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Everything Else => Cool Stuff => Topic started by: Dare on August 21, 2018, 11:21:44 PM

Title: Things considered normal in the US
Post by: Dare on August 21, 2018, 11:21:44 PM
https://www.thisisinsider.com/things-normal-in-the-us-but-considered-weird-2018-8
Title: Re: Things considered normal in the US
Post by: cosworth151 on August 22, 2018, 12:24:31 AM
They do pay tax on most everything, but it's a VAT (hidden) tax that is figured into the price. We're just more up front about it.

If memory serves, F1 cars run on 13 inch wheels.   ;)

The red cup thing started about ten years ago with this song:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BKZqGJONH68
Title: Re: Things considered normal in the US
Post by: Dare on August 22, 2018, 04:49:46 AM
They do pay tax on most everything, but it's a VAT (hidden) tax that is figured into the price. We're just more up front about it.

If memory serves, F1 cars run on 13 inch wheels.   ;)

The red cup thing started about ten years ago with this song:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BKZqGJONH68

I think it said their tax is already figured in. They just
added a tax on bowling here. I always thought that was
already figured in the price. Surprised they don't tax water out
of a water fountain or the air we breath
 
Title: Re: Things considered normal in the US
Post by: Scott on August 22, 2018, 03:38:04 PM
The one that stands out for me is the advertising of prescription drugs.  A while back I bought a Newsweek magazine and it seemed like 3/4 of the ads were for prescription drugs, always followed by an entire page of warnings about the drug.  Our prescriptions are all included in our health care here...there is nothing to choose.

The toplessness on beaches is a red herring.  There are certainly places where nudity is accepted, and nobody bats an eye if a woman goes topless while sunbathing (they almost always cover up to stand up and go in the water), but I would guess the number of topless women at a typical beach in Europe to be around 2-3%. 
Title: Re: Things considered normal in the US
Post by: Ian on August 22, 2018, 05:30:31 PM
Yup, your way of writing the date is weird.
Nothing wrong with showing your flag, not enough of it here.
Certainly nothing wrong with Imperial measurement.
That'd be too much ice for me, 1 or 2 lumps is plenty for me.
Title: Re: Things considered normal in the US
Post by: Jericoke on August 22, 2018, 08:12:00 PM
The one that stands out for me is the advertising of prescription drugs.  A while back I bought a Newsweek magazine and it seemed like 3/4 of the ads were for prescription drugs, always followed by an entire page of warnings about the drug.  Our prescriptions are all included in our health care here...there is nothing to choose.

The toplessness on beaches is a red herring.  There are certainly places where nudity is accepted, and nobody bats an eye if a woman goes topless while sunbathing (they almost always cover up to stand up and go in the water), but I would guess the number of topless women at a typical beach in Europe to be around 2-3%.

The prescription drug thing is actually government enforced transparency.  Because they publish the full list of possible side effects, then doctors don't have to spend their entire visit listing all of the possible side effects.  Given how much it costs to visit an American doctor, do you really want to spend an extra 20 minutes listening to a list of side effects?

I assume the rest of the world just trusts the doctor and doesn't care about possible side effects.
Title: Re: Things considered normal in the US
Post by: Dare on August 22, 2018, 11:56:25 PM
Trouble is most the time the side effects are worse than the
disease your taking them for
Title: Re: Things considered normal in the US
Post by: lkjohnson1950 on August 23, 2018, 12:26:30 AM
Got that right!!   :good:
Title: Re: Things considered normal in the US
Post by: Alianora La Canta on August 23, 2018, 06:55:02 AM
It's illegal to advertise a prescription-only drug in the UK. They cannot be provided by the doctor without a written description of what is supposed to be a plain-English side-effect list, along with what actions should be taken if the side effect in question is noted (these range from "Speak to your doctor; do not cease use without advice from your doctor" to "Cease use immediately and seek urgent medical assistance") Some people have noted that it is not always intuitive (for example, "emotional laibility" is used as a polite euphemism for suicidal thoughts, but only someone with expertise in medicines - or who watch certain documentaries - would likely be aware of that) and long words are often seen on these descriptions. Plus lots of people can't be bothered to read that stuff anyway.

The doctor is not obliged to discuss any symptom possibilities (possibly just as well, since appointments are now down to 10 minutes in the UK) unless the patient is known to be unable to comprehend written instructions and doesn't have a responsible carer, but may do so if they think there are any you should particularly be aware of (if they are severe and/or more likely to present in your case due to your medical history). More often, it'll be "Don't worry if x, y or z happens but if anything else about your health worsens on this drug, please let me know". Of course, it takes a month for me to get an appointment with my doctor these days, so the course of medicine is likely to have meant to have ended before such information actually reaches my doctor...
Title: Re: Things considered normal in the US
Post by: cosworth151 on August 23, 2018, 02:54:11 PM
It used to be illegal to advertise prescription drugs here in the State. Then, big pharma sued saying that the ban violated their freedom of speech. Since we have the best government money can buy, and big pharma has lots of money, the doors were flung open wide.

They are required to list the side effects, but that can sometimes be sidestepped by referring viewers to a print advert. One funny "side effect" of that rule: All of the adverts for Viagra, Cialis and other such drugs contained the line "See our ad in Golf Digest." It seemed to confirm what any of us had suspected about golfers for years.
Title: Re: Things considered normal in the US
Post by: Scott on August 23, 2018, 03:49:52 PM
Here the doctors are not on a pay grade to explain such trivialities.  That’s the job of a pharmacy assistant.  He/she will explain the obvious or common side effects and then include small print in the drug package with the less common effects.  But then in Switzerland everyone is responsible to keep themselves informed.   
Title: Re: Things considered normal in the US
Post by: Dare on August 23, 2018, 09:58:32 PM
Funny they can advertise drugs here but not beer or whiskey.
Whenever a drug side effects include cancer or death I'd have to
be desperate to try them
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