People from other countries - they’re just better than us, aren’t they?

There's no need to be cold and cruel either.

We're just understated. Theres no need to be over the top. Its a strength.

Did I, where did I say that?

How kind of you. You are certainly living up to the "cold" stereotype.

Honestly I've never met people as cold and cruel anywhere, as some people are in England. Some of the coldness is truly shocking.

My friend visited England recently. He said to me "the people are very cold aren't they?"

He didn't need to do any more. It was a simple, helpful gesture that I seem to experience far more than you. Maybe you should look to the impression that you give off to others.

Do you mean putting it in trending?

Oh, gosh, it must be at least 3 days since we had a UK/British bashing thread. I was starting to worry!

#sarcasm 🙄

You need to get out more @PebbleDashedDoor there are people in certain countries who are FAR worse behaved than the British, and places that are far worse!

I agree with a few other posters, the UK/British bashing - on here- is weird and tedious and boring. The self-loathing from some is desperately cringeworthy. I don't know anyone in real life who does this. It's definitely a Mumsnet thing! If you said this shit in real life, you'd be laughed at and told 'there's the door!'

We Brits have a fantastic film and TV industry; and I think many of our shows are much better than American ones.

The director of the French film Amelie said that there is very little film industry in France; most of the studio scenes were filmed in Germany. He also said that they had to do a lot of “cleaning up” litter and other detritus in Paris to make it presentable, especially in the train station.

Every country will present their good side to the rest of the world. The other stuff… they don’t talk about that.

You claim that not all Spanish, French, Italians are the same, but the English are.

I mean he didn't kill himself there did he. I would have held your coffee if you were struggling.

What I find cold is how cold and icy many shop/bar/restaurant workers are in England. They are cold. I said hello to a barman last week and he glared at me

Small anecdote, the other day I was on a train and struggling to get up with a coffee in my hand and put on my rucksack. The man opposite said let me hold your coffee, I handed it to him, arranged myself, thanked him and left the train. This sort of thing happens often. In general most people are really lovely in my experience.

Strange opinion and very sad. How awful to have such bad self esteem that you think all other peoples are better than you.

There is good and bad in all countries, I'm sure the Balkans are generally very lovely but on the whole aren't they more right wing and racist than us here in the U.K.

This is a wonderful country full of interesting customs, history, and cultural talents. Our pop music has always been better than most. Obviously there are some problems here, as there are everywhere, but we have so much here that has been great and could be again.

I cannot understand this about the UK, especially England....the other nations within Britain are self proud....seems the English culture is under attack

Been there! We stayed in pigeon ford, 8 lanes of traffic going nowhere. A brilliant base for walking or driving from

I was in Ireland last month. The man in the bar in Dublin Airport chatted away to me. I went down to where I was staying. The woman in the local shop heard me sneezing and said "ah do you have the sniffles you poor pet " then she started chatting away about the weather and other things.

I came back to England and went to my local co op. I said "it's a lovely day isn't it". The woman behind the till (behind a screen) just glared at me. I don't think anyone in that shop has ever said hello to me.

The coldness is icy.

yes, just coming today from Bamber ...Steyning....it was totally gorgeous, clean, historic houses, roses everywhere, some lovely music festival to a decent size, families with normal kids

England is a tough county. Not due to money. Financially it is doing better than other countries. That's a blessing.

What I find tough is the coldness of the people in Enlgland. I visited Scotland, Ireland and Italy this year. In every one of those countries people were friendly and kind. I came back to England and I was really sad at how cold everyone was here again

I know. One pops up every few months or so, wailing about other counties (any country really but preferably one in Europe) being superior in every way. I’d love to know the psychology behind it.

I have lived and worked in a number of different countries for periods of several years and believe me, everywhere has their problems. There are a lot of good things about the UK. even while we have some obvious problems which need addressing.

The OP clearly hasn't been to places like Egypt, The Gambia, Jamaica nor Kenya

I've been to them all. Had utterly fabulous times. Everybody kind and helpful.
Travelled solo.

Life is what you make it.

There is a very low number on offer - I recall the figure 5% vs 25% in Germany. Whether that was young people taking part or employers offering them my menopause-addled brain does not recall.

Not sure the Balkans is the best example given the relatively recent wars and ethnic cleansing, OP!!

I agree with this. People often think my mother is rude because she doesn't do much please or thank you but they're just not used nearly as much in her native language. Her English is pretty good but she's translating in her head from how she'd say things in her own language.

I think a lot of the different nationalities complaining about other nationalities behaviour is explained by differing rules of politeness. What the British see as the French being rude is in reality the French reacting to what they see as the British being rude ie being far too casual or not interacting at all.

The French have quite formal ideas of politeness. When entering a shop eg. . you must say eg ( Bonjour) Messieurs, Mesdames etc) to the other people waiting or the people behind the counter. If you don't you will get a cool reaction.

When speaking to someone you don't know, or when being introduced, you shake hands etc.

We are very casual in comparison and risk causing offence where we intend none.

Yes. You're one of those people who go one holiday for a week or so sit in the sun outside bar or something and spend time sightseeing and think that's how everyone in that country lives.

It's like Americans who visit the Cotswolds and think everyone in England live in thatched cottages and spend all the time enjoying cream teas.