Can someone explain the reasons behind these differences between Americans and Brits?

[kurstytemple]

I've noticed that Americans greet people often with, 'hey, what are you doing?' even when it's completely clear what the person is doing, ie, picking them up from the airport, bumping into them shopping. As opposed to the British greeting, 'hi how are you?'

Also Americans can say bye ONCE on the telephone yet us British folk seem to say bye about 1 million times repeatedly whilst hanging up the phone. For example, Americans - 'it was good speaking to you, bye'. Brits - 'it was good speaking to you, okay, you too, okay, bye, bye, bye, bye, byeeeee, bye, bu-bye, byeeeee'. What is that all about?

Additionally, I've been watching a lot of teen mom 2 and the court system over there just seems so much more straightforward and fair. Not sure if that's an accurate representation. But for instance, a person can go directly to the court for custody arrangements instead of all the faffing about before getting to that point, seems to be easier to get protection orders from someone and seems to be a bit more lenient with young people, making deals with them to ensure that certain convictions don't go on their record hence not making them unemployable. I still have to declare a breach of the peace I got at 18 pissed as a fart.

Anyway there's my ramblings. Anyone else noticed this or care to explain why the differences? Or point out any of their own for me to ponder

It actually annoys me just how much American culture leaks into the rest of the world, it’s not surprising based on movies and social media, but it’s irritating!

That's funny, given how much of the globe used to be coloured red, and considering how many countries have English as an official language.

They said most Americans use mayonnaise instead of butter. Or peanut butter (and then I had to find out if peanut butter contains actual butter)

What?

Of course peanut butter doesn't contain butter.

So I still think they're winding you up it wouldn't be THAT weird to put butter on a sandwich even.

No, Americans really don't use butter in sandwiches. It would be very weird to find a sandwich containing butter.

@AmIPeriOrAreYouJustAnnoying

Air con so bad for the environment. And your health.
I'll be turning mine on next week when we'll have temps of about 40C and high humidity all the same, thank you.
Where did you get the notion that AC is bad for your health, btw?

Fresh air all the way here for me & my clothes!
Fresh air all winter long? My clothes would freeze most days, and so would my fingers trying to hang them up. I stick them all in the very efficient gas powered dryer for about 45 minutes.

@mathanxiety

https://www.google.co.uk/amp/s/www.huffpost.com/entry/is-air-conditioning-healthyll_5d24e7d1e4b07e698c41ed94/amp

And

https://globalnews.ca/news/258330/top-5-health-problems-associated-with-air-conditioning/

Bin collection for nightly is because we have separate bins for recycling/garden waste/landfill etc and they're collected on a rotation.

We have separate bins too, for yard waste, recycling, and household (food, non-recyclable) waste.

I live in a 3-apartment building. We have one yardwaste wheelie, two garbage wheelies, and four recycling wheelies. They are emptied every week. The recycling bins are always full by the sixth day.

If you take a British self help book, most of the times the idea of having a better life is about having more free time, enjoying life more, spending more time doing what you like. The American ones are mostly about money and accumulating possessions.
@GrandmasCat
I don't see evidence of that assertion in my local bookshop or in the lives of people I know.

I think you're thinking about the 'prosperity gospel', which is a different outlook on life altogether.

@AmIPeriOrAreYouJustAnnoying

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1995_Chicago_heat_wave

The July 1995 Chicago heat wave led to 739 heat-related deaths in Chicago over a period of five days.[1] Most of the victims of the heat wave were elderly poor residents of the city, who could not afford air conditioning...

It's absolute nonsense to suggest that AC isn't a healthy option, and in fact neither of your links backs up your contention. Did you read either of them?

From Huffpost:
That being said, there are a few things to love about AC in terms of our physical health; as long as it is functioning properly and well-maintained, the machine typically filters out air and particle pollution. According to a study by Yale researchers, the use of air conditioning also lowered the risk of hospitalization and deaths related to cardiovascular issues.

“AC can be expected to reduce the risk of heat stroke and heat-related death during heat waves, which are becoming more common with climate change,” Fisk said. “AC also enables windows to be maintained closed and AC systems usually contain filters that remove particles from the circulated air. With AC and closed windows, indoor concentrations of outdoor air pollutants such as particles, ozone and allergens are decreased.”

Especially if you have allergies, turning on the AC to seal out particles instead of opening your windows can help you reduce bothersome symptoms.

“For patients with allergies and other underlying respiratory diseases such as COPD/Emphysema, staying indoors with the air conditioning on and the windows closed, reduces exposure to outside pollens and pollutants,” said Dr. Mark Aronica, an allergist-immunologist at the Cleveland Clinic.

What is there not to understand? It’s a different culture in a different country; why would you expect it to be similar to us?

The Americanization of our language and culture drives me mad. It’s really lowering our standards of written and spoken English.

@Albien

I often don’t say bye on the phone at all. The conversation comes to a natural end and I hang up. If I do say bye it’s short and I don’t wait for a reply before hanging up.

You just hang up on people?

[quote mathanxiety]@AmIPeriOrAreYouJustAnnoying

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1995_Chicago_heat_wave

The July 1995 Chicago heat wave led to 739 heat-related deaths in Chicago over a period of five days.[1] Most of the victims of the heat wave were elderly poor residents of the city, who could not afford air conditioning...

It's absolute nonsense to suggest that AC isn't a healthy option, and in fact neither of your links backs up your contention. Did you read either of them?

From Huffpost:
That being said, there are a few things to love about AC in terms of our physical health; as long as it is functioning properly and well-maintained, the machine typically filters out air and particle pollution. According to a study by Yale researchers, the use of air conditioning also lowered the risk of hospitalization and deaths related to cardiovascular issues.

“AC can be expected to reduce the risk of heat stroke and heat-related death during heat waves, which are becoming more common with climate change,” Fisk said. “AC also enables windows to be maintained closed and AC systems usually contain filters that remove particles from the circulated air. With AC and closed windows, indoor concentrations of outdoor air pollutants such as particles, ozone and allergens are decreased.”

Especially if you have allergies, turning on the AC to seal out particles instead of opening your windows can help you reduce bothersome symptoms.

“For patients with allergies and other underlying respiratory diseases such as COPD/Emphysema, staying indoors with the air conditioning on and the windows closed, reduces exposure to outside pollens and pollutants,” said Dr. Mark Aronica, an allergist-immunologist at the Cleveland Clinic.[/quote]
Yes AC. Is fine - as long as it's functioning properly.

A friend of mine actually developed chronic respiratory disease from working in an environment where it wasn't maintained properly and she was chronically exposed to mould spores.

That tends not to happen with open windows in the UK, which is one of many reasons why we don't have 'basics' such as air con. Which was the context that comment was made in.

Anyone can pull any single comment out of this thread and present it in a different climate/cultural context to look unreasonable.

It's just a shame that's what posters are fixated on doing

A point on bins which I learnt here: You can't always keep the bins outside, because of raccoons. (They tried raccoon proof bins in Canada. The raccoons defeated them.) We have to keep them in the garage aside from pickup day. If we had fortnightly pickups, it would stink to high heaven during the summer. Not all municipalities here do green bins, and nappies go in the regular bin. I have a friend in the NYC suburbs who actually gets her rubbish picked up twice a week, apparently it's normal there!

I realise that I didn't need air conditioning in the UK and fly screens were less necessary--but by the same token, some of the things Americans do actually make sense here. City planning and transport is a whole other topic with a great deal of history behind it. My county is now very keen on transit-oriented development and reducing car use.

(PS: I was making a bit of a joke about cultural adaptation when I said that about knickersbut it is true that most Americans would not dry them outdoors, even if they prefer line drying. Bras get dried indoorsover the shower curtain rail if you're short on space.)

This sort of thing is silly though:

"The Americanization of our language and culture drives me mad. It’s really lowering our standards of written and spoken English."

American English isn't any worse than British English for goodness sakes (Neither is Canadian, Australian, or NZ English). It's just different. Saying that American English is "lowering standards" is just the sort of thing that gets posters' hackles up.

@VestaTilley

What is there not to understand? It’s a different culture in a different country; why would you expect it to be similar to us?

The Americanization of our language and culture drives me mad. It’s really lowering our standards of written and spoken English.

Except many 'Americanisations' originate in older English (closet, gotten) or Irish/Scots dialect and traditions (Santa, Halloween)

Interesting that you've chosen to use the 'Americanized'/Middle English spelling whilst complaining about others using Americanisations

I also took issue with the comment on 'basics'. It was a silly comment.

Most homes where there's AC have either window units or central air. The central air tends to use the same ducts the forced air heating uses. You can get the ducts cleaned, and you can also have your AC unit cleaned, and change filters. Window units can also be thoroughly cleaned. For the forced air heating, you use a filter which you change as frequently as you wish. If you neglect basic maintenance you will get problems.

Plenty of UK homes are mouldy, often because clothes must be dried indoors on racks, btw.

@knitnerd90

I'm very pro line drying but the region of the UK where I live you also wouldn't dry yours smalls outdoors or in some places even do laundry on a Sunday.

So It varies here too - despite that not everyone considers a tumble drier 'the basics' as has been suggested on this thread.

@mathanxiety

I also took issue with the comment on 'basics'. It was a silly comment.

Most homes where there's AC have either window units or central air. The central air tends to use the same ducts the forced air heating uses. You can get the ducts cleaned, and you can also have your AC unit cleaned, and change filters. Window units can also be thoroughly cleaned. For the forced air heating, you use a filter which you change as frequently as you wish. If you neglect basic maintenance you will get problems.

Plenty of UK homes are mouldy, often because clothes must be dried indoors on racks, btw.

Yep that can definitely be an issue - but probably one that is a wider symptom of the rental market and unscrupulous landlords not maintaining/provisioning properly

It's also another reason people will dry clothes outside where they can

It's been a few years since I visited the USA but one of my lasting memories from our road trips across country is how polite and friendly total strangers were to us. Totally different to where I live in England unfortunately.

Air con so bad for the environment. And your health.

I would have thought dying from extreme heat, which many do, more serious to your health than having air con!!!

@GeorgiaGirl52

I wonder why British people don't have the basics - central air conditioning, hot-air dryers and window screens? (Totally do not understand healthy able-bodied adults not driving!) In most subdivisions here it is against the rules to have an outdoor drying line, even in your own yard. It is considered trashy to hang your undies, etc. in public view. Screens provide privacy and protection. No cats, foxes, owls or bats flying in for a visit. With central air you close your windows and don't hear your neighbors all-night BBQ sing-a-long. Seems like even if you dislike America, you might want to adopt some of our conveniences?

Because air conditioning is unnecessary for 98% of the year here (100% so far of the year we have had so far) and it is exceptionally bad for the environment. Plus ugly, expensive and takes up room we don't have. Have managed to live a life without screens so far and have yet to end up with a fox, owl or bat in my house. And tbh, stop looking in my garden if drying underwear upsets you or some people sry theirs inside if it bothers them. I think a lot of people here appreciate line dried clothing as one of life's little pleasures.

Cancel the air conditioning cheque....

We have aircon in our home (england), we wouldn’t be without it.

I often look at Youtube for solutions to DIY problems. I search for Uk based videos as it's easier to purchase the products. However youtube seems to always direct me to an American screeching 'Whats up'. Infuriating

@summerfun12

I often look at Youtube for solutions to DIY problems. I search for Uk based videos as it's easier to purchase the products. However youtube seems to always direct me to an American screeching 'Whats up'. Infuriating

Oh is this thread just random ranting now? That's a shame...

@LadyFidgetAndHerHandbag

I have other matters I can pass judgement on for my whole nation too *@WaltzingBetty* should you care to ask.

@LadyFidgetAndHerHandbag Sure!

Things I'd like to know:

What do all Australians think of:

Cats/rabbits/kangaroos - are they the adorable fluff balls there that we Brits often think of or do al Aussies think they're vermin?

Where do all Australians go on holiday? Is it mostly domestic? You're so far from other countries.

Does anyone actually drink castlemain 4X?

Is really life just like Neighbours?