What do you think are, or should be, traditional British values?

[BigPandaTinyDragon]

Apparently Farage says too many young people (not hard to guess which ones he thinks) are growing up without or rejecting traditional British values.

While we know he’s an awful racist idiot, you only have to read a few threads on here to hear about antisocial and unpleasant behaviour that just didn’t seem to exist until recently (not just from young people though).

Is it just a case of every generation blames the one before? Or don’t believe everything you read? Or have these values, whatever they are, become less relevant?

Imperialism.

I don’t really believe in ‘British values’, just values. Surely they should be the same for all good people? A good work ethic, honesty, compassion.

I do feel the British public have gone massively downhill in the last 5-10 years, and having the Tories to blame has masked this to some extent.

Taking care of animals.
Queuing and taking turns.
Saying sorry, constantly.
Being quietly patriotic.

Colonialism
Drinking tea instead of coffee
Eating roast beef or any Sunday dinner

Package holidays

Talking about the weather.

Occasionally bingeing on Wimbledon and Snooker

Being sarcastic and pessimistic.
Moaning about the weather.
Moaning about the royal family.
Moaning about football.
Being polite.

Steadfast
Integrity
Small talk
Pub!

I can't think of any "traditionally British" values. I've thought long and hard - but, nope.

I don't think there are any. There is a collection of values we might term Western or European, though, IMO. I would say that these include - as ideals, actual commitment to making them exist in reality varies - : a belief in democracy, a belief in meritocracy, fairly individualistic outlook.

One that's maybe more specifically British than generic Western is a belief in a 'live and let live attitude'. There's a lot less policing of norms and expectations here than in a lot of countries. Some of that is good (people feeling able to dress in an individual sense rather than a very conformist 'what will (imagined) people think/like); some is not good (people making lots of noise on public transport don't expect to be called out on it, so others end up having to endure them).

Talking about the weather

Queuing

Starting any complaint by apologising - I'm terribly sorry but....

Having a drawer full of cables that you do t know what they are for but can't throw them out just in case

Having 40 different variations in the naming of a bread roll

Debating whether to out the heating on or off for many moths

Queuing.
Saying sorry to people even though they walked into you.
Having a big light in the living room but not using it.

The fundamental British values taught in schools are pretty positive although one might wonder if other nations also champion them:

Democracy
Rule of Law
Respect and Tolerance
Individual Liberty

The British government values of the last few years seem to be lying, obfuscation, bullying, double-standards and stealing.

I’d opt for honesty, integrity, inclusivity and community as a good starting point.

@BigPandaTinyDragon when I was a young teenager, I (along with my boyfriend) used to walk around our village looking for shops that put pyramids of cans up against their windows. We took great delight in pushing on those windows rhythmically, until their stack fell over.

Stupid, I know. But now I'm in my 70s I remember that stupidity, and forgive those that do similar.

My experience is not in any way to be seen as equivalent to knife crime and the like. Just as an example of stupid things done ( me) by some teenagers.

these teenagers really have had the shitty end of the stick ,(as I've said else thread). Their education and mental health has been impacted by lockdown. They have little chance of ever owning their own home, they are required t pay for what I could have had for free (university education), they are refused the right to see their future improvements in Europe. And now, this government thinks it's right to ask them to give even more to society with their plans to impose conscription/voluntary service on them?

I reckon today's children have given society more than enough.

If they have values different from mine, I don't blame them. I may think they are wrong, but they are the ones who have been asked for a sacrifice that they gave, willing or not during the pandemic. To ask them to give more is an imposition way, way too far.

Astonished pp can’t think of British values. Have you not been to another country?

The ones that made my mind up to choose to live here include:
tolerance
sense of humour (maybe not a value, but try living in a country where you’re forbidden from taking the Mickey out of the government)
fair play
religious tolerance (this might prove a negative)
live and let live

Taking the piss and “bantz” does seem to be a perculiarly British thing. DH and his friends’ entire dynamic seems to be making fun of each other.

I think the idea that we should have British values is seen by some as nationalistic and right wing.

Where did we go so wrong that trying to have pride in our country is now viewed as extreme?

The whole British values thing irks me. We did not invent democracy or the rule of law etc I don't feel we can claim those as inherently British. Fair play and honesty are recognised as things to aspire to throughout the world aren't they?

Apart from that. a cup of tea, some biscuits and a nice sit down are values we like to uphold! With perhaps some religious tolerance thrown in, but this tends to be a bit of a mixed bag depending on who you talk to.

I would say fair play and supporting the underdog.

Being able to fart “Wonderwall” in the bath

Tolerance of differences, up to a point. As long as that tolerance is reciprocated.

The limits of that tolerance are reached when minority groups (of whatever kind) start trying to impose their views & values on the majority population.

Some politicians seem to have a hard time adhering to these values and seem to opt for screw everybody else as long as I have power and can give contracts to my mates. Not really a good showcase for British values.

Ditto some clergy who have also abused their power. Ditto some police.

It must all ring a bit hollow to teens who are being taught this stuff.

I'm a parent of a child with SEN and I seen more transgressions of so called British values than I've had hot dinners. School SLT, LA, even those in the NHS.
Corruption and evading the rule of law is so commonplace it is standard.

Again, partly due to under funding from central govt which means services can't be provided and then smoke and mirrors to obscure evasion of legal duties.

Sorry to sound a little jaded, but it takes its toll.

However, despite flaws, I think our justice system tries to be fair. And seems to work at least some of the time.

Fair play
Queueing waiting your turn
Cheerful in the face of adversity
Counting our blessings
Getting on with it