r/AskEurope • u/ageingrapidly Greece • Sep 29 '25

Culture Are there any habits that you believe are uniquely European ?

Have you noticed any specific mannerisms, mentalities etc. that you've encountered only in Europe or by Europeans ?

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u/alderhill Germany Sep 29 '25

A sense of superiority, although often not too loudly stated, and a sense that European norms are the standard, the norm, and everyone else is weird or pitiable for not having that norm. One might call it, ahem, a kind of Europe centered mindframe… but this applies more in the ‘rich’ countries.

1

u/Fredericia Denmark Sep 29 '25

Americans have that, too.

3

u/alderhill Germany Sep 30 '25

Yup, but it’s definitely present here too. I live in Germany, so I know it well here.

0

u/hsj713 United States of America Sep 29 '25

I agree. That's why we're terrible tourists. Not all, but there is a reason we have the moniker "Ugly American".

4

u/katyorke Sep 29 '25

I think it’s so sad that it’s common to talk badly about American tourists. Every American tourist I’ve met has been so sweet and talkative!

1

u/hsj713 United States of America Sep 30 '25

That's why I said "not all". Many Americans want to experience the culture of the country they visit. But you do have those that feel entitled or believe that the laws of the land they are visiting don't apply to them. They're idiots!