The English have this reputation for being uptight and sexually repressed. So what is the origin of this reputation, and are they really any more sexually repressed than other cultures? What about Scotland/Ireland/Wales - do they fall under the same blanket?
Speaking as a brit, I think Americans have a reputation for being sexually repressed. 
I wasn’t aware of that.
We thought the fuss over Janet Jackson’s tit was hilarious over here. If it had happened in the UK hardly anyone would have been offended. So in some ways the UK is less prudish than the US.
There are stereotypes for every culture, but mostly they aren’t very helpful. I can easily see where the british reputation for sexual repression comes from, but it’s pretty outdated.
Out of interest, how many brits have you met grumble? And how old were they?
I thought the American stereotype was as sexually immature - we* think of sex as dirty, so we’re both obsessed and repressed. As for England, what do you expect? They’re right across from France.
(*They, rather, not me. I think sex is a bit overrated, but I’m so non-social that I’ve never even kissed (at 17), so what would I know? No hang-ups, just not actively seeking.)
Sadly, the UK has the higest rate of teenage pregnancy in Europe. Here is an interesting Government report on a proposal to address this:
Most people in the UK wouldn’t find this too controversial, although obviously some would. How would this go down (no pun intended) in the US?
Aagramn:
I haven’t met any brits, but I have met plenty of Scottish, English and Irish people (of ages with a standard deviation of 70) anyway. These days the union is just a sham, with the Welsh national assembly, and the soon-to-be-finished Scottish parliament - independance is only a matter of time. And I will not even mention N. Ireland.
I understand that some English people would like to cling onto that word - “brit” as its the final reminder they have of the former power of the empire, but no-one else inside the “UK” uses it. But I digress, and don’t want to spark a nationalist hate-fest.
Well, don’t keep us in the dark - where does it come from? And why do you think its outdated? Are you by any chance English?
Sorry, you are just demonstrating your ignorance of the UK. The union always was a sham, but the English, Scottish & Welsh are very mixed-up now. I’m English, but with a Scottish grandparent. True independance is very unlikey to happen in my lifetime, even for Northern Ireland, but if it does it’s no skin off my nose.
ROFL, what a load of bull. True, we don’t use the word brit much inside the UK, but we often use it to describe ourselves to people outside it. I’m perfectly relaxed about the fact the UK no longer has an empire, and is a pretty unimportant country on the world stage.
I think it stems from a stereotypical view of tradional England. It’s outdated because very few people I know conform to it. Where did you get the idea for your OP?
It wouldn’t. There’d be rioting in the streets and whoever suggested it would quickly find his or her head on a pike.
Sorry to doublepost but I was reading back over this thread and saw this comment and had to ask - you don’t think Britain significant to the world stage? Out of curiosity, if the UK isn’t important or a world power, who, aside from the US, is?
Aagramn:
Speak for yourself pal - i’ve never met a Scot who described themselves as a “brit” to foreigners. But let us not quibble over erroneous matters of national identity.
You say:
Well thats your opinion duly noted, we’ll see how it compares to everyone elses (if they care).
I got the idea from my head of course, where else do you get ideas?
While we have quite a vocal bunch of moral crusaders, in my experience the vast majority of English people are mucky little fuck-pigs.
I think you’ve mostly answered your own question there, compared to the US the UK has minimal influence in any sphere. Other countries I’d consider more important than the UK would be China & India, with their billion+ populations. Also, the middle east with it’s estimated 65% of the world’s oil reserves has far more significance to the global economy than the UK.
I have, although you’re right that the vast majority wouldn’t. It was your amazing leap of logic that the use of the word brit somehow equated to clinging on to our sense of importance I objected to. Yeah, it’s mostly a word the English would use, but you shouldn’t read much into it. It’s not much more relevant than a Texan caling themself an American.
Within the UK I’d describe myself as Cornish.
C’mon, you must have got the impression from somewhere. A more relevant question would have been how many brits have you had sex with?
I find it hard to believe that any country that hosts The Rubber Ball in its capital city could be considered sexually repressed…
Never been to Ibrox, have you?
A Surgeon General was forced to resign for this comment:
I dunno, how do you think oral sex lessons would go down over here?
That was 10 years ago though. Would they still get the same response now?
Ashcroft would probably throw them in Guantonimo Bay.
After all, he quite literally put the fig leaf on the statue of Lady Justice. :rolleyes:
The British reputation for repression probably originates from the strict morality espoused (but, in most cases, not actually practised) by the Victorians.
Queen Victoria has been dead for over a hundred years.
Admittedly, I’m not getting any, but I’m damn sure I’m in a small minority there.