Why are the British so rude?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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?

What are you? A high school kid trying to maintain a false argument? The fact you mentioned a knighthood tells me that you know nothing about what the British class system was or is or what it's like today.

There's little difference between the UK and the US in terms of class divisions these days. Just because there's a handful of people with titles doesn't say anything, titles are cultural leftovers and carry little social or political prestige. The vast majority of British have never met anyone with a title, for example.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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?

What are you? A high school kid trying to maintain a false argument? The fact you mentioned a knighthood tells me that you know nothing about what the British class system was or is or what it's like today.

There's little difference between the UK and the US in terms of class divisions these days. Just because there's a handful of people with titles doesn't say anything, titles are cultural leftovers and carry little social or political prestige. The vast majority of British have never met anyone with a title, for example.

NP. LOL. You know nothing about Britain and embarrass yourself every time you speak

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
What are you? A high school kid trying to maintain a false argument? The fact you mentioned a knighthood tells me that you know nothing about what the British class system was or is or what it's like today.

There's little difference between the UK and the US in terms of class divisions these days. Just because there's a handful of people with titles doesn't say anything, titles are cultural leftovers and carry little social or political prestige. The vast majority of British have never met anyone with a title, for example.

You're so ignorant. Bless your heart.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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?

What are you? A high school kid trying to maintain a false argument? The fact you mentioned a knighthood tells me that you know nothing about what the British class system was or is or what it's like today.

There's little difference between the UK and the US in terms of class divisions these days. Just because there's a handful of people with titles doesn't say anything, titles are cultural leftovers and carry little social or political prestige. The vast majority of British have never met anyone with a title, for example.

NP. LOL. You know nothing about Britain and embarrass yourself every time you speak

I lived in Britain for eight years and still go back yearly, often twice yearly. I'm pretty sure I'm much more familiar with the country than you. To use the reference of a knighthood, for example, knighthoods are titles awarded for accomplishments of significant merit. This can range from sporting accomplishments to artists to highly powered barristers to politicians to senior civil servants to heads of universities to major corporate leaders, who all come from a wide array of backgrounds (some people don't deserve the knighthood, but that's a different topic). It's not the same as the old hereditary titles, of which none are being created except for members of the royal family. So that's why when you talked about a knighthood I knew you were likely bullshitting about your familiarity with the UK, because, if anything, knighthood =/= social class, especially these days. Even Mo Farah has a knighthood.

It's also considered tacky to introduce yourself by your title and many people with hereditary titles or life peerages or knighthoods rarely use them except on formal occasions. The old landed aristocracy that once held much sway over the country's social, economic and political life are now almost invisible and for all practical purpose, have no impact on modern day Britain.

I'm also enough of a veteran of internet forums to recognize how posting styles often indicate the general age and maturity of the poster. I was a kid once, after all.

[Anonymous]

Theyre angry about becoming a largely irrelevant nation when they once were the greatest superpower. Sour grapes

[Anonymous]

Another American twat who doesn't know what he/she is talking about?

Anonymous wrote:Theyre angry about becoming a largely irrelevant nation when they once were the greatest superpower. Sour grapes

[Anonymous]

So weird, Americans writing and calling Israeli's rude, Brits rude, South Africans , Europe.....after one page I got my reality fix...Americans are judgemental as heck.....u are all rude......have you ever sen an American in Paris...loud and obnoxious! that's rude.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So weird, Americans writing and calling Israeli's rude, Brits rude, South Africans , Europe.....after one page I got my reality fix...Americans are judgemental as heck.....u are all rude......have you ever sen an American in Paris...loud and obnoxious! that's rude.

And where are you from, you charmer you?

[Anonymous]

First of all I apologise but I didn't read all 19 pages, sorry. I do have an opinion/idea about this as I'm British. I lived in DC for 3 years but left in August and shall be back in January, hence still being on the board (it's addictive. So sue me)*.

I think part of the problem is that to the rest of the world including, but not limited to, America, Britain is the land of Benedict Cumberbatch, Emma Watson, Tom Hiddleston, Downton Abbey and perhaps, at the other end of the social spectrum, Eastenders. The livelihood of most British performers and British media relies on the rest of the world believing that all of Great Britain lives in some twee Austen-esque bubble where all the men are charming James Bond types who wander around in 3 piece suits all day, opening doors for ladies and the women are busy having vapours whenever they’re not shagging Oliver Mellors. Either that or we’re ‘salt of the earth’ cockney types who are all busy being cheeky, chirpy and working class whilst singing ‘I’m Getting Married In The Morning’.

This is so far from the truth of Great Britain in the 21st Century it’s unreal. It’s like suggesting that everyone in America is a gun toting, tobacco chewing fat person or that every American is an aggressive Wall Street type who wears shoulder pads and chants ‘Greed Is Good’.

The reality is that just as you in America are millions of people who all behave totally differently, so do we. Some Americans I have met are wonderful; you’re funny, welcoming, generous and kind (so kind. Really. Almost to a fault). Some of you are, frankly, horrible. You’re loud at inappropriate times, you’re obnoxious, you have some strange idea that the rest of the world can’t function without you intervening.

Do you get what I mean? Lots of great behaviours and a fair amount of negatives too. It’s the same with Great Britain and the English, Welsh, Scottish and Northern Irish. Some of us are chuffing awesome. Some of us considerably less so. Also Italians, French…… see where I’m going?

None of us live in a vacuum; we are all the sum of our experiences and our demeanor reflects that. To suggest that an entire nation is a particular way because you’ve met, what, a dozen of them is a preposterous generalization.

The only difference that I can see between a cross section of Americans and a cross section of Brits is that I’ve never come across a message board thread in the London saying “Why are Americans so…(insert negative generalization to make myself feel better about my general shittiness)….?”

*I felt a qualifier was needed before someone inevitably started screeching about people outside DC posting. Yawn.

[Anonymous]

^I hate this argument. I appreciate the intent but of course all human beings are different, that's obvious. But anyone would acknowledge there are cultural differences in how people behave. That's sociology 101.

Anyway, thanks for your input. Was interesting to read

[Anonymous]

^^ there is a MASSIVE difference between the class system in the UK and that of the USA.

Firstly the USA one is built entirely around $$$

The UK one is built around family background, education and in many cases, yes, titles. Lots of young Londoners have them and keep quiet about them. They don't die out you know. When I was a teenager growing up in Chelsea I was friends with two sets of "landed gentry". They may not have had so much land any more but they kept their titles thank you very much.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:^^ there is a MASSIVE difference between the class system in the UK and that of the USA.

Firstly the USA one is built entirely around $$$

The UK one is built around family background, education and in many cases, yes, titles. Lots of young Londoners have them and keep quiet about them. They don't die out you know. When I was a teenager growing up in Chelsea I was friends with two sets of "landed gentry". They may not have had so much land any more but they kept their titles thank you very much.

I really like that about England. I come from an old money US family (with English roots) and no one gives a flying F. I would absolutely love if we were judged about that.

Unfortunately I couldn't even move to England to get that status because I'd be a "new money American" either way by their standards. So i for one would be thrilled with the class system (since this is an anonymous board). I also think respecting family traditions and quiet status is actually pretty great.

[Anonymous]

Bitter they're just a cog in the EU machine. The high-born elites run and will always run England. Here in the states you can hustle, plus maybe a little luck and achieve class mobility. The low-born across the pond are losers cradle to the grave.

[Anonymous]

I've been on the receiving end of English rudeness. I can't think of any other group of non-Americans who have shown the sort of appalling and inexcusable rudeness the English have shown. If they think their rudeness is somehow admirable or cute, it's not. It's appalling.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I've been on the receiving end of English rudeness. I can't think of any other group of non-Americans who have shown the sort of appalling and inexcusable rudeness the English have shown. If they think their rudeness is somehow admirable or cute, it's not. It's appalling.

Me too, and I've travelled quite a bit and lived in other places in Europe.