What do other nationalities think of the British

[Baggingarea]

For non UK MNers, what are your general impressions of the British?

I was watching a documentary recently and a Spanish man said our houses are all dirty. I'd never heard that before but can see why someone might think that with muddy weather etc etc.

What do you think about us? Promise I won't be offended (no racism/sexism/general bigotry though please). Can't vouch for others though.

@HappeBee

I married a Brit and can confirm some stereotypes. I took years to introduce no shoes, rip carpets out, get him to wash himself, trim his nose hair, say what he actually means and get over himself.

Wash himself? I think maybe you just had a dirty husband? I wouldn't say everyone is like that. Most people I know shower twice a day which I think is excessive, but I always had the impression that British people were super into washing themselves.

A lot of the comments here are extremely offensive and misogynistic - British women are easy and have wide backs? And reverting to the 'dirty, smelly foreigner' type with the comments about dirty houses and poor hygiene.

They're also ill informed. Regarding our fashion and high street, I used to work in the industry and we would have buyers come from all over the world to visit Oxford street and portobello and see what the girls were wearing.

Isn't it strange that not many people in the world like us Brits (English even less) yet most people want to come and live here.

I certainly don't think 'most people want to come live here'

Can somebody please explain the Covid thing? I thought it was a global pandemic.

KenDodd I watched a documentary about the 2012 Paralympic games the other day. It was upsetting, what our country has become since.

Yes, I felt really proud and happy about the way we hosted and welcomed the world for the Olympics. Maybe I was wrong and the world didn't look on us a positively as I thought.

Was in Sweden in Feb. Everyone commented on brexit.
I feel very embarrassed about Brexit and try to make it known asap that I voted remain. I was visiting a friend in France last year and we had lunch with a family he knew from Venezuela. They'd moved to France because of the situation at home. Even they said wtf is going on in your country?

Too much drinking, terrible diets, unrealistic empiric idea of where they/you stand in the world, best sense of humour ever, men dress well, skirts too short, good debaters, great gardeners, your politicians act like tantrumming toddlers.

I'm dutch, lived in England for a while as a child, love the country but perfect you aint (no country is). I can't really comment on Scotland, Wales or NI because I don't know people from there. In my friendship group the Scots are seen as having more in common with us than the English. That might be because of brexit though.

Sometimes (but still too often):

• Poor levels of general knowledge
• Patriotism at the expense of other nations, apologists to imperialism

Almost always:

• teaching kids to read way too early, meaning a lot of kids take a long time to learn and is a frustrating experience sometimes. Should just wait until the age is right and it takes a couple of months to learn. The later the child learns to read the more likely they are to retain the reading habit as an adult (an actual scientific fact)
• linked to the above, lower levels of interest in literature in general. Also linked to poorer general knowledge.
• decent bread is very hard to find. That sliced lame shit is everywhere. Out of four supermarkets I found one loaf that was good and will buy in the future. Sour doughs are not sour enough, ‘brown’ bread is light medium back home, and rye bread is mainly wheat. Bread tastes very yeasty.
• parents don’t accept other people steer their kids. This leads to a lot of kids messing about much more than what I see back home in public places, simply because kids know no one else will say anything if their parent can’t control them.

Positives:

• good private schools, funding should be sorted for state schools to bring the teaching in line with privates.
• mature, supportive and kind workplaces (although have seen the opposite too) but I think there is something in the politeness that makes it more pleasant for everyone.
• friendly people.

@Ginfordinner

So, where do you buy your bread ffrom *@knickybricks*? Or do you only make your own?

Sometimes we make our own, not sourdough though but Soda Bread, flat breads, rolls, pittas, the odd loaf - I buy some from good independent bakers. I don't mind the ciabatta from Waitrose, they have some sliced sourdough which isn't too bad either. But it's not easy to find and so I tend not to eat it as often.

I think it also depends on what part of Britain you are from, for instance I would have a very different view of a northerner to a southerner. I would also have different views of the Scottish and Welsh.

It does amaze me how little British people are taught about their history with Ireland, when I lived in the UK people didn't know we were a separate country, had our own flag, or used Euro. To that extent I have an impression of the people being self absorbed and a very much we can do no wrong attitude. Obviously I know there are exceptions but there is a massive history there that seems to be left out of the British history lesson. There is definitely some with a superior attitude to the Irish and came up against quite a lot during my time there

Of my time living in the UK there were some lovely, friendly people and I think while it is hard to initially break the ice, when you do they are great friends and will help you out with anything and become lifelong friends.

Extremely polite sale assistants/ waiters/ waitresses and it was actually something I missed when I returned to Ireland. Great for queuing also.
Inflexible with forms/ box ticking exercises as I'm used to "ah don't worry about it"
Fab system of free medical or dentist care. Visiting a doctor here costs approx £40 a visit. Free medicine - even calpol if you need. It's a shame it's abused.

I have heard all of the stereotypes mentioned above, but one I'd add is the leery and angry behaviour in pubs past a certain hour. There's nearly always a fight?? I'm Irish so when we get drunk we sing and dance and act the eejit but the English (men) just seem to get angry. It's not pleasant.

Of all nationalities I like the English the best, you're most like us. Great comedy, great tv, great radio, literature, music. Beautiful countryside, pretty villages and culturally diverse cities. In terms of racial integration I'd say you've done the best out of all European countries and the US which is a credit to you as a nation.

British born and bred here but I think I get the hygiene thing that some pps are talking about as many things are a big no-no in traditional Indian culture 'back home', so I get to see both sides:

Not rinsing dishes to get washing up liquid off
Not rinsing mouth after brushing to get the toothpaste out
Rugs in bathrooms
No douche in toilets
Outdoor shoes worn inside
Children still wearing nappies past one year (my relatives back home actually train babies to do their business in a hole in the ground !)
Not cutting nails frequently and allowing them grow long.

Not every British household do the above of course, but they seem weird things to do in some foreign cultures.

On a positive note, I used to work near Edgware Road in London and the Arab customers would always search for the British Kitemark on things. They said they trusted our goods much more which was nice to hear. I also think people view British people as having good manners and a strong belief in fairness.

@Noidea2114

Isn't it strange that not many people in the world like us Brits (English even less) yet most people want to come and live here.

It's interesting you feel this way - what do you base this on? Most people? Who? From where?

Negative stereotypes
Stingy
Less hygienic about cleaning their homes
Arrogant
Lad culture and girls are too 'easy'

Positive stereotypes
Lovely countryside with quaint pubs
Polite

Carpets???? why do the british love carpets??? Filthy things!!
Carpets in bathrooms are even more hideous although this seems a lot less common nowadays
Washing up bowls????
Far too many carbs eaten with every meal
PUB culture??? not many other countries have this pub culture...
Lack of family values and family looking after each other

British actors are amazing
British cooking not to write home about but some very wholesome meals there
Some Brits are quite aggressive and that’s across the classes
On the other hand, many Brits are amazingly considerate and fair which comes as a relief because I am not good at saying no. Considerably easier to drive here due to other drivers being polite which was a big culture shock for me and I have driven in 3 countries.
Brits grossly underestimate their government’s negative effect in other countries affairs. Not sure this is specially British but it is important since Britain has been a leading force in last couple centuries.

Not polite to talk about religion and politics which makes talking to strangers in parties very difficult for me. Instead Brits love talking about sports and music. Specifically Brits love showing off their sporting prowess. And last but not least Brits love their drink.
There’s lots more but I will stop here.

No douche in toilets Ha ha, I remember having Italian family round in our UK house with a young niece and she called down the stairs from the bathroom 'Aunty Fink, where is your bidet? How am I supposed to wash my bottom?!' English family were like 'wtf, just wipe your arse with toilet paper like a normal person!' (obviously didn't say those words to a young child but were bemused at the sentiment).

DH is Australian and would say:

Bad teeth
Passive aggressive
Insular

@knickybricks

Scots as seen as lovely, good fun but the "you'll have had your tea" stereotype still holds some water. We never met Welsh people - they don't seen to travel much.

Yes your correct Welsh people just don't travel

Funny as well , as i worked with a fair few europeans and not all of them thought we were crazy about brexit at all
Not all europeans are pro the eu

Well the thread's a bit one sided but that's because the OP only asked for opinions on the British.

Let's even it up a bit. Perhaps those posting their opinions would tell us their home country so we can tell you what we think?

@mathanxiety yes i did miss it and some friendly banter and stereotyping is one thing like the british have tea and sandwiches , only talk about the weather are fine
But some of other things discussed are actually quite rude and I would say same if i had seen irish thread
My experience with Irish people has always been mostly positive and it is on my list of countries to visit as some areas look very scenic .

These threads never go well.

Very rule following.
'Careful' with money.

@giantangryroostser ive not seen those posts and lighthearted sterotypes is one thing , calling all british dirty and such like is going to far and the women are all ugly with wide backs
Also stereotyping in general isn't right everyone is different and the uk is a very diverse country with many different cultures
I live in a council house so used to being sterotyped and frankly find it insulting why not judge people as individuals no matter where thet come from or choose to reside etc

BurrosTail, I've heard it all now, the British not interested in Literature and children's literature, really? Britain has produced an array of children's classics and bestsellers- The Chronicles of Narnia, The Wind in the Willows, The Hobbit, Harry Potter, Alice in Wonderland, Winnie the Pooh, The Gruffalo; many of us would have read these in our youth and our children continue to read them. Our culture is rich in mythical tales and folklore, we have produced some of the greatest songwriters and poets in the world. How can you suggest the Brits are not interested in the written word!