Is there any country that is more unlike their national stereotype than Britain?

Question

Reserved, sophisticated and polite - that's what I thought Brits were supposed to be.

Yobs, slags, chavs - I had no idea what these British slang words meant before I came here. I do now.

Answer 1

oh please, name me a nation where everyone fits the "stereotype".

not even a majority of citizens would fit the stereotypical description of any nation I'd say.

Answer 2

Yes, our society has rather deteriorated somewhat, don't-you-know! I blame those Socialist chappies! I'm jolly well off to have a naice cup of Rosie Lee now guv! I'm gonna go up them apples & pears, get some shampoo in me barnet, drop a couple of Richard the Thirds in the bog, call me mate on the dog, put on me new whistle, and pop down the pub for a pinta! The bar maids has a thumping great pair of Bristols!
Joking aside, we do have an overabundance of yob, slags and 'chavs' (never really knew quite what that meant) But hey, we are not all ALL like that. Not even most! Not all Americans (I'm assuming you are an American) are like the stereotypical American envisaged by a lot of folks here and the world over.

Answer 3

the place are you from? i'm English born and am incredibly not a slag, yob or the different form of slang word which you're able to need to apply. I even have labored in some international places and have self assurance that Britain is between the suitable, I even have witnessed that my united states of america has substitute into inspired by making use of the yank television courses that are seen right here. It additionally has substitute into the living house for many immigrants consistent with probability it quite is those those which you meet? maximum Brits i understand are polite reserved proud and knowledgeable. i don't understand the place you meet the form of people you assert you do yet I advise you pick extra intently the place you socialise.

Answer 4

I don't really adhere to stereotypes. I like to think that human nature - wherever I may be - is basically positive and good natured.

Britain is a country of 62 million people, and like anywhere else in the world, we have positive and negative people. Yes, some of our citizens seem to have been plucked straight from a Mike Leigh film...and some of our people here seem to have come straight from a Richard Curtis film.

You will find yobs, slags and chavs here, just as you will also find them smashing up 'les banlieues' of urban France, or beating up Lebbos in western Sydney.

But you will also find cheerful, helpful, generous people out and about, just like you do in chilled out Vancouver or liberal San Francisco.

Answer 5

You forgot to mention bad teeth. That's usually a curious obsession.

I'm Scottish. I'm also British. Being English/Scottish doesn't rule you out from being British. If you're English you ARE British, whether you like it or not.

Answer 6

You make a good point, SeaHawk. I don't know where the US got its idea of this stereotype from; maybe the films of the 50's and 60's which certainly were not a typical representation of the population of the UK but of its middle-to-upper classes.

Answer 7

.....it's impossible for an entire population to be all polite etc there are a mix of all sorts just like every where else as there always has been and always will....People tend to think all Australian's are laid back, Jovial types who all love beach culture.....not all true

Answer 8

stereotypes are a feeble attempt by fools who don't understand what they're talking about. too many people base their views on select information. happens all the time.

Answer 9

I will not lower myself to answer this with what I actually think - and has chownyb says - I am also English and not British

Answer 10

Lol I know what u mean - apparently we all sip tea here, talk in a ridiculously posh accent and love the queen! Even though I don't know anyone who does any of that!