Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
Interesting thread, being reserved is a personal trait in my mind, my wife is and is always commenting how she can’t leave me alone without me striking up a conversation, I’m obviously more outgoing and rather nosey I suppose.
There are cultural differences though and if you generalise, the USA is the opposite of the Uk with the south of the US more friendlier and outgoing than the north and the north of the Uk friendlier and more outgoing than the south.
In general Americans are not afraid to let go and express themselves in a way brits just don’t, my wife regularly wears sunddreses during the day and she can’t go a day without a woman she’s never seen before comments how lovely her dress is, something that never happens in Europe.
Americans are loud and make us smile daily by doing small things we just wouldn’t expect adults to do being British and I suppose reserved by comparison.
All the Americans Ive met are a bit loud but so much fun and nice... they seem to say exactly what they think in a sort of chldish way.. and dont hold back or tell fibs... I love it..
We are of course generalising and not every American or Brit fit in the stereotypes but the stereotypes are very real with a large majority in both countries fitting their particular stereotypes.
I think the differences are the upbringing, in the UK we are more self aware and don't want to make a scene or bring attention to ourselves believing this to be rude or unbecoming, we don't see this as uptight.
In the US kids are told they are the awesome daily and don't fear expressing themselves and this confidences carries on into later life.
Like English Dave I like Americas very much and like the confidence they tend to have.
It's difficult to say what we find amusing, its just lots of little differences and small gestures that we are not used to seeing that bring a smile to my face, without wanting to sound patronising, to me its best described as a child like quality of innocence and excitement that only Americans tend to have.
It's kind of disingenuous to lump all of us together as "American." Sometimes, I travel to different regions where I swear I am in a foreign country, not to mention having difficulty understanding certain regional dialects and terminology. The more affluent and educated the person is, the more likely they have traveled abroad. Those that never leave their immediate surroundings aren't exposed to many cultures other than through television and movies, which often presents stereotypes.
I agree. As you say, even Americans travelling to different regions than their own, will find massive differences in behaviour to what they know themselves. I have limited knowledge because in the main, I have only met Americans in NYC, and Las Vegas.
I did once catch a bus to Ohio, but I wasn't there long enough to chat much with locals. I did have a long conversation with a lady running a bar, and she said some folks could be very unfriendly, and suspicious of outsiders like me.
I have always found Americans I have met in Las Vegas, very curious about me,and the life I lead in England. I did get asked by a young girl at a counter in a casino if I lived in a big house, with a swimming pool out back. I confirmed that I didn't.......
Like you say stereotypes from films and telly shows......
I agree. As you say, even Americans travelling to different regions than their own, will find massive differences in behaviour to what they know themselves. I have limited knowledge because in the main, I have only met Americans in NYC, and Las Vegas.
I did once catch a bus to Ohio, but I wasn't there long enough to chat much with locals. I did have a long conversation with a lady running a bar, and she said some folks could be very unfriendly, and suspicious of outsiders like me.
I have always found Americans I have met in Las Vegas, very curious about me,and the life I lead in England. I did get asked by a young girl at a counter in a casino if I lived in a big house, with a swimming pool out back. I confirmed that I didn't.......
Like you say stereotypes from films and telly shows......
My first pen pal back in the early 60s from NY asked me if I lived in a castle...
The rest of us know that the big corporations own this country.
Newsflash: There are several levels of power that go beyond the corporations.
Quote:
Originally Posted by in_newengland
The rest of us want normal things like national health care, affordable housing, stricter gun laws.
No, I don't want any of those things. But I guess I'm not normal. And that's ok. What passes for normal s*cks IMO. I don't want our corrupt, inept government doing any more than it already does.
Quote:
Originally Posted by in_newengland
You don't hear us though. You are hearing the loud mouthed thugs who are wrecking this country.
I am neither a loudmouth or a thug and I resent your stereotyping of anyone who doesn't see things the "normal" way that you do.
Quote:
Originally Posted by in_newengland
There are some nutters in your country too; you are fortunate that your government is a better model than ours and that you are able to not be rutted in an impossible head on collision. Please remember that you are not talking about Americans in general. You are speaking of one of the two sides and unfortunately, we seem to be stuck with only the two sides, nothing in the middle.
I wouldn't be so quick to assume things are better elsewhere. While we sit here and make country comparisons, there's a global elite working to erase freedoms everywhere and to make democracy merely cosmetic...and that's what people from the political left (a few, at least) are noticing:
We have friends who are mixed Italian and English who have 2 kids who grew up in Texas, they visited us several years ago and went to the beach with other English friends for the day, the daughter was around 18-19 at the time and was sunbathing and chatting with the English family when they noticed a little commotion on the shoreline where a young boy had fished out something from the water and had it in his bucket he was quite a distance from them but close enough for the Texas girl to shout, HEY, KID WHAT HAVE YOU GOT IN YOUR BUCKET !! at the top of her voice which was enough for most of the beach to turn around and see who as shouting, the English family were mortified at first and then all burst out laughing, the Texas girl didn't blink and thought nothing of shouting in public.
Not comparable.
Both are chaste system societies, so you will find council English and Ivy league Americans or academics.
English tend to be more noisy.
I'm visiting London for the first time. The British are extremely polite. I've never heard people say sorry so much lol. The people though generally aren't as openly smiley like Americans. I picked this up just walking around. Eye contact is rarely done as well. These are just some of my observations.
Then there is something I read a few years ago...wish I could find it...that said that Brits break more furniture during sex than any other nationality. LOL.
Then there is something I read a few years ago...wish I could find it...that said that Brits break more furniture during sex than any other nationality. LOL.
I always wondered about that leg on the couch wrapped in sticky tape when I was a kid........
Status:
"“If a thing loves, it is infinite.”"
(set 3 days ago)
Location: Great Britain
27,180 posts, read 13,469,799 times
Reputation: 19501
Quote:
Originally Posted by LesLucid
Then there is something I read a few years ago...wish I could find it...that said that Brits break more furniture during sex than any other nationality. LOL.
To be fair, the US never had MFI furniture, self assembly furniture.
A bit like Ikea self assembly but a million times worse.
There is no way I would ever attempt to make love to a lady on an MFI piece of furniture, in fact it's little wonder the British didn't have more nasty accidents.
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
