to think there is something wrong with Americans?

[TheBloodManCometh]

In Colorado, here for 5 weeks.

Why the HELL is there a half inch gap on either side of the door in all public toilets?? You can see everything going on!!!
This has been the case everywhere I've been in America?
AIBU to be both baffled and embarrassed

lighthearted btw. I don't really think there's something wrong with the Americans

This was Discovery Zone!

Basically an acid trip for children, now I look at it.

Is Chuck E. Cheese still around? I had rather have a root canal than spend an hour at Chuck E. Cheese.

I went to three children's parties at Chuck E Cheese last year.

It still exists, and people still subject their children to it.

Oh yes, Chuck E Cheese still alive and kicking unfortunately

Our local Chuck E Cheese closed down a couple of years ago, thank you lord.

I like this set of maps, especially the 'What do you call a drive-through liquor store' map (I'm not sure if I'm pleased or disappointed to live in a state where the majority replied 'I have never heard of such a thing').
discovermagazine.com/galleries/2013/june/regional-us-language-dialect

Letter

Interesting map. What amazes me about the uk is that we have such variation in such a small place.
I will confess that I find a strong Scottish accent hard to follow, yet in the US they would be not only in the same state but virtually my neighbour.

I love going to the States. I've been 5 times and am hoping to go again soon (funds allowing). Its such a diverse, vast place.
But, like others, there are a few things about American ways that intrigue me and this is one:

Why do grown American women, of all ages, often wear white ankle socks with sneakers and a skirt/dress? It's such a strange look

In this country you never seen anybody over the age of 5 wearing little white ankle socks and especially not with a skirt or a dress!
I've just been watching Six Feet Under and the mother (in her 50's) always seems to wear this look? I've seen it myself as well, when we've been.

I don't know Sweetness I guess I'd say that's a very "Ruth Fisher" look...middle aged and frumpy. My mother is in her 50s and wouldn't be caught dead!

We have a lot of Mennonites here and they wear those little socks with dresses, but that's it as far as I've seen.

Cheerfulyank - I think its the sneakers/trainers plus dress combo that seems bizarre.
Team that with the little white ankle socks and its truly bizarre!

I need to stop watching so many films :)

I remember thinking "WTF?!" when Melanie Griffiths wore the socks/trainers combo with a skirt to go to work. Then she changed into work shoes when she go there and it made sense. But wearing them daily just because seems very odd!

I can't really picture it as a fashion thing.

I do think you put on a skirt/dress, but then you want comfortable shoes to commute or to do a lot of walking in or just because you like them, whatever, you put on sneakers, so then the only acceptable thing to wear is the little tiny ankle socks because they're more hidden, and stocking/tights/long socks would look odd.

lettertoherms, probably what seems strange too us is that these days, people in this country usualy only wear trainers (your sneakers) to the gym or to play sport.
They are not worn out and about or for comfort. We are more likely to put on a pair of 'flats'/ballet style shoes for comfort.
I remember wearing trainers to go 'out' in the 80's!

Bogeyface,
Jennnnnny from Forrest Gump had trainers, little socks and a dress on (when he took the box of chocolates to her apartment)

central london.
american tourists.
easily spotted because they wear comfy looking denim, white trainers and white socks and fannybags.

American Tourists! It's not the 80's anymore - ditch the white trainers and white socks combination!

In the meantime, you can always spot a Brit Tourist as we always wear too much BLUE - and tons of STRIPES. What's with the stripes?

Taz1212 we were in Colby in Maine but visited your college, and have a friend whose dh teaches classics there. (For Irish readers, he is from Mullingar).
Did Friendly's restaurants close? We liked them, but will use Denny's at a push.

No one wears a fanny pack anymore, do they?

And I do not wear white trainers, how dare you.

They are gray and pink. :o

Sweetness but she was working as a nurse/carer wasnt she? The shoes they wear are work shoes that are like trainers but not, iykwim!

I take it that fanny is buttocks bum in American?

sweetness That scene was what, the early eighties? And her outfit would be typical of her job, a waitress I think?

And that's fanny packs, tyvm.

But Bogey, she still had the twee ankle socks with a dress.

Indeed, it's a naice, polite word, that you might teach a small child, to refer to their buttocks.

I suppose we call our erasers rubbers which must cause a few sniggers! :)
(just as funny as fanny)

Aah she was a waitress? Same thing though I guess. I would wear trainery type shoes (you know the ones, like trainers but Mary Jane style) with socks when I waited on, but that was with trousers.

I have noticed that in the UK the vast majority of women wear trousers most of the time, where as in the US skirts/dresses are more usual, perhaps that why we notice the trainer/skirt thing.