A question regarding a american mystery

[Kropotkin]

There's one thing that have always puzzled me over americans but I'm not sure if it's just a result of the hollywood conspiracy or not.

Here how it is; I was watching some american criminal drama the other day with my girlfriend and once again the mystery showed its enigmatic face: The brown paperbag without handles! And now I need to find out the truth!

Almost every time someone comes from the grocery in a american TV-show or film they carrry their items in a brown paper bag without handles. And almost always it seems to be a hazzle to carry and handle and at times it doesn't seem to hold together very well. Now, I think I've seen other bags on TV so it doesn't seem like the superior alternatives (like plastic bags och paper bags with handles) are unkown (or maybe it was canadian show). That the americans take paper bags could hardly be because they care about the environment and besides, there's no problems to have handles on paper bags anyhow.

So what is that about? Is it so that americans for some reason like the bags because they are traditional and they don't want inferior foreign bags? It seems like a great mystery to me...

[DaShi]

Handles are more expensive to make.

[Arrian]

There are typically two options for bags:

The brown paper bags w/o handles you saw. They can be a hassle to carry, but tend to hold together pretty well.

The plastic bags w/handles. Easier to carry, but not environmentally friendly.

-Arrian

[Kropotkin]

So the US is supposed to be the economic superpower of the world but can't afford handles?

[Arrian]

I've seen the paper bags with handles, but I guess Stop&Shop (the common grocery store around here) doesn't use them.

-Arrian

[Kropotkin]

I find it to be a puzzling yet interesting cultural phenomen.

[DaShi]

Originally posted by Kropotkin
So the US is supposed to be the economic superpower of the world but can't afford handles?

The US didn't get to be the economic superpower by using handles.

[Kropotkin]

With handles it's easier to carry and if it's easier to carry you can consume more!!! That's your solution for the current economic situation!

On the other hand, considering how fat americans are maybe it souldn't be easier for them to carry home even more food...

[Arrian]

Are you actually trying to use paper grocery bags as a troll topic?

-Arrian

[DanS]

Big brown paper bags don't need handles. When you're taking the bag from the supermarket cart 2 feet to the back seat of the SUV, and 20 feet from the back seat of the SUV to the refrigerator, you do not need handles.

[Sten Sture]

Out here in ultra modern California, our paper grocery bags have handles.

Since most americans don't walk more than 2 feet (.71m) with a paper grocery bag, the handles have not been deemed necessary.

[Sten Sture]

that was a delayed simul post. you will note that 2 feet can now be considered to be a verified standard distance for Ameros

[Kropotkin]

Originally posted by Arrian
Are you actually trying to use paper grocery bags as a troll topic?

It's not at all meant as a troll. I just find it interesting that sometimes even in modern societies some strange habits and products seems to survive. Like the milk bottles Post-Tetra.

[Arrian]

Just checking... the "Fat Americans" comment made me think you were gonna take this down that road some more.

I guess we don't have the handles 'cause we just don't care enough to demand them.

pfffft, I walk a good 25ft with MY grocery bags, you lazy slobs!

-Arrian

[Elok]

Uh, okay...

"Considering how fat Americans are?"
It's a bloody grocery bag. Can't people from foreign countries stick to criticizing us over things that matter(belligerence, imperialist tendencies, treating England like our personal ho, our president's resemblance to a bewildered chimp, etc.)? I mean, while we're being picky, French sounds like it was invented by a guy with hairballs up his nose, but you don't see me trolling about that...sometimes about the disturbing popularity of that creep Le Pen, but not on something really petty.
Why are you picking a fight over something like this?

Whoops, question answered. Still, can you please not rush to look down your nose at us?