How polite are the English?

[TheZapper]

The English polite thing is one of the most inaccurate stereotypes around. I live in east London and well everyone is completely rude. But so am I, so it doesn't bother me.

 

[thenumberthirteen]

This question was brought about as I was hit by a car yesterday, and the first thing I did, after flying 10 feet through the air, was to apologise to the guy driving the car.

Ouch. Anything major happen? No broken bones?

Anyways, I'd say I'm polite, at least, much more polite than anyone in my school...

Nothing broken, but a lot of bruising, and cuts. I totally smashed the windscreen, and now I have to pay for it. Seriously WTF?

 

[Banana Phone Man]

Most people I meet are polite but there are those stupid people that try to stab and rape you.
There is also the typical chav. They are usualy not very nice people. I can never understand what they are sayng and they usualy try to "bang you out".

 

[Kiefer13]

This thread probably isn't aimed at me, since I'm from up in Scotland, but I've always just thought of myself as British, and I tend to associate a lot more with the stereotypical englishman rather than the stereotypical scotsman (I love a good cup of tea, am quite reserved, have a very dry sense of humour, employ sarcasm and irony on a regular basis and have never eaten haggis or worn a kilt yet in my life), so I suppose I'll just pitch in with my tuppence worth.

Personally, I do think of myself of polite and strive to be so the majority of the time. I'll hold open doors for people (yes people, not just women, that's sexist) and generally attempt to be as diplomatic as possible in my interactions with other people. I've seen myself apologizing to people who bumped into me and to inanimate objects when I accidentally walk into them.

Not to say that I can't be a bastard to people that deserve it though.

 

[lee1287]

Well; being Irish, I can say a fair few of you are absolute pricks, and there is no doubt about that whatsoever. But a lot of you are quite polite and easy to talk to; so you're kinda mixed.

And I Say you are a drunk wife beater.

Good talk! =]

 

[AdamG3691]

Generally we're not that polite. If you walk down a street, no-one will smile. In a shop no-one will smile unless they have to. We are quite good for our please and thankyou's but I would say we are amongst the grumpiest people in the world...

Are you from the north or the south?

Almost every town, including mine, are full of polite people unless they're chavs. Hell even chavs in my area say "Excuse me". They'd probably apoligise for knifing you.

Anyway OT: In my area and in most northern towns, are full of polite people but there will always be grumpy and unpolite people wherever you go.

in the north west we get some pretty nasty hags though

a woman parked across our driveway, and when my little sister politely asked if she could move her car as we were about to leave, she started shrieking at her and my mother that it is our fault for being poor and not having the pavement slightly lowered so SHE would know where not to park, she only backed off when my dad came to see what the shouting was all about and then she tried blaming ME!

*****. >_<

 

[Froobyx]

I see myself as quite polite. I'm polite to the little old ladies on the bus, and I let people leave first and stuff.

But then there's some people who aren't polite.

Guess sometimes it's just the way you're brought up...

 

[TimeLord]

Stereotypes are never right.

The English aren't all polite gentlemen drinking tea.

 

[Cakes]

Huh, I didn't know the English were supposed to be polite. I thought that was more of a Canadian stereotype.

 

[Nickolai77]

When i am in a foregin culture and i bump into one of the locals i always blurt out "Sorry!", thus betraying my Englishness. There are many polite English people, but there are also many scum-bag's as well (namely Chav's), like any culture really. I think a more defining trait is that, like the Germans and maybe the Scandinavian's, where generally quite reserved.

 

[Raven's Nest]

Are you from the north or the south?

Almost every town, including mine, are full of polite people unless they're chavs. Hell even chavs in my area say "Excuse me". They'd probably apoligise for knifing you.

Anyway OT: In my area and in most northern towns, are full of polite people but there will always be grumpy and unpolite people wherever you go.

I'm from Milton Keynes so south I guess but north of London and Watford. People round here just don't give a toss about eachother. The whole city us just residential suburbs cordened of with roads and round-a-bouts. No high streets, no village fêtes, no local butchers, grocers, tailors etc. Just Tesco's and New Looks etc. I hate this place with a passion...

Oh and we have a major Chav or "insert offensive/annoying subculture here" infestation...

I guess that's the trend, to be less polite to strangers when you live in a city. It probably doesn't change from country to country either...

With the exception of Newcastle actually, I quite liked Newcastle, fairly friendly folks up there... It's a shame I didn't know what the fuck they were saying...

 

[RavingLibDem]

I'm fairly polite, and I believe understanding etc. For most other people its much more hit and miss! Also I'm scottish, so stereotypes change a bit... For instance most of the old men drink about 10 pints a day, smoke like chimnets and swear more than a sailor!

 

[Alphavillain]

I'm English, and I think British people on the whole are a very polite bunch, but don't confuse politeness with niceness. If you're brought up to be polite you'll be polite, but it's just a cultural tradition rather than necessarily a sign of innate decency.

 

[Cavouku]

Huh, I didn't know the English were supposed to be polite. I thought that was more of a Canadian stereotype.

As did I.

Sorry to quote you without written permission, would you like some of my maple syrup?

I find that there are the polite, and the not polite. Here in Nova Scotia, it's a lot like the eastern US, just without the big fancy cities. We've got like... one.

It's mostly rudeness around here, me included. Though I respect most adults, teachers, and the like to the fullest. It's the kids I come off as a prick to, but then again, they're pricks.

Now Prince Edward Island, that's quite a host of polite people. We stopped along a road one time, and a local farmer came up with a jug asking if we needed any gas.

And then he helped my dad fix the tire, or whatever was wrong with the car. It was all quite a good moment.

 

[Bagaloo]

I'm English and polite. Upholding the stereotype ftw!

Lots of not-so-polite people here too though. Really depends on the place withing England you are, some areas are nice and posh, others are nowhere near as nice.

 

[Rotukai]

I consider myself polite but thats due to many things... esp working in a shop and if a customer were to stab me in the throat it would be me apologizing for being in the way of the blade and for making it bloody

Oh yes I am english...

 

[Captain Pancake]

there's absolutely no grade of politeness in most people where I hail from. But I'm from scotland, which is a different deal altogether. I guess we're about as polite as most countries are, anyway. We just have a lot of assholes, like most countries.

 

[Rakkana]

As a culture?
More polite than the Americans, much less polite than the Japanese.

As a people?
No more than anyone else.

Well said

 

[Nemu]

I'm ½ English, ½ American
I consider myself fairly polite, but I base that more on my upbringing as my Da was in the military (my Mum's English). I'm not rude to waiters, respectful to strangers I'm introduced to (unless they're utter jackasses), not obnoxious in stores, etc.


Truth be told, I'm also cynical, sarcastic and occasionally caustic, but I'm polite about it...usually.

I'm English (from Sheffield if it makes a difference), and I'm pretty polite. I live in a pretty crap area, so most people I live near are chavs ie.not polite. However, at college and public places and all that, people are over-polite to the point where they'll say sorry if you crash into them. I do that too.

But like others have said, we're also veeerryy sarcastic. It's fun.

I'm from Sheffield, too!

Sadly, I still root for Wednesday. ><