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?

Which countries care about which countries then?

The Dutch did a fair bit too..

How do you know other countries aren't hated for colonising other countries?

The Belgians were vile too. Brutal.

But this is a misunderstanding not an understanding at all…Britain didn’t leave Europe. Britain is still European. As are several other countries that are nothing to do with the EU.

She answered the question she can't help how you feel.

It’s true there are loads of awful British tourists, especially young, drunk British tourists. But I read and article a few years ago reporting on the rising number of young Irish tourists frequenting Magaluf etc and being no different to English arseholes. It was centred around a teenaged Irish girl who was shagging as many guys as possible/ offering them blow jobs so she could win a foreign holiday - at the end of the night the reps and audience thought it was hilarious when she was handed a cocktail called - a ‘foreign holiday’. Take from that what you want.

The French also had a huge empire, mostly in Africa. They're very nostalgic about it and indeed still have a quasi imperial presence in parts of the continent.

Anyway, why would a hotel receptionist or bar owner in Spain or Greece hate the English (but presumably not the Welsh or Scottish?) on the basis of an empire which ended decades ago and didn't affect them? Especially as Spain, and many other European countries, had its own empire.

Yes, anti English sentiment definitely exists.

However,this is very true!

Er no Wales voted to leave. London which is English and has a bigger population than Wales voted to remain!

We got absolutely outstanding service at a perfume shop in Spain over the summer. Really above and beyond, lots of personal recommendations for DS who’s a bit of a fragrance buff thanks to TikTok.

Turns out, with our Northumbrian accents, she thought we were Norwegian. We didn’t disabuse her of the notion 😂

Have travelled most of the world and my husband a lot more. We don't witness anti English/Brit behaviour, except to the ones thar behave awfully and are obnoxious drunks.

We are an English/German/Danish family who have lived/raised kids in all three countries. There is a huge amount of anti-British bias in news reporting - quite naturally the state broadcaster loves to portray the Brits as losers in order to big themselves up. Basic political manoeuvring commonplace in lots of countries. Constant source of amusement to us.

Here’s an article about it ai just found - may have got name of cocktail wrong

www.irishmirror.ie/news/irish-news/magaluf-girl-irish-teenager-filmed-5651183

I don’t think we are ashamed of our colonial past, collectively, which understandably causes issues. For example people are still happy to belt this out with pride

"Rule, Britannia! rule the waves:
"Britons never will be slaves

I’m sorry that you have encountered so many rude people from Europe while travelling in Spain, OP.

When's the last time you've heard that song being 'belted out'?

And have you ever heard the lyrics of the French national anthem? Regularly belted out at football stadia and the like.

Also, edited to add that the lyrics of 'Rule Brittania' were written not by a 'colonial' English man, but by one of those Scotsmen who everyone supposedly loves to cuddle.

Having worked for a very large, ‘multicultural’ airline in the past, I found many of them to dislike the British. It was common knowledge that many would try and swap off UK flights as they ‘didn’t like the passenger profile’. Was good for me as I was homesick so could easily swap onto flights back home 😅
I also have a European ex who didn’t hide his dislike for Brits.

That's my experience too.

I have witnessed very little difference in my travels in how I (Irish) and English are treated in Europe. My accent (very like Nadine Coyle) has not led to me gettting treated any differently to someone with a Cockney accent.

The OP mentioned Spain, but Spain is a unique case right now with what is going on there in regard to the hostility to tourists (haven't looked in to their reasons).

I think the French national anthem might be worse

Let us march that their impure blood should water our fields

According to classic fm translation

I can order food and converse in Spanish, German, French and Romanian (just) and am happy to try Portuguese and Italian, which helps for sure, as well as responding to people in whatever language they prefer (theirs or English). Speaking in English loudly- never a good idea.

I think we get better treatment (my kids and I) as we are very dark haired, dark eyes, olive skin. People don't know where we are from until we open our mouths and then I try to speak the language of the country I'm in. Unless it's really difficult
Also just try to speak the local language. Just try!

Same for Scotland I am afraid. Europeans do tend to have a view around the English but the Scot’s are pretty much welcomed with open arms…… I know that sucks for the vast majority of English people who are perfectly nice but the reputation of the minority precedes you!

I don’t believe the British are as disliked abroad as many on MN would desperately like to believe. Either that or I must be blessed because I’ve never had any hostility or even rudeness in any of the many countries I have visited. Europe or further afield.

A couple of years ago I got invited to a dinner hosted by restaurant and accommodation owners in Cyprus. I asked them which nationality of tourist they liked the most. They all agreed that it was the British. Why? Because they spend the most money and are the least trouble.

Ah yes, cuddly, sweet, non-threatening Ireland.
Guess it slipped your mind that the majority of Jamaican's have a high percentage of Irish Ancestry due to Irish plantation owners and charge hands raping every slave they could lay their hands on.
They didn't waste any time getting themselves a nice fat slice of the pie in Australia either.
Pretty sure they've spread themselves around the earth more than any other nation.
Ah tis a proud history altogether.

I have Irish ancestry, I just don't buy into the BS.