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

[quote NeonDreams]@WaltzingBetty There is no 'objection', I was simply pointing out it would be a health hazard here, as it would be to not have bins collected weekly and to not shower once a day. These are all things all the rest of the 1st world countries manage to do, it's not just on the other side of the world. Oh, and we also line dry. I mentioned that myself. I've been accused of things on here, because some Brits are overly-invested (like yourself) and overly defensive and sensitive. This thread was also started by a UK resident, trying to pick apart differences in America, so the faux outrage is silly. If you pick at a country, then others can pick at yours.[/quote]
I love that you think you have expert knowledge on how often people in the UK shower

You really do hold you own opinion in how esteem don't you

High esteem

Kirsty, the rules changed in 2020.

It is 6 years for an adult caution and 11 years for a non custodial adult conviction. Under 18 cautions are never disclosed and non custodial convictions is 5.5 years.

This is for offences like breach of the peace which can be filtered. Obviously not for rape or murder.

This thread was also started by a UK resident, trying to pick apart differences in America, so the faux outrage is silly. If you pick at a country, then others can pick at yours.

Here did the OP 'pick at' or criticise?

@WaltzingBetty Lol you really are prickly and extremely defensive aren't you? After years of being on this board and reading many threads where people have admitted they don't shower every day, all I am doing is stating what has been said by UK residents. Sorry if that bothers you.

Careful, you'll be sneered at by the defensive lot on here.

Doubt it, That’s lovely thing of Britain, they tend to be far more tolerant to differences in the whole.

@GrandmasCat

Careful, you'll be sneered at by the defensive lot on here.

Doubt it, That’s lovely thing of Britain, they tend to be far more tolerant to differences in the whole.

Lol, all evidence to the contrary! This thread, Exhibit A.

The UK not having airconditioning really stumps me, too. We get about 3 really hot days a year, if that, we don't need air conditioning.

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. We have three different bins - general waste, recycling and gardening/food waste. The general waste bin is collected once a fortnight and the other two in the alternate week. We sort our recycling carefully and the general waste bin is rarely even half full.

By the way @NeonDreams, by British standards, it is you who is coming across as rude and defensive

When I say we I am referring to my Council area, others may vary in the details.

Mumsnet posters really can turn absolutely anything into an argument. It’s quite a talent. I suppose the arguing is on both ‘sides’ so ‘we’ have some common ground there. 😬

[quote NeonDreams]@WaltzingBetty Lol you really are prickly and extremely defensive aren't you? After years of being on this board and reading many threads where people have admitted they don't shower every day, all I am doing is stating what has been said by UK residents. Sorry if that bothers you. [/quote]
Oh right. You're using an Internet forum as evidence to judge a nation of people.

I'm going to take a wild guess and assume you aren't a scientist or lawyer if that's your threshold for an evidence-informed opinion.

You are of course free to judge, criticise and pick at what you like, to be honest making sweeping assumptions about climate control and hygiene in British hospitals and the need for air con in British homes or the need to be able to drive in British cities just makes you look rather uninformed and ignorant.

It's very clear you've no actual experience if those situations but are clinging instead to inaccurate judgements formed based on an internet chat forum. Which of course you are perfectly at liberty to do. It just makes you appear a bit silly

@GrandmasCat

By the way *@NeonDreams*, by British standards, it is you who is coming across as rude and defensive

British standards seem to be anyone speaking of non-British experiences are 'rude' and 'defensive' because that is how you see anything non-British. Your attitude is a perfect example of the insular defensiveness and rudeness. You really take anything non-British as a personal affront, don't you.

Lol, all evidence to the contrary! This thread, Exhibit A.

You seem to be confusing posters correcting your internet-based assumptions with their actual lived experience as British people as them being judgemental. It isn't

There is no 'objection', I was simply pointing out it would be a health hazard here, as it would be to not have bins collected weekly and to not shower once a day. These are all things all the rest of the 1st world countries manage to do, it's not just on the other side of the world.There is no 'objection', I was simply pointing out it would be a health hazard here, as it would be to not have bins collected weekly and to not shower once a day. These are all things all the rest of the 1st world countries manage to do, it's not just on the other side of the world
Can't you see how condescending your posts are? Implying that not showering every day is a health hazard, how rude and self absorb is that.

My mum showers every other day and she never ever smells. That's because she hardly sweats. She will have a quick wash with a cloth and I can't recall her ever smelling.

What I do find revolting is people who go to a gym class, sweat like mad, and then stop to the shops afterwards on their way home before showering. They might shower e very day, but you can certainly smell the sweat then.

It would be easy to assume from your posts that Australians are rude and full of themselves. Thankfully, most posters would see that you are an exception and don't represent the views of most Australians.

@WaltzingBetty The intolerance and ignorance the cognitive dissonance you display and the projection is truly amusing. You honestly cannot see yourself. If someone saying that something would be a health hazard elsewhere is enough to get you so indignant and upset, then your issues extend beyond.

I think we Brits like to take our time about things in a subtle way while Americans are more brash and abrupt - always in a hurry. Perhaps we feel we have the luxury of time while with Americans it's rush, rush, rush, trying to pack lots in.

I notice particularly in Cagney and Lacey how they say an aggressive "Hey," in the office while in Britain we say, "Good morning," or "Morning all," which is gentler. Its setting in New York is grittier and often bad mannered. But NY is not typical of the US while we in the UK are not all like Miss Marple, riding along on country lanes on flower laden bicycles.

Your attitude is a perfect example of the insular defensiveness and rudeness.

Lovely!

Whereas as a British person I'm very aware that your ignorance and incorrect assumptions and lazy stereotyping of the British are not representative of all Australians, and wouldn't dream of assuming that all of your countrymen are equally as ignorant

@vivainsomnia Implying that not showering every day is a health hazard, how rude and self absorb is that.

But it IS a health hazard! Basic hygiene drummed into us at school, by doctors, etc, is that showing every day is an essential. I'm not sure why you think it's ok to not shower every day?

I think the bye thing is a British thing, we’re too polite to say bye once and hang up. I’m not though, I like to get phone calls over and done with as quickly as possible. My Dad is French and my grandparents do lots of things Brits would consider rude, they definitely say bye once then hang up straight away. They generally get to the point much quicker than most Brits do which may seem rude but they can’t understand the concept of dancing around the overall point.

@WaltzingBetty , vivainsomnia has come on and proved my point, that it is common to not shower every day.

I have had a quick google and the advice in Australia is that you shouldn’t shower every day as it is bad for your skin.

[quote NeonDreams]@WaltzingBetty The intolerance and ignorance the cognitive dissonance you display and the projection is truly amusing. You honestly cannot see yourself. If someone saying that something would be a health hazard elsewhere is enough to get you so indignant and upset, then your issues extend beyond.[/quote]
Cognitive dissonance
Projection

You clearly aren't a psychologist or social scientist either

@LibertyMole oh really? I wasn't aware of that! I will look into that, thank you! My last PVG was 6 years ago when I started my job so obviously it up to date with it all but this is good to know going forward.

[quote NeonDreams]**@WaltzingBetty* , vivainsomnia* has come on and proved my point, that it is common to not shower every day.[/quote]
Yep I stand corrected.
One posters mum is absolutely evidence that 66 million people all adhere to your national stereotype.

That's definitely how evidence works.