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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=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.
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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.[/quote]

Not a Brit but an Anglophile, but I've noticed that Americans and Brits have a different sense of humor, more of a gallows humor about events, such as terrorist acts.  When the car drove through pedestrians on London Bridge, Americans were posting the usual "thoughts and prayers," "we stand with England" aphorisms.   Several Brits came on with cheeky, irreverent comments that sent the Americans around the bend and expressed "horror" at their lack of sympathy.    [/quote]

It's not just that.  I can deal with gallows humor.  When Americans are killed in a mass shooting or terrorist evnt, many Brits will chime in with America bashing, "this is your own fault" statements and downright despicable comments.

Seeing the contrast has made me realize how much America values compassion/kindness as a cultural value.  [/quote]
You are so wrong.  Americans like to "act" as if they have compassion and kindness.  The "thoughts and prayers" posters on Facebook are simpleton virtue signalers,  an unfortuante cultural norm rather than a cultural value.  [/quote]

No, it's genuine.  But you sound sociopathic so you wouldn't understand. [/quote]

What's sociopathic is refusing to renew health insurance for children, cutting taxes for the most fortunate and paying for it by cutting devices to the least fortunate, deporting immigrants who've lived their whole lives in the US, and vilifying people on the basis of religion,  and then claiming to be kind.

It's easy to treat the lady sitting next to you at Bible study well. The test of your character is how you treat people who can't do anything for you. [/quote]

What you don't seem to understand is that people have different POLITICAL BELIEFS on what benefits a person.  Some people who are opposed to healthcare thinks it will ultimately bring down the quality of healthcare and be a net negative, for example.

That is not about compassion, it's about your belief as to the best way to manifest government action.

A far cry from lack of compassion, or cruelty when something bad happens. [/quote]

Exactly!!![/quote]

This post reminds me of a clown pulling never ending ribbon from its mouth.  Step away PPs.  You need to take a break.[/quote]

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