Differences between Brits and Americans

Thanks. I was aware they have their own representatives and can pass their own laws, I guess I meant as you say the bigger polarising laws that are stark divisions such as abortion etc.

Do you agree with my point that the enshrined patriotism (which is socially discouraged in the U.K., unless it is for a sporting event or concerning the royal family it seems) is connected with the need to ensure a united nation, which is perhaps more crucial due to its sheer size and the separate states it comprises of? I guess it’s a similar scenario to Europe - comprised of many different countries but under one united banner?

And children aren’t ‘made to swear their allegiance to the flag’ either. Fuck me, people just make stuff up or state as fact the things they read once on twitter or something.

Maybe, but I've yet to meet an American who pronounced the L's in paella.

I stand corrected, sorry

States have always passed their own laws and each state has its own judiciary and elected representatives in addition to their federal representatives. We may be seeing bigger divisions between states at this polarised moment, but the system hasn't changed.

I've been living in the UK for nearly 20 years and have yet to have a relative stranger discuss their sex life with me. I would say my conversations have the same level of depth or superficiality in both countries, dependent on my relationship with the person I'm having them with.

They* have the weirdest ever pronunciation of "twat"

What the hell is that about

*possibly #NotAllAmericans

It is legal to burn the American flag. It is free speech protected by the 1st Amendment.

American here. Yes, we are very, very different. Our path with the UK diverged a long time ago. Based on my experiences I think Americans are more optimistic, louder, more open to new people and experiences, less interested in foreigners and foreign countries, more casual, and definitely less inclined to talk about details of our sex lives with people we don't know very, very well. We also don't talk about money with people we don't know very well. I'm constantly amazed at how much MNers know about the finances of their friends, family, and acquaintances.

I think Brits are more polite, more formal, less brash and less optimistic than Americans. And I'm not trying to offend, really, but you think that we think about you a lot more than we do. Most Americans hardly ever think about the rest of the world unless something big happens out there.

Not to say that we don't keep up on world events, we do, but we don't really worry much about what the rest of the world thinks, feels, etc. I guess I'm saying that we're aware, we're just not that influenced. We're too big, too dynamic, and there's always so much going on here in science, tech, the arts, we're always moving, growing, changing in a way that I never saw or maybe just never noticed, when I lived in Europe.

Did you ever think it was possible that the American people you were talking to were right to say that sex becoming boring wasn’t the case for everyone? No? Instead you just put it down to them being optimistic and superficial because you couldn’t see past your own experience.

Just another American bashing thread.

I have lived in the UK for 25 years and the US for 35 years, born in the US, brought kids up in the UK.

I find English people much harder to get to know, much more eager to put me in a box (what class, what education, what income???). In the US, it doesn't take a long time to feel at home in another person's house, to be on informal terms, to ask favours, to do favours. In England, for the longest time, people thought I had some sort of ulterior motive if I offered a ride or baked them something. English conversations follow certain lines, and stepping out of them is not particularly acceptable.

Maybe on the other hand, it is the people I know, the areas I lived in, the roles I had in those places.

This supports my theory of the mindset of the newly formed United States which has filtered down through the centuries.

You mentioned them listing their attributes and reeling off their accomplishments etc. I was stunned a decade ago to learn every morning (and perhaps afternoon) American school children up and down the country are made to swear their allegiance to the flag, the flag that it is illegal to desecrate in any way I believe. I’m not sure whether this is still the case now, but I remember thinking at the time how bloody weird and almost fascisty this seeemed. Like something you’d imagine them doing in a country under a dictatorship. But the concept makes sense when you think of how the modern country started out - with loads of separate states and colonies that needed to be united for the whole massive country to function cohesively without constant civil wars. By uniting under one flag and indoctrinating the very young to the idea that they are American first, above all else, and should be proud of it bc they are powerful and the best in all things, it ensures a united front.

The facade of perfection and infallibility has cracked in the last decade or so with cynically calculated wars and invasions etc and the current (twice elected???) president. But the premise still stands, despite more and more states seeking their own sovereignty and passing their own individual laws etc. Thats my take on it anyway.

But isn't that why we travel Devianinc - to learn about different cultures, countries etc? I'm not saying UK is brilliant, why aren't they all about us, I was just surprised at their 'listing' attitude. It was single minded everywhere I went.

And that’s why the British have the most entitled attitudes in the world according to every island, vacation spots in the world

CT is New England.

Really sorry about your sex life though.

Moved to the US last year from London. Absolutely loving it so far. Key differences for me:

• much more dynamic workplace. I'm in the same industry / company / role, but things move a lot quicker here. Shit gets done not just talked about.

• people socialise a lot more, and more spontaneously. My group of friends meets 3 to 4 times a week. I was lucky to see friends 3 or 4 times a month in London. Main reason seems to be that apartments are smaller here so people like to be out and about, and everyone has more disposable income because jobs pay much better. People think nothing of spontaneously dropping $250 on theatre & dinner on a random Tuesday.

• much better customer service everywhere, from bars to pharmacies (so not just because of tipping culture)

• better healthcare. I went from GP to urgent care centre to orthopaedic consultant in the space of 2 hours when I injured myself earlier this year. Care has been exceptional at every step. I'm seeing a great therapist who is completely covered by my insurance. I had private health insurance in London but it was a ball ache getting referrals and actually getting to use it. Therapy coverage was also limited (best therapists not covered).

I lived in Nevada for a while. Americans are like a different species and I had a massive culture shock. Different humour, outlook, values and some really inconsistent views on things like healthcare and gun control. Very indoctrinated into the American way - don’t dare question their “right to bear arms” 🙄

They’re a lot more bothered about God than the average Brit. That strikes me each time; I sort of block it out of my memory each time and am surprised by it all over again.

The gun thing is weird to us, obviously. Also the attitude to people who are in the military - lots of “thank you for your service”
type stuff which just doesn’t happen from the general public in the U.K..

I found a strong culture of volunteering, which I very much liked. When disaster struck, everyone mucked in rather than expecting the state to intervene as the first step.

American tourists (that I've met) are some of the worst, loud and brash. However, when I visited there, they seemed quieter. yep I know that sounds an odd take of it and it really surprised me. Everyone acts up on holiday, maybe? I hated the 'superciliousness' of the pleasantries, just don't sound genuine. I only travelled through 3 states - USA is bigger than anyone can imagine. The people on the whole were lovely and very welcoming but there was no depth to conversations - it was all ' we've got this, we've got that' without the slightest interest in UK. It left me with a hollow feeling somehow.

I know a few Americans who have Mexican heritage and they are absolutely obsessed with Mexican superiority.

Perennial reminder that the US is continent-sized and you simply cannot make generalisations. Actually you shouldn't make them about the UK either!

OP landed in what sounds like the WASPy part of Connecticut, which is far more buttoned up than where I come from. I moved to the UK 20 years ago and found so many people so reserved and hard to know, only finding out later about the North-South divide.

OP maybe people just felt sorry for your unsatisfying sex life. I don't know why you would assume everyone would agree with that!

This is so interesting bc by European standards we’re not frank at all and are often criticised for not saying what we mean and being too polite/repressed - I’ve never heard it said of Americans - it seems to be a primarily British ‘failing’. But think of the insincere and cliched “Have a nice day, sir!” with plastered grins that have almost crept into British culture from across the pond. There is a lot of fake cheerfulness / politeless/ concern bc it’s all about selling products and services to the consumer.

I think overall despite what a lot of ppl say, including themselves, a lot of mainstream Americans - I’m not talking about the 20 somethings or intellectuals - are fairly conservative. Years ago I read an article about censorship and it said that British ppl are a lot more tolerant about sex and nudity in films, but not violence, and American audiences were the opposite.

Make of that what you will.

Is that not just American tourists though? They are a breed apart.

Err…yes?

I've met quite a few in various countries, my experience of them is that they're very snobby and very confident. Friendly though in a fake way.

I was intrigued in you post until you stared going on about Middle Aged women and their sex lives then I lost interest.
Middle aged women or men, who cares? Most folk have so it’s no big deal…