# What do Americans REALLY think of Brits. **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [September 3, 2003, 10:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-americans-really-think-of-brits/199298 "2003-09-03T10:41:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![sirtonyh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ad7895/32.png) [@sirtonyh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sirtonyh)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2003, 10:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-americans-really-think-of-brits/199298/101 "2003-09-04T10:53:13Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Bruce\_Daddy \* > \*\*I think they blow donkey. > \*\* Blowing animals (donkeys, sheep etc.) isn’t all that common in most of the UK, but could reasonably be considered a national sport in Wales 😉 ---
**Author:** ![TheLoadedDog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/35a633/32.png) [@TheLoadedDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheLoadedDog)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2003, 11:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-americans-really-think-of-brits/199298/102 "2003-09-04T11:20:33Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Space Vampire \* > \*\*Hey, even if I don’t totally agree myself, it’s just nice to hear that from a British person for once. I am no fan of the US’s current political direction, but I can’t help getting my back up when I see so much hate from British, Australians, and Chinese every day. \*\* I’ll pass on your sentiments to the Aussie troops in Iraq, shall I? And maybe the sea of Australian flags at half staff in my city two years ago was a clever optical illusion? :wally ---
**Author:** ![TheLoadedDog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/35a633/32.png) [@TheLoadedDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheLoadedDog)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2003, 11:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-americans-really-think-of-brits/199298/103 "2003-09-04T11:36:19Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Shirley Ujest \* > \*\*II love the fact that England was the only nation to back up the US when everyone was against us. That takes some serious balls. > \*\* Just FYI, Australia has a population of about only two thirds that of freakin’ _California_. We put several thousand of our men and women in harm’s way side by side with the Americans in Iraq. This includes specialist elite forces operating in highly dangerous forward positions. Thank you, and have a nice day. ---
**Author:** ![Dolly\_Dagger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Dolly\_Dagger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dolly_Dagger)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2003, 11:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-americans-really-think-of-brits/199298/104 "2003-09-04T11:46:57Z")
Which English accent is everyone talking about? Every time I see an American t.v. programme with an English person in it(not innit), they have this sort of posh, lah-di-da lord of the manor type of accent which isn’t really typical of more than 0.1% of the country. ---
**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:** [September 4, 2003, 12:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-americans-really-think-of-brits/199298/105 "2003-09-04T12:46:41Z")
You ain’t from Lunnon, is yer **Dolly**? Ftr, about 10% of children now go to private schools, which is where the non-regional (‘poshe’) accent predominates. Not all kid who go to private school s will pick it up and of those that do, not all will speak like Prince Charles (thank fuck), but it will be identifiable in the overwhelming majority of those 10%, imho. And most of 'em head to London, at one time or another (usually after while actually at Uni). I’d say it’s nearer 10% that 0.1% ---
**Author:** ![Space\_Vampire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e0b2c6/32.png) [@Space\_Vampire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Space_Vampire)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2003, 12:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-americans-really-think-of-brits/199298/106 "2003-09-04T12:52:09Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by TheLoadedDog \* > \*\*I’ll pass on your sentiments to the Aussie troops in Iraq, shall I? And maybe the sea of Australian flags at half staff in my city two years ago was a clever optical illusion? :wally \*\* You can call me a putz if you really think it’s wrong for me to be fed up with (other-board dwelling) Australians’ constant cheap shots at all Americans, but please keep your emoticons to yourself. ---
**Author:** ![Jennyrosity](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/2bfe46/32.png) [@Jennyrosity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jennyrosity)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2003, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-americans-really-think-of-brits/199298/107 "2003-09-04T15:57:57Z")
Some comments: Hey, space vampire, bitter much? Spogga: Green Lane Fisheries, Tyneside. Best fish and chips ever. Trust me on this. Up North we don’t have “mums” we have “mams”. OI, WET MARBLE! DO NOT KNOCK THE GREAT BRITISH FIRED BREAKFAST! Any nation that gave the world Popcorn Chicken is disqualified from critiscising any other nation’s cuisene. And finally… You guys were late for WW2. We were knackered by the time you turned up. ---
**Author:** ![Ice\_Wolf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/dfb087/32.png) [@Ice\_Wolf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ice_Wolf)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2003, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-americans-really-think-of-brits/199298/108 "2003-09-04T19:29:21Z")
You’re upset because a few other nationalities other than Americans have spoken up about the “current political direction”, **Space Vampire**? I’d love to see your cites for “(other-board dwelling) Australians’ constant cheap shots at all Americans”, but I reckon that would be Pit-territory, and outside the fairly nice atmosphere of this thread. **Jennyrosity** – just wanted to offer you a “Welcome to the SDMB”. My (English) mum would have agreed with your last comment – but went on to marry an American, anyway. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Palo\_Verde](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/65b543/32.png) [@Palo\_Verde](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Palo_Verde)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2003, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-americans-really-think-of-brits/199298/109 "2003-09-04T20:16:02Z")
I have a lot of experience with England, and my feelings towards it are mixed. I was actually born there and am a citizen (but I moved to the US as a baby and my parents are both Americans). I then lived there for a year when I was a teenager, and have visited it on 3 other occassions. I love a lot of things about it. The lushness, the history everywhere you go, the walking paths. I was in Leicester and had the most marvelous dessert (deep fried Mars bar - sounds gross but really yummy). And fabulous pastries with tea. But the only time I’ve ever had my car broken into was in England. I’ve seen an African man accosted there. And I saw some rampaging skin head who really scared me. It’s not all roses and castles. But I hope to visit again soon. ---
**Author:** ![Master\_Wang-Ka](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/master_wang-ka/32/3325_2.png) [@Master\_Wang-Ka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Master_Wang-Ka)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2003, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-americans-really-think-of-brits/199298/110 "2003-09-04T21:02:56Z")
English folks are somewhat reserved, compared to Americans. They tend to draw more of a distinction between “friends” and “acquaintances.” This is not necessarily a bad thing. Since ignorant trashy Britons hardly ever make it over here, we have only the cleverer, better-educated ones to judge. Consequently, most Britons are, to our eyes, well-educated, polite, reasonable folks. Being Americans, and therefore quick to draw conclusions, we think all English folks have read Shakespeare, and have a working knowledge of all his plays, sonnets, and characters. I’m not sure why we think this. By the same token, we also believe that all Britons have an encyclopedic knowledge of all English Kings and Queens and monarchs in general. I think this is because the English get to study them in some detail in school, but we don’t, and therefore when some Briton rattles off details about one of your more obscure kings, we just look at him like he pulled a history professor out of his hat. Most Americans cannot tell the difference between Englishmen, Scotsmen, Australians, and Irish accents, and aren’t real clear on exactly what the difference is between these folks, aside from their geographic locations. We piss off a LOT of Irish that way. But, since we’re Americans and not English, they forgive us. I would not use the word “quaint” to describe Englishmen. I would use the word “cultured.” To American eyes and ears, Englishmen OOZE culture. Y’see, we don’t HAVE much of a culture, and what we DO have is largely built of old cowboy movies, TV shows, and advertising. Britons, on the other hand, are remarkably… BRITISH, even when wearing purple mohawks, facial tattooes, and dressed like a blind man who got dressed in a clown factory. ---
**Author:** ![X\_Slayer\_ALE](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/bbe5ce/32.png) [@X\_Slayer\_ALE](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/X_Slayer_ALE)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2003, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-americans-really-think-of-brits/199298/111 "2003-09-04T21:17:50Z")
Theyre kinda soft and chewy… a bit bland. ---
**Author:** ![amarone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e0b2c6/32.png) [@amarone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amarone)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2003, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-americans-really-think-of-brits/199298/112 "2003-09-04T21:26:17Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by X~Slayer(ALE) \* > \*\*Theyre kinda soft and chewy… a bit bland. \*\* I knew it - these threads on England always end up with complaints about the food.🙂 Maybe it’s because we are what we eat? ---
**Author:** ![TheLoadedDog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/35a633/32.png) [@TheLoadedDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheLoadedDog)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2003, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-americans-really-think-of-brits/199298/113 "2003-09-04T21:56:11Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Space Vampire \* > \*\*You can call me a putz if you really think it’s wrong for me to be fed up with (other-board dwelling) Australians’ constant cheap shots at all Americans, but please keep your emoticons to yourself. \*\* Yes, mum. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Tranquilis](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tranquilis/32/3639_2.png) [@Tranquilis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tranquilis)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2003, 3:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-americans-really-think-of-brits/199298/114 "2003-09-05T03:02:17Z")
Ignore the malcontents, **TheLoadedDog**. They’re a distinct minority. You know we luvs us some Austrailians here, too. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Mehitabel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8797f3/32.png) [@Mehitabel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mehitabel)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2003, 3:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-americans-really-think-of-brits/199298/115 "2003-09-05T03:40:03Z")
Hmmm…the British in the nineteenth century managed to kick one branch of my family out of Ireland with their management of the famine and the other branch out of Scotland with the Enclosures, so as one of them said, “A man may smile and smile and be a villian…” What remains of the class system bugs me. However… I love the humor, the sense of order, the moral crusading for ideal vision instead of the mere whims of a ruler, the courage under fire, the literature, the architecture of Oxford, the whole emphasis on learning, and tons of the TV programs. As for the people, well, they’re great. They sound good even when they’re insulting you, and they do it so skillfully you either don’t notice or don’t mind. They all consist of either classy people who sound like Prince Charles or[assholes like this.](http://www.nytimes.com/2003/09/04/international/04PRAG.html) Great article. There is no middle ground between these types 😃 ---
**Author:** ![TheLoadedDog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/35a633/32.png) [@TheLoadedDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheLoadedDog)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2003, 5:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-americans-really-think-of-brits/199298/116 "2003-09-05T05:37:03Z")
You’re quite right, of course **Tranquilis**. My life has defnnitely been enriched for knowing a whole bunch of utterly cool 'merkins on these boards. Shouldn’t let the malcontents get to me (and indeed, I shouldn’t post after a six pack 😃 ). ---
**Author:** ![spogga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3ab097/32.png) [@spogga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/spogga)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2003, 5:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-americans-really-think-of-brits/199298/117 "2003-09-05T05:59:22Z")
WANG KA: We also get to learn an awful lot about the USA believe it or not. I think this is because both our countries are so close in all manner of things. A guy in a bar in Chicago got really upset at me last year and growled “How the hell do you know more about my country than I do myself” I had had quite a few beers and we had got into a discussion about the Civil War (yours) and for some reason this guy knew sod all, I mean practically nothing…really! So yours truly was showing off and as a result almost got my head slapped, all ended up fine though and we ended up going from bar to bar until eventually I had to go to the toilet where I was violently sick…sheesh talk about the big spit, this was more like technicoloured Niagara Falls. We have all read Shakespeare, it was drilled into us at school, together with a history of our monarchy and you are spot on about the friends and acquaintances bit, you Yanks are far less reserved than we are which personally I think is a good thing. Loved your closing paragraph, especially the bit about the clown factory. ---
**Author:** ![Boo\_Boo\_Foo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e274bd/32.png) [@Boo\_Boo\_Foo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boo_Boo_Foo)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2003, 8:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-americans-really-think-of-brits/199298/118 "2003-09-05T08:27:20Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Space Vampire \* > \*\*Most of them [Brits that is] seem to think Michael Moore’s works are the God’s Honest Truth and proof that America is a horrible hellhole of bloodthirsty, gun-toting corporate pirates, with no redeeming values. The Australians are the same way. Very rarely is there even a voice of moderation when it comes to talk about Americans. \*\* That’s some pretty broad brush strokes your painting there buddy. You need to associate with less jingoistic aquaintances. ---
**Author:** ![Space\_Vampire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e0b2c6/32.png) [@Space\_Vampire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Space_Vampire)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2003, 9:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-americans-really-think-of-brits/199298/119 "2003-09-05T09:53:29Z")
Perhaps I didn’t write totally clearly (too lazy to check back at the whole quote) but I was talking about the British and Australians on a certain board, not in general. On that board, it’s a fact, but I don’t doubt for a second that Australians in general hold a wide variety of opinions. ---
**Author:** ![Space\_Vampire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e0b2c6/32.png) [@Space\_Vampire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Space_Vampire)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2003, 10:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-americans-really-think-of-brits/199298/120 "2003-09-05T10:00:45Z")
I guess it bears noting that what is probably a handful of brainless bigots makes more of an impression than the many unremarkable-or-better Australian posters here. I admit I tend to accentuate the negative, I’m working on it. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-americans-really-think-of-brits/199298.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-americans-really-think-of-brits/199298.md?page=7)