# Perceptions about USA from non-Americans that Americans might be surprised to learn **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [May 13, 2015, 6:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perceptions-about-usa-from-non-americans-that-americans-might-be-surprised-to-learn/719918 "2015-05-13T06:28:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 10
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2015, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perceptions-about-usa-from-non-americans-that-americans-might-be-surprised-to-learn/719918/181 "2015-05-14T16:28:12Z")
> [@kferr](#): > > Full disclosure: I’m an American who’s lived in the UK for 20 years so I see both sides. > > On cheese: it’s been a very long time since I bought any cheese in the US but I remember on a few choices, Kraft slices, Velveeta, blocks of something called ‘cheddar’ and ‘swiss’ and pre-grated Parmesan in a cardboard can. In my local Sainsbury’s there’s a whole aisle devoted to cheese. I read recently that there are over 700 different named varieties of cheese produced in Britain now.\. Huh. In my little community in central Colorado, our small grocery store has about 1/2 an isle devoted to your basic cheese. Some of it quite good. But then there are two other free standing coolers devoted to higher end cheese which is very good stuff. And of course lots of cheese that you can get at the deli. I guess this little market (that is not a specialty or high end place) has 100 different types of cheese. Sure, a bunch of it is imported, but we can get good cheese. It’s not all canned parmesan and velveta. Not sure why folks think that. ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2015, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perceptions-about-usa-from-non-americans-that-americans-might-be-surprised-to-learn/719918/182 "2015-05-14T16:41:50Z")
> [@kferr](#): > > On cheese: it’s been a very long time since I bought any cheese in the US but I remember on a few choices, Kraft slices, Velveeta, blocks of something called ‘cheddar’ and ‘swiss’ and pre-grated Parmesan in a cardboard can. Any decent sized supermarket will have a dozen or two quality cheese choices. There are at least 3 specialty shops within easy walking distance from my house that combined have 100+ additional choices. > [@kferr](#): > > Instead of designing a clever suspension, an engine with a good power to weight ratio, and carefully matching the two they grab a suspension design that hasn’t changed since the 30’s, drop in a big lazy V-8 and call it good. They can’t be arsed to make it clever so they just make it big. Hasn’t really been true for a few decades, except in the truck markets and that’s changing pretty rapidly as well. ---
**Author:** ![Anne\_Neville](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Anne\_Neville](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anne_Neville)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2015, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perceptions-about-usa-from-non-americans-that-americans-might-be-surprised-to-learn/719918/183 "2015-05-14T17:00:59Z")
> [@enipla](#): > > Huh. In my little community in central Colorado, our small grocery store has about 1/2 an isle devoted to your basic cheese. Some of it quite good. But then there are two other free standing coolers devoted to higher end cheese which is very good stuff. And of course lots of cheese that you can get at the deli. I guess this little market (that is not a specialty or high end place) has 100 different types of cheese. Sure, a bunch of it is imported, but we can get good cheese. It’s not all canned parmesan and velveta. Not sure why folks think that. From what I’ve heard, a good selection of high-end cheese in regular supermarkets is a fairly recent phenomenon. Supposedly it wasn’t like that 40 years ago. Microbrews have certainly taken off since the 80’s. It may be a case of outdated stereotypes. The US does have stricter laws concerning raw milk cheeses than some countries do. This is a good thing for me right now- I’m pregnant and avoiding raw milk cheeses. But I’ve heard from some cheese aficionados that it makes a difference to some types of cheeses. ---
**Author:** ![SmellMyWort](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ea5d25/32.png) [@SmellMyWort](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmellMyWort)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2015, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perceptions-about-usa-from-non-americans-that-americans-might-be-surprised-to-learn/719918/184 "2015-05-14T17:21:49Z")
> [@enipla](#): > > Huh. In my little community in central Colorado, our small grocery store has about 1/2 an isle devoted to your basic cheese. Some of it quite good. But then there are two other free standing coolers devoted to higher end cheese which is very good stuff. And of course lots of cheese that you can get at the deli. I guess this little market (that is not a specialty or high end place) has 100 different types of cheese. Sure, a bunch of it is imported, but we can get good cheese. It’s not all canned parmesan and velveta. Not sure why folks think that. Yeah, it really isn’t fair to compare cheese “in the US” to cheese from some cheese producing country in Europe. If you live in a non-dairy producing region, then yeah, unfortunately you’re stuck with the big national cheese brands and maybe some imports. But compare to WI and you’ll find it’s a different story with small, family owned dairies putting out cheeses that easily rival the best in Europe. ---
**Author:** ![racepug](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f1d935/32.png) [@racepug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/racepug)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2015, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perceptions-about-usa-from-non-americans-that-americans-might-be-surprised-to-learn/719918/185 "2015-05-14T17:26:19Z")
> [@russian\_heel](#): > > Don’t mistake the WNBA or MLS as “major” sports leagues followed by the mainstream American sports fan; I’m not. Trust me - I’m not. I’m under NO illusions that soccer will overtake even hockey or basketball for a spot in the top 3 of the “Merkan” sports consciousness any time soon (if ever). And yes - I played soccer as a kid, I’m half-Latino, and I fully understand how popular the sport is outside of U.S. (and Canada) borders. > [@russian\_heel](#): > > I’m not ripping on soccer, as a matter of fact Im a “card carrying” Son of Ben for the Philadelphia Union, For me it’s the Sounders (I wouldn’t say I’m a “card-carrying” fan but it’s definitely the MLS team that I most associate myself with) > [@russian\_heel](#): > > but MLS teams get away with it because 1)major soccer teams from around the world do it and most MLS fans are soccer fans already and the MLS is trying to do all it can to look like a “European” league so American die-hard soccer fans dont care that logos are pasted all over their jerseys (they actually look cooler on soccer jerseys, anyway) and 2)MLS teams need the money more than the teams from the other “major” four team sports do (NFL, MLB, NBA, NHL). Okay. I can buy that. > [@russian\_heel](#): > > As for the WNBA, NO ONE watches or cares. 😃 I TOTALLY get that. I couldn’t care less about women’s sports, in general. I was just putting the WNBA up as an example of a league where the teams’ uniforms feature advertising. Nothing more. > [@russian\_heel](#): > > The reason the 4 sports teams won’t put sponsors on their uniforms is because there is no promotion or relegation, if you own one of the 152 major league sports franchises in North America, you don’t need that extra $50 million from Apple or Samsung to buy that extra player in return for plastering their name over the hallowed “Dodgers” logo. Even if your team sucks, you are guaranteed a spot in the Premiership, and if you bleed money, hell you can sell your team for half a billion dollars. American sports fans know this, and any such move would be viewed as unbearably cynical. Plaster the “Bimbo” bread logo on the Philadelphia Union jersey? Hell, I ran out and bought one the next day. This seems reasonable to me. > [@russian\_heel](#): > > If I see “Bimbo” on the Philadelphia Phillies uniform with its 140 year history? Thats a reason to step outside. 😃 > [@russian\_heel](#): > > As for NASCAR, NASCAR truly is a meritocracy; if your team doesn’t do well, you lose guaranteed spots in major races and might end up drummed out of the Sprint Cup. So sponsorship money IS crucial to financing a teams success—theres no guarantee that even the top drivers will have a spot in next years competition if things go south for them. It requires a lot of high risk capital to put a car on the track and getting sponsors to finance “your ride” is an old tradition and custom in stock car racing, and that is why shameless sponsorship and shilling is widely accepted in racing, especially NASCAR, which has about as a targeted demo audience as you will find in sports, Got it! > [@russian\_heel](#): > > to the point some fans will buy one product over another just because their favorite driver is sponsored by it. Somehow I have no trouble believing that. No trouble, whatsoever. > [@russian\_heel](#): > > As for stadiums being named after sponsors, while a mild lament, at this point so many of them are new, and were built in order to keep our teams from moving, we see it as a sacrifice in order to not see our team moved to Memphis. Gotchya! > [@russian\_heel](#): > > That said, notice Fenway Park, the new Yankee Stadium, Wrigley Field, Lambeau Field have all resisted being renamed for sponsors. Let’s hear it for tradition! ---
**Author:** ![racepug](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f1d935/32.png) [@racepug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/racepug)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2015, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perceptions-about-usa-from-non-americans-that-americans-might-be-surprised-to-learn/719918/186 "2015-05-14T17:58:04Z")
> [@MrDibble](#): > > That whole electoral college thing is a bit bonkers, yes. It’s absolutely _absurd_ that your vote counts more depending where in the country you live. Take it up with our Founding Fathers. They were brilliant, you know. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2015, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perceptions-about-usa-from-non-americans-that-americans-might-be-surprised-to-learn/719918/187 "2015-05-14T18:03:51Z")
It has been pointed out to me that without the electoral system, an election could be decided by New York and California. ---
**Author:** ![racepug](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f1d935/32.png) [@racepug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/racepug)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2015, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perceptions-about-usa-from-non-americans-that-americans-might-be-surprised-to-learn/719918/188 "2015-05-14T18:10:34Z")
> [@MrDibble](#): > > On US thing I find weird is that speeding a few mph over the limit on freeways is considered a routine thing to do, especially when the choice is speed or annoy all the other drivers who are also speeding. > > That and no, we don’t consider your African-Americans to _be_ African. Not in the slightest. That “Returning to the Motherland” schtick just makes a lot of us laugh at you. _Especially_ when you do it in South or East Africa. It’s just a way of referring to (certain) people of African descent as something other than “black” or “Negro” (or _other_ words that I won’t repeat here). Personally I have no problem with this. After all, those people’s forefathers didn’t cross the Pacific willingly (or, if you prefer, “without a GREAT DEAL of coercion”)… ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2015, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perceptions-about-usa-from-non-americans-that-americans-might-be-surprised-to-learn/719918/189 "2015-05-14T18:21:08Z")
> [@carnivorousplant](#): > > It has been pointed out to me that without the electoral system, an election could be decided by New York and California. California and New York represent about 58 million people, or under one fifth of the electorate. They cannot decide an election with or without the electoral college. ---
**Author:** ![ISiddiqui](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/97f17d/32.png) [@ISiddiqui](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ISiddiqui)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2015, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perceptions-about-usa-from-non-americans-that-americans-might-be-surprised-to-learn/719918/190 "2015-05-14T18:25:53Z")
> [@kferr](#): > > But there is a problem with subtlety again. If some alcohol is good, then doubling it will be great! If some hops is good, then four times as much will be fantastic! It’s not clever, it’s just big. I fear that this is overstated as well. Are there some brewers that do the “bigger is better”? Sure. And partially it’s because they want to crank it up to 11 and see what happens. But there are a ton of beers with subtle flavors that are being done by the craft beer industry as well. It’s just the super hoppy types get all the press. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2015, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perceptions-about-usa-from-non-americans-that-americans-might-be-surprised-to-learn/719918/191 "2015-05-14T18:26:11Z")
> [@carnivorousplant](#): > > It has been pointed out to me that without the electoral system, an election could be decided by New York and California. Not only do the numbers not work for this to be true, but it also stands on a big assumption that being a voter in a particular state is somehow qualitatively more significant for the purposes of democracy than some other characteristic. It’s an assumption I don’t accept. ---
**Author:** ![Tom\_Tildrum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e95f7d/32.png) [@Tom\_Tildrum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Tildrum)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2015, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perceptions-about-usa-from-non-americans-that-americans-might-be-surprised-to-learn/719918/192 "2015-05-14T18:31:59Z")
> [@MrDibble](#): > > In the US, it’s possible for who’s President to not reflect the will of the majority of the _population_… David Cameron took over as UK PM in 2010 after receiving 36% of the vote. Stephen Harper took over in Canada in 2008 with 38%. Tony Abbott became PM in Oz in 2013 with 46%. The US system may produce a head of government with a minority of votes occasionally, but in other countries it’s entirely routine. ---
**Author:** ![racepug](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f1d935/32.png) [@racepug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/racepug)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2015, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perceptions-about-usa-from-non-americans-that-americans-might-be-surprised-to-learn/719918/193 "2015-05-14T18:33:09Z")
> [@enipla](#): > > Huh. In my little community in central Colorado, our small grocery store has about 1/2 an isle devoted to your basic cheese. Some of it quite good. But then there are two other free standing coolers devoted to higher end cheese which is very good stuff. And of course lots of cheese that you can get at the deli. I guess this little market (that is not a specialty or high end place) has 100 different types of cheese. Sure, a bunch of it is imported, but we can get good cheese. It’s not all canned parmesan and **velveta**. Not sure why folks think that. Okay. I’m not arguing that Velveeta® is great cheese. Not by “fancy European” or Wisconsin or Tillamook standards, anyway. But it is my processed “cheese” of choice for making macaroni and cheese. Scoff all you want to but that’s how my (Chilean) Auntie made it for me “back in the day” and I just can’t help liking it. So there! 😛 (As it happens I can also tolerate SPAM® [the meat {by-}product] but that’s a story for a different day) ---
**Author:** ![racepug](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f1d935/32.png) [@racepug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/racepug)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2015, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perceptions-about-usa-from-non-americans-that-americans-might-be-surprised-to-learn/719918/194 "2015-05-14T18:34:15Z")
Sorry, I meant the **Atlantic** in that one entry, above. D’oh! ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2015, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perceptions-about-usa-from-non-americans-that-americans-might-be-surprised-to-learn/719918/195 "2015-05-14T18:34:26Z")
Without the electoral college, men could decide the election! [QUOTE=Tom Tildrum] David Cameron took over as UK PM in 2010 after receiving 36% of the vote. Stephen Harper took over in Canada in 2008 with 38%. Tony Abbott became PM in Oz in 2013 with 46%. The US system may produce a head of government with a minority of votes occasionally, but in other countries it’s entirely routine. [/QUOTE] Those are hardly comparable; those countries have more than two parties. The POTUS is elected without a majority despite having only one opponent. More importantly, a UK, Canadian or Australian PM cannot be elected despite _losing the popular vote_, which is what he was talking about. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2015, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perceptions-about-usa-from-non-americans-that-americans-might-be-surprised-to-learn/719918/196 "2015-05-14T18:37:45Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > California and New York represent about 58 million people, or under one fifth of the electorate. They cannot decide an election with or without the electoral college. I was misinformed. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2015, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perceptions-about-usa-from-non-americans-that-americans-might-be-surprised-to-learn/719918/197 "2015-05-14T18:44:58Z")
> [@carnivorousplant](#): > > And a perfect lawn is easy. Start with some good grass and roll it every day for 500 years. Roll grass? What does that accomplish? Cutting it periodically I can see, but rolling it? (I assume with some sort of push-roller contraption?) ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2015, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perceptions-about-usa-from-non-americans-that-americans-might-be-surprised-to-learn/719918/198 "2015-05-14T18:49:46Z")
> [@bump](#): > > Roll grass? What does that accomplish? Cutting it periodically I can see, but rolling it? (I assume with some sort of push-roller contraption?) Maybe he means something else. If you roll a joint and smoke it every day for 500 years you’ll probably be perfectly satisfied with your lawn. ---
**Author:** ![Tom\_Tildrum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e95f7d/32.png) [@Tom\_Tildrum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Tildrum)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2015, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perceptions-about-usa-from-non-americans-that-americans-might-be-surprised-to-learn/719918/199 "2015-05-14T18:51:55Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > More importantly, a UK, Canadian or Australian PM cannot be elected despite _losing the popular vote_, which is what he was talking about. 😕 64% of the popular vote went against Cameron, 62% against Harper, and 54% against Abbott. ---
**Author:** ![Anne\_Neville](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Anne\_Neville](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anne_Neville)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2015, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perceptions-about-usa-from-non-americans-that-americans-might-be-surprised-to-learn/719918/200 "2015-05-14T18:58:50Z")
> [@MrDibble](#): > > That and no, we don’t consider your African-Americans to _be_ African. Not in the slightest. That “Returning to the Motherland” schtick just makes a lot of us laugh at you. _Especially_ when you do it in South or East Africa. Well, most African-Americans don’t _know_ anything more specific than “Africa” about where their ancestors came from. Slaveowners didn’t always keep such careful records on such things. Our history classes are heavily biased toward things that happened in Europe or America, so they might not learn in school where the African slaves came from. > [@Acsenray](#): > > it also stands on a big assumption that being a voter in a particular state is somehow qualitatively more significant for the purposes of democracy than some other characteristic. It’s an assumption I don’t accept. But it _is_ a useful way to convince states with smaller populations to join together with states with larger ones. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perceptions-about-usa-from-non-americans-that-americans-might-be-surprised-to-learn/719918.md?page=9) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perceptions-about-usa-from-non-americans-that-americans-might-be-surprised-to-learn/719918.md?page=11)