Yeah right ...

[Joe]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-46846467

Britons like to think they have a "special relationship" with the US, based on a common language and cultural, historical and political ties.

But, according to one of the UK's most respected polling companies, there's one chasm the English language can't always bridge - the British love of passive-aggressive statements.

In the words of YouGov, "half of Americans wouldn't be able to tell that a Briton is calling them an idiot".

YouGov showed a number of common British phrases, including "with the greatest respect", "I'll bear it in mind" and "you must come for dinner", to Britons and Americans.

"While not all the phrases show a difference in transatlantic understanding, there are some statements where many Yanks are in danger of missing the serious passive aggression we Brits employ," YouGov said.

The starkest difference was in the phrase "with the greatest respect" - which most Britons took to mean "I think you are an idiot", but nearly half of Americans interpreted as "I am listening to you".

[Macca]

Try working for a US company. It can be a bizarre experience at times mainly due to their total lack of cynicism. The 'This plan may look flawed and even totally idiotic but if we all believe it will work, then it will work' approach. Even after 12 years I can't get my head around it.

[walpurgis]

American companies seem to believe in psychological subtleties and what is done or said may have an intent not immediately apparent.

[Macca]

American companies seem to believe in psychological subtleties and what is done or said may have an intent not immediately apparent.

And here's me thinking it was just because they are desperately naïve.

[Crackles]

Got to say I find this hard to understand. I agree that some Americans have a different sense of humour and some of them don't get our cynicism or sarcasm, but overall I think most of them are pretty switched on. South Park is as sharp as it gets when it comes to passive aggressive comments and observations.

I think the more simplistic 'everything's awesome' mentality belongs to twee middle class, small town America, but I don't think it's typical of all of them at all.

On another note, has anyone else noticed how young Americans have started dropping their 't's when they speak? I think it's definitely something they have picked up from Brits in the YouTube age. E.g., they would have pronounced rotten as 'rodden' before, now they are saying ro'en like working class Brits do.

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[walpurgis]

And here's me thinking it was just because they are desperately naïve.

Listen mate, after you've worked for Dick Cheney (his spybots will pick up on that mention), you take nothing at face value!

[Macca]

Got to say I find this hard to understand. I agree that some Americans have a different sense of humour and some of them don't get our cynicism or sarcasm, but overall I think most of them are pretty switched on. South Park is as sharp as it gets when it comes to passive aggressive comments and observations.

No I think it is definitely still a minority. South Park is seen as a bizarre counter-culture comedy rather than a razor-sharp satire and social commentary.


But there's nothing worse than a British person who has rejected the healthy cynicism imparted in him by his upbringing and embraced the awful 'You can achieve anything if you want it badly enough and work hard at it' philosophy.

[struth]

Got to say I find this hard to understand. I agree that some Americans have a different sense of humour and some of them don't get our cynicism or sarcasm, but overall I think most of them are pretty switched on. South Park is as sharp as it gets when it comes to passive aggressive comments and observations.

I think the more simplistic 'everything's awesome' mentality belongs to twee middle class, small town America, but I don't think it's typical of all of them at all.

On another note, has anyone else noticed how young Americans have started dropping their 't's when they speak? I think it's definitely something they have picked up from Brits in the YouTube age. E.g., they would have pronounced rotten as 'rodden' before, now they are saying ro'en like working class Brits do.

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not up here they dont

[Crackles]

No I think it is definitely still a minority. South Park is seen as a bizarre counter-culture comedy rather than a razor-sharp satire and social commentary.


But there's nothing worse than a British person who has rejected the healthy cynicism imparted in him by his upbringing and embraced the awful 'You can achieve anything if you want it badly enough and work hard at it' philosophy.

Maybe you're right. I admit that when I've been to America I have met a lot of incredibly 'middle of the road' people.

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[Pigmy Pony]

Maybe you're right. I admit that when I've been to America I have met a lot of incredibly 'middle of the road' people.

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I quite like "Chirpy Cheep Cheep" and "Tweedle Dee, Tweedle Dum". Didn't realise they had such a following Stateside.