" In America , do n’t demand multitude how much they paid for this . "
Whether you realize it or not, Americans have a set of “unspoken rules” — things like not cutting people in line and which lane you can use to pass people when driving. Lucky for us, people of theBuzzFeed Communitysharedother American ~rules.~ Here is what some people said.
take down : Some reaction have been edited for duration and/or clarity .
1.“Don’t ask people how much they paid for their house or big purchases.”
2.“Do not show up at people’s houses to visit them without asking them first. Americans will not put up with that. Also, do not call American people late at night unless it’s an emergency.”
— psychicdog393
3.“Unless there isn’t one available, choose a urinal which is not next to one being used.”
4.“Two rules are: get a license for anything you can think of, and do not stay at a table in a restaurant for over an hour.”
— ingridconchaherzig
5.“I was taken to a metropolitan ER by some friends who not only knew how expensive ambulance rides were but also knew they could get me to the ER faster than an ambulance could be called. So after around five hours in that ER, it was determined I was having an aneurysm in my chest.”
" I was transferred to another infirmary in the same city via ambulance ( the conditions was bad , so give thanks God I was not in a helicopter cause that would have been even more expensive ) , but long story short , one 20 - minute ambulance alone ride cost almost two times more than one emergency operating theater at 2 a.m. and two cat scan , six blood transfusions , two magnetic resonance imaging , and a week in the ICU , plus innumerable other procedure / consulting and therapy / labs / tests .
For the book , I have what ’s considered ' really expert insurance ' in the United States , yet this was still the case . Always ask first . I know it ’s tough to see someone suffer and desire to help , but I ’d say if a person has a pulse and can discourse with you , consider admit them yourself . It could save them tens of thousands of dollar bill . "
— katies156
6.“The personal space rules can’t be emphasized enough. Just keep your distance.”
7.“Do NOT attempt to cut the line! I KNOW I was here before you!”
— sleepingtooth38
8.“Don’t ever touch a pregnant person’s belly.”
9.“Don’t touch a cop’s K-9 dog without asking.”
— clairefreeman1
10.“One thing that’s different in America than it was when I lived in Europe is the price of just about everything. Prices listed do NOT include taxes in the U.S., whereas in Europe, they’re included.”
— ellie4me
11.“Those speed limit signs on the road technically indicate the maximum speed you can travel; however, they are practically interpreted to mean the minimum speed you should be traveling.”
12.“My son recently learned how to snap his fingers, and we had to have a talk about how doing so to get someone’s attention is considered rude.”
— chelseajack
13.“We walk on the right side of the sidewalk. The same way we drive.”
— sleepingtruck52
14.“A good rule of thumb, if you’re ever pulled over at night, is to turn on your dome/overhead light and keep both hands on the wheel until the officer is at your window. It shows you have their safety in mind.”
15.“On another note, in the States, asking ‘How are you?’ at the start of a conversation is a social nicety. We don’t actually want an answer beyond a neutral response like ‘fine.’ Now, if you’re asking in the middle of a conversation, and especially if it’s with a friend, that is an invitation to truthfully open up about your life.”
16.“I waitressed for years, and it’s not rude to call your waiter over IF you do it nicely. A simple ‘excuse me’ if they’re nearby will do.'”
— robcummingszombie
