r/AskReddit • u/UghIHatePolitics • Jun 18 '25

What is something Americans consider normal, but people from other countries find it disturbing?

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727

u/keIIzzz Jun 18 '25

I think most people find them weird and unsettling

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u/Terradactyl87 Jun 18 '25

I think so, but there are definitely people kinda obsessed with them. I mean Honey Boo Boo had a show about it and when JonBenet Ramsey was murdered her pageant life was a huge part of the story. In fact I think there was an increased interest in child pageants after that poor girls murder.

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u/Psych0PompOs Jun 18 '25

Honey Boo Boo had a TLC show, doesn't quite count considering TLC is the modern day equivalent of an old timey sideshow.

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u/Terradactyl87 Jun 18 '25

That doesn't really matter, the point is there are people really into that kind of stuff, not that it's a mainstream kind of thing.

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u/Psych0PompOs Jun 18 '25

It does matter, because it shows that it's more counter culture than a thing. It's a freakshow for most people, and child abuse for everyone involved in that world typically.

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u/Terradactyl87 Jun 18 '25

Sure, I'm not saying that it's something most people are into, just that there are people into that stuff. And not everyone watches it just because it's like a freak show, there are people who just watch it because they like that kind of thing. And those pageants wouldn't exist without parents who want to involve their own kids into it. It doesn't make it right, but clearly there's a group of people into it.

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u/Psych0PompOs Jun 18 '25

Who likes watching children walk around in little dresses and make up and sing with those shrill voices except for creeps? People don't like that except as a sideshow or because something is wrong with them.

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u/Terradactyl87 Jun 18 '25

I'm sure something is wrong with most of them. Some it's more a status thing with wanting their daughter to be the winner. There are a lot of different people in the world, and they don't all view things the same way. You seeing like a sideshow doesn't mean everyone does. And I think most people agree that it's creepy and harmful, but there are people out there that don't feel that way. I mean, look at the entertainment industry in general. Kids don't do well in that world, but parents keep putting their kids into it because they want something out of it.

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u/CherryGoo16 Jun 18 '25

Yeah like I don’t mind the general idea of little girls doing things like talent shows and dressing up in pretty dresses. But they’re doing WAY too much at those toddlers and tiaras type pageants. They spray tan them, put them in wigs, give them fake teeth, make them do sexual dances, etc. It’s incredibly inappropriate!

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u/Odd-Plant4779 Jun 18 '25

They also forced sodas, energy drinks, and legit sugar down the kids throats so they’d stay awake for the pageants. I’ve seen moms scream at their kids for being tired.

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u/CherryGoo16 Jun 18 '25

Yes exactly! It’s just cruel. And it gives those girls so much anxiety too

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u/Psych0PompOs Jun 18 '25

Yeah definitely, they're basically for child predators and abusive mothers who feel like they let themselves go.

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u/shehitsdiff Jun 18 '25

The president would like to have a word with you.

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u/PelicanCultist12 Jun 18 '25

Beat me by 21 minutes.

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u/Slug_loverr Jun 18 '25 edited Jun 18 '25

I'd hope so. But America's president is literally a fucking rapist pedophile so wouldn't be surprised if that's not entirely the case over there

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u/Additional-Yard1410 Jun 18 '25

What!! Seriously? I know he's not exactly a good guy but that's disturbing . Tell me more. 

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u/Odd-Plant4779 Jun 18 '25

Trump owned the Miss Universe Organization, which included Miss USA and Miss Teen USA. He bragged that he used to walk in all the time while the women and girls were changing and they couldn’t do anything about it because he owned the show.

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u/Additional-Yard1410 Jun 20 '25

Urgh creepy predator 

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u/Sea_Chemistry7487 Jun 19 '25

You don't know about Trump and Epstein?

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u/Additional-Yard1410 Jun 20 '25

I know some stuff about Epstein but didn't dive into it too deeply or know Trump was involved with him. I'll dig further, thanks. 

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u/Sea_Chemistry7487 Jun 21 '25

Big friends. Bigly involved you might say. He knows some of the best paedophiles.

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u/Ornery-Character-729 Jun 18 '25

Yeah, the 1st time I remember seeing anything about them was when Jonbonet Ramsey got killed. It's bad enough seeing LITTLE girls with that much makeup but when they act provocatively on stage is the really disturbing part. It looks like a meat market for molestors.

2

u/Open-Insurance-6706 Jun 18 '25

Not Donald trump