Seeing Ourselves through another's Eyes.
By 41Combedale
@41CombedaleRoad (5966)
Greece
November 20, 2015 10:28am CST
I was recently introduced to an American (by an American) who described me as 'very British'. I was quick to tell her to drop the 'very'. Either one is or is not, but if someone describes me in this way I feel they have a 'very' strong opinion on what British is like.
It was suggested that I probably think of her as 'very' American and I had to say that I did not know enough Americans to appreciate what was supposedly typically or 'very' American.
I'm still pondering on what is so typical of an English person to make them 'very British' or any other nationality for that matter.
8 people like this
6 responses
@41CombedaleRoad (5966)
• Greece
21 Nov 15
Brilliant, but I do not agree with Robbie Burns, I don't want that gift, I would rather not know...
2 people like this
@41CombedaleRoad (5966)
• Greece
21 Nov 15
and that has reminded me of another from Shakespeare, but I can't remember which play ' it is better to be wise and think you are a fool, than to be a fool and think you are wise'.@jaboUK
2 people like this
@jaboUK (64346)
• United Kingdom
21 Nov 15
@41CombedaleRoad Ha! Another quote, Thomas Grey this time:
'When ignorance is bliss, 'tis folly to be wise'.
3 people like this
@JudyEv (382240)
• Rockingham, Australia
22 Nov 15
@41CombedaleRoad I think @WorDazza has it in one!
1 person likes this
@allknowing (153529)
• India
21 Nov 15
It only goes as far as the experience one has. It is wrong to judge anyone by our own experience which at a times could be 'very' limited.
1 person likes this
@allknowing (153529)
• India
21 Nov 15
@41CombedaleRoad I looked at your user ID and see that you are from Greece. Someone describing you as very British only speaks of the traits of a Britisher but not the nationality per se.
@41CombedaleRoad (5966)
• Greece
21 Nov 15
It isn't a question of judging at least not in a critical way, just trying to put the threads together to get a picture of what nationality really is. Your experience for instance as an Indian may mean that you think of the British as being very colonial. As you say, it is a question of experience.
@epiffanie (11327)
• Australia
21 Nov 15
That puzzles me too when people say "typical this or that".
1 person likes this
@41CombedaleRoad (5966)
• Greece
21 Nov 15
It means much the same thing. There is another expression which I hate 'these people', I've lived in Africa and heard this said so many times by British people (I am ashamed to say) and the phrase is the beginning of a negative sentence.
1 person likes this
@crazyhorseladycx (39503)
• United States
22 Nov 15
yer kinder 'n myself coz i'd prolly called 'er 'n the carpet. i dislike all this labelin' 'f folks myself. 'course, i've been called much worse 
than a redneck 
big 
'n jest ignore that person 'n their poor upbringin', k?
than a redneck
big 'n jest ignore that person 'n their poor upbringin', k?1 person likes this
@pgntwo (22405)
• Derry, Northern Ireland
20 Nov 15
Some people apply an adjective to a superlative, like "very perfect", something that gets my goat too. Perfection is simply that, absolute and unqualifiable. So it is with national traits, you think? I know such terms have been applied to certain parts, or residents, of the old empire: "more British" than somewhere or someone in England itself - but the expression tends to be one of disdain rather than praise or appreciation.
2 people like this
@41CombedaleRoad (5966)
• Greece
21 Nov 15
Exactly and so good to have a comment from a grammarian.
2 people like this
