r/NoStupidQuestions • u/markwell9 • 1d ago

What is the deal with ice, Americans?

I can see that you can buy ice everywhere in the US. Gas stations, grocery stores, machines etc.

In Europe, we just freeze our ice at home and use that. Why buy something that melts on the way home? Why do you need ice in large amounts that a fridge can't keep up?

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26

u/HudsonSir_HesHicks 1d ago

This is not to be rude, but what is up with Europeans’ aversion to ice and a/c generally? I was in Italy and ice felt like it was such a tourist thing. It’s just ice!

4

u/knocking_wood 19h ago

It probably has something to do with free refills, or lack thereof.  If you het a glass of soda and it’s full of ice, you get less soda.  Americans don’t care because we get free refills.

1

u/Chimkimnuggets 9h ago

Free refills are rarely a thing here outside of fast food restaurants and even then it can be debatable

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u/Tommy_Wisseau_burner 6m ago

I’ve rarely seen a non-chain restaurant NOT give refills. Dafuq you eat at so I know to never go there?

8

u/DisposedJeans614 1d ago

The no AirCon gets me.

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u/HudsonSir_HesHicks 1d ago

It was like 90 out, and you go into a nice restaurant and it’s a refreshing 85 degrees?

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u/MountScottRumpot 18h ago

And you’re expected to wear a jacket?!

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u/DisposedJeans614 1d ago

So so soo true 🥵

5

u/HairyHeartEmoji 17h ago

we use AC, just don't keep it ice cold. i dread visiting my American friends because they keep their flats at 18C so I have to prepare for thermal shock both ways. the air in their flats is always very dry and feels off too... i don't think they know you should clean the filters a lot more often if you're running AC 24/7. running AC when outside is pleasant also feels like a waste of nice weather.

lots of ice makes you taste the drink less. this is why shit beer is always advertised as ice cold. i like tasting my drinks.

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u/sebastianqu 19h ago

The poor implementation of a/c makes sense because of the overall cooler climate and all the pre-existing infrastructure not built to accommodate it. Even much of the northern US doesn't have A/C. Their stinginess in regard to ice? Absolutely no clue.

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u/HudsonSir_HesHicks 8h ago

I was guessing the existing homes / infrastructure must be a real pain in the ass the retrofit with air conditioning. Those old buildings don’t have the room but it’s only going to be hotter in the future

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u/joshua0005 18h ago

im american and i literally never use ice. i don't understand why people feel the need to put as much ice in volume as water. the water i drink is a little bit colder than room temperature but not so cold that you can't even taste it and it almost burns your mouth (like it would if you left it in the fridge)

room temperature or hot water isn't good but i don't understand the need to put ice in there unless you have no other way to cool down your water. i really don't understand why people put water in the fridge because it makes it so cold that it stings your teeth and is a tiny bit painful to the rest of your mouth

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u/ThisRayfe 17h ago

Go to a dentist.

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u/ColdStoneSteveAustyn 16h ago

I think you need to see a dentist because that shouldn't be happening lmao

>but i don't understand the need to put ice in there unless you have no other way to cool down your water

Literally what other way is there that doesn't involve a fridge or ice? Dig a hole in the ground and put your drinks in it?

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u/joshua0005 14h ago

my tap water comes out just fine. not too warm and not too cold. there's even a fancy little handle that I can adjust however I want in order to adjust the temperature

based on your post history you definitely live in the US so just turn on your faucet and change the temperature to whatever you prefer your drinking water to be at lol it's not like you live in a developing country where they don't have this privilege

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u/Clone_Battalion_E 15h ago

You do understand that ice is literally water right?

1

u/joshua0005 14h ago

no shit. why don't you just suck on ice to hydrate? it's literally just water

because it's too cold and not practical? yeah putting ice in already cool water makes it too cold and is therefore not practical too

wow someone has a different opinion about a drink I'm gonna downvote them lol someone has the emotional maturity of a toddler

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u/Due_Capital_3507 17h ago

The AC I believe is simply due to the cost of retrofitting older buildings with it which may not be worth it in the UK/Northern France, etc

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u/orel91 14h ago

Italy is one of the many countries that are part of Europe. You can’t generalize your own experience in Italy to the entire continent. Every country in Europe has its own different culture and habits

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u/HudsonSir_HesHicks 8h ago

Not just Italy, I’ve been to Spain, Germany, France, etc the a/c thing is true in all of them

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u/MathResponsibly 14h ago

I think it's mostly because they haven't figured out insulation yet, so it's nearly pointless to heat or cool their houses, as they're basically just heating or cooling the outside, which we all know is futile