Non-American Stereotypes of the British

[scherbchen]

no, I don't want to be slapped is why.

 

[Shekwan]

Another typical characteristic of an English middle class person is their ability to use insulting compliments in any situation. Can't think of any examples but you know what I mean? They're saying something nice but it implies that they think you're a bollocks.

Winner, what do you mean when you say "The UK is a parody of the US"?

 

[RedRalph]

Another typical characteristic of an English middle class person is their ability to use insulting compliments in any situation. Can't think of any examples but you know what I mean? They're saying something nice but it implies that they think you're a bollocks.

Winner, what do you mean when you say "The UK is a parody of the US"?

"My my, you are a clever fellow", or something like that

 

[Shekwan]

"My my, you are a clever fellow", or something like that

Yeah like that, they have a lot of practise so it's usually very subtle.

 

[RedRalph]

Yeah like that, they have a lot of practise so it's usually very subtle.

I'm going to have to be careful around the Mrs from now on, particularly when we're discussing sex... I may have been being belittled for the last 5 years without knowing it

 

[scherbchen]

agreed. Brits do use several nuances of irony and sarcasm not easily accessible to us. then again we are the posterchild for not having a sense of humour to begin with

 

[Pannonius]

No. I like Irish and Scots, but not the English.

 

[RedRalph]

No. I like Irish and Scots, but not the English.

why


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[GoodSarmatian]

Here are some negative stereotypes: Violent drunkards and overly nationalist EU-sceptics who think they are still a world-power and sometimes forget that WWII is already over.

 

[GoodSarmatian]

why


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I'd reckon it's because the English oppress Irish and Scottish nationalists...

 

[bathsheba666]

Another typical characteristic of an English middle class person is their ability to use insulting compliments in any situation. Can't think of any examples but you know what I mean? They're saying something nice but it implies that they think you're a bollocks.

I'm surprised you would think this.

 

[Formaldehyde]

Well, I'm an American but I'm going to interject my 2 cents anyway.

I'm a WASP. My ancestors on both sides came from England and Scotland. When my brother visited England for the first time, he summed it up nicely.

It's a country full of people just like me.

Except they all walk / drive on the wrong side of the sidewalk / road, and they naturally queue clockwise instead of counter-clockwise in museums. I call it Bizarro World because it is quite similar, only different.

 

[Disenfrancised]

"My my, you are a clever fellow", or something like that

"You must have spent a lot of time on that"
"I'm sure you gave it your all"

 

[dosed150]

I'd reckon it's because the English oppress Irish and Scottish nationalists...

seriously, only part of ireland is in britain a majority of people there are alrite with that, scottish nationalism is probably the strongest its been in centuries and if salmond gets his referendum they'll get independepence if they actually want it

 

[Formaldehyde]

That's true. Eventually, Britain does give you your freedom even if you don't go to war over it. Just look at Canada, Australia, and even India.

 

[Kal'thzar]

I suppose this question goes hand in hand with the OP, My mothers Swiss, however shes lived here for that last 21 years, so her views arn't really sterotypes.

Would other people say that the "Class system" is something very British? (My mother talks about it a lot! Also the addiction to WW2 and post Imperial power thing, but thats been mentioned)

 

[Sofista]

Britons (well, English: the other peoples up there don't really have a stereotype here):

1. love nature and animals;
2. don't eat well;
3. aren't especially well-dressed;
4. love cleanliness;
5. don't have a warm personality.

 

[Rossiya]

seriously, only part of ireland is in britain a majority of people there are alrite with that, scottish nationalism is probably the strongest its been in centuries and if salmond gets his referendum they'll get independepence if they actually want it

I hope Scotland gets its independence. Anything to stop them whinging, whining, bawling, etc..

 

[Brighteye]

I'd reckon it's because the English oppress Irish and Scottish nationalists...

Quite the opposite. The Irish nationalists have been blowing us up for decades and only recently stopped, and in return we occasionally issued a stern condemnation.
The Scots nationalists have been bringing their parliament into disrepute and inciting the populace and in return we might conceivably have batted an eyelid, but haven't got around to doing much else. After all, what else can we expect from the Scots?
The Welsh nationalists have been preaching lies about Welsh national history, when there isn't really such a thing, and waste huge amounts of money on translating everything when it's entirely unnecessary. All three sets of nationalists support anyone and everything against the English national sports teams, of any sport, in return for which the English tend to support the other teams from the UK.

So, yes we do oppress those nationalists. It's terribly wrong of us not also to pull our trousers down and ask to be spanked, and we humbly beg forgiveness.

 

[mangxema]

Another typical characteristic of an English middle class person is their ability to use insulting compliments in any situation. Can't think of any examples but you know what I mean?

That's not solely the English though... that happens here in the South too.