It seems that you're using an outdated browser. Some things may not work as they should (or don't work at all).
We suggest you upgrade newer and better browser like: Chrome, Firefox, Internet Explorer or Opera

×
Community
General discussionNational/local weirdness(178 posts)(178 posts)
(178 posts)
Pages:
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
This is my favourite topic
Posted September 23, 2015
avatar
Crewdroog: Flags!! They are everywhere! And not just US flags: state flags, sports flags, war flags (POW: MIA, etc), peace flags, rights flags (gay, etc), ethnic flags (polish, irish, italian). Flags saying places are open, having sales; it just goes on and on.
avatar
tinyE: That is an unfair stereotype! I'll have you know that this guy is NOT an American! :P
Of course not, Crewdroog didn't say anything about pens in the forehead, which is thus obviously not an American tradition.
Posted September 23, 2015
avatar
Crewdroog: Flags!! They are everywhere! And not just US flags: state flags, sports flags, war flags (POW: MIA, etc), peace flags, rights flags (gay, etc), ethnic flags (polish, irish, italian). Flags saying places are open, having sales; it just goes on and on.
avatar
tinyE: That is an unfair stereotype! I'll have you know that this guy is NOT an American! :P
lol I retract my statement then!! :)
Posted September 23, 2015
avatar
tinyE: That is an unfair stereotype! I'll have you know that this guy is NOT an American! :P
avatar
Maighstir: Of course not, Crewdroog didn't say anything about pens in the forehead, which is thus obviously not an American tradition.
I just like that he has the American flag displayed up front and the Canadian flag stuck way back on his head. XD
Posted September 23, 2015
avatar
tinyE: That is an unfair stereotype! I'll have you know that this guy is NOT an American! :P
avatar
Maighstir: Of course not, Crewdroog didn't say anything about pens in the forehead, which is thus obviously not an American tradition.
but it is... that was totally gonna be my next post. ;)
Posted September 23, 2015
avatar
Crewdroog: Tipping: in restaurants, servers don't make minimum wage. They might make $3USD/hour. I don't know what asshat thought it was a good idea, but they don't. Instead, they make most of their income through tips left at the end of the meal. I have traveled to Mexico and England and tried to leave tips not thinking, and given very odd looks. 15% of bill is average tip, 20% is for excellent service, 10% is a F- you. No tip? Don't go back, they will remember you and do things to your food ;)

We are loud and friendly (for the most part), but are very serious about personal space. We don't like people being too close, and strangers touching you, unless it's a handshake, is weird. If there is a park bench or bus seats that are empty and you sit close to someone, they will appear agitated.

Flags!! They are everywhere! And not just US flags: state flags, sports flags, war flags (POW: MIA, etc), peace flags, rights flags (gay, etc), ethnic flags (polish, irish, italian). Flags saying places are open, having sales; it just goes on and on.
Why would you leave a tip if the service/food was crap?
Posted September 23, 2015
avatar
Maighstir: Of course not, Crewdroog didn't say anything about pens in the forehead, which is thus obviously not an American tradition.
avatar
Crewdroog: but it is... that was totally gonna be my next post. ;)
Uh... oh... my bad.
Posted September 23, 2015
avatar
Luned: Both double and single-handle faucets are common in the US nowadays, depending on personal preference. If you're replacing a broken faucet set, but not the entire sink, you buy a replacement that fits the sort of sink you have (single-hole or three-hole). If you're going completely new, you buy whatever sink+faucet combo you prefer aesthetically/functionally.
avatar
Fever_Discordia: looking at the comments from others and also from personal experience Americans seem to be the only people who actually call them 'faucets' - what's that about? Seems a bit overly grand and posh for a simple tap!
Because taps are supposed to supply beer, wine, or maple syrup, not water! :D
Posted September 23, 2015
avatar
Crewdroog: Tipping: in restaurants, servers don't make minimum wage. They might make $3USD/hour. I don't know what asshat thought it was a good idea, but they don't. Instead, they make most of their income through tips left at the end of the meal. I have traveled to Mexico and England and tried to leave tips not thinking, and given very odd looks. 15% of bill is average tip, 20% is for excellent service, 10% is a F- you. No tip? Don't go back, they will remember you and do things to your food ;)

We are loud and friendly (for the most part), but are very serious about personal space. We don't like people being too close, and strangers touching you, unless it's a handshake, is weird. If there is a park bench or bus seats that are empty and you sit close to someone, they will appear agitated.

Flags!! They are everywhere! And not just US flags: state flags, sports flags, war flags (POW: MIA, etc), peace flags, rights flags (gay, etc), ethnic flags (polish, irish, italian). Flags saying places are open, having sales; it just goes on and on.
avatar
blotunga: Why would you leave a tip if the service/food was crap?
the last part was a joke, hence winking face. and in all seriousness, if you leave no tip, the service has to be BAD, BAD BAD.
Post edited September 23, 2015 by Crewdroog
Posted September 23, 2015
avatar
blotunga: Why would you leave a tip if the service/food was crap?
avatar
Crewdroog: the last part was a joke, hence winking face. and in all seriousness, if you leave no tip, the service has to be BAD, BAD BAD.
More than that, if you don't leave a tip, next time you go back to that restaurant your food is going to be roughly 25% boogers, pubic hair, toe jam, and fecal matter.

I wish that was a joke, but I've been around the service industry, and it is a point of pride with them.
Posted September 23, 2015
avatar
JudasIscariot: If you see someone in Poland standing near a bus stop and waving their arm in front of them, they aren't crazy, they are simply telling the bus driver to stop there and pick them up as the bus stop may be a "by request" (na żądanie) stop and if the passenger DOESN'T do this the bus will just drive right on by :)
In Ireland every stop is like this. You don't wave (and there is no one getting off), the bus won't stop. Took me a bit getting used to when I first came here.
Posted September 23, 2015
There are loads of such weirdnesses here, especially for someone who is not Pakistani. Some examples:
This idea of their being "hot" and "cold" foods. Not in terms of temperature or spiciness, but in terms of...something- maybe suitability to outside weather? Like eggs or rabbit is a "hot" food. Potato is a "cold" food. Not sure of the logic behind it, just occasionally get irritated by people telling me "Don't eat eggs for breakfast today, it is the middle of summer!"

Related to that is this idea of certain foods you shouldn't drink water after, because...something. Your stomach will explode and you'll die, maybe. Since I'm a pretty heavy water drinker, it can lead to some fairly strange exchanges (often between me and my friends' mothers or grandmothers). Why SHOULDN'T I drink water after having some milk food or toast and jam?

Then there's also this thing called "takaluf". Not sure how I'd translate it..."formality", maybe? I'm pretty sure it is a thing in the rest of the Subcontinent and Iran as well: When someone offers you something, like a cup of tea or biscuits or food, you're supposed to thank them and refuse, and then only accept after they've insisted for a while. If the host actually takes your word for it and thinks you really don't want the thing, and doesn't give you any, then they end up being a bad host or something. Really problematic for me, because like some weird alien or something here, I don't like drinking tea. So when someone asks if I want some, and I refuse, they think I'm doing takaluf and start insisting. It ends up that I say "If you have some green tea or jasmine tea, I'd prefer that", but then if they don't have that, it puts them in an awkward position, so I usually just ask if they have some cold water.
Post edited September 23, 2015 by babark
Posted September 23, 2015
avatar
JudasIscariot: If you see someone in Poland standing near a bus stop and waving their arm in front of them, they aren't crazy, they are simply telling the bus driver to stop there and pick them up as the bus stop may be a "by request" (na żądanie) stop and if the passenger DOESN'T do this the bus will just drive right on by :)
Hehe, that's funny, in Germany it's the other way round: you have to wave/give a sign to the bus driver if you don't want him to stop only for you because you don't wanna drive with that line or just standing at the bus stop for other reasons
(of course only if you're a nice guy, which I AM) :)

btw: Judas, when exactly will Mini Metro be released?
Post edited September 23, 2015 by gamefood
Posted September 23, 2015
avatar
Maighstir: Of course not, Crewdroog didn't say anything about pens in the forehead, which is thus obviously not an American tradition.
avatar
tinyE: I just like that he has the American flag displayed up front and the Canadian flag stuck way back on his head. XD
Didn't Hitler have a hand in designing the logo for the Olympics? If so, that would make that guy at least part German by default.

I don't care what flag you fly. Just before flying it, try and figure out who sewed it together.
Posted September 23, 2015
In addition to the giant roadside attractions tinyE mentions, here in America we love to declare our small towns as "XYZ Capital of the World", or home of the "National so-and-so Museum" of something either completely ordinary or really obscure. See attached for an example of the former. I don't have a photo but a favorite from my travels is Fort Payne, Alabama, the "Sock Capital of the World". And a couple hours from home is the National Mustard Museum. Which I've heard is actually pretty great. http://mustardmuseum.com/. I think I'll take the wife there soon, and then head over to the Spam Museum. Should make for a hearty lunch.


Our own town makes its claim to being the home of a 19-century writer who introduced to the world another writer whose work I suspect most of us have read. You've likely never heard of our native - I know I hadn't until we moved here.
Attachments:
img_20150630_063.jpg (132 Kb)
Posted September 23, 2015
avatar
Crewdroog: the last part was a joke, hence winking face. and in all seriousness, if you leave no tip, the service has to be BAD, BAD BAD.
avatar
tinyE: More than that, if you don't leave a tip, next time you go back to that restaurant your food is going to be roughly 25% boogers, pubic hair, toe jam, and fecal matter.

I wish that was a joke, but I've been around the service industry, and it is a point of pride with them.
oh yes, i've dated a guy in it. I've heard horror stories. ick ick ick ick
Pages:
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
This is my favourite topic
Community
General discussionNational/local weirdness(178 posts)(178 posts)
(178 posts)