British characteristics

I used to be very sarcastic. But I have found that it is a caustic type of humor used to belittle people.

The belittling is the trait I find in line with the other habits of Britishness, it is to keep people within their social class. I know the class system isn't as obvious anymore, but I think it remains prevalent - people might want success for you, but only within a very tight band of acceptability, and if you threaten the status quo by attempting to move up the ladder you are belittled. Furthermore when you fail, you are mocked (using sarcasm) rather than applauded for trying.

America on the other hand, is the land of opportunity, high fives and freedom. To the Brit this seems cheezy (IE it is mocked because actually being positive about success is uncomfortable).

EDIT - You might not notice it if you are immersed in it.
 
Sarcasm can be used to belittle things. How it is used depends on the user. Personally that's not the way I tend to use it.



I think that's such a gross inaccurate generalism as to be absurd. I can only assume you are being sarcastic.
 
Yes, sarcasm can be used with aplomb too, but the default seems to be to belittle (when it is used most widely it is often deployed by people who are not the wittiest of folk and are using it to oppress).

Now, it is of course a generalism, but isn't the thread about generalisms? But I do believe this 100%. I would never want my kids to grow up in Britain.
 
I think the problem with defining what it is to be British is down to two things. British isn't actually a nationality and people are more accurately defined by local culture rather than national culture.

That's no reason not to try though. Mental is the word I'd use.
 
Sarcasm used in banter is a whole different thing and banter is a very important bonding tool (used correctly)

So possibly one defining thing is Banter?

Another could be Reserved.

Douglas Adams might use "mostly harmless"
 
I see what you mean. English football fans are all pussy cats right and don't have a global reputation for violent thuggery and generally destroying which ever city they happen to be visiting.
 
Yes. We won our independence, inherited the English throne and then watched in horror as an idiot king effectively gave it all away again. Maybe we just like the pain. Maybe masochism is the word that describes us best.
 
Very nice point - I feel that this fits with the USA as well. A lot of people on this site seem to want to lump all 'Americans' together as well, and forget that there is a great deal of regional differences as well as mix of ethnicities/languages/backgrounds, etc. Yes, we have a lot of 'common culture' (reinforced by media and TV), but also a great deal of difference (look at the sheer size of the US).

As far as "British Characteristics"... when the topic comes up in the States, quite a few people think of the famous TV shows (Dr. Who, Monty Python, Eastenders ,etc.), the Royalty, fish and chips, dry humor, a willingness to use a lot of ugly actors/actresses in key TV roles, sarcasm, remaining calm, and, of course, bad teeth.
 
When your national plant is the thistle and your national dress is a skirt with no underwear, this is a logical conclusion
 
The trouble with America i think is the pressure to be patriotic to the national flag is so intense only a generic image is ever really marketed to non-Americans. Where as different parts of the UK will absolutely market their own uniqueness to the world.



All of which is true. Except for the teeth. We have better teeth now. Well those of us that still have an NHS dentist. Which is Scotland.
 
i always thought of british people as distinguished, polite, and upper class behavior and mannerisms.

I guess thats an opinion though
 
I think that's an over-generalization and a bit off the mark..

I think we see quite a bit of 'uniqueness' marketing from parts of the US - I would imagine everyone here, no matter where they are from, would have an immediate imagine in their mind of what the contrast would be between people from San Francisco, New York City, New Orleans, and so on. Within the US, there are always regional differences and arguments/humor over regional characteristics. People are still very aware of linguistic differences, cultural background and so on.

I think your opinion of the importance of "patriotism" would be wiped away with a scan of local type news media. Granted, cookie cutter media on a national level would like to present a certain view of what Americans are, but the local flavor is very strong still.

However, I guess I can see where you are coming from if you don't have a lot of exposure to the 'actual' US. For me, I've never been to the UK but I do watch UK shows and follow news on the BBC - I have a similar impression as you say - the UK tends to be expressed as a monolithic lot of English speakers with a few regional accents and local quirks but otherwise all the same. The news we see, even on the BBC doesn't really even divide up Scotalnd, Ireland, England, and Wales - they all are presented as being pretty much the same (except for a few stereotypes).
 
I can't think of a British hero like Han Solo (the rogue, a heroic smuggler, breaking the law and looking out for #1 yet still fundamentally likable). Likewise, I can't think of an American hero like Doctor Who (cheeky and mischievous but fundamentally polite and non-violent, relying on intellect and education above all else). I think there's probably something to that.
 
Well, they do have Robin Hood and James Bond. They're not exactly Han Solo, but they're something close.
I cannot think of an American version of Doctor Who, however.

Edit: Canuck snuck in MacGyver. Good call. That reminds me of a short-lived tv series called "Stingray" that's similar.
 
Also relevant...Katniss Everdeen and Hermione Granger. Both strong young women, but very very different symbols of strength. The hunter and the scholar.
 
Okay, now that we've identified single counter-examples, can we at least agree that the prevailing trends in cultural icons are notably different?
 
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