Are we really that different? (Full Version)

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missturbation -> Are we really that different? (12/31/2006 10:25:40 AM)

Curiosity has the better of me now lol. I'm asking that  this please doesn't turn into a slanging match or pissing contest. [:D]
I love the threads in here (most of the time). I am very uneducated when it comes to politics, world event, world news and learn a lot from the posts here. For a while though i have noticed some regular occurences when it comes to this type of thread here.
I am in the minority of Brits who post here and i have noticed a distinct 'oh you are a Brit' mentality which reads to me as a it's no wonder she thinks differently shes from Britain judgement.
I see it the other way too and am guilty of posting such comments as 'Americans come across as paranoid'. Not something i'm proud of i will admit. I always like to think of myself as not judgemental but have noticed recently slight bouts of judgement creeping into my posts.
I know that sometimes it is very hard to see the tone behind what someone posts, for example they may have said it with humour but i / we take it as attack or serious.
There seems to be a greater misreading though when it comes to a Brit reading an Americans post or vice versa. My question is are we really that different in our senses of humour, use of grammar, words etc? Do we really think when someone  thinks differently to us it can be explained away as 'oh its because they are American / British?



juliaoceania -> RE: Are we really that different? (12/31/2006 10:30:56 AM)

I get your sense of humor, but I have noticed you sometimes get mine. I love British dry humor though. I love humor of almost any sort as long as it does not leave someone feeling badly as a result.

As far as political ideals, I am probably more like most Brits than I am most Americans. I am not in love with guns, I abhor the death penalty, and I am for peaceful resolution of conflicts. When it comes to these values, I share them more with you than I do most Americans



whisperedsighs -> RE: Are we really that different? (12/31/2006 10:41:49 AM)

Actually missturbation if you were to ask my boss who is welsch, but still considered a brit, he would say that yes there is a big difference. 

He was suprised that I enjoyed british humor.  Said that most american's don't get it because they don't have the sense of history that the british have.  There is a depth of history, and richness to the british history that americans just will never get because america is so much newer and has never had such things happen to it as a country that the british have had to get through.  I think he has a point there.  Of course coming from a different country or area of the world you will have a different cultural outlook to things, a different way of communicating. 

But can't we all get along???



ElectraGlide -> RE: Are we really that different? (12/31/2006 10:47:59 AM)

I always enjoyed talking with British people, they seem to be polite and formal in conversation. I like an intimate one on one coversation. Not like us Americans where the whole room trys to talk at once as loud as we can to out shout the other lol.



missturbation -> RE: Are we really that different? (12/31/2006 10:49:23 AM)

But can't we all get along???

I  would like to hope so but but i do see attitudes here regularly that toss aside opinions because of nationality. Guilty of it myself but certainly not proud of it. Over the past couple of days i have ranted (a little) at my God over attitudes of people here and in turn have made myself no better than them. I guess the funny part of this (if there is one) is that my God is American and i am a Brit. He takes it in good part though and if im honest turn it around and im not sure i would.



LuckyAlbatross -> RE: Are we really that different? (12/31/2006 10:53:15 AM)

I think there really is a large difference in the perspectives and processing.

But that doesn't mean there is always a difference, or that the difference prevents meaningful conversation.

Every culture has its stereotypes, and each of those stereotypes has some truth to it.

The best I can give is the TV shows Coupling and The Office.  Both started in Britain.  I happened to enjoy both of the British original series very much.

Both were bought by NBC and produced for American audiences.  Coupling kept almost identical to the original- the script was line by line the same.  And it completely tanked.  The style of British humor on sitcoms are simply not relatable to most audiences.

The Office, on the other hand, kept the premise of the show but was allowed to express itself in a very American way and has caught on like fire here and most people love it.  I personally think the American version is far better than the British version.

But then I think the British version of Cosmopolitcan is better than the American version.

So yes, there are serious differences.  And it can cause difficulties.  But I think we can get around them and enjoy what there is to enjoy.



Dtesmoac -> RE: Are we really that different? (12/31/2006 11:02:28 AM)

miss

I think there is a misconception in the UK which is shared by the continental Europeans, particulalrly the French, that the Anglo-Saxon cultures of Britain, USA, Canada, Australia & New Zealand, are very close / the same. There are similarities but some very big fundamental differences.

We are in the US for a fixed term and have found a lot of core differences, but you have to be careful when you tar or generalise 300 million Americans or 55 million Brits with the same brush...!!  One of the interesting aspects is that the underlying culture of a Brit and an American or indeed other nationalities, can make you look at the same information, circumstance or situation and draw very different conclusions. I find this in my work and non work settings. 

The "sense of humour" issue is particularly interesting, we have had multiple occasions where a glib statement or obviously (to us) humerous comment has been taken too literally by Americans. The key aspect is not the "joke" but the context and timing of it. Few cultures including the US have humour incorporated so totally throughout the way they as a people communicate & "function" as the British do. There is no generally no inappropriate time for Brits to use a flipant comment, or to say the exact opposite of what they mean. This is less common in the US, and so gives the impression that they have less / a different sense of humour, it is often that the Brit puts in the humour in an out of context or without suitable warning signs......

The other big difference is that arrogance is more of a virtue in the US than the UK, they have drilled into them, win, win, win, etc where as in the UK there is a subversive culture of you must not be seen to try or to win to well....

There is an interesting book called "Watching the English" which is very entertaining and takes the piss out of the Brits in a wonderful way......you also realise that you do exhibit those characteristics.

Some / many Americans, do show some / a lot of the characatures that are thought of as American some of the time, the real interesting bit is that there appear to be genuine ( if not agreeable to a Brit / European) reasons for thos characteristics.

On the whole on a one to one basis Brits and Yanks will get on ok, but becomming boosom buddies takes a little more effort   .......    .LOL    - think of the difference between sissy southerners and boorish northeners in the UK, and multiply by 1000%  

It would be boring if we were all the same...




MLskajira -> RE: Are we really that different? (12/31/2006 11:18:13 AM)

almost all wars were started because of a miscommunication somewhere.
this girl tries to repeat what is said to her, in her own words, if she doesnt think she understood it right, to make sure she is getting the jist of it, at least.
 this one's father is from Scotland and her mother is a native of the Americas, so she is rich in her cultural history. hundreds of years of it.
 she too gets and enjoys British humor and has many friends who think she is a bit off because of it.



sophia37 -> RE: Are we really that different? (12/31/2006 6:41:27 PM)

Ive actually had a hard time noticing the difference, unless the poster makes a point to say where he or she lives. Only the few idioms make me aware of the different dialects so to speak.

Even without this thread I've thought about the different posters and what countries we're all from. I really truly think the world has become so much smaller and in general everyone could easily "get" what everyone is saying, humor included. I think its wonderful quite frankly. 



sleazy -> RE: Are we really that different? (12/31/2006 9:12:34 PM)

Having been a trans-atlantic commuter in the past I have noticed some great differences, but of course those are particularly limited to that small corner of the US that I claimed as my part-time home.

Humour was definately top of the list. Jokes with obvious punchlines were fine, but subtlety and sarcasm often sank without trace. Contrary to Dtesmoac I found the americans I came across far less arrogant than most of my fellow brits, go figure! I found religion and family much more important in the lives of the americans I got to know, and a far greater respect for authority, no matter who or what the authority was. The americans I dealt with also seemed in general to be far more tolerant, accepting and understanding of others. I was never once made to feel unwelcome, perhaps it was the novelty of the accent :)



Dtesmoac -> RE: Are we really that different? (12/31/2006 10:11:11 PM)

Humour was definately top of the list. Jokes with obvious punchlines were fine, but subtlety and sarcasm often sank without trace. Contrary to Dtesmoac I found the americans I came across far less arrogant than most of my fellow brits, go figure! - to clarify I used arrogance in terms of relishing success and willingness to look for and expect praise 

I found religion and family much more important in the lives of the americans I got to know, - deffinitely agree with this one - you will know the religeous views of most Americans within the first 24 hours, for Brits it may take 24 years..
and a far greater respect for authority, no matter who or what the authority was. - generally agree, following of rules apears to be noraml expectancy.

The americans I dealt with also seemed in general to be far more tolerant, accepting and understanding of others. I was never once made to feel unwelcome, perhaps it was the novelty of the accent :) - very variable, have had good and bad experiences. However "British" understatement at initial meeting can be misinterpreted by Americans as lack of interest aparently.



meatcleaver -> RE: Are we really that different? (1/1/2007 5:08:29 AM)

I've had a few misunderstandings with Americans through my sense of humour that I don't use it now until I get to know someone. It's a mistake to assume your humour is obvious and I have been thought to lack interest when I've been anything but not interested. I just can't summon up that outward enthusiasm that supposedly illustrates my inner feelings, mainly because I'm musing on the absurdity of life. I think this had a detrimental effect on a relationship I once had with an American. I hate that get up and go when there is nowhere to go, just relax, take it easy, experience is not a race into some temporary superficial madness.

Though I have spent the best part of 22 years living on continental Europe and there are always British comedies on TV where there are no comedies from other countries (that has changed with satelite and infinite channels). I've even hd French people tell me that British humour is the best and Germans and the other night on a national Belgium channel there was a whole evening of Britsh comedy on TV and that is not unusual. There is always British comedies on TV here in Holland too.

British detectives are mighty popular too but that is another thread.



mnottertail -> RE: Are we really that different? (1/1/2007 7:47:52 AM)

quote:

and a far greater respect for authority, no matter who or what the authority was. - generally agree, following of rules apears to be noraml expectancy.


You obviously haven't knocked about Boston and New York then, where Stop Signs are a suggestion and traffic lights and road stripes are decorations.

LOL....although it has a heavy British background, so that might explain it.

Ron



sleazy -> RE: Are we really that different? (1/1/2007 10:19:07 AM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: Dtesmoac

Humour was definately top of the list. Jokes with obvious punchlines were fine, but subtlety and sarcasm often sank without trace. Contrary to Dtesmoac I found the americans I came across far less arrogant than most of my fellow brits, go figure! - to clarify I used arrogance in terms of relishing success and willingness to look for and expect praise 


Ah-ha in this case we have a light differing of opinions, I used arrogance as being more a form of self-importance or being presumptuous :) To use your definition of a go-getter and sometimes glory-seeker, yes I would agree americans fit the description better than brits

Thankfully(?) Ron I avoide the north-east except for airport transfers, but certainly that little corner of Florida I called home had some very novel concepts about rules of the road, little old ladies with heights of under 5 foot really should not be allowed to drive cadillacs the size of cruise ships. And really, what is so hard to understand about a roundabout? :)



Real0ne -> RE: Are we really that different? (1/1/2007 11:31:24 AM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: Dtesmoac
One of the interesting aspects is that the underlying culture of a Brit and an American or indeed other nationalities, can make you look at the same information, circumstance or situation and draw very different conclusions. I find this in my work and non work settings.


there are cultural differences.  we approach things differently. America came into existance as a result of a pissing contest with the brits, (and others).  So i think its safe to say that on a governmental basis thought we have many and i do mean many things in common we also have very specif differences in our perceptions as you most likely noticed in the id thread...



NorthernGent -> RE: Are we really that different? (1/2/2007 7:04:04 AM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: sophia37

Ive actually had a hard time noticing the difference, unless the poster makes a point to say where he or she lives. Only the few idioms make me aware of the different dialects so to speak.



I agree totally. I post on a British BDSM board and what strikes me is the similarities in attitude rather than the differences. The only differences I've noticed are:

1) People on this board are more polite.
2) A higher proportion of people on the British board are suspicious of government intentions.

There are traits we have that are very peculiar to the British. For instance, we thrive on disappointment. I'd go as far as to say we actively seek it out. We love it when it all goes wrong because then we can take the piss out of ourselves about how shit we are. Trains break down in the middle of nowhere and a cheer goes up in the compartments "yes, we're shit!". The French wouldn't put up with it, they'd be out on the streets demanding answers. As Dtesmoac said, we have a need to turn any situation into something we can laugh at.

Also, as a rule, we're a very negative, cynical bunch too. The BBC did a show "100 things to do before you die". I mean, before you fucking die! As if the sands of time are ticking away and life is just a tedious existence of inevitability. Any other country in the world would have called it "100 things that life has to offer". Another thing, who's that American bloke who sits in boxes for weeks? It is David Blane or someone like that? Anyway, he sat in a box in London somewhere high up in what was supposedly a world record attempt. He'd done something similar in New York and was given a heros welcome (according to television pictures) when he finished. He was expecting more of the same in London but completely misunderstood the British temperament. Instead, people were taking golf shots at him and you could hear balls pinging off this box and people shouting up at him "get down yer idiot". As said, we're a cynical bunch who don't take too kindly to people making a show of themselves.

There are bound to be differences but as one poster said it's a small world these days and cultural differences are not what they once were (particularly since our television is half full with American films and dramas). There is definitely a market here for American produced popular culture (more so than any other country in the world) so that should tell people that maybe we're not as different as we think.




SirKenin -> RE: Are we really that different? (1/2/2007 7:10:35 AM)

What strikes Me is the attitudes and politics.  They are currently VERY different.  The British on here appear to be very socialist, on the verge of communist, and the American politics seem to be very paranoid, to the point of schizophrenia.  The other interesting thing is that American politics appears to be very segregated and polar.  Not a happy medium, but extremists.  You have the liberal extremists on one side, the conservative extremists on the other.

There is a distinct lack of centrism, which I am, so that is why I do not even waste My time.  Nobody is interested in what the other person has to say.  Nobody is interested in finding a middle ground, either British or American.  They only try to bash their opponents over the head with their ideals and run them into the ground into a state of compliance.

It really is quite pathetic.

As for humor, the British humor is very dry, something I have always appreciated (I am a HUGE Bond fan, for instance).  American humor is more sarcastic and cutting.  More denigrating.

This has been My observations anyways.  As for Canadian humor?  Well..  I guess you will find out once you start arguing about how to build an igloo or a hockey rink.



Real0ne -> RE: Are we really that different? (1/2/2007 7:13:49 AM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: NorthernGent
we thrive on disappointment.


in the states, we thrive on sensationalism, drama, anything dead brain so we dont have to think.



SirKenin -> RE: Are we really that different? (1/2/2007 7:15:13 AM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: Real0ne

quote:

ORIGINAL: NorthernGent
we thrive on disappointment.


in the states, we thrive on sensationalism, drama, anything dead brain so we dont have to think.



Hence the success of CNN - The Communist News Network.



marieToo -> RE: Are we really that different? (1/2/2007 7:32:07 AM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: missturbation

Curiosity has the better of me now lol. I'm asking that  this please doesn't turn into a slanging match or pissing contest. [:D]
I love the threads in here (most of the time). I am very uneducated when it comes to politics, world event, world news and learn a lot from the posts here. For a while though i have noticed some regular occurences when it comes to this type of thread here.
I am in the minority of Brits who post here and i have noticed a distinct 'oh you are a Brit' mentality which reads to me as a it's no wonder she thinks differently shes from Britain judgement.
I see it the other way too and am guilty of posting such comments as 'Americans come across as paranoid'. Not something i'm proud of i will admit. I always like to think of myself as not judgemental but have noticed recently slight bouts of judgement creeping into my posts.
I know that sometimes it is very hard to see the tone behind what someone posts, for example they may have said it with humour but i / we take it as attack or serious.
There seems to be a greater misreading though when it comes to a Brit reading an Americans post or vice versa. My question is are we really that different in our senses of humour, use of grammar, words etc? Do we really think when someone  thinks differently to us it can be explained away as 'oh its because they are American / British?


I would imagine there are cultural differences that may play into the interpretations of the written text.  But I think when people speak the same 'language' it transcends those differences and renders the usual yin and yan thing we feel when we are grooving with someone who "hears" us.  

I always "get" you.  Oftentimes I see others misunderstand things you say,  when I clearly knew exactly how you meant it. And if I'd not read your profile, or seen you mention it,  I wouldn't even know you were a brit.

I'm sure if I were surrounded by brits, in general,  I would begin to feel a 'difference' of sorts, but not one that would affect my personal interactions with a person, any more than they do with Americans that I dont jive with.  



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