NationStates Jolt Archive

Well jolly good day to you all chums, I recently joined this community I suppose and after much forum surfing, I have been alarmed by the amount of xenophobia on both sides of the pond, so I thought it should be my place (o the pretension!) to provide a nice little podium for the former colonial masters and rebellious little tobacco growers to display some of the misconceptions.

So lets discuss each others countries in honesty shall we, round one Great Britain, If all the other Brits could join me in fielding some questions from across the pond, such as "how’s the queen and her husband Mr. Blair?" and "how great full are we from being saved from the Hun?" well, that would be just lovely.

Jolly good let the questions begin.

Why are mousers all a bunch of unreconstructed burgling spear throwers?

pardon, would you care to swing that by me again in the queens english?

Jesus christ....

Have you ever been to Grassington? And stop talking like plonker.

All right you got me, haha. Sorry about that I was trying to act the stereotype. Afraid I’ve never been to Yorkshire either, my names a bit misleading I’m from Scotland actually.

Though my point stands, id like to start a little dialogue between Brits and Americans i think we could all learn a lot though a bit of shouting at each other.

I’m from Scotland actually.


I was gonna say....the hubcaps are still on my car!

What is wrong with your teeth?

you should be lucky its not on bricks, that’s a northern specialty apparently, or fireworks in your flat while you sleeping there way of saying hello to students or so I’ve heard.

Is English food really as bad as I have been led to beleive, and is that why Americans tend to be fatter?

Ahh a teeth question,

Actually the vast majority of us have lovely teeth, take MEP Robery Killroy Silk for example, This all stems from the fact that theres not VAT tax on health products such as toothpaste, and that Braces are free to all children on the Nation Health Service

Ahh a teeth question,

Actually the vast majority of us have lovely teeth, take MEP Robery Killroy Silk for example, This all stems from the fact that theres not VAT tax on health products such as toothpaste, and that Braces are free to all children on the Nation Health Service

I heard that it's from the lack of flouride in your drinking water.

Why don't you ever clean up London? It's dirty as hell.

Food, Yes British Food is quite fattening take Stake and Ale pie for example, and yes we have a lot of fat people here too, mainly the proles. We don’t however have the gigantic portions that my American friends have so told me about. Also the glorious all knowing labour party, is now taking it on themselves to make thinking about junk food a thought crime, all advertising only being allowed after a 9pm watershed and no vending machines in any where frequented by kids.

But generally British food is good I believe, I’ve done a fair bit of travelling and it beats actually Chinese food hands down any day trust me. If you'd like to try some proper British food, take a quick pop over to London or if you have any so called 'pubs' in American pop in there, and order some pub food, that’s proper British, You’ll be taken i promise

Actually there’s too much fluorine in the drinking water, dyed my mouth florescent white as a kid once. As for London, well cleaning it up well it just wouldn’t be London without it I mean when we got rid of the Smog it ruined the whole sprit of London and cleaning up the Thames well that just gave it character , it just couldn’t take having the rubbish go too, it just wouldn’t be London.

Is English food really as bad as I have been led to beleive, and is that why Americans tend to be fatter?
English food is pretty good as far as I'm concerned, roast beef and potatoes and mince and dumplings are both fine examples of tasty English food. British food is even better, however, curry, for example being one of the greatest foods in existence....I think the reason for Americans being fatter is that they never had rationing and so they don't tend to look upon a cup of tea and a chocolate biscuit as the height of luxury. Americans also have massively more junk food, which doesn't seem like good food to me, but that might just be my cultural conditioning. I'm basing the junk food bit on Bill Bryson mostly, by the way...

A Cup of Earl Grey and a Bourbon, Bliss!

Is English food really as bad as I have been led to beleive, and is that why Americans tend to be fatter?
Hahahahaha,
No dear, if your country had ever been rationed then i'm fairly certain that obesity would be much less of a problem.
Because we brits were rationed during and after the war, food was much harder to get hold of, meaning the brit's psyche was more restrained. If you ate all of your food in one go when you were only entitled to what you needed, you'd go hungry afterwards. Of course times have changed, but once a nation adapts in a certain way and develops a certain mindset it will still influence the way we behave for years on. Now, however, a couple of generations on, the values are beginning to be lost, hence the rising number of obese children in britain.
Those who have lead you to believe that british food is crap have clearly never tried REAL fish an chips, Steak and guinness pie, bread and butter pudding, yorkshire pudding (you eat this one with gravy, not custard)
Apple pie is american?we had it a long time before you honey,
What has america given the world?...
Breakfast pizza :-S

Breakfast pizza :-S
See, Bill Bryson!

I heard that it's from the lack of flouride in your drinking water.
What lack of fluoride? we have fluoride in our drinking water. Anyway, the whole bad teeth thing is just wrong. The reason Anericans have nicer teeth is coz they thought of rubbing bleach into them before we did.

And food? Yeah, the bacon sausage, double egg, steak, chicken and pork sandwich with lamb instead of bread is a real good reason why I'm skinny :D

To be honest Rationings a bit irrelevant was what 50ish years ago not to mention the overall cultural upheavals that have gone on since then, and these days we are eating way too much, thus the labour parties crack downs.

I've read notes from a small island and a walk in the woods but no further, so im having trouble making the connection, I'll take your word for it :-)

I've read notes from a small island and a walk in the woods but no further, so im having trouble making the connection, I'll take your word for it :-)
Oh right, he does practically a whole chapter/thingy on breakfast pizza and the amount of junk food in America in "Notes from a Big Country"...

lol, i first heard of breakfast pizza through a friend of mine who made the mistake of eating one on holiday.

What is curry? I know it is a type of seasoning, but I have also heard of it talked about as something more similar to an actual dish.

Do Britains understand the humor behind calling their cigarettes, fags?

Do Britains understand the humor behind calling their cigarettes, fags?
lol, just about, it took me 2 years to work out that when my gay best friend was calling me a fag hag, he wasn't just implying that i smoked too much, lol

Is English food really as bad as I have been led to beleive, and is that why Americans tend to be fatter?

Uh, that all depends on what it is, and, obvoiusly, personal opinion.
I find that most traditional food is quite unpleasant, but then I'm a picky eater. Also, I don't eat much English food generally, i prefer pasta and stuff.

I don't think that Americans are fatter than the English because English food is too disgusting to be edible, because that just wouldn't make sense.

no its just like you use the term pissed for angry, to us its drunk or really drunk.

and i dont belive for a second that you havent had a curry

What is curry? I know it is a type of seasoning, but I have also heard of it talked about as something more similar to an actual dish.
:eek: The idea of anyone not knowing what curry is seems amazing and slightly scary to a British person. It's basically a type of dish originally imported by immigrants from the Indian sub-continent involving the use of lots of spices...That's basically all it has to be, you get lots and lots of types of curry using different spices, meats, vegetables etc....It's tasty tasty food..

Do Britains understand the humor behind calling their cigarettes, fags?
Do americans appreciate the comedy value of calling gang attacks "gang bangs" and saying that when you get really drunk that you are "going on a bender". Really. For a nation of homophobes, you don't half slip in the innuendo

Do Britains understand the humor behind calling their cigarettes, fags?
"Say there, Chippy, oy'm desperate, mate. I ain't ad a fag all days, I ain't.
Oh, ere you go gov'nor, tis a small butt, et you kin suck it for a tid."

no its just like you use the term pissed for angry, to us its drunk or really drunk.

and i dont belive for a second that you havent had a curry
In my little corner of the USA, The Great Garden State of New Jersey, We don't seem to have curry shops. The closest we get is curry chicken in chinese restaurants.

What is curry? I know it is a type of seasoning, but I have also heard of it talked about as something more similar to an actual dish.
:o
oh
my
dear
gods!!!!!
Curry is verrrrry popular over here. It's an indian dish, usually meat of some description (not pork) in a thick, rich spicy sauce and it's truly divine. It's not british food, but we've kinda adopted it the same way you've adopted chinese. Only Curry's a bit more classy (or should be). No offence intended.
there are two ways to eat curry:
In a nice restaurant, dressed reasonably smartly with family, a partner or someone similar.
at 1 in the morning in a slightly more downmarket restaurant where it's the only place still open that's still selling beer!

What is curry? I know it is a type of seasoning, but I have also heard of it talked about as something more similar to an actual dish.
Korma (the wuss dish), Jalfrezi, Tikka Masala (also two separate), balti, madras, vindaloo, rogan josh, etc. Have you no culinary shame? Never had a curry. Pfft. Next you'll be telling me you think English Muffins are actually English

My god, i shall inform the Red Cross Immediately, the aid shipment shall comprise of a few Vindaloo's a Beef Madras and a Chicken Tika Masla or two.

In my little corner of the USA, The Great Garden State of New Jersey, We don't seem to have curry shops. The closest we get is curry chicken in chinese restaurants.
I know you've got your hands full with Iraq right now but I'd suggest you conquer some of India, even if it's just a small amount, so you can import some people with curry making skills...
On that note, if anyone has any good recipes for curry I'd be prepared to share my own secret recipe in exchange...

Lack of fluoride in our drinking water... thats an interesting point that no-ones answered truthfullly. Ill admit our teeth as a nation are not always pearly white, although we appear to have started a film tradition of portraying english people as crippled old tramps who could fell a horse from 60 paces. We do not have a lack of fluoride in our water, it is merely that in some areas of the country we quite rightly do not add it in. Too much fluordie can cause permanant brown staining of the teeth...

as for the food, its by and large delicious, though not the food on the NHS, and obesiety in UK and USA well its getting worse in the UK but to be honest the only reason America is fatter than the UK is the higher salt you put in EVERYTHING (pringles become a pot full of mank) and the higher availability of fatty foods (especially in the morning when you're most likely to think bugger it ill eat anything).

:o
oh
my
dear
gods!!!!!
Curry is verrrrry popular over here. It's an indian dish, usually meat of some description (not pork) in a thick, rich spicy sauce and it's truly divine. It's not british food, but we've kinda adopted it the same way you've adopted chinese. Only Curry's a bit more classy (or should be). No offence intended.
there are two ways to eat curry:
In a nice restaurant, dressed reasonably smartly with family, a partner or someone similar.
at 1 in the morning in a slightly more downmarket restaurant where it's the only place still open that's still selling beer!
Ahh, I can't wait to be at uni

:o
oh
my
dear
gods!!!!!
Curry is verrrrry popular over here. It's an indian dish, usually meat of some description (not pork) in a thick, rich spicy sauce and it's truly divine. It's not british food, but we've kinda adopted it the same way you've adopted chinese. Only Curry's a bit more classy (or should be). No offence intended.
there are two ways to eat curry:
In a nice restaurant, dressed reasonably smartly with family, a partner or someone similar.
at 1 in the morning in a slightly more downmarket restaurant where it's the only place still open that's still selling beer!
You forgot about having the takeaway left over from last night's party for breakfast to burn off your hangover...

acutally i think weve actually hijacked curry a great deal, ive had a curry in portugal the non tourity part, and it was wholy diffrent from the great british curry. quite bland un meaty un spicy affair it was, Like for example will all know what chinese take away is like, but trust me real chinese food is nothing at all like that, seriously it was hard not to throw up half the time and the other half it was involutary, not to mention the fact that it was all i had to eat for a week, and dont get me started on the toilets there.

Scouserlande, I applaud your unionist ways. It's good to see that there still are other people who wish for a united Britain in the face of such intolerable devolution!

Curry? HMMM - I am not really into curry.

A) There is far better food(for example British food, which should be revived, seeing as there are many, many dishes that have been more or less forgotten over the last century)

B) It spoils the fun of taking a trip to India ;)

BTW Scouser – which side of the political spectrum are you on?

acutally i think weve actually hijacked curry a great deal, ive had a curry in portugal the non tourity part, and it was wholy diffrent from the great british curry. quite bland un meaty un spicy affair it was, Like for example will all know what chinese take away is like, but trust me real chinese food is nothing at all like that, seriously it was hard not to throw up half the time and the other half it was involutary, not to mention the fact that it was all i had to eat for a week, and dont get me started on the toilets there.
we actually made up a few curries...possibly the tikka masala, but I'm not sure

Anyway, I want to ask a British person something. What do you think of France. People seem to think we are all xenophobes when it comes to francais, and I'll admit sometimes their blatant readjustment of EU laws to suit their need pisses me off. I just want to know what other people think

I heard that in England there are no refrigerators

I heard that in England there are no refrigerators
Yes and we don't have that fancy eeeelictricity either. Just good ol' sheep burning in the winter :p

English food is pretty good as far as I'm concerned, roast beef and potatoes and mince and dumplings are both fine examples of tasty English food. British food is even better, however, curry, for example being one of the greatest foods in existence....I think the reason for Americans being fatter is that they never had rationing and so they don't tend to look upon a cup of tea and a chocolate biscuit as the height of luxury. Americans also have massively more junk food, which doesn't seem like good food to me, but that might just be my cultural conditioning. I'm basing the junk food bit on Bill Bryson mostly, by the way...
Right "the English" dont have fatty food, try british chocolate. They are good at making things that rot your teeth and it ends there. Besides that, "ask a Brit" what the hell is that? You may have been the world authority 150 years ago but now you've even let your good Catholic Irish neighbors whove had to resist your policies for centuries and put up with your patronizing crap surpass your own per capita economy. By the way the majority of canada cant stand you, at least anyone without British decent and for the self proclaimed center of the universe thats over two thirds of the population. Im half french and half greek and theres no comparison in the cooking and you know what i am more fit than you, you wouldnt have had any food in wwII or won for that matter without canada and our life expectancy is far surpassing your own. What a rediculous topic.

I heard that in England there are no refrigerators
I heard that they have them, but they are very very tiny.

Would you all say in Great Brittain there is more of an anti-American sentiment or more of an anti-Bush sentiment? Or do y'all just love us to death? :fluffle:

The thing I don't understand is how anyone in America can survive without alcohol till they're 21? Having turned 18 recently(ish) I now can't envisage my life without it

well i try to keep an open mind with France, though yes as your right there complete free ride attitude with the E.U is annoying e.g French farmers and CAP getting paid to do jack crap. But what most people seem to forget especially most Americans is that the French do happen to be there at convenient times to help out, e.g the war of independence were without there aid in arms and navy the contental army would surely of lost, Much of modern law is based on Napoleons Code de Civil, French Philosophers such as Voltaire basically sparked the revival of the republic in Britain and invented socialism, there were far and wide the biggest contributor in world war 1 some thing like seven million troops to Britain’s 3 million, and although defeated outright in world war two mainly due to there politicians not their army, which fought bravely in a hopeless situation and helped aid much of the British forces to escape and in fact in many cases went with them to fight for the British. To be fair though I don’t know any nice French people but I’m sure there are some.

Could we have a world war two one next I’m gagging for a rant on that.

There is a vast difference between British Chocolate and American Chocolate in terms of taste, I have yet to determine the cause....

Nothing beats Cadbury's Chocolate...

who says we really wait till we're 21?

Living in Wisconsin I've been drinking beer since I was 16 (21 now)

English food is pretty good as far as I'm concerned, roast beef and potatoes and mince and dumplings are both fine examples of tasty English food. British food is even better, however, curry, for example being one of the greatest foods in existence....I think the reason for Americans being fatter is that they never had rationing and so they don't tend to look upon a cup of tea and a chocolate biscuit as the height of luxury. Americans also have massively more junk food, which doesn't seem like good food to me, but that might just be my cultural conditioning. I'm basing the junk food bit on Bill Bryson mostly, by the way...
Right "the English" dont have fatty food, try british chocolate. They are good at making things that rot your teeth and it ends there. Besides that, "ask a Brit" what the hell is that? You may have been the world authority 150 years ago but now you've even let your good Catholic Irish neighbors whove had to resist your policies for centuries and put up with your patronizing crap surpass your own per capita economy. By the way the majority of canada cant stand you, at least anyone without British decent and for the self proclaimed center of the universe thats over two thirds of the population. Im half french and half greek and theres no comparison in the cooking and you know what i am more fit than you, you wouldnt have had any food in wwII or won for that matter without canada and our life expectancy is far surpassing your own. What a rediculous topic.

we have fridges, some of which are person sized.. and some of which are very very much larger...

I heard that they have them, but they are very very tiny.
No, just not the size of a small car.

The thing I don't understand is how anyone in America can survive without alcohol till they're 21? Having turned 18 recently(ish) I now can't envisage my life without it
We learn to break the law at a young age. Revolutionary spirit and all that.

who says we really wait till we're 21?

Living in Wisconsin I've been drinking beer since I was 16 (21 now)
Better late than never. Alcohol is considered a rite of passage in my area. If you haven't puked from drinking a litre of vodka by the time you're 14, you are a social outcast. I hate my friends sometimes

No, just not the size of a small car.
That's what I said, very very tiny.

We learn to break the law at a young age. Revolutionary spirit and all that.
in canada its 18

Right "the English" dont have fatty food, try british chocolate. They are good at making things that rot your teeth and it ends there. Besides that, "ask a Brit" what the hell is that? You may have been the world authority 150 years ago but now you've even let your good Catholic Irish neighbors whove had to resist your policies for centuries and put up with your patronizing crap surpass your own per capita economy. By the way the majority of canada cant stand you, at least anyone without British decent and for the self proclaimed center of the universe thats over two thirds of the population. Im half french and half greek and theres no comparison in the cooking and you know what i am more fit than you, you wouldnt have had any food in wwII or won for that matter without canada and our life expectancy is far surpassing your own. What a rediculous topic.
What the fuck are you on? Did I say a thing about Canada? I answered a question about my own country as truthfully as possible and I get this! This thread was started as a friendly way of clearing up any questions people might have had about the UK and that's what we've been attempting to do. Now I suggest you keep your bloody pig-ignorant mouth shut and get back to your frogs legs and olive leaves...(I know that was me dropping into insults and stereotypes but I can't be bothered arguing reasonably against someone like this person)...

whoa what was that angry Canadian rant back there, I know its kind of white washed over now, but Canada was part of Britain back then, and id like to add there contribution as well as the other colonies in world war 2 was invaluable, my grand father him self was in charge of a Canadian battalion at Juno Beach. Considering a large Portion of my Family are Canadian i was under the impression that our culture still had a large amount in common, and there was little or no resentment.

To answer you all (i'm a REAL british guy) the reason we sometimes seem to have bad vibes against you is because you are all so IGNORANT of Britain, those steryotypes? mostly gone, the bad teeth thing sure is at least. And also our chocholate is far stronger than American chocholate. I tried it (WEAK!) our chocolate is as strong as a dead badgers stench compared to the US stuff. Oh, and whats with the tiny 'refridgerator' thing. Well we call them 'fridges' say it with me 'fridges' and if they are ever small its because the owner damn well cant afford a bigger one. Simple as that.

in canada its 18

True it is, I had my first AND LAST Labatz on a fishing trip to Ontario

French food is vile..

I have yet to try Greek Food.

That's what I said, very very tiny.
What the hell do you put in those damn fridges anyway? I managed to get a weekly shop into a 6'6" fridge freezer combo (although we also have a full 5' freezer in the garage)

French food is vile..

I have yet to try Greek Food.
Do not, it is the Devil's food

Right "the English" dont have fatty food, try british chocolate. They are good at making things that rot your teeth and it ends there. Besides that, "ask a Brit" what the hell is that? You may have been the world authority 150 years ago but now you've even let your good Catholic Irish neighbors whove had to resist your policies for centuries and put up with your patronizing crap surpass your own per capita economy. By the way the majority of canada cant stand you, at least anyone without British decent and for the self proclaimed center of the universe thats over two thirds of the population. Im half french and half greek and theres no comparison in the cooking and you know what i am more fit than you, you wouldnt have had any food in wwII or won for that matter without canada and our life expectancy is far surpassing your own. What a rediculous topic.

yes you've said that twice now and it was really funny the first time and FUNNIER the second! ;) esp. the bits that didn't make sense! like "put up with your patronising crap surpass your own per capita economy"... hmm.... you make a valid point? :rolleyes: talk about misinformed- you based all of that on a Victorian stereotype and who said anything about Canada?
im half british, 1/4 french, 1/4 english and speak english and french; lots of people make fun of french people but its mainly for a joke
ciao

To answer you all (i'm a REAL british guy) the reason we sometimes seem to have bad vibes against you is because you are all so IGNORANT of Britain, those steryotypes? mostly gone, the bad teeth thing sure is at least. And also our chocholate is far stronger than American chocholate. I tried it (WEAK!) our chocolate is as strong as a dead badgers stench compared to the US stuff. .

The reason our chocolate may be weaker (wouldn't know i haven't tried yours) is because our society is driven by people's bad habits. (eg. drinking, smoking, eating...) if we all stopped these our economy would be at a standstill. If we made our chocolate too strong people wouldn't buy as much, then we'd have to close a plant in Hershey Pennsylvania.

What the fuck are you on? Did I say a thing about Canada? I answered a question about my own country as truthfully as possible and I get this! This thread was started as a friendly way of clearing up any questions people might have had about the UK and that's what we've been attempting to do. Now I suggest you keep your bloody pig-ignorant mouth shut and get back to your frogs legs and olive leaves...(I know that was me dropping into insults and stereotypes but I can't be bothered arguing reasonably against someone like this person)...
dont like being on the defensive do ya.

Do not, it is the Devil's food

Devil eh?

Right "the English" dont have fatty food, try british chocolate. They are good at making things that rot your teeth and it ends there. Besides that, "ask a Brit" what the hell is that? You may have been the world authority 150 years ago but now you've even let your good Catholic Irish neighbors whove had to resist your policies for centuries and put up with your patronizing crap surpass your own per capita economy. By the way the majority of canada cant stand you, at least anyone without British decent and for the self proclaimed center of the universe thats over two thirds of the population. Im half french and half greek and theres no comparison in the cooking and you know what i am more fit than you, you wouldnt have had any food in wwII or won for that matter without canada and our life expectancy is far surpassing your own. What a rediculous topic.

Um...correct me if I'm wrong but if you are fit, it doesnt mean everyone outside if England is that way :D

Our fridge’s where smaller but now you cant not buy one of those ridiculous coffin sided ones, honestly you could commit suicide by getting in one of those things, ok it dispenses ice, but I’m thinking about starting a new BNP campaign "keep fridges and freezers separate and British!"

dont like being on the defensive do ya.
canada is part of america otherwise say the U.S.

yes you've said that twice now and it was really funny the first time and FUNNIER the second! ;) esp. the bits that didn't make sense! like "put up with your patronising crap surpass your own per capita economy"... hmm.... you make a valid point? :rolleyes: talk about misinformed- you based all of that on a Victorian stereotype and who said anything about Canada?
im half british, 1/4 french, 1/4 english and speak english and french; lots of people make fun of french people but its mainly for a joke
ciao

oh dear very tired didnt notice that mistake *half british, 1/4 french, 1/4 american !* well that shot a hole through my argument lol

I really don’t understand your general anger but ok, I thought north American was the prefix for the continent and American the accepted for the U.S . I shall adjust my thought control chip accordingly.

What the hell do you put in those damn fridges anyway? I managed to get a weekly shop into a 6'6" fridge freezer combo (although we also have a full 5' freezer in the garage)
We have to refrigerate our bland tasteless beer to make it drinkable.

You know lets keep Canada out of this.. whatever you may think about your nation and ours is of little and indeed no importance, no-one cares dont take it here. Go rant where most people dont have to read it.

Greek Food... meh its not that special... Lots of Oranges last time i went.

canada is part of america otherwise say the U.S.
Sorry mate but you just dont make sense. :)
Even if Ireland has a higher captia per person, its because all the rich people go there as Ireland is such a nice place. :)

canada is part of america otherwise say the U.S.

shut your face- languages have evolved the way they have and staunch conservatives can't change that. nowadays generally when people say americans they mean someone originating from the USA and so when they say america they infer the US too.
stupid rascist crapwit easterners

I really don’t understand your general anger but ok, I thought north American was the prefix for the continent and American the accepted for the U.S . I shall adjust my thought control chip accordingly.


Yeah, we have a tendancy to think that the whole continent is our little plaything. I'm just waiting for us to Invade the rest of it so our minds will be right. (plus it would cut down on all the illegal immigrants coming from Mexico)

I’m just surprised to see anti British sentiment from Canadians; I was really under the impression that was left to Zimbabwe Aka Rhodesia.

O yeah and please dont quote and Per Capita stuff it really is a poor statistic i mean ireland only has a population of 5 1/2 million and is currently in a Boom. Where as the British population is about 60 million give or take so its naturally going to be lower. Theres a good statistic called the Human development index or somthing.

The only Irish produce, other than Guinness, that I can think of is the Titanic (or possibly the Delorean?)

dont like being on the defensive do ya.
Don't like being on the defensive? Where the Hell did that come from? I'm just not sure enough of the rules on this board to make laying into you the pleasure it really should be. But, really, come on, so you're a Candaian who hates the British? Surely the fact that you think of yourself as half Greek, half French means that you're anything but Canadian?

I’m just surprised to see anti British sentiment from Canadians; I was really under the impression that was left to Zimbabwe Aka Rhodesia

Well to be honest the British Empire was a nasty contrivance, so you can't blame them can you? ps im british btw

I’m just surprised to see anti British sentiment from Canadians; I was really under the impression that was left to Zimbabwe Aka Rhodesia

Thats actually true, can anyone out there say that thier nation REALLY hates britain? Really, I want to know.

2 Questions: Are the commonwealth states still under rule by the Queen? What's up with that relationship?

Second question: Can we Americans keep Elizibeth Hurley?

We have to refrigerate our bland tasteless beer to make it drinkable.
Get a bit of hobgoblin down you, boy. It's better than bud (but, then again, most things are better than bud - even the dreaded stella)

The merits of the British Empire are largely forgotten in this day and age. For example it was instrumental in the abolishment of large scale world slavery we actually created India about of about 100 or so price hood states to be mention building a infrastructure, and almost all members of the commonwealth are fully fledged stable democracies. Except the ones that pull out like Zimbabwe.

2 Questions: Are the commonwealth states still under rule by the Queen? What's up with that relationship?

Second question: Can we Americans keep Elizibeth Hurley?

theoretically yes but it's just a front to pay the ex-colonies back for what Britain did

The only Irish produce, other than Guinness, that I can think of is the Titanic (or possibly the Delorean?)
Potatoes?

Thats actually true, can anyone out there say that thier nation REALLY hates britain? Really, I want to know.


I'm sure there are, just like I'm sure a lot of nations dont like the U.S. Both countries have been around long enough, and have gotten their fingers into alot of different countries/political situations that could have made their images slightly less than honorable. e.g. Iraq for the U.S. and India for U.K.

Countries under the Commonwealth have the queen as the head of state. That's why Canadian, Australian and New Zealand naval ships all have HM at beginning of their names.

P.S. Feel free to keep Liz Hurley

I'm actually glad to see a thread on Britain, its all been America hateing and states insulting each other. Personally I quite like America. Well, MOST of it. After all, it IS Englands offspring.

The merits of the British Empire are largely forgotten in this day and age. For example it was instrumental in the abolishment of large scale world slavery we actually created India about of about 100 or so price hood states to be mention building a infrastructure, and almost all members of the commonwealth are fully fledged stable democracies. Except the ones that pull out like Zimbabwe.

That notwithstanding the main reason for the British Empire was to provide a market for British goods, so the government hampered industrialisation in the colonies, resulting the unfortunate economical mess of the south asian subcontinent

funnily enough I don’t know about Canada, but the Queen does actually have a ruling say in Australian government. A while ago she kicked a Australian prime minister out and the second head of state is the British Governor. Hes got a nice house I’ve seen it.

To answer the question that’s bound to follow. If the Queen was to actually attempt to rule the country these days, the prime minister would probably ask for her abdication very soon afterwards, the royal family is really just a lame duck these days. We mainly keep her around to bring in the Japanese tourists.

Ireland has lots of exports people dont think about. They have a thriving ICT business, fishing, and manufacturing businesses. Alot is based on tourism these days though.

I'm actually glad to see a thread on Britain, its all been America hateing and states insulting each other. Personally I quite like America. Well, MOST of it. After all, it IS Englands offspring.
Yeah, the twisted backwater child as a result of father marrying his granddaughter, who is also his daughter :D (joke please don't kill me)

I still await a nation who REALLY despises the brit grit.

That notwithstanding the main reason for the British Empire was to provide a market for British goods, so the government hampered industrialisation in the colonies, resulting the unfortunate economical mess of the south asian subcontinent

The correct term is civilising

No really perhaps our motives were selfish but the British empire was largely founded on liberal scientific understanding, and was probably the world histories empire with the fewest massacres and repressions. (It did have a few)

Question: what is it you most hate/love about Britain?

That brings to mind an interesting question Scouserlande in your elections in the U.K. do you have anything that's as screwed up as our Electoral College in the states?

The correct term is civilising

No really perhaps our motives were selfish but the British empire was largely founded on liberal scientific understanding, and was probably the world histories empire with the fewest massacres and repressions. (It did have a few)

So you deny that the colonies would, on the whole, be better off, in economic and social terms, than they are today if the British Empire had never existed?

btw I'm not adamantly against the British Empire but I don't understand people who say it did more harm than good

Love:
The system of government, it really is good over here. the whole parliamentary system like all system has its faults but all parts of the country do by and large get there voices heard, its also a lot more direct for example i can pop down to my local MP's (minister of parliaments) house and have a chat about what i feel strongly about and he/she will often voice that very vividly in the house of commons the next day (its just few people do actually try to talk to there MP) Also its far less corrupt, and unlike the U.S system is not all dominated by rich upper class business men, in fact an MP i worked for as a researcher recently is an old union leader.

Bad:
Our current Chav Townie or whatever youth culture of get rich or die trying hooligan crap. It's so unbritish and uncivilised, that really has to be fixed.

Bad:
Our current Chav Townie or whatever youth culture of get rich or die trying hooligan crap. It's so unbritish and civilised, that really has to be fixed.[/QUOTE]

I hope you meant 'uncivilised' there?

As for our elections this is how it works.
For the general election (the one that elects the prime minister) there’s lot of other elections though

We vote for our MP (minister of parliament) normally out of 5-4 choices.
Conservative, Labour and liberal democrats are the main parties although fringe parties do occasionally win votes, and a fringe UKIP party is becoming mainstream sadly (bunch of right wing racists)

And the party with the most MP's at the end of the day gets to appoint a prime minister. So you ideally vote for the party not the man. But its not as Oligarchic as it sounds the party system is a lot less rigid over here, For example is the members of the Labour party decide they don’t like what the prime Minster is doing they can impeach him, Which might happen with Tony Blair after the next election. So yes the election system is much more clear cut over here. Just to outline the fact we are more of republic than a democracy

Love:
The system of government, it really is good over here. the whole parliamentary system like all system has its faults but all parts of the country do by and large get there voices heard, its also a lot more direct for example i can pop down to my local MP's (minister of parliaments) house and have a chat about what i feel strongly about and he/she will often voice that very vividly in the house of commons the next day (its just few people do actually try to talk to there MP) Also its far less corrupt, and unlike the U.S system is not all dominated by rich upper class business men, in fact an MP i worked for as a researcher recently is an old union leader.

Bad:
Our current Chav Townie or whatever youth culture of get rich or die trying hooligan crap. It's so unbritish and civilised, that really has to be fixed.
I'd go with that...But don't forget good comedy...And what the Hell are we gonna do about scals, townies, whatever you call 'em? They must be Britain's greatest social problem.
On another subject, I would say that the colonies are probably not worse off now than they would otherwise be, twenty years ago, when apartied was still in place, that would have been a lie, but now I think it is true...

I know this might not be the best thread to start this in but are there any francophones among you? parce que j'en cherche mais, jusqu'a present, je n'en ai pas trouvé...

Bad:
Our current Chav Townie or whatever youth culture of get rich or die trying hooligan crap. It's so unbritish and civilised, that really has to be fixed.

I hope you meant 'uncivilised' there?[/QUOTE]

CHAV - Council Housed and Violent

http://www.chavscum.co.uk

One of my pastimes is taking the piss out of chav scummers

On another subject, I would say that the colonies are probably not worse off now than they would otherwise be, twenty years ago, when apartied was still in place, that would have been a lie, but now I think it is true...

Whenever folk talk of the empire as being comparable to Nazism (I have heard comparisons such as that). I always remember a news report interviewing a British soldier in Sierra Leone and he was stating how the locals would come up to him and ask for the country to be re-colonised. Kinda weird in the twenty-first century?

Hahahahahahaha

That's not a piece of often used slang 'round here, but I like it...I always thought that chav or chaver came from the word for thief in one of the Indian languages which is something like "chor" or "charv"...I can't remember exactly very well and I'm sorry if I've just insulted anyone's language....

I know this might not be the best thread to start this in but are there any francophones among you? parce que j'en cherche mais, jusqu'a present, je n'en ai pas trouvé...

Because i am here, just for now, i hate traveling? sound right? it's been a while since i tried French.

I know this might not be the best thread to start this in but are there any francophones among you? parce que j'en cherche mais, jusqu'a present, je n'en ai pas trouvé...
The last is "I haven't found"...I believe...Likewise, it's been a while...

Because i am here, just for now, i hate traveling? sound right? it's been a while since i tried French.

lol almost! it meant because im looking for some but, as of yet, i havnt found any.

CHAV - Council Housed and Violent

That's not a piece of often used slang 'round here, but I like it...I always thought that chav or chaver came from the word for thief in one of the Indian languages which is something like "chor" or "charv"...I can't remember exactly very well and I'm sorry if I've just insulted anyone's language....

Explaining simple problems to chavs. Comparable to :headbang:

Solution to chav problem :sniper:

World after elimination of chavs :fluffle:

Explaining simple problems to chavs. Comparable to :headbang:

Solution to chav problem :sniper:

World after elimination of chavs :fluffle:

Brian Harvey

nuff said

Chav (N) - Also known as low-life, rudeboy, or rude. Chavs are scavenging creatures, thriving on the street corners of cities such as London, where their call of 'Got any money fer me?' rings from every lane. Chavs are easily recognizable by trousers supported only by their knees, and 'gold' 'bling.' This is not gold as we know it, but this interesting substitute is easily recognizable, as it turns green in the rain.


Ok, I'm British, but lived in the US for half my life, but then moved back (don't ask).

Most of the Frenchmen I've met are quite nice people, although if you actually go TO France, they tend to be very moody, and they always walk in front of you when you're trying to take a photo. But seriously now, I don't have a problem with the French.

I LIKE Greek food. I DON'T like twats who decide that they want to come onto a thread just for the purposes of flaming.

They greatest thing about Britain is the humour. Americans tend to view it as strange and insulting. I find they often take things too seriously.

But seriously now, I don't have a problem with the French.

You are obviously not a Brit!

I know this might not be the best thread to start this in but are there any francophones among you? parce que j'en cherche mais, jusqu'a present, je n'en ai pas trouvé...
*Puts tentative hand up*

Don't think much of their officialdom, mind.

Chav (N) - Also known as low-life, rudeboy, or rude. Chavs are scavenging creatures, thriving on the street corners of cities such as London, where their call of 'Got any money fer me?' rings from every lane. Chavs are easily recognizable by trousers supported only by their knees, and 'gold' 'bling.' This is not gold as we know it, but this interesting substitute is easily recognizable, as it turns green in the rain.


Ok, I'm British, but lived in the US for half my life, but then moved back (don't ask).

Most of the Frenchmen I've met are quite nice people, although if you actually go TO France, they tend to be very moody, and they always walk in front of you when you're trying to take a photo. But seriously now, I don't have a problem with the French.

I LIKE Greek food. I DON'T like twats who decide that they want to come onto a thread just for the purposes of flaming.

They greatest thing about Britain is the humour. Americans tend to view it as strange and insulting. I find they often take things too seriously.

Hehe, yea, I know a guy with a british uncle and an american aunt. EVERY time he uses sarcasm she takes him seriously and spouts the well used phrase
'Jesus christ christopher!'

I'd go with that...But don't forget good comedy...And what the Hell are we gonna do about scals, townies, whatever you call 'em? They must be Britain's greatest social problem.
On another subject, I would say that the colonies are probably not worse off now than they would otherwise be, twenty years ago, when apartied was still in place, that would have been a lie, but now I think it is true...

As to the chav problem, I can only prescribe one thing.

FORCED STERILISATION

We must eradicate that sector of the gene pool...

I have no problem with the French, though as a wholoe the country does seem to be looking backwards a bit more than it ought...

As for British humour, it doesnt come better than that. Not even the horrifyingly funny Futurama and its Ilk come close to Black Books and Look Around You.

Ahh a teeth question,

Actually the vast majority of us have lovely teeth, take MEP Robery Killroy Silk for example, This all stems from the fact that theres not VAT tax on health products such as toothpaste, and that Braces are free to all children on the Nation Health Service

Also, it's not actually illegal to have not-quite-perfect teeth - unlike some US states.

Love:
The system of government, it really is good over here. the whole parliamentary system like all system has its faults but all parts of the country do by and large get there voices heard, its also a lot more direct for example i can pop down to my local MP's (minister of parliaments) house and have a chat about what i feel strongly about and he/she will often voice that very vividly in the house of commons the next day (its just few people do actually try to talk to there MP) Also its far less corrupt, and unlike the U.S system is not all dominated by rich upper class business men, in fact an MP i worked for as a researcher recently is an old union leader.

Bad:
Our current Chav Townie or whatever youth culture of get rich or die trying hooligan crap. It's so unbritish and uncivilised, that really has to be fixed.

We call 'em kevs and shazzas around the West Midlands. Kevs are the male (Kevin) and Shazza's are the even more odious females (Sharon). We just designate the pubs and clubs in which they frequent and stay the hell away from them.

The only Irish produce, other than Guinness, that I can think of is the Titanic (or possibly the Delorean?)

Don't forget the terrorists!

The merits of the British Empire are largely forgotten in this day and age. For example it was instrumental in the abolishment of large scale world slavery we actually created India about of about 100 or so price hood states to be mention building a infrastructure, and almost all members of the commonwealth are fully fledged stable democracies. Except the ones that pull out like Zimbabwe.

Damned right

:eek: The idea of anyone not knowing what curry is seems amazing and slightly scary to a British person. It's basically a type of dish originally imported by immigrants from the Indian sub-continent involving the use of lots of spices...That's basically all it has to be, you get lots and lots of types of curry using different spices, meats, vegetables etc....It's tasty tasty food..

Ok so basicly it is a spice and anything containing that spice is considered curry, right? Allright I already new there was a spice called curry, I quite enjoy it personally, it was just for some reason I got the impression that it was somesort of British dish that was completly seperate from the spice.

Right "the English" dont have fatty food, try british chocolate. They are good at making things that rot your teeth and it ends there. Besides that, "ask a Brit" what the hell is that? You may have been the world authority 150 years ago but now you've even let your good Catholic Irish neighbors whove had to resist your policies for centuries and put up with your patronizing crap surpass your own per capita economy. By the way the majority of canada cant stand you, at least anyone without British decent and for the self proclaimed center of the universe thats over two thirds of the population. Im half french and half greek and theres no comparison in the cooking and you know what i am more fit than you, you wouldnt have had any food in wwII or won for that matter without canada and our life expectancy is far surpassing your own. What a rediculous topic.

Shouldn't your name be I Hate Everyone?

Most of the Frenchmen I've met are quite nice people, although if you actually go TO France, they tend to be very moody, and they always walk in front of you when you're trying to take a photo. But seriously now, I don't have a problem with the French.


Yeah i can honestly say that, generally, french people are not as friendly as the British are towards strangers, but once you get to know them theyre great. Anyway neither compare in friendliness towards strangers to the Americans, although sometimes I find that this seems kindof phoney

shut your face- languages have evolved the way they have and staunch conservatives can't change that. nowadays generally when people say americans they mean someone originating from the USA and so when they say america they infer the US too.
stupid rascist crapwit easterners

You know the way I have always understood it the reason people from the USA are refered to as Americans is because the countries name is The United States of America same reason Canadians are called Canadians because their countries called the Dominion of Canada. I mean what else would you call us Statesians, Unitedians they just don't sound right.

You know the way I have always understood it the reason people from the USA are refered to as Americans is because the countries name is The United States of America same reason Canadians are called Canadians because their countries called the Dominion of Canada. I mean what else would you call us Statesians, Unitedians they just don't sound right.

I suppose you're probably right! I wasn't really thinking about what i was saying!

Ok so basicly it is a spice and anything containing that spice is considered curry, right? Allright I already new there was a spice called curry, I quite enjoy it personally, it was just for some reason I got the impression that it was somesort of British dish that was completly seperate from the spice.
Not really. The word curry, as used in the UK, is just a generic word for food from the sub-continent. Often spicey, but not always, especially more recently. So you can get 'curry spice', curry powder, curry paste &c, but they're just blends of other spices, such as chilli, tumeric, ginger &c. There's a huge range of these, which reflects the huge range of sub-contintinental cultures from which they're derived.

Most British experience of curry is based on restaurants and take-out places, which tend to have its roots in North India, Pakistan or Bangladesh. However, most are heavily geared to British tastes and popular expectations, so don't necessarily bear much resemblance to the originating cuisine. Though that's changing - there's an awful lot of really good 'curries' to be had in Britain these days.

By extension, the word is also applied to hotly spiced dishes from places like Indonesia, Thailand & China. However, spiced food from, eg Mexico or Polynesia is not called curry.

Bit of a wordy response - sorry about that, but I used to live in Tooting, South London's centre for Indian food. And good Indian food is worth knowing about.

Not really. The word curry, as used in the UK, is just a generic word for food from the sub-continent. Often spicey, but not always, especially more recently. So you can get 'curry spice', curry powder, curry paste &c, but they're just blends of other spices, such as chilli, tumeric, ginger &c. There's a huge range of these, which reflects the huge range of sub-contintinental cultures from which they're derived.

Most British experience of curry is based on restaurants and take-out places, which tend to have its roots in North India, Pakistan or Bangladesh. However, most are heavily geared to British tastes and popular expectations, so don't necessarily bear much resemblance to the originating cuisine. Though that's changing - there's an awful lot of really good 'curries' to be had in Britain these days.

By extension, the word is also applied to hotly spiced dishes from places like Indonesia, Thailand & China. However, spiced food from, eg Mexico or Polynesia is not called curry.

Bit of a wordy response - sorry about that, but I used to live in Tooting, South London's centre for Indian food. And good Indian food is worth knowing about.

Thats quite all right I wouldn't have asked if I didn't want a response. So it is pretty much a description for any type of Indian food or food from that area. I don't know for some reason when I first heard it I thought it was some type of oatmeal :( needless to say I felt a little stupid when I found out, that at least here, it was a type of spice. Still it didn't seem to fit with the ways I had heard it used so I thought it might mean something diferent to the British.

The only Irish produce, other than Guinness, that I can think of is the Titanic (or possibly the Delorean?)

How about Waterford crystal? Ever see the ball drop from Times Square in New York on New year's Eve? Or the American college football championship trophy? Waterford crystal. Visit the factory if you are ever in southern Ireland. Great tour.

I'll bet you also have had or at least heard of Irish whiskey.

Ok so basicly it is a spice and anything containing that spice is considered curry, right?

In the southern U.S. all sodas are called Coke. As in "what kind of coke do you want - Pepsi, 7-Up, or Mountain Do?"

In the southern U.S. all sodas are called Coke. As in "what kind of coke do you want - Pepsi, 7-Up, or Mountain Do?"

Yes but you people are all crazzy, everyone knows its called either pop or soda ;)

Thats quite all right I wouldn't have asked if I didn't want a response. So it is pretty much a description for any type of Indian food or food from that area. I don't know for some reason when I first heard it I thought it was some type of oatmeal :( needless to say I felt a little stupid when I found out, that at least here, it was a type of spice. Still it didn't seem to fit with the ways I had heard it used so I thought it might mean something diferent to the British.
Meh, in our language, the word comes down to us from Empire days - it's pretty general. Like 'Chai' is British slang for tea in general - again, from Empire days - as opposed to a specific type of tea, which is what I believe to be the case in the US.

Yes but you people are all crazzy, everyone knows its called either pop or soda ;)

Want crazy? Try washing down a Moon Pie with a can of coke with peanuts in it.

A real southern treat.

Almost as tasty as haggis or black pudding.

Yes but you people are all crazzy, everyone knows its called either pop or soda ;)
And here we have the curry thing, but in reverse. My kids got very confused when we were America earlier this year. Like, "Daddy, why do they keep asking me if I want a soda? I don't like soda. I want a coke/lemonade/7-up/whatever." :D

Want crazy? Try washing down a Moon Pie with a can of coke with peanuts in it.

A real southern treat.

Almost as tasty as haggis or black pudding.

Are the peanut in the coke or the moonpie because a moonpie with peanuts dosn't sound that bad. At least if I'm thinking of the right packaged treat moonpies are those oatmeal cookies and creame sandwhich thingies right. Damn I to get more up todate on my junkfood :D

On behalf of Canada i'd just like to apologise for the random rant i saw back there... quite unnecessary. Personally i favour Brits over our neighbours to the south; i think most Canadians would agree. Besides, the Queen is still technically our head of state!

Anyhow, i was just wondering why british humour is so funny? Seriously, how do they do it?

In England people called Ginger Ale, Sprite, and 7-Up lemon aid.

I was drinking with some lads at The Turf in Oxford and they were taking the piss out of one of their friends for drinking Shandies, which is lemon aid (ginger ale) and beer. Although he had pounded down at least eight while I was there, he said the reason he was drinking a "woman's drink" was because he was the designated driver.

Except for Russians, I don't think I've ever met a people who drink as much as Brits.

Are the peanut in the coke or the moonpie because a moonpie with peanuts dosn't sound that bad. At least if I'm thinking of the right packaged treat moonpies are those oatmeal cookies and creame sandwhich thingies right. Damn I to get more up todate on my junkfood :D


No, you put the peanuts in the coke. This can be enjoyed on its own or if you need more of a sugar rush tuck into a moon pie as well.

On behalf of Canada i'd just like to apologise for the random rant i saw back there... quite unnecessary. Personally i favour Brits over our neighbours to the south; i think most Canadians would agree. Besides, the Queen is still technically our head of state!

Anyhow, i was just wondering why british humour is so funny? Seriously, how do they do it?

They are funny aren't they.

In England people called Ginger Ale, Sprite, and 7-Up lemon aid.

I was drinking with some lads at The Turf in Oxford and they were taking the piss out of one of their friends for drinking Shandies, which is lemon aid (ginger ale) and beer. Although he had pounded down at least eight while I was there, he said the reason he was drinking a "woman's drink" was because he was the designated driver.

Except for Russians, I don't think I've ever met a people who drink as much as Brits.
Umm, if someone told you ginger ale was lemonade, they were taking the piss. One's made with lemons, the other with, er, ginger.

Shandy is beer and lemonade. Beer mixed with ginger ale would be wierd. And extremely unpleasant for anyone standing down wind of the drinker.

(NB: Scandanavians, Germans and East Europeans can match us on the drinking front.)

Umm, if someone told you ginger ale was lemonade, they were taking the piss. One's made with lemons, the other with, er, ginger.

Shandy is beer and lemonade. Beer mixed with ginger ale would be wierd. (And extremely unpleasant for anyone standing down wind of the drinker!)

I agree it is weird, but this guy was drinking Sprite and Speckled Hen and calling it a Shandy. He also referred to the Sprite as lemon aid. I remembered it was Speckled Hen because according to the blackboard in the pub it had the highest alcohol content, further adding to the humor of his designated driver status.

Listing beers by alcohol content is a unique Britishism, as well.

Talking about alcohol, here's a funny bit of bizarre government policy:

FACT: David Blunkett is currently allowing pubs to stay open all night.
FACT: David Blunkett and the government are trying to seriously cut down on drunken behaviour.

HMMMMMM.

Here's an idea Mr. Blunkett. If you kept closing time then maybe people wouldn't get as drunk? If they aren't as drunk they are less likely to offend.

The Labour government trully is bizaare. The moment they introduce a hard hitting policy, they introduce a soft one that completely negates the orginal effect.

People should be free to open their bars and restaurants whenever they like. If there is a demand for it there should be a supply for it.
People can get drunk all day. Mandatory closing times are therefore neither an efficent nor a legitimate instrument against it in my view. It is rather restricting the freedom of the people unreasonably.
The only instrument against drunken behaviour is to have more reasonable and responsible people who don´t act that way. And that can´t be forced. Only the violaters can be punished.
But that has nothing to do with mandatory closing times, which is a "socialists" instrument to overregulate the free market. And what is needed is not regulation, it is deregulation of the market.

All right you got me, haha. Sorry about that I was trying to act the stereotype. Afraid I’ve never been to Yorkshire either, my names a bit misleading I’m from Scotland actually.

Sorry to drag this from the first page, especially if it's been pointed out before, but Liverpool isn't in Yorkshire.

Talking about alcohol, here's a funny bit of bizarre government policy:

FACT: David Blunkett is currently allowing pubs to stay open all night.
FACT: David Blunkett and the government are trying to seriously cut down on drunken behaviour.

HMMMMMM.

Here's an idea Mr. Blunkett. If you kept closing time then maybe people wouldn't get as drunk? If they aren't as drunk they are less likely to offend.

The Labour government trully is bizaare. The moment they introduce a hard hitting policy, they introduce a soft one that completely negates the orginal effect.

Letting pubs open and close when they want is a stupid idea.

But forcing all the pubs to close and kick all the drunk people onto the street at exactly the same time is even more stupid. The law does need relaxing a bit, just to stagger the closing times of different venues a bit to reduce the amount of trouble. I'm sure you must have noticed that that is already starting to happen.

everyone knows its called either pop or soda
Here in Northern Ireland, 'soda' is a type of bread, so it would be confusing for us to refer to soft drinks as 'soda' ;)

Right "the English" dont have fatty food, try british chocolate. They are good at making things that rot your teeth and it ends there. Besides that, "ask a Brit" what the hell is that? You may have been the world authority 150 years ago but now you've even let your good Catholic Irish neighbors whove had to resist your policies for centuries and put up with your patronizing crap surpass your own per capita economy. By the way the majority of canada cant stand you, at least anyone without British decent and for the self proclaimed center of the universe thats over two thirds of the population. Im half french and half greek and theres no comparison in the cooking and you know what i am more fit than you, you wouldnt have had any food in wwII or won for that matter without canada and our life expectancy is far surpassing your own. What a rediculous topic.


Your half French and half Greek eh? Well, I would rather ask a German and a Turk for a more informative comment! Do you understand?

Listen to me you arrogant english fool your country has one of the worst civil rights records ever i hate you and i especially hate how you messed up the country of ireland and margarert thatcher is one of the most evil and racist women in history

Listen to me you arrogant english fool your country has one of the worst civil rights records ever i hate you and i especially hate how you messed up the country of ireland and margarert thatcher is one of the most evil and racist women in history

And how about Britain now? Let's all ignore what each other's anscestors did and judge our contemporaries on their own merits, shall we?

Well, I would rather ask a German and a Turk for a more informative comment!
British food is not very good - except some exceptions - but much better than its reputation. I personally don´t like German food very much either - though some things are ok. I prefer Italian, Balcanic food or Chinese or Thai food for that matter.

Regards from Frankfurt, Hesse, Germany, Europe.

Oh yes, and he's not English. He's Scottish.

And how about Britain now? Let's all ignore what each other's anscestors did and judge our contemporaries on their own merits, shall we?
I like PM Tony Blair.

Listen to me you arrogant english fool your country has one of the worst civil rights records ever i hate you and i especially hate how you messed up the country of ireland and margarert thatcher is one of the most evil and racist women in history


If your talking about the split of the two, as well as blaming the english, you may as well blame the irish who want to remain part of the kingdom, their scottish relations and ancestors who moved to Ireland and brought Protestantism with them etc etc.

As for your comment about Thatcher :D You rock!

As for civil rights records, i don't think either 'side' (for want of a better word) has covered them selves in glory.

I like PM Tony Blair.

I don't.

I don't.
Is there any leading politician in Britain you do like?

There was Claire Short. But she resigned over Iraq.

Opposition-wise, there's Charles Kennedy.

I'm struggling.

I like quite a few, but the problem in British politics is that most people don't like the Government, but then the Tories are in complete disarray. The Lib Dems have some really good policies, but loads of stupid people won't vote for them because they won't get in (well, duh, if you don't vote for them they won't will they?).

The best thing that could happen to British politics is a hung Parliament next year - then the only choice Labour have is to go into coalition with the Lib Dems, which the Lib Dems will only agree to if we replace the electoral system with one of proportional representation.

I like quite a few, but the problem in British politics is that most people don't like the Government, but then the Tories are in complete disarray. The Lib Dems have some really good policies, but loads of stupid people won't vote for them because they won't get in (well, duh, if you don't vote for them they won't will they?).
I wouldn´t call those people stupid. The election system is after all not very third party friendly (like in the US).
That has also advantages. The majority voting systems makes coalitions unnecessary.
A partial proportionate system can lead to the fragmentation of the political system which can make forming a government very complicated. Therefore it is in my view necessary to at least combine it with a barrier (like 5% for example) to at least decrease that effect.
None the less: that can only decrease but not exclude negative effects. Also successes of radical parties are much more likely. In France 17% for the Front National was not enough for them to get a reasonable amount of seats. With a partial proportional system things would be different.
Furthernmore: the British system is after all very efficent an - as far as I know - the quickest in forming a new government after an election.
In Germany there was a discussion about changing to a majority voting system in the late 1960s (when the two big parties formed the great coalition government (1966-69). Though at the end of the day the social democrats saw an advantage in keeping the current system and getting the liberals as their coalition partner (after election 1969 - till 1982, when the Liberals left the government and formed a new one with the christian democrats).
As far as I see it the two big parties (Labour and Torries) have an advantage with the current system. So why should any of those parties agree to a change for that matter?
I don´t think that is very realistic.

There was Claire Short. But she resigned over Iraq.

Opposition-wise, there's Charles Kennedy.

I'm struggling.

I like quite a few, but the problem in British politics is that most people don't like the Government, but then the Tories are in complete disarray. The Lib Dems have some really good policies, but loads of stupid people won't vote for them because they won't get in (well, duh, if you don't vote for them they won't will they?).

The best thing that could happen to British politics is a hung Parliament next year - then the only choice Labour have is to go into coalition with the Lib Dems, which the Lib Dems will only agree to if we replace the electoral system with one of proportional representation.

I don't think they can physically become the leading party. Like the greens, the BNP, the monster raving loony party etc. they don't have enough members to get a controlling vote in parliament. Their party is about 60% smaller than labour.

And likeable politicians? Nah. Tony Benn is a character, even if he wants to tax a proportion of a high earners income at the 97% level

Here in Northern Ireland, 'soda' is a type of bread, so it would be confusing for us to refer to soft drinks as 'soda' ;)

Yep I knew that it is quite good to.

I always wanted to ask this. As our news has it, the Brits are upset at our war/wars presently. It is assumed we are fighting over monetary gains(oil) and on some mission of world domination. I can argue the contrary but lets assume that some of it is correct. Do you honestly believe that under the same circumstances and if Britain had the power that the U.S. does would she act any differently? As I recall the Sun never set on the English Empire at one time. That makes any comparison to Bush on a World Dominance mission look like a... I don't know what but it can not compare. Also thank you Brits for fighting with us as you know we will forever back you should you be in danger. As we have already shown. The French do and have always sucked.

I must say it rather astonishing to be focused (for once) on Great Britain (home sweet home). Alot of people choose to ignore the fact that the United Kingdom was once (and most would say still is) the greatest empire on earth controlling over 2/3 of the world. Without us [UK] the United States would be nothing.

Well jolly good day to you all chums, I recently joined this community I suppose and after much forum surfing, I have been alarmed by the amount of xenophobia on both sides of the pond, so I thought it should be my place (o the pretension!) to provide a nice little podium for the former colonial masters and rebellious little tobacco growers to display some of the misconceptions.

So lets discuss each others countries in honesty shall we, round one Great Britain, If all the other Brits could join me in fielding some questions from across the pond, such as "how’s the queen and her husband Mr. Blair?" and "how great full are we from being saved from the Hun?" well, that would be just lovely.

Jolly good let the questions begin.



I'm going to london from 27 dec. to 10 jan.

Will you buy me lunch?

I must say it rather astonishing to be focused (for once) on Great Britain (home sweet home). Alot of people choose to ignore the fact that the United Kingdom was once (and most would say still is) the greatest empire on earth controlling over 2/3 of the world. Without us [UK] the United States would be nothing.
It was but it isn´t anymore.
The United States is the most powerful country on earth, not Britain. That is a simply reality.

I always wanted to ask this. As our news has it, the Brits are upset at our war/wars presently. It is assumed we are fighting over monetary gains(oil) and on some mission of world domination. I can argue the contrary but lets assume that some of it is correct. Do you honestly believe that under the same circumstances and if Britain had the power that the U.S. does would she act any differently?
....

Almost certainly not, imho. Much, perhaps most, of our empire was based on trade and selfish gain, though we might have pretended to ourselves otherwise.

Then again, hypocrisy has a long and honourable tradition in our culture, so it's good to see our cultural influence still has a place in the world. :p

Um.... the British empire was a legal empire and so had an obligation to look after its colonial subjects. They were forced to keep to this by British Liberals who kicked up a fuss if the empire didn't. Not all of what happened was good and buisness did have SOME input (see Clive of India and the British East India Company). However, these companies were accountable. However, in the US today, the buisnesses are not accountable to the government and sometime the government is accountable to buisness...... therefore, the British government would probably NOT have wielded power the way the US did, and if we had, we would have done it better than the US, because the British Army often can do the whole hearts and minds thing! See Basra and how that area compares to the rest of Iraq which the US and insurgents between them have stirred the area up a treat! TTFN.

Hey Guys,
I had to add my two cents to the story. Last summer a English friend of ours was getting married in a place called Dingle Ireland and about 20 of his American friends showed up. We had about 20 cottages that we shared with a bunch of Europeans. It was funny as we where there for a week and only a few of the Europeans where there for the full week. So we got to know them and then the rest of the Europeans showed up. The funny thing is that after drinking we all started to get along. The thing is that one Brit I talked to said that he heard one of the children say to the other that they where afraid that we would eat his sister. We being the Americans. It is just funny how in such a modern world people would beleive this. I was worried about people hating us because we where Americans. The only thing like that I got was people did not like Bush and his policy towards the rest of the world. Hell I even got one guy who hated Americans to like us.

I always wanted to ask this. As our news has it, the Brits are upset at our war/wars presently. It is assumed we are fighting over monetary gains(oil) and on some mission of world domination. I can argue the contrary but lets assume that some of it is correct. Do you honestly believe that under the same circumstances and if Britain had the power that the U.S. does would she act any differently? As I recall the Sun never set on the English Empire at one time. That makes any comparison to Bush on a World Dominance mission look like a... I don't know what but it can not compare. Also thank you Brits for fighting with us as you know we will forever back you should you be in danger. As we have already shown. The French do and have always sucked.

A slim majority of the British public are against the war because a lot of the public . . .

(a) are fairly pacifistic (though you wouldn't believe so if you ever saw the streets at pub closing) because of left leaning beliefs

(b) don't appreciate American interventionism and. . .

(c) believe that the government isn't really listening to them.

The belief that the war is primarily about oil is now even stronger due to the evidence that Saddam did not have any links to Al-Quada and that no WMDs ever existed in Iraq which leads to . . .

(d) the public are fairly pissed off at being lied to

Hope that answers your question :)

Wow this is still going.

Any who I’ve been surprised there’s been no E.U questions yet or do most Americans don’t know/understand what that is, bar the next world power :P (I’m pro e.u odiously)

Also can some one mention how they saved us in the war I want to get all self righteous

Er, what exactly is a Chav? Me being a Brit, I think I can form an image - are they the stupid fragging urban shites who listen to crap "music" (the worst rap), can't bloody well speak, tink dey's 'ard, and say "innit" a lot? 'Cos I hate them and like to take a flamethrower to the LOT.

Am I correct? If not - what are they?

Er, what exactly is a Chav? Me being a Brit, I think I can form an image - are they the stupid fragging urban shites who listen to crap "music" (the worst rap), can't bloody well speak, tink dey's 'ard, and say "innit" a lot? 'Cos I hate them and like to take a flamethrower to the LOT.

Am I correct? If not - what are they?
Burberry, rockports, shitty gold plate argos rings, tracky pants, cocky thirteen year olds, flick knives, gonna deck yous if yous don't stop lookin at mees, wankers.

I live near the home of king chav, and his pregnant scally girlfriend

www.chavscum.co.uk

Listen to me you arrogant english fool your country has one of the worst civil rights records ever i hate you and i especially hate how you messed up the country of ireland and margarert thatcher is one of the most evil and racist women in history

Margaret Thatcher racist? Come now, thats a rather foolish (if not deranged) opinion. Thatcher is the only Prime Minister since Churchill to have shown any talent in leading this country.

She managed to crush those socialist and selfish trade unions with her iron fist. Why should the petty greed of workers disrupt the enitre country?

She proved to be an excellent war leader, battling to remove those tyrannical invaders from the Falklands.

She was so good at managing the country's economcy that she has an economic theory named after her (Thatcherism).

As soon as Tony Blair is removed from Labour leadership then hopefully a Conservative government can once again be reinstated to its rightful position as the party of governance. Then we might see the golden days again.

Margaret Thatcher reacist? Come now, thats a rather foolish (not to so dreanged) opinion. Thatcher is the only Prime Minister since Churchill to have shown any talent in leading this country.

She managed to crush those socialist and selfish trade unions with her iron fist. Why should the petty greed of workers disrupt the enitre country?

She proved to be an excellent war leader, battling to remove those tyrannical invaders from the Falklands.

She was so good at managing the country's economcy that she has an economic theory named after her (Thatcherism).

As soon as Tony Blair is removed from Labour leadership then hopefully a Conservative government can once again be reinstated to its rightful position as the party of governance. Then we might see the golden days again.

*cough* michael howard *cough* Mr. Poll Tax *cough* probably lead to the next recession if he's PM just because he's evil *cough splutter cough*

Listen to me you arrogant english fool your country has one of the worst civil rights records ever i hate you and i especially hate how you messed up the country of ireland and margarert thatcher is one of the most evil and racist women in history
Ah, we have a sectarian bigot, trying to implicitly rant about the mistreatment of Irish Catholics. Well, no one can deny we were mistreated by the English in the past - but as someone said, judge people on their contempory merit. Do you think that all modern Germans are Nazis? Or is it only the English you despise? Get a life and stop your double standards. Have you ever actually met any English people? I have met a number and have found them all to be perfectly nice. Indeed, one of my best friends is English, and she is certainly not arrogant, nor a fool - nor or any of the others I've had the pleasure to encounter.

And by the way, Thatcher may have had of faults, but she certainly wasn't racist in the sense that you infer; she said she didn't care about the 'plight' of the hunger strikers, who were vicious murderers and terrorists - she never said she had anything against the Irish people. I mean, what about the Anglo-Irish Agreement? That wouldn't have happened if she was so xenophobic against us, would it?

And before you start abusing me for being a unionist (cos that's a standard response in this place, which sadly remains a bigoted country), I most certainly am not. I would prefer to see a unified Irish Republic, but violent means of bringing it about are unacceptable. ALL paramilitaries - loyalist and republican - are the scum of the Earth. I am quite content living under British rule until the democratic majority say otherwise. Do you understand democracy, or do you just understand violence and intolerance?

EDIT: You described an English person as being arrogant, but I must say some of the most arrogant and stuck-up people I have met come from Finaghy! (For those outside Northern Ireland, it's an area of Belfast).

Worst civil rights in what?

Ignorance is a catchy thing around here. Fact of the matter is we have very good civil rights, By mister Blunkets constant attempt to have mind control chips compulsory. Name a civil right you think we don’t have and ill set you strait.

The Bill to Ban fox hunting will probably be pushed through parliament today. Do you think hunting should be outlawed, do you disagree with the way the Parliament Act has been used and what do you suppose the government's true intentions are in passing the bill?

If your talking about the split of the two, as well as blaming the english, you may as well blame the irish who want to remain part of the kingdom, their scottish relations and ancestors who moved to Ireland and brought Protestantism with them etc etc.
Don't worry, Kellarly, (s)he's so evidently politically and religiously bigoted that (s)he certainly will. Even if it's not said, I'm sure this person is thinking it.

I am absolutely sick of sectarianism in this country. So you're a Catholic, so you're a Protestant. So what? Aren't you a human being at the end of the day? Furthermore, the majority of those that profess to be either Catholic or Protestant are not 'good' Christians at all; it's just a label which, in effect, is used to criticise the other 'side'. I was brought up Catholic, but am now avowedly Atheist - partly because I can't believe any of that God stuff (no offence intended, believers) but also because I never wanted to be seen as belonging to one specific faction. I don't agree with either; I agree with 'live and let live'.

I can't stand curry!
The only reason curry exists was because the heat of india made the meat go bad and to disguise the flavour they added strong spices.

Give me good old fashioned pub food any day.

I can't stand curry!
The only reason curry exists was because the heat of india made the meat go bad and to disguise the flavour they added strong spices.

Give me good old fashioned pub food any day.
OK.

One Korma and chips coming right up

Hey Guys,
I had to add my two cents to the story. Last summer a English friend of ours was getting married in a place called Dingle Ireland and about 20 of his American friends showed up. We had about 20 cottages that we shared with a bunch of Europeans. It was funny as we where there for a week and only a few of the Europeans where there for the full week. So we got to know them and then the rest of the Europeans showed up. The funny thing is that after drinking we all started to get along. The thing is that one Brit I talked to said that he heard one of the children say to the other that they where afraid that we would eat his sister. We being the Americans. It is just funny how in such a modern world people would beleive this. I was worried about people hating us because we where Americans. The only thing like that I got was people did not like Bush and his policy towards the rest of the world. Hell I even got one guy who hated Americans to like us.

I love Dingle. Did you go to Dick Mack's while you were there? Odd pub and, I don't know, a shoe store? Murphy's is a great place for a pint, as well. Reading your post makes we want to go back.

We found it by accident. We drove along the southern coast from Dublin until we got to Kerry, but there was no way I was spending a week in that tourist trap, so we drove a little further north and discovered Dingle.

Never did get around to seeing Fungie, though.

I made the mistake of commenting to an English woman about her "fanny pack" (called bum bags in Britain).

I was quite embarrassed when I learned what the English mean by fanny.

I made the mistake of commenting to an English woman about her "fanny pack" (called bum bags in Britain).

I was quite embarrassed when I learned what the English mean by fanny.
Oops :p :D

I just thought I'd add this:

If it wasn't for the Brits, the Americans would be French!


BtW, spicy foods exist as a way of hardening onesself to heat. Is it any wonder that the hottest countries are the ones that produce the most spicy food? India and Mexico for example.

Why is David Beckham so popular?

Why is David Beckham so popular?
Cause he makes us all feel really smart


(plus he's sexy ) ;)

Well jolly good day to you all chums, I recently joined this community I suppose and after much forum surfing, I have been alarmed by the amount of xenophobia on both sides of the pond, so I thought it should be my place (o the pretension!) to provide a nice little podium for the former colonial masters and rebellious little tobacco growers to display some of the misconceptions.

So lets discuss each others countries in honesty shall we, round one Great Britain, If all the other Brits could join me in fielding some questions from across the pond, such as "how’s the queen and her husband Mr. Blair?" and "how great full are we from being saved from the Hun?" well, that would be just lovely.

Jolly good let the questions begin.

Being born against my will into American society I feel i need to tell you that not all people over here are xenophobic, ethnocentric retards. Granted, if you look at our movies, government or culture in any way, you could get that impression, but I have nothing but respect for other nations and thier peoples. I also happen to know quite a bit about the rest of the world. The queen is still alive, but Mr. Blair is PM(unfortunatly he couldn't be closer to bush if they were surgically attached). Attila the Hun attacked the Roman Empire. Southern England at that time was part of Rome, but Attila never got there. You were not saved from Germany in either WWI or WWII. France and the UK had Germany well under control before us Yanks got involved in WWI, and we all have Russia to thank for Germany's defeat in WWII.
There you go, my 2 cents.

One question -
What is your general impression of the popular feeling regarding the new proposed EU constitution, and would the brits like to see Europe become one country?

I figure if Europe came together it would provide an example of peace and cooperation never before seen in the world and also give the world another power to turn to instead of the U.S. :D

One question -
What is your general impression of the popular feeling regarding the new proposed EU constitution, and would the brits like to see Europe become one country?

I figure if Europe came together it would provide an example of peace and cooperation never before seen in the world and also give the world another power to turn to instead of the U.S. :D
I cant think of one brit i know who would be happy about europe unifying as one big country. I'm happy with us working together but I'm proud to be British not european.

One question -
What is your general impression of the popular feeling regarding the new proposed EU constitution, and would the brits like to see Europe become one country?

I figure if Europe came together it would provide an example of peace and cooperation never before seen in the world and also give the world another power to turn to instead of the U.S. :D
One Country. No, not really. However, I do believe that Europe should be more integrated in policy to make it a more unified whole. You can do this without making us a single Country , believe it or not.