I think this thread has now become more about a yeast extract than about what it means to be British!
Looks like my poop after Oreos!
What it means to be British.
- Thread starter mustangclaire
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Well I have to say, I am polite... If someone bumps into me, I still say sorry. My boy commented t'other day how many times I thanked a shop assistant at the weekly shop. I AM guilty of saying my haircut was fine, even if it wasn't as I didn't want to offend the hairdresser. Perhaps I should have been born in Japan. Those guys take politeness to a whole new level. And I do love Marmite. 
I thought they felt that way about everybody!
Ye-es...but here's the irony: go into any UK town centre tonight, and you'd see things that'd make your hair curl (it's not enough to knock some down anymore; you apparently have to lay the boot in or, if you're really up with the times, stamp on the other guy's head (x3)).
In Star Trek terms, we're the Klingons (always on about honour, duty, etc, but when it comes down to it, it's just an excuse to have a ruck).
@Neesy: There really is a world of difference between UK accents and Australian ones (as I'm sure you know!
). Although, round my way, we sound a bit like Afrikaaners when we get colds.@mustangclaire: What? Nooo! Not you! It's foul!
So the general consensus is that Marmite is made from small Marmots? And I thought Spotted Dick was strange........
As I said earlier, I fully understand (as best I can as an outsider) the Brit mindset, mostly from having several friends from the Isles over the years. And I've actually had this conversation before with a couple of them. I can tell you that they missed a fundamental key difference of why Americans are the way they are in this respect. Which, before I complete this point, I will say that growing up in the "backwoods" and small towns of this nation, people are not just overtly rude. In fact I'd also say that in California, where Shasta is from (I was also born and lived there until 6 yrs old or so... Berkeley/SF area), people are about as friendly as anywhere I've been in the US. Now in L.A. and SoCal, that might be a bit different (just one of many differences in SoCal and NorCal... I kid, Shasta...
).BUT... There is that side of American culture that is ALL about individualism. As such, people aren't as scared of the consequences of stating their mind. I, myself, can be VERY direct with people. Many understand and respect that, others hate it. But the nice thing about that (and the real point you may miss with why we are this way), is you know for sure WHERE you stand with someone. There is no wondering or mask of acceptance when there is none. One of your comments detailing a reaction to a negative expression directed at another is they're "on the playground". Which of course says "that's childish". I understand why it's seen that way. Who even cares what you think anyway, right? Why do you have the right to tell someone such? I actually do think there is merit in that M.O. But to Americans, and I am speaking generally here, it's equally immature to go around wondering and being nice for no reason other than to avoid embarrassment for the most part.
Perhaps it has something to do with the faster paced lifestyle here. I say that becasue when you get into the "interiors" of this country, life does slow down and the old world, European based culture appears in many subtle ways. Among them is a concerted effort to be polite.
Also, when we tell someone we don't like them here, we rarely just say "I don't like you". If you've gotten to the point you feel you need to say that, most's American mindset will not let them miss an opportunity to be verbose and creative as possible with the kiss off. And people here are just a apt to reply with sarcasm and possible violence. So, in that respect, we are quite the same.
Shasta
On his shell he holds the earth.
Hey! I'm incredibly nice to everyone. Until they irritate me.....As I said earlier, I fully understand (as best I can as an outsider) the Brit mindset, mostly from having several friends from the Isles over the years. And I've actually had this conversation before with a couple of them. I can tell you that they missed a fundamental key difference of why Americans are the way they are in this respect. Which, before I complete this point, I will say that growing up in the "backwoods" and small towns of this nation, people are not just overtly rude. In fact I'd also say that in California, where Shasta is from (I was also born and lived there until 6 yrs old or so... Berkeley/SF area), people are about as friendly as anywhere I've been in the US. Now in L.A. and SoCal, that might be a bit different (just one of many differences in SoCal and NorCal... I kid, Shasta...
Also, when we tell someone we don't like them here, we rarely just say "I don't like you". If you've gotten to the point you feel you need to say that, most's American mindset will not let them miss an opportunity to be verbose and creative as possible with the kiss off. And people here are just a apt to reply with sarcasm and possible violence. So, in that respect, we are quite the same.
And start threatening to pay them a visit from Throat Punch Santa...
Hi
Can you change that to British/Irish things, i can identify with them all.
Can you change that to British/Irish things, i can identify with them all.
I'm just about to tuck into half a tiger loaf with real butter and loads of marmite, after getting in from the weekly shop where I thanked the cashier four times and apologised to the hag who bumped my heels with her trolley. 
I'm just about to tuck into half a tiger loaf with real butter and loads of marmite, after getting in from the weekly shop where I thanked the cashier four times and apologised to the hag who bumped my heels with her trolley.
Your keyboard must be broken. You put an "s" instead of "z" in that word...
I don't get it.....Your keyboard must be broken. You put an "s" instead of "z" in that word...
I've seen pics of you... I'll take these kisses any day!!
Don't you mean "giraffe bread"?
@hossenpepper: Oh, I get it. One of the things I've always admired about Americans is the general no-BS approach - get it in the open, pick the bones out, move on. That also occurs here, but usually takes the form of an argument - and there's a sight less 'moving on', unless it's separately or in frosty, embittered silence.
Tbh, I don't really know where the difference sprang from. Maybe it's because we still have a fairly rigid class system, so the whole deference/face-giving-and-saving social thing comes from that. Or maybe it's because, way back when, the pioneer Americans had no time (or use) for such niceties - which would also have led to that streak of pure individualism - because life was basically hard enough.
Either way, there are pluses and minuses on each side, as you point out re: what's the more mature approach?, and the ideal probably lies somewhere in the middle. In the meantime...we still find ways to bump along despite the cultural differences.
And...dead right. It really should be called "giraffe bread".
Tbh, I don't really know where the difference sprang from. Maybe it's because we still have a fairly rigid class system, so the whole deference/face-giving-and-saving social thing comes from that. Or maybe it's because, way back when, the pioneer Americans had no time (or use) for such niceties - which would also have led to that streak of pure individualism - because life was basically hard enough.
Either way, there are pluses and minuses on each side, as you point out re: what's the more mature approach?, and the ideal probably lies somewhere in the middle. In the meantime...we still find ways to bump along despite the cultural differences.
And...dead right. It really should be called "giraffe bread".
It is, but you can get treatments these days.
I treat it with lots of butter and brown sugar.