25 common American customs that are considered offensive in other countries

[mfcorey1]

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.

http://www.msn.com/en-us/travel/tripideas/25-common-american-customs-that-are-considered-offensive-in-other-countries/ar-BBlrZcW?ocid=mailsignout

[snooper2]

1. They will be okay in the morning

[6chars]

2. can't win

[yeoman6987]

3. Interesting

As long as they don't mind us doing it here no biggie. We should at least try to know what the customs are there since we are the visitor.

[Rex]

4. I'm lefthanded and have to be very careful what I do with my dominate arm in some countries.

Always a great idea to brush up on local/regional customs, if you are traveling to foreign lands.

[CBGLuthier]

5. Kind of a stupid list. I live in a foreign country and about half of these do not apply

Making it all about bad American customs is stupid. Notice at least three times you get in trouble for doing something or not doing something. Yes, every country has their own thing, so the fuck what?

What about the Italian custom of charging you more if you sit at a table than a bar? Or the fact that all of Europe makes you pay for water and assumes you want it with carbonation? Fucking Barbarians.

A better title would be look at how different all the worlds's cultures are and do not assume the whole world is the same. They like tipping in Mauritius although not as much as the US because they pay a decent wage.

Some customs from other countries are rude and obnoxious by US standards too. While I am as unamerican as the next guy this sure seems like some bullshit designed to shame Americans.

[Captain Stern]

7. Interesting take.

It didn't come across to me that way at all.

I just took it as an article that was pointing out some customs from other countries that were different than ours. I don't really feel like they were saying ours were worse.

[Orrex]

9. Well, the article did call them "offensive," and "offensive" is generally considered worse...

Not "unfamiliar" or "strange" or "unusual" or "surprising," but "offensive."

[Captain Stern]

12. 'Considered' offensive.

I didn't take it to mean that the way we do particular things is inferior....just that the differences would be taken to be offensive in some other cultures.

For instance, numbers 6 and 7 are almost diametric opposites. Being a little bit late would be offensive to Germans, while showing up on time would be considered offensive in Argentina. We pretty much can't win on that one. (On a side note, I imagine that cultural difference may have been problematic to post-WWII German immigrants to Argentina)

[ileus]

6. I'm sure they can get over us.

[Orrex]

8. Rudest of all is breaking a list-article into five different pages, just for ad-space

Thanks, MSN!

[kiva]

10. Suppose it wouldn't be as clickable

if the title would have been "Common customs that are considered offensive in other countries" without 'American' in the title. All of these - well, except calling ourselves American - are common in many other countries. I've seen some good discussions about why the term American tends to be used by residents of the US - the best reason, to me, is that some idiot came up with the alternative word 'USian'

[Igel]

11. The best is that it's shorter.

And it's also at the end.

Note that referring to the US as "los Estados unidos" and leaving it at that runs into problems in los "Estados unidos mexicanos." If a Mexican nationalist is of a mind to be offended, he'll find a way.

Otherwise, a bit of good will and sensitivity to context goes a long way. Which includes using "America" in Spanish with an American accent in South America. They want to be offended, to assume that we're trying to diminish their standing, they will do so. External dignity is a difficult thing to navigate, even for those espousing it, and you always have to be concerned about maintaining the facade because you simply can't ever trust anybody. (Screw social cohesion and sense of community that extends beyond those close to you. It's a great attitude, and one that have made Iraq and Libya the great democratic powers they are.)

[Oneironaut]

13. 26. Splitting a list up into 5 needless sections to maximize ad revenue.

[Rosie1234]

14. American customs that are considered rude

Yes, everyone knows that Americans have terrible reputations for rude behavior around the world--got it. I think you should do a similar article regarding what's considered rude by Americans when others visit the US. Here are just a few:

1.) Thinking you can walk into a store and barter. unless an item is damaged or discontinued the price marked is the price. I work in retail and people from Asia or India will ask me to check the price on an item and then tell me, "Oh no--that's too much. I'll give you "X-Y-Z" for that." No, the price I gave you IS the price.

2.) Criticizing the city you're in for not being like where You come from. I live in Chicago. In the winter, its VERY cold and windy and the summers are hot, humid and windy. There's nothing anyone can do about that. Our mass transit might not be on par with Europe or Asia but we're doing the best we can with the resources we're given. Yes, parts of our cities are dirty and the walls are laced with graffiti. Just know that we don't have people thrown in jail or flogged for littering.

3.) Have an elementary working knowledge of English. Unlike many other countries we speak only English or Spanish generally speaking. My Spanish is passable. Know that coming here because if you don't have a command of the English language, an interpreter is not going to be provided. FOOTNOTE: the exception is in the bigger cities. In Chicago there are large Asian, Arabic, Polish and Czech communities where you may be able to find someone who you can communicate with.

4.) Social Status. In this country, women are treated with respect and as equals. We have the vote, we work and earn our own money as well as pay taxes. Anyone visiting the states from a country where women don't have any status should know this. I had a couple of big burly men from a middle eastern country come into the store where I was working and tried to treat me like a servant. That kind of thing doesn't fly here.

[gopiscrap]

15. Welcome to DU