Are English people polite?

Answer 1

Isn't this yet another form of stereotyping? What race or culture of people are ALL one way? Like any nation or race/culture there are some who are polite and some who are jerks!

Answer 2

In some ways. English people aren't very demanding, and don't always have high expectations, so they are polite in the sense that they don't complain a lot about services or other people, unlike Americans who want everything to be perfect and won't accept anything less than star treatment if they're paying for something. But Americans are friendlier and smile more, tell you to hjave a nice day etc while the British checkout person will just grunt and speak as rarely as possible. So in that sense the British can seem somewhat rude in comparison.

So it depends what your definitions are really.

Answer 3

It is not the Matter of English or French or Spanish, everywhere you'll find a blend of both kinds, good and bad. There are people in Britain who will make you feel that you are in the best country of the world and then you may also meet with someone who will force you to think that if there is any worse place is here on earth. Same goes with ever country.

Answer 4

I don't think you can really classify "English people" as all the same as each other.

Some English People are polite - for instance, the English will queue quite happily for hours without complaint on many occasions. We also don't tend to complain about bad service in restaurants etc for fear of looking bad.

However, there is increasingly a "Chav" element in the UK which isn't polite to anyone, and increasingly spends their time telling almost anyone and everyone to "F" off or worse. Sadly, they are rapidly giving the whole place a bad name.

Answer 5

Politeness is not nationality specific. Are New Yorkers' polite? Canadians? Iranians? Australians?

The English I've met have a tendency to be somewhat straightforward, not crudely impolite.

Answer 6

Generally speaking English people are polite compared to people from other countries, but it all depends on who you meet.
I have to agree that it's a dying habit though. These days, If they don't understand your accent very well they say, 'Say that again' instead of 'Pardon?'

When they want to make money or get something out of you they suddenly become extremely polite, friendly and respectful, which don't make them appear to be particularly graceful.

Answer 7

Being English, German, Turkish, Austrian, African, South American, Latino, basically any culture should't have anything to do with a person's personality. It has more to do with the way teh people grew up. I'd say that English people are just as polite as Americans. NO WORRIES!!!=)

Answer 8

In my personal experience of living in the UK for 8 years - They are not polite as a rule, most of them just don't say what is on their mind.

They certainly did not match my expectations.

They are also far more foul mouthed than the average American.

My experience of living in America left me pleasantly surprised, people were very polite, friendly, honest and open.

I think the 'reserved' reputation that the English have
is mistaken for good manners.

Answer 9

Once upon a time, we all were brought up to be polite - but I think if anyone is polite today, it's because that's the only way they can secure whatever they need.

Answer 10

Yes