Ask a British Person.......

[HeyFellas]

Just how prevalent is American culture in the UK? I ask as an American who's appalled by most of our TV, films, and music, and hates the thought of those being our main cultural exports.
That question's a little vague I guess, but I mean well.

I watch around ten hours of TV a day (maybe less when I'm working) and about nine hours of that is American shows.

U.S culture is everywhere, television, music, films, food, and these days sports as well.

Getting back to an earlier discussion, surely Geordies are tougher than anyone? :1orglaugh :wave2:

 

[low42]

10 hours a day? Damn, man. I watch maybe 10 hours a week.

 

[DOA82]

Yeah, the Scotts are quite tough. Any other people will die after one day of their extremely poisonous diet, yet most Scotts manage to live well into their thirties.:1orglaugh

I wouldn't say the Irish are tough TBH - that's just the immigrants in the US, and their stereotype. Next would come the English and their infamous grit, and the Welsh, and the Irish come last IMO.

Just out of curiousity, where do you hail from?

 

[Spleen]

I watch around ten hours of TV a day (maybe less when I'm working) and about nine hours of that is American shows.

Thats unusual, no one i know watches anywhere near that much TV a day, and if they do, it's never American TV shows.

 

[Chewy75]

Can you break the UK down for me? Is it like 4 countries - Ireland, Wales, Britain and Scotland?

Where to start with that one? Is it like 4 countries? No. It is 4 countries.

Britain is the largest island, which contains (from north to south) Scotland, England and Wales.

Britain is not England, England is not Britain.

The island of Ireland to the west contains Northern Ireland, which is the 6 counties to the far north east of the island, and the country of Ireland itself (often referred to as the Republic of Ireland to differentiate from Northern Ireland, although the country's official name is, simply, Ireland)

Britain AND Northern Ireland currently make up the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, which is the full name of the "UK"

Ireland is not part of the UK.

Simple eh? Don't worry, there's quite a lot of folk in this country who don't seem to know the difference between England / Britain / UK. It's shocking really!

 

[ninetysixcavy]

Where to start with that one? Is it like 4 countries? No. It is 4 countries.

Britain is the largest island, which contains (from north to south) Scotland, England and Wales.

Britain is not England, England is not Britain.

The island of Ireland to the west contains Northern Ireland, which is the 6 counties to the far north east of the island, and the country of Ireland itself (often referred to as the Republic of Ireland to differentiate from Northern Ireland, although the country's official name is, simply, Ireland)

Britain AND Northern Ireland currently make up the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, which is the full name of the "UK"

Ireland is not part of the UK.

Simple eh? Don't worry, there's quite a lot of folk in this country who don't seem to know the difference between England / Britain / UK. It's shocking really!

Your'e not bullshit'n me are ya? Why all the different tags? :dunno:

 

[HeyFellas]

Thats unusual, no one i know watches anywhere near that much TV a day, and if they do, it's never American TV shows.

Well, let's break it down. 3-4 hours of Baseball/Nascar/NFL, depending on what's on that day, say 1 hour of Simpsons, then NCIS, 1 maybe 2 Star Treks, perhaps a Discovery show about big machinery (usually American), and the occasional episode of Friends, Will and Grace, or Frasier thrown in too. And of course, every episode of South Park I can find. It soon ads up.

I know a few people who watch a similar amount of T.V, but it seems they are all unemployed (by choice, not circumstance).

But like I said, I watch less on a workday. (There haven't been many lately, farmers and rain don't go together, but I hope to find more soon). :wave2:

 

[loverofboob]

I've always wondered why Britons hate the U. S. so much. This conclusion is from years of being on different internet forums, I've just noticed they're our biggest critics on just about everything. They're just very hostile towards us in general.

I think I may know 2 reasons: we speak the same language (sort of) so it's pretty easy to insult us and have us understand it. The other is that they think real life here is just like in some of our shitty movies and TV shows. If that's the case I'd hate us too. :1orglaugh

 

[DOA82]

I've always wondered why Britons hate the U. S. so much. This conclusion is from years of being on different internet forums, I've just noticed they're our biggest critics on just about everything. They're just very hostile towards us in general.

I think I may know 2 reasons: we speak the same language (sort of) so it's pretty easy to insult us and have us understand it. The other is that they think real life here is just like in some of our shitty movies and TV shows. If that's the case I'd hate us too. :1orglaugh

Thats a very narrow minded and convenient explanation. We speak english, so we pick a fight with you? Hello - the french?!

 

[Chewy75]

Your'e not bullshit'n me are ya? Why all the different tags? :dunno:

LOL! No, why? The wiki entry will tell you the same thing http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Kingdom

Why all the different tags? Well you need to look at how the UK was formed and what the various nations were like before they became part of the UK.

I'm guessing, but I'd say you're from the US?

Well, put very simplistically, imagine a smaller USA with just 4 states. Each of the states joined the Union at different times and each state was formerly an independent country (with the exception of Northern Ireland which was formed by carving up someone else's country into smaller pieces early in the 20th century).

So ignoring Northern Ireland for the moment, as that's a bit more complicated:

So lets take three of the four corners states. We've got Colorado, New Mexico and Arizona and they all form one sovereign nation. Each of the states has its own culture and history and was at one time under its own rule. Just because the 3 states are now under the same government doesn't mean that Colorado will stop being Colorado, or that Coloradans will stop being Coloradans. Hence all the different tags.

I'm Scottish, and many of us will describe ourselves as Scottish before we'd ever describe ourselves as British. (Worth mentioning again that British does not mean English.) Scotland was an independent country for over 850 years before we 'joined' the United Kingdom in 1707 and the other countries which make up the UK all have similar histories. We might be all part of the same union now but we're all nations in our own right. It's not unsurprising that we all maintain a national identity.

Well that was a longer reply than I intended, but basically this group of islands has a long history and you can't really throw all that away and just use the one label of "United Kingdom".

:wave2:

 

[Chewy75]

I've always wondered why Britons hate the U. S. so much. This conclusion is from years of being on different internet forums, I've just noticed they're our biggest critics on just about everything. They're just very hostile towards us in general.

I think I may know 2 reasons: we speak the same language (sort of) so it's pretty easy to insult us and have us understand it. The other is that they think real life here is just like in some of our shitty movies and TV shows. If that's the case I'd hate us too. :1orglaugh

I think that's a bit unfair. Like it or not, the US has a, not entirely undeserved, reputation for being a bit, err, arrogant, and that may translate to how other people see you. I think it's possibly a back lash to Americans coming over here, expecting it to be exactly the same, and then throwing their toys out of the pram when it's not, saying things like "it's better in the States" and "in America it's like this...". Well you're not in America, pal. This is a whole different country! We've got our own money and everything! :1orglaugh

I spent a whole summer in the US and experienced quite a lot. I loved it, you have a wonderful country and I met lots of really nice people. But there is an in-built arrogance which comes from being such a large and influential country, and it's not all that noticable when you're there, but when you see Americans outside they're country, it begins to make itself clear.

For such a large country it's VERY insular, far too many people think the world stops at the Western most edge of the North Atlantic and the Eastern most edge of the Northern Pacific. I don't think I saw one news item to do with anything going on outside the US in the 4 months I was there. I had to actually explain to many people where Scotland was. Scotland. Not some obscure little island in the middle of the indian ocean. One guy actually asked me "is that near New Zealand?". However, I'm prepared to let that one go, as you get stupid people in every country :1orglaugh

As for your TV, some of my favourite programmes are US shows. House (although that does star the simply brilliant Hugh Laurie) and CSI being two of them. Your TV isn't all bad! I also love the NFL, and I'm itching to go back across there.

You also may have p1ssed off the entire world by electing that complete and utter moron, and his administration, for another 4 years!! Thank God he's only got a few months left

 

[Plastique]

I've always wondered why Britons hate the U. S. so much. This conclusion is from years of being on different internet forums, I've just noticed they're our biggest critics on just about everything. They're just very hostile towards us in general.

I think I may know 2 reasons: we speak the same language (sort of) so it's pretty easy to insult us and have us understand it. The other is that they think real life here is just like in some of our shitty movies and TV shows. If that's the case I'd hate us too. :1orglaugh

Firstly, we aren't Britons. The term "Briton" traditionally refers to the inhabitants of ancient Britain excluding the Picts. Or it refers to the organization which published anti-Semitic pamphlets and propaganda under the imprint names of the Judaic Publishing Co. and subsequently the Britons Publishing Society (1919 to late 1940s). So I take offence at being referred to as a "Briton".

We English (and I can only speak for the English, as I am one) don't hate the US. In fact some of us, me included, would like nothing better than to ally ourselves with the US, and become the 51st state, instead of being absorbed into the European Union and take their toy currency - the Euro. We like you because you still use feet and inches, miles per hour and gallons. You make rockin' motors, great TV and Films, and can speak English (well, sort of...Pants cover your nethers and go under Trousers).

Stereotypically, we English hate the French (historically if not currently), and only the French, mainly because they are our closest neighbours, and they just aren't English. French author Jose-Alain Fralon characterized the relationship between our countries by describing the British as "our most dear enemies". So they think of us as we think of them. It's a mutual disliking.

We don't critise the French because we can't understand the French, even though French is the main foreign language taught at our schools. We don't care about the French so we don't bother speaking to them or about them - that's how much we distain the French. And the reason? We have a long standing history of conflict dating all the way back to 1066bc. The Norman invasion really started the whole thing off. We had the "Hundred years war" (1337-1453) part 1 and the "Hundred years war" (1688-1815) part 2 - including the War of the League of Augsburg (1688-1697), the War of the Spanish Succession (1702-1713), the War of the Quadruple Alliance (1718-1720) and the War of the Austrian Succession (1740-1748), the Jacobite Rising (1745-1746), the American Revolution (1775-1783) and the Napoleonic Wars (1803-1815). So, as you can see, we've warred with France for well over 200 of the last 700 years. Oh yeah, and it was they who got America involved in the Vietnam war.

But back to the point, we don't hate the US. We may critise but it is usually constructive; parents see their own failings in their children and you were our fledging "new world" that grew up and left home, so we try to pick fault to remind you of where you came from...the British womb. We just forgot that children grow up to become their own person, and we haven't let that go yet - to us, you will always be our baby boy/girl.

Still, I for one am a big fan of the US and one day I hope to visit your nation and leisurely travel from the Canadian border to the Mexican border (but not on a motorbike, I hasten to add - in a Chevy Impala or a Shelby GT Mustang).

 

[loverofboob]

Well, put very simplistically, imagine a smaller USA with just 4 states. Each of the states joined the Union at different times and each state was formerly an independent country

That sort of happened with the first 13 States anyway. We used to be a loose Confederation in our early years until we got our current constitution. That's why we have such an awkward name (United States of America) "America" isn't actually the name of our country,it's the name of the entire western hemisphere.(North,Central,and South America) So Canada,Mexico,Chile,Brazil etc. are all in America.

 

[Plastique]

Yeah, the Scotts are quite tough. Any other people will die after one day of their extremely poisonous diet, yet most Scotts manage to live well into their thirties.:1orglaugh

I wouldn't say the Irish are tough TBH - that's just the immigrants in the US, and their stereotype. Next would come the English and their infamous grit, and the Welsh, and the Irish come last IMO.

Crikey, us Englanders tough...??? I think someone's been watching The Bill and Eastenders too much :rofl:

 

[ninetysixcavy]

I've always wondered why Britons hate the U. S. so much. This conclusion is from years of being on different internet forums, I've just noticed they're our biggest critics on just about everything. They're just very hostile towards us in general.

I think I may know 2 reasons: we speak the same language (sort of) so it's pretty easy to insult us and have us understand it. The other is that they think real life here is just like in some of our shitty movies and TV shows. If that's the case I'd hate us too. :1orglaugh

The only real problem I have is their bitching about our right to bear arms so much on here, the little cunts. But the preceding two posts I must rep:

LOL! No, why? The wiki entry will tell you the same thing http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Kingdom

Why all the different tags? Well you need to look at how the UK was formed and what the various nations were like before they became part of the UK.

I'm guessing, but I'd say you're from the US?

Well, put very simplistically, imagine a smaller USA with just 4 states. Each of the states joined the Union at different times and each state was formerly an independent country (with the exception of Northern Ireland which was formed by carving up someone else's country into smaller pieces early in the 20th century).

So ignoring Northern Ireland for the moment, as that's a bit more complicated:

So lets take three of the four corners states. We've got Colorado, New Mexico and Arizona and they all form one sovereign nation. Each of the states has its own culture and history and was at one time under its own rule. Just because the 3 states are now under the same government doesn't mean that Colorado will stop being Colorado, or that Coloradans will stop being Coloradans. Hence all the different tags.

I'm Scottish, and many of us will describe ourselves as Scottish before we'd ever describe ourselves as British. (Worth mentioning again that British does not mean English.) Scotland was an independent country for over 850 years before we 'joined' the United Kingdom in 1707 and the other countries which make up the UK all have similar histories. We might be all part of the same union now but we're all nations in our own right. It's not unsurprising that we all maintain a national identity.

Well that was a longer reply than I intended, but basically this group of islands has a long history and you can't really throw all that away and just use the one label of "United Kingdom".

:wave2:

That helps. I figured it was sort of along those lines. :hatsoff:

Firstly, we aren't Britons. The term "Briton" traditionally refers to the inhabitants of ancient Britain excluding the Picts. Or it refers to the organization which published anti-Semitic pamphlets and propaganda under the imprint names of the Judaic Publishing Co. and subsequently the Britons Publishing Society (1919 to late 1940s). So I take offence at being referred to as a "Briton".

We English (and I can only speak for the English, as I am one) don't hate the US. In fact some of us, me included, would like nothing better than to ally ourselves with the US, and become the 51st state, instead of being absorbed into the European Union and take their toy currency - the Euro. We like you because you still use feet and inches, miles per hour and gallons. You make rockin' motors, great TV and Films, and can speak English (well, sort of...Pants cover your nethers and go under Trousers).

Stereotypically, we English hate the French (historically if not currently), and only the French, mainly because they are our closest neighbours, and they just aren't English. French author Jose-Alain Fralon characterized the relationship between our countries by describing the British as "our most dear enemies". So they think of us as we think of them. It's a mutual disliking.

We don't critise the French because we can't understand the French, even though French is the main foreign language taught at our schools. We don't care about the French so we don't bother speaking to them or about them - that's how much we distain the French. And the reason? We have a long standing history of conflict dating all the way back to 1066bc. The Norman invasion really started the whole thing off. We had the "Hundred years war" (1337-1453) part 1 and the "Hundred years war" (1688-1815) part 2 - including the War of the League of Augsburg (1688-1697), the War of the Spanish Succession (1702-1713), the War of the Quadruple Alliance (1718-1720) and the War of the Austrian Succession (1740-1748), the Jacobite Rising (1745-1746), the American Revolution (1775-1783) and the Napoleonic Wars (1803-1815). So, as you can see, we've warred with France for well over 200 of the last 700 years. Oh yeah, and it was they who got America involved in the Vietnam war.

But back to the point, we don't hate the US. We may critise but it is usually constructive; parents see their own failings in their children and you were our fledging "new world" that grew up and left home, so we try to pick fault to remind you of where you came from...the British womb. We just forgot that children grow up to become their own person, and we haven't let that go yet - to us, you will always be our baby boy/girl.

Still, I for one am a big fan of the US and one day I hope to visit your nation and leisurely travel from the Canadian border to the Mexican border (but not on a motorbike, I hasten to add - in a Chevy Impala or a Shelby GT Mustang).

I wonder if you are all having the massive problem of illegal immigration as we are having here stateside? It's such a drag to have all these foreigners roaming our streets like parasites as they are.

 

[minidog]

I wonder if you are all having the massive problem of illegal immigration as we are having here stateside? It's such a drag to have all these foreigners roaming our streets like parasites as they are.[/QUOTE]

yes the Polish are a major problem especially on building sites they work for peanuts,but there is light at the end of the tunnel,alot of them are heading back home,the reason,they just cant afford to live here:dunno:

 

[ninetysixcavy]

I wonder if you are all having the massive problem of illegal immigration as we are having here stateside? It's such a drag to have all these foreigners roaming our streets like parasites as they are.

yes the Polish are a major problem especially on building sites they work for peanuts,but there is light at the end of the tunnel,alot of them are heading back home,the reason,they just cant afford to live here:dunno:[/QUOTE]

Oh yeah? It is real pricey there isn't it? You guys must love those foxy Polish girls though...they are fine. (wish I could say that about the Mexican woman that have twenty five kids when they are here )

 

[minidog]

our government are to blame for the prices!no polish girls ,just 25 fellas sharing a bedsit and a pot of stew n several bottles of vodka,and if they prove they have children at home for each one they get 2000 pounds from our beloved prime minister

 

[ninetysixcavy]

our government are to blame for the prices!no polish girls ,just 25 fellas sharing a bedsit and a pot of stew n several bottles of vodka,and if they prove they have children at home for each one they get 2000 pounds from our beloved prime minister

Sounds kinda like our gov't...

 

[Kara x]

Picking people up on the Polish issue a bit here.

Generally the polish are heading back home not due to prices here, but due to the fact that the pound is much worse in value than when they started coming here. At the time it was 1 pound to say 6 of there currency, now it is 1 to 3. Thus a months wages used to be 6 months wages back home, now it is much less so.

Whilst some of the Polish lads and lasses may be going back home, a lot of the new EU countries are filling in the gaps - Slovakians and HUngarians are now arriving in huge proportions. I work in a transport office and have around 100 drivers. Of those, about 30-40 are Slovakian or of other Eastern European nationality.

Immigration is a hard subject to cover without seeming to be racist. And whereas 99% of people in this country are NOT racist [me included!], our governments lax attitude to HUGE amounts of immigrants is a serious problem. People working CAN be a good thing [the NHS would not function without a large percentage of foreign nurses], but a walk around Birmingham city centre will get 10 people thrust a piece of paper into your hands with something like "I do not speak English and am from Albania- please give me money to support my children".