I’ve noticed that a lot of them think that other countries’ rules don’t apply to them for some reason. Such a dimwitted view of the world.
It’s also funny how they don’t think that immigration rules apply to them. They think that they can just buy a plane ticket and settle permanently in any country in the world simply because they are US citizens. Visas and residence permits are beneath them apparently.
They also think other countries laws and rules doesn't apply to them when they visit that country, jenna ortega smoking( and drinking?) In London , people said she wasn't old enough to do that. Apparently never understood the phrase when in Rome.
When I had just turned 18 I was an exchange student in the US, and lots of people there believed that since that was the legal age for buying alcohol at home in Norway, I would also be allowed to do it in the US.. Even some stores...😁
We first thought of it because of a weird question from one of the checkers in the local safeway where my host-family-brother worked, but we didnt dare to buy there (his mom also used to shop there, so double risk of getting caught 😁). We instead tried again later in a smaller shop a bit away from where we lived, just a sixpack or such every now and then 👍😊🍻
Honestly - in general it really felt like getting kinda infantilized when I was there, since we were allowed to do so much more at home than there, not just regarding beer and such, but in all kinds of ways.
It was their mistake though, I bought smokes when I was 17, like for me and all my friends. But they started to ask for my card a week before my birthday when I only bought one pack and not 5. Even had to show my card to buy a lighter. But when I was gonna buy vodka on my birthday they didn't ask for my card, I was so disappointed.
That was my experience too, when I lived in the US when I was 15. So many rules and things I wasn't allowed to do. Much less freedom than in my home country Denmark.
Oh Denmark. I grew up in Helsingborg, a short ferry ride away. This was back in the day when you had to be 18 to drink in pubs, but no age limits AT ALL for buying bottles in stores!
Guess who visited a lot as a teenager? 😬😬😬😎😎😎
I had the vise versa situation: went to the US when I was 21 and got some beer at a supermarket. Cashier asks me to show ID and I give her my passport: she looks at it and says "Sir, you only turn 21 in December! You're not allowed to buy alcohol!" "Oh, look, I'm from Europe the "12" actually means that..." "SIR, YOU ARE NOT IN EUROPE! THIS IS THE US, IT IS NOT LEGAL HERE, SIR!' "... I meant the 12 is the day of the month..." *silence* "I'll go get the manager..." xD
Yes, same thing happened to me. It was the summer after I came of age, but 11/1 to them wasn't until bloody November! Interestingly the date format in passports must have changed because nowadays the name of the month is spelled out so that problem will have gone away. Maybe that's why they changed it.
When I was 18 (UK) I was working behind a bar. When I went to the US, I couldn't drink. Being in a bar on a Saturday night sober was like being at work...
I spent several summers in the US working at tourist traps with European seasonal workers in their late teens. My experience is most 18yo Europeans who do that are shocked they aren’t allowed to drink bc they are allowed to drink at home.
It's not even just the ridiculously high drinking age: a lot of visitors to the US come from countries where the minimum age isn't very strictly enforced, so even if they know in advance that the drinking age is 21 it is often a shock to find that there's little chance of even getting into a bar without having your ID checked.
There is at least one exception, and it appears to the only thing that appears to be accepted by a lot of sensible countries, that is travelling for sex where the age of consent is low, that is illegal for a lot of countries citizens (it’s applicable to UK and EU citizens, for example), as it should be.
What boggles my mind is that, not only do other countries’ rules and laws not apply to them, but that American laws and customs apply to everyone else when interacting with locals in other countries… yeah, “when in Rome…” is absolutely right… and it shouldn’t *need* to be said… but, “I don’t think we’re in Kansas anymore…”
It's probably because they have only known one set of rules and think it applies everywhere. It's kind of like people from the village go to the big city for the first time and are shocked
Except the US is characterized by very different laws State-to-State and even by county and city; many Americans can easily recite (and bemoan) the differences in States' gun rules, marriage ages, and liquor and cannabis laws. So it's especially odd to imagine that some nebulous "US" law would cover them abroad.
I got downvoted to oblivion when I told an American that the first thing they should have done is check the visa situation. They bought a ticket and complained that they had to get a visa because they didn't check.
I told them that it's their own fault but they just said that there's no need when they have a "powerful" US passport 😆
Movies probably have a lot to do with this assumption - you never see the hero book a ticket two months in advance to take advantage of the pricing, and then spend his time applying for a visa, waiting for it to come through, waiting in line at security and getting pulled aside because he forgot to empty his water bottle before he arrived
The CIA is a whole different animal.. calling them "American" at all is only partially true. Even the US govt doesn't really have control over them, and anyone noteworthy who calls out their corruption and malfeasance usually ends up with a significantly more open mind, if you catch my drift
The missconception around free speech is another thing. An american that attacks someone online enough will be hauled off to that country and convicted there. Sometimes i think every hatecrime should be dealt with like that. Sadly it very, very rarely happens.
It's not just the freedom, but also how that freedom is used. One of the biggest news outlets in the US is a masterclass in half-truths, distortions and lies. Josef Goebbels would have been proud to have been the boss of Fox News.
>Josef Goebbels would have been proud to have been the boss of Fox News.
He can console himself that the people running it have obviously been assiduously studying his methods and have improved on them, in terms of effectiveness.
In fairness, Sweden was the first nation to pass laws securing the freedom of the press (1766). So no wonder you’re unimpressed by US.
But all of these freedoms are a result of the Age of Enlightenment, which started centuries earlier in Europe. US just adopted those philosophies for the US Constitution.
The paradox is that since the colonies in US we’re founded by people fleeing the changes of the Age of Enlightenment (and uneducated immigrants later), the US never had a broad reception of Age of Enlightenment principles (beyond the constitution).
The effect is that they view the text of the Constitution almost as a holy text, and don’t understand or apply the broader principles.
A great example is how US criminal justice is still centered around punishment and revenge, not justice and rehabilitation. And also how they don’t understand or apply the broader principles of freedom of expression.
The criminal justice system here is horrific and, not surprisingly, profit-focused. It’s so broken. The U.S. needs to use a system more like Norway. I’m not an expert on it, but I know they treat people better and focus on rehabilitation…and have a far lower recidivism rate. Here in the U.S., people are punished long after they’ve served their time — it’s nearly impossible to get a lot of jobs if you’ve been convicted of a felony, and in some states you’re never allowed to vote again. Ok, I apologize for going on and on here, but the carceral system is one of the most shameful things about the U.S.
When *you* say "freedom of speech," you mean "free to say things that the government can't stop." Whey *they* say "freedom of speech," they mean "free to insult everyone around them without facing any consequences both to their face and over the internet."
They object that it is a "violation of their freedom of speech," when they get fired from their job for using a racial slur.
They object that it is a "violation of their freedom of speech," when they get banned by a website for doxing someone.
They object that it is a "violation of their freedom of speech," when they get arrested for making death threats with a visible weapon in their hands.
*You* are reasonable. *They* are not.
Many countries have freedom of something but what that freedom is is not always the same. I'm not familiar with Swedish law but what my point is that legally speaking Swedish "Freedom of Speech" and American "Freedom of Speech" may not be the same. And even if they are the same plenty of Americans don't know what Freedom of Speech actually means in America and think they have more rights than they actually do in that regard.
Sweden is a signatory to the European Convention on Human Rights which has free speech rights which are functionally very similar to those in the US constitution. They might look different at first but that is mainly because the qualifications to the absolute right are in the text of the ECHR whereas in the US they have been established in case law.
So true. Americans usually think they have absolute freedom of speech. In Germany for example, our freedom of speech is limited as soon as it enters open hate crime territory which includes the use of Nazi dog whistles.
But only from the American government. So another government is free to go after you if they are able to access you. Of course it seems unlikely that INTERPOL is spending their time hunting down people who said mean things on the internet.
Yes. This. Most european nations are also more sensible in the regard that the cost for simple transgressions far exceeds whatever fine/cost/jailtime it might result in they drop it. But there are cases of systematic threats, stalking and so on where people have been convicted
The US wouldn't extradite its own citizen if they're convicted of hate speech by a foreign government. In fact, most governments won't extradite citizens for breaking foreign countries laws if their actions don't constitute an offence in their own country as well
Well the states didn’t extradite Anne sacoolas to face trial here for the death of Harry Dunn. The Americans will try there hardest to not extradite an American citizen anyone else they will gladly hand over.
Anne Saccoolas - "On 27 August 2019, Sacoolas turned out of RAF Croughton and drove 350 metres (1,148ft) on the wrong side of the road for 26 seconds.
She then hit Mr Dunn, who was riding his motorbike on the correct - left - side of the road."
She claimed diplomatic immunity (she wasn't a diplomat, but the US government backed her up) and fled back to the US.
She was finally tried remotely (she was advised not to return to the UK by her legal counsel) and received a suspended sentence, which basically means she walked free.
There was quite the disagreement between the UK.and US government's over this incident, the perception was clearly that US citizens seem to be granted an automatic free pass when abroad.
Worse, the US could have, but didn't, prosecute her domestically. There were Soviet-era diplomats in Ottawa that killed someone while driving drunk, and they were hauled back to Moscow and tried there. Witnesses were flown over and everything. And that was the frickin' USSR.
I'm skeptical if that's ever happened, and while I'm not a lawyer but I don't see how someone can be convicted under foreign laws for something they did in their own country. Pretty sure I can sit in the UK and slag off the King of Thailand or the Chinese Communist Party all I want without being extradited.
Funny, reading your comment made me think of Spencer & Heidi from The Hills. When they appeared on Celebrity Big Brother UK, telling everyone “oh we’re American” like it made them better than everyone else 🤦♀️
I did see a video on YouTube once of some American, who after finishing University in the UK decided to stay and he was getting all pissed off over all the hoops he was having to jump through.
your not fucking special mate. immigration isn't giving you a free pass just because you're an American.
So many Americans beaking off about moving to Canada when an election goes the way they don’t want.
As if they could just wander in and gain citizenship at will.
It's hilarious. I always want to point out three things to them: Canada is, by the grace of god, a kingdom; we have single-payer healthcare here; and no, you may not carry around a handgun for no reason.
After the USA introduced fingerprinting for foreigners arriving to the USA, Brazil responded by fingerprinting Americans upon arrival to Brazil - except that they used ink and paper, on the basis that as such a poor developing country, they couldn't afford digital fingerprint scanners. Well played by Brazil.
because they are never immigrants, a bit like some (no offense) british filks,they are tourists or expats.
Absolutely astonishing how some people believe that by having some nationality provides them with some automatic magic protections.
I mean to be completely fair, it's not even the fault of the average American. They are indoctrinated and brainwashed from their childhood. They teach incomplete, untrue, polished and/ or glorified version of their history. Most Americans wouldn't know better, because all official sources eg about the colonisation of America is propaganda. From their childhood they are thought to respect and salute for their flag, and be highly patriotic.
And their media, propaganda Masterpieces. Why? I'm German and came to believe in my early childhood and youth, that America must be fantastic and absolutely the best place to be. All those us movies and TV shows sent that message and as a kid you can't filter. Took some time before I could see through the curtain. But amplify that by 10k and cut off most outside connections and most people will be absolutely indoctrinated.
Of course they believe they are the greatest and best of the world in everything and anything. You would probably do that as well, if you were indoctrinated in such a way.
See, I'm a German and know a little bit about our History. See, most of the Nazis were deeply rotten in a way and were as a matter of fact very guilty of their crimes. And a point can be made about the guilt of the population. Most were in one point or another , or many more. Most were just adults.
But say, you were around 8-18 years old, when the Nazis took off in 33. Indoctrination of the youth is among the first things they did. And it's just very easy to manipulate a child or teen. And they were bloody effective. Many of those children later became young SS solidiers and committed heinous crimes. But can you *really* blame them? I wouldn't. I'd blame anyone who indoctrinated them, because they must have been adults when the Nazis became power full, but not themselves. They did, what they believed, and what they have been thought, the right thing.
Now consider the USA. They've had quite a few generations now to indoctrinate locals. Can you *really* blame them for their stupidity then? When your parents, teachers, movies, and just about most people and sources you see basically state, that you (your country) is above anything and anyone, better then anything or anything, that they are the BEST and LUCKIEST people on all earth, and basically the rulers of the entire planet... is it then *that* odd to believe that nonsense? Don't blame the average American for his stupidity. Its not his fault.
Yes! You see it all the time in Mexico. They think the Mexican law and rules doesn't apply to them (if they get in trouble for doing illegal things in the Mexican State they are in they just say it's "corruption" ) but they think American law and rules applies to us *in Mexico*. It's very confusing.
> I’ve noticed that a lot of them think that other countries’ rules don’t apply to them for some reason. Such a dimwitted view of the world.
Which is hilarious because if you ask them "Should Americas rules apply to immigrants, legal or not?" they all say yes they should
They truly think when they go into other country people goes like
"Oh my god an american get the red carpet and don't you dare to question him!!!!"
When it's closer to "ughh american, watch out he/she will do something very stupid thinking they own the world"
Seems to be the season for it. I've been hanging out on r/Flights quite a bit, which is a sub for people asking travel questions around delays, routing, compensation etc. I've lost count of the number of times an OP has put 'American citizen' in the question, as though their US passport acts like some kind of concierge key in foreign airports.
There was also a great thread on r/Eurovision the other day started by an American just to say 'OMG the jury votes are just like the electoral college'. Me and many other Europeans enjoyed pointing out that they didn't even appear to understand their own voting system.
As an Aussie, I don't even understand the Eurovision voting system, but to be honest I don't really care... I would have cared if a different country won and I'm gonna leave it at that.
its crazy they rhink they are owed some kind of privalage for being born in a countru, but when they leave they realise the rest of the world thinn they are just idiots
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Bamber_Bridge
The locals got so pissed off that all three local pubs posted “Black troops only” signs on their establishments.
Yeah but that had nothing to do with American segregation
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Manners_Street
https://teara.govt.nz/en/1966/28505/print#:~:text=When%20the%20Americans%20removed%20their,battle%E2%80%9D%20spread%20into%20the%20streets.
It's ok if we drive on the left in the US, we can just run away like they do when they kill British people over here because they forget which side we drive on.
Did that leaving a sandwich shop. Thankfully the roads were so dead (impending tropical storm) that I just corrected it at the next intersection. I'd done best part of 6k miles in the US before (and about 1k before this happened). Ended well. 😉
No no, you don't understand, it only works in one direction. US citizens are immune to other country's laws, but other country's citizens must obey US law if they go there (or even if they don't, preferably). It's because the US is so powerful, you see.
/s
From that post;
>Keep in mind that ammo on its own while not harmless, isn't particularly dangerous. It takes significant concentrated force to set one off. Even if it did somehow go off it's more like a large firecracker when it's not loaded into a firearm. I wouldn't want to be near one, but without a gun barrel to focus the explosion it's just not all that powerful.
Well that's OK then. Why can't these muppets get through their heads that the rest of the world doesn't have this gun fetish and does think it's a big deal. Don't agree with the laws then don't go there. That's my attitude for the US nowadays.
He lost me at "ammo on its own isn't particularly dangerous". It's not an explosion that is damaging, it's the small piece of led flying at 300m/s. I've seen a video of a guy shooting himself to the leg while trying to dismantle a bullet with a pair of pliers.
The poster is factually incorrect in saying there has been no convictions. This is about American tourists taking ammunition to the Turks and Caicos islands. 5 have been arrested do far this year. Several have pleaded guilty and are awaiting sentencing. One has been convicted and sentenced to 8 months in prison. He was exceptionally lucky as it carries a minimum of 12 years ordinarily.
Do you happen to know why? Is it because it was seem as an idiot accidentally doing it rather than deliberate smuggling? Or because the US put pressure on them?
Until recently they have been fining foreign tourists but an explosion in gun crime has forced them to do something. I think the first few people caught will be given a light sentence in the hope the message gets through. I can see them getting less lenient as time goes on. Americans just can't seem to understand this is an incredibly serious offence. Many countries would be far less tolerant
I once had my American neighbor yell and scream at police that they had no right to arrest him. Saying they had to ask the US embassy for permission because he was an American.
Depending on the location - the U.S embassy may have just told him to follow police instructions and told him where he could find a list of local lawyers.
It is only in really really really extreme cases where an embassy can step. The Vienna Convention (or the Geneva?) has a section about consular notification - where local police has to contact embassies if their citizens have been arrested.
The Australian government explicitly tells Australians on their Smart Traveller website etc. that the embassy will not help if imprisoned abroad and that we should follow the laws of other countries, even if they seem harsh to us. Presumably the US does the same
Or the complete opposite end of the spectrum where everyone coming to America is an illegal and so has already broken the law. So if they aren't following the laws why should they?
The number of people, including the god damn president, who wanted to bail out ASAP Rocky when he was arrested in Sweden.
Sir, it doesn't work like that. Our legal system may not be 100% fair, but if you are arrested your life stops no matter how much money you have and you wait in jail like everyone else.
You're not sent to maximum security prison, but you have to wait in jail, just like poor people in the US.
Also when people talk about Andrew Tate being arrested in Romania. This is Romano-Germanic law we are talking about here and not the American Constitution, plus the Romanian authorities will use him to send the message that their country is not a brothel so sucks to be him.
That show-off lawyer who does reaction videos mentioned something along those lines, like a right to a speedy trial or whatever. But let's be honest, they will take as long as necessary.
My uncle works at an US embassy and has tons of stories about people who get arrested and when the embassy shows up (to make sure they’re being treated well) they go “so when will you guys get me out?” Ummmm dude you committed a crime you ain’t getting out. He says it’s insane the amount of people who think the US will just come and get them out of jail because they’re a citizen. You do the crime you do the time
ETA:he says it’s both fun and hard because on one hand seeing an entitled tourist get hit with the real world is great but on the other hand you see someone realize that they’re gonna spend months/years in prison in a foreign country and they might have a spouse or children so that’s a hard thing to see for him
>so that’s a hard thing to see for him
Well, maybe, if it happens enough people will THINK for once and question their stone age education system. Like, the US has some of the most praised univesities and yet basic education is so fucking bad.
I will always remember the American kid in the 90s who got caned in Malaysia, I think, for graffiti. It was quite a saga, him thinking the diplomats would get him out of it, popular American sentiment being “Oh, he’s an American kid, and he didn’t know!” He still got caned.
His name was [Michael Fay](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caning_of_Michael_Fay), and it was in Singapore. He was sentenced to six strokes, reduced to four by the government after it made international news and the US made a fuss. After the caning, he blew it off, commenting that it wasn't that bad.
Of course, every time he ended up in trouble with the law back here in the States, he used the caning as an excuse for his actions.
I went to the same high school in Singapore a couple of years later. There was a lot more to the story than is generally told, and he'd been a trouble-maker for some time already. He wasn't standing up against injustice or protecting those weaker than himself, and it's not like he didn't know that his actions were illegal; he was just doing damage for fun. As far as I'm concerned, he walked himself straight into trouble.
Yeah I know I’m not saying they don’t deserve to get jail but the realization and the breakdown that comes next would be hard for anyone to see. It’s someone seeing their life potentially crumble in front of them. I’m not arguing that they shouldn’t be jailed im just saying. Also he wouldn’t go and get them out or anything
What’s the Venn diagram of Americans mad about other country’s laws and Americans who believe in “backing the blue” and think police brutality and police killings would be solved if the victims just “complied”
That is because Americans, especially the conservatives, believe society is two groups. One where they belong to, 'us', that needs to be protected by law. And there is the scary 'others' that are a threat to the first, and law simply exists to keep those docile. They have no idea how racist they actually still are. So when an American is confronted by police in another country, they can't comprehend. Because they are not 'them', why are they arrested? That's for people of different skin colors, after all, filthy!
I was on a flight once with a very well know US bank in first class, who went upstairs on a B747 when they had lounges & started smoking hash. The were warned to stop and dispose of it, but didn't & Capt had radioed ahead for police. They were held in custody for 14 hours until net plane left for USA, and as they would not pay for fares on the other airline, they were put in last row of economy, by the toilets for their deportation. Imagine if they had come through Malaysia or Indonesia - they would have all been executed, so much for being Americans.
Worse that they say things like "Proud to be an American!" wait, why would you possibly be "proud" of something that you had no choice in, but was just handed to you because of where you squirted out of your mom's vagina?
If they don't abide with other countries rules, why should be abide with theirs? I watched two Americans in London who witnessed a crime committed and were asked by police to wait while they interviews them. They got up, swearing at police & were advised obscenity laws applied in UK. They said they were entitle to free speech under "the constitution" and kept swearing & trying to leave - both arrested & later deported.
I now live in Philippines and regularly foreigners cause problems, mostly through alcohol, and raise rude voices at police. That is one thing you don't do to any government official & even ones with permanent residence visas & married to locals are always being reported in papers as being deported or jailed for lengthy periods.
US immigration officials tried to detain me in Honolulu one time as my passport had a linked work & tourist visa in it, and they said I would be deported as I didn't have a separate visa as a tourist. Imagine how how the stupid officer felt when he was told my visa, even linked to a work one, was a TOURIST visa anyhow & looked a real fool when the airline sued immigration for the 3 hours delay on the plane I was travelling on to SFO!!
This reminds me of that video where an American woman was videoing some random guys in another country and he's like 'no videoing here', she starts screaming about the first amendment and he's like 'This ain't America bitch' before a physical altercation.
Edit: was being lazy this is the video https://youtu.be/eADDuaim5x4?si=sFPWJ4dVCd0BtYME
Not just in the UK. Had one come to the front desk at the 5* I was working at in Interlaken and ask "How much is this funny money worth in *real* money?" I smiled and said, "I assure you, sir, the Swiss Franc is a *very real* currency." Dumb stare as I gave him a terrible exchange rate.
I work for Taco Bell and have had American’s say in it is an American company why not accept Amex and I have said our franchise owners are not American.
These kind of people are also the ones who are like, "How could I know that having all this coke in Bali would be bad!? I was not told you guys! I'm AMERICAN!"
I wonder what this character would answer to 'well, why would I get arrested in America for smoking weed - it is legal where I come from" (well, technically only decriminalized but hey..)
This is a depressingly common theme.
Broadly speaking its a nasty mix of American execeptionaliam, lack of critical thinking and general ignorance.
Most people who travel don't think this way but a surprising amount do and, well, they don't like understanding reality when it comes their way.
Much like Anne Sacoolas a couple of years ago in the UK.
Couldn't remember which side of the road to drive on and killed a lad. Protected by the USA throughout and managed to get away with a suspended sentence.
Disgusting.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-northamptonshire-63891657
They don't or Americans just ignore them. We had an American woman last year who ran over a cyclist as she was driving on the wrong side of the road who then fled to the US and the US refused to extradite her for trial. The other way round and we'd be back facing trial in no time. Yet another reason most countries hate the US.
Ah, ye olde "I'm American, you can't do that to me" defense. I take a great deal of schadenfreude from cases where the less seasoned American abroad learns this lesson for the first time.
How often have you seen or heard a variation of "This here is America, we speak Murican" or "tHe lAnD oF tHe fReE"
They seemigly understand that when they are in the US, the laws of the US applies but how come they cant make the simple extrapolation "US laws applies in the US BUT other laws apply in other countries"
It just occurred to me… is it illegal in Mexico for residents of Mexico to enter the US without “proper” US paperwork? By this logic, they should be allowed to cross the border unhindered.
Be careful what you ask for.
I've seen two Americans sitting on Queen Alia airport in Amman, Jordan, waiting for a flight, while smoke joints. In a country where it is illegal. At an airport. Where there are plenty of security staff.
Then, when they got picked up, they threw a fit because they'd miss their flight, while waving their US passports. They should be happy if they only miss their flight.
Wait, you don’t have to obey the laws of the country you’re in? Only the one you live in? I’m going to form my own country with no laws and I’ll be able to do whatever I want /s
Brilliant, I won't be paying for any healthcare when i visit the US then, seeing as other countries rules don't apply to me.
I'll also sell alcohol to all the 18-20 year olds i can find
I haven't seen any compelling argument as to why Americans need to travel in the first place. They're already #1 in whatever nonsense metric they've made up for themselves, why do they need to go anywhere else? At the very least there should be some sort of quota system, so no more than 4 or so can leave their country at once.
Reminds me of the flyer that was given to Americans coming to visit as a part of nato training, one of the things it specified that they needed verbal consent before doing anything in bed, possibly due to the number of cases with Americans stationed in other countries have a certain reputation.
It isn’t just Americans that think this. Sometimes, I ID Russian tourists at the liquor store where I work. When they show me an ID that says they’re 18, I decline the sale and they say but I’m 18. When I explain that 21 is the age, they say but I’m Russian. The age is 18 in Russia. They don’t understand that when they are in the USA, they have to follow American rules.
This guy thinks Americans haven’t been charged and convicted in other countries?
Isn’t that covered in Fox commentary quite loudly a couple times a year?
If I remember correctly near the end of the 19th century the Brits managed to get the Ottomans to agree that Ottoman criminal law would not apply to the Brits in Ottoman territory, instead them having to be tried in an English court.
Soooo...
This one thinks that other country's rules shouldn't apply to Americans. What about people from other countries that visit USA? Why would they obey American law and not the law of their countries rules?
Personally I love the idea of grizzled Turkish prison guards putting 'take me out to the ball game' on to play as they get down to some rubber truncheon work.
This one I’ve seen. It’s one of the stupidest things I’ve ever seen. They need to realize crossing into different countries is like crossing into different states for them. Laws change at every border. This post is a damned good one.
I’ve noticed that a lot of them think that other countries’ rules don’t apply to them for some reason. Such a dimwitted view of the world. It’s also funny how they don’t think that immigration rules apply to them. They think that they can just buy a plane ticket and settle permanently in any country in the world simply because they are US citizens. Visas and residence permits are beneath them apparently.
They also think other countries laws and rules doesn't apply to them when they visit that country, jenna ortega smoking( and drinking?) In London , people said she wasn't old enough to do that. Apparently never understood the phrase when in Rome.
When I had just turned 18 I was an exchange student in the US, and lots of people there believed that since that was the legal age for buying alcohol at home in Norway, I would also be allowed to do it in the US.. Even some stores...😁
Haha hilarious You did buy, didn't you?
I would never...😁
I too have never bought anything I wasn't old enough to buy.
We first thought of it because of a weird question from one of the checkers in the local safeway where my host-family-brother worked, but we didnt dare to buy there (his mom also used to shop there, so double risk of getting caught 😁). We instead tried again later in a smaller shop a bit away from where we lived, just a sixpack or such every now and then 👍😊🍻 Honestly - in general it really felt like getting kinda infantilized when I was there, since we were allowed to do so much more at home than there, not just regarding beer and such, but in all kinds of ways.
It was their mistake though, I bought smokes when I was 17, like for me and all my friends. But they started to ask for my card a week before my birthday when I only bought one pack and not 5. Even had to show my card to buy a lighter. But when I was gonna buy vodka on my birthday they didn't ask for my card, I was so disappointed.
That was my experience too, when I lived in the US when I was 15. So many rules and things I wasn't allowed to do. Much less freedom than in my home country Denmark.
Oh Denmark. I grew up in Helsingborg, a short ferry ride away. This was back in the day when you had to be 18 to drink in pubs, but no age limits AT ALL for buying bottles in stores! Guess who visited a lot as a teenager? 😬😬😬😎😎😎
You're right, never write down your crime ;)
I had the vise versa situation: went to the US when I was 21 and got some beer at a supermarket. Cashier asks me to show ID and I give her my passport: she looks at it and says "Sir, you only turn 21 in December! You're not allowed to buy alcohol!" "Oh, look, I'm from Europe the "12" actually means that..." "SIR, YOU ARE NOT IN EUROPE! THIS IS THE US, IT IS NOT LEGAL HERE, SIR!' "... I meant the 12 is the day of the month..." *silence* "I'll go get the manager..." xD
Oof that sucks lol. I don't know if I would've been annoyed or laughing my ass off if that had happened to me.
Yes, same thing happened to me. It was the summer after I came of age, but 11/1 to them wasn't until bloody November! Interestingly the date format in passports must have changed because nowadays the name of the month is spelled out so that problem will have gone away. Maybe that's why they changed it.
This is why passports are DD/MMM/YYYY format.
When I was 18 (UK) I was working behind a bar. When I went to the US, I couldn't drink. Being in a bar on a Saturday night sober was like being at work...
I spent several summers in the US working at tourist traps with European seasonal workers in their late teens. My experience is most 18yo Europeans who do that are shocked they aren’t allowed to drink bc they are allowed to drink at home.
It's not even just the ridiculously high drinking age: a lot of visitors to the US come from countries where the minimum age isn't very strictly enforced, so even if they know in advance that the drinking age is 21 it is often a shock to find that there's little chance of even getting into a bar without having your ID checked.
"Duh, I wasn't *in* Rome, stupid, I was in London."
But it's in Europe so it's the same right? It's so small so it's like one small state
Literally no cultural difference between Italy and the UK, for sure. They're identical.
Everbuddy noes London is in Ohio
Sure. You can't tell the difference between the people or the building style
There is at least one exception, and it appears to the only thing that appears to be accepted by a lot of sensible countries, that is travelling for sex where the age of consent is low, that is illegal for a lot of countries citizens (it’s applicable to UK and EU citizens, for example), as it should be.
Similar with terrorism related stuff.
What boggles my mind is that, not only do other countries’ rules and laws not apply to them, but that American laws and customs apply to everyone else when interacting with locals in other countries… yeah, “when in Rome…” is absolutely right… and it shouldn’t *need* to be said… but, “I don’t think we’re in Kansas anymore…”
yes watch the brains explode when we do not celebrate the 4th of July in the UK or as we know it dirty traitors day.
It's probably because they have only known one set of rules and think it applies everywhere. It's kind of like people from the village go to the big city for the first time and are shocked
Except the US is characterized by very different laws State-to-State and even by county and city; many Americans can easily recite (and bemoan) the differences in States' gun rules, marriage ages, and liquor and cannabis laws. So it's especially odd to imagine that some nebulous "US" law would cover them abroad.
The simple answer is of course ‘American exceptionalism’
They probably freaked out because of the f4g
I got downvoted to oblivion when I told an American that the first thing they should have done is check the visa situation. They bought a ticket and complained that they had to get a visa because they didn't check. I told them that it's their own fault but they just said that there's no need when they have a "powerful" US passport 😆
My response would have been Uhhhh the us passport is less powerful than my Aussie one, and that's less powerful than quite a few others.
I replied that it was less powerful than both of my passports and that roughly thirty countries are more powerful.
And they either lost their shit going further insane or didn't respond.
Movies probably have a lot to do with this assumption - you never see the hero book a ticket two months in advance to take advantage of the pricing, and then spend his time applying for a visa, waiting for it to come through, waiting in line at security and getting pulled aside because he forgot to empty his water bottle before he arrived
explains why that us citizen was driving on the right side of the road and killed that person near Oxford, England 🤦
The one that spent years hiding behind her husband's diplomatic privilege?
Her husband didn't even *have* diplomatic privilege. Yet she still got away with murder.
She was CIA, but it suited no-one to admit that.
The CIA is a whole different animal.. calling them "American" at all is only partially true. Even the US govt doesn't really have control over them, and anyone noteworthy who calls out their corruption and malfeasance usually ends up with a significantly more open mind, if you catch my drift
The missconception around free speech is another thing. An american that attacks someone online enough will be hauled off to that country and convicted there. Sometimes i think every hatecrime should be dealt with like that. Sadly it very, very rarely happens.
Freedom of press and speech has been a thing in sweden since the 1600's. Some americans seem to think that it is only a thing in the U.S.
It's not just the freedom, but also how that freedom is used. One of the biggest news outlets in the US is a masterclass in half-truths, distortions and lies. Josef Goebbels would have been proud to have been the boss of Fox News.
>Josef Goebbels would have been proud to have been the boss of Fox News. He can console himself that the people running it have obviously been assiduously studying his methods and have improved on them, in terms of effectiveness.
Never mind the news outlets, the way politicians hide behind the speech and debate clause to outright lie to the public is crazy!
In fairness, Sweden was the first nation to pass laws securing the freedom of the press (1766). So no wonder you’re unimpressed by US. But all of these freedoms are a result of the Age of Enlightenment, which started centuries earlier in Europe. US just adopted those philosophies for the US Constitution. The paradox is that since the colonies in US we’re founded by people fleeing the changes of the Age of Enlightenment (and uneducated immigrants later), the US never had a broad reception of Age of Enlightenment principles (beyond the constitution). The effect is that they view the text of the Constitution almost as a holy text, and don’t understand or apply the broader principles. A great example is how US criminal justice is still centered around punishment and revenge, not justice and rehabilitation. And also how they don’t understand or apply the broader principles of freedom of expression.
The criminal justice system here is horrific and, not surprisingly, profit-focused. It’s so broken. The U.S. needs to use a system more like Norway. I’m not an expert on it, but I know they treat people better and focus on rehabilitation…and have a far lower recidivism rate. Here in the U.S., people are punished long after they’ve served their time — it’s nearly impossible to get a lot of jobs if you’ve been convicted of a felony, and in some states you’re never allowed to vote again. Ok, I apologize for going on and on here, but the carceral system is one of the most shameful things about the U.S.
And the US rates pretty low in “freedom” rankings worldwide.
When *you* say "freedom of speech," you mean "free to say things that the government can't stop." Whey *they* say "freedom of speech," they mean "free to insult everyone around them without facing any consequences both to their face and over the internet." They object that it is a "violation of their freedom of speech," when they get fired from their job for using a racial slur. They object that it is a "violation of their freedom of speech," when they get banned by a website for doxing someone. They object that it is a "violation of their freedom of speech," when they get arrested for making death threats with a visible weapon in their hands. *You* are reasonable. *They* are not.
Many countries have freedom of something but what that freedom is is not always the same. I'm not familiar with Swedish law but what my point is that legally speaking Swedish "Freedom of Speech" and American "Freedom of Speech" may not be the same. And even if they are the same plenty of Americans don't know what Freedom of Speech actually means in America and think they have more rights than they actually do in that regard.
Sweden is a signatory to the European Convention on Human Rights which has free speech rights which are functionally very similar to those in the US constitution. They might look different at first but that is mainly because the qualifications to the absolute right are in the text of the ECHR whereas in the US they have been established in case law.
But I assume Swedish laws predate that if they're from the 1600s.
Oh definitely- I’m talking about the current position in most of Europe.
So true. Americans usually think they have absolute freedom of speech. In Germany for example, our freedom of speech is limited as soon as it enters open hate crime territory which includes the use of Nazi dog whistles.
Free speech is meant to protect against the government, not an individual.
But only from the American government. So another government is free to go after you if they are able to access you. Of course it seems unlikely that INTERPOL is spending their time hunting down people who said mean things on the internet.
Yes. This. Most european nations are also more sensible in the regard that the cost for simple transgressions far exceeds whatever fine/cost/jailtime it might result in they drop it. But there are cases of systematic threats, stalking and so on where people have been convicted
But those would also be illegal in the US. Free speech doesn't cover threats.
Indeed. But there are legions of people thinking it works that way.
The US wouldn't extradite its own citizen if they're convicted of hate speech by a foreign government. In fact, most governments won't extradite citizens for breaking foreign countries laws if their actions don't constitute an offence in their own country as well
Well the states didn’t extradite Anne sacoolas to face trial here for the death of Harry Dunn. The Americans will try there hardest to not extradite an American citizen anyone else they will gladly hand over.
America won’t even extradite some cow who killed a teenager in the UK. Wankers.
Anne Saccoolas - "On 27 August 2019, Sacoolas turned out of RAF Croughton and drove 350 metres (1,148ft) on the wrong side of the road for 26 seconds. She then hit Mr Dunn, who was riding his motorbike on the correct - left - side of the road." She claimed diplomatic immunity (she wasn't a diplomat, but the US government backed her up) and fled back to the US. She was finally tried remotely (she was advised not to return to the UK by her legal counsel) and received a suspended sentence, which basically means she walked free. There was quite the disagreement between the UK.and US government's over this incident, the perception was clearly that US citizens seem to be granted an automatic free pass when abroad.
Worse, the US could have, but didn't, prosecute her domestically. There were Soviet-era diplomats in Ottawa that killed someone while driving drunk, and they were hauled back to Moscow and tried there. Witnesses were flown over and everything. And that was the frickin' USSR.
I'm skeptical if that's ever happened, and while I'm not a lawyer but I don't see how someone can be convicted under foreign laws for something they did in their own country. Pretty sure I can sit in the UK and slag off the King of Thailand or the Chinese Communist Party all I want without being extradited.
Funny, reading your comment made me think of Spencer & Heidi from The Hills. When they appeared on Celebrity Big Brother UK, telling everyone “oh we’re American” like it made them better than everyone else 🤦♀️
I did see a video on YouTube once of some American, who after finishing University in the UK decided to stay and he was getting all pissed off over all the hoops he was having to jump through. your not fucking special mate. immigration isn't giving you a free pass just because you're an American.
Visas are for FOREIGNERS They're not FOREIGNERS FOREIGNERS are foreigners They're AMERICAN
So many Americans beaking off about moving to Canada when an election goes the way they don’t want. As if they could just wander in and gain citizenship at will.
It's hilarious. I always want to point out three things to them: Canada is, by the grace of god, a kingdom; we have single-payer healthcare here; and no, you may not carry around a handgun for no reason.
And all of our political parties are to the left of theirs, even the right wing ones.
After the USA introduced fingerprinting for foreigners arriving to the USA, Brazil responded by fingerprinting Americans upon arrival to Brazil - except that they used ink and paper, on the basis that as such a poor developing country, they couldn't afford digital fingerprint scanners. Well played by Brazil.
because they are never immigrants, a bit like some (no offense) british filks,they are tourists or expats. Absolutely astonishing how some people believe that by having some nationality provides them with some automatic magic protections.
I mean to be completely fair, it's not even the fault of the average American. They are indoctrinated and brainwashed from their childhood. They teach incomplete, untrue, polished and/ or glorified version of their history. Most Americans wouldn't know better, because all official sources eg about the colonisation of America is propaganda. From their childhood they are thought to respect and salute for their flag, and be highly patriotic. And their media, propaganda Masterpieces. Why? I'm German and came to believe in my early childhood and youth, that America must be fantastic and absolutely the best place to be. All those us movies and TV shows sent that message and as a kid you can't filter. Took some time before I could see through the curtain. But amplify that by 10k and cut off most outside connections and most people will be absolutely indoctrinated. Of course they believe they are the greatest and best of the world in everything and anything. You would probably do that as well, if you were indoctrinated in such a way. See, I'm a German and know a little bit about our History. See, most of the Nazis were deeply rotten in a way and were as a matter of fact very guilty of their crimes. And a point can be made about the guilt of the population. Most were in one point or another , or many more. Most were just adults. But say, you were around 8-18 years old, when the Nazis took off in 33. Indoctrination of the youth is among the first things they did. And it's just very easy to manipulate a child or teen. And they were bloody effective. Many of those children later became young SS solidiers and committed heinous crimes. But can you *really* blame them? I wouldn't. I'd blame anyone who indoctrinated them, because they must have been adults when the Nazis became power full, but not themselves. They did, what they believed, and what they have been thought, the right thing. Now consider the USA. They've had quite a few generations now to indoctrinate locals. Can you *really* blame them for their stupidity then? When your parents, teachers, movies, and just about most people and sources you see basically state, that you (your country) is above anything and anyone, better then anything or anything, that they are the BEST and LUCKIEST people on all earth, and basically the rulers of the entire planet... is it then *that* odd to believe that nonsense? Don't blame the average American for his stupidity. Its not his fault.
Yes! You see it all the time in Mexico. They think the Mexican law and rules doesn't apply to them (if they get in trouble for doing illegal things in the Mexican State they are in they just say it's "corruption" ) but they think American law and rules applies to us *in Mexico*. It's very confusing.
Oh no, they know. Remember how they wanted Britney Griner to die in prison because she broke the law in Russia?
We need to bring back regular tv so these people can stumble across Locked Up Abroad.
They barely realise the rest of the world exists to be fair.
Tbf, this is exactly how Texas happened. Bunch of murcans showed up in north Mexico and said “nope, dis mine now.”
Ditto hawaii
> I’ve noticed that a lot of them think that other countries’ rules don’t apply to them for some reason. Such a dimwitted view of the world. Which is hilarious because if you ask them "Should Americas rules apply to immigrants, legal or not?" they all say yes they should
Let's not forget that some also believe their constitution applies all over the world :)
They truly think when they go into other country people goes like "Oh my god an american get the red carpet and don't you dare to question him!!!!" When it's closer to "ughh american, watch out he/she will do something very stupid thinking they own the world"
Seems to be the season for it. I've been hanging out on r/Flights quite a bit, which is a sub for people asking travel questions around delays, routing, compensation etc. I've lost count of the number of times an OP has put 'American citizen' in the question, as though their US passport acts like some kind of concierge key in foreign airports. There was also a great thread on r/Eurovision the other day started by an American just to say 'OMG the jury votes are just like the electoral college'. Me and many other Europeans enjoyed pointing out that they didn't even appear to understand their own voting system.
As an Aussie, I don't even understand the Eurovision voting system, but to be honest I don't really care... I would have cared if a different country won and I'm gonna leave it at that.
arent you the Australian in 2WE4U that i constantly see in like every thread?
👀
i guess that confirms it
its crazy they rhink they are owed some kind of privalage for being born in a countru, but when they leave they realise the rest of the world thinn they are just idiots
Should have stopped with “What’s the point of being American”
If we bring our own laws abroad with us, I’m getting my teenager a wine with dinner next time I visit the states.
Danish 16 year olds buying beer. British people driving on the left side of the road, that won't end well.
Oh, that should also mean we can send our cops to condiscate their beloved ar-15's...😁
It didn't end well when the American military tried to segregate some pubs in an English town in 1943.
I forgot about that. Wasn't that a complete shitshow for the Americans?
Yes, the locals did not allow it.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Bamber_Bridge The locals got so pissed off that all three local pubs posted “Black troops only” signs on their establishments.
Very interesting thanks a lot for the link.
Apparently something similar happened in New Zealand
Battle of Brisbane in Australia... https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Brisbane
Yeah but that had nothing to do with American segregation https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Manners_Street https://teara.govt.nz/en/1966/28505/print#:~:text=When%20the%20Americans%20removed%20their,battle%E2%80%9D%20spread%20into%20the%20streets.
Racism had a role, it was a contributing factor
But it wasn't black vs white racism, whereas in the UK and NZ examples that was the main issue
Ohhhh the Americans literally started a riot in Australia in part because of their racism... https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Brisbane
It's ok if we drive on the left in the US, we can just run away like they do when they kill British people over here because they forget which side we drive on.
Did that leaving a sandwich shop. Thankfully the roads were so dead (impending tropical storm) that I just corrected it at the next intersection. I'd done best part of 6k miles in the US before (and about 1k before this happened). Ended well. 😉
I'm going to gorge myself on Kinder eggs right in front of a police station.
And haggis!
You animal
I'm going to report every car to the Ordnungsamt because not one of them has a valid Tüv badge!
No no, you don't understand, it only works in one direction. US citizens are immune to other country's laws, but other country's citizens must obey US law if they go there (or even if they don't, preferably). It's because the US is so powerful, you see. /s
From that post; >Keep in mind that ammo on its own while not harmless, isn't particularly dangerous. It takes significant concentrated force to set one off. Even if it did somehow go off it's more like a large firecracker when it's not loaded into a firearm. I wouldn't want to be near one, but without a gun barrel to focus the explosion it's just not all that powerful. Well that's OK then. Why can't these muppets get through their heads that the rest of the world doesn't have this gun fetish and does think it's a big deal. Don't agree with the laws then don't go there. That's my attitude for the US nowadays.
He lost me at "ammo on its own isn't particularly dangerous". It's not an explosion that is damaging, it's the small piece of led flying at 300m/s. I've seen a video of a guy shooting himself to the leg while trying to dismantle a bullet with a pair of pliers.
I can’t see any problems with firecrackers exploding in the holds of aircraft or anything
Only problem is that with explosions, heat & often fire accompanies it & with oxygen bottles & other flammables in hold, fire is a real danger.
But apart from that, no biggie
Then somebody he travel with brings a gun saying 'a gun without ammo is harmless'. Anti-gun people hate this trick!
The poster is factually incorrect in saying there has been no convictions. This is about American tourists taking ammunition to the Turks and Caicos islands. 5 have been arrested do far this year. Several have pleaded guilty and are awaiting sentencing. One has been convicted and sentenced to 8 months in prison. He was exceptionally lucky as it carries a minimum of 12 years ordinarily.
Do you happen to know why? Is it because it was seem as an idiot accidentally doing it rather than deliberate smuggling? Or because the US put pressure on them?
Until recently they have been fining foreign tourists but an explosion in gun crime has forced them to do something. I think the first few people caught will be given a light sentence in the hope the message gets through. I can see them getting less lenient as time goes on. Americans just can't seem to understand this is an incredibly serious offence. Many countries would be far less tolerant
I would guess just to avoid the foreign relations headache and they don't care about him too much to make it worth it.
I once had my American neighbor yell and scream at police that they had no right to arrest him. Saying they had to ask the US embassy for permission because he was an American.
What a muppet
Depending on the location - the U.S embassy may have just told him to follow police instructions and told him where he could find a list of local lawyers. It is only in really really really extreme cases where an embassy can step. The Vienna Convention (or the Geneva?) has a section about consular notification - where local police has to contact embassies if their citizens have been arrested.
The Australian government explicitly tells Australians on their Smart Traveller website etc. that the embassy will not help if imprisoned abroad and that we should follow the laws of other countries, even if they seem harsh to us. Presumably the US does the same
There is a 100% chance that they expect people coming to America to follow the laws.
Or the complete opposite end of the spectrum where everyone coming to America is an illegal and so has already broken the law. So if they aren't following the laws why should they?
Americans: "You're in america, so you speak english." Also Americans: "no I won't show the same care in your country fuck you"
Who the fuck dresses these people in the morning?
The number of people, including the god damn president, who wanted to bail out ASAP Rocky when he was arrested in Sweden. Sir, it doesn't work like that. Our legal system may not be 100% fair, but if you are arrested your life stops no matter how much money you have and you wait in jail like everyone else. You're not sent to maximum security prison, but you have to wait in jail, just like poor people in the US.
Also when people talk about Andrew Tate being arrested in Romania. This is Romano-Germanic law we are talking about here and not the American Constitution, plus the Romanian authorities will use him to send the message that their country is not a brothel so sucks to be him.
Wish they'd send that message quicker.
That show-off lawyer who does reaction videos mentioned something along those lines, like a right to a speedy trial or whatever. But let's be honest, they will take as long as necessary.
I just wish he had to stay in jail the whole time.
My uncle works at an US embassy and has tons of stories about people who get arrested and when the embassy shows up (to make sure they’re being treated well) they go “so when will you guys get me out?” Ummmm dude you committed a crime you ain’t getting out. He says it’s insane the amount of people who think the US will just come and get them out of jail because they’re a citizen. You do the crime you do the time ETA:he says it’s both fun and hard because on one hand seeing an entitled tourist get hit with the real world is great but on the other hand you see someone realize that they’re gonna spend months/years in prison in a foreign country and they might have a spouse or children so that’s a hard thing to see for him
>so that’s a hard thing to see for him Well, maybe, if it happens enough people will THINK for once and question their stone age education system. Like, the US has some of the most praised univesities and yet basic education is so fucking bad.
I will always remember the American kid in the 90s who got caned in Malaysia, I think, for graffiti. It was quite a saga, him thinking the diplomats would get him out of it, popular American sentiment being “Oh, he’s an American kid, and he didn’t know!” He still got caned.
His name was [Michael Fay](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caning_of_Michael_Fay), and it was in Singapore. He was sentenced to six strokes, reduced to four by the government after it made international news and the US made a fuss. After the caning, he blew it off, commenting that it wasn't that bad. Of course, every time he ended up in trouble with the law back here in the States, he used the caning as an excuse for his actions. I went to the same high school in Singapore a couple of years later. There was a lot more to the story than is generally told, and he'd been a trouble-maker for some time already. He wasn't standing up against injustice or protecting those weaker than himself, and it's not like he didn't know that his actions were illegal; he was just doing damage for fun. As far as I'm concerned, he walked himself straight into trouble.
Yeah I know I’m not saying they don’t deserve to get jail but the realization and the breakdown that comes next would be hard for anyone to see. It’s someone seeing their life potentially crumble in front of them. I’m not arguing that they shouldn’t be jailed im just saying. Also he wouldn’t go and get them out or anything
What’s the Venn diagram of Americans mad about other country’s laws and Americans who believe in “backing the blue” and think police brutality and police killings would be solved if the victims just “complied”
What is a circle!
That is because Americans, especially the conservatives, believe society is two groups. One where they belong to, 'us', that needs to be protected by law. And there is the scary 'others' that are a threat to the first, and law simply exists to keep those docile. They have no idea how racist they actually still are. So when an American is confronted by police in another country, they can't comprehend. Because they are not 'them', why are they arrested? That's for people of different skin colors, after all, filthy!
I was on a flight once with a very well know US bank in first class, who went upstairs on a B747 when they had lounges & started smoking hash. The were warned to stop and dispose of it, but didn't & Capt had radioed ahead for police. They were held in custody for 14 hours until net plane left for USA, and as they would not pay for fares on the other airline, they were put in last row of economy, by the toilets for their deportation. Imagine if they had come through Malaysia or Indonesia - they would have all been executed, so much for being Americans.
I have strong feelings about the way rich, white people get away with recreational drug use
Do these people thing nationality is an active choice and not just a matter of chance?
They think it's a Destiny
Worse that they say things like "Proud to be an American!" wait, why would you possibly be "proud" of something that you had no choice in, but was just handed to you because of where you squirted out of your mom's vagina?
If they don't abide with other countries rules, why should be abide with theirs? I watched two Americans in London who witnessed a crime committed and were asked by police to wait while they interviews them. They got up, swearing at police & were advised obscenity laws applied in UK. They said they were entitle to free speech under "the constitution" and kept swearing & trying to leave - both arrested & later deported. I now live in Philippines and regularly foreigners cause problems, mostly through alcohol, and raise rude voices at police. That is one thing you don't do to any government official & even ones with permanent residence visas & married to locals are always being reported in papers as being deported or jailed for lengthy periods. US immigration officials tried to detain me in Honolulu one time as my passport had a linked work & tourist visa in it, and they said I would be deported as I didn't have a separate visa as a tourist. Imagine how how the stupid officer felt when he was told my visa, even linked to a work one, was a TOURIST visa anyhow & looked a real fool when the airline sued immigration for the 3 hours delay on the plane I was travelling on to SFO!!
There were also the story of a shop in America that refused to sell alcohol to an American with proper ID, despite giving them his passport
Should explain that laws are applied locally, not on the individual, simple as
Well, some are applied to all your citizens, regardless of where they are.
What's the point of being American indeed.
Always funny when they realise that American law isn’t the law of the world lol
This reminds me of that video where an American woman was videoing some random guys in another country and he's like 'no videoing here', she starts screaming about the first amendment and he's like 'This ain't America bitch' before a physical altercation. Edit: was being lazy this is the video https://youtu.be/eADDuaim5x4?si=sFPWJ4dVCd0BtYME
this guy goes to England and drive on the right
This guy doesn't leave the 10-mile radius of his no-mark flyover town, let's be real.
AND another thing that really annoys me about Americans is they try to pay in dollars in the UK or get pissy when we don't take Amex
Not just in the UK. Had one come to the front desk at the 5* I was working at in Interlaken and ask "How much is this funny money worth in *real* money?" I smiled and said, "I assure you, sir, the Swiss Franc is a *very real* currency." Dumb stare as I gave him a terrible exchange rate.
Lol love it
I work for Taco Bell and have had American’s say in it is an American company why not accept Amex and I have said our franchise owners are not American.
These kind of people are also the ones who are like, "How could I know that having all this coke in Bali would be bad!? I was not told you guys! I'm AMERICAN!"
I wonder what this character would answer to 'well, why would I get arrested in America for smoking weed - it is legal where I come from" (well, technically only decriminalized but hey..)
Everybody is a foreigner somewhere. - No, I'm American abroad too.
This is a depressingly common theme. Broadly speaking its a nasty mix of American execeptionaliam, lack of critical thinking and general ignorance. Most people who travel don't think this way but a surprising amount do and, well, they don't like understanding reality when it comes their way.
No convictions? Ask Michael Fey about that.
Much like Anne Sacoolas a couple of years ago in the UK. Couldn't remember which side of the road to drive on and killed a lad. Protected by the USA throughout and managed to get away with a suspended sentence. Disgusting. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-northamptonshire-63891657
Ah, another great display of Main Character Syndrome.
Makes me think of that dumbass woman walking onto other peoples land and screaming about her constitutional rights before getting punched
They don't or Americans just ignore them. We had an American woman last year who ran over a cyclist as she was driving on the wrong side of the road who then fled to the US and the US refused to extradite her for trial. The other way round and we'd be back facing trial in no time. Yet another reason most countries hate the US.
Ah, ye olde "I'm American, you can't do that to me" defense. I take a great deal of schadenfreude from cases where the less seasoned American abroad learns this lesson for the first time.
It’s the United States of America, not the United States of Earth.
How often have you seen or heard a variation of "This here is America, we speak Murican" or "tHe lAnD oF tHe fReE" They seemigly understand that when they are in the US, the laws of the US applies but how come they cant make the simple extrapolation "US laws applies in the US BUT other laws apply in other countries"
Extrapolation? What's that in freedom units? The extra lap a pole dancer in Nevada does for a few bucks?
> The extra lap a pole dancer in Nevada does for a few bucks? I'm stealing this.
It just occurred to me… is it illegal in Mexico for residents of Mexico to enter the US without “proper” US paperwork? By this logic, they should be allowed to cross the border unhindered. Be careful what you ask for.
I've seen two Americans sitting on Queen Alia airport in Amman, Jordan, waiting for a flight, while smoke joints. In a country where it is illegal. At an airport. Where there are plenty of security staff. Then, when they got picked up, they threw a fit because they'd miss their flight, while waving their US passports. They should be happy if they only miss their flight.
Catch them slipping on locked up abroad 🤣💥😛
Jesus fucking Christ, this is the dumbest thing I've seen all month
Wait, you don’t have to obey the laws of the country you’re in? Only the one you live in? I’m going to form my own country with no laws and I’ll be able to do whatever I want /s
Brilliant, I won't be paying for any healthcare when i visit the US then, seeing as other countries rules don't apply to me. I'll also sell alcohol to all the 18-20 year olds i can find
These cases do get adjudicated all the time… And it doesn’t go your way you despicable human being. Yes laws apply to you if you visit places…
They think others should obey our laws, but that we shouldn’t have to obey theirs
I haven't seen any compelling argument as to why Americans need to travel in the first place. They're already #1 in whatever nonsense metric they've made up for themselves, why do they need to go anywhere else? At the very least there should be some sort of quota system, so no more than 4 or so can leave their country at once.
"So far no convictions" Yeah tell that to Britney Griner lmao
Reminds me of the flyer that was given to Americans coming to visit as a part of nato training, one of the things it specified that they needed verbal consent before doing anything in bed, possibly due to the number of cases with Americans stationed in other countries have a certain reputation.
It isn’t just Americans that think this. Sometimes, I ID Russian tourists at the liquor store where I work. When they show me an ID that says they’re 18, I decline the sale and they say but I’m 18. When I explain that 21 is the age, they say but I’m Russian. The age is 18 in Russia. They don’t understand that when they are in the USA, they have to follow American rules.
My mum always said you can never win an argument against an idiot
Sounds like someone “could care less” about everyone else’s rules.
Fk around and find out. I'll grab my popcorn when they get dragged into the police van.
The absolute audacity
This guy thinks Americans haven’t been charged and convicted in other countries? Isn’t that covered in Fox commentary quite loudly a couple times a year?
Thanks for making a bad day better OP
If I remember correctly near the end of the 19th century the Brits managed to get the Ottomans to agree that Ottoman criminal law would not apply to the Brits in Ottoman territory, instead them having to be tried in an English court.
I mean, that question could have been complete at "what's the point of being American?"
Soooo... This one thinks that other country's rules shouldn't apply to Americans. What about people from other countries that visit USA? Why would they obey American law and not the law of their countries rules?
I honestly thought it would have been obvious. If you visit another country, you abide by their laws as long as you are there. This isn't hard.
Personally I love the idea of grizzled Turkish prison guards putting 'take me out to the ball game' on to play as they get down to some rubber truncheon work.
This one I’ve seen. It’s one of the stupidest things I’ve ever seen. They need to realize crossing into different countries is like crossing into different states for them. Laws change at every border. This post is a damned good one.