Chain stores, bigger is better, return policy, frivolous law suits, fast food, weight obsession, eat or be eaten, guns, bathrooms in nature parks, service/up-selling, tough, male circumcision, struggle with Christianity, free refills for drinks, 15% tips minimum, hiking, bootstraps.
that's pretty much uniquely american. as for the rest... americans are fond of those, but they don't hold monopolies in them.
Tipping is not the norm in large parts of Europe, but in some places it is done, and in other parts of the world. It's a lot more widespread than more typically American things in Helene's list, like the frivolous law suits or the male circumcision for non-religious and non-medical-necessity reasons. Haven't encountered free refill for drinks anywhere else, either, but maybe I just haven't been to the right countries.
Of course it exists outside the US, but in the US, tipping is part of most services. Whether that be for a haircut, a cab, food delivery, eating at a restaurant, etc. And... the reason for the tipping is not always the same. As Helene mentioned, 15% minimum... it's pretty much an accepted cost that's usually not published. In other countries, when tipping is done it is often for service beyond one's expectations. In the US, it's standard to tip 15% or more.
Frivolous lawsuits are exaggerated. There are more lawsuits but that's to be expected due to the way laws are structured. Male circumcision... I don't really know that it's as prevalent anymore but I could be wrong. It's certainly isn't a part of the 'culture' afaik. Free refills... less and less places doing that now but they do still exist. Of course, nothing is really 'free,' though
And things like the fast food, chain stores, bigger is better, weight obsession,... exist in many countries if not all of them, obviously, but still it makes sense to list them as associations for the US as they're present to a significantly stronger degree there, and the fast food at least originates there.
absolutely, although I have to disagree with you about the origin of fast food. Fast food chains, yes. Fast food itself, no. In India there are roadside food vendors, they've been there forever but they are not chains. In Singapore, we have some roadside hawkers in certain places; some stay open at night as well. It's very much a part of the 'culture' here.
/of sorts. Culture in general. And more specifically, American culture.
- 04/10/2010 07:32:29 PM
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The foreigner POV
- 04/10/2010 08:17:24 PM
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I think of how the Rockies and Appalachians were created by MGB and Chuck Norris wrestling. *NM*
- 05/10/2010 12:57:31 AM
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How about traditional American values?
- 05/10/2010 01:43:07 AM
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isn't that a bit misleading?
- 05/10/2010 07:52:18 AM
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yes but we have more of it
- 05/10/2010 02:50:53 PM
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- 05/10/2010 03:10:18 PM
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- 05/10/2010 03:10:18 PM
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Do you know why it is rude to ask someone if they are from Texas?
- 05/10/2010 05:53:19 PM
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Word (concept) association with "American culture"
- 05/10/2010 09:57:07 AM
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i think those are pretty indicative word associations. *NM*
- 05/10/2010 03:08:08 PM
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Some of that may be more European than American culture.
- 06/10/2010 04:20:16 AM
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every other animal leaves it on the ground.
- 06/10/2010 04:50:00 AM
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Yeah, but even the "bigger is better" thing isn't purely American; we just took to an extreme.
- 06/10/2010 05:06:27 AM
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really, the part that most people go to at the Canyon isn't really a "nature park"
- 06/10/2010 05:33:48 AM
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My whole point there was that most US nature parks are tourist attractions.
- 06/10/2010 06:37:00 AM
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Nothing's purely anything, but you guys've got the The World's Biggest [everything] over there.
- 06/10/2010 07:14:55 AM
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with your medical training you really want to advocate leaving it on the ground? *NM*
- 06/10/2010 09:30:57 PM
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But circumcision is a hot topic in the US
- 06/10/2010 05:42:25 AM
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It is?
- 06/10/2010 06:51:31 AM
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You're wrong about the default for circumcision the world over
- 06/10/2010 07:44:40 AM
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That surprises me, but alright.
- 06/10/2010 10:00:14 AM
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It is indeed only prevalent among Jews and Muslims - and the old British empire.
- 06/10/2010 10:38:07 AM
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I've actually never heard it discussed except for two/three times on the wotmania/rafo boards.
- 06/10/2010 10:16:50 PM
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You make a good point about tipping
- 06/10/2010 09:58:10 AM
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I disagree - surely tipping is much more internationally widespread than some others in that list.
- 06/10/2010 10:43:32 AM
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Re: I disagree
- 06/10/2010 07:41:14 PM
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Right!
- 05/10/2010 09:42:20 PM
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A Scandinavian fond of Creole and Cajun food? I thought my grandmother was the only one...
- 05/10/2010 10:30:57 PM
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You mean. . . there are people out there who don't love Creole and Cajun food?
- 06/10/2010 06:48:21 PM
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