What is your Idea of British-ness?

There was a programme on here tonight talking about "British-ness" today is the day the government set aside to celebrate this, however only in England! so we in Scotland didn't get it......

Anyway they were asking what does it mean to be British? Very few of the British they asked could give an answer. In fact the majority said that it doesn't exist any more.

Britain as we know it has fallen apart....we are no longer United.

So I was just wondering what the Outside world  views as British-ness?

Assuming you think anything at all....

Cute accents? :p

TEA

No seriously, as an American, when I think British I think basically of ourselves, with different accents.  Maybe with drearier weather and more sheep and cobblestone (this might be all in my head :)), but as for the people themselves I can't think of any unique British traits that just stand out.  Of couse, our histories are still pretty closely tied, maybe that's why.

What, Monty Python, Benny Hill, Mr. Bean, and Masterpiece Theater aren't accurate?

My entire viewpoint of the British people is centered on this guy.  Or maybe this one.

Seriously, I would think that it would be harder and harder to define, seeing as how international cities like London are becoming.

What do you mean by "no longer united"?

Polite

Clever

Subtle (Humor)

Great teeth.

 

*hides mug of tea under the table *

diana, thank you although I suppose when you hear it every day you don't hear it! where as I love the American accent, I can listen to my bf talking all day.

Sundari, yeah I think the same, we don't have anything that stands out....well apart from our behaviour whilst on holiday (vacation).

santonacci, awe I love monty python, nice choice of men . We are no longer united in that each country within Britain now has it's own government and Scotland for one is going for complete Independence. In Scotland when asked on official forms what your nationality is? it's either Scottish or British you aren't allowed to tick both, Britain is now very much a them and us. Like I say above today is supposed to be National British day, but Scotland didn't get the holiday?! So Britain now means England.

Original Post by hgielrehtaeh:

Polite........hmm well sometimes I guess

Clever......of course

Subtle (Humor).....yeah straight laced humour

Great teeth......only if you are rich

 

 

I used to think of dry senses of humour, 80s punk bands and lots of tea and cake. I thought it'd be great to live there, specially because of all the rain (living in Africa, I get a bit hot). After visiting there, I found some bad things like football hooligans, loutish teenagers falling pregnant and beating each other up, racism - and, weirdly as a white person, I got claustrophobic because there were no black people around (it was the South coast, ok:p). I got the impression that a lot of people didn't do much other than earn a living and go to the pub, whereas in Africa we have more to talk about (a succession of crazy politicians) and there seems to be more of a community spirit. In England, I found it strange how hard people tried to avoid eye contact on the tube, and then many of the same people liked to have one-night stands, which is about as close contact with strangers as possible.

I also met some really interesting people who challenged my perceptions, and I thought it would be good to be friends with. There was this great Jamaican music producer or something who was friendly enough to approach me on the street, and we had a great chat. And there was this totally plummy-accented Vietnamese guy in the house I shared, who went to Eton or something, and fed me on pasta and beer until my ATM card started working again. Oh yeah, and the other housemates turned out to be small-time marijuana dealers and gave me a parting gift which got me into a lot of trouble when my aunt discovered it in my drawer. And there was this great guy in Edinburgh playing pool in a kilt and plastic trainers, who gave a round of applause when I finally managed to sink something (I'm really terrible). And there was the homeless guy in Cambridge with a face like an angel, who turned down my chocolate bar and asked for fruit, and scolded some loud, swearing girls with such gentle authority that they couldn't help but apologise. I enjoyed the underground comic scene a lot, and saw some truly awful bands (although some of my favourite bands are British).

I guess what I like about Britain is the interaction between the new diverse influences and the older cultures. Even with all the interaction, Brits seem a lot more understated than Americans - and, as Bill Bryson put it, their mood can be completely turned around by one cup of tea.

stoic and reserved, with distinct interpersonal boundaries.

Original Post by anndjoe:

Original Post by hgielrehtaeh:

Great teeth......only if you are rich

That was my attempt at subtle humor.

One of my best friends is British and she has many of the same hobbies, personality traits, and interests as our other friends. The only major differences I notice are when she calls cigarettes "fa*s"

I guess she drinks more tea than most people I know and prefers foods I might not normally eat but she's a pretty adventurous spirit and is more than willing to enjoy bbq, mexican food, or most anything else Americans eat. 

Seriously, though, the differences tend to come out more around holidays or special celebrations. She'll ask etiquette questions about things like her wedding, celebrating our friend's college graduation and stuff. I know she's uncertain about the baby shower we're having this weekend because that type of party isn't in her nature. She's accepting because WE want to do this for her. I don't think it's going to be an overly-traditional shower and the guys are coming over at 4 pm, after the shower for a cookout and celebration of all our friends who had summer birthdays. I think that is making her more accepting knowing the whole day won't be focussed on her.

 

when I think Brit.... the first thing that comes to mind IS.. my very first boyfriend.  We both cried when he moved away.... then two years later I moved too (but we still found each other though)  YEARS later  :) 

we still have contact with each other thru e-mail a few times a year.... but I sure do miss 'hearing' his cute little accent  ;)

--------------------

all mushy stuff aside.... post #2 pretty much said what I was thinkin'   Brits are pretty much us, with a better vocabulary and cute accent ;)

malaika, you met some colourful characters . And yes that unfortunately seems to be the main pass time "The Pub" and it's ten times worse now we have a serious alcohol problem throughout. I also know what you mean about no eye contact, we are very good at that.....I'm not sure what that is all about?

pg, very interesting analysis and spot on I would say.

hgielr, yeah thought it was  seen as we are renowned for bad teeth.

Original Post by kthompson92:

 The only major differences I notice are when she calls cigarettes "fa*s"

 

 Ha ha I laughed when I read this, my bf gave me a double take when I said that too.......he explained why, so now unless I'm just winding him up I call them ciggy.

I can understand where your friend is coming from with the occasions thing I'm not good in groups, I never know what to talk about and therefore inevitably end up saying the wrong thing or being a bore. Bf can't understand it because he knows I'm nothing like that.

moody...that is great that you still keep in touch, sometimes people just click right....tell him to phone you now and then

Would you like a jelly baby?

I always think of my favorite "Doctor":

http://www.bbc.co.uk/doctorwho/

Of course: The British accent, the sense of humor that many Americans don't get.  Maintaining a sense of civility in dire situations.

you know what JUST came to mind, now that I'm thinking about it??

fringe, I remember one time (eeeekkkk, in the 80's) when James my British boyfriend told me that he liked how my 'fringe' looked.  lol Americans call them 'bangs' ;)    To us, fringe are the little tassels or strings that dangle from one's jacket or jeans.  The hair that almost hangs over the eyes are called 'bangs'

we used to giggle about this all the time.

*sigh*

I miss him :(

Wee!  I love threads that make Santo whip out the Daniel Craig Speedo pic.  *drool*

To this I add...
Shakespeare
Lord Blackadder
Hugh Laurie
Harry Potter

Mini-rant: However, WHY on God's green earth can MY PBS station not play good stuff like Chef! or Blackadder or even the good ole Clive Anderson version of Whose Line?  Nooooo, we're stuck with Last of the Summer Wine here.  *snore*

Whoa, off topic.  Let's see....
Sophisticated (at least in public)
Cordial
A bit stuffy

I heard a British comedian once say that having sex for Britains is basically when they brush hands while they walk past each other.....i thought it was kinda funny.....so maybe....prudish?

Original Post by beckabooey:

Mini-rant: However, WHY on God's green earth can MY PBS station not play good stuff like Chef! or Blackadder or even the good ole Clive Anderson version of Whose Line? Nooooo, we're stuck with Last of the Summer Wine here. *snore*

Second this and wanted to pipe in that my step-daughter is named "Saffron" after the character on "Absolutely Fabulous"

Also, to add to the story about Jenn and her fa*s... her husband hated her smoking and when they were engaged she said, "I'm going to have to give up fa*s before I get married."  Everyone thought it was the funniest thing ever!

all the awesome 19th-century literature (since that's what i study, i guess)

empire

deliciously dry humor

oh, and prettier spelling.

Leylines stretching where the sun never sets,  Stonehenge, Glastonbury, Mona--Merlin's Isle of Gramarye.