American-British Q&A

[BoredDragon]

So I made this to allow people to allow us Americans to ask British questions about your culture and vice-versa.

My question is wtf does cockny mean? I've heard Yahtzee use it a couple and I've been wondering about an exact definition.

Everyone else ask your questions and I'll try to answer for the americans.

 

[kane.malakos]

I'm not British, but cockney is just a term to refer to working-class London people, or their accent. It's kind of a stereotypical "dumb-sounding" accent.

 

[YawningAngel]

Nope, Chemical Horse has it right.

 

[pulse2]

An old accent, Cockney's been around for a while, likely you'll encounter it if you watch old english comedy like Fools and Horses.

I have a question for American's, how many of you have visited the UK?

 

[StBishop]

This is a cockney accent:

 

[zHellas]

I have a question for American's, how many of you have visited the UK?

I might, if I can get enough money for this educational tour/trip thing that my Dad's making me pay for.

 

[ScoopMeister]

Just how big is football (soccer) in America?

 

[pulse2]

I have a question for American's, how many of you have visited the UK?

I might, if I can get enough money for this educational tour/trip thing that my Dad's making me pay for.

Reason I ask is because I've been to the US at least 8 times now :/ Every time I go I'm asked if I'd consider staying, its slightly annoying.

 

[leedwashere]

An old accent, Cockney's been around for a while, likely you'll encounter it if you watch old english comedy like Fools and Horses.

I have a question for American's, how many of you have visited the UK?

I've been a couple times. I have an uncle who moved there a long time ago and has a family, so my family has visited them a couple times. A couple years ago he was installed as a canon in York Minster, and we went along for that. During that trip we did a lot of traveling around the country, went to the North Sea (only my brother actually went in) visited a bunch of castles, Hadrian's Wall etc. I've enjoyed it every time I've been there, its pretty neat seeing just how similar everything is and yet how different it can get. I imagine we looked to my cousins as daft as they look when they visit here. I haven't been in, I think, 8 years or so now. I imagine if I get up to another trip abroad it'd be on the top of my list, see my cousins again.

 

[Nargleblarg]

Just how big is football (soccer) in America?

It is very popular most everyone plays it on a team at some point in time, but a number of Americans don't support the American team unless they do well in the World Cup.

 

[Camaranth]

I've lived exactly half my life in the UK and half in North America and before you ask there is no preference when I'm in one I miss parts of the other.

so my question to North Americans:

what is with the lack of "pub culture" over here?!

It seems impossible for anyone to comprehend the idea of a quiet drink down the pub! or am I just asking the wrong people?

 

[JDKJ]

Just how big is football (soccer) in America?

Depends on where you're looking. In markets with large Latino populations (e.g., New York City, Washington, D.C., and Los Angeles), it's huge. In white-bread markets (e.g., Idaho and Nebraska), not so huge.

 

[Lionsfan]

Just how big is football (soccer) in America?

Nationally it's gaining prominence from the Sport's Media but overall it's not popular. Other than showing school pride for a college that makes a run at the title for the most part nobody really cares outside of the MLS cities. Part of it has to do with the access, part of that has to do with the fact that Hockey has been the niche sport for a while, and part of it has to do with the fact that people don't really like the sport.

 

[Xpwn3ntial]

I've lived exactly half my life in the UK and half in North America and before you ask there is no preference when I'm in one I miss parts of the other.

so my question to North Americans:

what is with the lack of "pub culture" over here?!

It seems impossible for anyone to comprehend the idea of a quiet drink down the pub! or am I just asking the wrong people?

I don't know about Canada or Mexico, but going to a pub/bar/tavern for a nice quiet drink is pretty big in the U.S., or at least all the parts of it I've been to.

 

[JDKJ]

I've lived exactly half my life in the UK and half in North America and before you ask there is no preference when I'm in one I miss parts of the other.

so my question to North Americans:

what is with the lack of "pub culture" over here?!

It seems impossible for anyone to comprehend the idea of a quiet drink down the pub! or am I just asking the wrong people?

I'm not sure there's a lack of pub culture everywhere. Depends on where you're looking. In Santa Monica (which has one of the largest Brit expat populations in the States), there's a thriving pub culture. You can't hardly get a seat during World Cup. They have to nerve to take reservations. http://articles.sfgate.com/2008-04-27/travel/17146712_1_british-pubs-santa-monica-s-british-weekly-expats

 

[Declaro]

Just how big is football (soccer) in America?

I always think of it as more of a youth thing. You play it when you're a kid, on a kid's soccer team, and most people don't take it seriously once they get older.

I have a question for American's, how many of you have visited the UK?

Went there about six years ago now, and about to apply for university there when 2012 apps open in Sept.

 

[leedwashere]

Just how big is football (soccer) in America?

Nationally it's gaining prominence from the Sport's Media but overall it's not popular. Other than showing school pride for a college that makes a run at the title for the most part nobody really cares outside of the MLS cities. Part of it has to do with the access, part of that has to do with the fact that Hockey has been the niche sport for a while, and part of it has to do with the fact that people don't really like the sport.

And I'd imagine the reason a lot of people don't like it is because there's so much stuff going on and so little result from it. Its watching a bunch of guys running around for several hours making little to no progress. Its boring. I'm a baseball fan, which many people decry as one of the most boring sports ever (besides cricket, which I also like)... so I have a large tolerance for low-scoring games... but soccer makes me want to beat my head off the wall for something to do. :\

 

[Radoh]

Alright so my question is this: What is a Chav? I've been called this on occasion and I don't think it's anything good, would someone care to explain?