“We Don’t Live in a Sepia Filter”: People Around the World Are Sharing What Foreigners Always Get Wrong About Their Countries
A viral Reddit thread has locals debunking the movie clichés outsiders still believe.
Online, you’d think Australians battle lethal spiders before breakfast, every Mexican street is permanently dusty, and France is one big beret and baguette photoshoot. Reality? Not even close, according to one viral r/AskTheWorld thread asking:
“What’s something foreigners think is common in your country, but really isn’t?”
People from all over the world jumped in to set the record straight. It’s a good reminder that movies, memes, and TikToks are not cultural research.
Here are some of the funniest and most interesting myths locals say they’re tired of hearing about their home countries.
Australia: Spiders, “Crikey,” and Shrimp on the Barbie
Australia’s reputation as the land where everything can kill you is strong. Locals say the spider panic is wildly overblown. One Australian wrote:
“Spider bite related deaths. There have been zero fatalities since the advancement of hospital anti-venom identity kits in 1979.”
Another commenter described taking his sister to the hospital for a funnel web bite and discovering that many bites are “dry bites” with no venom—and that hospitals use a literal “book of spiders” preserved in resin to help ID the culprit. As one person joked:
“That book is terribly upsetting. Like having to scroll through crime scene photos or suspect photos.”
The thread also kills off a few other Aussie clichés. One user said simply:
“Shrimp on Barbies.. exactly 0.”
And then there’s the Steve Irwin effect:
“Nobody says crikey unironically
Edit: apparently some people do
Edit: apparently lots of people do”
On top of that, Australians pointed out that they don’t all live with kangaroos in their yard or catch public transport with koalas.
So yes, there are spiders and snakes. No, your average Aussie is not wrestling them before heading to Maccas for brekky.
Austria vs. Australia: Still Not the Same Country
The Austria/Australia confusion is apparently alive and well. One Austrian joked that foreigners still assume kangaroos roam the streets.
Another user chimed in that visiting Vienna explained a lot:
“I was in Vienna this year. Saw the ‘no kangaroos in Austria’ signs in every gift shop.”
Someone else added that they “still think that the only reason Australia is part of the Eurovision song contest is because an executive wrote/read Austria wrong.”
United States: Guns, Obesity, and Perfect Teeth
The original post came from an American trying to debunk the idea that everyone walks around armed like it’s the Wild West:
“A lot of non-Americans think that everyone and their mother carries an AR-15, or at least a handgun, in public… you’ll rarely see ordinary citizens with guns…”
Other Americans pointed out that the gun situation really depends on where you are:
“Yeah it is very dependent on where I’ve lives/visits in the US.”
There’s also the usual stereotype that every American is massively overweight and statistically illiterate. One commenter leaned into the joke:
“A lot of people think that we are all morbidly obese and bad at interpreting statistics but that’s only about 82% of us.”
Another American traveler shared how this looks from the outside:
“The lady who ran the hotel we stayed at in Croatia was surprised I was American. I asked her why and she said Americans are fat and always have perfect teeth. Lol.”
Do some stereotypes come from somewhere? Sure. But locals are pretty clear that the U.S. is too big and too varied for any of these to be “everyone.” (These are also some interesting things that give Americans away when they are abroad.)
Mexico: Not Filmed Through a Sepia Filter
If you’ve watched certain movies, you’d think Mexico is permanently viewed through a dusty yellow haze. A Mexican commenter shut that down fast:
“Mexicans don’t live in a sepia filter like most movies show.”
Another person joked back:
“Perhaps you just see sepia as normal? Have you been to another country to test if it’s different?”
The visual cliché is so common that locals aren’t just annoyed—they’re amused at how ridiculous it looks when you compare it to real life.
Japan: Anime Culture and Mealtime Myths
Anime has done a number on how outsiders see Japan. One Japanese commenter had to explain that not everyone is a hardcore otaku:
“Not everyone in Japan is an anime or manga otaku. In fact, they are so widespread that there is hardly anyone who hasn’t seen or read them, but the people who follow the popular works today are those who make it their hobby.”
Another added that anime fans are more like American comic book nerds than a national default:
“Comic book nerds are definitely a thing, but most people don’t follow them outside of having seen some superhero movies.”
Even the little rituals you see in anime aren’t as universal as people think. A Japanese user replied to a comment about saying itadakimasu with prayer hands before every meal.
As in, yes, it exists, but no, the average Japanese person is not living in an anime scene 24/7. (If you’re curious about some other surprising things about Japan for Americans, check out this article.)
Norway: You Will Probably Not Meet a Polar Bear
One Norwegian said foreigners genuinely believe they’re dodging polar bears on a regular basis:
“Running into polar bears. They only live on Svalbard, and even there, you’re safe within the town borders.”
The whole thing spiraled into polar bear puns and ended with at least one person saying:
“I don’t feel reassured by this comment in the slightest”
So if you’re visiting Norway, you’re much more likely to battle rain and high prices than a polar bear.
France: Berets, Mustaches… and Baguettes
French commenters were quick to shut down the cartoon version of France. One wrote:
“Like everywhere else, berrets are usually only worn by bald people. And mustaches are not so common. I’ve seen far more mustaches on Australians than on French”
But some clichés are apparently harder to shake. When someone asked about baguettes and cigarettes, the response was:
“Yeah we are not beating the allegations on these one”
Another French user joked to the rest of the group:
“That’s just… totally silly we don’t… turns to the other Frenchies On peut pas lui mentir les gars, ils nous ont eus…”
So the uniform of beret + striped shirt + curly mustache? Mostly movie nonsense. The bread and smoking? Those are still hanging in there.
Netherlands: Clogs, Weed, and Windmills Everywhere
The Dutch are apparently tired of being imagined as cartoon tulip farmers in wooden shoes. One person explained:
“Some people do still think historical windmills are more prevalent and wooden shoes are in every household.”
A commenter living in the Netherlands clarified that weed culture is more of a tourist thing:
“Weed is way more popular among tourists/ foreigners than Dutch people. Everyone does love Stroopwaffles though.”
So yes, there are canals, bikes, and the occasional pair of clogs. But the average Dutch household is not a souvenir shop.
South Africa: No, People Don’t Keep Lions at Home
South Africans jumped in to clear up some wildlife confusion. One of the top answers:
“Having wildlife as pets.”
Another comment on a viral video of a lion walking through traffic added:
“That’s the least dangerous thing in JoBurg.”
Foreigners may imagine lions and giraffes casually roaming neighborhoods. Locals, meanwhile, are just trying to survive load shedding and bad drivers like everyone else.
Finland: Retiring the Nokia Brick
The myth that everyone in Finland is still clinging to a Nokia 3310 got a reality check:
“People dont use Nokia 3310 amymore.”
When someone asked if it at least still works, the response was:
“Physically yes but g2 network is shut down so no calls”
So the legendary unkillable phone lives on in spirit only.
Russia: Tracksuits and Gopniks
Russians in the thread were very aware of the “gopnik in a tracksuit squatting by a Lada” stereotype. One person wrote:
“Wearing tracksuits. It’s no longer common and kinda seen as trashy. I think tracksuits are way more popular in Western Europe now than in Russia.”
When someone mourned the loss of the classic gopnik, the original commenter replied with a photo and:
“Gopniks were left in the 2000s. R.I.P.”
Another user added:
“RIP to a real one. They died doing what they loved, loitering in inconvenient places.”
Are there still tracksuits in Russia? Of course. But it’s not the national uniform any more than cowboy hats are for Americans. (If you’re curious about some other surprising things about Russia for Americans, check out this article.)
Spain: Bullfighting and Midday Naps
Spain gets flattened into two main clichés: bullfighting and daily siestas. A Spanish commenter explained that bullfighting isn’t nearly as universal as outsiders think:
“Nowadays, a lot of them are or not used, used for other stuff (concerts, for example) or… completely abandoned.”
They even shared a photo of a decaying bullring in Oviedo to make the point. Another Spanish user added:
“Nobody goes home to nap in the middle of the day.”
So while siesta culture does exist in some places, most modern Spaniards are just working normal jobs and trying to get through the day like everyone else.
Turkey: Camels Everywhere (Except in Real Life)
Camels might show up in travel ads for Turkey, but one local said their actual experience looks very different:
“I NEVER SAW A D*MN CAMEL IN MY ENTIRE LIFE!”
The caps-lock frustration really says it all.
What This Thread Really Shows
Under all the jokes, there’s a simple theme: most countries are far more “normal” than the internet wants them to be. People go to work, sit in traffic, complain about the weather, and scroll on their phones. They’re not dodging polar bears, riding kangaroos, or napping through the workday.
For more culture-shock stories, you can also check out my recent piece where people around the world shared everyday habits that would probably shock most Americans and see just how weird all of us look through someone else’s eyes.
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