I was reading a UK-set fanfic

[conuly]

wherein somebody sits on a twin bed, and for some reason the question asked itself: are mattress sizes the same in the UK, and do they have twin beds over there?

And the answer is no, no they don't!

So now I know, and you do too, and that about sums up what I know about the UK, so I'll also tell you something about NYC if you ever write something set here. I'll tell you two things.

First, of course, is that there are (virtually) no alleys in Manhattan. I don't care what you've seen on TV and in movies, you should hold yourself to a higher standard.

Secondly, wind patterns in Lower Manhattan before 9/11 were intense. Like, omg whoa. Those towers had one hell of an effect.

Thirdly, I can't count, and also, cashiers in the city can say "next", but more often ask the following customer to step down, which may be realized upon occasion as "following" or "step down" rather than "following (customer), please step down". This is something I didn't notice at all until somebody happened to mention it once on reddit, and immediately I was beset by the twin feelings of "wait, yeah, they do say that" and "hold on, that's not what they say everywhere!?"

Fourthly, I still can't count, and this may not be accurate to school today, but when I was a kid and when my mother was a kid, public schools in NYC spent time teaching students three chords on the piano - get ready, stand, sit down - so we could all stand and sit in unison at assembly. Mommy didn't realize it was not a universal practice until the first time she and my father went to a school thing in Brooklyn and he was left sitting after the entire audience of adults and students had stood up. And then he was left standing after they'd all sat down, having failed even the second time to recognize the musical cue.

Comments

[hashiveinu]

I actually saw my first box spring with actual springs in it this year. The mattress/box spring set appeared to be 40-50 years old.

(And was full of pee, thus why it was being given away for free.)

I wonder how long it's been since the author of that page saw an American bed - or if they haven't actually seen one, but figured that "box spring" must mean there were springs in it.

[conuly]

Do modern mattresses even use box springs?

[hashiveinu]

I think most mattresses are sold with something called a "box spring," but it's just a box with no springs. There are some bed frames that say they eliminate the need for a box spring (YMMV on those - the one I have experience with was terrible and fell apart).

[conuly]

Mattress websites assure me that most modern mattresses don't need boxsprings so long as the bed has slats - if it's just a bare frame then you do need something to hold the mattress up.

[glaurung]

Depends on how expensive the mattress set is. “Foundations” (mattress support without springs) are cheaper, but you can still get actual box springs - i own one.

[shadowkat]

Yes, I have a box spring.

And I think my parents got a new box spring about ten years ago.

Provides a higher mattress and more support for the back.