From unique measurement systems to peculiar cultural habits, join us as we explore the distinctly American behaviors that leave the rest of the world scratching their heads! Whether it's healthcare practices, food portions, or shopping habits, these everyday American norms might seem bizarre to international observers.
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00:00Would you please stop pointing that gun at me?
00:02Your school is saying things to us. Here's the damn phone.
00:05Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we're counting down our picks
00:08for 30 American behaviors that seem insane to the rest of the world.
00:20Number 30. Expect huge portions.
00:22Take as much as you want. Um, if you want to come back for seconds,
00:25you can come back for seconds.
00:26If you're an American who's ever eaten outside the U.S.,
00:29you might notice something weird. Your plate isn't the size of a steering wheel.
00:33In the States, it's totally normal for a single entree to feed two people,
00:37maybe even three.
00:38Foreign visitors are often stunned by the sheer mass of food that hits the dinner table,
00:43more so when it comes with bottomless soda and a free bread basket.
00:46This is the amount of french fries in one serving.
00:49So that looks like maybe four or five servings of french fries.
00:53A large fry in the U.S. is about 46% bigger than the British version.
00:57American large pizzas have 31% more surface area.
01:01In America, value basically means volume.
01:12Number 29. Obsess over the stars and stripes.
01:23In America, the flag is one part national symbol, one part branding strategy.
01:31You'll see it flying over schools, gas stations, front porches,
01:34car dealerships, beer cans, and the occasional pair of boxer briefs.
01:38For many foreigners, the sheer volume of flags feels more like propaganda than patriotism.
01:43The flag is so important that its history tells the story of America itself.
01:49It symbolizes our freedom, our dignity, and the true meaning of being an American.
01:55In the U.S., though, it's just Tuesday.
01:57While other countries display their flags on national holidays, Americans do it year-round.
02:02The Founding Fathers could never have envisioned the lever of commercialization
02:06their design would lead to.
02:07That stars and stripes branded gear is technically against the flag code never factors into it.
02:12In the U.S., the stars and stripes are forever.
02:19Number 28. Shop at superstores.
02:44In most countries, you pop into a store for groceries or light bulbs.
02:47You're in, you're out.
02:48In America, you can enter a superstore and emerge three hours later with a kayak,
02:52a 50-pound bag of dog food, and a vague sense of disorientation.
02:57Walmart, Target, Costco.
02:58For people unused to them, there are less retail spaces and more retail experiences.
03:10A trip for batteries can now include a food court,
03:13a pharmacy, and the temptation of a flat screen the size of a door.
03:16Foreign visitors often describe them like indoor cities.
03:19TikToks from bewildered Europeans walking the aisles are basically travel documentaries.
03:24For Americans, it's all about convenience.
03:26For everyone else, it can feel like a consumerist fever dream with free samples.
03:35Number 27. Indulge in college sportsmania.
03:38Under the bright lights and booming roar,
03:42University of Miami fans know who they're here to see.
03:45Too much of the world, college is a place for lectures and cheap beer.
03:49In America, it can also mean mega-sized stadiums,
03:52multi-million-dollar coaches, and ESPN coverage.
03:55American college sports are a full-blown cultural institution.
03:58People paint their faces, tailgate at 9 a.m., and schedule weddings around game time.
04:03For many foreigners, the idea of student-athletes playing in packed arenas is totally bizarre.
04:19You've got 18-year-olds performing for fan bases more intense than most pros ever face.
04:24Throw in marching bands, bowl games, and Final Four brackets,
04:27and it can seem completely out of hand.
04:29In America, higher education doesn't just mean academic achievement.
04:33It also means screaming yourself hoarse over a 19-year-old point guard.
04:46Number 26. Be so loud.
04:57Wherever there is an American outside of the United States,
05:00you are likely to get the same complaint.
05:02You can hear them before you see them.
05:04Whether it's in a restaurant, a museum, or a train car,
05:07Americans have a volume setting that seems permanently stuck on
05:10I'm getting no reception on my phone.
05:25In the U.S., being loud is often associated with confidence or friendliness.
05:29Abroad, it can come off as overbearing and obnoxious.
05:33Expats say they can pick out fellow Americans from across a plaza just by the decibel level.
05:37And while it's not every American, the stereotype exists for a reason.
05:50Number 25. Consume so much coffee.
05:54Chocolate chip cookie frappe.
05:55White chocolate mocha.
05:57Light and sweet with caramel.
05:59And it usually takes more than one cup of the pick-me-up to satisfy.
06:03In America, coffee isn't just a warm beverage to set a gentle tone for the day.
06:07It's a lifestyle, a coping mechanism,
06:09a desperately needed stimulant, and sometimes practically a personality trait.
06:13While most countries sip modest cups at a cafe,
06:16Americans are out here gripping venti cold brews like life preservers on a stormy sea.
06:24The coffee-to-go culture is especially baffling to outsiders.
06:29Walk through any U.S. city and you'll see people double-fisting caffeine
06:33like they're training for a speed-walking marathon.
06:35Americans will take it iced, blended, with syrups,
06:38oat milk, and motivational quotes on the cup.
06:40Other countries might enjoy coffee.
06:43Americans mainline it.
06:5424. Practice helicopter parenting
07:03It's hysteria, she says.
07:05The world is safer today than it has ever been,
07:08even as the push to bubble-wrap children keeps growing.
07:11When it comes to parenting, the U.S. wasn't always an outlier.
07:14The latchkey kid generation of Gen X helped inspire the entire kids-on-bikes subgenre.
07:19But modern American parenting is a different story.
07:22In many parts of the world, kids walk to school alone,
07:25climb trees, and make their own sandwiches by age seven.
07:36In the U.S., many are strapped into five-point harnesses,
07:39tracked by nanny cams, and kept indoors over fears of potential dangers.
07:43The term helicopter parenting was born in America, and for good reason.
07:47Many parents hover over their kids constantly, micromanaging their every move.
07:52Studies suggest this can hurt long-term development,
07:54which might be why children elsewhere often seem more independent and more well-adjusted.
08:0623. Use drive-thrus
08:22In many countries, drive-thrus, if they exist at all, are mostly limited to fast food.
08:30In the U.S., you can stay in your car for just about everything.
08:34Coffee, pharmacy pickups, banking, booze, and even a Vegas wedding.
08:38Entire cities seem to be designed around the system of never having to leave your vehicle.
08:42Some of the most popular fast food chains have drive-thrus to thank for strong growth.
08:46For instance, Wendy's started adding drive-thru windows in 1971,
08:50and restaurant experts credit them as one factor behind Wendy's
08:53fast expansion in the years that followed.
08:55Chick-fil-A locations have multiple lanes,
08:58traffic cones, and headset-wearing employees that rival airport ground crews.
09:02The rise of mega drive-thrus is so intense that some U.S. cities are
09:06trying to ban new ones altogether. To many outside the U.S.,
09:10it's convenience gone overboard. To Americans, it's Tuesday.
09:21For much of the world, a three-hour drive is a long weekend trip.
09:37In the U.S., it might just be your weekday commute.
09:40For much of the world, particularly Europe, countries are relatively small and quickly
09:44traversed. When foreigners visit the states, they're often blown away by the massive size of
09:49the country. When you combine America's size with its car-first infrastructure,
09:59visitors are in for a culture shock. In the U.S., driving often isn't optional, it's expected.
10:05Americans will happily drive for hours for a concert, a good meal, or just cheaper gas.
10:11Public transportation is sparse, and walkability depends on your zip code.
10:15While some cities are making changes, the dominant vibe is still very much gas-up-and-go.
10:2021. Spend Exorbitantly on College Tuition
10:43In many countries, college is affordable. Oftentimes, it's even free, seen as an
10:48investment in the future wellness of the citizenry and national economy.
10:51In the U.S., a college degree is often priced like a luxury product.
10:55Foreign students are routinely stunned by the cost of American higher education.
10:59Tuition alone can run $30,000 to $60,000 a year, not including housing, books, or emotional damage.
11:06The issue in our country is that we don't fund higher education
11:10as if it's a public good, as if it's good for society.
11:14While scholarships exist, the average American student still graduates with tens of thousands
11:19of dollars in debt. With increases to the cost of living, many never dig themselves out of that
11:24hole. Some international observers have compared U.S. universities to high-end businesses with
11:29dorm rooms. Instead of competing on price, a lot of schools actually learned they could actually
11:35charge more, not less, if they could convince their students that they were prestigious.
11:4020. Refer to the USA as America
11:51Outside of the United States of America, referring to the country as America is much
11:57less commonplace. After all, there are two entire continents called America,
12:01comprising like 35 distinct nations. Referring to only one country on one of those continents
12:08as America, too, is really confusing for anyone who doesn't live there.
12:22Calling it the U.S., USA, the United States, or just the States is much more common in the
12:28rest of the world. Even so, everyone still calls its residents Americans, which isn't confusing at all.
12:42Cultures the world over have traditions to prepare expecting parents and celebrate the
12:46expected birth of a child. However, Americans have really taken the concept and run with it.
12:57An entire industry has been built around baby showers, as well as their modern relatives' gender
13:02reveal parties. Emerging in the 2000s, the latter have become infamous for sometimes absurd levels
13:08of showmanship. Some over-the-top reveals have been responsible for injuries and even disasters.
13:14They remain somewhat controversial, with many people, including Americans, not really getting
13:19why they're often made into such big deals.
13:31Experience Huge Bathroom Stall Gaps
13:43Every country's restrooms have their own quirks, like different sinks and toilet bowls.
13:48The U.S. is known for having a high volume of water in their bowls and large gaps in their
13:53bathroom stalls, both under the door and between the door and the walls. Visitors can be taken
13:58aback at the lack of privacy. Some hold that they're designed for easy cleaning or construction,
14:04others that it allows one to check which stalls are occupied, although occupancy indicators on
14:09the locks can do that, too.
14:19It might also make it more difficult to get up to no good in there.
14:24Whatever the case, public bathrooms in the U.S. are built for speed, not comfort.
14:35Have Pharmacies That Sell Groceries
14:37In most of the world, pharmacies sell exactly what their name implies,
14:41pharmaceuticals. While you will see tangentially related items like grooming products or hygienic
14:46things like toothbrushes, pharmacies don't usually carry food or toys. But in the U.S.,
14:52that's much more common. The country is all about the all-in-one experience. Not only will
14:57dedicated grocery stores have pharmacies built in, but pharmacies will also carry groceries.
15:02Granted, the selection isn't always great, but if you're desperate for milk and the grocery
15:07store is closed or you just don't feel like crossing the street to get there, you can get
15:11some. While most of the world still limits drug stores to drugs and self-care products,
15:16we have a feeling this one might catch on.
15:20Vote Before They Can Drink
15:22Worldwide, the age at which a person can legally drink alcohol is most commonly 18,
15:28the age usually considered to be adulthood, though it is even earlier in some countries.
15:33The voting age on a global scale is also generally 18, for similar reasons,
15:38although of course there are exceptions.
15:42However, the United States requires young adults to wait three years after being able to vote
15:59before legally being allowed to drink at 21. This was enacted during the 1980s to prevent
16:05alcohol-related driving accidents.
16:07This law has been an abysmal failure. It hasn't reduced or eliminated drinking,
16:11it has simply driven it underground, behind closed doors, into the most risky
16:18and least manageable of settings.
16:21While it helped in the short term, ultimately it hasn't really stopped teenagers from drinking.
16:26The result is that many people, both inside and outside the U.S.,
16:30question the logic of why an 18-year-old American can decide who forms the government
16:35but not get buzzed.
16:5515. Get Free Refills
16:57One of the biggest differences between American restaurants and the rest of the world are their
17:01drink services. Most American and many Canadian restaurants and other establishments will offer
17:06at least one free refill of a non-alcoholic drink. The idea is that because of the low
17:18cost of drinks, particularly fountain soft drinks, offering a refill won't hurt the
17:22establishment's bottom line, particularly if drinks are not the primary source of income.
17:27However, the idea has been slow to catch on in the rest of the world, and it's nowhere near
17:32as consistently offered. Some countries have raised concern that a practice like this can
17:36lead to an increase in obesity.
17:3914. Tip Service Personnel
17:56While the concept of tipping waitstaff or other people in the service industry is known worldwide,
18:01few countries have embraced the concept to the degree the U.S. has.
18:08An anti-tipping legislation was enacted across several states, but restaurants and rail operators
18:14like the Pullman Company embraced tipping because it allowed them, among other things,
18:18to hire recently freed slaves without having to pay them.
18:22Many workers, particularly in the restaurant industry, rely on gratuities to get by,
18:27in part because laws allow managers to pay sub-minimum wages to tipped workers.
18:32However, in various other countries, tipping is seen as insulting. They're just doing their
18:37jobs, after all. While some countries' workers certainly appreciate it, it isn't expected like
18:55it is in the U.S., mostly because employees are paid a high-enough baseline salary that
19:00they don't need tips to survive.
19:0713. Obsess Over the Military
19:30The American military is probably the best in the world. As it should be, since it's also
19:35one of the best-funded militaries in the world. In fact, the U.S. spends several times more on
19:41their military than their nearest competitor, China. What's more, there are more than a few
19:46American citizens who have a higher-than-average fascination with their own military and its culture.
20:06While other countries certainly appreciate their troops, you don't, say,
20:09see as many people wearing camouflage as a legitimate fashion statement. Likewise,
20:15you don't see movies made elsewhere that glorify the military to the degree that the U.S. does.
20:3612. Use Red Plastic Cups
20:40Part of the American enthusiasm is certainly rooted in patriotism. Still, it may also be
20:46a reaction to an increasingly anti-military sentiment that has popped up over the last
20:50several decades.
20:5112. Use Red Plastic Cups
21:04If you've ever seen an American movie where a college party happens,
21:07chances are you've seen characters drinking from red cups.
21:1012. Use Red Plastic Cups
21:16These red plastic or solo cups are everywhere in the U.S. The cheap drinking containers are
21:22a favorite at parties, both for their durability and their ease of use in party games. While
21:27they're also handy for crafts or gardening, they're most famous for their intended purpose.
21:32However, the rest of the world either doesn't have the United States party culture's emphasis
21:36on kegs or lacks the same distinctive cups, originally manufactured by the Solo Cup Company.
21:43At most, you might see them at a novelty American-themed party.
21:4811. Wear Shoes Inside
21:50Taking off your shoes before you enter a home, or at least in the entryway,
21:54is pretty common etiquette in many countries. And while many Americans do prefer to keep
22:03footwear off their floors, it isn't a hard-and-fast rule like it is in other places.
22:08Often, it will depend on whether the person has carpeted floors or hardwood floors,
22:12with the latter considered easier to clean. Since it's not considered the norm, though,
22:17asking guests to take off their shoes indoors can come across as rude or fussy,
22:21and so is often avoided.
22:2410. Eat Peanut Butter as Their Go-To Spread
22:27Peanuts are grown and eaten in many parts of the world. But it's the United States and Canada
22:33that do most of the peanut butter eating. A lot of countries see it as a niche or even
22:46unpleasant taste. Others have a spread that is more culturally ingrained, like Nutella.
22:51The USA cannot get enough of peanut butter, though, consuming over a billion pounds of it
22:56annually. January 24th is even National Peanut Butter Day. It's a cheap source of protein that
23:02most American children grow up eating, so it's no wonder that it's a comfort food for many of them.
23:089. Work Too Much
23:10Americans are workaholics, at least compared to basically every other country in the world.
23:15The majority of Americans work more than 40 hours a week.
23:18Why do we do this to ourselves? Well, the conventional answer is that this
23:22attitude towards work makes the American economy the envy of the world.
23:26America is a hectic, turbocharged system that builds, destroys, rebuilds, all at warp speed.
23:32They also tend to lack many of the things the rest of the world takes for granted,
23:36like paid holidays as well as sick and parental leave.
23:39Research has shown that happier, less stressed workers do better at their jobs.
23:44Iceland even recently tried a four-day work week that proved wildly successful.
23:48There's lots of other benefits to a four-day working week. It's not just the
23:53mental health and economy, you know, good for the economy. It's also environmental benefits,
23:57too. You know, evidence looks like when we're commuting less as a result of a four-day week,
24:02that brings down emissions. Also, energy consumption goes down. This is a policy,
24:06it's win-win for the environment, for workers, for employers. What's not to like about it?
24:11Several European countries take long breaks for lunch. While the American drive is admirable,
24:17grind culture becomes problematic when it costs workers their mental health and well-being.
24:25Americans are known for their friendliness towards strangers, especially outside of big cities.
24:31It's not uncommon for Americans to smile at each other in passing,
24:34but their comfort with new people also extends to small talk,
24:38saying hello or even striking up a conversation out of the blue.
24:47In many countries, speaking to strangers unprompted can be seen as intrusive or even
24:57risky. Many Americans are masters of the art, though, often happy to chat with people they've
25:03never met about the weather, sports, or whatever else comes up in conversation.
25:077. Casually Own Guns
25:16In many countries, gun laws are strict and gun ownership is relatively rare.
25:21In the U.S., gun ownership is protected by the Second Amendment, and gun ownership is the highest
25:26in the world. Despite making up 4% of the global population, Americans own 46% of civilian-held
25:33firearms. There's a distinct gun culture, where gun ownership is celebrated or at least seen as
25:39important for personal safety. Most states even allow you to open carry.
25:52Of course, the issue is extremely divisive due to the country's high rate of gun deaths.
25:56Either way, the idea of having so many guns around is a novel one for many visitors.
26:046. Put Sales Tax on Everything
26:07Sales tax is paid when you buy something, and the business you purchased your goods from
26:12sends that money to the government. There are two types of sales tax,
26:17general sales tax and excise taxes. General sales tax is a tax levied on most goods you buy.
26:26Excise taxes are taxes levied only on certain items.
26:30Most countries enact a value-added tax, or VAT, on goods or services purchased within
26:36their borders. These taxes are collected from every person in the supply chain,
26:40from the distributors to the consumers. The United States is one of the few to use sales tax,
26:45which not only vary wildly from state to state, but are only enacted after a purchase has been made.
26:51They're also not listed in the initial price, which can leave foreign visitors,
27:03and many Americans, scratching their head as to why they're being charged
27:07more than the price on the product. Better or worse? You decide. It's certainly more confusing.
27:215. Recite a Pledge of Allegiance
27:43In many parts of the United States, school children, and adults in some settings,
27:48are expected to recite the Pledge of Allegiance.
28:06This is an expression that they will be loyal to the USA, and is usually performed daily while
28:11looking at the nation's flag, which you will find hanging everywhere, by the way.
28:16This isn't something other countries do. They might salute or respect their flag and country,
28:20but to make school children recite an oath to the country? The pledge has been the subject of
28:25plenty of controversy within the US, too, particularly since it mentions God. While
28:29some schools no longer require it, it remains a widespread practice.
28:394. Watch Ads for Prescription Drugs
28:42Aside from New Zealand, the United States is the only country in the world that advertises
28:47prescription drugs directly to consumers. Every day, Americans are bombarded with ads for
28:53prescription medications, featuring generic, pleasing imagery and a list of side effects
28:58longer than a flagpole. Many people, Americans included, are baffled by the practice,
29:08as doctors and not patients are meant to decide what drugs to prescribe.
29:12Proponents claim that advertising increases competition and lowers drug costs.
29:16Meanwhile, prescription drugs are typically far more expensive in the United States,
29:21as the US doesn't regulate or negotiate drug prices.
29:253. Put Months Before Days
29:28Most of humanity marks calendar dates as being day first, then month, then year.
29:42Or else the opposite, as year, month, then day. The reasoning is that you can go from the shortest
29:48value to the longest or vice versa. Yet, the United States and parts of Canada eschew both
29:54these formats by putting the month first, then day, then year. The US has been using this format
29:59basically since its founding, although it has used the day first format interchangeably, too.
30:04The exact reason why is debatable, but as far as practicality goes, it can be useful when
30:10filling out forms to know which month it is before which day or year.
30:142. Go Bankrupt From Healthcare
30:18Medical costs are the cause of over 60% of all bankruptcies in the United States.
30:23In 2017, one-third of the money raised on GoFundMe went towards medical campaigns,
30:29and the site raises $650 million a year for more than 250,000 medical campaigns.
30:36Americans experience a variety of unexpected charges while getting much-needed care,
30:40from surprise bills to being charged for riding in an ambulance.
30:58In some parts of the civilized world, even seeing a medical bill can be an uncommon occurrence.
31:03Healthcare worldwide tends to be much more regulated than it is in the US.
31:08It's either funded through taxes in a single-payer system,
31:11or else through individual insurers who are more strictly monitored.
31:34Bottom line, while there can sometimes be extra charges, for most of the world,
31:38medical debt is basically unheard of, except in horror stories about the US.
31:49Before we continue, be sure to subscribe to our channel and ring the bell to get
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32:23There are three countries in the world that don't use the metric system.
32:27Myanmar, Liberia, and the United States. Objectively, metric is the less-arbitrary
32:33measurement system, since everything goes by tens. Even Britain and Commonwealth countries have converted.
32:50Although admittedly, they do still use measurements like feet and inches casually.
32:58So why hasn't the US converted? We'll give you one guess. Did you say it's cause of money?
33:08Because money is definitely a big factor. Converting to a whole new system of measurement
33:12is expensive. Other factors include a need for control and stability of the US. So,
33:18inertia, basically. Why change when you don't need to? And you know what your mom says.
33:24If all the other countries jumped off a bridge, would the US do it too? Or something like that?
33:45Is there anything more American than arguing over what is and isn't American? Let us know
33:50your favorite and least favorite All-American quirks in the comments below.