What do you dislike about your country's culture?

[WomenHour]

I would say the binge drinking culture of the UK

By Lack of pride, I meant in the local environment - the rubbish, the vomit, reluctance to Clean up after themselves etc. and in the UK, it’s amazing history, reluctance to be patriotic, apologetic almost of being British.

Big shock when I came here, and it’s so sad to see.

I know I keep asking this but why am I a bad person for not being patriotic?

I do agree people are disgusting about litter though. Bins exist! Use them!

I know I keep asking this but why am I a bad person for not being patriotic? You've got it the wrong way round. People are being accused of being bad or stupid if they are patriotic. Do you not remember Emily Thornberry's tweet from Rochester? I'm Scottish and we're allowed to be patriotic and have Burns nights, cry at at the bagpipes and all sorts of sentimental Scottish songs. We have the Edinburgh military tattoo etc etc. But English people are all racists, bigots etc if they feel the same about English songs atc.

U.K. here. The lack thought and provision for the disabled comes top of my list, Littering, lack of respect for the young and the benefits culture.

Gonna just go with the people in general. We had to actually have instructions on how to wash your hands and how to wear a mask that they still couldn't follow.

Britain.

UK drinking, littering, vandalism and fucking dog shit everywhere. It's getting worse and worse.

What sums it up for me is that homeless people were moved on from the area of Harry and Megan’s wedding, but then people were allowed to camp out in the streets overnight to watch the wedding in the morning.
I hate the government. I also dislike the royal family.
The U.K. is a beautiful country but I feel very disconnected from it and have done for about ten years.

I'm not in the UK anymore but if I was then I'd say getting help getting treated for mental health issues.

The country where I currently live would be GBV.

Phil, far better explained by derxa, thank you! Precisely what I meant!

The emerging reacceptance of racism and xenophobia. I thought we were leaving that in the 1980's where it belongs. It directly affects my family and I hate it. And the anti intellectual/education attitude where people sneer at those who have studied and become experts in their field. It's a badge of honour to say you're rubbish at for example maths but hey you learnt survival skills at the university of life and what do these know alls really know anyway.

@PhilSwagielka

Morris dancing outfits do look a bit daft BUT it can be fun to watch. Same with maypole and sword dancing. I watched a sword dance and it looks easy at first glance but it’s actually quite intricate. We had a maypole in primary school and I always envied the kids who got to dance round it.

I should add that being Jewish, I have a weird relationship with patriotism. I feel like I’m not a real Brit and I don’t belong here. I don’t mean I want to make aliyah, I just feel a bit out of place in mainstream society.

Also with Morris dancing people dislike the black face that some sides do but there's a valid reason for it which is nothing to do with race.

I disagree, I think you can quite easily be proud of being English without being seen as racist. You can be proud of the NHS

Nye Bevan was Welsh.

What I really dislike about my country's culture is the way people dislike our country. I have never experienced this when visiting other countries or living abroad. Yes people criticise government/ welfare/healthcare but never in the same way you experience here.

There is much to be proud of in English Culture and History. Be proud of it. You don't need permission to be so.

On the other hand, England has had a vast influence on the world, for many years, and not all of it has been benign, or positive. It is unreasonable to expect those impacted to happily comply with sweeping the less than positive aspects under the rug.

@derxa

I know I keep asking this but why am I a bad person for not being patriotic? You've got it the wrong way round. People are being accused of being bad or stupid if they are patriotic. Do you not remember Emily Thornberry's tweet from Rochester? I'm Scottish and we're allowed to be patriotic and have Burns nights, cry at at the bagpipes and all sorts of sentimental Scottish songs. We have the Edinburgh military tattoo etc etc. But English people are all racists, bigots etc if they feel the same about English songs atc.

What is the English equivalent of bagpipes? Brass bands? Because I'm a brass player myself and I appreciate the hell out of them. If you're talking about Land of Hope & Glory at the Proms, I thought it was because they couldn't get a choir.

What I mean is, people in this thread seem to really dislike people like me who aren't patriotic. I'll be honest, I don't even know how to BE patriotic. I know a few folk songs and I cheer England on in the football, but that's it. I don't feel anything when I sing the national anthem (and I prefer Jerusalem anyway) and I didn't do anything for VE Day this year. Maybe I'm just abnormal. I don't know. I have a lot of trouble with social norms.

You sound pretty normal to me Phil.

Just like so much, there's a graduated scale. You'll get those that want to fly the flags, sing the songs, wear the union jack (or in my case, All Blacks regalia), and those that are quietly okay with where their country is at, and then those that absolutely bloody loath their home country and wish they'd been born anywhere but there. . .

@PhilSwagielka I’m indifferent to patriotism in this country. I think it’s unfortunate that a lot of the people who are very vocal about their pride in being British are also the ones who are proud of it for being an “empire”, rule Britannia etc, and they’re often racist as well. So it sours it for me.

Of course not all people who are proud to be British are like this, but it’s always the most vocal ones who spoil it for everyone.

I don’t feel proud to be born on a random bit of earth. I like the country, it’s beautiful and it will always be my home, but beyond that.... 🤷‍♀️

Maybe I'm just abnormal. I don't know. I have a lot of trouble with social norms.

It's not just you. I find it weird taking pride in (or being ashamed of) stuff I didn't do and am only associated with by virtue of being born on this bit of land.

Wokeness. Also the virtue signalling and narcissism on social media.

In the U.K, the race to the bottom. People take pride in being not good at things. Success is looked down upon. People competing with each other to be shitter, stupider, lazier than each other.

The Trumpsters (I’m American). They must be unhinged!

That we don’t do enough during childhood to get working class kids out hillwalking, kayaking etc and enjoying our free scenery and boosting skills and health simultaneously . There’s no bad weather. Just bad clothes and all that jazz. There’s so much to do and it’s a pity we don’t see it/ take pride in it collectively. Like it’s for the rich and not all of us.