Thread

CAPTCHAs don't prove you're human – they prove you're American (2017)

92 points · 90 comments · theanonymousone

kybernetikos · 1790412590 · focus · HN ↗
Other common issues - crosswalks and fire hydrants are common questions too, and crosswalks are not called that in most of the world and fire hydrants look pretty different depending on country.
1. skissane · 1790414271 · focus · HN ↗
  > and crosswalks are not called that in most of the world
  As an Australian, I'd never call them that, but I know what the American word means.
  In fact, the average Australian has a pretty good understanding of Americanisms, even if they've never been to the US, due to lifelong consumption of US TV shows, films, and other cultural exports.
  1. sam_lowry_ · 1790414639 · focus · HN ↗
    Like pretty much anyone in the world, actually.
    skissane · 1790417428 · focus · HN ↗
    I don't think that's generally true outside the English-speaking world.
    The majority of people worldwide don't know English well-enough to consume English language media in the original language. A lot of people globally, if they watch US TV shows or movies at all, they'll watch them dubbed, which means the issue of Americanisms largely doesn't come up.
    TFNA · 1790423219 · focus · HN ↗
    This is swiftly changing. I spend about half of every year traveling the developing world, and I am constantly seeing young people consuming English-language social media from their phones. Particuarly young women seem drawn to TikTok beauty-influencer content in highly idiomatic English.

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