Why are the English so narrow minded?

Question

I speak as an 'Englishman'. Why is their ambition, intellect, open-mindedness and warmth often so small? Why are we regarded as animal lovers when we have massive cases of animal cruelty? Why are we regarded as a youthful, trendy country when we have one of the oldest populations in Europe? Why are we so incompetent in nearly everything we try to do? Why are we always proud of it? Why do we cheer the loser when we should be encouraging winners? Why are we so pathetic?

Answer 1

because we can be

Answer 2

Look, the English culture evolved over many generations. It is not necesarily that all people in that country are as you say so yourself, but rather how the world came to view your country through its influences. Its vast landholdings and power might account for it seeming so youthful and trendy because for a very long time, London was the trendsetter of the world. What happened there, happened everywhere. If you wanted to be known, you went to London because that was the hubbub of everything. You are not incompetent. The belief that you may be the best comes back to being an owner of India, America, having great fleats, Monarchy...it is because the country had power and tradition that was hard to break. You should be proud of your heritage, which is a rather rich one. Cheering for the loosers is not a bad thing because when you do that you encourage people to be better. You are not pathetic. The world isn't exactly a happy place right now but you have to see the cup as half full instead of half empty. Yes those generalized beliefs may be partially true of the English but there is still time to change it. Be optimistic. When you find that close minded person...try to help them see a better and bigger picture. If you succeed, then you changed the world around you just a little, if you failed, aleast you tried and you can say with out any reprimand that you find people close minded because you tried changing that....hope this helps.

If you want to talk, I'm there. :)

Answer 3

I wouldn't say we are pathetic, but yes we have a lot to be embarrassed about.

If anyone has watched the Grand Designs episode where they build a Huff Haus you'll get what I mean. The German workers are there at the crack of dawn to build this house in England, complete with every single nut and bolt.
They are delayed twice, once because the English truck doesn't arrive with the last batch of cement and the other when the English crane doesn't show up on time.

I used to live in Germany and they are very very efficiant. Wonderful bunch of people.

Maybe it's a result of the war? The Germans lost face when they lost the war and now they're trying to win it back? Just look at their cars...we don't have any home made cars anymore.

But on the other hand, just look at the Australians, fantastic (most of the time) at Swimming, Surfing, Cricket, Rugby even Athletics...yet can you think of a single Australian invention?

We don't encourage the right kind of winners. The only sport that people in England want to encourage is football.

Does anyone talk about the rugby at the minute? Or the Cricket? Or even the Athletics. You never hear about the World Rowing Championships...even though we've been the best in the sport for a decade!

Answer 4

Yea, nothing to be proud of here, sod that we have the worlds strongest currency and one of the strongest economies, a free health service and indeed a very good quality of life in comparison to almost anywhere.

I'm an Englishman and I have had no experience of some of the things you're talking about. What do you mean about our ambition, I don't see any problems? I also think we are quite a friendly and free thinking country.

When you say incompetent at nearly everything we try to do, are you referring to sport? If so, kindly explain why our not being brilliant at sport reflects our culture at all? We aren't incompetent anyway, we got to the quarters of the World Cup, and won the Rugby one, we won the last ashes and we always do quite well at the Olympics. No, we don't win every time, but we still do reasonably well usualy.

If not, I, again, have no idea what you're talking about.

Answer 5

What!

English/British people are one of the most open minded and caring people on earth.
As a nation we have far, far more going for it than any other nation i can think of. From this small island (precious stone set in a silver sea) British people have contributed to the development of mankind in all aspects of science, art and culture.
In science men like Darwin and Newton gave the world principles that may be described as some of the most important discoveries of human kind. In art, Shakespeare, Milton, Dickens et al are but the tip of a monumental creative ice burg and our popular culture such as Football, Cricket and Rugby are played over the world (shall not even mention things like the Beatles).

The problem with Britain is not our that we are incompetent, it is that certain sections of the press portray it that way. We should be more positive in our outlook and proud of our achievements.

We are still creative people look at the Clockwork radio (Trevor Bayliss) even the development of things such as the Internet were led by a British man in (Tim Berners Lee) and the thing these have in common are a desire to help humanity not just profit. It may be this trait in the British people why we would prefer to cheer for an underdog who is striving against the odds rather than the favourite to win.

Answer 6

wow...your a self abuser....incompetent.???.....the English...??...you mean the same race of people that colonised over half the globe,that invented at least 80% of the worlds greatest most ingenious machinery that will leave a legacy as a testament for years to come...??I do see your point at the anguish of the typical " stiff upper" but that is a true reflection of intellect in our ability to cope under the most extreme circumstances....our outward persona is admired throughout the world and was much noted by our enemies....and feared. The Romans have been gone for two thousand years, we are still here so we must have that little extra other nations lack.
God bless us ,each and every one.

Answer 7

Why do you say you are an Englishman then distance yourself from your countrymen by saying "why is THEIR ambition".
It is you who say WE are so pathetic. We didn't gain an Empire by being pathetic and there is nothing pathetic in cheering the underdog and practising a little humility. You may not be proud of your nationality but I am, I am glad to be English, to be seen as being slightly crazy by the rest of the world, so what!

Answer 8

Speak for yourself then, maybe it is because I am an English woman that I find your small mindedness so pathetic. We are and have been for the best part of 400 years at the top of the tree, and are still highly respected throughout the world for our sense of fairness, empathy and righteousness. We have helped other countries to improve themselves, we help third world countries with our contributions through Live Aid and Comic Relief.. among other things.

We are still innovative and embrace change in an ever changing world and because of our history we have developed a sense of style that is essentially British, our ability to laugh at ourselves is one of our best attributes it doesn't make us weak.

We don't cheer losers, we cheer because they did their best and they did it for us.

I get sick and tired of pathetic narrow minded people like you pulling my Country down, if you don't like it ship out, but when you do don't forget to burn that British Passport or when things get tough you might be tempted to return to this little island which you love to hate.

Answer 9

You are talking about a minority. I am fairly ambitious and intellectual, very open-minded and warm to people I like. I love animals. I feel young but don't act it in a stupid way and I don't class myself as incompetent. I cheer winners. If you're referring to football (I don't know but) with me, that's only half hearted. I consider myself a well balanced person. I am not proud to be British though. The government has made that decision for me.

Answer 10

Yea footballl and infatuation with 66 says it all, but end of day we ARE SUCH A WICKED COUNTRY! As a country we have been there and done it on the world stage! Nowt to prove! And how cant you say we aint trendy? IM british and really proud that i am.

Answer 11

are you talking about your problems?
most of your assumptions are incorrect
1. i am a successfull entreprenuer, iam not cruel with any living creature, including man
we also have one of the highest single parent birth rates in europe, you also forgot to mention our inventiveness.
you are measuring success by how much money is earned, success cannot be measured, what you deem to be a success, i may apply a different interpretation, dependant on my values, not yours.we admire courage in the attempt, not the same as cheering the loser, and finally i believe you are talking about yourself. apply the same criteria to any other european country, an see how they measure up.