Americans vs Brits

[WeirdHandDryers]

What’s the difference? Because there is a massive difference but I can’t put my finger on what it is! I love America so this isn’t an American bashing thread, would just love to know if anyone else sees the massive difference between the average Brit and the average American?

Less swearing in the US? Blimey, you've never been to Maine then.

American here, I've lived in the UK for about 15 years.

I'm just back from a holiday resort with a lot of American guests.

I noticed a lot of them didn't say please or thank you to the staff.

This is ridiculous. Americans are practically defined by their compulsion to continuously ingratiate themselves to wait staff.

Americans are, I think, friendlier, make friends more easily, have a sometimes rushed approach to intimacy (not in the sexual way), and are very, very loud.

The bulk of Americans can be slightly clueless about some basic international issues, like the controversy surrounding Israel or Tony Blair, for example.

Americans are generally more optimistic and possibly even more entrepreneurial, they have zero expectation of a welfare state so it wouldn't occur to them to complain about the council not giving them a refrigerator or whatever. That's not on their radar.

It's true that their social position is broadly defined by income rather than class, but the US still has its version of aristocrats who care very much about lineage.

Talk about university as “school” is silly.

Talking...

Regarding the point made by Troels. I noticed far far less swearing in general in the US.

Absolutely. Also, Americans are not allowed to swear around our parents, even as adults. I was surprised to see a slackening WRT swearing as my children got older amongst their friends' parents - I can't really imagine a time that I'd be comfortable with this. It's a show of respect.

Also, we are not allowed to sleep in our childhood bedrooms with our long-term boyfriends or girlfriends or even fiancees in the absence of marriage.

Why do they say “bangs” instead of fringe. It is so annoying.

@ImpendingDisaster are you talking for all Americans or just you because I've never encountered neither of those things.

Well swearing is Anglo Saxon so I imagine that is why Americans are unfamiliar with it.
Ha

ImpendingDisaster, you must be a Mormon.

The absence of swearing I do not believe, incidentally. As if.🙄

I do love Larry David, though.

ImpendingDisaster, you must be a Mormon.

Almost. Catholic.

Also, we are not allowed to sleep in our childhood bedrooms with our long-term boyfriends or girlfriends or even fiancees in the absence of marriage.

This is clearly a 'your family' thing and not an America wide thing.

I know many Catholics and they all swear like troopers. And sleep in partner's beds.

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I saw an article the other day about US veterans, all about hos they coped with what they'd experienced and so on. And one of them mentioned people thanking him for his service, which is apparently a thing (US posters - is it?). I'm sure I've heard politicians doing it too.

Then I read a separate article later, about Sir Robert Winston meeting some clueless reality tv show star to discuss Brexit, and she, on finding out about his NHS work, thanked him 'for his service'. To which he responded, don't patronise me! (I think she was being sincere, to be fair, but it was a bit cringey).

So there's a difference - I cringe to even think of thanking someone for their service, but it seems much more a thing in the States. Also, the concept of service, perhaps? As a virtuous thing? I don't think it's that the British don't appreciate these sorts of things, we just don't talk about it in the same way.

Veterans are much appreciated here. Lots of restaurants and shops give discounts or free food on Veterans Day, some every day. (Apart from the government who give them shit all.)

The grave of anyone who's served will always have a service flag on too. Provided by the town.

Emergency staff are treated are also treated with a lot more respect here than Britain I've found.

If you're on Twitter you'll notice a lot of 'thank you for your service' comments from Americans to fellow Americans who've been in the forces. It's very much A Thing.

So there's a difference - I cringe to even think of thanking someone for their service, but it seems much more a thing in the States. Also, the concept of service, perhaps? As a virtuous thing? I don't think it's that the British don't appreciate these sorts of things, we just don't talk about it in the same way.

Yes, but I think it's creeping in. I feel as though I've heard more talk about 'service' as of late in the UK.

The US has successfully fetishised the military. No doubt about it.

Scottish and English people are largely similar.

Here, have a tin hat.

I'd argue that veterans are appreciated on a superficial level though. I think veterans are something like twice as likely to be homeless as other Americans.

I find the men more romantic. They are generally quite blissfully happy. They talk about their feelings more. Friendlier.

Spudlet I used to feel the same way until I saw this done on a big scale at a military parade in Sarasota

There were countless veterans in the streetside crowds, usually with caps saying what they'd served in, and time and again someone would break from the parade to shake their hands - or even salute them - and say something like "thank you for your service to our country"

I guess you had to see it as it doesn't translate very well in writing, but the look on the vets' faces made it all seem very worthwhile

It's not that I think the US way is wrong (although I do know about some of the problems veterans can face - here too of course). I'm also sure it's meant totally sincerely. It's just very different.

Waiting for a flight to Florida this year we were held up in a snow storm so saw 100s of troops coming in (biggest troop hub in the States) and it made me shed a tear at the older veterans (some in wheelchairs) that were standing in a line to meet the young kids coming off the planes and shake hands with them all.