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?

This thread will be sooo biased because we all know the Irish/scots hate the English so they’ll come out in their droves 😂 probably all have English dna themselves ironically…

I think all the benidorm-type thickos have trashed our reputation abroad, and the government has made us a bit of a joke. But also to be English was en vogue for a long time, particularly in America, and now for many years, it just isn't anymore. Different cultures come in and out of fashion. And when a country has a popularity downfall culturally, its human nature everyone wants to pile on and mock and hate. Like kids in a playground. My Ancestry is 100% welsh, Scottish and Irish peasant farmers. But I was brought up in England and have a boring Midlands accent so I dont get to feel superior and talk self-righteously about the persecuting English. But apparently that's all part of my privilege. Still scratching my head and trying to figure out where exactly in my poverty-striken family tree was the privilege that we are all supposed to have.

It doesn't.

Nobody has claimed everyone is horrible until they explain they are Irish/Scottish. They (and I) are saying there is a shift to a friendlier and more engaged attitude.

No one likes us. That is ok though. Most of us are hardy souls.

They aren't horrible. They're perfectly pleasant. They just warm up and get friendlier when you say you're Irish. Jokier, often. And it's not everyone but I would say on a typical week long holiday it would happen maybe two or three times.

And again, not saying it's right or wrong, just saying it happens and probably gives some insight into OP's original question.

I have lived on mainland Europe didn't find any hostility. I have many family members in different countries on the Med and visit often and haven't found any hatred. Plenty are fed up with the stag & hen do crowds and the behaviour of the young British package holiday fuckwits that wreck havoc in the resorts. The young wannabe WAGS and wannabe Gangsta's ruin it as do the lazy Brit parents that can't look after their children and the fools that are pissed by midday in the AI hotels.

Neither Spain nor Portugal have paid reparations to the Latin American countries they held, or for the slavery inflicted on the African countries either. Spain has quite firmly refused to pay on the basis they didn't colonise, just sort of governed. Interesting article here: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/newsletters/2024-02-03/spain-uneasily-revisits-its-colonial-past

My 23&Me DNA results came back with overwhelmingly Celtic origin, thanks very much 😁

That's just crap.

Though we do get a bit irritated by the oft-heard, "It's coming home" and harking back to the glory of 1966, which was nearly 60 years ago...!

I suspect that any perceived difference is more to do with Scotland/Ireland/Wales having rather smaller populations than England so the average hospitality giver may have shared pleasantries with many English people but relatively few Scottish/Irish/Welsh people.

I'm fascinated by all these people on the continent who apparently know the difference between England, Scotland and Wales and treat people differently because of it. In my long experience of living in Germany, most people treated England and Britain as though they were the same entities.

That's also been my experience throughout Europe. Many people only vaguely aware of the existence of the 4 nations within the United Kingdom.

The idea that hotel receptionists in Marbella or waiters in Corfu are basing their opinions of Scottish guests versus English guests on the perceived voting patterns in a referendum which happened when many of them were teenagers is laughable.

I'm in Spain at the moment too and everyone has been perfectly lovely towards us. It was the same in France earlier in the summer. I think it's naive to generalise in this way.

It beggars belief…As a Brit, I’m proud to say I’m a libertarian. I believe in equality and the defence of individuals freedoms, including the rights to freedom of association, freedom of speech, freedom of thought and freedom of choice. To that end, it would never occur to me to “other” others because of their nationality! I like to think my other European neighbours who have literally fought hard to protect these ideals think the same…

I've often wondered why places on the Costas are jam packed with English pubs, restaurants serving the Full English breakfast, and Sunday Roast, and Sports Bars with Union Jacks over the door etc. Do English people not want to enjoy the food of the host country or what? Are they disdainful of the host country and therefore MUST have what they get at home since nothing else compares!

I don't think I recall seeing Norwegian, Swedish, Dutch, etc. establishments entirely devoted to their own population. There probably are some but I've never noticed. At the risk of being called a snob, I avoid such places like the plague anyway.

And I know there are Irish bars also. Something different about them though I think, not sure what, but atmosphere and lack of football obsession or something maybe?

In theory yes, but plenty of people have dual nationality Irish and British.

This is an odd one.
Where I'm from in India the Irish aren't that well received either - due to the Amritsar massacre.
Main culprit was a Michael O'Dwyer, a man from Tipperary. Which was then avenged.
In India, the parts that were affected, it is very much British - not just English.
Although, there seems to be a view that the other nations were 'forced' into it.

Come to think of it the worst I've ever heard about the English was in Cornwall.

For the PP that asked do you ever stick up for the English.
The answer is yes. I remind people that the colonists or their offspring won't be walking amongst us - Charles' probably has their addresses in his social book.
If anyone looks at the history, working class English people were treated just as bad as the people that were being colonised by the British elites.

Although, colonialism isn't the issue in Europe.

Irish, Welsh and Scottish people have strong identities and know their own history.

French and English have always had issues since King Rolo.

Indeed.

Yeah it's not that people are horrible or hostile to start with, it's that the warmth and camaraderie kicks up a notch when they discover you're Scottish (or whatever). If you aren't one of those nationalities you'll never have experienced it so can't really say that it's nonsense or not 🤷‍♀️

Same for the Scots. They usually ask ‘English?’ When we say ‘Scottish’ they act like we are old friends.

This! Loads of incredulity and a mix of humour and sympathy

I do not know the intricacies of things whatsoever or much of India’s past but all I can confirm is this did indeed happen to DH. I thought it was quite strange too but fellow colleagues said it was common advice!

'I've often wondered why places on the Costas are jam packed with English pubs, restaurants serving the Full English breakfast, and Sunday Roast, and Sports Bars with Union Jacks over the door etc. Do English people not want to enjoy the food of the host country or what? Are they disdainful of the host country and therefore MUST have what they get at home since nothing else compares!'

You go to areas in England and there are ots of Middle Eastern style restaurants and retail outlets with Arabic signage. It's the same thing and it is fine.

@Calliecarpa Was about to say the same!! Go to my european home country and say you’re Scottish or Welsh, they’ll smile and nod, maybe crack a joke about Loch Ness Monster or something but you are still filed under the “English” banner in their heads. Outside of UK, most people don’t really understand or think that UK is made of four different separate countries. It’s all England.

I’m Scandinavian and my DH is Welsh. We live in the UK and speak english to eachother. We never, ever make a number of our nationalities when abroad. Why would you? Isn’t it bit like don’t you know who I am? We’ve always been treated fine too.