Can someone explain the reasons behind these differences between Americans and Brits?

[kurstytemple]

I've noticed that Americans greet people often with, 'hey, what are you doing?' even when it's completely clear what the person is doing, ie, picking them up from the airport, bumping into them shopping. As opposed to the British greeting, 'hi how are you?'

Also Americans can say bye ONCE on the telephone yet us British folk seem to say bye about 1 million times repeatedly whilst hanging up the phone. For example, Americans - 'it was good speaking to you, bye'. Brits - 'it was good speaking to you, okay, you too, okay, bye, bye, bye, bye, byeeeee, bye, bu-bye, byeeeee'. What is that all about?

Additionally, I've been watching a lot of teen mom 2 and the court system over there just seems so much more straightforward and fair. Not sure if that's an accurate representation. But for instance, a person can go directly to the court for custody arrangements instead of all the faffing about before getting to that point, seems to be easier to get protection orders from someone and seems to be a bit more lenient with young people, making deals with them to ensure that certain convictions don't go on their record hence not making them unemployable. I still have to declare a breach of the peace I got at 18 pissed as a fart.

Anyway there's my ramblings. Anyone else noticed this or care to explain why the differences? Or point out any of their own for me to ponder

@Sparklfairy

I came across "too easy" from an Australian the other day. I had to look it up afterwards.

Apparently it means no problem?!

Years ago, when we had a TomTom satnav (before the days of satnavs on phones) I set the voice to the Australian bloke because he was nice and cheerful, and he kept saying 'Too easy'.

'Bear left in 300 yards then take the first right. Too easy!'

When you reached your destination, he'd say 'Windows up, grab those sunnies and don't let the seagulls steal your chips.'

I miss him on long journeys.

@Mandalay246

Has anyone criticised?

Yes, some have - it's the old we are better than the US/Australia/any country you care to name theme coming through again.

I've not actually seen that. Could you point it out?

Just the sneering at the brits not having air conditioning and tumble dryers

Britain and America are completely different countries with different cultures. We just share a language (of sorts)

Please tell me you aren't making judgments about the court system on the basis of a TV programme?

Totally agree about the "byes". I often think I sound mad when I do it. Can't help it 😂

@NeonDreams

It's a clothes dryer here in Australia. But we also still have the Hills Hoists in the backyard where we hang the washing.

The UK not having airconditioning really stumps me, too. The most common type of air conditioner is Split Cycle, meaning it's a heater in the winter and cooler in the summer. Hardly anyone has fireplaces in Australia. I've read on here about hospitals in the UK being so hot and not being climate controlled. In Australia, the health officials would have any hospital without air conditioning permanently closed down because not having a healthy regulated temperature in hospitals is a health hazard. I have never heard of a hospital not having air conditioning until I came to this forum. That would be dangerous for patients I would have thought. Even the really, really old buildings here have had mandatory air conditioning/climate control put into them. Same as fire alarms are mandatory in all homes.

But in some parts of the UK they only have their bins collected once a fortnight or once a month? Here, it is mandatory weekly. Even with a strike I believe the longest the bins can go without being emptied is 10 days. Even with once a week many people's wheelie bins are full to the top. Ours is collected every Friday morning, and this morning our bin was so full that the lid didn't shut. If we had to wait once a fortnight or once a month? Shudder.

So considering the lack of climate control in hospitals with sick people, and the bins not collected often, and I've read on here that some people in the UK only shower/bath every second day, I do think hygiene is laxer in the UK than Australia and the US.

Hospitals are climate controlled - they're just set to a warmer temperature than us tepid Brits are used to indoors - that's why they're warm

We don't have air conditioning because it doesn't get that warm here. Have you spent significant time in the UK? It's interesting because I suspect if you live in a hot country the lack of air con is difficult to fathom but it's really not needed here.
We have central heating for winters which is nicer than split cycle air con

But in some parts of the UK they only have their bins collected once a fortnight or once a month? Here, it is mandatory weekly. Even with a strike I believe the longest the bins can go without being emptied is 10 days. Even with once a week many people's wheelie bins are full to the top. Ours is collected every Friday morning, and this morning our bin was so full that the lid didn't shut. If we had to wait once a fortnight or once a month? Shudder.

What is your recycling like though? My "general waste" bin is collected once a fortnight and it's rarely more than half full because most other waste goes in the recycling bins (paper and glass/tins(plastic on alternate weeks, food waste weekly)

In most subdivisions here it is against the rules to have an outdoor drying line, even in your own yard. It is considered trashy to hang your undies, etc. in public view

What's so great about spending a fortune on tumble drying when you can use the sun and the wind? If you're that delicate about seeing underclothes you can dry them indoors.

@NeonDreams

You do seem to be making a lot of assumptions. Nice dog about hygiene levels

Bin collection for nightly is because we have separate bins for recycling/garden waste/landfill etc and they're collected on a rotation.

It sounds like you produce a lot of rubbish, plus air con and tumble drying.

I find the lack of concern about domestic environmental impact an interesting cultural difference on this thread

The UK not having airconditioning really stumps me, too.

It is only hot enough for air conditioning for about 4 weeks of the year.

I'm not American but I'm Australian and we are the same as Americans when it comes to driving. To get your driver's licence is considered a rite of passage, something you are expected to do, expected to want to do, like getting a job, paying your taxes, brushing your teeth. It's like, if you don't want to get your licence - what's wrong with you?

Isn't that partly to do with distances and lack of public transport? Friends of mine who live in big cities don't drive because they literally have no need to, and see no point in spending a fortune running a car which they will rarely use.

Friends of mine who live in big cities don't drive because they literally have no need to, and see no point in spending a fortune running a car which they will rarely use.

This is exactly why my DS's haven't learnt to drive yet. There is absolutely no need.

We have recycling bins, they are collected weekly too.

I learned when I was 21.
Lived in a big city with excellent public transport and terrible parking, plus I was a student with limited finances.
Car insurance is expensive in the UK

@NeonDreams

We have recycling bins, they are collected weekly too.

So how on earth are you filling a general waste bin to overflowing?!

@NeonDreams

We have recycling bins, they are collected weekly too.

Then either your bins are smaller or you must produce a lot of waste 🤷‍♀️

@Shelddd

I've never heard any Brits say "hi, how are you?" It's always "hi, you okay? Or "hi, you alright?" Which both imply (at least to foreigners) that something is wrong. It's quite off-putting. Maybe it's a regional thing.

Probably regional- 'Hi how are you?' is the most common greeting I hear here (home counties) for people you don't really know.

@Terhou

I'm not American but I'm Australian and we are the same as Americans when it comes to driving. To get your driver's licence is considered a rite of passage, something you are expected to do, expected to want to do, like getting a job, paying your taxes, brushing your teeth. It's like, if you don't want to get your licence - what's wrong with you?

Isn't that partly to do with distances and lack of public transport? Friends of mine who live in big cities don't drive because they literally have no need to, and see no point in spending a fortune running a car which they will rarely use.

It's also about independence. Not having to rely on public transport (that often don't run 24/7 or if you wanted to go out and buy a computer or tv, try struggling on a bus or train with that! or grocery shopping) or others. It would be unheard of not to want to get your wheels, your independence.

As regards tumble dryers, my sister who’s lived in Massachusetts for 40 odd years, says (not entirely tongue in cheek) that there, hanging washing outside to dry is seen as a sign of either poverty or madness.

Which ties in with @GeorgiaGirl52’s comment that it’s ‘trashy’, given that ‘white trash’ is a term for poor people.

IMO it’s hilariously prudish to see anything wrong with hanging underwear on washing lines. That’s the sort of attitude I’d connect with a certain type of very prissy elderly person.

I live in Greater London. Public transport is 24/7. If I want to buy a computer I buy it online and if I didn't drive, I could walk to a supermarket or even use a bus with a shopping trolley if I wanted to. It's really not hard!

I've never heard any Brits say "hi, how are you?" It's always "hi, you okay? Or "hi, you alright?" Which both imply (at least to foreigners) that something is wrong. It's quite off-putting. Maybe it's a regional thing.

Yes, regional I think. ‘Hi, how are you?’ is the norm here. Family in the Midlands say ‘you alright?’ or even just ‘alright?’...😅

@NeonDreams
In those situations you could easily get a taxi or arrange delivery.

Parking, car insurance and maintenance costs make the idea of buying a car on the off chance that you need to pick up a TV (which you could probably get delivered anyway) pretty odd.

You really are coming across as being unable to comprehend any way of life that's different to yours

Have you ever considered travelling?

My point being that everywhere is different. You simply can't compare countries like that because the size, set up and environments are very different.

@GETTINGLIKEMYMOTHER

As regards tumble dryers, my sister who’s lived in Massachusetts for 40 odd years, says (not entirely tongue in cheek) that there, hanging washing outside to dry is seen as a sign of either poverty or madness.

Which ties in with @GeorgiaGirl52’s comment that it’s ‘trashy’, given that ‘white trash’ is a term for poor people.

IMO it’s hilariously prudish to see anything wrong with hanging underwear on washing lines. That’s the sort of attitude I’d connect with a certain type of very prissy elderly person.

I think it's a shame that in a climate that is hot enough to require air conditioning, the environmental impact of tumble drying is excused because people don't want to appear 'poor'

I thought it was the Brits that were obsessed with keeping up appearances?

So many of these are about not caring for the environment.

Driving when you don’t need to, tumble dryers, creating loads of rubbish, air conditioning when it is not necessary. No wonder the planet is burning.