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What behaviour British people hate the most?

45 replies

marie2020 · 04/04/2020 14:42

Hello

I am a foreigner and I am willing to know what is not accepted or may sound rude to British people, or things that foreigners do or say that British find odd.

Thank you Smile

OP posts:
iklboo · 04/04/2020 14:51

Pushing in queues is THE worst thing you can do, bar none.

Toilenstripes · 04/04/2020 14:52

Actively trying to make friends

willowpatterns · 04/04/2020 14:56

Second to queue-pushing is talking to strangers' children.

guest2013 · 04/04/2020 14:57

Bragging, talking too much - especially about yourself and disagreeing with opinions.
We're a foreign family and whilst I think I'm quite in tune with what our British friends find annoying, I regularly cringe at parties when my husband starts with this...

DearPrudence · 04/04/2020 14:57

Queue jumping is the worst by far.
Then taking up two seats on a train. Or putting your feet on the opposite seat.

AJTracey · 04/04/2020 14:59

Not queuing.

JuniLoolaPalooza · 04/04/2020 14:59

Anything that makes you seem "pushy". So if ordering in a restaurant/cafe say "please could I have/I'd like" instead of I want. Live life in the conditional tense and you'll be fine!

pilates · 04/04/2020 15:05

Definitely skipping the queue

MayTheGodsBeEverInYourFavour · 04/04/2020 15:08

Queue-jumping.
Being unnecessarily loud. Obviously if you're warning someone of a danger, it's forgivable (note I specified forgivable, not acceptable!)
Arrogance. Even by proxy - for example, pushy parents syndrome.
Lack of basic manners.

ofwarren · 04/04/2020 15:16

Agree with unnecessary loudness. Also not saying please thank you or if needed, sorry. We Brits love saying sorry to each other.

Shockers · 04/04/2020 15:18

Lack of consideration for others.

Spam88 · 04/04/2020 19:40

We Brits love saying sorry to each other.

I read once that the average Brit says sorry 7 times a day which I thought seemed rather on the low side.

Grasspigeons · 04/04/2020 19:44

Just staing factually that you are good at something you are actually good at is seen as really boastful and self important. You have to downplay stuff

SittingAround1 · 04/04/2020 19:45

Taking yourself too seriously.
Being too nationalistic.

dementedma · 04/04/2020 19:49

Boasting
Arrogance
lack of manners

Ipadipod · 04/04/2020 19:50

Definitely not saying please and thank you.

VioletCharlotte · 04/04/2020 19:52

Saying what you mean!

anothernotherone · 04/04/2020 19:53

Using your own front garden Wink

resskiestonight · 04/04/2020 20:00

Lack of modesty, talking relentlessly about yourself pushing in a queue, arrogance, being over familiar, not following small talk rules: “how are you?” to a stranger does not require an honest response. No.1 though is ability to queue.

BackyardChickens · 04/04/2020 20:01

Not saying please and thank you
Pushing in the queue

BadDaughter01 · 04/04/2020 20:11

Saying exactly what you mean, directly. We like to take a diversion to get to the point.

Also, injustice.

iklboo · 05/04/2020 00:43

'How are you' requires ONLY 'not too bad thanks. You?' Anything else is unforgivable.

CottonSock · 05/04/2020 02:34

Sniffing and spitting. Urgh. Plenty of British people do these things obviously

Tableclothing · 05/04/2020 02:41

Queue jumping.

Over sharing.
Asking someone what their name is.

'Watching the English' by Kate Fox is worth a read. She suggests that things the English enjoy are

Privacy (their own)
Gossip (about others)
Whinging
Refusing to take anything seriously.

managedmis · 05/04/2020 02:47

Giving you an honest answer
Insisting that you make a decision
Non self depreciation 😱
Self promotion of any sort, other than on SM
Friends taking less than 10 years to invite you to their homes, oh the horror

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