Brit Reacts to 7 Things Americans Do that CONFUSE Me As A European 

And that kindness, so rare these days, can turn a person’s bad day into a good one.

Thank you. 🙂

I know how I feel receiving a compliment so I always compliment someone on something I like or think is cute!

@@andycofin6983that’s a big reason I do it

Mam, that just made my day. Thx and love from NH

@Musicislife477 That's loser talk

@@amoss1611 We think as boys growing up (in America) second place is the first person to Lose.

I'm half Asian. There was no "do your best" 😆

Oh go sit down FFS.

@@huitrecouture What does a comment like this mean ? Who are you talking to and what are you trying to say ? So vague ! Please Explain what are you talking about and to whom are addressing . .

Definitely. And the time since it was purchased. "Thank you. I got it a couple years ago for just $25. It was on sale at Macy's.!

Are you from the Midwest?

Yup. And if it’s a dress brag about pockets!

I do that especially if I got a good sale. I'm frugal or I try to be

​@@derpyeh9107she freaking has to be!!! 50% of on clearance then I haggled it down another 25% because a stitch was crooked! 😂😂😂

Absolutely!!!

Truly we will! You love us, we'll love you back.

Yes, that is the same thought I had. Hard to believe that he lives someplace where people are so enthusiastic and charming and precious that he doesn't receive a long list of compliments.

Right? He'd have a ton of friends in the US! He has such a great pesonality.

Girlfriend and I were in an elevator in a medical building and a black nurse got on with us. She, also, had beautiful braids and we complemented her. She thanked us and told us that they were hair extensions. We all got a chuckle out of that.

And Karyl, you wouldn't have had that moment with her if you hadn't complimented her.

@@kathymc234 and it's still a valued memory. I will remember her. She made me laugh so hard. Great micro-encounter. :)

That lady sounds like my mom. When coworkers would compliment her hair she'd thank them, pull her wig off and ask them if they wanted one

I guess the difference is that instead of worrying about all the reasons why you can't or shouldn't do something, our attitude is "Why not?"

Yes, throwing a compliment back in someone's face is like saying the compliment giver's opinion is shit.

Yeah, it’s very rude and dismissive.

Yah, I catch myself doing the "yup" or "mm hmm" instead of saying "you're welcome". It's not that I'm not feelin' the "you're welcome" spirit, it's just that in the US you probably hear thank you about 50-100 times a day...which is good. So the response gets truncated. I work with people in Australia and have also picked up the "no worries" response, which somehow seems to be more fun.

That's you're way of thinking. If someone denies it, I just laugh and tell them to hush that stuff

@@jftalarico i say no worries as well, because growing up my aunty and uncle from Australia would visit us every year for 3to4 months at a time and I picked up on it, as a kid they influenced me in a beautiful positive way... Love them very much ❤️

She said the guy asked her out.

@@j348011 Does that make anthonys statement untrue? "Being friendly and interested in getting to know someone from another country isn't always "hitting on them"." Which part of this has a problem now?

I thought the same

She said they actually asked her out, they were not just being friendly.

@WonderMonkey-xp3xk No, most women and even those who really are beautiful don't realize that. Self doubts start when we reach puberty and stop when we get to menopause. We aren't pretty/tall/smart/etc enough.

@WonderMonkey-xp3xk My parents raised me as the oldest telling me I am the pretty one, and my sister (we are the only siblings) being the smart one. I don’t think I am what I was told, but I grew up thinking I was dumb compared to my sister. I blame my parents telling us this nonsense.

Thats because Europeans aren't that freindly.

I was too. I always say “you’re welcome.” 😊

As was I. I honestly cringe inside when I say, "Thank you" and the other person says, "Sure" or "No prob" or "Yeah" or "Of course". It feels lazy and disrespectful to me like "You're welcome" is too much of a bother. I think "Really? Three syllables is that much more work than two syllables?" Ha-ha! I'm 67 so there's a generational thing at play too.

​@@jeanvignesthis is a generational thing. You're welcome to a younger American sounds like transactional rather than being genuinely wanting to help someone. Don't be offended. It's more polite for younger people to say, "no worries" or "of course". The Spanish phrase "De Nada" for you're welcome literally means, "it's nothing "

I usually say "you're welcome" if I'm more on autopilot.. it isn't so genuine. If I'm actively interacting, I say "oh, absolutely" or "my pleasure" or "think nothing of it."

Thank you responses - you are welcome, no problem, my pleasure, of course, and many more depending on location and situation.

I think he's hilarious! He really has that 'pure fun' type of sense of humor and energy that I vibe with. He seems like someone that if I met him in a bar, I'd for sure end up buying him a few drinks for the conversation and some good laughs! *Grab a passport, bro!* The east coast isn't even that long of a flight away - and would welcome you very quickly - and show you a hell of a great time! And, YES, Americans are typically *very* direct and you would get hit on, especially when they hear your accent! You would be absolutely shocked your first night out in any average American bar. We don't like wasting any time, that's for damn sure!!! 😂😂😂

Lewis is handsome and funny

Your joy and enthusiasm are infectious. You brighten my day just seeing how excited you get about stuff. 😊

Lewis is awesome and does the same for me ... makes me feel upbeat and joyful.

I can't help but notice that he has a great smile and beautiful teeth.

Well said! Being American is almost a state of mind!

​@@ljb8157depends on what your state of mind is😊 if you're a trumptard you're a traitor plain and simple😢

I've often concluded that Lewis is American. It's the thought process and the freedom of his being an expression.

Dood was just born on the wrong continent is all.

​@@kenslaughter00homie just needs to throw some tea in the ocean

Yea, that’s usually how I use it. Interchangeable with “I got you”.

Then start teaching that class!! I'm sure people could use the encouragement of just being comfortable and confident within themselves. Americans have an odd way of making other people feel confident about themselves, so why not use that to mutual advantage?

I watched a reality show once years ago it was like a spin off of Americas top model and it was American models vs the uk models and I instantly noticed the extreme lack of confidence in the uk girls so much so that it saddened me a little inside because it wasn’t like they were being humble or modest they just really didn’t have confidence and of course the American girls were over confident but the American girls did so much better because they were using their full potential and the uk girls weren’t because they didn’t know or even consider their full potential. It was a show so who knows if everyone is like that just something I noticed that was a huge difference between the girls in the show.

I don't get why people see it as a negative?

I’ve never heard it received as a negative

The phrase that drives me nuts is when you ask something or do something and you sorry or excuse me they say “no worries??”

What do they mean no worries ?? I was not worried just being polite

@@gritty011 to me it means that helping you has not been a bother - your request has not caused me any trouble or inconvenience, in other words it's my pleasure

😂

Absolutely, come south and people love Dr Pepper. It's a Texas brand so of course many of us are loyal. It's funny to find "foreigners" (non-Texans) who are loyal to it as well. 😊

Love Coke!

It’s the Real Thing. Heck, the only jeans u wear are Levi’s

@@teresabillings8378 Really? That’s like Georgians wondering about Coca Cola or Native Floridians and awesomeness. lol

Hey, we country folk in the States have and do use the term as a "guesstimation"

we did a research report in high school years ago. Our assignment was to see our people give directions. Find the trends. We found that Men give directions by time and miles and street names, however women give directions by landmarks. So women are more likely to say make turns at the McDonalds on the corner or go three lights down then turn right.etc. Men would say go to Main street, make a left then go down to 32nd St. It will take about 10 minutes if the traffic is good. Of course this wasn't everybody but it was a trend for the most part.

​@@dianalupton5543i was gonna say, unless youre in the country and directions are by landmarks.

I live in Texas. Distances are definitely measured in time it takes to drive there.

@@dianedeck9790 Men tend to see the layout while women see the landmarks

In NYC, we talk about distance in terms of train lines and time it will take to get there

Its hard when you are so good at everything!

Exactly

Or creepy

@@zararobnett8284 Most "creepy" people aren't really creepy. They're just unattractive.

@@derpyeh9107no

Totally agree. Found my husband with a “Hi, how you doing?” with a smile. We hit 28 yrs together last month.

So true

The only part we need to learn is to gracefully accept a no and walk away. That’s the part we have trouble with.

5-star comment! 👍

Totally agree! Thats how I met my wife, and we now have nine grandkids!

Found it about 2-3 weeks ago and I have been binging ever since.

I've noticed that this trend keeps going on. I'm thinking it is the Europeans that have the problem/issue. What we are doing is pretty much what everyone else here (USA) are doing. It is a function of our society and norms that we all live with. Almost all of us ( our immigrant families) came from some other country, we (they) brought their culture and lifestyles with them and blended them in making 'our' current culture. So what Europeans use to live and brought that here and it became 'American" now. It is evolved.

Found it a few days ago too and same

I think most people who move here actually assimilate, they bring their style and food which in the US we associate with culture because it's a part of our culture, but they assimilate to what is actually culture... The Value hierarchy and structure of your time, ( which is why even their food americanizes to the quick/ easy/ cost effective version) they also take on our mannerisms etc. we have a culture of different nationalities, styles, food etc. because we will try most things, we are joy seekers, entertainment or fun/ leisure or physical and mental comfort etc. is the majority of what we value for our time. These pleasures are easy to be consumed by when your work doesn't satisfy. To summarize our culture is anything of pleasure is valued, money is only valued for it's ability to provide the things we find enjoyment in, we value our freedom to do what we want when we want which is why we tend to hate our jobs or think we don't make enough money. We would prefer to spend our time outside of work, so if we made more per hour we'd have more to spend doing whatever we want... This actually stems from our large corporations sucking the joy out of work. You should love what you do because you should find joy in the value you provide others with through that work.... our job market is not conducive to satisfying work... This is partly what drives our pleasure seeking culture @@webbtrekker534

What I found fascinating is how offended so many Europeans seem to be about our cereal choices. I don't know why. We like our cereal. Get over it.

In my work place we have been encouraged to reply with "it's my pleasure", signifying not just that I'm performing a duty, but that I'm happy to be of service. I have found that type of response has crept into my everyday responses more often because of its warm meaning.

Me too! In Wisconsin!

Amen

lol, it’s the same here in Tennessee!

Funny

Yinz guys goin dahntahn to see Donnie Iris where the old Metropol used ta be n-nat??? lol

Are you saying the crabs pulling back are European?

@@annfrost3323 Makes sense. The one trying to escape the bucket is an American. America did sort of escape from the grasp of the British.

@@Chris-zg7ty Sort of? We fought the Revolution against those rascals.

In the U.S. we're all cheering on each other. It's been "us" against "them" as long as we've been a country.

@@martina21953 Not so much anymore.

Of course, would be very off putting.

I hear of course in response to ‘thank you’ all the time. I think it’s situational. Like at work or in a transactional interaction. I complete a work task. You say ‘thank you’. I say, ‘of course’

At Chik Fil A, they’re taught to say “my pleasure”

​@@michellemooneyham1467it's all about tone. Lol!!

You've lived a sheltered life then.

The other day I had to drive to a close by city to get a prescription that was in limited supply locally. My first reaction, that is was about 30 minutes away. Meaning to me it was that it was close enough and doable. Being too far away would mean the next city that was about 30 miles away and freeway driving and taken maybe 2 hours round trip. Distance is relative to what is comfortable to do.

When I was 10, we moved into a new house with a front yard that was “two football fields long” from front door to road. (And then were hit with the Blizzard of ‘77 when we only had one aluminum snow shovel - thank God the farmer next door saw us struggling to clear our driveway and came over with his big tractor w/ snowplow to help us. And also thank God my dad had gone small-game hunting in the Fall so we had a couple of rabbits and some grouse and quail in our deep freezer so we could eat while waiting for the roads to be plowed)

We use that in the north, too!

That's a rather common one... well, everywhere. Not just in the US.

That's like saying... "In Tennessee we use the word 'the.' A lot of southerners use that word."

...and "over paid'

The Brits were paid their worth, their food sucks sooo, who cares.

Thats because the brits are underfed, oversexed, and over there. Also over opinionated.

...and the British were underpaid, underfed, undersexed, and under Eisenhower.

TBF, the Brits should just keep doing what they do well…….. Riding americas coattails

Oh just in case ya ask "you betcha" is basically shorthand for "I helped because I wanted to so there's no reason to thank me but thank you for the thanks!"

"no problem" covers a number of situations, its a really handy phrase!

@@barbparknavy9119 agreed

Another I have heard and use quite often myself is, "Happy to help!" usually followed with a smile and sometimes the occasional wink. That being said, I live in the south. ;)

@@wyldwyvern1 Sounds nice!

Yes ma’am! Agree! - Texan mom with 3 kids myself 😊

2 kids... And yeah... Put everything you can into what you do. If you've done your best, whether you win or not, you have nothing to be ashamed of. When it came to music, it often was, though, that my kids didn't do their best and still won. Talent is a fickle mistress.

Especially when it comes to the iphone. Does anyone still pay for those? 😂😂😂

Of course. I had a droid in the past but tried an iPhone. I prefer the iPhone.

Where is that?

@@garycamara9955 Starbucks gives you a free coffee every 25$ you spend unless you get bonus points like if its your birthday or Star boosts

Absolutely. Painting Americans with a broad brush just to make a point, and is actually very misleading. For all her many trips to America, has she really gotten to know people in person, or is she soaking in what our media suggests about us for better or worse.

Well shit, my target is 45 minutes away, just follow 22 west.. lol

I had a guy tell me that "it's about a six pack away" and he meant beer drinking time.😂😂😂😂

When traveling, speed limits vary and not all roads are straight or direct, giving someone an average time, helps a person plan. We like to be helpful. I'm in Connecticut, and have family in Michigan. It's a 750 mile trip one way to Detroit, Michigan is about 12 hours. Further north to Traverse City, Michigan, is 19 hours . I always drive, most of us travel with another person and also our kids. Our infrastructure is designed primarily for an auto and truck society. We don't all fly everywhere. It's quite costly for a family. Big cities, have buses, and taxis, or subways, or trains. It's not like the convenience of train travel in Europe, even country to country that is so wonderful. But think about the fact that the entire UK fits inside of the State of Michigan. That gives you a picture in your head of just how big something is. She spoke of traveling to the US a lot. I. Often hear if a lot of people from the UK have traveled to NYC a lot, starting as kids. That blows my mind, that's an expensive trip for us. Even within the states. But, we don't get a lot of paid time off like many Europeans do. We know where Europe is, the vast majority of regular working people cannot afford a trip overseas nor do we have enough paid time off to actually enjoy the country. Many Europeans criticize us heavily for not traveling overseas. We simply don't have the time they have. Plus, we visit family in other states and of course the USA is amazing. I know you understand, please spread it around in the UK when you hear someone criticize us. Many people in Europe get at least , 30 days off paid. That's not typical for average Americans. We have to work a long time at a company to earn that.

@@jack-of-all-trades1234 😂

I live in Kansas but family in California. I say it's only a day away. (24 hrs of driving )

Yes he would! Lewis is adorable! ❤

🤖

But it’s Ricky Bobby ! Who wants to be him ? He’s an idiot ! I’d rather be Joe Dirt than him ! Lmao😂

😅

Only if you're in a two-person competition. Otherwise, it's the idiocy of Boolean logic in competition. Boolean logic is either/or. For example, a door is either closed, or wide open. Boolean competition logic boils down to "Did you win completely?"

@@OriginalLictre it’s a line from the movie Talladega Nights. It’s a joke.

You are young then!

We were raised to always do our best no matter what we do, same as I taught my kids... on any given day someone can veat u, but if you always do your best you never loose even if u r in last place.

Second place is just the first loser

We don’t place as much value on humility as other countries do. In lots of countries (especially in Asia), directly accepting a compliment is seen as conceited or arrogant. Here, we don’t see people as conceited until they’re actually actively bragging and boasting.

@missam3404Talking about strangers, not friends.

Yeah often times when someone denies a compliment and they aren’t close to me I tend to see it as fishing for compliments or something similar

I had a PT that complimented me on something every day and I would always play it down. That made me realize how often I did that and wonder why I felt it wasn't OK to accept a compliment! So I switched to saying thank you. Especially since I am one of those people who compliment everyone all the time! I realized I want them to feel good... so maybe I should do the same for people complimenting me!

Driving while watching a RU-vid video? Jesus H Christ.

Maybe it's blocks as in two blocks down?

120 yards

@@cmdrfunk 120 yards? Are you including the end zones? The marked playing area is 100, which is why the 50 yard line is the middle of the field. As far as I know the expression has only ever meant 100 yards.

This will help him a lot, it takes awhile to get to think just several moves ahead.

I wouldn't want him to be disappointed

Stouffer's frozen entrees are pretty good, been eating them for years

I don't normally get approached by men.

Well you know, if you don't try, you'll just be passed by :) Women hit on guys too, it's not just a one-way show :)

There are a lot of dogs and bar flies... u can always tell the pretty ones and the ones who put out by the crowd of guys around them

I’m calling BS. You’re not pretty

Where are you located, Im in Kentucky and when a person holds the door open for me I always say Thank you and they always say You're welcome, and vice versa. Its very normal here.

We also do this in the Greater Cincinnati area. For example, I’m 20-25 minutes from Downtown.

Omg same! Pepsi is gross. Coke is king! It's not even close.

I'm from Georgia and I prefer Pepsi. Coke is doable but not great. Going to school in Atlanta and trying to eat out was sad. Just give me Sprite.

All colas are gross, but Come is less gross.

⁠???

Yes! Coca Cola is the only coke I'll drink.. Atlanta here, too.. I tease my mom, when opening one.. I tell her "Support your local business" That one makes her smile every time..

"Do or do not, there is no try" Yoda😅