Why are the British so rude?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: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

Totally agree with you. And I love the use of "twat". You are definitely British.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: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

Totally agree with you. And I love the use of "twat". You are definitely British.

I am the poster who posted the post with twat. I am actually American. I lived in the U.K. so that's why I know the British aren't obsessed with the loss of empire or "decline." It is, after all, still the fifth or sixth richest economy with an impressive intelligence sector and an armed forces that is still far larger than almost everyone else. The vast majority of people today have no memory of the empire nor is there any desire to return to those days (everyone knows the empire bled Britain dry).

There are many national issues and national topics, but the empire or decline of influence isn't one of them. If they get annoyed or sensitive about anything, it is people, especially Americans, who speak as if the British are going around moaning about loss of power or prestige.

[Anonymous]

Don't forget that the British still have a highly stratified society where lower SES people are looked down on and routinely disrespected.

[Anonymous]

I love Brits. I hate most Americans and I am American.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Don't forget that the British still have a highly stratified society where lower SES people are looked down on and routinely disrespected.

And how is that any different from the US?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I love Brits. I hate most Americans and I am American.

Perhaps you can tell us what it is about the British that you love and what it is about most Americans that you hate.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: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.

Another Brit here and I agree with the above.

I honestly don't recognise the "appalling" rudeness referred to by PPs. If anything, many Americans I've met here have talked about typical British politeness. I'm quite offended by this thread and also a bit shocked that so many people are willing to generalise about an entire nation in this way. To those who've received rude treatment by British people, I'm sorry for you. But I've received rude treatment from countless Americans and I certainly don't think those Americans are representative. I don't think that English people are inherently rude. I can think of two things that might be difficult to understand and be perceived of as rude: 1) British people are often more reserved than Americans - less likely to smile at or approach strangers, etc. That's because most people think it's better to "mind your own business". 2) Banter - that specific kind of joking and taking the piss that British people do with each other. I guess that could come across as rude but it really isn't intended that way or taken that way by those involved in it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I love Brits. I hate most Americans and I am American.

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[Anonymous]

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[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My DH is British and I don't think he'd argue with you. On the one hand, Brits can be incredibly polite and never really tell you if they're upset, offended, etc. On the other hand, many, particularly the younger ones think Americans are obnoxious and full of themselves. They hate Trump and perhaps group us all together. The worst is when they hear things like us chanting 'USA USA USA.' They don't understand all the patriotic stuff and think we're arrogant. These are obviously vast generalizations and not always the case. What kind of snide comments are you hearing, OP?

[b]

I think the British are lovely and Americans are rude. The USA chants are obnoxious.

- Canadian

[Anonymous]

I'm an American living in London.

Overwhelmingly I find the country a bit dryer but still quite kind and polite. I am particularly fond of British men are more outgoing than American men, especially with kids.

I have had a 1-2 dealings of rudeness that do exceed anything I've experienced in the US. One was a non-native British clerk who was taking a great deal of pleasure being a prick to me and my kids in front of his regular store customers.

The other was an old lady on the bus last week. My 3 year old sat beside her and brushed up against her slightly and she went on about her bad shoulder. I apologized and made she was given plenty of space. But one stop later she started to get up when the bus was still moving and stepped all over my kids (my 7 year old was standing next to me) and pushed me out of the way to get to the door well before the bus stopped. She blatantly ignored me when I told her we were getting off at the same stop, rather seemed pissed that we weren't quick enough to get out of her way.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: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.

Another Brit here and I agree with the above.

I honestly don't recognise the "appalling" rudeness referred to by PPs. If anything, many Americans I've met here have talked about typical British politeness. I'm quite offended by this thread and also a bit shocked that so many people are willing to generalise about an entire nation in this way. To those who've received rude treatment by British people, I'm sorry for you. But I've received rude treatment from countless Americans and I certainly don't think those Americans are representative. I don't think that English people are inherently rude. I can think of two things that might be difficult to understand and be perceived of as rude: 1) British people are often more reserved than Americans - less likely to smile at or approach strangers, etc. That's because most people think it's better to "mind your own business". 2) Banter - that specific kind of joking and taking the piss that British people do with each other. I guess that could come across as rude but it really isn't intended that way or taken that way by those involved in it.

American here. I appreciate and agree with what you've both said. However, it must be admitted that many Brits *do* consider Americans, as a whole, to be rude, poorly behaved, loud, obese, etc. All the stereotypes. I've come across rude Brits fairly often, having lived and worked in the UK for years - but I don't assume all Brits are like that. It's unfortunate that the "ugly American" stereotype seems to be believed by many in the UK and Europe.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: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.

Another Brit here and I agree with the above.

I honestly don't recognise the "appalling" rudeness referred to by PPs. If anything, many Americans I've met here have talked about typical British politeness. I'm quite offended by this thread and also a bit shocked that so many people are willing to generalise about an entire nation in this way. To those who've received rude treatment by British people, I'm sorry for you. But I've received rude treatment from countless Americans and I certainly don't think those Americans are representative. I don't think that English people are inherently rude. I can think of two things that might be difficult to understand and be perceived of as rude: 1) British people are often more reserved than Americans - less likely to smile at or approach strangers, etc. That's because most people think it's better to "mind your own business". 2) Banter - that specific kind of joking and taking the piss that British people do with each other. I guess that could come across as rude but it really isn't intended that way or taken that way by those involved in it.

American here. I appreciate and agree with what you've both said. However, it must be admitted that many Brits *do* consider Americans, as a whole, to be rude, poorly behaved, loud, obese, etc. All the stereotypes. I've come across rude Brits fairly often, having lived and worked in the UK for years - but I don't assume all Brits are like that. It's unfortunate that the "ugly American" stereotype seems to be believed by many in the UK and Europe.

They resent us because they arent us.

[Anonymous]

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