|
|
Post by Clinton Cool on Jan 19, 2017 13:44:52 GMT
It's a quiet evening here in Indonesia, it's got me thinking about home. Home is normal when that's all you've ever experienced but if you go elsewhere you'll quickly realise that things are different. I'm going to offer 3 examples of how weird Britain can be:
1/ The national obsession with thanking people. There's nothing wrong with thanking people but us Brits really are obsessed with it. A driver, having being let into slow moving traffic, is obliged to thank the driver that let him or her in. The letter-in, more often than not, will then raise a hand to thank the thanker for thanking them. Whobetide anyone who fails to thank the kind driver who let them in. This could even result in road rage, another British peculiarity. It seems that thanking someone is a duty, rather than being a genuine action.
2/ There are many places in the world where you might get beaten up, for any number of reasons. But it's only in Britain where you might be beaten up for sport.
3/ A fair number of countries have dispositions that are socialist whereby every tax paying citizen makes a contribution towards a fund that pays welfare benefits to individuals who are in need. Only in Britain though; is this pot of money shared out completely equally; regardless of whether the claimant has made any contributions towards it; or not.
Any more?
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jan 19, 2017 13:49:40 GMT
Your wrong on points 2 and 3 but otherwise we are a weird bunch.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jan 19, 2017 13:59:12 GMT
Hope you're having a good holiday.
Regarding 1 above, I think this low level courtesy is one of our strengths as a people. Most of us are polite.
Rog
|
|
|
|
Post by Clinton Cool on Jan 19, 2017 14:24:58 GMT
Your wrong on points 2 and 3 but otherwise we are a weird bunch. OK maybe Ireland too, I'm not sure. Where else? Which other country completely disregards contributions made (or complete lack thereof) when calculating welfare entitlement? |
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jan 19, 2017 14:30:51 GMT
Your wrong on points 2 and 3 but otherwise we are a weird bunch. OK maybe Ireland too, I'm not sure. Where else? Which other country completely disregards contributions made (or complete lack thereof) when calculating welfare entitlement? Lets deal with point 2 first, less controversial and your supposed to be on holiday! I'm calling bullshit - defend your statement!  |
|
|
|
Post by Clinton Cool on Jan 19, 2017 14:47:09 GMT
Well I stand to be corrected but as far as I know other countries have welfare systems based largely on contributions. By the way, this is an extended holiday, no need to rush around trying to see every possible sight in a couple of weeks!  |
|
|
|
Post by Gone on Jan 19, 2017 14:48:43 GMT
OK maybe Ireland too, I'm not sure. Where else? Which other country completely disregards contributions made (or complete lack thereof) when calculating welfare entitlement? Lets deal with point 2 first, less controversial and your supposed to be on holiday! I'm calling bullshit - defend your statement! We could change point 2 to fox hunting. Very British, and also brings in our 'class' obsession as well, which is very British. |
|
|
|
Post by bills on Jan 19, 2017 14:54:27 GMT
4/ naughtyfox's sense of humour
|
|
|
|
Post by Clinton Cool on Jan 19, 2017 15:01:40 GMT
Lets deal with point 2 first, less controversial and your supposed to be on holiday! I'm calling bullshit - defend your statement! We could change point 2 to fox hunting. Very British, and also brings in our 'class' obsession as well, which is very British. Aye but the Maltese shoot everything that flies, including tiny birds. I'd suggest that's weirder than hunting a fox |
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jan 19, 2017 15:08:03 GMT
Lets deal with point 2 first, less controversial and your supposed to be on holiday! I'm calling bullshit - defend your statement! We could change point 2 to fox hunting. Very British, and also brings in our 'class' obsession as well, which is very British. Still not true, fox hunting goes on in the USA, Ireland, Australia, France, Canada, Italy, Portugal and India according to wiki (no mention of Sweden though  ). Class obsession is very British but the Indians outdo us there as well. |
|
|
|
Post by bodger on Jan 19, 2017 15:20:34 GMT
Hope you're having a good holiday. Regarding 1 above, I think this low level courtesy is one of our strengths as a people. Most of us are polite. Rog I disagree. I walk the dogs twice a day, and am continually amazed at how many other walkers who you might meet on a quiet day, a long way from any civilisation, who walk past you and studiously ignore you, even avoiding eye contact. More than 50% in my experience. I always look out for others who might acknowledge me and enjoy giving them a friendly smile and a 'good morning', or, in Bristowe vernacular 'awrite then?' That equally applies in most other countries where I have worked - unless in a very shady district, or in a crowded city situation, I always try to acknowledge everyone I meet, and usually get a friendly smile in return. Not easy when the other person is a woman wearing a burka, but a friendly face doesn't go amiss, even there. Make eye contact with an itinerant Scotsman lurking in a side alley and cradling a six pack in the centre of London and you risk an argument at best and attempted ABH at worst. No, we are not as courteous as we would like to think we are. |
|
|
|
Post by bodger on Jan 19, 2017 15:25:35 GMT
We could change point 2 to fox hunting. Very British, and also brings in our 'class' obsession as well, which is very British. Aye but the Maltese shoot everything that flies, including tiny birds. I'd suggest that's weirder than hunting a fox like many small island nations, Malta has a significant number of inhabitants who are unaware of world opinion - real small world syndrome. One of only two countries where I have worked and didn't much like the people. The other one was Albania, but there were occasional drive-by shootings in the town centre and it was best to keep oneself to oneself. I suppose because Albania had suffered from self-imposed isolation, they also suffered from small world syndrome. |
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jan 19, 2017 15:40:57 GMT
I find the fact people travel to such far flung countries weird. There is so much to see and do in the UK anyway !!
Typo edit
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jan 19, 2017 15:48:05 GMT
I also greet everyone I pass (my nephew calls me a mad northerner) and frequently do not get a response, or am gawped at like I've just requested they hand over their wallet. I feel better for giving the salutation, if they choose to ignore it, that's their choice. But I still find most will respond in kind, even if surprised by the greeting. I also observe most people say thank you to bus drivers, and everyone else. There are exceptions, but we are all generalising. How many times has someone bumped into you, and you apologise! It is in our genes, we are polite to excess (in general), and I like that. Rog PS interesting post ricco......travel must broaden ones mind Rog |
|
|
|
Post by naughtyfox on Jan 19, 2017 16:27:16 GMT
I notice that when we go to England everyone in shops keeps saying 'Sorry' or 'Excuse Me' when they think they have got too close to you. What's that all about, then? Over-politeness is a bit trying.
Also this phony new fad of saying "Enjoy!" just like Californian Morons.
|
|
).
