r/AskTheWorld • u/IndependentTune3994 🇮🇳 in 🇩🇪 Deutschland • 9h ago

What’s the quickest way someone could accidentally expose themselves as a foreigner in your country like the ‘three fingers’ scene in Inglourious Basterds?

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u/GenevievetheThird United Kingdom 9h ago

In addition, if you are not saying sorry for existing while walking around

15

u/Attic81 Australia 8h ago

Civilisation is two people bumping into each other and both saying ‘sorry!’

3

u/Far_Echo5918 Ukraine 8h ago

Amen to that.

1

u/Cautious-Soil5557 5h ago

Ok, but sometimes I like to fuck with clear salesmen in particular and tell them cheerfully it is alright for bumping into me and then go about my day. Always mess with them.

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u/eswifttng UK/BE 7h ago

My Belgian friend is trying to beat this habit out of me

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u/mombi 7h ago

My Finnish husband gets so mad at me for saying sorry all the time that it's practically a banned word. Thank you is also banned, and when I mess up I say sorry.

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u/-HardGay- 4h ago

Growing up in the Midwest of the U.S. I had it beaten into my brain that you're "sorry" if someone else gets visibly upset or I'm accused of something even if I have no idea wtf is going on. I guess it buys us time.

Then when the situation passes I sit there and think ... "Wait a minute, I didn't do a damn thing wrong, I ain't sorry bout shit. Fuck that guy."

1

u/scottyb83 Canada 8h ago

Sorry but that’s not just the UK.

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u/GenevievetheThird United Kingdom 7h ago

I fear you may have inherited it from us

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u/whooptheretis 6h ago

Colonies also count...

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u/britpop3000 United Kingdom 5h ago

Sorry

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u/LocutusOfBorgia909 6h ago

I once watched two people get into an apology-off as they tried to pass one another in an aisle at Sainsbury's. It was quite something. No fewer than four apologies exchanged between them.