National character

[nerfherder]

"Unamerican" is a word I see a lot on social media, at least weekly. How many countries have "un-[nationality]" as an insult? I've never heard anyone use the phrase "un-British", I don't think. Do the French say "un-French"? The Russians? The Japanese? Is a national character a common thing?

I think the nearest I've heard is "that's not cricket" - with the implication that the English are honest, moral, and sporting (and that being more important than winning).

 

[nerfherder]

I never head that one, but I have said something like that more than once.

I've heard it with 100 years/miles over a dozen times on message boards.

In my limited experience, I've found it easier to drive long distances in the US than the UK simply because you will be lucky to drive more than an hour here before hitting some kind of hold-up. Obviously there are densely populated parts of the US that have terrible traffic, but when I drove from NYC to Tampa FL in a day I don't think we were held up once.

 

[Morrus]

I think the nearest I've heard is "that's not cricket" - with the implication that the English are honest, moral, and sporting (and that being more important than winning).

I think that's pretty accurate (in the sense that we like to think that of ourselves; not that we necessarily achieve it). Plus we hate boasters. Success has to be quiet and modestly received.

 

[nerfherder]

I think that's pretty accurate (in the sense that we like to think that of ourselves; not that we necessarily achieve it). Plus we hate boasters. Success has to be quiet and modestly received.

Absolutely - anything else would be un-British.

No, it doesn't work, does it!

 

[Dioltach]

Interestingly, during the Ashes just the other day one of the England batsmen (Job Buttler) received some criticism from England fans for walking without waiting for the umpire's decision.

 

[Janx]

That's very old fashioned. I don't think I've ever heard the phrase used outside of a comedy sketch.

all we americans know of British culture comes from your comedy sketches.

 

[Umbran]

all we americans know of British culture comes from your comedy sketches.

For some, it is *old* comedy sketches. So, you all argue, walk funny, have dead parrots, and run around with saxophones playing sprightly music in the background.

 

[Ryujin]

I've heard it with 100 years/miles over a dozen times on message boards.

In my limited experience, I've found it easier to drive long distances in the US than the UK simply because you will be lucky to drive more than an hour here before hitting some kind of hold-up. Obviously there are densely populated parts of the US that have terrible traffic, but when I drove from NYC to Tampa FL in a day I don't think we were held up once.

Toronto to Huntsville, Alabama in under 15 hours here. That's almost exactly 1000 miles, by the route I used to take.

For some, it is *old* comedy sketches. So, you all argue, walk funny, have dead parrots, and run around with saxophones playing sprightly music in the background.

Except for Lancastrians. Watch out for those guys. They know Ecky Thump.

 

[Janx]

In the Boston area, we have something approaching history, but still, yes.

The saying I recall is, "The difference between Europeans and Americans is that Europeans think 200 miles is a long drive, and Americans think 200 years is a long time."

I swear I've seen some similar reference from out east (where all the old stuff is in America) regarding antique furniture (because Europe has furniture that is many centuries old). Could have sworn it was on TV or something.

I suspect its some sort of jab/reminder of humility that nothing in America has proven longevity, history or pedigree.

 

[Umbran]

I
I suspect its some sort of jab/reminder of humility that nothing in America has proven longevity, history or pedigree.

Except, perhaps, Harvard. And even that is still considered "new money" so to speak