Being British...

Cyclefrance · 01-13-2006, 08:37 AM

One of the British national daily newspapers is asking readers "what it
means to be British?".

This answer from a Swiss guy sums it up nicely:

"Being British is about driving in a German car to an Irish pub for a Belgian beer, then travelling home, grabbing an Indian curry or a Turkish kebab on the way, to sit on Swedish furniture and watch American shows on a Japanese TV. And the most British thing of all? Suspicion of anything foreign ".

Sounds all too familiar....

lumberjim · 01-13-2006, 09:49 AM

colonialism by proxy

Trilby · 01-13-2006, 10:09 AM

I like it.

Now, what's with the British national obsession with Indian and Turkish foods?

PS my professor 'friend' is in London now, teaching at some University or other. All I know is that his flat is somewhere near a club that features exotic dancers called the 'California'.

barefoot serpent · 01-13-2006, 10:20 AM

and anything east of Dorset to be full of WOGS (wily oriental gentlemen).

VinDurzle · 01-13-2006, 10:21 AM

HAHA...gota say thats painfully true! Id have to add, at the risk of falling into my own category, we have a horrendous tendancy to miserably wallow in all that is bad about our country. That said, blighty's not a bad old place...just wish we had a lil more sunshine!

Undertoad · 01-13-2006, 10:24 AM

Britain and India are tied together through their unique history.

Trilby · 01-13-2006, 11:02 AM

hm---interesting.

professor friend is at UEL-Docklands.

Happy Monkey · 01-13-2006, 11:39 AM

Geez. The US flag was based on a corporate logo? That explains so much...

Sundae · 01-13-2006, 11:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brianna

professor friend is at UEL-Docklands.

Ha! A poll back in 1998 reported UEL as having the ugliest female students in the UK. I only know this because my bf at the time had a particularly clinging ex who started there that year. I laughed childishly up my sleeve....

Anyway - without wanting to sound too easily riled, I wonder if that Swiss man has any experience of England outside of London? And whether he drives a Swiss car or watches a Swiss TV?

Perhaps that's part of being English - take the best of what the world is prepared to sell us, then nip down your local for a pint of real ale and a plate of fish-paste sandwiches. And chips.

barefoot serpent · 01-13-2006, 11:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sundae Girl

And whether he drives a Swiss car

could be...

mrnoodle · 01-13-2006, 11:58 AM

Kinda off topic, but related:

England has lost alot of its "foreignness" around here. I don't know if it's because of the wide availability of BBC America, the fact that we do so much business with Brits, or what. But a British accent doesn't seem any more surprising to hear than a southern one or a New Yorker one.

Didn't used to be that way -- when I was a kid, a British accent immediately conjured images of a guy in a bowler hat and monocle. Maybe there's just more of you in Colorado now.

xoxoxoBruce · 01-13-2006, 02:26 PM

A Swiss guy, looking for directions, pulls up at a bus stop where two Englishmen are waiting.
"Entschuldigung, koennen Sie Deutsch sprechen?" he says.
The two Englishmen just stare at him.
"Excusez-moi, parlez vous Francais?"
The two continue to stare.
"Parlare Italiano?" No response,
"Hablan ustedes Espanol?" Still nothing.
The Swiss guy drives off, extremely disgusted.
The first Englishman turns to the second and says, "Maybe we should learn a foreign language...."
"Why?" says the other, "That bloke knew four languages, and it didn't do him any good."

monster · 01-14-2006, 02:20 PM

I think you need to leave Britain before you can truly understand what it means to be British.

No-one's mentioned sense of humour which is something expats often miss and people of other nationalities comment on. It's not necessarily "better" or "worse" than the SOH of other nationalities, but it is unique and usually a very dominant part of Brit personalities.

If you ask an American, they'll say bad teeth and saying "tally ho".

SteveDallas · 01-14-2006, 03:06 PM

Well there's always the "vice anglais" and the "English pox" (both scurrilous rumors with no basis in fact, I'm sure).

Brianna, according to a friend who did a junior year abroad in London, the Indian restaurants had the only edible food available in the city.

FloridaDragon · 01-15-2006, 11:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sundae Girl

...then nip down your local for a pint of real ale and a plate of fish-paste sandwiches. And chips.

Fish PASTE??? That doesn't sound very appetizing ....

01-13-2006, 08:37 AM	#1
Cyclefrance Pump my ride! Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Deep countryside of Surrey , England Posts: 1,890	Being British... One of the British national daily newspapers is asking readers "what it means to be British?". This answer from a Swiss guy sums it up nicely: "Being British is about driving in a German car to an Irish pub for a Belgian beer, then travelling home, grabbing an Indian curry or a Turkish kebab on the way, to sit on Swedish furniture and watch American shows on a Japanese TV. And the most British thing of all? Suspicion of anything foreign ". Sounds all too familiar.... __________________ Always sufficient hills - never sufficient gears

01-13-2006, 09:49 AM	#2
lumberjim I can hear my ears Join Date: Oct 2003 Posts: 25,571	colonialism by proxy __________________ This body holding me reminds me of my own mortality Embrace this moment, remember We are eternal, all this pain is an illusion ~MJKeenan

01-13-2006, 10:09 AM	#3
Trilby Slattern of the Swail Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 15,654	I like it. Now, what's with the British national obsession with Indian and Turkish foods? PS my professor 'friend' is in London now, teaching at some University or other. All I know is that his flat is somewhere near a club that features exotic dancers called the 'California'. __________________ In Barrie's play and novel, the roles of fairies are brief: they are allies to the Lost Boys, the source of fairy dust and ...They are portrayed as dangerous, whimsical and extremely clever but quite hedonistic. "Shall I give you a kiss?" Peter asked and, jerking an acorn button off his coat, solemnly presented it to her. —James Barrie Wimminfolk they be tricksy. - ZenGum

01-13-2006, 11:02 AM	#7
Trilby Slattern of the Swail Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 15,654	hm---interesting. professor friend is at UEL-Docklands. __________________ In Barrie's play and novel, the roles of fairies are brief: they are allies to the Lost Boys, the source of fairy dust and ...They are portrayed as dangerous, whimsical and extremely clever but quite hedonistic. "Shall I give you a kiss?" Peter asked and, jerking an acorn button off his coat, solemnly presented it to her. —James Barrie Wimminfolk they be tricksy. - ZenGum

01-13-2006, 11:39 AM	#8
Happy Monkey I think this line's mostly filler. Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: DC Posts: 13,575	Geez. The US flag was based on a corporate logo? That explains so much... __________________ _________________ \|...............\| We live in the nick of times. \| Len 17, Wid 3 \| \|_______________\| [pics]

01-13-2006, 10:20 AM	#4
barefoot serpent go ahead, abbrev. it Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Lawrence, KS Posts: 2,623	and anything east of Dorset to be full of WOGS (wily oriental gentlemen).

01-13-2006, 10:21 AM	#5
VinDurzle no excuse for being obtuse Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: UK Posts: 14	HAHA...gota say thats painfully true! Id have to add, at the risk of falling into my own category, we have a horrendous tendancy to miserably wallow in all that is bad about our country. That said, blighty's not a bad old place...just wish we had a lil more sunshine!

01-13-2006, 10:24 AM	#6
Undertoad Radical Centrist Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Cottage of Prussia Posts: 31,423	Britain and India are tied together through their unique history.

01-13-2006, 11:58 AM	#11
mrnoodle bent Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: under the weather Posts: 2,656	Kinda off topic, but related: England has lost alot of its "foreignness" around here. I don't know if it's because of the wide availability of BBC America, the fact that we do so much business with Brits, or what. But a British accent doesn't seem any more surprising to hear than a southern one or a New Yorker one. Didn't used to be that way -- when I was a kid, a British accent immediately conjured images of a guy in a bowler hat and monocle. Maybe there's just more of you in Colorado now. __________________ Sìn a nall na cuaranan sin. -- Cha mhór is fheairrde thu iad, tha iad coltach ri cat air a dhathadh

01-13-2006, 02:26 PM	#12
xoxoxoBruce The future is unwritten Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 71,105	A Swiss guy, looking for directions, pulls up at a bus stop where two Englishmen are waiting. "Entschuldigung, koennen Sie Deutsch sprechen?" he says. The two Englishmen just stare at him. "Excusez-moi, parlez vous Francais?" The two continue to stare. "Parlare Italiano?" No response, "Hablan ustedes Espanol?" Still nothing. The Swiss guy drives off, extremely disgusted. The first Englishman turns to the second and says, "Maybe we should learn a foreign language...." "Why?" says the other, "That bloke knew four languages, and it didn't do him any good." __________________ The descent of man ~ Nixon, Friedman, Reagan, Trump.

01-14-2006, 02:20 PM	#13
monster I hear them call the tide Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Perpetual Chaos Posts: 30,852	I think you need to leave Britain before you can truly understand what it means to be British. No-one's mentioned sense of humour which is something expats often miss and people of other nationalities comment on. It's not necessarily "better" or "worse" than the SOH of other nationalities, but it is unique and usually a very dominant part of Brit personalities. If you ask an American, they'll say bad teeth and saying "tally ho". __________________ The most difficult thing is the decision to act, the rest is merely tenacity Amelia Earhart

01-14-2006, 03:06 PM	#14
SteveDallas Your Bartender Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Philly Burbs, PA Posts: 7,651	Well there's always the "vice anglais" and the "English pox" (both scurrilous rumors with no basis in fact, I'm sure). Brianna, according to a friend who did a junior year abroad in London, the Indian restaurants had the only edible food available in the city.

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