Americans vs Brits

[WeirdHandDryers]

What’s the difference? Because there is a massive difference but I can’t put my finger on what it is! I love America so this isn’t an American bashing thread, would just love to know if anyone else sees the massive difference between the average Brit and the average American?

[Iltavilli]

In my limited experience, confidence.

[FissionChips]

Tea

[WeirdHandDryers]

That was my first thought too lltavilli

[GeorgieTheGorgeousGoat]

Volume

[Giraffe31]

Confidence and patriotism

[onthenaughtystepagain]

Two peoples divided by a common language? It would be so boring if everyone were the same, we go to the States a lot and love sitting talking to people we meet about their lives. There are things we find hard to understand, eg guns, and there are things they don't understand about us. One thing we have found is that if you challenge their criticisms they don't like it at all.

[masterandmargarita]

I've always thought the British were a bit more quirky than your average American

[Julianaa]

Britain has tiny cars and tiny roads and tiny food portions?

[TheChickenOfTruth]

Belief.

Americans believe in God, themselves, their country, their flag, their constitution, their superiority. Must be nice.

Brits believe in nothing. We're a cynical bunch.

[Racecardriver]

Confidence is one way to put it. Let’s put it this way. The British are traditionalists. They are always looking back hoping to find a way forward but the Americans just stride on in the belief that any brave new world will be their world so long as they can lay claim to it better than any other.

[user1494621907]

I think there are too many differences to mention.Yes they speak the same language but apart from that we dont have a massive amount in common.I think we have less in common now than say 100 years ago.
America is a vast country, it is generally more religious, and yet in love with guns.America had segregated the races up until the 1960's.They abolished slavery much later than us.Everything is bigger, including their egos(sorry) but also every state is different, we are a teen tiny island, thats just a few of the differences

[WaitrosePigeon]

Volume of voice.

[Iltavilli]

I’m with you OP, but think it’s more complex. As a northerner who moved to London for uni, I was repeatedly told that northerners lack the confidence of londoners (largely by those from abroad), who in turn aren’t as confident as Americans who people from abroad may be more accustomed to. I’ve met many folks from the US in the UK and that confidence is both positive and negative.
On another side note, each time I visit the US, I personally find it significantly behind many places in Europe. There are many positives, but I have been more impressed professionally and personally by many europeans.

[DemonChild]

I reckon the class system here has a lot to do with it - we're raised to 'know our place' so to speak (certainly historically that was the case, maybe less so these days) and they're raised to believe in the American Dream where anyone can become rich/the President. We don't have a British Dream...

[StoneofDestiny]

Not sure there is an average Brit or American but there are stereotypical characterises people often comment upon for each, usually based on watching TV documentaries etc.

Americans in the southern states don't come off as favourably as Americans on the east or west coast. Some might say American tourists don't behave as well as they do when at home.

So based on a random sample of extreme characteristics you might say Americans are louder, less reserved, more demanding, more patriotic, more likely to claim 'god is on their side' and more insular politically.

No sure what the average Brit is - so many differences between people from Orkney to Portsmouth or Cardiff to Brighton or Derry to Larne.

[QOD]

VOLUME

Religion and patriotism


All we have to offer is sarcasm

[JaretsGirlfren]

DP is American, I am British and I can confirm I am cool and he is not.

[KlutzyDraconequus]

Size.

They're bigger personality wise
Often bigger waist size
Bigger cars
Bigger streets
Bigger homes

So on and so on.

[Flewog]

Americans (on average) are generally far more religious, more patriotic, more right-wing, more politically partisan and more anti-intellectual.

That said, were it not for accent and language differences, I think you'd have a hard time guessing whether an individual was American of British unless you engage them on certain topics.

[WeirdHandDryers]

One thing I’ve noticed, is that the alcohol culture is different. In Britain it’s normal to get more than merry on a regular basis. Every time I’ve been to America I’ve never seen anyone drunk. They just don’t seem to do that over there.

[BlancheM]

Yes, if you get blind drunk in America then you'd have a drink problem and you'd probably have therapy. I've found they are big on therapy and aren't ashamed of it, self improvement, self belief, belief in general as PPs said, confidence, all the things you'd need to fulfil your meritocratic potential

[QueenCity]

They have pride in their schools, their state, their country, their children and they love to celebrate these things. Child come first in the swim meet that week - put a flag on your lawn to advertise this, child off to college- banners up advertising this. They celebrate achievement rather than being self deprecating and that in turn leads to them all being more confident.

[Flewog]

Actually, teeth are an obvious difference. Americans have (cosmetically) better teeth.

[OldGreyBadger]

I am married to an American. I agree with most of PPs views and add one of my own - they do not have our concept of thrift, or avoiding waste. A prime example is their horror of drying washing on a line and using tumble dryers instead. And cars with enormous engines.