# 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:** 13
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2015, 8:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perceptions-about-usa-from-non-americans-that-americans-might-be-surprised-to-learn/719918/241 "2015-05-15T08:27:52Z")
> [@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%. In none of those instances did anyone else get _more_ votes. > [@](#): > > The US system may produce a head of government with a minority of votes occasionally, but in other countries it’s entirely routine. Majority/minority may not be the correct terminoligy - I’m talking about the fact that in America it’s possible to get _less votes than someone else_ overall, yet still beat them to the Presidency. ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2015, 8:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perceptions-about-usa-from-non-americans-that-americans-might-be-surprised-to-learn/719918/242 "2015-05-15T08:34:17Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > America has plenty of great chocolate (even found in the grocery store)- Ghirardelli , Endangered Species, Taza, Scharffen Berger, Green & Blacks, Alter Eco, Dagoba, etc. Isn’t G&B British? ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2015, 8:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perceptions-about-usa-from-non-americans-that-americans-might-be-surprised-to-learn/719918/243 "2015-05-15T08:36:06Z")
> [@Anne\_Neville](#): > > Well, most African-Americans don’t _know_ anything more specific than “Africa” about where their ancestors came from. We’d like it if they could at least narrow it down to “West Africa”, please. ---
**Author:** ![JustinC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/justinc/32/8083_2.png) [@JustinC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JustinC)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2015, 8:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perceptions-about-usa-from-non-americans-that-americans-might-be-surprised-to-learn/719918/244 "2015-05-15T08:56:22Z")
An interesting social etiquette point: When offered an invitation that you’ve chosen not to take; do you decline politely on the spot, accept graciously and then later decline politely, or do you accept graciously with a provision that you may not be able to attend? The reason I ask is that my parents, on a trip to the states, got talking with a Texan couple and were offered an invitation to their ranch for a day or two. Dad said, in his usual forthright and honest way, that the summer in Texas (or anywhere hot) was very uncomfortable for him, due to health issues, and they’d, regretfully, have to decline the offer. Their response was not taken very well and they were upset at having seemingly committed a faux pas. I’ve offered to take a few Texans for a drink and always had my offer accepted but several times they’ve later graciously and politely declined due to ‘unforeseen circumstances’ - no problem, they’ve all been very genuine, friendly people. To me declining immediately or later are both perfectly fine, if done politely. Is accepting immediately and later offering a ‘rain check’ a Texan thing, a southern thing, a US thing, or an invention of my fevered imagination? ---
**Author:** ![The\_Angry\_Badger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b38774/32.png) [@The\_Angry\_Badger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Angry_Badger)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2015, 9:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perceptions-about-usa-from-non-americans-that-americans-might-be-surprised-to-learn/719918/245 "2015-05-15T09:48:04Z")
As the guy that brought up the cheese/beer thing (which seems to have blown up somewhat! :eek: ), I should probably clarify things a little: **Cheese:** When I was younger, I got to know an American girl that was visiting the UK for a few months. In one conversation, we talked about cheese on toast and she said she really didn’t like it. That confused me - how could someone not like this food of the gods? 😕 Then I found out how she thought it was made: Toast some bread in a toaster, put a kraft slice (or similar) on it, then stick it in the microwave for 30 seconds. :eek: Apparently that was, as far as she’d ever known, how it was made. So of course, I had to educate her, and made her a proper one. She was somewhat addicted after that. 😃 Other than that, I’ve always known [American cheese](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_cheese) to be the plasticy, bland processed stuff. **Beer:** You have to bear in mind that I’m not overly familiar with the US market (I’ve only visited twice, for a total of just over a week), so I’m relying on the export markets. Pretty much all American beers sold in the UK are, frankly, swill. The same can’t be said for most other country’s exports that I’ve tried - even though they are the mass market stuff. Think Kronenburg, Carlsberg, Leffe, Peroni, etc. Additionally, as far as I’m aware (and please feel free to correct me!), you guys don’t have real ales, or at least they’re not as popular as over here. That’s what I call ‘real beer’! 😛 Let’s remember that this thread is about ‘Perceptions about USA’. These are my perceptions. Are they wrong? Maybe. Am I alone in having them? Certainly not. But in any case, thanks for educating me! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Lord\_Feldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lord_feldon/32/341_2.png) [@Lord\_Feldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lord_Feldon)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2015, 10:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perceptions-about-usa-from-non-americans-that-americans-might-be-surprised-to-learn/719918/246 "2015-05-15T10:02:27Z")
> [@MrDibble](#): > > In none of those instances did anyone else get _more_ votes. It’s _possible_ in those systems, though, because it’s a fundamental aspect of first past the post elections that the winner of the overall popular vote can lose the election. The US is unique in using a body that does _nothing else_, but the winner of the popular vote losing the election isn’t something the US invented. In Canada, if the Liberal Party wins 51% of the vote in 155 ridings and the Conservative Party wins 75% of the vote in 153 ridings (assume there are no other parties), the Liberal Party will have a majority even though the Conservatives got ~62% nationwide. ---
**Author:** ![Uniqueorn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/uniqueorn/32/2807_2.png) [@Uniqueorn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uniqueorn)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2015, 10:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perceptions-about-usa-from-non-americans-that-americans-might-be-surprised-to-learn/719918/247 "2015-05-15T10:04:49Z")
> [@MrDibble](#): > > Isn’t G&B British? It’s UK based, but belongs to Mondelez. And I don’t think it’s especially good. ---
**Author:** ![Scougs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scougs/32/3158_2.png) [@Scougs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scougs)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2015, 11:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perceptions-about-usa-from-non-americans-that-americans-might-be-surprised-to-learn/719918/248 "2015-05-15T11:24:48Z")
> [@Guinastasia](#): > > You’ve never heard of the “designated driver”? Yes, I’ve heard of designated driver, but **my perception about USA as a non-American** - mostly from discussions on this board - is that a lot of people seem to assume that drinking alcohol means you are then going to be driving. Here’s an example thread, where a discussion about a 15 year old sneaking alcohol immediately jumps to drunk driving: [http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=754008](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=754008) That’s just one example - it was kind of hard to search for. ---
**Author:** ![fisha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/da6949/32.png) [@fisha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fisha)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2015, 11:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perceptions-about-usa-from-non-americans-that-americans-might-be-surprised-to-learn/719918/249 "2015-05-15T11:29:17Z")
> [@Procrustus](#): > > Americans view 100 years as a long time and 100 miles as a short distance. \ ---
**Author:** ![AK84](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85e7bf/32.png) [@AK84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AK84)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2015, 11:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perceptions-about-usa-from-non-americans-that-americans-might-be-surprised-to-learn/719918/250 "2015-05-15T11:51:26Z")
> [@Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](#): > > Don’t you mean ridiculously late? Nope. 9 PM is early. (Yes I know a few open longer). In S Asia, and also parts of the Middle East and N Africa, shops typically do not close till after midnight. ---
**Author:** ![JustinC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/justinc/32/8083_2.png) [@JustinC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JustinC)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2015, 11:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perceptions-about-usa-from-non-americans-that-americans-might-be-surprised-to-learn/719918/251 "2015-05-15T11:53:41Z")
Is it so common for USians to have tvs in their bedrooms? Just noticed this on another thread. ---
**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 15, 2015, 11:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perceptions-about-usa-from-non-americans-that-americans-might-be-surprised-to-learn/719918/252 "2015-05-15T11:59:03Z")
> [@Reluctant\_A](#): > > The way that I think the electoral college is operated (and any more well-informed Doper, please feel free to fight my ignorance), whichever candidate wins the raw popular vote in a state is assigned one hundred percent of the electoral votes for that state. It is up to each state to decide how to assign its electoral votes. Maine and Nebraska do it differently. > [@](#): > > I feel as though whoever wins the popular vote for a given district should get the electoral vote for that district, and only that district. 1. You do realize that there are two extra votes to account for. 2. Given that drawing of congressional districts is highly politicized, this has an even greater potential of resulting in the loser of the popular vote winning the electoral college. In the last few election cycles, Democrats running for the House of Representatives overall got more raw votes than Republicans, but because of the way the congressional district are drawn, the Republicans won far more seats. Applying the Maine/Nebraska system to all the states would essentially be guaranteeing a Republican lock on the presidency for the foreseeable future, and many successive elections in which the winner of the popular vote loses the electoral college. ---
**Author:** ![kferr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/71e660/32.png) [@kferr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kferr)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2015, 1:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perceptions-about-usa-from-non-americans-that-americans-might-be-surprised-to-learn/719918/253 "2015-05-15T13:07:16Z")
> [@The\_Angry\_Badger](#): > > Additionally, as far as I’m aware (and please feel free to correct me!), you guys don’t have real ales, or at least they’re not as popular as over here. That’s what I call ‘real beer’! 😛 If you mean the CAMRA definition of real ale, that’s extremely rare in the US. Even brewpubs that are serving straight from the brewery will filter the beer before serving. For those wanting to know what we’re on about: > [@CAMRA](#): > > Real ale is a natural product brewed using traditional ingredients and left to mature in the cask (container) from which it is served in the pub through a process called secondary fermentation. It is this process which makes real ale unique amongst beers and develops the wonderful tastes and aromas which processed beers can never provide. More [here](http://www.camra.org.uk/about-real-ale). ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2015, 1:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perceptions-about-usa-from-non-americans-that-americans-might-be-surprised-to-learn/719918/254 "2015-05-15T13:08:07Z")
> [@JustinC](#): > > Is it so common for USians to have tvs in their bedrooms? Just noticed this on another thread. It’s extremely common. I’m a rare exception . My apartment is 520 sq feet with a very small bedroom. I could mount a TV to the wall , I just prefer to use my iPad in bed ---
**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 15, 2015, 1:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perceptions-about-usa-from-non-americans-that-americans-might-be-surprised-to-learn/719918/255 "2015-05-15T13:11:39Z")
> [@JustinC](#): > > An interesting social etiquette point: When offered an invitation that you’ve chosen not to take; do you decline politely on the spot, accept graciously and then later decline politely, or do you accept graciously with a provision that you may not be able to attend? Declining politely on the spot is usually fine. > [@](#): > > The reason I ask is that my parents, on a trip to the states, got talking with a Texan couple and were offered an invitation to their ranch for a day or two. Dad said, in his usual forthright and honest way, that the summer in Texas (or anywhere hot) was very uncomfortable for him, due to health issues, and they’d, regretfully, have to decline the offer. Their response was not taken very well and they were upset at having seemingly committed a faux pas. I’ve offered to take a few Texans for a drink and always had my offer accepted but several times they’ve later graciously and politely declined due to ‘unforeseen circumstances’ - no problem, they’ve all been very genuine, friendly people. > > To me declining immediately or later are both perfectly fine, if done politely. Is accepting immediately and later offering a ‘rain check’ a Texan thing, a southern thing, a US thing, or an invention of my fevered imagination? I don’t know what was happening here, but it may be the type of excuse that was offered. “I can’t come because it’s too hot” might not have been taken well. ---
**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 15, 2015, 1:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perceptions-about-usa-from-non-americans-that-americans-might-be-surprised-to-learn/719918/256 "2015-05-15T13:13:45Z")
> [@JustinC](#): > > Is it so common for USians to have tvs in their bedrooms? Just noticed this on another thread. It’s not universal, but it’s very common. It wouldn’t surprise me to go to someone’s house and see a TV in every bedroom. It also wouldn’t surprise me to see no TVs in any bedroom. With tablets and other mobile devices becoming common, I suspect that TVs in children’s bedrooms might be on a downswing. ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2015, 1:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perceptions-about-usa-from-non-americans-that-americans-might-be-surprised-to-learn/719918/257 "2015-05-15T13:38:32Z")
> [@Moris](#): > > One of the things about America that really blows my European mind: different laws for the each state. > > In the state _x_ you’re not aloud to turn right on green traffic light; in the state _y_ you don’t need license for carrying a concealed weapon. > > I have no doubt my question is childish and naive, but how do you cope with that? Do you know different sets of laws for each state? What if you need to travel 500 miles to visit your uncle in Idaho? Could you ever play the “sorry officer, I didn’t know” card? Would it be better if all the laws/jurisdictions were unified on a federal level? Like others have said, it’s not usually an issue. Personally, the only time I ever ran afoul of weird state laws is when I tried to fill up with gas in New Jersey, and was told that I was not allowed to pump my own gas (?). Otherwise, the laws are pretty uniform. To explain the reason for the different laws, it’s a consequence of our particular type of Federal system. In our system, the States delegated powers and rights to the Federal government, and not the other way around. So essentially the Federal government only has the powers that the states gave it (subject to some interpretation). Things like traffic, criminal justice, etc… were never Federal to begin with, so each state can have their own version of them, like Louisiana. As for the Texans/Southerners and accept/rain-check, I haven’t heard of that before. In general, it’s considered more polite to politely decline than to do some sort of passive-aggressive accept and decline later thing. And… **JustinC’s** parents should have taken their friends up on the ranch trip; without a doubt, their friends have solid air conditioning and a house set at 70 degrees, lots of iced tea, and probably multiple other heat-mitigation methods. We’re not savages, you know. ---
**Author:** ![JustinC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/justinc/32/8083_2.png) [@JustinC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JustinC)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2015, 1:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perceptions-about-usa-from-non-americans-that-americans-might-be-surprised-to-learn/719918/258 "2015-05-15T13:58:22Z")
> [@dalej42](#): > > It’s extremely common. I’m a rare exception . My apartment is 520 sq feet with a very small bedroom. I could mount a TV to the wall , I just prefer to use my iPad in bed I’ve never seen a large tv in a bedroom, seen a few small ones though. > [@Acsenray](#): > > Declining politely on the spot is usually fine. > I don’t know what was happening here, but it may be the type of excuse that was offered. “I can’t come because it’s too hot” might not have been taken well. Maybe a case of honesty not being the best policy? > [@Acsenray](#): > > It’s not universal, but it’s very common. It wouldn’t surprise me to go to someone’s house and see a TV in every bedroom. It also wouldn’t surprise me to see no TVs in any bedroom. > > With tablets and other mobile devices becoming common, I suspect that TVs in children’s bedrooms might be on a downswing. I expect so, much easier to hide a tablet under the covers at night. > [@bump](#): > > \ > As for the Texans/Southerners and accept/rain-check, I haven’t heard of that before. In general, it’s considered more polite to politely decline than to do some sort of passive-aggressive accept and decline later thing. > > And… **JustinC’s** parents should have taken their friends up on the ranch trip; without a doubt, their friends have solid air conditioning and a house set at 70 degrees, lots of iced tea, and probably multiple other heat-mitigation methods. We’re not savages, you know. Ha ha, _I_ would’ve taken them up on it, the couple said they had a nice big, cool, swimming pool in the back yard, but the parents are old fogies and like to have their holidays planned ‘just so’, including ground floor rooms near the facilities so dad doesn’t have to climb stairs or walk too far. ---
**Author:** ![Urbanredneck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ea5d25/32.png) [@Urbanredneck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Urbanredneck)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2015, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perceptions-about-usa-from-non-americans-that-americans-might-be-surprised-to-learn/719918/259 "2015-05-15T14:33:35Z")
> [@Knorf](#): > > Isn’t the automotive industry already using metric? > > I just checked, and yes it is. Yes and no. For example for a socket wrench the actual socket is in metrics like say 15 mm, but the head it fits on is standard like 1/2 or 1/4 inch. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2015, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perceptions-about-usa-from-non-americans-that-americans-might-be-surprised-to-learn/719918/260 "2015-05-15T14:42:23Z")
> [@Urbanredneck](#): > > Yes and no. For example for a socket wrench the actual socket is in metrics like say 15 mm, but the head it fits on is standard like 1/2 or 1/4 inch. What the hell does that even mean? Either it’s metric or it’s imperial. You might get away with, say, a 13 mm wrench on a half inch bolt but the fit isn’t the same at all. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perceptions-about-usa-from-non-americans-that-americans-might-be-surprised-to-learn/719918.md?page=12) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perceptions-about-usa-from-non-americans-that-americans-might-be-surprised-to-learn/719918.md?page=14)