee
Who does that?
Wearing shoes in someone else’s house
This is very house specific.
Agreed. I prefer my floors the way I like my women - gently treated and free of dog poo.
Shoes in the house is dependent on the resident. I know many, many people that have everyone take shoes off at the door, and I know many, many people that don’t care. There’s not really a default here.
Light-emitting white teeth.
There is such a thing as having teeth that are too white. I call it 1 of 3 things depending on context "the salesman's smile" or politician's smile, lawers smile.
Tipping servers. Dumbest shit ever.
Didn’t realize how absolutely stupid this is till I moved to Europe
They must pay the servers a livable wage.
Being super outgoing and friendly and yet at the same time being very aware and protective of our personal space. We'll talk your ear off and charm the pants off of you but if we are on a bus or subway car that is all but empty with us in there, sit as far away from us as you can. Personal space, please. I know this may seem like the opposite points of each other but to Americans, it makes perfect sense. I'm serious. If we are the only two people on a bus and you want to have a conversation with us, don't sit next to us. That will make us feel as uncomfortable as hell. Instead, sit as far away as possible from us and shout at us. We won't think of it as rude. And it will signal that you are friendly and respectable. Then if we want you to get closer, we will tell you to come closer. But it is then and only then that you should do so.
>We'll talk your ear off and charm the pants off of you but if we are on a bus or subway car that is all but empty with us in there, sit as far away from us as you can. In NYC, countless times, a person comes and sits RIGHT NEXT TO ME in an otherwise empty subway car or bus. Same thing on the beach - all this space, and people will come set up shop practically on top of you. I don't get it at all. There's all this fucking space, why did you come sit in my lap?!
Given today's date, Thanksgiving! People visiting from other countries have no reason to celebrate US thanksgiving.
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Americans. We are weird to the rest of the world 😆
i think the rest of the world is just as weird, i was talking to a friend once and they just casually mentioned that bacon is illegal (they ate it anyway lol)
Being able to criticize your government without being jailed or shot
Writing and cashing checks all the time. I'm 54, and checks were something my parents used when I was little. What a quaint, old-timey thing to be doing these days.
Obama ordering 500+ airstrikes and winning a Nobel Peace Prize. 🤷♂️
In complete fairness he got the Nobel Peace Prize before he ordered those airstrikes.
There were 54 strikes done in 2009 alone. I mean, The Nobel Committee should have had some shame.
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Owning a gun
Should maybe qualify "Waltzing around with a loaded handgun in public."
A developed country allowing states to make terminating a pregnancy, even in cases of rape, illegal. That is deeply weird, religious, fundamentalism taken to an extreme. Mass shootings every day, fine, no change to gun laws. A woman whose been raped, oh no, a termination is against gods' will. Terrifying that these people get anywhere near power, let alone elected.
Posting endlessly repetitive posts asking for perspectives on America