So Is It Jst2 Cool Britannia?

by Englishman 23 Replies latest jw friends

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  Englishman

  No no, not "Cool" as in "Kewl", but cool as in chilly and cold, unfriendly almost, like we Brits are rumoured to be throughout the world.

  This is just an observation about how we perceive different groups of people.

  A few weeks back, I was enjoying an uproarious evening in the pub. I was accompanied by Jst2laws, and we were having a conversation about how many people thought of the Brits as unfriendly, remote and cold. I have a feeling Jst2laws thought otherwise, hope we didn't shock you too much there Jst2!

  Then I come on this site, and I find that myself and other Brits have been variously described as zany, too passionate, too involved, even overly expressive. Cold and chilly seems inappropriate language to use, in that case.

  So, I'm just sort of wondering now, is it us who have got it wrong about how the world perceives us?

  Or is that the view itself has changed?

  Please enlighten this Englishman!

  Edited by - Englishman on 2 October 2002 7:53:31
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  Duncan

  Mike,

  I'm pretty sure that English people themselves have gradually changed. We are not as repressed and unemotional as we used to be.

  Do you remember how everyone went nuts when Pricess Di died?

  I happened to be driving along the M1 on the morning of her funeral, an hour or two before it was closed for her final journey to Althorp. There were thousands already lining the route, banners and flowers. "God bless, Di" "We'll miss you" etc.

  I must admit, it was even making an old hard-bitten cynic like me wipe away a tear at the time.

  Duncan.
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  Pathofthorns

  So, I'm just sort of wondering now, is it us who have got it wrong about how the world perceives us?

  When you say "the world" do you mean the world or do you mean America?

  Path
• 

  Englishman

  Path,

  No, I meant the world. Although I do believe the Aussies might add unwashed to the cool and aloof bit.

  I'm just interested, I suspect Duncan may well have a point too. It seems to me that the whole of the UK has sort of undergone a transformation of identity in recent years, we all seem to be much more expressive and emotionally unrestrained than we used to be.

  Englishman.
• 

  Funchback

  I view everyone in England based on the characters on the show 'Keeping Up Appearances'.

  Just kidding, of course! Very funny show, though.
• 

  Matty

  My dad resembles Onslow sometimes!

  Sometimes I wish I had an English stiff-upper-lip! Yes, I think the English people on this board are a passionate lot. It's got us into a bit of bother sometimes!

  We have many cultural influences here now, and so the old racial stereotypes don't really count anymore. Although I was born in England, personally I am a real mish-mash of races. I don't know many people that can say they are true Anglo-Saxon for dozens of generations!
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  outnfree

  Path,

  When you say America do you mean the United States of America, or the North American continent which includes your lovely country, the South American continent and its countries, Central America, or all of the above?

  out

  (of the "wishes Path would lighten up already" class)
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  Pathofthorns

  lol outnfree.. point taken
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  outnfree

  I'm sorry, E-man. Did I go off-topic?

  The Brits certainly have had a reputation for being rather stoic and unemotional. However, all the Brits I have ever met have had no problem emoting -- rather the contrary. Perhaps you hold things closer to the vest in public, but one on one or in small groups you're all just people like the rest of us.

  At least I hope so!

  out
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  safe4kids

  LOL@ out and path

  Hmmm, dare I comment?? I agree with Out, tho...the Brits I've met seemed to have deep and passionate emotions, I think they are just used to guarding them rather more closely than some of us Americans (that would be those of us in the US, just to clarify ).

  I find cultural differences to be fascinating and am learning not to be so quick to judge others by my own standard of what constitutes "healthy" emotional behavior. There are just so many factors involved and who am I to judge??!

  One thing that I've noticed that seems to hold true with many of the Brits I've met, in RL or here on the board, is that they have a wonderfully dry sense of humor, which I love. Hey, make me laugh and I'll overlook just about anything!

  Dana