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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Aibu to think Londoners are, in fact, neither rude nor unfriendly?

51 replies

Caff2 · 15/08/2014 22:16

I've read that they are quite a lot on here, and my experience couldn't be more different. I had to travel down to London on Saturday for a difficult reason, and without exception very stranger I talked to was fabulously kind and helpful, and in fact one of them has made friends with me on facebook and asked how things have been since and could she help in any way at all in the future.

OP posts:
Original poster
Caff2 · 15/08/2014 22:17

Every, not very.

OP posts:
LadyLuck10 · 15/08/2014 22:21

Yanbu, but your problem is you believe what's said on here as the truth.

WorraLiberty · 15/08/2014 22:22

Us Londoners are like the locals in most cities...a complete mixed bag of people.

On the whole, I do find there are way more helpful and friendly people than not.

Of course if you're going to compare city dwellers to people living in a tiny village and moan that they don't say hello to every person they pass in the street (as is often the case), you're going to think they're unfriendly.

But who has the time to walk through a busy town saying, "Hi, hello, how are you, good morning", to literally 1000s of people? Grin

WooWooOwl · 15/08/2014 22:23

YANBU.

People are always perfectly nice and friendly in London ime.

I find in Scotland and up north strangers chat to one another more readily, which is lovely and probably why it's seen as more friendly than London and the south, but I don't think that means it's unfriendly.

Original poster
Caff2 · 15/08/2014 22:24

Yeah, it would be a bit weird and time consuming to say hi to everyone! But I had to ask directions several times and some other stuff and everyone was incredibly helpful. Particularly the bar staff in a pub in euston who really need some kind of counseling/ information service/ city guide medal!

OP posts:
PenguinsHatchedAnEgg · 15/08/2014 22:25

Londoners are just as lovely and friendly as anywhere else. It's just that living in close proximity with millions of others mean that you can't spend you whole time saying hi and smiling at every person you pass. Which is often taken as a lack of friendliness from people from smaller places.

Toofattorun · 15/08/2014 22:27

Are you an East gal, Worra? I always imagine you being East-ish.

Amy106 · 15/08/2014 22:30

The Londoners I have met have been friendly and helpful and very willing to help a lost non Londoner!

spudmasher · 15/08/2014 22:30

I am a Londoner and recently spent a bit of time in Cardiff and found it to be..........on balance, pretty much the same as London. I am in Cornwall at the moment and it is........very unfriendly. Probably because it is high season and no one who works in the tourist trade has worked less than a twelve hour shift in the past two months. Friendliness in a region is not measurable IME. Please note: unscientific study.

WorraLiberty · 15/08/2014 22:31

I am Toofattorun

Getttt outta mah puuuub! Grin

FreudiansSlipper · 15/08/2014 22:33

Yanbu

We love in an area that has a lovely community feel

We are all affiliated with gangsta's though so best, you know, to be careful

WorraLiberty · 15/08/2014 22:35

We love in an area that has a lovely community feel

I'm sorry, but that sounds like you're into orgy sex Grin

WhenSheWasBadSheWasHorrid · 15/08/2014 22:36

I totally agree. Anytime I go to London people help with the pram, I'm baffled by the not getting a seat on the tube. On the odd occasion when I got the tube I was always offered at seat maybe I looked like I really needed one

Original poster
Caff2 · 15/08/2014 22:37

I'll try and make friends with you Freudians, I'd rather have the gangsters on side... Grin

OP posts:
quesadillas · 15/08/2014 22:38

YANBU.

I'm lovely.

Deelish75 · 15/08/2014 22:40

I loved living in London, unfortunately we were priced out, but we are still within easy reach. My neighbours were great wherever we lived, people were friendly. Used to find most people helpful when traveling on the tube with the kids.

TheSarcasticFringehead · 15/08/2014 22:42

I'm from London but live in the US now. I think it's very friendly. Not in the talk to a stranger or wave at someone walking down the street way it is in some places, but people seem to readily give up their seats and when I had a pushchair people would always help or offer to help. If you nearly miss your stop, people are asking the bus driver to stop. I can't imagine talking on the tube or bus to even someone I know or whatever, but if someone needs help, they nearly always seem to get helped and are friendly and nice about it too. When we were over last time and DD hurt herself on the escalator I had a mini crowd of people around me checking that she was okay and asking if they could do anything.

WorraLiberty · 15/08/2014 22:42

< Tuts >

It's 'gangstas' Caff2, not 'gangsters'.

Honestly, you lot come here but you never try to fit in do you? Angry

Grin
Sicaq · 15/08/2014 22:43

Londoners are just the same as anywhere else, I've found. Well, on foot, anyway. Behind the wheel of a car: now that's another matter Grin

FreudiansSlipper · 15/08/2014 22:44

Of course I am Worra as you being a Londoner will be too Grin

Original poster
Caff2 · 15/08/2014 22:45

Sorry, worra. I will try to be more street. Is that the expression? Grin

OP posts:
Flipflops7 · 15/08/2014 22:46

Thank you, YANBU. We are lovely, just so hugger-mugger we have to pretend to be 'ard.

WorraLiberty · 15/08/2014 22:49

< Prunes pampas grass >

Yeah blud, much more street innit? Grin

Flipflops7 · 15/08/2014 22:49

I don't mean hugger mugger do I. It's some other phrase meaning jam-packed :)

BloodyClarey · 15/08/2014 22:50

It's far RUDER to impose yourself on strangers with tedious idle chitter chatter if you ask me. We are the ones who are being polite by not prattling on to you at bus stops, on trains, in post office queues etc.