# Stupid Questions for English people **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [July 19, 2000, 3:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-questions-for-english-people/26060 "2000-07-19T03:18:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Lor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ea666f/32.png) [@Lor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lor)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2000, 3:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-questions-for-english-people/26060/1 "2000-07-19T03:18:32Z")
Since everyone else is asking questions about the British Way, I’m jumping on the bandwagon. Those of you in England who watch American TV may be familiar with the expressions “the American way”, “all-American boy” (or girl), “American-style” and so on. What I want to know is, do you have equivalent expressions, i.e., “all-English boy”? And do you refer to yourselves as English, British, or some other appellation? ---
**Author:** ![tcburnett](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c5a1d2/32.png) [@tcburnett](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tcburnett)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2000, 7:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-questions-for-english-people/26060/2 "2000-07-19T07:02:50Z")
Bloody hell. Just the kind of question one might expect from the colonies. Arthur was king of the Britons (from Brittany on the continent). Queen Liz is the Queen of England, Wales, and etc. We are all English. Well, I’m not…I’m just answering for me sodding friend. ---
**Author:** ![Crusoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/49beb7/32.png) [@Crusoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crusoe)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2000, 8:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-questions-for-english-people/26060/3 "2000-07-19T08:33:35Z")
Let’s see if I can remember this: The United Kingdom of Great Britain & Northern Ireland (“th UK”) consists of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Great Britain consists of England, Scotland and Wales. The political entity is effectively the UK (regardless of devolution), with the government based in Westminster. I call myself British, mostly because people who call themselves “English” tend to include the vociferous bigoted minority (“England for the English!”) and the term excludes the Scots, Welsh and Northern Irish. There isn’t really an equivalent to “American way” or “all-American”, beyond stereotyped national characteristics (“stiff upper lip” and the like). ---
**Author:** ![Piig](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/6bbea6/32.png) [@Piig](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Piig)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2000, 8:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-questions-for-english-people/26060/4 "2000-07-19T08:33:51Z")
I am 22 and from Berkshire, England. What i can tell you is that i’m certainly not aware of phrases such as “english-boy” etc. However we do have a section of society, usually aged between 12-20, that insist on wearing the most stupid looking clothes, and listening to the most awful kind of music. These people are commonly referred to as “Rude Boys” or “Wide Boys”. To get a much better idea, take a look here: [http://www.goodevans.co.uk/](http://www.goodevans.co.uk/) This is a site about Ali G who is a great British comedian. he has honed in on this fad and really worked it well into a comedy charactor. But this is what the look like for real. In fact i think it would be fair to say they are an American Import!! ---
**Author:** ![Bryan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/db5fbb/32.png) [@Bryan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2000, 12:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-questions-for-english-people/26060/5 "2000-07-19T12:14:18Z")
Then there’s always “Essex Man” (or Woman), and other regional variations. Nothing that covers the entire country, though. ---
**Author:** ![C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b2d939/32.png) [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C_K_Dexter_Haven)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2000, 12:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-questions-for-english-people/26060/6 "2000-07-19T12:49:42Z")
On the diff between England, United Kingdom, Great Britain, not-so-great Britain, etc: [What’s the difference between the United Kingdom, Great Britain, and England?](http://www.straightdope.com/mailbag/muk.html) I’m not British or English, so I dunno about words for “the British way.” Certainly non-Brits (say, continental Europeans) have terms that mean “British style” or “British mannerisms.” And there are terms in Britain for things NOT British. For example, something that “isn’t _done_, you know.” ---
**Author:** ![TheThill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/35a633/32.png) [@TheThill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheThill)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2000, 1:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-questions-for-english-people/26060/7 "2000-07-19T13:17:20Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Bryan \* > \*\*Then there’s always “Essex Man” (or Woman), and other regional variations. > > Nothing that covers the entire country, though. \*\* Oh no, I’m surrounded by them! ---
**Author:** ![LonesomePolecat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/a88e57/32.png) [@LonesomePolecat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LonesomePolecat)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2000, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-questions-for-english-people/26060/8 "2000-07-19T14:23:08Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Piig \* > \*\*I am 22 and from Berkshire, England. > > What i can tell you is that i’m certainly not aware of phrases such as “english-boy” etc. However we do have a section of society, usually aged between 12-20, that insist on wearing the most stupid looking clothes, and listening to the most awful kind of music. > > These people are commonly referred to as “Rude Boys” or “Wide Boys”. To get a much better idea, take a look here: [http://www.goodevans.co.uk/](http://www.goodevans.co.uk/) > > \*\* Why does this make me think of “A Clockwork Orange”???!!!?? :o ---
**Author:** ![Profane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e47774/32.png) [@Profane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Profane)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2000, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-questions-for-english-people/26060/9 "2000-07-19T15:03:35Z")
When I’m posting I tend to say I’m from the UK because it’s easier, and people on here, as opposed to the real world, actually knows what that means. On forms I call myself British because my family is english & scottish. If people ask me where I’m from I say England , as that is where I was born &(partially) raised. ---
**Author:** ![dtilque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d6d6ee/32.png) [@dtilque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dtilque)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2000, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-questions-for-english-people/26060/10 "2000-07-20T00:07:00Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by tcburnett \* > Arthur was king of the Britons […] We are all English. I blow my nose at you, so-called Arthur King, you and all your silly English k-nnnnniggets. ---
**Author:** ![London\_Calling](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@London\_Calling](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/London_Calling)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2000, 1:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-questions-for-english-people/26060/11 "2000-07-20T01:13:57Z")
I always used to put ‘British’ as nationality and ‘UK’ as place of residence on official forms but then I wavoured. No idea why but now I put ‘English’ - presumably as a Scot would tent to write ‘Scottish’. Perhaps it just seems more accurate in these devolutionary times. Suppose I’ll have the option of ‘European’ before too long. There’s no all-English, all-British or all-anything boy next door. It’s just an American thing as far as I’m aware.