Differences between Brits and Americans

Dual national, spent 6 years in the states (Los Angeles) for high school and uni, now spending winters in Florida due to dual national partner. The thing that hit me when i went there at 16 was the casual religiosity of people, teh assumption that it is a central part of life. Also, in LA, the multiculturalness of it- there were Mexicans, black Americans, lots of Vietnamese, a big Armenian community... I was an oddity being this weird British kid who'd come from Namibia but they were very kind to me in high school, not like the Mean Girls stereotype at all. I think the individualism and celebration of success in America might stem from their history of European immigration by religious minorities and the Calvinist idea that people who are going to be saved needn't actually do anything to get into heaven, but if they're Chosen then god's favour is likely to show in how well you're doing in life. So it makes a virtue of material success. I'd agree with the people saying that America is a big place and culture varies a lot across states. I remember visiting Nebraska and Wyoming after a few years in LA and being shocked at how parochial it was. Also the prejudice in those states towards native Americans- very odd! There was a lot of looking down on Mexicans too. Definitely a can-do culture though. Here in Florida the debris following the recent hurricanes was cleared up pronto, the state would empty people with equipment from other states ( not necessarily state employees just ordinary people) and it gets done- I couldn't help thinking that in Britain, it would have taken a hear or more to get it done. I am very European though, on balance you can have a freer life in Europe. Which is ironic given the American rhetoric about freedom. Freedom has to mean something beyond the second amendment or the right to insult people in any way you please on twitter. I know people in the States who wouldn't change jobs for years because they'd have lost their 4 weeks holiday a year and gone back to 2 weeks, and they'd have had worse health care. That doesn't look like freedom to me, not being able to change jobs or go off travelling for a while for fear of losing such basic entitlements. Work is king in America. You're expected to open your veins and bleed all over it. I prefer the European view that it's a part of life, but just a part. So I am happy to spend a bit of time here in the US, there are beautiful wild places that we don't have in Britain, but I will remain rooted in Europe.

This is not the Midwest …

Canadians are like this too, I used to live there and noticed I began talking more positively too, really miss the optimism, it’s refreshing.

The British didn't elect a dick as their leader twice, thank goodness. Oh wait, they did.

Now that's out the way, I think the two cultures are very similar.

But the customer service bit, and the passport thing?

Did you use phrases like "I'm sorry I touched a nerve"?
Because passive aggressive remarks are going to rub even the patient people of Nebraska the wrong way.

I think this is thanks to the media. Most big films made in America - American hero - usually a British or Russian or middle -eastern villain 🙄

Stereotypes in mainstream tv shows that Brits are only posh or cockney, drink tea til it’s coming out their ears and have comedically grotesque dental hygiene - ironic as a lot of America is economically poor and the audience of shows such as Jerry springer etc show that not everyone has Hollywood smiles. The Judge Judy production team would pay for temporary dental work for some of the ppl appearing on the show, presumably so they didn’t offend audiences.

Also competitive events and chants of “U-S-A!!!!” add to the perception that a lot of Americans believe themselves superior and are fiercely patriotic. Not all, maybe the loudest, to be fair. And the presence of so many FLAGS, pictoral or actual, everywhere you go and displayed outside ppl’s homes etc.

I've seen both sides, and I'm looking at both from another angle (Ireland).

As an Irish person, the US is a far more welcoming place. British people have a hard time placing me. Americans don't do the placing thing.

Living in the midwest, in a very blue city and state, seems like living in a different country from the likes of Oklahoma. In many respects it is.

There are lots of churches and synagogues in the area where I live, but I can't think of a single one that isn't liberal and very much focused on social justice. A coalition of different local congregations came together to address the needs of the migrants who were put on buses and transported here from Texas over the last few years.

Some elements of life that stand out:
Neighbours take in packages for each other, loan garden and diy tools, shovel snow for each other, take an active interest in each other's children and teens, organise block parties, pot lucks, neighbourhood progressive dinners, take care of each other's children in an emergency. People sit out in front of their houses and chat. Hallowe'en is a hugely fun event. People are polite and courteous. Nobody minds a neighbour barbequeing or children hopping a backyard fence to retrieve a ball. Teens do not wander the streets causing mischief.

You might not panic about forgetting to lock your door at night. Children's toys can remain strewn over front lawns all night and will still be there in the morning. Steel shutters over shop and restaurant windows after business hours are not a thing. There is little or no graffiti. There are no walls or fences separating front gardens.
Police come when called and take crime seriously.

Civic pride:
People pay property taxes to support local parks and pools, schools, public libraries, health department, and various social services. There is a bit of grumbling, but there is at the same time the acceptance that good schools, public amenities, and public services cost money and if you value the amenities that make a community good for everyone who lives in it - and people do - you put your hand in your pocket and pay for it.

Abundance mindset as opposed to scarcity mindset.
Buoyant attitude.
Willingness to try new activities, new foods, adopt new phrases.
As a PP remarked, shit gets done at work.
Can do attitude to extremes of weather - they set fire to the rails here to keep trains running during polar blasts.
Volunteering is an important part of the culture, and fundraising for various causes is not left to bigwigs.

I agree and find that the British have an obsession with America and how they are ( in their mind) much better.

Exactly 50 states and 330 plus millions people and all states are different.

Their humour is totally different. My American ILs are forever sharing 'hilarious' comedy clips, which I don't find funny at all. But it's the same thing the other way
I'm pretty sure my American FIL things I'm an alcoholic because I'll have a glass of wine in the evening 😆
On a similar vein, kids and alcohol absolutely do not mix. You can't take a kid into a liquor store. Winter events will serve hot cocoa, not mulled wine.
Families are much bigger, it's not uncommon to see four or six kids.
Wages are way higher, taxes are incredibly low.
The people that work and/or study hard, and earn lots, are celebrated.
Finally, I've noted that Americans are proud to be American. Good for them! I wish we were more proud.

I'm sorry I touched a nerve. I can only speak for my experience not yours

I was in Nebraska

Where on earth were you? The Midwest is generally understood to be populated by kind, polite people. I've lived in the Midwest for 40 years and have never in my life heard of someone being insulted for being educated. Something like 70% of the residents if the Midwest attend some kind of higher education. It doesn't make any sense that they'd insult you for being educated when most of us are educated ourselves.

the differences that people have experienced are the point of the thread
so 🤷‍♀️

Unfortunately their president has allied the country with Russia against Europe and Canada, so small differences are very soon going to be irrelevant.

Am wondering where you are in US?

I would have to disagree The US is a very religious country and yes I would agree puritanical in many ways.

Yeah, I was married for 20 years sex was never boring in our relationship. Nor was it infrequent. I'll raise my hands that I'm optimistic, but that's lived experience.

I think talking about puritanism in the US is a bit like talking about sectarianism in the UK. Still present, but certainly not like it used to be.

It was viewed by people all over the country, not just in NY, though. If it had only been watched by people in New York it would have been all that successful.

The fact that gun laws, religion and abortion are major issues in US elections, but not at all in the UK.

Plain old prejudice. It's just a human thing.

Guinevere was supposedly king Arthur's wife on the legends. It was just a small recollection of a bizarre convo I should never have joined in 😄

I don't know, it wasn't encouraged to be curious about why anybody thought anything. It could be just as you say.

Actually most Americans do not own guns. A majority don't, and a lot that do just own rifles for hunting. Not everyone here is carrying around an assault rifle. (Not minimizing our gun problem, but it can be overblown.)

I wish I could understand what happened to you.

Guinevere?

I have a mixed accent so it's nothing like you'd hear on films but I've worked with lots of nationalities and only in the US did no one believe I was British.

Fortunately I don't take much to heart so I just muddled along and tried to keep my head down til I could get out of there.
😄