# Most fascinating/weird thing about America **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [April 21, 2002, 4:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-fascinating-weird-thing-about-america/104775 "2002-04-21T04:52:14Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Leifsmama](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/a698b9/32.png) [@Leifsmama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leifsmama)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2002, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-fascinating-weird-thing-about-america/104775/61 "2002-04-22T21:21:26Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Muffin \* > \*\*Wall Drug (and its associated signage). That pretty much says it all. \*\* This is baffling to me as well, and I’m American. ---
**Author:** ![Shagnasty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2002, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-fascinating-weird-thing-about-america/104775/62 "2002-04-22T21:34:38Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Tranquilis \* > \*\*Two houses? _Not_ standard American practice, save for the fairly well-to-do. > > Oh, phttttbbbbbbbtttt! > > Firearms are nothing more or less than tools. Tools with very narrow range for error, and with potentially very grave consequences for a moments inattention, true, but in the end, they’re just a tool. Here’s an excercise for you: Place a firearm on a table (loaded or not, doesn’t matter), and step away from it. Observe what the firearm does. > > Nothing. \*\* I agree with you 100%. Announcer: The September 11th attacks were carried out with how many firearms kids? KIDS: NONE! They just used stuff found in Mommy’s cosmetics bag. I grew up around guns (my father was a federal firearms dealer) and I shot hundreds. They are not evil and I resent the brainwashing that has lead so many people to believe that any weapon leads to certain crimes. It is almost a joke but now we have “knife control” since September 11th. I have carried my Swiss Army Knife on flights for the past 10 years but if I tried to do it now, it might make headline news. I have seen several TV interuptions in which they “busted” someone for smuggling a sharp object onto a plane. At the same time, I could easily do several other things that any loan person, let alone a terrorist group could use to bring down a jet airliner with a nary a hair harmed on their chinny, chin, chin. We won’t go into those things here but the point is: It is called closing the barn door after the horse is out. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2002, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-fascinating-weird-thing-about-america/104775/63 "2002-04-22T22:12:35Z")
People, _please!_ Anyone who’s read my comments on guns knows that I have a small but respectable collection, and they know I want to keep them. But this is neither the forum nor the thread for that discussion. Yes, it’s okay for non-U.S. Dopers to post that guns in the U.S. are shocking. Yes, it’s okay for people to say that we don’t all go around packing heat. But IMHO, it’s not okay to debate that aspect of American society/culture in this thread. Anyway, that’s what I think. ---
**Author:** ![reprise](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ea666f/32.png) [@reprise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/reprise)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2002, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-fascinating-weird-thing-about-america/104775/64 "2002-04-22T23:09:29Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Narrad \* > \*\*Ha! My trained monkey hasn’t learned the art of shopping in my lieu, yet. > > Alcohol is not available in supermarkets; however, it may be sold in stores attached to supermarkets. There is no alcohol aisle in supermarkets, at least where I live: Woolworths doesn’t sell liquor; Woolworths Liquor does. > > It seems a pretty silly distinction, but it’s a legally important one. Liquor stores attached to supermarkets are subject to the same strict liquor licensing rules as any hotel or corner bottle-shop. \*\* I’m not sure whether it’s still the case, but when I lived in the ACT alcohol was sold in supermarkets (and supermarkets had very long opening hours compared to the rest of the country). ---
**Author:** ![Hail\_Ants](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/dc4da7/32.png) [@Hail\_Ants](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hail_Ants)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2002, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-fascinating-weird-thing-about-america/104775/65 "2002-04-23T00:08:50Z")
BalmainBoy: > [@](#): > > But the paper currency - all the same size, all the same colour! You need a history degree to remember if ol’ Jeff is worth more than a Ben or less than a Chase! _A Chase?!_ Yes it is such drudgery sorting though all those _ **$10,000 bills!!** _ 🙂 Sorry, but I like the **conservative greenback.** Colorful currency just looks like **Monopoly** money. And isn’t having different denominations be different sizes incredibly annoying? How do you flip through a wad of cash when they’re all different sizes? ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2002, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-fascinating-weird-thing-about-america/104775/66 "2002-04-23T00:28:01Z")
FWIW, U.S. paper money is _black_ and white on the front an green and white on the back. Hence, “greenbacks”. See? We have _two_ colours! 😛 😃 ---
**Author:** ![racinchikki](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/eada6e/32.png) [@racinchikki](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/racinchikki)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2002, 12:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-fascinating-weird-thing-about-america/104775/67 "2002-04-23T00:29:30Z")
> [@](#): > > But the paper currency - all the same size, all the same colour! You need a history degree to remember if ol’ Jeff is worth more than a Ben or less than a Chase! That’s why they print NUMBERS on it! ---
**Author:** ![butter\_pie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/aca169/32.png) [@butter\_pie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/butter_pie)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2002, 1:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-fascinating-weird-thing-about-america/104775/68 "2002-04-23T01:05:16Z")
> [@](#): > > I vomit in your general direction. To sweet, too greasy, too much air. Amen to that! Those plastic donuts are gross. Real donut shops carry sausage kolaches anyway. ---
**Author:** ![Michael\_Ellis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/977dab/32.png) [@Michael\_Ellis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Michael_Ellis)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2002, 2:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-fascinating-weird-thing-about-america/104775/69 "2002-04-23T02:49:02Z")
I’m starting to wonder about the sanity of the rest of the world. First they’re baffled by the concept of a pancake, sausage and bacon breakfast, then they don’t notice the numbers on our currency. Relax, I’m kidding! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![tallinu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/6de8d8/32.png) [@tallinu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tallinu)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2002, 2:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-fascinating-weird-thing-about-america/104775/70 "2002-04-23T02:50:40Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Muffin \* > \*\*… > > All in all, a wonderful place to visit. (I’d like to take Idaho back home with me, but they won’t let me.) \*\* As I live in North Idaho, I’d appreciate it if you left it where it was, we kinda like it here 😃 However, next time you’re through these parts, we can raise a few glasses of beer/coffee/tea/apple-raspberry-mango juice (pulp or no pulp) and talk about stuff, mebbe get the other (few) Dopers up here involved as well… hmm, an IdaDope. Just so long as you don’t take North Idaho home with you 😉 [sub]SOUTHERN Idaho, OTOH…[/sub] ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2002, 2:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-fascinating-weird-thing-about-america/104775/71 "2002-04-23T02:55:54Z")
It could also be the “Famous PotaDope”. (Borowing from the license plate. 😉 ) ---
**Author:** ![GilaB](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/8e7dd6/32.png) [@GilaB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GilaB)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2002, 3:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-fascinating-weird-thing-about-america/104775/72 "2002-04-23T03:28:38Z")
I’ve lived in NY/NJ all my life, and not only have I never seen a gun for sale, I don’t think I’ve ever seen one other than on a police officer/soldier, except for really old ones behind glass in museums. I, too, can never finish full portions in restaurants. I think of it as buying tomorrow’s dinner also. In New Jersey, there is no self-serve gas. The American will butt out now. ---
**Author:** ![Athena](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/35a633/32.png) [@Athena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Athena)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2002, 3:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-fascinating-weird-thing-about-america/104775/73 "2002-04-23T03:33:10Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Tranquilis \* > \*\*Two houses? _Not_ standard American practice, save for the fairly well-to-do. > \*\* Not true. I think this has a lot more to do with where you live than economic class. Out here in Colorado, where housing and land prices are stupidly high (unless you’re comparing 'em to California), it’s true that only the upper middle class on up can afford a second house. However, in the little backwoods town in Upper Michigan where I grew up, I’d say having a cabin was fairly common - maybe 30% of the population had one. Why? The price of land is dirt cheap. Why not have a ‘lake house’ or ‘hunting cabin’ when the whole damn thing costs less than a new car? A lot of times this was a piece of land out in the woods that the owner built a cabin on, as opposed to it being built for him. Some cabins are no more than shacks in the woods; others are cozy and comfortable. My father built our original cabin in the early 60’s, and has continually added on and remodelled since then. I have fond memories of holidays and snowy weekends where we had to ski in. Were he to sell it today, I doubt he’d get $20K for it (not counting the land - it’s on leased land, as are many cabins in that area. I think the lease is all of $500.00 a year). ---
**Author:** ![meyer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ccd318/32.png) [@meyer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/meyer)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2002, 4:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-fascinating-weird-thing-about-america/104775/74 "2002-04-23T04:30:04Z")
Much as its caused a ruckus in this thread (and countless others) I’ve got to back up the gun thing. Its odd, as a Canadian, to see Americans toting around guns and talking about guns as an average home/personal protection devise. I’m not gonig to say thats good or bad, but when you come from a place where many _cops_ don’t carry any more than a nightstick, its strange to see people packing heat in such a casual way. Also, the money. I understand that the amount is written on the bill, as it is on our money too. But nobody here reads the numbers! Why? Because with a quick glance you can count your money - one green, two purple, one blue? You’ve got $45 there! You don’t even have to take it all the way out of your pocket/wallet/purse. How on earth do you count American money quickly or discreetly? And one dollar bills - what is the point? ---
**Author:** ![davidm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidm/32/225_2.png) [@davidm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidm)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2002, 4:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-fascinating-weird-thing-about-america/104775/75 "2002-04-23T04:39:33Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by The Red Menace \* > \*\*I would be interested to know if the American practice of owning two houses is common in Europe and elsewhere, or if it might be isolated not just to the US, but to the midwest alone… \*\* To be honest, your referring to it as an “American practice” puzzled me. I live just outside of Philadelphia and it’s doesn’t seem to be common around here. We do have some pockets of very wealthy people in the area and I’m sure that some of them own two or even more but I would consider multi-millionaires the exception rather than the rule. I have a relatively wealthy uncle on the west coast, near Spokane, who only owns one. I can’t think of anyone I know personally who owns two. ---
**Author:** ![robinc308](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b782af/32.png) [@robinc308](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robinc308)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2002, 4:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-fascinating-weird-thing-about-america/104775/76 "2002-04-23T04:58:15Z")
I don’t think owning a second home is a purely American practice either. I know plenty of people here in Australia who do too. It’s not all that uncommon here (nor is it particularly common either). ---
**Author:** ![Kyla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/eada6e/32.png) [@Kyla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kyla)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2002, 6:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-fascinating-weird-thing-about-america/104775/77 "2002-04-23T06:38:22Z")
I’ve lived in the US for 23 years and have spent about a month, cumulatively, in Europe, so here’s something that may surprise people: I’ve seen MORE guns in Europe than in the US. When I was in France in 1998, I saw soldiers wandering around a Metro station with rifles. In 1999, saw some armed soldiers (in uniform, but not apparently on duty) in the Rome airport. Both times, I was very surprised, because I had never seen such a thing in the US. Until I saw armed National Guards marching around the airports after Sept. 11, I had _never seen a gun in the United States_. Where on earth are tourists going that they are seeing people wandering the streets with guns? ---
**Author:** ![occ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8c91f0/32.png) [@occ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/occ)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2002, 7:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-fascinating-weird-thing-about-america/104775/78 "2002-04-23T07:14:34Z")
I know the gun thing has been done to death, but I just had a quick question for those who refer to seeing Americans casually walking around with guns: where have you seen this? I’m trying to think of a situation where you would carry a gun out in the open, in public, in the US and not cause a scene. Unless there was an obvious explanation for it (you know, like if you ran into some people hunting or some such thing), drawing a weapon in public would cause everyone to scatter _very_ quickly, and probably notify the police. A large percentage of Americans _do_ own guns (I think I remember reading that it was around 50% of US households), but mostly they’re kept out of site. You can bear arms, but the gun laws are severely enforced here. ---
**Author:** ![Fern\_Forest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/71c47a/32.png) [@Fern\_Forest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fern_Forest)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2002, 7:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-fascinating-weird-thing-about-america/104775/79 "2002-04-23T07:40:55Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by meyer \* > \*\*You don’t even have to take it all the way out of your pocket/wallet/purse. How on earth do you count American money quickly or discreetly? \*\* Neither do we. At all 8 corners (4 front, 4 back) in big clear numbers is the amount. Slip it an inch out and there’s the amount plain as day. It’s not that hard. Now if you were complaining about our measuring units I’d complain with you. ---
**Author:** ![straykat23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c4cdca/32.png) [@straykat23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/straykat23)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2002, 8:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-fascinating-weird-thing-about-america/104775/80 "2002-04-23T08:08:46Z")
Trailer parks! Every US city or town has a number of them. They’re usually run down and their inhabitants are frequently featured on “Cops.” The label ‘trailer trash’ has meaning here. (Lest I be considered a snob, I unfortunately had to live in one for a few months. No excuse not to maintain one’s habitat.) IMHO in the US the poorer areas are uglier and filthier than the poorer areas I saw in Europe. The council housing inhabitants of England could be compared to the ‘project’ housing inhabitants in the US (can’t think of what such housing is called here now) but the British housing isn’t quite so graffiti marked, poorly maintained or so desperately hellish. Some of our major highways are deplorable (I-80 between San Francisco and Sacramento, for example). In California (as is probably true in most states, or will be true soon) some of our social programs and infrastructure repairs are being cut to pay for this war due to the carte blanche we have allowed our govenment. The most fascinating thing to me is that somehow it all works. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-fascinating-weird-thing-about-america/104775.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-fascinating-weird-thing-about-america/104775.md?page=5)