Why are the British so rude?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Also British people are reserved and don't want to come across as nosey or too full on (like many Americans). You wait to be introduced, for example.

As a Brit moving to the US twenty years ago, for example, I hated being pounced on in a store by assistants wanting to help me. We are a nation of introverts.

I'm an American, and I hate that too. But that's happened to me in the UK as well.

[Anonymous]

The ones I've met (who were well-educated) aren't rude per se but are kind of tone deaf. Making politically incorrect statements that are racist. Also things like...remember how Prince Harry dressed as Nazi?

[Anonymous]

I agree with PP that London does not represent all of UK like NYC is not USA. I was in London this summer and did not notice anything outright rudeness. There might have been some curt individuals but it's just them and not really about me as an American.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't find the Brits rude but really reserved.

In terms of rude, I have a difficult time with South Africans. I find them painfully rude.

I've been living in South Africa for the past 5+ months. My boyfriend is South African. His parents are so rude to me. They've said some horrible things about me and I've been nothing but friendly and polite to them. Some South Africans are rude, but I find them as a whole much nicer than British people. I lived in the UK last year. British people just want money and are not interested in knowing you as a person.

[Anonymous]

I also find Brits to be super rude. They go on and on about how awful America is. Our food is uninspired, our culture is boorish, we are idiots, we are fat, our women are less beautiful. And "what's it like to be from a country with no history". I worked for a while as the only American in a British company and I started responding in kind. "What's it like to live on a crowded little island with high poverty and declining global influence?" "When will the UK get into orthodontia?" "French food is amazing! And the people are so classy. The BEST country in Europe if you ask me. Wish they would take their rightful seat and set the tone in the EU". Try that out, OP. They expect Americans to be polite and they exploit that. It's fun to stop being polite. They seem really touchy about Brexit lately, maybe start there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I also find Brits to be super rude. They go on and on about how awful America is. Our food is uninspired, our culture is boorish, we are idiots, we are fat, our women are less beautiful. And "what's it like to be from a country with no history". I worked for a while as the only American in a British company and I started responding in kind. "What's it like to live on a crowded little island with high poverty and declining global influence?" "When will the UK get into orthodontia?" "French food is amazing! And the people are so classy. The BEST country in Europe if you ask me. Wish they would take their rightful seat and set the tone in the EU". Try that out, OP. They expect Americans to be polite and they exploit that. It's fun to stop being polite. They seem really touchy about Brexit lately, maybe start there.

How can they possibly say that with a straight face? I am 100% British nationality and even I will admit the British are renowned for being one of the most unattractive people on the planet, especially the women.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I also find Brits to be super rude. They go on and on about how awful America is. Our food is uninspired, our culture is boorish, we are idiots, we are fat, our women are less beautiful. And "what's it like to be from a country with no history". I worked for a while as the only American in a British company and I started responding in kind. "What's it like to live on a crowded little island with high poverty and declining global influence?" "When will the UK get into orthodontia?" "French food is amazing! And the people are so classy. The BEST country in Europe if you ask me. Wish they would take their rightful seat and set the tone in the EU". Try that out, OP. They expect Americans to be polite and they exploit that. It's fun to stop being polite. They seem really touchy about Brexit lately, maybe start there.

I agree with this. There is a particular subset of Americans that are petrified of being called "ignorant Americans" (usually because it has some ring of truth for them) so they think by sucking up and putting down themselves and their home country they can win approval. Not realizing this makes them look even more pathetic and pedestrian. The best way to respond is to give it right back, and in my experience it often wins respect. And if it doesn't- F it, at least you got to lob insults back at a horribly rude person. Win win.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
How can they possibly say that with a straight face? I am 100% British nationality and even I will admit the British are renowned for being one of the most unattractive people on the planet, especially the women.

A bit hyperbolic, my dear. Africa, far east, mid east, india would like a word with you.

[Anonymous]

I think they're rude because Britain is a caste system and those low in the totem pole, however clever they think they are, know they'll never be much. In America you can rise the ladder, not so in Britain -- this stokes intense envy and hatred.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I also find Brits to be super rude. They go on and on about how awful America is. Our food is uninspired, our culture is boorish, we are idiots, we are fat, our women are less beautiful. And "what's it like to be from a country with no history". I worked for a while as the only American in a British company and I started responding in kind. "What's it like to live on a crowded little island with high poverty and declining global influence?" "When will the UK get into orthodontia?" "French food is amazing! And the people are so classy. The BEST country in Europe if you ask me. Wish they would take their rightful seat and set the tone in the EU". Try that out, OP. They expect Americans to be polite and they exploit that. It's fun to stop being polite. They seem really touchy about Brexit lately, maybe start there.

I agree with this. There is a particular subset of Americans that are petrified of being called "ignorant Americans" (usually because it has some ring of truth for them) so they think by sucking up and putting down themselves and their home country they can win approval. Not realizing this makes them look even more pathetic and pedestrian. The best way to respond is to give it right back, and in my experience it often wins respect. And if it doesn't- F it, at least you got to lob insults back at a horribly rude person. Win win.

Yes, people stopped bothering me because they realized that I would bite back. When I found myself short on insults to lob back, I would tell them the truth: they think about America a lot more than Americans think of the U.K., because the U.K. just isn't that important anymore. And when they complained about our politics and warmongering, I would point out that they came along on all our misadventures because their politicians are our lapdogs who will do anything we say. So maybe if they are resentful, they should start there- with their own choices. I mean, Trump is 4 years. 8 tops. Brexit is forever.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think they're rude because Britain is a caste system and those low in the totem pole, however clever they think they are, know they'll never be much. In America you can rise the ladder, not so in Britain -- this stokes intense envy and hatred.

The class system died a long time ago. Nor was it ever anything like the rigid Indian caste system. And don't kid yourself into thinking America doesn't have its own class system either. People use the class system just as an excuse for their own failures. Or Americans who can't figure out why they can't fit into the U.K.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I also find Brits to be super rude. They go on and on about how awful America is. Our food is uninspired, our culture is boorish, we are idiots, we are fat, our women are less beautiful. And "what's it like to be from a country with no history". I worked for a while as the only American in a British company and I started responding in kind. "What's it like to live on a crowded little island with high poverty and declining global influence?" "When will the UK get into orthodontia?" "French food is amazing! And the people are so classy. The BEST country in Europe if you ask me. Wish they would take their rightful seat and set the tone in the EU". Try that out, OP. They expect Americans to be polite and they exploit that. It's fun to stop being polite. They seem really touchy about Brexit lately, maybe start there.

I agree with this. There is a particular subset of Americans that are petrified of being called "ignorant Americans" (usually because it has some ring of truth for them) so they think by sucking up and putting down themselves and their home country they can win approval. Not realizing this makes them look even more pathetic and pedestrian. The best way to respond is to give it right back, and in my experience it often wins respect. And if it doesn't- F it, at least you got to lob insults back at a horribly rude person. Win win.

Yes, people stopped bothering me because they realized that I would bite back. When I found myself short on insults to lob back, I would tell them the truth: they think about America a lot more than Americans think of the U.K., because the U.K. just isn't that important anymore. And when they complained about our politics and warmongering, I would point out that they came along on all our misadventures because their politicians are our lapdogs who will do anything we say. So maybe if they are resentful, they should start there- with their own choices. I mean, Trump is 4 years. 8 tops. Brexit is forever.

Brexit is ideological with some very valid reasons on both sides.

Trump is an idiot. The two are not the same.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think they're rude because Britain is a caste system and those low in the totem pole, however clever they think they are, know they'll never be much. In America you can rise the ladder, not so in Britain -- this stokes intense envy and hatred.

The class system died a long time ago. Nor was it ever anything like the rigid Indian caste system. And don't kid yourself into thinking America doesn't have its own class system either. People use the class system just as an excuse for their own failures. Or Americans who can't figure out why they can't fit into the U.K.

Oh please. Nothing at all like the class system here. You sound uneducated

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think they're rude because Britain is a caste system and those low in the totem pole, however clever they think they are, know they'll never be much. In America you can rise the ladder, not so in Britain -- this stokes intense envy and hatred.

The class system died a long time ago. Nor was it ever anything like the rigid Indian caste system. And don't kid yourself into thinking America doesn't have its own class system either. People use the class system just as an excuse for their own failures. Or Americans who can't figure out why they can't fit into the U.K.

Have you ever been to Britain? Do you know any Brits? What is knighthood?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Also British people are reserved and don't want to come across as nosey or too full on (like many Americans). You wait to be introduced, for example.

As a Brit moving to the US twenty years ago, for example, I hated being pounced on in a store by assistants wanting to help me. We are a nation of introverts.

I'm an American, and I hate that too. But that's happened to me in the UK as well.

^^^
The false friendliness that many Americans project is off putting. I'm polite but some Americans perceive it as rude or stuck up because I'm not eager share the details of my personal life with strangers. If you're peppering me with questions I might suddenly need to take a call.