American Traditions That Confuse The Rest of the World

Saying "Ma'am"

It used to be a common courtesy to refer to olden women, like teachers, mothers, or grandmothers as "ma'am," but now that seems antiquated and unnecessary. It was a common phrase in the South, but in countries like Europe, "ma'am" hasn't been used in decades. You'll only catch Oliver Twist saying it in the old movies.

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The More You Know

  • Pizza only became popular in the United States after American troops occupying Italy during World War 2 became hooked on it and then popularized it back home.
  • The world's most toxic mineral is cinnabar.
  • In 1993, San Francisco held a referendum over whether a police officer called Bob Geary was allowed to patrol while carrying a ventriloquist’s dummy called Brendan O’Smarty. He was.
  • About 7% of all humans who have ever lived are alive today.
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