Things I like about being British

brixtonA23 · Sep 21, 2013

Before troll invasion, just let one thread go without pejorative comments about the negative side of life where we live. I wrote a post a few months ago about why I like the BBC and the best responses were from ex-pats in far away lands. Not creating a magic world, which I know can never exist but I do like it here more than any other country I know. So here goes..

Tolerance beyond any other country. And believe me I have seen the change in 10 years here
Quiet pride without flouting it
Funniest people
Most polite
Easiest language to learn although bow and bough must be difficult
Forgive people who have hurt us
Have the SAS when they just might
Love all sports even when we don't win, but we keep it going, just in case we might. (Ashes, Wimbledon, all change, World Cup not)
Live in a democracy where we can say enough is enough (Syria vote for example)
Best authors, poets, designers and popular music (since 1962).
The countryside.

If you take all that on, or some of it, then would just like your thoughts.

W.C. · Sep 21, 2013

Sorry mate but the 'Quiet pride without flouting it' bit made me laugh in the context of this thread

I'd like to ask why you think English is the easiest language to learn though? It's something I deal with all the time, along with learning other languages. Most famous yes, and sure everyone probably knows a few words. The alphabet is easier to learn than say, Chinese, but speaking? Learning a language takes a lot of time and effort (and for some people an aptitude for it) , English is no different, but some people seem to think they could just pick a language up, 'if they wanted to'. Bruno is a great example. He's really put in the effort. You can see from his interviews how he was always trying and listening and now he does them on his own. No mean feat at all.

Here's something I love about Britain, when someone is in your way

'Excuse me'
'Oh, sorry'
'sorry,no problem, thanks'

or words to those effects. Love it.

brightn'ove · Sep 21, 2013

I love that you could be spending one day sitting there in your t-shirt and shorts lapping up the sun, and the next wrapped up in your thermals drinking bovril at the football.

I love that we don't shout a vulgar catchphrase like other nations at every opportunity (U-S-A, viva españa etc).

topbanana36 · Sep 21, 2013

brixtonA23 said:
Before troll invasion, just let one thread go without pejorative comments about the negative side of life where we live. I wrote a post a few months ago about why I like the BBC and the best responses were from ex-pats in far away lands. Not creating a magic world, which I know can never exist but I do like it here more than any other country I know. So here goes..

Tolerance beyond any other country. And believe me I have seen the change in 10 years here
Quiet pride without flouting it
Funniest people
Most polite
Easiest language to learn although bow and bough must be difficult
Forgive people who have hurt us
Have the SAS when they just might
Love all sports even when we don't win, but we keep it going, just in case we might. (Ashes, Wimbledon, all change, World Cup not)
Live in a democracy where we can say enough is enough (Syria vote for example)
Best authors, poets, designers and popular music (since 1962).
The countryside.

If you take all that on, or some of it, then would just like your thoughts.

Very good post Brixton, miss the UK sometimes for this reason. I am so over rugby now.

BadFish · Sep 21, 2013

Self depreciating humour is one thing I really miss.

I sometimes make these kinds of jokes and they are met with strange look.

Modesty is a wonderfullt British trait.

Loved Stephen Fry's comment about being faintly embarrassed to be winning so completely in the Ashes.

Questions · Sep 21, 2013

brightn'ove said:
I love that you could be spending one day sitting there in your t-shirt and shorts lapping up the sun, and the next wrapped up in your thermals drinking bovril at the football.

.

One day ? Within one hour sometimes over here

nick c · Sep 21, 2013

The changing of the seasons,nothing beats a good spring/autumn morning.Also our grass is some of the finest in the world,not the smoking variety by the way!!!

hybrid_x · Sep 21, 2013

//troll stomps in...

council tax.

strangers hardly speaking to eachother.

weather.

traffic.

class system.

superiority complex regarding other countries.

complete apathy with anything the goverment do.

Frutos · Sep 21, 2013

BadFish said:
Self depreciating humour is one thing I really miss.

I once considered a a career as a self-deprecating comedian, but unfortunately I wasn't very good at it.

tinycowboy · Sep 21, 2013

Clearly there are some bad things, but, as this thread is about the good things, then I'll also have to go with self-deprecation (anathema to many Americans, it seems), saying "Sorry" when someone bumps into you, the love of tea and ummm crumpets and baked potatoes (not together).

Seagull on the wing · Sep 21, 2013

Most polite??

At one time I would've agreed with you on this...but the last 40 odd years people seem to get angry at the least possible excuse...
In my teens most of us, (you always get the odd exception) would stand for the elderly,infirm, the ladies on public transport...opened doors and hold them open for the following person,majority of people were honest,returned lost property.
People were calmer,far more polite and please and thank you were the mark of of a good upbringing.
What we have now is a society...of me,me,me. Very few people would stand for the elderly on a bus or train now...attitude of it's my seat...or F**k you Jack,Im inboard....I know my rights...blah! blah!
Ask a stranger in a pub..."Excuse me is this seat occupied"Answer....Yeah! What's wrong with "Sorry mate,it's my friends seat who is at the bar.
Once had a young girl walk straight into me when leaving the shop...she turned to her friend and said,"Fu****g old people,why do they have to git in your Effing way!
Road rage has increased tenfold......
In general life has improved tremendously with all the gadets we have now,life...easier...but over the last few years people have got more obsessed by themselves.
I am speaking generally here,of course there are still people with a modicum of decorum and there is good and bad amongst all people...but to say we are polite is way off the mark now.

fat old seagull · Sep 21, 2013

BadFish said:
Self depreciating humour is one thing I really miss.

I sometimes make these kinds of jokes and they are met with strange look.

Modesty is a wonderfullt British trait.

Loved Stephen Fry's comment about being faintly embarrassed to be winning so completely in the Ashes.

Agree with all of this. But not some of the origins of this thread re' language, design, authors etc.
My pride is much less about being British but much more about following the epitome of a well run Football Club :bhasign:

Jbanged · Sep 21, 2013

I work with Americans and I have to say British humor... I mean humour too long with them. I can often tell a story from my past or make a not so obvious joke, I only ever see blank expressionless faces in front of me.

On the other hand, it could just be I'm not funny.

Pogue Mahone · Sep 21, 2013

Seagull on the wing said:
Most polite??

At one time I would've agreed with you on this...but the last 40 odd years people seem to get angry at the least possible excuse...
In my teens most of us, (you always get the odd exception) would stand for the elderly,infirm, the ladies on public transport...opened doors and hold them open for the following person,majority of people were honest,returned lost property.
People were calmer,far more polite and please and thank you were the mark of of a good upbringing.
What we have now is a society...of me,me,me. Very few people would stand for the elderly on a bus or train now...attitude of it's my seat...or F**k you Jack,Im inboard....I know my rights...blah! blah!
Ask a stranger in a pub..."Excuse me is this seat occupied"Answer....Yeah! What's wrong with "Sorry mate,it's my friends seat who is at the bar.
Once had a young girl walk straight into me when leaving the shop...she turned to her friend and said,"Fu****g old people,why do they have to git in your Effing way!
Road rage has increased tenfold......
In general life has improved tremendously with all the gadets we have now,life...easier...but over the last few years people have got more obsessed by themselves.
I am speaking generally here,of course there are still people with a modicum of decorum and there is good and bad amongst all people...but to say we are polite is way off the mark now.

Society is less polite than it used to be, yes. But most people are still polite, it's just that those that are not 'shout louder'.

I've always found most people in European countries, the USA and Canada to be polite too. I don't agree that this is a British thing.

I think that we have been incredibly lucky to be alive in the last 50 odd years, when Britain has been culturally at the forefront musically, in literature and in style. I think we are about to be left behind, though.

drew · Sep 21, 2013

Being British means I'm not French. You can't get better than that!!!

Pogue Mahone · Sep 21, 2013

drew said:
Being British means I'm not French. You can't get better than that!!!

Xenophobic nonsense. The dismissal of an entire country, it's people, it's country, landscape, architecture and culture - one of the things I hate about being British.

Herr Tubthumper · Sep 21, 2013

Jbanged said:
I can often tell a story from my past or make a not so obvious joke, I only ever see blank expressionless faces in front of me.

Welcome to my world

Barrel of Fun · Sep 21, 2013

Apologising to inanimate objects that one bumps in to.

glasfryn · Sep 21, 2013

hybrid_x said:
//troll stomps in...

council tax.

strangers hardly speaking to eachother.

weather.

traffic.

class system.

superiority complex regarding other countries.

complete apathy with anything the goverment do.

that is Wales you are talking about
and surely the OP meant England and the English

Tom Hark Preston Park · Sep 21, 2013

Weekends like this one. Football on Saturday, lazy Sunday.

Got something to say or just want fewer pesky ads? Join us... 😊

Things I like about being British

New member

New member

cringe

Well-known member

Huge Member

Habitual User

Member

Banned

.

Well-known member

New member

New member

New member

Well-known member

Drew

Well-known member

Well-known member

Abort, retry, fail

cleaning up cat sick

Will Post For Cash

Share this page