AMERICAN Etiquette That BRITS People Don't Understand!

For tipping, I've read it started to help freed blacks during Reconstruction who weren't paid a good wage, & have also heard it started during Prohibition. US'rs see tipping as helping the workers who aren't paid well by their bosses. We don't see it as an injustice, & when wait staff are paid a solid wage, they go where the tipping is b/c they make more money. In the UK, the service IS bad overall, likely b/c of this. I didn't want to be rude, but had work to do, & waited 45 mins 2 days in a row at one hotel b4 the server brought my check (& I said I was in a hurry). Tipping is now "expected" by everyone, w/tip jars everywhere, & it's annoying Everyone, b/c it's Your Job to get us coffee at Starbucks. Restaurants are really "service," & we'd think nothing of 20% (on top of the tax) b/c we're "helping them out." It is an American perspective. Brits & EU'rs see it differently (& you're probably not wrong!). :-)

The kissing thing is very European, as an American of Latino descent I kiss my brothers my dad, my mother and sisters, even co-workers (when appropriate). The shoes thing. . . I think Americans might not have very diligent foot hygiene. . . So you might be opening a can of worms or worse to ask for shoes off. . . I’d be happy to entertain either of you two stateside. Chicago awaits your arrival.

I like to take my shoes off in my house, or anyone else's that doesn't mind that. Just seems cleaner.

I think the small talk is genuinely wanting to get to know you, or breaking uncomfortable silence...

We don't take shoes of indoor as a matter of cultural practice where I'm from. The weather is dry most of they year and most of the places we walk are paved so there is really no reason to.

When I go to the doctor and it is a nice specialist The majority of us in the doctor are elderly. People just start talking to each other they don't know each other from Adam and I find it quite interesting. I've actually learned things and I find them quite amusing sometimes. The best part of all is that they're very open and they actually listen and that well there's nothing better than that. I have been guilty too of being so busy that I don't want to take the time to listen to someone that's talking and following like you mentioned in the video and I have been rather brash just kind of did what Joel did and then I stop and think about it after a bit and I thought you wouldn't want somebody to do that to you why did you do this to that person. Actually I think it just comes with having to survey the situation and do what you feel that you need to do. I am a firm believer that taking a little bit of time and just being kind to someone could actually save someone's life and actually if you really just stop and think about it could we not spare a couple of minutes just to say hello and whatever it is they're talking about give a comment and you can always excuse yourself I would love to stay here talking to you but I'm really in a time crunch but it was really nice talking to you thank you and take your leave and that usually is very kosher.

During a Christmas holiday we had a large family gathering. I was getting kind of tired it was very cold and I wanted to get home so I gave everybody my hugs and kisses goodbye and I started out the door. As I was getting into my vehicle my granddaughter hollered at me and said Wait Grandma and so I paused and she says I have a gift for you. She hands me a small box it was so beautifully wrapped it was cold and she was out there without a jacket and I thanked her and gave her a big hug and told her I loved her and I put the gift on the side of the seat and waited till I got home to open it. It dawned on me when I got home and I opened it and I read the endearment inside the box and saw this beautiful necklace, That maybe I should have opened it in front of her. However I did not and I immediately picked up my phone and texted her and thanked her and to this day I still regret not opening that gift in front of her.

I am like you . When I'm at a restaurant after we finish eating I usually collect all the paper from the straws or whatever and put it on top of the plate That plate will go on the very top of a stack of dishes and I think it's just polite and there is a reason why. You have mentioned several times that waiters work for a very small wage. You are absolutely right they do. The way I look at things is they work hard being a weirder is not an easy job. It takes skill patience and trying to put on a smile in front of some people is I can't possibly tell you grr. Some people are just very hard to please even when you put your best foot forward. Waiting tables is a thankless job. So if I can stack the dishes and everything put it all together where it makes their job that much easier than I will.

That’s crazy you don’t open gifts immediately. I can’t imagine not opening the gift. Even if it’s socks “THANK YOUUU!!”

When you stack the plates for the server please lease all the bottom plates clean, and then all the “rubbish” on the top plate

Chased out with a gun, really? Seriously?

In southern CA, opening or not opening a gift in front of the giver is optional sometimes there ARE times when opening a gift can wait.

The service at Denny's was so bad...

Ive always thought that was just partbof the "Denny's" experience haha

The 50 states of the USA can be so different...loudness and talkativeness vary from state to state, region to region...I was born and raised in New York and I can easily detect someone from the midwest...and I'm sure they can identify a New Yorker just as quickly because we are so different,

I'm an American and I don't like small talk. Always exceptions.

Dude a videio on USA on national parks

I'm sorry, but a gift is meant to be received and opened immediately UNLESS the gift giver specifically indicates to you to open it later. They might tell you this because it is meant to remain private and not shared with any others, may have specific importance that you need time to read/open/assemble or contemplate upon opening for full effect, or you simply do not have time now or it may not be appropriate to stop and open at this time (not to draw attention from the event at hand or another person). But in general, gifts given for housewarmings, baby or wedding showers, Christmas, graduations, and anniversary parties, there usually will be a gift table or area to collect all gifts and a time designated to open and acknowledge ALL gift givers appreciatively.

The act of opening gifts immediately for going away, promotions, new to neighborhood, or other smart party is all about the gift receiver practicing "decorum." Yes, it IS etiquette in polite society, but it's all about being gracious. Having grace, decorum, and a thankful attitude is taught and learned. It is not something that comes naturally and is a sign of the educated, faithful, and having "class." Think about it. Those who go out of their way to entertain you in their home, send greeting cards AND 'Thank You' cards for gifts or even a gesture of thoughtfulness, and thinking about you or remembering one of your preferences in a situation or meal, says alot of the gift giver or receiver.

These days, it says something when anyone doesn't know these things. It speaks to their upbringing and family. It is a direct reflection on them, and it is an indirect reflection on their family name. Don't care? Lack of appreciation. Can't be bothered? Lack of decorum. Rude? Possibly. Best practice is to remember that your focus should be on others, not one's self or shyness. How do you think the other person would feel? Put aside your own feelings of pride, impatience, or ego and take the extra care and consideration to show that you DO care. Although this may seem foreign to the average Brit, look at how your most gracious and late monarch, HM Queen Elizabeth handled receiving of gifts. It depended on the situation. In a rush, she graciously accepted the gift, smiled, thanked the giver and then immediately handed it off to an assistant. But in times where she would be present to be able to receive or chat, she opened the gift, talked about it, sometimes asked questions, maybe even said something funny about herself (she did have such a wonderful sense of humor, didn't she?), smiled, and always thanked the giver regardless if that gift would ever be seen again or not. She was such the epitome of grace and kindness. We can all take a lesson of regency and kindness from her playbook. Indeed, she is sorely missed! Even from this American!!

Miss you guys together. You’re both lovely people. 😊

It depends if ur from the northern Midwest there is no friendliness and it’s great

what ever happened to cloning?? Me and 4 of my friends would love to have one of her!! What a sweetie,,,intelligent, character, gracious, caring, focused, and smiling!!

It’s funny you mentioned shoes off at the door. As an American I grew up very poor (yes, some of us are poor) and we were always going in and out of the house so we just left our shoes on. As an adult I was as in the military for 23 years and it was somewhat normal for us even to sleep with our boots on, we had to be ready to go in a minute’s notice. Now I’m old and retired and I bought my first pair of slippers…gonna give the shoes off at the door a try…no rushing off anywhere now.

Americans are used to small talk and paying nice 😂 dont forget a lot of us never leave the country so we find foreigners genuinely fascinating and we want to talk also shoe stores sometimes have commission and in the US sales is about talking.

Americans like our personal space we are down to chat or shake hands but its creepy to get inside our “bubble” lol

In my region guest shoes come off at the door unless it’s super fancy and people wear expensive shoes they don’t want walked off with..

We do that here in Jersey....I wouldn't say European....mostly Spanish. Not to everyone you see everyday, but with every hug or whoever you haven't seen in a while.

Are you English ethnicity or what? Just curious. You look like you might be Greek or something? I mean your original ancestry. Not sure you can talk about what is typical "UK" if you have the influence of an ethnic background, Greek for example. Taking shoes off inside isn't particularly "English" at all.

Many Americans, myself included, are also annoyed by excessive small talk in shops. A "hello, how are you?" and a bit of banter is OK, but it shouldn't go on and on. Likewise, I've encountered it here in the UK, especially from taxi drivers. They hear my American accent and just want to tell me all about their trip to Disneyworld or Vegas and pepper me with questions about why I live in the UK and how I got here, etc...

How about Brits not using napkins?! Or not putting them on their laps? Or having plastic bottles of drinks on the table at a dinner party? I have seen all of this, a bit vulgar.

You sure don't mind using American technology or making money from our platform. 😂😂😂

If you dont like the U.S.A., dont come back. Crying little 🤡. U Guys are 🗑

Service has become worse since the pandemic. You have to be more patient with the staff because there is a higher turn over since one corporation who holds several chains said in an internal letter, paraphrase here...since inflation you are going to have to be flexible with staff as they will need to get a second or third job to cover cost of living. Now you would think they would just pay them a living wage, no, they expect them to slave themselves to make ends meet.

Seriously? Denny's is a 1 or 2 star restaurant just above fast food. Adjust your expectations and don't be snobby.

These guys are so annoying, are they from the royal family, I doubt it with their $8.00 t shirts.

Pretending to have some wide-eyed fascination in other cultures, when yall are really just low key talking smack. I used to watch yall back when you guys were humble, and it looks like you are both still not self-aware of your character defects. Polite isn't kindness

You should try enjoying yourselves!

My late mother always said don’t leave zero, leave two cents. Here’s why. If you leave zero tip, they may think you forgot. If you leave two cents, they know that you intentionally didn’t tip because of bad service. Maybe it should be two dimes and a nickel with inflation lol. I have done this exactly twice in the 59 years I’ve been alive. The second and most recent time was the worst. I went out with a medium-sized family group, and we did spend several hours there. However, much of it was just eating the fries and garnishes well waiting for my entrée. I was served a teriyaki steak with fries, when had I ordered a regular steak. My sister had ordered another kind of steak, but it wasn’t done well enough. Mine was obvious so I didn’t take a bite out of it, but my sister did take a bite out of hers. She was given a new steak of the kind she had ordered, cooked correctly. I was given her steak, with a bite out of it, cooked a little more, and put on a new plate with new garnishes and more fries beside it. I probably should’ve eaten it, or maybe not, but I like my steak medium rare, and my sister likes her steak well done. in any case, they shouldn’t have given me my sister‘s steak. After I sent it back, they gave me another plate of fries. I never got a steak that day—however, they did give me my no-steak for free! It’s one thing to make a mistake on food twice, but something entirely different to never provide an entrée to a restaurant customer during their visit. That was over 20 years ago, but I deliberately left two cents as the tip.

I can’t even imagine giving someone a gift and them not opening it right away. It would hurt my feelings. And why would the person not like your gift? If you know them well enough to get them a gift, then you should know the kind of things they would enjoy having.

I'm glad they don't like the U.S. we're just people living life. Being judged and critized this much just solidifies that they should just save their money and not travel here. How miserable you both sound.

You two are just horrible people.

I’ve always hated opening gifts in front of people it is so awkward

wow, you guys were really rude! even if your not interested, its just being kind, that’s all.

I think it’s obnoxious to ask people to remove their shoes. I’m a Brit.

You often seem bemused by us colonials in a condescending way.

idk if loud is etiquette but you can prob be louder here lol. it is annoying to hear someone being mad loud on the phone or something though while i'm tryna shop somewhere or something though.

stay away from politics, unless you know the person well.

Are you two alive or dead???, praise lord Jesus Christ forever more amen!!.

Perfectly fine to say that you prefer to shop alone. Ill let you know if I need help.

Clean up after self... utensils will go in a special bin where the trays get stacked, a wash bin or canister with soap and water sometimes.

A lot of people do the kissing thing in America, I think it just depends on your family's traditions. Italian-American families like mine always gave kisses on the cheek.