Unwritten social codes in England

[user1494871340]

Sorry if this is posted in the wrong sub-forum, but I wasn't sure where to put it. I've been spending a lot of time in the UK for work recently (I'm from India) and I've become quite fascinated with pop social history and anthropology on English society.

I just read 'Watching the English' by Katie Fox and I was amused by the presence of strict class segregations in common vocabulary (sofa vs. couch, napkin vs. serviette etc). An American colleague and I recently discussed how bewildering the English class system is to us since it based on social rather than economic capital and often what would be considered glamorous in other cultures is looked down upon as gauche here.

I've generally found English people to be quite inscrutable, self-deprecating and reticent (compared to the Arabs and Americans whom I lived amongst earlier). So I was wondering if you could tell me what some other unwritten social codes in the UK are? If you've ever lived overseas, what were the important cultural differences you spotted? What are the unsaid rules/ customs/ morals that you think are specific to England? Thanks and sorry for such a frivolous thread!

Thanks for all the replies! I've heard good things about Bryson and will get one of his books. Do you think these class markers are changing or weakening with American/ global culture influences and the growing arrival of immigrants snd so on? And do people generally tend to socialise and marry within their own classes or is it not as rigid as that?

Sorry if these questions sound very ignorant! I've lived in some societies with extremely rigid and easily observable class barriers but the class differences in the UK aren't really perceptible to me so I was wondering how powerful or permeable class barriers are in everyday life here.

They are both totally flexible and astonishingly rigid depending on geography/age/which social class you were to start with. Clear as mud?

The landed gentry socialise and marry each other generall. The very very working class also. Everywhere else there is more fluidity.

Do you think these class markers are changing or weakening with American/ global culture influences and the growing arrival of immigrants snd so on?

Not in my experience. First generation immigrants will always be "foreign" and are sort of allowed not to know the rules. By the 3rd generation, people seem to fully understand and have found their place. Some of the most staunchest MC people I have met are of Indian origin.

If you're upper class you can look down a little at Kate Middleton for being 'from trade'

Please, can anyone explain the dogs at polling stations phenomenon?

I am fascinated by this and wonder of other countries do this? It's rather eccentric isn't it but that doesn't this in with the English being non-conforming. Is it the world famous British sense of humour?

The only reason I went voting today is so I can post a Dogs in a polling station photo.

Honestly.

but what is it al about Chardonnay? I love it but who started it and what does it say about the Brits?

I have photos of my dogs at the polling a while now, this is definitely not the first time, not sure when it started.

I don't know what it says about us, what I like it the look of utter bemusement or boredom the dogs display. I suppose it brings a more whimsical element, some canine human interest into what was a brutal campaign.

I love it.

Is it a British thing Almond? Don't they do in the US or anywhere else?

I don't know. But it is one of the few things that's cheering me up at the moment for some bizarre reason [b;usb]