Forum Topic

What's wrong with the British?

Under Johnson's prime ministership 130,000 people have died and British trade with Europe is sinking fast. Yet we are obsessing about decorating a flat and about a not-so-fairy princess. What's wrong with the British people?

Ken Munn ● 2058d24 Comments

Ignoring the political element of your first sentence Ken, I'd said you only have to read the stories about how Unilever are removing the word 'normal' from their beauty products and the almost daily public apologies from one individual because someone or some group has taken offence at something they said or wrote to know that the world is pretty screwed up.

Adam Beamish ● 2058d

Given that we are not storming the legislature (USA), being slow in vaccinating against Covid (EU), trying to murder opposition leaders (Russia), practicing genocide (China), shooting democracy campaigners in the streets (Burma), locking up innocent mothers (Iran) and princesses (UAE) or having ministers accused of rape (Australia), I'd say that there isn't too much wrong with the British.  Keep Calm and Carry On.

Richard Greenhough ● 2058d

We do still, however, make the odd spelling mistake.

Anne England ● 2058d

RG: Life part from those listed can we add the twisted mentality of those who design and implement so called "traffic solutions" to Chiswick. Just a thought!

Jeffrey Cope ● 2058d

And the joggers who spray their Covid mist. That’s what is wrong with the British. We also need to stop being obsessed with ridiculous cycle lanes and follow the lead of the French and have curfews.

Steve Taylor ● 2058d

Agree with both the last two comments.  I am going to have to go back to my osteopath from having to turn my head so often to see if a jogger is thundering up behind me panting hard and often coughing too as I walk the dogs.  Even the pavements aren't safe.  I now stretch the dog leads on either side across the pavement so they joggers can't brush by me.

Claire Moran ● 2058d

No evidence curfews work, or that joggers are vectors of disease. Not much that much real evidence lockdown works either, but the precautionary principle wins out.

Russell Pearson ● 2058d

And who are the British?A wonderful mix of people from all over the world - not many pure Anglo Saxons left and we have instead a cross fertilisation which over the years has enhanced every aspect of our lives.  People doing  their ancestry research and DNA tests are often amazed at the diversity of their heritage.

Elizabeth Ross ● 2057d

The term "British" is essentially one used by the English to underplay the fact that they are one of a group of nations under a single polity. Scottish residents are far less likely to use the term as self-description. I am sure the Welsh and the residents of the six counties will have their own views of identity. Personally I have no sense of britishness.

John Connelly ● 2057d

Recent DNA seems to suggest that there never were that many pure Anglo-Saxons in the first place - the intermingling with the Romano-Celtic population was greater than previously thought. The Danish Viking population in northern England took a pounding from William the Bastard's Normans, and the leading Norman families did a good job of wiping each other out in successive centuries. I like the theory that our climate has much to do with the way our national character has evolved - which I think was promoted by George Bernard Shaw in one of his plays.

Richard Greenhough ● 2057d

We have a British team at the Olympics, the British & Irish Lions rugby team, and various other sporting teams that can be supported by all British citizens. Personally I am proud to be British, although I choose to support the Welsh rugby and football teams.

Richard Greenhough ● 2057d

"We have a British team at the Olympics"Team GB should actually be called Team UK, as Northern Ireland compete as well as athletes from Great Britain.

Gail Busza ● 2057d

The Normans were Vikings who conquered what became Normandy.Norman means Norseman.

Keith Iddon ● 2057d

They were Vikings who intermingled with the native population - hence they spoke Norman-French.

Richard Greenhough ● 2057d

I know, I'm one of them.

Keith Iddon ● 2057d

Distract, entertain, but under no circumstances discuss or criticise.

Ken Munn ● 2057d

Is your surname the giveaway?

Anne England ● 2057d

A belief held that, somehow, they are exceptional.

Mark Diamond ● 2051d

That’s a positive not a failing.

Elizabeth Ross ● 2051d

At least we aren't threatening to sue AstraZenaca for failing to deliver vaccines that we don't want to deploy because we claim, on no evidence whatsoever, that they are useless/dangerous.

Susan Kelly ● 2051d

Forget the 'British'. I'd just like to know why can't the English teach their children how to speak?

Simon Temple ● 2051d

What's wrong with the British?I think you just missed the meaning Ken.We're "obsessing about ..a flat..and..a not-so-fairy princess" because we're as superior, biggoted, snobbish, hypocritical and racist as we've always been.So nothing has changed Ken.

Richard Potts ● 2051d

Richard - it was a My Fair Lady joke.

Simon Temple ● 2051d

Direct answer to OP. Elderly man leaves hospital after heart treatment. Positive news for family - he is recovering. Headline UK news on Sky and BBC. The real world is not relevant

John Connelly ● 2051d