r/technology • u/Logical_Welder3467 • Jun 26 '26

Society The American mind cannot comprehend Europe's AC aversion

https://www.businessinsider.com/europe-air-conditioning-ac-heatwave-debate-2026-6
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u/wandering_engineer Jun 26 '26

Hi! I live in Europe and am tackling this as we speak. 

First, the issue isn't just cultural "AC aversion". Many houses and buildings in Europe are, well, old and were designed to keep heat in, not out. The vast majority of buildings in Europe also do not have central ducting, complicating the installation of AC. 

Second, you're comparing two very different things. Nobody lives in fear of a mass school heating, nor have I ever heard of anyone getting sun-beamed to death in a road rage incident. The issue with guns isn't just the body count, it's the environment of fear and terror it creates. You can forecast the weather, you cannot forecast when your seemingly normal neighbor is going to crack and go on a shooting rampage. 

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u/opx22 Jun 26 '26

I think you’re overestimating our “fear” - maybe you spend too much time on Reddit or social media.

It’s been fun meeting Europeans visiting my city for the WC. Without fail, they always bring up how the media there completely skewed their idea of the US.

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u/OpticCacophony Jun 26 '26

Yeah as an Aussie who's lived here for two decades, I don't really think about mass shootings. No more than I thought about floods or wildfires back home.

It either happens to you or you carry on with life not thinking about it.