Americans React to UK vs US Culture Explained
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Reacting To My Roots
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In this video we react to UK vs USA culture, explained. Are we siblings or cousins? Either way, the US and UK cultures have a ton in common, but also many differences. Join us as we learn about the unique cultures of the British and American people.
Thanks for watching. If you enjoyed this reaction please give this video a thumbs up, share your thoughts in the comments and click the subscribe button to follow my journey to learn about my British and Irish ancestry.
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Correction: Lindsay says she meant 'Murphy's Law'--not Newton's 😂
An American Engineering Officer in the US Army Air Force - "If anything can go wrong, it will go wrong and at the worst possible time". Particularly pertinent to airoplanes.
That would be aeroplanes I think. 😉
The bloke in the video got it wrong too! [ I avoid his videos, too many inaccuracies ]
Sods law only effects things wet on one die. SIC: sodden.
@@philiprowney No, what the guy said on the video was correct. Unsure where you picked up your version
@@jonathanwetherell3609 Isn't "gremlins" a US airforce invention? And, yes, I think that's every engineer on everything everywhere 🤣
I think Victoria Wood once summed up the British. "Last time I went Intercity there were a couple across the aisle having sex. Of course, this being a British train, nobody said anything. Then they finished, they both lit up a cigarette and this woman stood up and said, Excuse me, I think you'll find this is a non-smoking compartment."
😂😂😂😂😂😂
😅😅
That's so funny. Typical British humour.
😂😂😂😂😂 She was A Legend! X
You should ask them to watch one of her videos xxx
I was surprized that British Black Humour wasn't mentioned. if there is a natural disaster, terrorist attack, death of a public figure/celebrity, within half an hour you will hear a joke about it.
I'd refer to that as dark humour, some people may misunderstand otherwise
@@ashleycurzon6348 except it's called black humour, misunderstandings can be explained if people don't run away crying from them
The submarine last year was a perfect example
@Lord.Patrick noone mentioned race..??
@@Lord.Patrick that's isn't anything to do with race though
In the USA, Class is only about money and the effects that brings with it. The traditional British class system is nothing to do with money.
I know and occasionally work for aristocracy land and gentry and they have no hang ups just ordinary people. It's the middle class that have the hang ups.
Not sure you can say it has nothing to do with money when the class system is rooted in it. The upper class were/are the landowners and aristocracy and the working class those on the lowest wages in society. Of course lots of stuff has been scaffolded on to this like accent, education, values, behaviours etc and it's true that a working class person who gets rich doesn't suddenly become middle class. But the system is based on ownership of wealth and control of the means of production/ land.
@@chucky2316I’m a wealth manager in the U.K. and there are plenty of traditionally working class people that are far wealthier than those who would be seen as upper class so I second what you’re saying
@@alpey8487most aristocracy work hard money is never given a thought, most have farms and horses.its a myth that they all float round in range rovers looking down on people is a myth. Im just a ordinary guy from a ordinary background and feel more at home with the land and gentry and aristocracy than I do from a posh estate on the edge of town who think they are upper class and better than everyone else.they have the hang ups.you have to experience or come into contact with the aristocracy.they don't have hangups on education or the way people speak, like say the middle management in his nearly new BMW or merc.
Well, money does come into it but yeah, it can be read in so many different sociocultural aspects and traits
I like our own individuality here in the UK. I hope we fight to keep it.
Yeah, it's important to keep one's culture intact!
Personally, as an Aussie, I find American humour is usually at the expense of someone else. For example, the TV shows that show all the celebrity roasts, or all the slapstick humour that’s been around since the silent movie era. The movies are also about defeating someone else, whether it’s a western, an ancient war or a modern war, everything involves guns and the US has to win every battle, also, the rest of the movies involve cars - chases, crashes, getaways, racing, etc which reflects their lifestyles and attitudes in real life too.
British humour is well-written, carefully thought out and very clever, often times too subtle for American audiences to “get”.
Damn! 😍
As a British person I agree but I also find it very "me me me", very grandstanding and full of artificial pauses waiting fr the laugh - or artificial laughter to point out the joke, as if the US folk need tell, which I don't believe is true. I don't like a lot of newer British comedy though, which is becoming very punchy (they say it's "punch down" but that's often a point of view), I prefer the older more gentle stuff, more "laughing with" than "laughing at", and I have a lot of older US comedy, like Bob Newhart and Mort Sahl, which was way better than anything during my lifetime and closer to older UK stuff than think both styles are today.
British humour and Aussie I find is very similar 😊
@Jen10: I couldn't have put it better myself!
I have seen countless clips on YT that show comedians picking on a Paying member of the audience and just ridiculing their life, as if they had heckled them and were paying them back but they had just been picked on, rather like their country picking on a smaller country!
I think our humour is alot drier and less obvious. I agree it can be too subtle for some to get. We are less outwardly emotional so I think when a brit shows blatant anger etc its more unexpected.🇬🇧
The British politeness is on point.
I, a British person, once went to a McDonalds drive thru at around 2AM. I was the only car in the drive thru and there were no customers inside. I placed my order which was just a quarter pounder meal. After waiting at the collection window for around 10 minutes, my order still wasn't ready. I waited some more. 5 minutes later the poor employee rushes back over and apologises heavily stating that the machine had just broken on him and made a complete mess, so he'd have to start cooking the food from scratch. I said "Not to worry" and patiently waited another 10 minutes for my food to be made.
In short I waited 25 MINUTES and was the only customer at the restaurant, I didn't scream shout or abuse him because it wasn't his fault. I didn't "make a fuss" and demand free things or vouchers because I'm a British person. As we say over here... "shit happens".
Same here, not British, but European... i guess we are more relaxed and less entitled
@@sandraankenbrand God forbid I ever turn into the American ways of demanding things and going on aboutt how I'm "entitled".
@@thefiestaguy8831 I wouldn't either honestly, and I'm American
@@uppside3283 I believe you... but equally the MOST demanding, rude, loud, arrogant and obnoxious people I've ever met were American.
This rings a bell with me. Back in the 00's I used to work on customer services in Sainsbury's. Many people came in rude, the occasional shouter, etc. They got their refund.
Anyway, there was this one woman who came every week moaning and was a horrible person. After sorting her refund another customer was polite, friendly and decent. Whilst she was still loitering and watching, I gave the nice dude a £20 goodwill voucher as an apology, plus the refund. The rude woman hit the roof. A smug moment I'll never forget!
I have watched a few Americans react to this video and you two laughed at the British comedy more than anyone else, you definitely have the British sense of humour😂
I’ve noticed that more introverted/ neurotic Americans tend to enjoy British humor more, being one myself. Extroverted/ positive Americans tend to get uncomfortable with self- deprecating/ dark humor. I’ve tried it on some of them and they awkwardly try to make me feel better about myself rather than laughing along like I want them to 😅
I'm working class. If I won Eoromillions say £200 million. I would still be working class, just retired, living in a big house with indoor pool, lots of expensive cars and probably develop a real attitude problem but would still be working class.
If you won £200 mil on the lottery i'd suddenly be your best friend.
If you are retired you are not working class, working class means you are a salaried employee. If you aren't working, how can you be working class, working is in the name lol, retired is it's own class.
@@andishawjfac working class generally get paid weekly for the hours they work, salaried workers generally get paid a fixed salary monthly. I would not call an investment banker earning a salary of a few million a year working class, so personally I think working class is set set of beliefs and values you live your life to rather than your employment status. working class can sometimes also be called blue collared and salried jobs are often called white collared, neither of those terms has anything at all to do with the colour of the collars on their clothing.
As I said previously, I am working class, if I won a lot of money and would just be a rich, spoilt asshole but still working class.
reganald D hunter (an american comidian living in the uk) says it best " the class system is how you discriminate people of the same skin colour as you"
Generally speaking from a British point of view he's right. But British culture is a lot more complicated than he said. It's about so many different things you can't learn what it means in a short space of time.
Steve and Lindsey [ sp? ] didn't laugh at the joke Fry told, that spoke volumes for me ;-)
You could have all the money in the world, doesn't mean a thing and necessarily doesn't mean you're upper-class. That comes down to your family, education, upbringing etc.
As a Brit I look on the Commonwealth countries as First Cousins and the USA as one of our Second Cousins. 🙂
A pessimist is what an optimist calls a realist. If you haven't guessed, I'm a Brit.
A pessimist is never disappointed.
How do the British view US?
America is like our younger cousins.
Who tries to tell us what to do, all of the time 😂😉
Adolescents ,who know it all because they and their `friends` reinforce this thinking .
Britain is the mother country to America. It was British subjects that fought against the British establishment to make their own nation. I look on it all as the son 🇺🇸 taking over the family business from dad 🇬🇧. That being the end of the British empire & rise of the "American empire". 🇬🇧🇺🇸
Surely it’s the Europeans who tell us what to do as we slavishly follow the EU even though in theory we have left it. I cannot think of one case where the USA has tried to influence our laws in pease time.
@@chrisaris8756bro what have you ever heard of Vietnam. We’re constantly asserting our values and influence with the war hammer. The dude you’re replying to is right. We’re like the young know it alls that have our beauty and youth still 😂
@@chrisaris8756 Obama came to the UK & stood in our Parliament building, stated it is the 'mother of all Parliaments', where US Democracy started & then threatened the People of the UK, that if they voted for Brexit that "a trade deal with the US would be at the back of the queue". That is influencing a Public Democratic vote in another nation by a threat.
Rain doesn’t bother us, no such thing as bad weather just bad clothing choices, we just wear appropriate clothing because if we didn’t we’d never go out.
And the wetter/colder your local climate, the more you need to take advantage of the good breaks.
When I lived in SE England, dry weather was pretty much assured most of the time, and so I would be happy enough to plan when I wanted to go out. Weather usually wasn't an issue.
When I moved to Scotland, I eventually learned to be spontaneous. See a gap in the clouds, jump into your boots, pull on a coat and get outdoors while you can. You can't afford to miss opportunities, and that includes deciding between light rain and a deluge, and snow to your ankles or past the tops of your wellies.
I don't have a problem with our local weather, even though I live in the wettest part of the country.
Yeah rain bothers us . That’s why 85% of people in the UK have a passport and 75% of those have admitted they’ve been on holiday / vacation .. to a hotter country.. 😂
"what if it rains?"
"We get wet then don't we"
Lyndsey, you need to be included in more of these videos. This video was great.. seeing you both laugh and converse is fabulous!
Yes, we Brits are very gritty and much more hardened to life’s knocks. Our history is ingrained in our lives and, maybe our DNA!
It would take a social sciences professor to explain it in a 3 hour lecture! Personally, I think that US citizens have innate optimism like a child because they are still a very young country and life hasn’t knocked them about for centuries! lol!
Brits are like the elders and have seen a lot of life in comparison and have learned a lot.
Our comedy reflects this.
A for our class system, it is the result of having a monarchy with people that held court and were titled and given land and wealth and the rest of us were subjects of the monarchy. Personally I appreciate having a monarchy and the titles people are not as wealthy as they used to be and have had to step down in station.
Hence why you will most huge mansions of the once elite being opened to the public and them having to sell land. Much of this came about after the 2nd world war.
I don’t claim to know much more but in my past job I have served Lords and Ladies and they were very down to earth and self deprecating, not wanting me to address them as Lord or Lady etc. I would go as far as to say that they were
humble!
Then I have served ‘new money’ people and they have been rude and acted like they were above everyone else! (These kind usually got a halfhearted service from me)
As for our Stiff upper lip and reserve, we are on a small island and so personal space needs to be respected, so laughing loudly or talking loudly in a restaurant or lift is a no no, unless you want everyone tutting at you lol😅 and looking at you like you have no etiquette what so ever!
So yes I agree with the video.
Things are changing with the masses of migrants that are coming in but we are a stubborn, proud bunch so it will take time.
More videos like this please Steve. Or even with just Lyndsey so we can hear her very own opinion.
Thank you guys 😊
Best description yet!
Well said Suzie!!
Appreciate this take! Definitely makes a lot of sense. We had fun doing this kind of video, so I'm sure there will be more in the future. Thanks for watching, Suzie!
I remember a Lord coming to an appointment where I answered reception. I asked his name and he just gave his last name, no title. Later when I showed him to my boss's office and my boss stood up and blustered a welcome he just held his hand up to stop him, turned to me and said. "Thank you so much for showing me the way. I would never have found it without you." Needless to say, my boss had no thank you for me.
@@silverfireUK precisely
Yours is a young nation and still has misguided optimism for the future. Ours is an old nation which has accepted, with two thousand years experience , that nothing will ever change ! 😅
Class and money are completely different elements in the UK. There are a lot of very poor upper class people, and there is an even bigger mix of rich lower class people (think the footballers, pop stars and reality TV so-called celebrities who appear on our TV screens and are hero-worshipped by millions).
New money = buying materialistic items to try and prove your worth. Old money doesn’t give a fk what anyone thinks of them as they have the security of their lineage. Whenever you meet old money they will drive a subtle car that isn’t depreciating in value on a daily basis (usually a 10 year old VW golf or a Volvo). New money is piling their new found cash into a Supercar straight of the forecourt that is a depreciating asset and wonders why they get called crass……
@@dangerpainteri think this is a common thing all over.
@@ritaboesIt's admitting it that's the problem.
Basically Americans are mostly lower class of varying wealth.
@@dangerpainter True... The first thing that comes to most peoples minds after a huge lottery win... Is to buy themselves a large countryside mansion... Several flashy cars like a Rolls Royce... Bentley... Ferrari... Lamborghini... As well as all the latest high-tech gadgets... And going on exotic luxury holidays all around the world... And staying in the most expensive Penthouse Suits... Eating the most expensive meals... Drinking the most expensive Champagnes and Wines... Having staff to do everything for you... Traveling by private jet or helicopter whenever you want to visit anywhere... Having bespoke tailored suits made... As well as designer clothes and shoes... And buying expensive Watches and Jewellery... And having large parties or formal functions for your guests... And unfortunately lottery money has a tendency to disappear rather rapidly when you're spending money like it's never ending.
How many times do we see lottery winner blowing their millions within a couple of years... And all of their "new friends" will disappear as soon as their money disappears... Many years ago i had a friend who's grandfather was a multi-millionaire with his own manufacturing business... But to look at him in his everyday life... You wouldn't have a clue he had money... He was driving around in an old Brown Rover 3500... And he usually wore an old duffel coat with Dr Martens Boots and smoked a pipe... He looked like an average everyday middle aged man going about his daily life... You would never guess just to look at him... That he was an extremely wealthy individual... Simply because he didn't flash his wealth around everywhere.
It’s old (I think 1940s) but there’s a British movie called: A Matter of Life and Death. There’s a scene in like a courtroom type setting where some of the American and UK differences are heard. It’s a good movie 😊
A Matter Of Life And Death and other Powell and Pressburger movies are among my all time favourites (also love the Marx Brothers)
I absolutely adore that film - one of the best British films ever made
@@colingregory7464 Powell and Pressburger made some of my all time favourites, and some of the background shots show amazing views of 1950s London too.
I was talking about it the other day on a comment.
If you want to understand the differences between the British and American approach and style, you should consider reacting to British movies, shows, and music.
Very true.
😂 Yes check out Jimmy Carr. Or Monthy Pythons maybe if J C is a bit too much at first. 😂
im sorry, but british "style" is a football jeresy anda little vomit on it
@@ritaboes deffo Python!
@@ritaboes I don't know if Jimmy car is up their street lol
Don’t forget that those of you in America who’s ancestors came from the U.K. left looking for a better life that things could be better. Those who stayed were more like what’s the point of leaving things will stay the same no matter where we live.
Yeah, very true! 😂
Im sure thats what the people in Scotland that got pushed off their land by the English thought as they no where to live
@@Cainb420Edited and still got it wrong.
alot came from middle of nowhere farmlands like boston. left because they wanted t get away from the non religous brits. like alot of my fam did.
America to the UK is like the wayward troubled teenage son, who rebelled and left home early. Who has a good heart somewhere but is struggling with skipping school, doing drugs, gang-violence and extremes of idealism and who's got a gun. But also has unrecognised talents, fresh ideas, a strong work ethic and a thirst for life that "Dad" doesn't truly acknowledge and could probably learn-from.
Absolutely, I always associate many attitudes of the USA with adolescence
,But how could it be otherwise ,with a nation established for so short a time , still finding their feet amongst cultures that have existed for many more centuries.
A strong work ethic based on slavery to the employers and rich.
I would not say that the British are not optimistic or don’t look to improve themselves, the British have done so much in science, engineering, music, literature, art, just music alone British music has dominated the charts since the Beatles, Americans even for all there hype have added a lot less considering the population difference.
In America you can become head of state, whereas in Britain you technically can’t but you can become Prime minister which has technically more power than the sovereign.
Look at most actors in Hollywood now they are mostly British or Australian with a few Canadians along the way.
The Brits. are self deprecating, but that is a surface thing, underneath we are very confident and self
assured. That is how we can afford to to back pedal. It is on the surface though.
Very true...we are quite laid back...until we're not! Our strength is in our core rather than on full display. I sometimes wish I could be more expressive.🇬🇧
Another great video guys. The reason why our UK weather is so varied, and the reason we talk about it so much, is because we're a small island where 5 major air masses converge and battle for supremacy all around us. The weather is very changeable and is a great way of starting a conversation!
The differences might come from America trying to break out of the class system in Britain . So the American philosophy of life is anyone can become anything they want in life, whereas the British have a view which means that people feel more “stuck” in the class that they were born into. Also, the American film industry was all about making money and started very early to aim for a happy ending because they thought more people would pay to see a movie which left them feeling good (more commercial). On the other hand British plays, books films have a long tradition of making more artistic films that challenge the audience( for example Shakespeare, the Brontë sisters, Charles Dickens to name a few).
Plus I've noticed u.s soaps are full of glamorous people all done up to the nines and ours e.g Eastenders / coronation Street is completely the opposite . 😊
Yeah, that was definitely our main takeaway from this.
Not to mention Ken Loach's films. Definitely worth a watch if you want to delve into class systemic films.?
His seminal films to watch would be Poor Cow, Cathy come home, Riff Raff and The Navigators.
If you think class doesn't exist in the US, you're deluded. Class in the USA revolves around 'old' money. And, if you want to be POTUS - you have to be a billionaire, first. Or, at least, pretend to be.
@@wessexdruid7598 I watched a documentary recently about the Vanderbilts trying to get accepted by the "properly" old US money and it was every bit like a suburban middle class snobfest in the UK. 🤣
Aussie here. We've been seperate from Britain for a while as well but in my opinion, in general , our underlying national attitude/psyche is very close to Britain. Although I think on the whole we're more optomistic. And that could very well be to do with the weather. Not so much the rain but the cold
I definitely think it's the weather. Also the amount of daylight I think must help. Even Tasmania gets 2 hours more daylight on the shortest day than I do here and most people live a lot further north, so would get even longer days, even in mid June. In the UK, not only is it often wet and cold, but in the winter months, it's dark for such a long time and most people don't see daylight apart from on a weekend (if it's not grey all weekend). That definitely has a big impact on the mood of the nation.
These types of comparison videos are never actually representative of reality. I guarantee there will be hundreds of British people in the comments that I have absolutely nothing in common with. It takes a bit longer than 20 minutes to break down the entire culture of the US or the UK.
If she had been British she would have said "I used to be optimistic pretty much all the time, and then I got married", because that sort of tipifies a lot of the humour there.
hahah, she was probably thinking that!
I've been married 21 years and can't remember breaking 3 mirrors!
A quote from psychology today “Self-deprecating-not self-debasing-humor is especially good at shrinking the shoulder chip many of us lug around. Counter-intuitive as it may seem, laughing at oneself can increase self-confidence, too. People who present themselves to the world, weaknesses and all, with no apology, show strength that perceptive others notice and respect.”
The only lord I ever met was Sir Iain Moncreiff of that ilk. He was 66 at the time and visiting the university. When I met him he was on his knees on a student flat with a mug of tea playing with the train set. and waving off his escort who was trying in vain to move him to his next official function.
There is no doubt that everytime I visit the USA or our friends come to the U.K. I am impressed by the optimism. This comes out in lots of the UA-cam videos where American folk visit the U.K. and paint a rosy picture. But the life of an optimist is full of disappointment whereas the life of a total pessimist like myself is, if not exactly full, then has pleasant surprises from time to time. Also when it does all go wrong as it usually will, you have the great pleasure of saying “I told you so!”
I also seriously think the weather influences the British attitude a lot. When it’s warm and sunny then people seem more cheerful but when it is like it has been here since mid October- gales lashing rain floods and continuous grey skies, people get very down.
Sarcasm, self deprecation and black humour are our culture. We don't take anything too seriously and our way of dealing with something bad is to make a cuppa or say something like "well that's not ideal" while our house is on fire
That was a great video - obviously jokey and drawing broad generalisations, but overall pretty accurate.
(Lindsay is SO a British person!😂)
I agree with you 100% 😊
Class in Britain is nothing to do with wealth, although it can and usually does play a part. It is the social background you are born into. If your parents, particularly your Father is upper class, ie from an aristocratic background, than so are you, even if the family fortune has long gone and you are struggling to make ends meet. Likewise if your Father was a coal miner or factory worker, you are working class, even if you are a world famous football player or singer. It is a very complex subject that few if any people from outside the UK understand, and which we British tend not to notice until it is commented on by outsiders, because it is such an embedded part of our culture. It is a subject that much has been written about and which you could spend a lifetime studying.
Hey Steve. I've worked with US guys for decades (from all over your great country) and while there are differences usually we get on with the odd joke aimed at each other!
Class is interesting in the UK, in that many towns and cities have council estates next to million pound properties. I know you did Grenfell tragedy video recently where Grenfell is in a council estate (social housing) where the next street has multi million pound houses.
Our class structure is not based on money at all and our classes are all equal, but different. A Duke and a baker like me each have our own job and responsibility. Social mobility I actually easier than in most countries. One of the King's ancestors was a bricklayer.
I don't think that it's so much the people, but the culture and the culture at least initially shapes attitudes. American TV rarely depicts everyday lives, but rather beautiful people who work very little, living in very expensive properties, always selling The Dream™. British TV is much more grounded and reflective of real life. In my experience, we still have the same mix of people who are optimistic, whether perennially, or until life beats them down, the miserable, the happy, the embittered etc, but the culture we experience feeds into the way we express ourselves. For people with the exact same level of happiness, an American might say "I'm great", whereas a British person might say "I'm not bad". Why those cultures are so divergent, I don't know. I do wonder if the affectation of positivity in the US was the same before the advent of mass media though.
This was really funny! 😂
A lot of it was very true. I must say, though, having lived in Sweden for >30 years, that Swedes are more reserved than Brits. It is difficult to get to know new people unless you yourself are an extrovert. I feel it is easier to establish new contacts in Scotland where I grew up.
Such a great couple
The great thing about America is anyone can become President; the sad thing is anybody frequently has.
I may be wrong but haven't all American Presidents, or their ancestors, been immigrants themselves !!
Americans do not understand the British class system. Money has little to do with it. What the Americans call Middle Class is what the British would call Working Class. Upper Class (aristocrats) from the king through the various titles such as Earl, Duke, Baron etc are a Class unknown in the USA. Upper Middle Class is a group of people who influence politics and culture. Always coming from exclusive schools and universities with entrance to exclusive gentleman's clubs etc. The lower Middle Classes are largely made up of professionals such as doctors, solicitors lecturers and so on. The working class is basically everyone else, no matter how wealthy or poor they are.
The skit about US tourist is Harry Enfield and very funny. Worth a look
If you haven't already I would recommend watching Only Fools and Horses. With Del Boy's chant of "this time next year we'll be millionnairs", sums up nicely the Brits optimism, albeit misplaced optimism.
They'd have to do a crash course in cockney first 😂
@@cornwallcrafter8410 OF&H _is_ the crash course.
Yep, it's important to understand that they always _fail_ to become millionaires.
(Well, except for that time when they did)
You have to watch Only Fools & Horses brilliant show & Kev Bridges too
In Scotland, we love nothing better than to make fun of ourselves. Our sense of humour is a wee bit unique! Keep up the good work guys. Absolutely love your videos. You're a lovely family.
Americans call sods law Murphy's law because they don't understand Murphy's law. Murphy's law is: anything that can happen will happen given enough time. It isn't positive or negative. Sods law is anything bad that can happen will happen. Newton's law is: objects in motion will stay in motion unless affected upon by outside forces
I live in Manchester and it rains a lot, we're wedged between two mountain ranges and we're stuck in "the doldrums" it's either freezing or it's wet, rarely is there an in between.
The Founding Fathers admitted that they based the US Constitution on English Common Law, England’s Magna Carta from the year 1215 (leading to the first Parliament in the year 1216), and England’s Bill of Rights from the year 1688.
I thought that Americans called it " Murphy's Law", not Newton's Law " !?
As comic Al Murray said, " we don't have a dream in the UK.....because we are AWAKE !"
The UK class system. I work for a Duke. We are the same age. I live in a 3 bedroomed house which I worked all my life to buy. He lives between 4 very large country estates in England and Scotland. I don't despise or hate him. That's just how it is.
Class is not about money in the UK, its actually closer to an internal racism, because its based on family lines. In many ways the UK is less racially divided than the US, but is far more divided by Class so overall is just as fractured from that POV
I'll always remember a quote from Al Murray: "There is no British Dream…. because we’re awake.”
I was talking to a mate of mine today and this came up. I said when my food on a roast dinner is eaten i like to mop up my gravy with a piece of bread, he looked at me with disgust and said thats so common. He comes from a middle class family.
Try Al Murray Pub Landlord, Micky Flanagan etc.
The US live by the American Dream
The Brits live by likely reality
Our long history line shows us dreams are mostly just that
Yes, there's optimism and pessimism and then there's 'cautious optimism', but on the other hand there's also 'constructive pessimism' - "Things can only get better!"
Look, yes it rains.
A lot.
But you take the smooth with that rough.
Without the rain there's no green.
And oh my word is Britain ever _green._ 😊
I love visiting other countries, but i wouldn't love anywhere else, it's just _perfect_ here.
Two party politics is a big issue here in the UK too, probably just as much as in America.
Hi guys , it's true we tend to have a downer on certain things for sports for example we hope to win but expect the worst , I think it's true as well we tend not to have high goals or much ambition to go to the top , the little things that matter to me are far more important than any high paid job or living in a huge house . 😊❤
I've had a lot of comments by Americans that the Netherlands has a sixes culture. But i think it's also common for the English. If six is the grade you have at one point and it's enough, we can be content. Were as a American will be hugely depressed because its not a 10. 😊
The first thing the BBC did with M*A*S*H was to remove the laughter track.
Yes,and once they forgot,and it was ****** awful!!
One thing I've noticed about US vs UK TV is that US shows have a lot more sound effects and cuts to tell the audience how to feel. Just look at the UK vs US versions of Kitchen Nightmares. The UK version didn't have Gordon shouting every two seconds with an intense orchestra in the background.
Loved this video. British people seem more seem less optimistic as they don't only look at what is happening in their country but how events in other countries can affect price rises and interest rates etc.
British people can be optimistic its just that the cost of living has a lot of people depressed and in the uk there have been a lot of strikes
One MAJOR difference between Europe and America is that its all about ME, and not like in Europe about WE! All over yt all these Americans are like I HAVE THE RIGHT .. .. ...... while most of them don't even know the first amendment. In Europe we have way more rights but we are also aware that it comes with responsibilities. America is so sick in so many ways, justice, police, healthcare, housing, job security,food safety,employment rights,education,guns and the biggest of all politics. No one at a rally confronting the speaker with the facts that Hungary doesn't borders with Russia & Ukraine or protesting when Hitler/Mussolini rhetorics are used. It really is so sad that a country like the USA has become this way,and a big portion doesn't even realises it.
Yeah, I've frequently heard it said "Your individual rights end when they start encroaching on the rights of another.". This is very much the attitude throughout most, if not all of Europe. You have rights, but your rights are not more important than someone else's. You have to be considerate and respectful of others. The American attitude is much more focused on the rights of the individual and they seem to trump everyone else's, which leads to more conflict. Obviously, that's not saying that's the attitude of every American, but culturally that's the attitude. It's why in Europe the USA is often viewed as being a teenager. Full of attitude, always think they're right, they're more important than anyone else, trying to push their weight around whenever they can, whining if they don't get their own way. Again, I'm not saying that's how all Americans are, but the overall culture. The USA has a lot of good quantities too, but this is a fundamental difference in cultural attitude.
@@EtherealSunset very well said. And no not all Americans have that attitude. But oh boy it will take decades to change from what America is now.
A fair bit of truth there . The class system and our endless ability to apologise for anything is ingrained . You can become as rich and successful as you like but never accepted as upper class . The weather is a fair point , as an island we don't get the large settled continental weather systems . It's often said you can get all four seasons in a day and it can be difficult to plan anything that needs good weather .
On the class system i heard the best description of it years ago.
The working class has their name on their shirt.
Middle class has their name on their office door.
Upper class has their name on their building.
I love the rain. I can't imagine if you don't and live in the UK. I think most people who do must live in Southern England.
I would never go there and I frankly hate Summer with passion. I don't like the sun nor the heat. I am perfectly happy where I am :D
There's not many things better than walking into the garden in spring time after a downpour and looking at the green grass and bright flowers 🌿🌷🌻 but then I want the sun to come out so I can sit in my shorts with a good book and a drink 🍹 I'm in Whitby North Yorkshire it's cold damp and wet right now I can't wait for some decent weather ☀️
I thought I must have replied in my sleep as I am exac
tly the same.
😂 I'm a fall/winter girl who hates heat too. Nothing better than walking on the beach or through nature in fall/winter time. Sadly enough my doggy walks backwards when he notices the wet street tiles. 😂
Couldn't agree more 15c is warm enough for me.
@@chucky2316 my heating system won't go higher then 15°C. Only when someone visits, but by now everyone knows 🤣🤣🤣🤣.
One of the things in the video he missed out was the fact that in America you are bombarded with Cognitive Reinforcement, as in how Great America is. From the moment you start school, you have to Pledge Allegiance to the flag every day. You constantly see how bad things are in other countries on TV but how Great things are in America in comparison. Look at how the subject of immigration is handled and how you're constantly told that everyone wants to move to America because of how much better it is.
Yet in the rest of the world, we don't have that, we're just get given the facts and left to make up our own minds.
True, whereas in the UK, we have people crossing in small boats from France, risking their life crossing the Channel and we're wondering why they want to come here. Rubbish weather, over crowding, everything is expensive, public transport is a joke, not enough jobs, minimum wage doesn't even cover the basic essentials which is why most people working full time on minimum wage have to get top ups to survive, home ownership is difficult to achieve, private rental is expensive, affordable social housing is almost impossible to get etc. we don't understand why people would want to come here. They've already passed through countries to get here that people from the UK sometimes aspire to move to when they retire.
@@EtherealSunset
They want to come here because all they hear from us is how wonderful Britain is when we're abroad.
True about some areas getting more rainfall than others. I'm in Lancashire (just across the Irish sea) and we get a lot of rain 🌧
I think the reason UK culture is so complicated to explain is because it's not just one culture. There are at least four distinct cultures in the four nations, but then there are also smaller cultural separations (Such as Cornwall who, I have been told by someone who lives there, don't like to be called English) and sub-cultures within the four nations. We like to be seen as separate but also have a shared overall culture. It's very complicated I think. While the US will have it's own different cultures by differing States, overall it was created by those with a very similar attitude to the world (like the guy said in the video you watched.)
I also think that what the guy said about our history is correct, it plays a big part. The UK itself was made through wars and through the union of crowns, which happened because of the bloodline of royalty. The UK was forced together by circumstances the everyday people couldn't control, whereas the US was created by people physically separating from the UK, by going out and actively changing things, by individuals taking control of their lives. I think this might also play a part in the whole optimistic/pessimistic attitudes. Just my opinion and thoughts in the moment at the end of this video.
It's simple! Look on the black side and you won't be disappointed!
to slightly explain better the 'class system' here in the UK as compared with America:
in the UK, even if you work your hardest and you achieve great feats, if you were part of the 'lower bracket' of the population you will always be viewed as such, and will never truly be accepted by the 'elites' etc, the whole 'old money' vs 'new money' debate.
whereas in the US, money is king, and even if you have some degree of heritage to your family name (think like the whole donald trump bullshit), ultimately if you offer people enough money they will happily accept you into the fold because of the nature of your capitalist social structure.
this is also going to sound a bit harsh, but sadly it's one of those things that's very much true, there's also a major divide in terms of both moral and ethical aspects to both nations, where the UK has a slightly stronger moral compass than the US, where as mentioned above if you offer enough money, the US in general will overlook certain things if the payment is 'just right', whereas the same scenario wouldn't normally happen here in the UK (although with the shitshow of a government we have currently it's possible due to the nature of the twats in charge).
as a great example of this you should check out the video about the British crusade against slavery, and how Britain ended slavery for the whole world, whereas in the US, you guys fought a civil war over not wanting to give up slavery.
Have you seen the latest sh¡t God made drumpf. In it the clip of him on some major political event. G20 or so. He pushes himself in front of everyone and they all look like who the h.ll is he! It sums up your explanation to the teeth innit. 😂😂😂😂
😂 Have you seen the latest sh¡t from drumpf. In it a clip from him on some major political event, G20 or so. He pushes himself in front of everyone, and the rest looking like who the heck is he!!! That sums up your explanation to the teeth. 😂😂😂
As a brit, i've had a very very similar conversation as the elderly couple on the bus before on the manchester metrolink with an american couple, made me giggle so much
The class “system” in the U.K. generally doesn’t really focus on money, it’s more how you behave as a person. Your accent and pronunciation, literacy in how well spoken you are, mannerisms, being reserved, your manners, politeness and how you navigate various social cues or conversations, silly little things like how you leave a plate once you’ve finished eating or saying “excuse me” when getting up from the table or the “proper” way to lay a table. Upbringing and education play a big role. You could be rich, but a complete scumbag, or alternatively, poor and seemingly upper class, and it’s entirely dependent on how you are has a person when you interest with other people and the world it’s self.
Lindsey's laugh makes me happy. She's adorable
Hi Steve and Lindsey. Steve, when you said that your government has given you many reasons not to trust them you were more or less echoing what my cousin in Detroit has told me. He is a naturalised American, so in his childhood was never influenced by your second amendment rights. Yet when I asked why it was necessary for Americans to own assault rifles, his response surprised me. Surely rifles and hand guns would suffice. He believes that Americans need to be able to defend themselves if the government comes for their property. You stated that there are many examples of your government not being trustworty. I have trouble getting my head around your countymen's distrust of your government. Were you to be living in a third world country, or a dictatorship like Russia or China I would understand the attitude , but you don't. Can you please enlighten me as to why this belief exists? I live in England and enjoy visiting The US and enjoy the differences. I also like to understand them.
Class is a very complicated area of British culture, has nothing to do with money or celebrity, and there's little class mobility - which is why the middle class is distrusted by both the working class and the ruling class. Class is to do with lineage, the 'right' schools. It's also instinctive. British people automatically know where someone belongs within class structure. Ruling/upper class can also be affected by going to the right schools, having the right accent, but for most the affectation is transparent (yes, Jacob Rees-Mogg, I'm looking at you. Your grandfather was a lorry driver).
in case you didn't know the gent in the light jkt explaining comedy was all round brain box and wise guy Stephen Fry famous for amongst other things, presenting the 1st many seasons of Qi if you csn find it online you really should check it out infamous for having the weirdest most eclectic scoring system of any TV game show
The way I see it is American comedy as immature and silly and British as smart witty dark
Kids and grownups, I agree
I knew there is a reason I love Lyndsey [sorry for butchering your name] but she is completely British. She can seal her identity when you travel over. If you don't apologise for everything passing you even a flying bee, then you are not British enough
Love how you sneaked a sorry in there 🤣 (sorry)
The light in the distance is an oncoming train! But if we brits were that jaded and pessimistic we would have given up during WWII. Not entirely true! We are more 'Keep calm and carry on'. The class system is still very much alive whatever they say.
I recommend Peter Kay and Lee Evans, both British comedians, mainly observational comics in my opinion. I recently discovered Peter Kay, he comes from the Lancashire area, in north west England, and he is hilarious. Both are very animated too. Tit is a slang way to say idiot. We have a lot of ways on how calling people stupid/idiot. Love you too! =D
🎉yes this was an interesting video ,although a generalisation it was not a bad analogy .British people do seem to except their fate with ease but also have a quite determination particularly when put in a desperate situation. If you want to watch a movie that sums up working class optimism and humour in the face of desperation see the movie "The full monty "
When life gives you lemons, throw them at people 😂. One thing most people in the UK feel is that, it doesn’t matter what party people are in, we hate all MP’s. One thing I think a lot of British people like about traditions here are the funny aspects like cheese rolling and gurning. Every year, previously near me we would have a rubber duckie race on the Conwy Estuary. It was great! It was on Pirate day when everyone dresses up
Ireland is called the Emerald Isle. It's green because it rains so much
I remember when my son and I stayed in Arizona everyone was so supportive of his aspirations
I speak for many when I say we do not trust our government.ENGLAND
Difference being we do not feel the need to becarmed and ready 😊
I mean, yeah, Never Trust a Tory 😂
Thank you for pausing on Jason Sudeikis for so long! 🤤 Ted Lasso is a great example of British and US humour in one show 👌
Its easier to be optimistic in the sunshine than it is in the pouring rain
Love the video, made me laugh, thank you for sharing
I wouldn't let my gf check my internet bookmarks lol 😉
That says more about you than you realise… none of it good! 😂😂😂
I'd be single if that happened lol 😂😂😂
Cute that you think she doesn't already 😂
STEVE you've gone back to triggering my OCD seeing my country back to front I had just got back to being comfortable after you sorted your camera out 😂
yeah, big plans to do some building work in the garden today- dashed by the great British weather (rain) so instead I am indoors listening to the rain on the window, and watching youtube.
I think one difference comes down to modesty, under normal circumstances ( not including nights out etc) we tend to get modest about achievements, and deeds being privately pleased,and sharing with people who are close
Lindsey is so lush, her happy face makes me so happy 🥰 can you please call her "hardd" (har-th) (soft th lol) for me? It means beautiful in welsh ❤
I would definitely say you two have a very British /English sense of humour. I think you'd understand an English conversation 😂😂
Optimism is a thing over here, we just pair it with sarcasm than genuinely believe it on its own.
So like if someone said “it’s going to be a nice day tomorrow, the sun is going to shine” id say something albeit optimistic yet sarcastic in response, I’d say “better make the most of it while we have it” something along those lines.
Whereas in America, someone says the sun will shine you genuinely believe it and say “alright buddy see you at the beach”.
You’ll tend to find sarcasm/realism here in the uk is more prevalent than optimism
If you still want to look at class differences in the uk there was a sociological documentary done called the 7 up project by the BBC and I find it highlights the differences nicely, particularly in the first episode of it
This was a great video that you watched. I'm British and I think the guy presenting it did a great job at explaining the differences (especially the British side of it) and I like that he also put some fun into it - very well done 👏
I enjoyed your reaction to it too. I think you took in and understood most of it and, yes, of course, this is just a generalisation and it's true that not everyone is the same as we're all individuals. We are all affected by our background and the country we grew up in, though.
Lindsay, are you sure you're not British?? 😄
My favourite fictional USA character of all time is Hank Hill from King of the Hill. My wife thinks I have gradually moprphed onto a real-world British version of Hank as I've got older.
You pair definitely have a British sense of humour 👍
😂 he's definitely a classic!
You were not abandoned, you rebelled and ran away ... lol
Speaking as a Norman descended Englishman, the Brit class structure goes wayyyyy back. Roman occupation set our first class structure by creating overlords to the ordinary folk then later, when the French Norse tribes of Norman kings and lords invaded they really went for it in a big way. Created an entire feudal class structure for society based on land ownership and taxation. Even had different languages between class levels of society. Then in the days of Tudor through to Victorian empire this was emphasized further. The upper classes setting out to prove their entitlement due to being more intelligent and "civilised". They really believed in their religious and superhuman superiority due to breeding. Class structure and discipline being the foundation of a civilised society. However, for the most part not outwardly boastful in this, just a quiet confidence of entitlement. Part of our national character of personal reserve comes from this, taught by the elite to the middle classes. Less prevalent in the working classes but still there; almost as a form of aspiration... All this is still very much part of all levels of our society. And those European Norse tribes are still the elite of the UK today.
75% trust in the government? This must be an old video. I thought it would be way lower than that!
It absolutely is lower. Just checked it out. 2022 35% trust in govt.
Has to be!
I have absolutely 0 trust in government, and ultimately the word itself means mind control. And all they want is more and more control. DEFUND THE POLITICIANS!!!