Title: American Customs That Are Offensive Abroad
Headings: 25 common American customs that are considered offensive in other countries
25 common American customs that are considered offensive in other countries
1. Tipping
2. Sitting in the back of a cab
3. Throwing a thumbs-up
4. Laughing with your mouth open
5. Calling the USA "America"
6. Being fashionably late
7. Being on time
8. Having one hand in your pocket
9. Using your left hand for anything
10. Opening a present immediately
11. Wearing sweatpants, flip flops, wrinkly clothing, or baseball caps in public
12. Altering your meal
13. Showing the soles of your feet
14. Keeping your shoes on
15. Drinking someone else's alcohol
16. Men showing some skin
17. Eating anywhere that doesn't serve food
18. Telling people to help themselves
19. Touching
20. Keeping your clothes on in saunas and steam rooms
21. Asking certain questions
22. Refusing food
23. Not declining gifts
24. Polishing off your meal
25. Blowing Your Nose

Content: they don't need an added incentive. 2. Sitting in the back of a cab
While it's customary for Americans to hop into the back of a cab, in Australia, New Zealand, parts of Ireland, Scotland, and the Netherlands, it's considered rude not to ride shotgun. Whereas cabbies in the US will sigh and reluctantly move their newspapers and lunches from the front seat, in other countries it's a matter of egalitarianism. 3. Throwing a thumbs-up
In a lot of countries, especially in the Middle East, Latin America, Western Africa, Russia, and Greece, a thumbs-up basically has the same meaning as holding up a middle finger does for Americans. 4. Laughing with your mouth open
In Japan, laughter that exposes your pearly whites is considered horse-like and impolite — sort of like noisy, open-mouthed eating is considered rude to Americans. 5. Calling the USA "America"
REUTERS/Mike Blake
In South America, claiming you're from America, rather than the United States, is seen as being politically incorrect, as it implies that only the US should be considered America, and that South America is unworthy of the title.