According To Americans, These Are 30 Unwritten Rules That Everyone Should Know About

If you're planning to visit America, it's important that you do your homework on some of the things you should never do.

Jesse

• Published in Interesting
• February 22, 2022

The United States Of America has been a go-to destination for millions of people over the years. International travelers visited the country in record numbers in 2019, bringing it to third place behind only France and Spain as a tourist destination of choice.

There's never a dull moment in the USA, with a unique mix of small-town charm and big-city nightlife, as well as skyscrapers and forested mountains. It's one of the world's most diverse countries.

However, whether we're discussing natural parks or bustling cities, there are some "unwritten rules" that everyone should be aware of to better enjoy their stay in the U.S.

You don't want to find yourself on the wrong side of these unwritten rules and fall afoul of any American customs. This applies to visitors, not just residents — as a result, doing your homework is essential.

Today, we'll be looking at a post on the AskAnAmerican subreddit that encouraged people to share their favorite American customs. It was exciting to see so many people chime in on the topic, and we hope you enjoy our selected responses.

Sit back and relax while we comb through the comments to see if we can find any interesting examples.

1. Don't get sick in America.

2. Never cut in line!

3. Wearing a "Make America Great Again Red Hat" is a bad idea.

4. This particular swear word isn't taken lightly in America. Try not to use it.

5. Never trespass on someone's property. You could be shot on sight.

6. The price you see on the shelf is not what you'll pay, Taxes will be included at the counter.

7. "21 is the Legal Drinking Age. Don't try to convince the bartender that it's 18 back home."

8. Whenever you dine at a sit down/table service restaurant, don't leave without tipping your waiter/waitress. They survive on those tips.

9. Never call a black guy 'boy'

10. "Don't take selfies at memorials honoring the dead."

11. "NEVER pass an unloading school bus."

12. "If you're driving and get pulled over, DO NOT get out of the car."

13. "Don't complain that taxes aren't included in the price."

14. "It’s completely unacceptable to voice your racist opinions in public."

15. There's 330 million Americans, don't generalize ideas.

16. "Treat wildlife with respect."

17. "Don't talk down to people in service industries."

18. "Don't go to dangerous neighborhoods because you saw them on TV."

19. "Americans are really unaccepting of any type of BO."

20. "Pointing is VERY rude!"

21. "The American South is VERY VERY big into politeness and manners."

22. "Don't sit around for hours in a restaurant after eating."

23. Littering is a big no!

24. "If you're a stranger, keep an arms distance when conversing with an American."

25. "Don’t try to make it cross country in a day."

26. "Avoid opening alcohol in public."

27. Cash is always better when paying at restaurants or stores.

28. "If you are driving, don't forget that you can make a right turn on a red light."

29. "We Americans love foreign visitors and we will pepper you with questions."

30. "NEVER stop in the middle of the road."

31. Trying to bribe or cat-calling in public will get you in serious trouble.

Do you know all 30 of these? How many do you break daily in America?

There’s no need to feel bad if you don’t know them all – we all learn as we go. But, it never hurts to brush up on your social etiquette skills!

Who knows, maybe knowing these rules will help you avoid embarrassing faux pas in the future. Are there any other unspoken social rules that you think should be added to this list? Let us know in the comments below!

Jesse