Things in the United states that don't seem to make as much sence as things done in other Countries?

Question

Examples: Permanent carpet on the floor, which gets very dirty, and almost never replaced or cleaned. In Europe often hard wood floors, with smaller rugs which are removed cleaned and hung up to dry.

Another thing is the bathroom usually has a bidet to be extra clean, this is unheard of in the United states.

Answer 1

Lauren J - What exactly are we supposed learn from these other countries?  We have more freedom in choice.  If you want a bidet, then install one.   Everyone has the choice of Tile, wood, carpet, dirt or whatever kinds of floors they want. You can live in a house, an apartment, or with your parents.  People do things the way they do in America because they want to.  

We've learned from Russian and North Korea that communism is a bad idea.   We 've learned from Canada that government controlled universal health care is a bad idea, but Hillary likes it.  I learned from Iran, Iraq, Saudi Arabia and other muslim countries how nice it is that I have a God that doesn't require that I kill everyone who doesn't believe the same as me.  

I'm tired of the rest of world talking about how bad America is while they are rowing boats across the ocean and swimming the Rio Grande to get in here as fast as they can.  I'm tired of everyone (including Americans) looking at America in disgust when we step up and attempt to deal with WORLD problems and then looking at us like "What are you waiting for?" when we don't.

Answer 2

Get over yourself Ozarks - to say that other cultures do things better is not saying that the US stinks. Why can't we learn from other people, wherever they live or whatever language they speak?

As for the actual answer. How about 5 weeks of holiday a year? Or paid maternity leave? Or air drying clothes (I know some people do it here, but it has definitely fallen out of fashion)? Or extended families living in the same house or different parts of a duplex or triplex (I am sure some here would say that doesn't make ANY sense, but having help around would save a lot of parents from going crazy)? Actually taking coffee breaks away from one's work desk and making it a social time? Don't even get me started on politics (although I don't know if other countries have it any better in some cases) I could go on and on, and I l still love America.

Answer 3

But when other countries are in trouble, it's America that comes to save their sorry asses.  Bidet or no bidet.

Answer 4

You might learn to spell.

What is your question?  Why we Americans do things differently than the rest of the world?  Not sure this is a question for Do it yourself portion of this site.  More along the lines of social behavior and psychology.

For one, I dislike hardwood floors.  They collect dust (as do carpets), they scratch easily (carpets don't), and they are noisy (carpeted rooms are quieter), they are more slippery (carpets give pretty good traction).  To say Americans don't clean or replace carpets seems to place us all in one category.  I use a monster vacuum cleaner, shampoo the carpets monthly, and replace them when we are either redecorating or they become worn.

As for bidets, are you implying that Americans, who shower and bathe a lot more than most of the world, are dirtier because we don't have bidets?  I think most of us would agree that in some European countries, when in crowds, one might get the idea that perfume and cologne seem to replace bathing regularly.  I think most of us want to do our business, clean they way we do, and get on with our lives rather than continue to sit and have a fountain gush our tushes, then have to use a towel to get out of the room.  In fact, perhaps that is why your example of Europeans being "extra clean" seems almost ludicrous.  Those of us who do bathe regularly would be in the majority, compared to Europeans, who have generally experienced a long term water shortage and it seems built into their customs/social behavior that bathing takes water, water is in short supply, so liberally apply the perfume and cologne.