# Non-Americans - name a thing you know about the US you got from the SDMB **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [September 7, 2012, 12:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-americans-name-a-thing-you-know-about-the-us-you-got-from-the-sdmb/633930 "2012-09-07T00:30:23Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 10
**Author:** ![Nawth\_Chucka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/c57346/32.png) [@Nawth\_Chucka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nawth_Chucka)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2012, 12:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-americans-name-a-thing-you-know-about-the-us-you-got-from-the-sdmb/633930/181 "2012-09-21T12:21:52Z")
> [@cmyk](#): > > Huh. I grew up in the 80s around the suburban Detroit area, and would come across one quite often. I’ve been in a few chains of the procession as well. It was always an interesting experience, as dozens and dozens of cars follow each other through red lights, as the on-lookers in their vehicles would wait. Some on-lookers would beep their horns in honor of the deceased. > > The hearse would also give each driver an [orange, magnetic flag](http://www.embalmers.com/images/homes/flags1.png) to stick to the roof of their vehicle. > > But, now that you mention it, I haven’t seen one in years. Wonder if the State put the kibosh on that? I’m talking about just the opposing lane’s traffic pulling over for an oncoming procession, not traffic being held as a procession moves through traffic. I lived in Detroit from 1970-78, then Wixom/Novi area till 2004. The horn honking confused me as I was taught silence was respectful and honking is for emergencies. ---
**Author:** ![gms453](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/50afbb/32.png) [@gms453](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gms453)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2012, 12:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-americans-name-a-thing-you-know-about-the-us-you-got-from-the-sdmb/633930/182 "2012-09-21T12:32:12Z")
> [@njtt](#): > > I don’t think that word means whatever you think it means. Thanks for setting me straight. ---
**Author:** ![gms453](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/50afbb/32.png) [@gms453](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gms453)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2012, 12:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-americans-name-a-thing-you-know-about-the-us-you-got-from-the-sdmb/633930/183 "2012-09-21T12:44:49Z")
> [@April\_R](#): > > hehehehe, snicker:p Don’t get it, but why would I. Afterall, I’m just another one of those simple minded Americans. ---
**Author:** ![gms453](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/50afbb/32.png) [@gms453](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gms453)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2012, 12:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-americans-name-a-thing-you-know-about-the-us-you-got-from-the-sdmb/633930/184 "2012-09-21T12:49:14Z")
> [@Punoqllads](#): > > Gotcha-ya? Dunno…maybe…wouldn’t be the first time. ---
**Author:** ![gms453](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/50afbb/32.png) [@gms453](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gms453)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2012, 1:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-americans-name-a-thing-you-know-about-the-us-you-got-from-the-sdmb/633930/185 "2012-09-21T13:10:40Z")
> [@Eliahna](#): > > Hi. I’m guessing we haven’t met before. Don’t think so… don’t hang around with many furriners…they’re way too busy acting smart, sophisticated and superior for me. ---
**Author:** ![Grey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b782af/32.png) [@Grey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grey)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2012, 1:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-americans-name-a-thing-you-know-about-the-us-you-got-from-the-sdmb/633930/186 "2012-09-21T13:33:01Z")
Must not hang around with many Americans either huh? ---
**Author:** ![Red\_Wiggler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/red_wiggler/32/13190_2.png) [@Red\_Wiggler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Red_Wiggler)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2012, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-americans-name-a-thing-you-know-about-the-us-you-got-from-the-sdmb/633930/187 "2012-09-21T15:46:45Z")
Into this most interesting discussion I’d like to pose this question of our foreign contingent: who is more self-critical, Americans or Europeans? ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2012, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-americans-name-a-thing-you-know-about-the-us-you-got-from-the-sdmb/633930/188 "2012-09-21T18:32:40Z")
Americans. ---
**Author:** ![Simple\_Linctus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Simple\_Linctus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Simple_Linctus)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2012, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-americans-name-a-thing-you-know-about-the-us-you-got-from-the-sdmb/633930/189 "2012-09-21T23:57:46Z")
FWIW you can get police escorts in the UK for funerals too, some of my family have had them and also some of them haven’t. I think (given which ones have) that it is basically dependent upon how many people are going to turn up, but I’m not certain. ---
**Author:** ![AWB](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/bb73d2/32.png) [@AWB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AWB)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2012, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-americans-name-a-thing-you-know-about-the-us-you-got-from-the-sdmb/633930/190 "2012-09-22T00:15:15Z")
> [@Leaffan](#): > > OK, here’s another thing: the amount of time devoted to electing a president. Holy fucking shit. > > You guys are in perpetual election mode. As soon as one ends, it seems you start gearing up for another. I think the last Canadian federal election campaign lasted 6 weeks. > > From a media perspective I guess I understood the longevity of the campaigns, but spending time here I am way more familiar with just how much thought, and effort, and contemplation, and reflection, and second guessing, and debate, and… holy fucking shit. Man, I couldn’t’ve said it better. The worst part is how the losing candidates kept talking long after the election. When Sarah Palin, loser of the least influential office in American politics (vice president) suddenly became a conservative sweetheart, I was mystified. Then to really get my mind spinning, _her_ daughter became a “celebrity”, a nothing daughter of a nothing politician that ran for a nothing office. ---
**Author:** ![njtt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ecd19e/32.png) [@njtt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/njtt)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2012, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-americans-name-a-thing-you-know-about-the-us-you-got-from-the-sdmb/633930/191 "2012-09-22T00:17:17Z")
> [@gms453](#): > > Don’t get it, but why would I. Afterall, I’m just another one of those simple minded Americans. Apparently. But seriously, what do you think “smug” means, and how do you think it applies to **Eliahna** ’s post? ---
**Author:** ![AWB](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/bb73d2/32.png) [@AWB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AWB)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2012, 12:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-americans-name-a-thing-you-know-about-the-us-you-got-from-the-sdmb/633930/192 "2012-09-22T00:26:23Z")
> [@Septima](#): > > That whole routine circumcision thing. Freaked me right out when I first encountered it here. Such alien behavior. How do you think _I_ felt? Two days old, and I’m wheeled out for elective surgery, and I’m not even Jewish. WTF Mom! Tell them we’re Methodist! 😛 ---
**Author:** ![gms453](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/50afbb/32.png) [@gms453](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gms453)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2012, 12:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-americans-name-a-thing-you-know-about-the-us-you-got-from-the-sdmb/633930/193 "2012-09-22T00:48:17Z")
> [@Grey](#): > > Must not hang around with many Americans either huh? How did you know? You must be special smart! Will you be my friend? It gets awful lonely sometimes livin’ in my momma’s basement. I promise to keep the preachin’ to a miminum and to brag on my gun collection even less. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2012, 1:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-americans-name-a-thing-you-know-about-the-us-you-got-from-the-sdmb/633930/194 "2012-09-22T01:04:13Z")
I don’t understand the ongoing argument in this thread. Can someone draw me a picture? ---
**Author:** ![April\_R](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3da27b/32.png) [@April\_R](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/April_R)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2012, 1:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-americans-name-a-thing-you-know-about-the-us-you-got-from-the-sdmb/633930/195 "2012-09-22T01:15:36Z")
> [@Cat\_Whisperer](#): > > I don’t understand the ongoing argument in this thread. Can someone draw me a picture? It’s ok, I don’t think any of us understand at this point. Basically **poster A** was called out by **poster B** for being smug based on a post which the majority of us did not see as smug at all and someone (as yet undefined poster) pointed that out to aforementioned **poster B** , and it spiraled out of control from there with escalating wharrble garrble and general incoherent ramblings ---
**Author:** ![Punoqllads](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/d2c977/32.png) [@Punoqllads](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Punoqllads)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2012, 1:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-americans-name-a-thing-you-know-about-the-us-you-got-from-the-sdmb/633930/196 "2012-09-22T01:19:35Z")
> [@April\_R](#): > > Basically **poster A** was called out by **poster B** for being smug based on a post which the majority of us did not see as smug at all and someone (as yet undefined poster) pointed that out to aforementioned poster B , and it spiraled out of control from there with escalating wharrble garrble and general incoherent ramblings Which brings us back to American politics. ---
**Author:** ![April\_R](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3da27b/32.png) [@April\_R](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/April_R)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2012, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-americans-name-a-thing-you-know-about-the-us-you-got-from-the-sdmb/633930/197 "2012-09-22T01:22:44Z")
> [@Punoqllads](#): > > Which brings us back to American politics. LOLZ. (That is why I am a registered Independent. I refuse to voluntarily associate myself with either major party of our “two party” system. I like to make my choice based on examining who I think will be the best candidate for the office. Silly me 😉 ) ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2012, 2:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-americans-name-a-thing-you-know-about-the-us-you-got-from-the-sdmb/633930/198 "2012-09-22T02:46:37Z")
> [@April\_R](#): > > It’s ok, I don’t think any of us understand at this point. > > Basically **poster A** was called out by **poster B** for being smug based on a post which the majority of us did not see as smug at all and someone (as yet undefined poster) pointed that out to aforementioned **poster B** , and it spiraled out of control from there with escalating wharrble garrble and general incoherent ramblings Ah, the wharrble garrble. That where I always lose track. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![gms453](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/50afbb/32.png) [@gms453](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gms453)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2012, 2:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-americans-name-a-thing-you-know-about-the-us-you-got-from-the-sdmb/633930/199 "2012-09-22T14:08:33Z")
> [@njtt](#): > > Apparently. > > But seriously, what do you think “smug” means, and how do you think it applies to **Eliahna** ’s post? “Gun-toting Creationist” is a pejorative term used to belittle fundamentalist Christians who own guns. The poster’s use of it indicates to the reader that she is disdainful of, and considers herself superior to, such people. ---
**Author:** ![Kenm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/bc79bd/32.png) [@Kenm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kenm)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2012, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-americans-name-a-thing-you-know-about-the-us-you-got-from-the-sdmb/633930/200 "2012-09-22T15:08:25Z")
> [@gms453](#): > > “Gun-toting Creationist” is a pejorative term used to belittle fundamentalist Christians who own guns. The poster’s use of it indicates to the reader that she is disdainful of, and considers herself superior to, such people. Well, who isn’t? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-americans-name-a-thing-you-know-about-the-us-you-got-from-the-sdmb/633930.md?page=9) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/non-americans-name-a-thing-you-know-about-the-us-you-got-from-the-sdmb/633930.md?page=11)