I think there are conflicting stereotypes about the British. The British are seen as old-fashioned, arrogant, class-conscious, well-dressed. But there is also the crazy, long-haired, partying rockstar and drunken barfly.
Either way, the British are seen as well-educated and reasonable. I am personally a huge fan of British culture (the Beatles, eighties pop, Monty Python and loads of other shows) and I think many other Americans are too. Americans seem more tolerant of watching British shows on their TV and British movies in their theaters than any other foreign culture.
“R’s” are strictly rationed in Britain, Scotland having got an allocation of over 95% of them. For every 100 Englishman omitting one, there is a Scotsman using 99 more than he really needs to in every word calling for one.
I know, I’m told I do it.
To be fair, there is hardly a British comic in existance who hasn’t done drag at some time as part of their show. Plus all the pantomime Widdow Twankies as well.
Wow, I must’ve missed a hell of a lot of transvestite appearances!
This might be where the original comment was coming from…most ‘comedy’ (heavy inverted commas) cases of cross-dressing draw on the pantomime tradition. Which isn’t a sexual or gender-questioning one. There’s never any question that it’s anything other than ‘a bloke in a skirt’. Which neatly connects to the straight transvestitism (is that a word?) of Eddie Izzard, describing himself as ‘a lesbian trapped in a man’s body’, and is not about trying to look female.
I recall an old Saturday Night Live from the 70s, when Eric Idle was the guest host. It included a drag skit, with Idle and Dan Aykroyd (IIRC)…and Aykroyd breaks character, stops the skit, and explains to Idle that American humor does not have the same drag tradition as British humor (or humour).
I think it’s true that British comedy does feature men dressing up as women much more than American comedy. But my feeling is that it’s more of an American hang-up than a British one. American heterosexual men are not as comfortable behaving in ways that might be considered effeminate.
There’s a big difference between real life transvestites like Eddie Izzard and comedy only transvestites.
I’ve lived in London and near San Francisco, and am sure their are many many more Transvestites and that it is more common in US than in UK. Unless UK transvestites are as a rule much better at looking perfectly like the opposite sex and I just didn’t notice them.
To be honest, I don’t think often of Britain or try to guess what the British people must be like. It would be like guessing what a disc jockey looks like by listening to the sound of his voice. My direct exposure to real people from Britain is limited. (And yes, I mean Britain, including Ireland and England and Scotland and Wales et al, so no unnecessary niggling or exclusions necessary.)
In general, though, I dimly appreciate the British for:
[ul][li]The television, comedy, books, and other media that make it across the Atlantic are generally very good, though Sturgeon’s Revelation suggests that there’s a bunch of other stuff that doesn’t make the cut.[/li][li]The level of education of the average British person I see interviewed on television, bearing in mind that footballers don’t get a look in on TV over here. :)[/li][li]A certain amount of understandable pride in things that are quintessentially British, such cricket and teatime, and the desire to remain unique and discrete.[/li][li]A certain level of textbook understanding of American geography and politics, but also a regrettable lack of real-world experience in it, which begets puzzled looks and “why do you Yanks do it that way?”[/li][li]A confusing proliferation of slang, particularly slangy insult terms.[/li][li]A refreshing ability to laugh at yourselves, which I think more Americans could use.[/li][li]A Prime Minister who, even though by the opinions of some he may not be able to find his own backside with both hands and a flashlight, at least has a flashlight. I particularly enjoy watching Parliament on C-SPAN because our President is never subjected to such direct and specific questions on policies and projects during his press conferences — or at least if he is asked those questions, our Presidents are certainly less subtle about evading the answer.[/li][li]And lastly, regarding class and the UK, this Terry Pratchett quote inevitably leaps to mind:[/ul][/li]
I would definitely want to have British people on my side in a fight (it seems like you’re likely to win, and even if you lose, there won’t be much whining which is nearly as good as winning), and also on my side in a pub crawl.
Of my personal experiences with British people, the one that stands out as the best is when my father was living in England and become ill and ended up in the hospital. Despite the fact that I was beside myself, everyone I spoke with at the doctors’ offices and the hospital was absolutely wonderful and very compassionate to a hysterical American woman calling them at odd hours.
Oh, and the fact that my father lived there for several years and nobody killed him is a great testament to your patience. He’s a little … loud and American all the time.
You also have very good candy.
Some things that perplex me about the British:
The class system – I get that you have one. Or had one, that still sends ripples into modern society, if you rather. But class is an issue in the US, it’s just more fluid and harder to get a grip on, I think. Many of the British people I met in my trips there (work and vacation) didn’t seem to believe this.
(I hope this one is not too political for this thread …)
Again while in Britain, several people informed me that we have a terrible race problem over here in the US, and wondered why we don’t do something about it. (The funny thing is, it’s actually getting to be more of a class problem IMHO). I wished I was more articulate at communicating the complexity of race in the US, because I got the feeling that the British think there’s an easy and obvious solution. (And if you’ve got one, please share.)
But: Who the hell is Larry and why is he so happy?
Aside from that I’ve been to England a couple of times and liked it way way more than I thought I would. It was history in real life, everyone was friendly, food was just like Mom’s (yuck). It was also way smaller than I ever imagined. :smack: Damn, I drove 9000 miles on my last summer vacation in the states. Everything seemed so close together in England. On the other hand western Australia… 400 miles between towns on the only road.
** sinjin** If you ever met Larry you’d know why he’s so happy.
Seriously tho’ it’s just an expression which means something like “Happy as a dog with 2 tails”
Rysdad You have to realise that football is the religion over here. It doesn’t matter if the team you support is in the top division or in the depths of the Isthmian league, they are your team. Nothing and nobody will ever pursuade you to support another.
FWIW I support Manchester City FC and we live in the shadow of that other lot.
They’ve had success after success but we have had our moments in the sun, notably late 60s and early 70s when we swept all before us…happy days indeed for the blue half of Manchester because not only did we win the League, FA Cup, League Cup and European Cup Winners Cup but the icing on the cake was the fact that the other lot were relegated.
Oh great joy and street parties on that happy occasion.
To all of you…thanks for a truly eye opening number of posts, I never realised we were so well liked.
