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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To ask why Americans are so loud?

159 replies

MrsMattBomer · 21/12/2016 15:33

We've got some American relatives and their friends visiting today. My god, they're loud. They've commented several times at how quiet and restrained British TV shows are and even when just having a conversation with us they sound sooo much louder.

My eardrums feel like they're going to burst!

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1horatio · 22/12/2016 16:44

*weirding out

Shesinfashion · 22/12/2016 16:54

It's not just Americans. My parents are Geordies and they seem to shout everything at each other, including "why is everyone black?" when they visit London. BlushBlush

RestlessTraveller · 22/12/2016 17:04

my parents are geordies surely you are too then?

StillMaidOfStars · 22/12/2016 17:06

Not if she wasn't born in or around Newcastle???

originalmavis · 22/12/2016 17:06

Not necessarily. Mum was a Geordie but I was born in Glasgow, so a keelie.

SVJAA · 22/12/2016 17:15

Oh good, some rampantly xenophobic smug people to just spread bullshit stereotypes Christmas cheer Xmas Hmm
Fuck me, how can anyone generalise an entire nation? Like all English people are fat football hooligans, all Scots are tight fisted alcoholics, all Welsh people are overly fond of sheep. Ridiculous right? As you were.

PitilessYank · 22/12/2016 18:06

Where I live, (in the US Midwest), when people get in an elevator they generally stop talking/stop looking at phones, and nod or say "Hi" to other folks on the elevator. It is considered a bit rude to jump in without acknowledging the other people on the elevator.

SenecaFalls · 22/12/2016 18:14

Same here in the South, Pitiless. Also, if you're a woman, it's considered somewhat obligatory to comment favorably on other women's footwear. "Oh, cute shoes, where did you get those?" brings a smile every time.

DixieWishbone · 22/12/2016 18:41

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

DixieWishbone · 22/12/2016 18:43

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

welshgirlwannabe · 22/12/2016 19:12

I'm an American expat. Here are some fun cultural characteristics I've notice about the Brits. I'll pose them as rhetorical questions in order to seem friendly and interested, instead of close minded snd judgey Grin

Why do brits drink so much? I've never been somewhere where I've seen so many people falling down drunk at 5pm. Don't they know better????

Why are British people so bad at customer service?

Why do the British consider fries to be a meal in itself?

Why do British people bond by moaning together?

Why are brits STILL so class concious?

Why do brits fret so much about getting social encounters wrong?

Why is the British exam system so shit?

Why do British people in groups abroad behave so very badly?

Why do brits hate Europe so much?

Whew! You're right, this is fun!!!

Roussette · 22/12/2016 19:27

welshgirl here's my response to those q's!

Why do brits drink so much? I've never been somewhere where I've seen so many people falling down drunk at 5pm. Don't they know better????
No, but I wish they did! Totally agree

Why are British people so bad at customer service?
Not always, but I take your point!

Why do the British consider fries to be a meal in itself?
Because there is a big difference between 'fries' (those dreadful skinny things) and 'chips' (big fat yummy things!)

Why do British people bond by moaning together?
It makes us happy!

Why are brits STILL so class concious?
Dunno, but that will never change! Maybe it's because we have royalty which the US doesn't?!

Why do brits fret so much about getting social encounters wrong?
Because we like to do it right

Why is the British exam system so shit?
Not sure it is shit TBH

Why do British people in groups abroad behave so very badly?
God alone knows, I avoid the British abroad whenever possible.

Why do brits hate Europe so much?
Do we? Never heard that one before! Maybe it's like the US and Canada, neighbours who irritate you sometimes?!

Just my opinion of course, can't speak for others! Grin

GingerHollyandIvy · 22/12/2016 19:39

I think that as soon as you lump a large group of people together and make sweeping assumptions, you just make yourself look judgemental and foolish.

Some people are loud, some are not. Some of those loud people are Americans, some are British, some are French, and so on....

Shesinfashion · 22/12/2016 19:45

I was born in Newcastle but raised from aged 2 in Leeds. Yeah, they are racist. What can I say, they're my parents.

Atenco · 22/12/2016 20:54

Why are brits STILL so class concious

Many, many years ago, a friend told me about a conversation she had with another woman. The lady said "But Jane, there is class consciousness here, why last night I had supper with Lord X and this morning I am talking to YOU"

originalmavis · 22/12/2016 21:01

My old boss was American and very class conscious. She would have put hyacinth bucket to shame.

MrsMattBomer · 22/12/2016 23:13

claraschu

Oh yes, we're very aware (and ashamed) of our imperialism, thanks. Yes, we're proud of the fact we brought railways to India and a few other things but in general we look back on the British Empire as a bit of a shameful thing.

Not so in America. Surely you admit that pledging allegiance to the flag every morning in school is something that doesn't happen in most countries. I mean, you have a bloody law that says you can't burn the flag and it has to be flown at a certain height. That's mental.

And there is definitely a feeling that Americans don't like you insulting their country, as shown by your replies on this thread. At least Brits will generally join in and be self-deprecating.

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llangennith · 22/12/2016 23:18

I've always found the loud screechy kids on the beach abroad are British. My own includedConfused

DixieWishbone · 22/12/2016 23:24

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

MrsMattBomer · 22/12/2016 23:26

Why do brits drink so much? I've never been somewhere where I've seen so many people falling down drunk at 5pm. Don't they know better????

If you grew up in a country where it rains 364 days a year you'd drink a lot too.

Why are British people so bad at customer service?

Because good customer service is for the Germans, and we all know how we feel about them.

Why do the British consider fries to be a meal in itself?

They're called chips, thank you very much. And they're a meal because they are amazing. Also, potatoes are one of the few things we can actually grow really well.

Why do British people bond by moaning together?

Because we don't realise how good we have it. When your country has existed for thousands of years and hasn't been invaded since 1066, you tend to moan about things that most other countries adore. Plus, the things we moan about have existed for hundreds of years and archaic in some instances.

Why are Brits STILL so class conscious?

We're not, really. Some people are but they're not worth being around. Nobody really cares what class you are other than snobs.

Why do Brits fret so much about getting social encounters wrong?

Because we are a nation of worriers. I don't know why but we just are.

Why is the British exam system so shit?

Well, it's not really. Most of it makes sense, which is why the Tories keep messing about with it. Anything working means it can't be right and has to be changed.

It makes more sense to me than the American system.

Why do British people in groups abroad behave so very badly?

Because other countries encourage it. When package holidays first became popular, the only place you could really go was Spain. All the Spanish resorts had to compete with each other and did so by offering the cheapest booze/clubs/hotels etc.

Nowadays most of the cheapest places for people in their teens and twenties aren't Spain. So all the countries like Bulgaria and Portugal are trying to compete with each other in the same way Spanish resorts did in the 1970s.

Why do Brits hate Europe so much?

We don't, but the people who do hate the EU because they believe the lies fed to them by right-wing rags like The Sun and people like Nigel Farage who have made out like the EU are responsible for all the problems in the country. Sadly, many people are out of touch with politics and thus believe the lies fed to them.

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MrsMattBomer · 22/12/2016 23:27

DixieWishbone

See, I disagree with that. Any Brit will join in with you in mocking Britain as will the French, generally. Just America seems to get really offended if you dare make a comment about their country.

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SenecaFalls · 22/12/2016 23:32

you have a bloody law that says you can't burn the flag and it has to be flown at a certain height.

Actually, we don't. The Supreme Court has ruled that laws banning flag-burning are an unconstitutional infringement on free speech. And the rules about flag display are advisory; private citizens can follow them or not. Don't you have rules about flag display in the UK? I remember a bit of a dust-up about that a few years ago when Princess Diana died.

stopgap · 22/12/2016 23:44

I've lived in America for 14 years, and each time I return I wonder when the English grew so meek and mild. So I guess the loudness is infectious.

MazDazzle · 22/12/2016 23:57

I've been to America and didn't notice their loudness at all.

But when we were in the Caribbean during spring break? My Lord! They were deafening! In fact, the only quiet American we met, turned out to be Canadian!

That said, much like British stereotypes (toffs, drunk Scots etc etc...) it's a particular type of American, in certain situations, not all Americans, all the time.

I speak as a Scot who only occasionally drinks, and usually in moderation.

RestlessTraveller · 23/12/2016 08:33

America is made up of six main races, so overall I think this constitutes racism but by definition I may be wrong, it still doesn't make some of these comments any more pleasant.

The flag burning thing isn't against the law anymore.