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Source: (consider it)
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Thread: Heaven: What's strange about the British?
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The Undiscovered Country
Shipmate
# 4811
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Posted
There lots of discussions on the Ship on issues of US culture which the British (and others) find strange/puzzling but what aspects of British life and culture do those from the US or other countries find equally strange or puzzling?
[Thread title edited]
[ 03. October 2004, 21:01: Message edited by: Belisarius ]
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The reasonable man adapts himself to the world. The unreasonable man adapts the world to himself. Therefore all hope of progress rests with the unreasonable man.
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Amos
Shipmate
# 44
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Posted
Where to begin? I've had a hell of a time learning to greet the English. I used to say 'Hello' or 'Good morning', and, as an American I thought the question 'Are you all right?' was a solicitous indication that either my neuroses or my underwear was showing. Now I know better. Folks, the English of our generation greet each other by saying 'Orrigh?' I'm still working out what the correct reply is--I think it may be a simple repetition of the question.
Another thing--the way the English dress their tiny daughters: I think I mentioned on another thread the 'Porn Star' tee shirt spotted on a three year old. Will someone who was born here explain to me why so many six year olds are dressed like thirty year old slappers?
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At the end of the day we face our Maker alongside Jesus--ken
Posts: 7667 | From: Summerisle | Registered: May 2001
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Pegasus*
Shipmate
# 5779
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Posted
quote:
Originally posted by Amos:
Folks, the English of our generation greet each other by saying 'Orrigh?' I'm still working out what the correct reply is--I think it may be a simple repetition of the question.
Almost right. "Orrigh" is the only acceptable spoken response, but if you can mannage it a mere nod and a scowl is far better.
Glass Angel
Yoof of today
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Not a Proper Christian™
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Neep
Ship's Meerkat
# 5213
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Posted
quote:
Originally posted by Amos:
Folks, the English of our generation greet each other by saying 'Orrigh?' I'm still working out what the correct reply is--I think it may be a simple repetition of the question.
I've always found "Not bad, mate- and yerself?" to be quite effective, but I know it depends on the way in which the question is asked.
Of course, there's no possible (acceptable) response to indicate that you're not all right / orright: it's not the done thing, or somesuch. Anyone meeting with such a perculiar response will almost certainly ignore it, out of politeness. And quickly change the topic of conversation to their three-year-old's new bunny playboy girl outfit. ![[Projectile]](graemlins/puke2.gif)
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"Your standing days are done," I cried, "You'll rally me no more!
I don't even know which side we fought on, or what for."
Posts: 293 | From: A burrow, in England | Registered: Nov 2003
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The Expatriate Theolinguist
Shipmate
# 6064
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Posted
quote:
Originally posted by Ship's Meerkat:
Of course, there's no possible (acceptable) response to indicate that you're not all right / orright: it's not the done thing, or somesuch.
I remember a certain former US President (I forget which one) used to greet everyone with a warm handshake and the words 'I murdered my grandmother this morning'. Because of the way he delivered his message, no-one caught on to what he was realy saying and just assumed he was saying 'I'm fine, thank you'. Or somesuch.
Scary, isn't it?
Being a Brit myself, I recognise that it is we who are totally normal and you foreigners are the ones who are strange.
Um, please don't send me to Hell for that one...
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Formerly mr_ricarno, many moons ago.
Posts: 731 | From: Upstate New York | Registered: May 2004
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balaam
Making an ass of myself
# 4543
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Posted
Any nation which calls its uplands 'downs' has to be strange. In my neck of the woods we call them 'southerners'. ![[Biased]](wink.gif)
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Posts: 9049 | From: Hen Ogledd | Registered: May 2003
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Peppone
Marine
# 3855
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Posted
Before I left the UK, I thought our attitude to work- ie, we hate and avoid it- was the global norm. Then I met Americans, who get, as far as I can tell, about 5 working days vacation a year and are considered weak if they actually take it. And Hong Kongers, who stared at me uncomprehendingly when I got up to leave the office at 5pm. Most of them would be there until 10, maybe later.
So it turns out to be strange that we are a nation of workshy, malingering loafers.
Or maybe I just speak for myself.
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Posts: 3020 | From: Hong Kong | Registered: Dec 2002
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Neep
Ship's Meerkat
# 5213
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Posted
quote:
Originally posted by Peppone:
Before I left the UK, I thought our attitude to work- ie, we hate and avoid it- was the global norm. Then I met Americans, who get, as far as I can tell, about 5 working days vacation a year and are considered weak if they actually take it. And Hong Kongers, who stared at me uncomprehendingly when I got up to leave the office at 5pm. Most of them would be there until 10, maybe later.
So it turns out to be strange that we are a nation of workshy, malingering loafers.
Or maybe I just speak for myself.
Hmmm. I know someone who's worked for a multinational company on several continents, and made similar observations. I didn't work it out at the time, but us Brits do seem to have a very different working culture. Does anyone have any idea why?
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"Your standing days are done," I cried, "You'll rally me no more!
I don't even know which side we fought on, or what for."
Posts: 293 | From: A burrow, in England | Registered: Nov 2003
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Marvin the Martian
Interplanetary
# 4360
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Posted
quote:
Originally posted by Ship's Meerkat:
quote:
Originally posted by Peppone:
Before I left the UK, I thought our attitude to work- ie, we hate and avoid it- was the global norm. Then I met Americans, who get, as far as I can tell, about 5 working days vacation a year and are considered weak if they actually take it. And Hong Kongers, who stared at me uncomprehendingly when I got up to leave the office at 5pm. Most of them would be there until 10, maybe later.
So it turns out to be strange that we are a nation of workshy, malingering loafers.
Or maybe I just speak for myself.
Hmmm. I know someone who's worked for a multinational company on several continents, and made similar observations. I didn't work it out at the time, but us Brits do seem to have a very different working culture. Does anyone have any idea why?
We like having time to spend with friends and family?
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Hail Gallaxhar
Posts: 30100 | From: Adrift on a sea of surreality | Registered: Apr 2003
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Seth
Shipmate
# 3623
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Posted
I can't work out if if I'm just sour and
cynical,Meerkat,but maybe it has something to do
with our history of social hierarchy and
imperialism.
The idea that you're a better person if someone
else does your work for you?
Posts: 566 | From: Wiltshire, UK | Registered: Dec 2002
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dorcas
Ship's florist
# 4775
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Posted
quote:
Originally posted by Amos:
Where to begin? I've had a hell of a time learning to greet the English. I used to say 'Hello' or 'Good morning', and, as an American I thought the question 'Are you all right?' was a solicitous indication that either my neuroses or my underwear was showing. Now I know better. Folks, the English of our generation greet each other by saying 'Orrigh?' I'm still working out what the correct reply is--I think it may be a simple repetition of the question.
I was born here, I've lived here all my life, but I don't understand it either!!
Mind you, my mother is American (which probably explains a lot of other things about me too!) and my father is Scottish - which begs another question - are we talking here about British culture, or English culture?
As Flanders & Swan (icons of comedy for those of us who remember the 60's over here) used to say -
"The rule is, if we've done something wonderful, it's Another Triumph For Great Britain, but if it's bad, we say England Loses Again"
![[Big Grin]](biggrin.gif)
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"I love large women - they supply warmth in the winter and shade in the summer!" (With thanks to Gort!)
Posts: 387 | From: The Curry Mile, Manchester | Registered: Jul 2003
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Go Anne Go
Amazonian Wonder
# 3519
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Posted
Ah, having lived five years in England and the rest in America, I've dealt with many of these problems.
I still remember the first time someone said "All right?" to me. It was Malcolm, I was in a lecture hall waiting for the lecture to start, and having been the object of recent trauma of which Malcolm knew, I took it as a serious enquiry into my physical and mental state. Oops!
Lucky old Malcolm was also the subject of the time that he was explaining something to me, and then said "Bob's your uncle!" I was completely confused, as I had never heard the expression before, and do in fact have an uncle named Bob, and really could NOT figure out what Uncle Bob had to do with a conversation on how to change a tire.
Other fun conversational gaffes included trying to borrow a pair of braces/suspenders that hold your trousers up for a party. My friend Jonathan knew what I wanted, but didn't bother to correct my usage. Knowing that his housemate Rick had a pair of suspenders/garter belt from a Rocky Horror party, but not bothering to let me in on the joke, he got me to go up to Rick (who at that point I had met like twice) and say "Hey, Jon says you've got a pair of suspenders I can borrow?" Rick was quite embarrassed. Jon was terribly amused.
As for the work thing, my best friend's (he's a Brit) company was bought out recently by a US company, so now he works with the lawyers there. One of the new US lawyers just came from a big firm, where she worked 50 of the last 52 weekends for a year. Steve didn't understand why she brought this up. I informed him that in NY law firm culture, she's boasting, and trying to impress him. He thought this was totally sick. I think he's right.
[ 05. June 2004, 14:41: Message edited by: Go Anne Go ]
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Posts: 2227 | From: Home of the 2004 World Series Champion Red Sox | Registered: Nov 2002
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AngelaSo
Shipmate
# 6699
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Posted
quote:
Originally posted by Marvin the Martian:
quote:
Hmmm. I know someone who's worked for a multinational company on several continents, and made similar observations. I didn't work it out at the time, but us Brits do seem to have a very different working culture. Does anyone have any idea why?
We like having time to spend with friends and family?
I'd lived in London UK for a year.... 15 year in Hong Kong as a child, and 10 years in Canada.
Why English people love to go to pubs??? I can't remember a week without going to pubs with my colleagues and friends when I was in the UK. And I can't understand why the UK doesn't have light beer for sale. ![[Confused]](confused.gif)
In Canada... or at least in London, Ontario and in Toronto, people love to spend time at coffee shops, especially the one called Tim Horton's. Canadians drink coffee like drinking water.
[fixed quote]
[ 07. June 2004, 11:05: Message edited by: Stoo ]
Posts: 135 | From: London Canada | Registered: May 2004
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starbelly
but you can call me Neil
# 25
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Posted
quote:
Originally posted by AngelaSo:
I can't remember a week without going to pubs with my colleagues and friends when I was in the UK.
A week without going to the pub? I can hardly remember an evening where a pub was not involved somewhere.
Neil
Posts: 6009 | From: High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire. | Registered: May 2001
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Go Anne Go
Amazonian Wonder
# 3519
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Posted
Thepub is totally a part of British culture. I used to go all the time. It is more like Cheers than any bar I've ever seen in the USA. You go, you meet your friends, you meet your neighbours, you hang out. Different pubs in your own neighbourhood have different cultures. You find the one you want and you go there.
Viva the pub quiz! We used to win boatloads.
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Go Anne Go, you is the bestest shipmate evah - Kelly Alveswww.goannego.com
Posts: 2227 | From: Home of the 2004 World Series Champion Red Sox | Registered: Nov 2002
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Neep
Ship's Meerkat
# 5213
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Posted
quote:
Originally posted by AngelaSo:
Why English people love to go to pubs??? I can't remember a week without going to pubs with my colleagues and friends when I was in the UK. And I can't understand why the UK doesn't have light beer for sale.
Light beer? What's that?
Seriously?
Most pubs serve Stella Artois, which must be a little light on the beer front so they can fit the feline urine in the keg. But I don't imagine that's the stuff you're referring to. I have no idea why anyone would want to drink it.
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"Your standing days are done," I cried, "You'll rally me no more!
I don't even know which side we fought on, or what for."
Posts: 293 | From: A burrow, in England | Registered: Nov 2003
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RuthW
liberal "peace first" hankie squeezer
# 13
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Posted
Light beer is reduced calorie beer.
My questions:
What's a pub quiz?
How much do you really hate American tourists? I've read numerous complaints about American tourists on these boards, but when I travelled in Britain, even when I did things that apparently just aren't done - like strike up conversations with complete strangers on the train - no one rolled their eyes and said, "Oh crap, an American." Some folks were even quite friendly and asked where I was from, how long I'd be in the UK and what I was planning to see, what did I think of it, etc. Were they letting down the side?
Posts: 24453 | From: La La Land | Registered: Apr 2001
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QLib
Bad Example
# 43
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Posted
No, they weren't letting the side down; we like you really (most of you, anyway) but we like moaning even more. Also because the Brits (especially the English) are so uptight, some days we'd never talk to anybody if we didn't talk to puzzled foreign tourists. It's the closest a lot of us get to therapy.
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Tradition is the handing down of the flame, not the worship of the ashes Gustav Mahler.
Posts: 8913 | From: Page 28 | Registered: May 2001
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Seth
Shipmate
# 3623
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Posted
Amen! ![[Overused]](graemlins/notworthy.gif)
Posts: 566 | From: Wiltshire, UK | Registered: Dec 2002
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Papio
Ship's baboon
# 4201
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Posted
It depends on the American tourists. We hate the loud, arrogant ones who expect some tiny little corner shop in the middle of nowhere to take dollars, make audible patronising comments about everything, go around with 2500 camera's around their necks and think people are stupid because they say "pavement" instead of "sidewalk" and "launderette" instead of "laundermatt". And get offended because people have British attitude and not American ones.
Most of the American toursits/exchange students I have met have been lovely, but the one or two who were like the above: ![[Mad]](angryfire.gif)
The type of American I have just described is the archtypical British stereotype of an American tourist, although I sincerely doubt that people actually think that more than a handful of Americans are actually like that.
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Posts: 12176 | From: a zoo in England. | Registered: Mar 2003
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Ormo
Shipmate
# 4805
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Posted
Even the mean ones get slightly abrupt politeness, which often americans don't seem to recognise the abruptness and consider it as simple politeness...
[ 05. June 2004, 17:24: Message edited by: Ormo ]
Posts: 445 | From: Belfast, Northern Ireland | Registered: Aug 2003
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RuthW
liberal "peace first" hankie squeezer
# 13
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Posted
quote:
Originally posted by Qlib:
No, they weren't letting the side down; we like you really (most of you, anyway) but we like moaning even more. Also because the Brits (especially the English) are so uptight, some days we'd never talk to anybody if we didn't talk to puzzled foreign tourists. It's the closest a lot of us get to therapy.
![[Killing me]](graemlins/killingme.gif) (Realizing how much therapy I gave to Brits when I was there!)
This does make me wonder how on earth you make friends with each other, you know!
Posts: 24453 | From: La La Land | Registered: Apr 2001
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Seth
Shipmate
# 3623
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Posted
By moaning,Ruth...
Posts: 566 | From: Wiltshire, UK | Registered: Dec 2002
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Papio
Ship's baboon
# 4201
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Posted
Ruth - what makes you wonder how we befriend each other?
Brits are usually polite to people faces even if we can't stand you. It's the tone of voice you need to watch.
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Posts: 12176 | From: a zoo in England. | Registered: Mar 2003
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RuthW
liberal "peace first" hankie squeezer
# 13
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Posted
Seth: Ah, I see. So next time I visit the UK if I want to strike up conversations with people, I should grumble about the train being late or the weather being bad? The weather was stunningly gorgeous when I was there; perhaps I could have complained about the sun? After all, the farmers need the rain, don't they?
Edit because of cross-post: Papio, I was being facetious.
[ 05. June 2004, 17:32: Message edited by: RuthW ]
Posts: 24453 | From: La La Land | Registered: Apr 2001
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Seth
Shipmate
# 3623
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Posted
Isn't Ruth a decent sort?
Posts: 566 | From: Wiltshire, UK | Registered: Dec 2002
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MiceElf
Not your average mouse
# 4389
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Posted
What's strange about the English? The faith we place in tea.
Its more than a national beverage its almost a religion.
There is no trauma, injury, disaster, known to man that cannot be soothed by the comforting knowledge that the kettle is on and a cuppa brewing.
Im still in shock following my trip to PA a few years ago, where there was no kettle, and they suggested I got hot water out the tap to make tea!! BLEUGH!! Everyone in the house where I stayed only ever drank coke... gross. ![[Disappointed]](graemlins/disappointed.gif)
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What do we want.... Cure for Obesity
When do we want it.... After Dessert.
Posts: 1032 | From: OILOVWOIGHT | Registered: Apr 2003
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Papio
Ship's baboon
# 4201
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Posted
If you really want to strike up a conversation with a randon Brit some good subjects would be:
The Weather
The price of bread
Posh n Becks (with younger Brits)
How crap the trains are
Posts: 12176 | From: a zoo in England. | Registered: Mar 2003
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Neep
Ship's Meerkat
# 5213
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Posted
quote:
Originally posted by footdoc:
What's strange about the English? The faith we place in tea.
Its more than a national beverage its almost a religion.
There is no trauma, injury, disaster, known to man that cannot be soothed by the comforting knowledge that the kettle is on and a cuppa brewing.
Are you suggesting that there is some event that can't be solved using careful application of tea? ![[Eek!]](eek.gif)
For is it not written that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing shall be able to separate an Englishman from his tea. Or, at worst, it might just maybe separate us but nothing can stop us from politely moaning about its absense.
Oh damnation, that was heresy again, wasn't it?
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"Your standing days are done," I cried, "You'll rally me no more!
I don't even know which side we fought on, or what for."
Posts: 293 | From: A burrow, in England | Registered: Nov 2003
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KenWritez
Shipmate
# 3238
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Posted
I really, truly enjoy talking to complete strangers while waiting in line or whatever. Sure, I've run into some jerks but easily 95% of them have been at least polite to me, and sometimes we even have a great conversation, even if it's brief. (Often you meet the most fascinating people! I met Roy Orbison's nieces that way.) As a point, I would not have met one of my best friends had I not struck up a conversation with him when we were seated near each other at a writer's conference.
Am I correct in picking up from this thread that talking to strangers is "not done" in England? Would the natives look at me as if I were a lunatic if I talked to them? Does this hold in other parts of the UK: Scotland, Ireland, Wales, etc.?
A previous poster talked about different pubs have different cultures. What would be some examples of this?
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"The truth is you're the weak. And I'm the tyranny of evil men. But I'm tryin', Ringo. I'm tryin' real hard to be a shepherd." --Quentin Tarantino, Pulp Fiction
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Posts: 11102 | From: Left coast of Wonderland, by the rabbit hole | Registered: Aug 2002
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babybear
Bear faced and cheeky with it
# 34
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Posted
quote:
Originally posted by Kenwritez:
Am I correct in picking up from this thread that talking to strangers is "not done" in England? Would the natives look at me as if I were a lunatic if I talked to them? Does this hold in other parts of the UK: Scotland, Ireland, Wales, etc.?
A previous poster talked about different pubs have different cultures. What would be some examples of this?
Kenwritez, they are talking a pile of pants. We have friends and we talk to each other.... Actually, given who posted that we don't do those things, it is probably true for them!
I talk to people on buses and trains. I chat to people when I am out and about. I smile at people too. When I meet foreigners I chat with them as ask them what they have done and what they want to see. I even suggest things that they might not have heard of.
Some pubs are absolute dives. People go there to drink their lives away. Those places stink, and your shoes stick to the floor! Some are more like the bar in Cheers where you go to meet your mates and have a nice relaxed evening.
Posts: 13287 | From: Cottage of the 3 Bears (and The Gremlin) | Registered: May 2001
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NO
Shipmate
# 5477
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Posted
I'm afraid you would get some very funny (read: suspicious) looks if you attempted to talk to a complete stranger in Britain, especially if it was on a train.
Exceptions to this rule are:
- On a train / waiting for a train / other public transport situation where everything's gone completely wrong. Give a rueful grin to someone, and if they acknowledge your presence, you may start a conversation about what a shambles it is, which may or may not eventually move on to a general conversation. Please note this is only if you have been delayed for a considerable amount of time, at which point the British phenomenon known as the "Dunkirk spirit" kicks in, and it would then be rude not to converse with your fellow sufferer. The point at which ignoring one another gives way to "all pulling together" is extremely difficult to define.
- If you and the other person are the only people for miles around and it would be rude not to acknowledge their presence.
- In the country, if you pass another walker, you may greet them as you go by.
- erm... there might be some more but I can't think of them for now. Anyone else got any bright ideas?
[cross-posted with bb, who is saying the total opposite... just goes to show that there are no hard and fast rules It's probably safe to say that the "don't talk to each other" rule applies more in big cities than anywhere else.]
[ 05. June 2004, 18:19: Message edited by: Norman the Organ ]
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RuthW
liberal "peace first" hankie squeezer
# 13
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Posted
quote:
Originally posted by Seth:
Isn't Ruth a decent sort?
But I talk to people on trains.
Thanks, Norman and babybear. Now I know that in Britain it's safe to talk to the bears, but not the organists.
Still wondering about the pub quiz thing. Do the pubs sponsor quizzes and give prizes, or is this an informal thing where some patron just stands up and says, "Right. Time for the quiz. We'll start with any easy one: how many of his wives did Henry VIII kill?"
Posts: 24453 | From: La La Land | Registered: Apr 2001
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QLib
Bad Example
# 43
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Posted
Usually there is a pub quiz league - they organise the question setter and the championship shield or whatever. Yes, I know it's sad but.... Anyway, the pubs offer hospitality (part of a room and maybe sandwiches) usually on a Sunday night when they have less customers. Because a pub quiz team is usually four people so that's at least 8 (two teams), generally 9 (Question master as well) on a night when your normal maximum is three, and a smelly old dog. They are all expected to buy drinks, you see.
P.S. Babybear doesn't do the full English uptightness thing because she lives in Wales (yes?). Celts are more outgoing and emotionally literate, as a general rule.
[ 05. June 2004, 18:55: Message edited by: Qlib ]
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Tradition is the handing down of the flame, not the worship of the ashes Gustav Mahler.
Posts: 8913 | From: Page 28 | Registered: May 2001
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Pegasus*
Shipmate
# 5779
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Posted
I think levels of tourist animosity depend on what area of the country you're in as well. I never disliked American tourists too much until I moved to Cambridge, which seems to have American tourists oozing out of the woodwork.
Between May and September it takes about three and a half hours to navigate King's Parade because it is packed with camera-wielding, postcard-buying, direction-asking tourists, and then they have the audacity to actually come into the Colleges! Can you believe it? But seriously, I think most visitors forget that the Colleges are actually home to an awful lot of people, and that yes, people really do live in them, and that we do not especially appreciate having people hanging round outside admiring the architecture. Nor do we like it when people wander in to have a look at the wonderful Medieval Hall when we are eating our dinner in it. Oh yes, and people wandering around wearing gowns do not want to have their photo taken, no matter how English/ old fashioned/ stupid they look. And what's more...oh hang on, this isn't Hell is it? Perhaps I should shut up now.
All American tourists are lovely really. Just don't ask for directions to the University.
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Amphibalus
Cloak of anonymity
# 5351
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Posted
In the more deeply rural parts of England's green and pleasant, the traditional response to any alien intrusion (such as anyone from the next village) is: ''Ere's a stranger, 'eave a brick at 'im'. ![[Snigger]](graemlins/snigger.gif)
In the light of the above discussion, and having been a few times to the States and got used to the friendliness, I recall trying to strike up a conversation with a group of North Americans in a railway carriage earlier this year. It was like swimming through treacle - but they were Canadians. Does that make a difference?
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I saw a werewolf with a Chinese menu in his hand
Walking through the streets of Soho in the rain
He was looking for the place called Lee Ho Fook’s
Going to get a big dish of beef chow mein. (Warren Zevon)
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The Undiscovered Country
Shipmate
# 4811
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Posted
quote:
Originally posted by dorcas:
quote:
Originally posted by Amos:
Where to begin? I've had a hell of a time learning to greet the English. I used to say 'Hello' or 'Good morning', and, as an American I thought the question 'Are you all right?' was a solicitous indication that either my neuroses or my underwear was showing. Now I know better. Folks, the English of our generation greet each other by saying 'Orrigh?' I'm still working out what the correct reply is--I think it may be a simple repetition of the question.
I was born here, I've lived here all my life, but I don't understand it either!!
Mind you, my mother is American (which probably explains a lot of other things about me too!) and my father is Scottish - which begs another question - are we talking here about British culture, or English culture?
As Flanders & Swan (icons of comedy for those of us who remember the 60's over here) used to say -
"The rule is, if we've done something wonderful, it's Another Triumph For Great Britain, but if it's bad, we say England Loses Again"
Good point, which I should thought about in using 'British' rather than 'English' in the title, especially isnce my wife is Scottish and, like most Scots, finds the English just as puzzling as everyone else.
When she moved to England, one of the things which bothered her was how the English would only offer a cup of tea or coffee and perhaps a biscuit to a visitor to their house. For ages she felt she was being positively unhospitable by making even the casual visitor anything less than a sandwich.
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The reasonable man adapts himself to the world. The unreasonable man adapts the world to himself. Therefore all hope of progress rests with the unreasonable man.
Posts: 1216 | From: Belfast | Registered: Aug 2003
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QLib
Bad Example
# 43
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Posted
Yes, in really touristy areas people mostly hate all tourists on principle. And at least you can forgive foreigners a bit because, being foreign, they, of course, don't know any better.
Posts: 8913 | From: Page 28 | Registered: May 2001
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KenWritez
Shipmate
# 3238
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Posted
When I visit the UK metropolii, I shall be sure to wear the placard around my neck, FOREIGNER, and ring my cowbell while continuously begging forgiveness for my alienness....
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"The truth is you're the weak. And I'm the tyranny of evil men. But I'm tryin', Ringo. I'm tryin' real hard to be a shepherd." --Quentin Tarantino, Pulp Fiction
My blog: http://oxygenofgrace.blogspot.com
Posts: 11102 | From: Left coast of Wonderland, by the rabbit hole | Registered: Aug 2002
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Pegasus*
Shipmate
# 5779
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Posted
quote:
Originally posted by Qlib:
Yes, in really touristy areas people mostly hate all tourists on principle. And at least you can forgive foreigners a bit because, being foreign, they, of course, don't know any better.
Yes, and I'm of the opinion that those people who talked to Ruth on the train were probably only humouring her. ![[Razz]](tongue.gif)
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Not a Proper Christian™
Posts: 533 | Registered: Apr 2004
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Papio
Ship's baboon
# 4201
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Posted
Re: the pub quiz. A local pub (called the Firey Angle otherwise known amongst students as the Firey A-hole) has a weekly quiz with seperate rounds.
For example, they will have a series of questions on Sport, then TV, then General Knowledge, then History, then Pop-Music, then something utterly random like Kings and Queens in the Bible or something.
The winning team wins booze. My housemates and I (together with assorted girlfriends and random people we know) have won a grand total of once. Be impressed.
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Infinite Penguins.
My "Readit, Swapit" page
My "LibraryThing" page
Posts: 12176 | From: a zoo in England. | Registered: Mar 2003
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Amos
Shipmate
# 44
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Posted
In the US, when your car gets mud and salt and grime on it, you generally take it to a carwash. There it goes through a giant scrubbing machine, and for a small fee and a decent tip, the young men employed by the carwash will polish it, vacuum it, and spray it with the scent of new plastic. You do this about once a month, max, or a little oftener if it's really filthy.
In the UK carwashing is a sacrament which another cannot perform on your behalf. Up and down the country, every weekend--sometimes every day, if they get home early--Britons are out on the street with hose and bucket and sponge, various bottles of simonizing solutions, and the family vacuum. There appears to be great shame attached to the dirtiness of the family car, and, indeed, I have noticed Britons who wash their cars more than they appear to wash themselves. Please, can someone explain this phenomena?
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At the end of the day we face our Maker alongside Jesus--ken
Posts: 7667 | From: Summerisle | Registered: May 2001
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Amos
Shipmate
# 44
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Posted
'Phenomenon'. Bugger. ![[Hot and Hormonal]](icon_redface.gif)
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At the end of the day we face our Maker alongside Jesus--ken
Posts: 7667 | From: Summerisle | Registered: May 2001
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Jengie jon
Semper Reformanda
# 273
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Posted
First off there is one clear exception to the no talk rule on trains .....
When the train is running ridiculously late. You know when this is because the train line starts offering you free drinks! Then the practise is to blether about whats going on, the worst train journey you ever had and whether you will get where you need to.
Actually there seems to be a policy that if you take something like knitting and try to do it on the train, then they can talk to you!!!
The other conversation that is acceptable is to ask about the train
quote:
Is this the 15:32 to Little Whammy and is it stopping at Great Budchester.
Also as a rule the further north you are the more likely people are to be happy to be approached. However never every talk of anything truly consequential, like why you are travelling and to where.
As to the greeting "orrigh?" in my generation the response is "Fine, you?" and we will say it even if our pet hamsters just died and we have been told we only have a week to live. The second question on the lines "Hows things?" will get the required info but only if we have talked previously. Otherwise you are likely to be told where you get off.
It ain't just Yorkshire men who say "o.k." and mean fantastic, anyone can do this. It is also worth realising that words on the lines of "Mustn't grumble" mean that they are having a miserable time. That is that the practise is understatement.
Jengie
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"To violate a persons ability to distinguish fact from fantasy is the epistemological equivalent of rape." Noretta Koertge
Back to my blog
Posts: 20894 | From: city of steel, butterflies and rainbows | Registered: May 2001
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Gremlin
Ship's Cryptanalyst
# 129
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Posted
quote:
Originally posted by Qlib:
Yes, in really touristy areas people mostly hate all tourists on principle. And at least you can forgive foreigners a bit because, being foreign, they, of course, don't know any better.
I've lived in a couple of touristy places and, yes, I hate tourists*... because they damn well get in the way of me pursuing my daily life by crowding pavements and walking slowly gawking at things I've seen a thousand times before.
Of course, I've now moved to a town that sees very few tourists, so I've removed that source of stress from my life
As for tea? Don't drink the stuff. However, the reason it is seen as a panacea for all ills is its association with relaxation... which is usually a helpful thing to do when stressed by disasters.
Gremlin
* as a general rule, I have come across nice individuals, but as a group they are the pits.
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Too many freaks, not enough circuses.
Ahhh...I see the screw-up fairy has visited us again...
Oh I get it... like humour... but different.
Posts: 5221 | From: Isle of Man | Registered: May 2001
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