Do Europeans hate the Brits?

[Floofydawg]

We're in Spain at the minute and have encountered some pretty hostile behaviour. Not so much from the Spanish, as we speak the language, but from other Europeans. We've been coming here many years and I've never before encountered such hostility. It got me thinking, do many Europeans dislike the Brits?

More specifically the English, I’m afraid. When they hear the accent and discover that our family is Irish we instantly get better, friendlier service in many restaurants, shops etc.

What exactly is being said or done, though? You mean hostility from fellow-tourists from other European countries?

What kind of hostility did you encounter?

Can you give examples of what they said to you.

That was a nasty post.
How is that relevant to what the OP asked?
She said "do many Europeans dislike the British".
And you said, "well they treat me well because I'm Irish."

I was in a major Spanish city last week with plenty of locals plus tourists from Europe and North America and encountered no hostility at all.

What specifically have you encountered?

I agree with this. I’m Irish too and when people become aware of the fact I’m not English their attitude changes completely.

What has that got to do with what the OP asked though?

If you’re Irish you’re not a Brit?

Not noticed at all. We were in the South of France earlier in the summer and everyone was perfectly friendly and welcoming.

That said it wasn't a very touristy area and we didn't encounter many non French people. We sat near a group of Dutch tourists one evening and helped them with the menu as they didn't speak any French, but that was it.

How are other tourists being hostile towards you?

Hm. In early 2017 we were holidaying in Bulgaria and the locals found it very funny that post-Brexit a Bulgarian passport would be more useful than a British one. I don't think we're hated, just looked down on.

No but they seem to dislike the Americans

The very first post beneath the OP says "more specifically the English"
That is what people are referencing.

I make a point of saying I'm from Scotland, and yes the response changes.

Not in my experience. My DH is European, my DIL is European ~ their families love my English family, love English culture, love the English countryside. They love to visit and admire much about us. Believe it or not, some of them envy us leaving the EU - I’ve told them they’re bonkers but not everyone is in love with it although they can see its advantages.

Do some nationalities still dislike the Germans? Get annoyed with the Italians? Resent the French? All of the above.

We do have our fair share of dickheads to be honest.

I don't think they hate the British but I do think many hate the 'Brits abroad' behaviour of rough types of people on a cheap foreign holiday who do not appreciate or respect the culture or history of the country they are in and just want to stuff their faces with British cuisine and drink to excess and then behave badly.

I think they probably dislike a certain kind of Brit.

For some people in Europe their only previous experience of British people might have been English football fans.

I'm saying this as a part Indian and part European.
She's right - most people do like the Scottish, Welsh and Irish better, world over not just in Europe.
It's not right but it is a reality.
My Spanish, Italian and French holidays to relatives homes and their societies back this up.
The French side only have to see decent tourists who are interested in culture arts etc not the alcohol type tourists and they still prefer the non English ones.

I do think there is a bit of anti english sentiment in places.

Mainly to do with Britain colonising countries long ago.

Yet Germany and Spain also colonised loads of countries in the past, and they dont seem to get any abuse.

What nasty things did they say to you OP?

I would have thought it was perfectly obvious. People hear you speaking English and assume you're a brit. They treat you poorly. Once they realise you are not a brit, they treat you much nicer, indicating they do not like brits

Tell a lie.
Americans are not liked either.

I don't really want to give the specifics, it doesn't matter what they said. But agree with the Brits abroad thing. We're clearly not all like that though.

Not necessarily true. Since the good Friday agreement, anyone who is Northern Irish can be Irish, British or both.

This is meaningless without examples of the behaviour you're considering hostile.

There's a growing anti-tourism movement in many areas, but that's locals rather than visitors.

That's ridiculous.

People speak English in lots of different countries. My Australian friend speaks English. No one ever thinks that he is British.