to not offend
Jul 8th, 2008 | 07:59 PM
#21
Joined: Jan 2003
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Nice suggestions, Apres, that would apply in any city.
I'll add:
If walking on a public sidewalk in a group of more then two, do not walk abreast, as you impede movement of those behind you who may want / need to go at a brisker pace.
Do not stand at the entrance to a building or attraction unless you are in a queue - step to the side to let others enter and exit.
I'll add:
If walking on a public sidewalk in a group of more then two, do not walk abreast, as you impede movement of those behind you who may want / need to go at a brisker pace.
Do not stand at the entrance to a building or attraction unless you are in a queue - step to the side to let others enter and exit.
Jul 8th, 2008 | 10:17 PM
#24
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 5,056
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We're not easily offended over here and I can't think of any 'rules' that you would inadvertantly break as you might in other countries (i.e. I work with a women who is culturally extremely offended by you doing anything with your left hand!) other than with some ethnic groups, as generally what is polite in US is polite to Brits. (and yes, I'm British, and I don't mind Brits).
Mainly the transport 'rules' are important. Don't forget London is a busy working city full of busy working people. Just try not to get in their way. Don't block pavements. Stand back to let everyone off buses/trains/tube before you start to get on. On escalators in the tube stand on the right or walk on the left. You'll get in trouble if you stand on the left! Have your ticket ready for the barriers.
Queue for things, don't push in. In lots of places you'll find Brits form one single queue even though there are several cashiers/servers. The person at the front goes to the next free server. Look to see if this is happening as if you just go and queue up behind someone being served you won't be popular. the single queue will form a little distance away from the counter. Don't miss that one person queuing on their own or you'll get accused of queue jumping. If in doubt, ask 'are you in the queue?'
Otherwise, don't spit on the pavement, burp over your food, scratch your crotch or pick your nose!
Mainly the transport 'rules' are important. Don't forget London is a busy working city full of busy working people. Just try not to get in their way. Don't block pavements. Stand back to let everyone off buses/trains/tube before you start to get on. On escalators in the tube stand on the right or walk on the left. You'll get in trouble if you stand on the left! Have your ticket ready for the barriers.
Queue for things, don't push in. In lots of places you'll find Brits form one single queue even though there are several cashiers/servers. The person at the front goes to the next free server. Look to see if this is happening as if you just go and queue up behind someone being served you won't be popular. the single queue will form a little distance away from the counter. Don't miss that one person queuing on their own or you'll get accused of queue jumping. If in doubt, ask 'are you in the queue?'
Otherwise, don't spit on the pavement, burp over your food, scratch your crotch or pick your nose!
Jul 8th, 2008 | 10:50 PM
#25
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 17,268
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nona1 is understating things. Which, when describing English attitudes, is only right and proper.
Taking offence is profoundly unEnglish. In English saying "I find that offensive" means "I'm an attitudinising pillock, and a complete waste of space". Offhand, I really can't think of anything a foreigner might say that an Englishperson would take offence at.
Taking the piss, on the other hand, is one of the central pillars of the English way of life. Try saying something lesser nations might expect to be offensive (like "Your Queen is a filthy protestant whore"
and we'll exchange that glance with each other that means "Another loon the passport people have let in". Use some piece of hokey slang invented by newspapers and used only by gullible tourists (like "Chunnel" and we'll just nod politely and tell each other gleefully how many tourists are complete wallies. But only behind your back: hypocrisy, after all, is as English as a stiff upper lip.
As nona1 says, it's behaviour that pisses us off. There's some debate as to whether standing on the wrong side of tube escalators is more deserving of instant execution than not moving away from tube platform entrances. Some, indeed, believe walking slowly along busy streets is worse than either. But don't expect too much tolerance if you obstruct us going about our business.
Or if you leave luggage standing round. There are a couple of places that are difficult for people with cases to manage easily (there's a small flight of stairs up to Victoria station from the tube underneath, for example). Some exceptionally dunderheaded visitors leave one case at the bottom while they take the other to the top. I've seen people physically assaulted over that. We're all pretty sure it hasn't got a bomb inside. But we also know, from decades of experience, that bloody suitcase is very likely to trigger a scare that'll close huge slugs of our transport system for hours and really mess up our plans for an evening's gentle carousing.
If you value your safety, <b> do not, ever, ever, leave anything unattended </b>
Taking offence is profoundly unEnglish. In English saying "I find that offensive" means "I'm an attitudinising pillock, and a complete waste of space". Offhand, I really can't think of anything a foreigner might say that an Englishperson would take offence at.
Taking the piss, on the other hand, is one of the central pillars of the English way of life. Try saying something lesser nations might expect to be offensive (like "Your Queen is a filthy protestant whore"
and we'll exchange that glance with each other that means "Another loon the passport people have let in". Use some piece of hokey slang invented by newspapers and used only by gullible tourists (like "Chunnel" and we'll just nod politely and tell each other gleefully how many tourists are complete wallies. But only behind your back: hypocrisy, after all, is as English as a stiff upper lip.As nona1 says, it's behaviour that pisses us off. There's some debate as to whether standing on the wrong side of tube escalators is more deserving of instant execution than not moving away from tube platform entrances. Some, indeed, believe walking slowly along busy streets is worse than either. But don't expect too much tolerance if you obstruct us going about our business.
Or if you leave luggage standing round. There are a couple of places that are difficult for people with cases to manage easily (there's a small flight of stairs up to Victoria station from the tube underneath, for example). Some exceptionally dunderheaded visitors leave one case at the bottom while they take the other to the top. I've seen people physically assaulted over that. We're all pretty sure it hasn't got a bomb inside. But we also know, from decades of experience, that bloody suitcase is very likely to trigger a scare that'll close huge slugs of our transport system for hours and really mess up our plans for an evening's gentle carousing.
If you value your safety, <b> do not, ever, ever, leave anything unattended </b>
Jul 9th, 2008 | 01:59 AM
#28
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 1,060
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Flanner's reply should be cut out and framed
The only problem with the London Eye is that if you asked the way to the Ferris Wheel, people might not immediately understand you.
We don't upbraid people for saying things like Chunnel.
We just warn the intelligent ones that it isn't a good idea, just as an American might warn a Briton about the pronunciation of a town or state if they heard them getting it wrong.
This is getting to be an obsession with poor PalenQ. It is his King Charles' head. He manages to get it into every thread.
The only problem with the London Eye is that if you asked the way to the Ferris Wheel, people might not immediately understand you.
We don't upbraid people for saying things like Chunnel.
We just warn the intelligent ones that it isn't a good idea, just as an American might warn a Briton about the pronunciation of a town or state if they heard them getting it wrong.
This is getting to be an obsession with poor PalenQ. It is his King Charles' head. He manages to get it into every thread.
Jul 9th, 2008 | 03:42 AM
#30
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 78,320
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oh2doula - yes don't dare say anything about the royal family that is not fawning - Brits are especially anal about any little comments about their royals, who they are understandably embarrassed about so don't throw salt in their wounds. Instead comment on what wonderful hats the Queen wears and how we Americans envy their QUAINT monarchy thing.
Oh - yeh don't dare utter what Brits and wannabe Brits here call the Q word - Quaint, which once you get there you'll find it Ain't
Oh - yeh don't dare utter what Brits and wannabe Brits here call the Q word - Quaint, which once you get there you'll find it Ain't
Jul 9th, 2008 | 04:09 AM
#31
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 8,351
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Completely off topic, sorry oh2doula.
Quaint is actually a peculiarly American expression. I don't recall ever hearing any of my compatriots referring to anything as quaint except possibly in a derisory manner.
As for royal families, I don't care one way or the other about them really. We happily take the piss out of royals, you happily come to Holland to celebrate the Queens birthday. No Queen no Queens day. No Queen no pageantry which many Americans enjoy in London. No royalty, no castles or palaces, all of which are enjoyed by US visitors.
I was asked a lot in the US about the expense of a royal family. Well I pointed out that a president is pretty expensive too, and the royals only rubber stamp laws voted on in a fairly democratic way - they have no veto and no power to appoint their friends as top judges in the land, to make sure things go their way, long after they have left office.
Very few monarchies have problems with dictators. I'm not saying there aren't any but there a lot more presidents around who don't want to let go of power than there are monarchs who still have absolute power.
Quaint is actually a peculiarly American expression. I don't recall ever hearing any of my compatriots referring to anything as quaint except possibly in a derisory manner.
As for royal families, I don't care one way or the other about them really. We happily take the piss out of royals, you happily come to Holland to celebrate the Queens birthday. No Queen no Queens day. No Queen no pageantry which many Americans enjoy in London. No royalty, no castles or palaces, all of which are enjoyed by US visitors.
I was asked a lot in the US about the expense of a royal family. Well I pointed out that a president is pretty expensive too, and the royals only rubber stamp laws voted on in a fairly democratic way - they have no veto and no power to appoint their friends as top judges in the land, to make sure things go their way, long after they have left office.
Very few monarchies have problems with dictators. I'm not saying there aren't any but there a lot more presidents around who don't want to let go of power than there are monarchs who still have absolute power.
Jul 9th, 2008 | 04:16 AM
#32
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 2,585
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I remember an interview with the King of Norway where he pointed out that the world's most stable democracies tend to be constitutional monarchies.
He said that he couldn't make up his mind whether the monarchy made for democracy or whether stable democracies tolerated monarchies.
He said that he couldn't make up his mind whether the monarchy made for democracy or whether stable democracies tolerated monarchies.
Jul 9th, 2008 | 04:56 AM
#34
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 2,657
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Blimey, never heard anyone even debate the 'ferris wheel' thing about the London Eye, couldn't imagine anyone who'd give two hoots.
Things that annoy Londoners about tourists tend to be manners and commuting etiquette (mainly because we're trying to get somewhere in a hurry). I might add that some of these don't relate to Americans but more likely tourists from other countries that don't have the same cultural rules as regards things such as queueing and personal space.
1 Queues. If you see one, join it. Never ever queue jump.
2 Respect personal space. It's a crowded city, and sometimes having someone's armpit in your face is unavoidable, but in general, steer as well clear of other people 'physically' as possible - e.g. no sitting right next to someone on a bus if other seats are available, no banging into people with your handbag, etc.
3 Tubes and buses. ALWAYS ALWAYS wait for everyone to get off before you get on. Wait patiently and politely.
4 Tube stations. Pass quickly through the barriers, never stop abruptly, always stand on the right of escalators to allow people to pass on your left.
5 Don't talk loudly on the Tube, especially early in the morning before the commuters have had their coffee.
6 Don't block the entrance to the tube train - move down inside the carriage.The only time you'll here a Londoner speak on public transport will be to tell you to move down the carriage PLEASE!
7 Don't walk three abrest on a pavement so no one can get past you
8 Don't criticise. It pisses us off. Only WE are allowed to moan about London ;-)
Things that annoy Londoners about tourists tend to be manners and commuting etiquette (mainly because we're trying to get somewhere in a hurry). I might add that some of these don't relate to Americans but more likely tourists from other countries that don't have the same cultural rules as regards things such as queueing and personal space.
1 Queues. If you see one, join it. Never ever queue jump.
2 Respect personal space. It's a crowded city, and sometimes having someone's armpit in your face is unavoidable, but in general, steer as well clear of other people 'physically' as possible - e.g. no sitting right next to someone on a bus if other seats are available, no banging into people with your handbag, etc.
3 Tubes and buses. ALWAYS ALWAYS wait for everyone to get off before you get on. Wait patiently and politely.
4 Tube stations. Pass quickly through the barriers, never stop abruptly, always stand on the right of escalators to allow people to pass on your left.
5 Don't talk loudly on the Tube, especially early in the morning before the commuters have had their coffee.
6 Don't block the entrance to the tube train - move down inside the carriage.The only time you'll here a Londoner speak on public transport will be to tell you to move down the carriage PLEASE!
7 Don't walk three abrest on a pavement so no one can get past you
8 Don't criticise. It pisses us off. Only WE are allowed to moan about London ;-)
Jul 9th, 2008 | 05:05 AM
#35
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 2,657
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And a hearty 'hear hear' to Flanner on the unattended bag thing. After decades of the IRA and now Islamic terrorists, an unattended bag is as welcome as George Bush in a mosque.
And don't complain about the lack of rubbish bins at tube stations - great places to stash bombs. So we got rid of them years ago.
And don't complain about the lack of rubbish bins at tube stations - great places to stash bombs. So we got rid of them years ago.
Jul 9th, 2008 | 05:27 AM
#37
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 3,965
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This stream is hilarious
The only reason the question is asked is that at least half of the American population find a way to take offense at any/every word, statement, gesture or lack thereof.
To counter this, we have developed "politically correct", which is an effort to coddle the most sensitive (and ironically inconsiderate) Americans.
oh2doula wants to know what is "politically correct" in England. Most Europeans don't do "politically correct", however, they just don't choose to take offense at every perceived slight.
The comments about not stopping suddenly getting on or off trains and not creating roadblocks on escalators, sidewalks, etc. reflects a basic consideration of those around you. The same rules apply (or should apply) in any major U.S. city.
The only reason the question is asked is that at least half of the American population find a way to take offense at any/every word, statement, gesture or lack thereof.
To counter this, we have developed "politically correct", which is an effort to coddle the most sensitive (and ironically inconsiderate) Americans.
oh2doula wants to know what is "politically correct" in England. Most Europeans don't do "politically correct", however, they just don't choose to take offense at every perceived slight.
The comments about not stopping suddenly getting on or off trains and not creating roadblocks on escalators, sidewalks, etc. reflects a basic consideration of those around you. The same rules apply (or should apply) in any major U.S. city.
Jul 9th, 2008 | 05:29 AM
#38
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 74,699
Likes: 0
Hi OH,
>Someone already mentioned NOT calling the London Eye a Ferris Wheel.<
It IS a Ferris Wheel.
>..dos and don'ts
Don't say "How much is that in real money".
Do say "please" and "thank you".
Look RIGHT for traffic when crossing a street.
Don't stand at a crosswalk unless you intend to cross. The cars have to stop for you.
Mind the gap.
Enjoy your visit.
>Someone already mentioned NOT calling the London Eye a Ferris Wheel.<
It IS a Ferris Wheel.
>..dos and don'ts
Don't say "How much is that in real money".
Do say "please" and "thank you".
Look RIGHT for traffic when crossing a street.
Don't stand at a crosswalk unless you intend to cross. The cars have to stop for you.
Mind the gap.
Enjoy your visit.
Jul 9th, 2008 | 05:52 AM
#39
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 78,320
Likes: 0
Prism - yes i agree about those stable constitutional monarchies - Queenie sure does love her horses
willit - please show me anything i've said that is anti-British?
I am very pro British as my many posting taken as a whole will prove.
willit - please show me anything i've said that is anti-British?
I am very pro British as my many posting taken as a whole will prove.
