Posted on 08/05/2015 9:27:56 AM PDT by SeekAndFind
There are a number of customs and gestures that Americans use without thinking twice. But when traveling abroad, they will not only out you as a tourist, but could get you in hot water in other countries.
Inspired by this Quora thread, we've rounded up some of the most common American customs that are seen as offensive elsewhere.
1. Tipping
A contentious issue even here, both over- and under-tipping can quickly make you the least popular person at the table. But in Japan and South Korea tipping is seen as an insult. In those countries, workers feel they are getting paid to do their job, and take pride in doing it well; they don't need an added incentive.
2. Sitting in the back of a cab
While it's customary for Americans to hop into the back of a cab, in Australia, New Zealand, parts of Ireland, Scotland, and the Netherlands, it's considered rude not to ride shotgun. Whereas cabbies in the US will sigh and reluctantly move their newspapers and lunches from the front seat, in other countries it's a matter of egality.
3. Throwing a thumbs up
In a lot of countries, especially in the Middle East, Latin America, Western Africa, Russia and Greece, a thumbs up basically has the same meaning as holding up a middle finger does for Americans.
4. Laughing with your mouth open
In Japan, laughter that exposes your pearly whites is considered horse-like and impolite — sort of like noisy, open-mouthed eating is considered rude to Americans.
5. Calling the USA "America"
In South America, claiming you're from America, rather than the United States, is seen as being politically incorrect, as it implies that only the US should be considered America, and that South America is unworthy of the title.
(Excerpt) Read more at businessinsider.com ...
“When in Rome.”
If you want the dough you’ll try to conform with your partner’s idea of polite... reasonable rule. You don’t have to take it personally.
To be outed ith tho gay.
I have been to southern Japan. Biggest cultural mistake I made was I poured my own Beer from my own bottle into my own glass.
Besides that the part of Japan I was in had NO crime, I saw in 10 days only 1 policeman. My son is 6’ 3” and around 250 lbs. People actually stopped and looked up at him
That’s one traditional Japanese virtue: honesty. I’ve heard of people leaving their wallet in a Japanese bus station and coming back later for it and there it was, undisturbed (if it hadn’t been taken to lost and found).
You are a moron.
You are a proud jagoff.
As long as they don’t expect me to follow their customs. Like squatting in the open to shyt or bathing once a week.
*If you want the dough you’ll try to conform with your partner’s idea of polite*
Having served in a multitude od countries on a variety of missions, I get that.
But where is the flipside when here?
It's all true, of course. It's just rude to say so.
#1543 Being able to send people to the Moon and landing cars on Mars
Folks tend to forget that Rome was the center of an vast empire founded on conquest.
My attitude is similar to that of Roman visiting Carthage after the leveling and salting of the earth..."So next time you folks visit us, you might not want to leave your elephant crap on our mountain roads...hmmm?"
Got into a discussion (argument) on another post about No. 5, “Calling the USA America”.
I’ve lived in South America. Never heard anyone refer to themselves as an “American”. They would however ask if I was from America, or was an American.
And if you ask where they want to visit, it’s America.
FWIW Also never heard Canadians refer to themselves as Americans.
If they’re wanting you to buy from them and they insist on being your idea of rude... nobody says you have to buy.
That’s the flip side.
I am going to have to call BS on#25.. i.e. blowing your nose in public. When hubby went to China, people did “snot rockets” everywhere. By that, I mean on the restaurant floors, in planes, on the streets, in buses.. you name it.
7. Being on time.
My wife works in a school district near San Diego. Many school are filled with….er…”recent immigrants” who can’t seem to make it to appointments on time. It’s hard to have meetings and parent/teacher conferences when everybody shows up 30-120 minutes late.
There’s only one country in the western hemisphere that has America in the official title.
I remember all that in Crete, was there 8 times. On the beach all the Europeans would go topless. You would never see Greek women doing it though!
We are the only country in the western hemisphere with the word America in the official title.
We are told we are supposed to tolerate everything but now we are told not to offend others?? hypocrites
1. tipping is pretty stupid when you think about it that way
2. ridiculous
3. who cares?
4. Japan needs to be offended often
5. I’d tell people I was from Texas when asked for my country.
6.&7 being late is not an American thing, it’s a stupid person thing.
9. Those people need to wash their hands and use TP then, that is their problem, not ours.
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this list is really stupid
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