Things that baffle you about another country

[Soubriquet]

America:-

Why are the gaps in the toilet doors so wide? Do you really enjoy an audience?

Why can’t tax be included in the price? If I want to buy something for a dollar it should be a dollar! Not dollar plus tax!

Australia:-

Still weird that you have Christmas in summer.

Wonder if they have different Christmas songs there.

Can’t see walking in a winter land being a big hit.

More like hiding from a hot heatwave

*there

Americans have guns to shoot bears then? Okay.

Nothing to do with service in militia being mandatory then no? They were to shoot animals?

American houses don't seem to have very well fitted kitchens on any home show I've seen on TV. The ovens (stoves usually) look so old fashioned.

@PerseverancePays

Why are houses in England built with so little cupboard space, and no cupboard by the front door for coats and shoes? Drives me mad. When we used to go to the States everyone had a basement the same size as the footprint of their house. That would make such a Difference to our poky little houses !

UK is so over populated and land is expensive plus builders want to squeeze as many houses in as possible

@OhDear2200 Of course that's a different issue. But gun ownership in cities is extremely low. I'm addressing the fact that people seem baffled that America has a history of gun ownership at all and often imply there's no reason one needs to own a gun, and this just isn't true.

[quote Highfalutinlootin]@OhDear2200 Of course that's a different issue. But gun ownership in cities is extremely low. I'm addressing the fact that people seem baffled that America has a history of gun ownership at all and often imply there's no reason one needs to own a gun, and this just isn't true.[/quote]
www.google.co.uk/amp/s/www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2019/10/22/facts-about-guns-in-united-states/%3famp=1

According to this the major reason for gun ownership is protection. Now that may be protection against animals (but I really struggle to believe that) but you really can’t deny the number of civilians owning guns in America is staggering. Wildlife or not.

Why are kinder eggs banned in America but not guns? (Or is that a myth?) Surely guns have killed far far more people?

[quote Highfalutinlootin]@OhDear2200 Of course that's a different issue. But gun ownership in cities is extremely low. I'm addressing the fact that people seem baffled that America has a history of gun ownership at all and often imply there's no reason one needs to own a gun, and this just isn't true.[/quote]
I'll not sure that is what people are baffled about. I agree that historically there were very good reasons for gun ownership and still may be in very remote locales, but what is baffling is the obsession (and yes, obsession by some) with the idea that anyone, even urban citizens today, should have the right to carry a gun. Like, a handgun or semi-automatic with the use being taking down another human. That's what is baffling.

Also I strongly believe that there is no reason a civilian needs to own a gun.

Find other solutions to the wildlife.

Re: the ‘oddness’ of Christmas traditions in Australia. The odd thing is us in the U.K. what’s the connection between snow and Christmas? There’s nothing in the bible about snow, Jesus almost certainly never saw any. It’s probably only snowing on Christmas Day in about 2% of the world (made up statistic) I never, ever understand why people say how funny it is that people in Australia have a BBQ on Christmas Day. You just mean you’ve never done it yourself.

And another thing. Brits often say how lovely it is to see children running around late at night (family centred culture etc etc) but, take it from me many children wish they could just stay home. They are often exhausted. The Spanish timetable looks great if you’re in holiday but on a normal week it’s really hard to wake the kids up in the morning for school but they are tired. Many spanish kids don’t get enough sleep.

And another thing! If you haven’t grown up in the U.K. can you please stop being snobby about taps and washing machines and wardrobes. We’re not stupid. We do know things could be better but have you really not noticed that a lot of British houses are old? Fitted wardrobes don’t fit. Old sinks have two tap spaces not one. And washing machines don’t fit in our bathrooms and we often have no space at all for tumble dryers.

Why is the UK a great big rubbish tip? Litter literally everywhere! Most people I know rightly moan about it, but who are the people who are throwing rubbish out of their car windows etc and WHY?

@Highfalutinlootin

So much xenophobia on this thread, my goodness.

On America and guns: I know Europeans always struggle to understand just how vast and truly wild America it's because Europe is so densely populated and built out that it's hard for Europeans to imagine living anywhere you might actually need a gun for survival due to wildlife threats and being too remote to receive police assistance. There are many places in the U.S. where there are bears, elk, mountain lions, wolves etc. that can and will kill you on your property if you don't have a gun to defend yourself. Why guns? Because that was the history of life on the frontier, which was many Americans until fairly recently. Just because it's not a reality in Europe doesn't mean it's no longer a reality in other countries. Do some reading.

Then how do you explain Canada? And their lack of obsession with them 🧐

@Highfalutinlootin I can imagine a scenario where you might need a shotgun to hunt game or get rid of predators in rural areas. I can't imagine why anyone would 'need' a semi-automatic rifle or for that matter, a pistol.

@HollyGoLoudly1

Oh I know the answer to the American sales tax thing! Also annoyed me and I asked an American friend. Apparently sales tax is set at a state level so companies can't just set a price for the whole country and put a price tag on things. The price is the price, then each state adds it's own tax. Compared to the UK where VAT is the same everywhere, so included in the price.

That's what I've been told anyway and made sense to me, hope it's correct!

This is correct. In buying expensive items it sometimes pays to shop in the next county. 10% versus 7% of a $25,000 car for example. We have kettles but they are heated directly on the stovetop. Don't have electric kettles. Do have electric coffeepots however.

@Nannewnannew I agree and it makes me so sad and angry.

There is no reason at all for a civilian to carry a gun. Or a police officer for that matter.

If you are from the US how is the right to carry arms working out for you as a country? For example if you look at crime rates or numbers of people in prison how does it compare with the U.K.?

@PerseverancePays

Why are houses in England built with so little cupboard space, and no cupboard by the front door for coats and shoes? Drives me mad. When we used to go to the States everyone had a basement the same size as the footprint of their house. That would make such a Difference to our poky little houses !

My house was built in the Victorian times for factory workers. They probably didn't own enough coats and shoes that they needed a cupboard. We do have built in cupboards in both bedrooms and the lounge though. Maybe they kept their coats in those. The "posh" houses round the corner have basements.

MessAllOver

Ooh I can answer this one, in summer you'd have a 2nd shower (and brush your teeth I guess) before going out for dinner.

UK - why do you have washing up bowls? We have one and I hate it because DH leaves it full of dirty water, I'm always emptying it after him.

Washing up bowls stop the china plates/glasses getting chipped and sink if enamel, scratched if sink is stainless steel. It's also handy if your only sink you can run water down to the side without affecting the detergenty water. Water in the bowl is changed frequently.

Why don't Europeans have screen windows?? Every summer I go mad with flies and mosquitoes in the flat. In the US we have a sort of second mesh window so you can open your window for air but no bugs get in.

Thanks @Camomila. I'm not actually criticising continental bedtimes for children (although I like mine dispatched by 8.30pm at the latest), but I was just wondering when kids and teeth are scrubbed - I'm sure parents in these countries don't neglect their children .

They have the poo shelf on the Hungarian toilets. I’m 44 and my grandmothers toilet was like that since I could remember. My Aunts toilets were the same. Everywhere in Hungary really. I haven’t a clue why, but they are massive consumers of pork.

@pensivepigeon

Washing up bowls stop the china plates/glasses getting chipped and sink if enamel, scratched if sink is stainless steel. It's also handy if your only sink you can run water down to the side without affecting the detergenty water. Water in the bowl is changed frequently.

Makes sense! Honestly appreciate this explanation.

@Soubriquet

I think with the German poop shelf, it’s to stop the splash...

America again...why don’t you like the idea of an NHS style health care?

Why should it cost you thousands upon thousand of dollars just because you have injured yourself or gotten cancer?

Re the German poop shelf, I was told that it's so that you can examine the finished product, as it were, to check that's it's all in Ordnung.