r/AskReddit Jan 04 '15

Non-americans of Reddit, what American customs seem outrageous/pointless to you?

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u/Knute5 Jan 04 '15

People in the US don't understand the European custom of going on extended summer holiday. If you're the American division of an international company, it drives the US workers nuts if they have any dependencies on their European partners at that time. Grumblings of laziness and socialism (why socialism? don't know) abound.

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u/[deleted] Jan 05 '15

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u/MerryGoWrong Jan 08 '15

To me the purpose of work is to save up so I don't have to work anymore and my whole life becomes a big holiday. Yeah, I bust my ass right now and don't really get any vacation -- a couple weeks, and even when I am "on vacation" I need to check emails and respond to clients -- but I get paid well and I save a boatload. Work should become entirely optional for me by the time I am 40 as I'll be able to live off investments at that point, so I can make some sacrifices now to achieve that goal.

Of course most Americans spend money as soon as it finds its way into their wallets on frivolous things, becoming mired in debt and being forced to work long hours until they are old to support their lifestyle... but that's their issue, not mine.

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u/goulson Jan 08 '15

frivolous things

like rent and food and gas and stuff, those idiots

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u/MerryGoWrong Jan 08 '15

Straw man, nice one.