Parts of our Culture You Dislike

The constant factionalism with the right in our country. Swapsies?

Wouldn't be much of a trade, since you're both British.

Bogans. That is all.

In intellectual matters, excessive focus on whether an idea is "left wing" or "right wing" as a substitute for evaluating it on it's own merits.

Sanctimony, i.e. people trying to show how much better and more moral than others they are; on the left by getting worked up about racism and discrimination and inequality and the environment; on the left by getting worked up about people having sex in a disapproved manner, or taking drugs, or getting welfare etc.

The tendency to make strong, certain statements, despite having very little to back it up beyond (greatly undervalued) "gut instinct" or a bunch of hollow rationalisations for sancrimonious indignation.

Excessive value given to things because they're original or transgressive or shocking or natural or authentic as opposed to "real" qualities like being useful or pretty.

The media becoming a more Bread and Circuses affair here, to the point where network rivalries are serious business.

Political oligarchies.

The fact that we are at Mother America's teat, suckling and yet not able to wean.

Drinking culture.

Now I'm not one of those 'hur, drinking are for idiots' guys, I love some shots every now and then. But we have what can charitably be described as a fucking insane approach to our alcohol.

Oh yeah. That gets on my nerves. Apparently we're supposed to have a 'cafe culture' like they do on the continent. Yeah, but people on the continent are bit better at the whole 'drinking until you realise its okay to stop' thing.

I also hate the horrible stigma against single mothers here. I'm not talking about the ones who have kids for the benefit money, I'm talking about the actual single mothers who need support. And what do we do? Ignore them and vilify them.

Seconded (thirded actully, damn ninjas) on drinking culture.

Oh, and also the scorin for the working class, for manual work, constant attempts to distance oneself from rednecks and proles (by saying things like "those 'hur, drinking are for idiots' guys").

edited 22nd Jun '11 6:07:19 AM by SlightlyEvilDoctor

Those people who say stuff like "it's illegal to be proud of being white in our country", as if white British people suffer real oppression because of their skin colour. Though I do realise it's part of the anti-PC brigade perpetuated by the sensationalist tabloid media *cough*Daily Mail*cough*The Sun*cough* and an excuse for EDL to go beating up Muslims :/

Thats another thing I dislike "the english defense league". The people who codified englishness would probably at best order their servants to send them away, or would personally drive over them.

You know what else I dislike? People who are Europhobes. It's okay if you disagree on reasonable bases, but really... I mean, we're some tiny island that no-one gives two craps about. Our special relationship with America is pretty farcical. With the EU (I'm not saying have the Euro), we will be part of the world's biggest economy (it doesn't count because Europe, is not a country), and a bunch of other stuff. Oh, and the metric system.

I hate to be judgemental but they really are a blight on our population. Maybe even worse than the BNP if that is even possible but I guess people are entitled to their views even if we find them to be terribly misguided :/ The alternative would probs be much worse.

Another thing I don't like is this whole celeb culture attached to the Royal Family. Yes Kate is lovely and all and I wish her and William the best but I do not wish to see them everywhere. Really ticked me off when someone had a go at me for not watching the royal wedding because I couldn't make myself care about it the tiniest bit. Suppose it links to another bit of our culture which I dislike which is our seeming inability to let go of tradition.

I feel the same thinking to this worship to professional football players. People are treated as god tier and paid thousands if not millions, more than most people will ever see in a lifetime just because they can kick a ball around. Is it any wonder why they sometimes they do screwed up things when they have an entire population of a continent feeding their egos. I'd think it would be enough to send anyone off rails. I admit they're not all terrible and some do good things and are decent people. I also detest the tribalism between people who support different teams. Yes a bit of friendly rivalry is good but sometimes it is really vicious. You know when after a Millwall game when there are police in riot gear and helicopters flying overhead that something is a bit messed up.

The lack of institutionalized seppuku

The way women are still brought up to put much more effort into their appearance compared to men.

Almost everything in the British media that Rupert Murdoch has influenced. The whole "Daily Mail Mentality" is just cringe-worthy. Thank God for the BBC.

That and the fact that the Orange Order is considered an acceptable part of modern Scottish society.

edited 22nd Jun '11 9:24:55 AM by TheBatPencil

Yeah. I dislike the Dirty Digger. You know, the leaders of each party have to BEG to him before the Gen. Election so they can be on his papers' front pages?

I too hate the Daily Mail it just incorporates everything I could hate possibly hate associated with Britain ¬_¬ As a gay man I really do resent how they seem to think we homosexuals are part of an all powerful lobby that bullies the government into discriminating against people of a normal sexual disposition. If our lobby is so powerful then why do we still need to campaign for gay marriage. Not too mention there outright xenophobia on many occasions and as I mentioned they perpetuate this myth of how British culture is being eradicated. Sad thing is this is the second highest circulated paper after The Sun which is often just as bad.

I also hold Murdoch with contempt and his find his disregard for his employees as despicable not too mention I still cannot get over the sheer ferocity of the hate campaign geared towards Gordon Brown during last years General Election. The guy was not the best PM ever but he deserved more respect than what the Murdoch press gave him. Thing is you can often see that aggression reflected in the readers.

I think that this is in danger of becoming "britons complain" thread.

Hey! Our nation is pretty screwed up! We're terribly ambigous, "We're of Europe, not part of Europe", we have stupid fads and celebrities, News Corp controls the proles with the Sun, and controls much of the rich and middle classes with the Times.

And the Daily Mail is used by non-UK blogs and sites as the voice of Britain!

edited 22nd Jun '11 9:57:41 AM by Inhopelessguy

Fuckin'. Celebrity. Worship. America's obssession with rich white people in general.

Also our disgust toward people who lack religious faith.

Yeah. We don't get the second much here though.

Also... people who hate the BNP. I know they're evil and that, but it's not right to hate them. No-one votes for them anyway. Banning them is against the core tenants of Parliamentary Democracy.

Not everyone who hates the BNP wants them banned. They're everything I hate about Britain wrapped up in one lovely package but I wouldn't go so far as to forbid them. In fact it is beneficial for them to have a say and make complete idiots out of themselves. Also lets not forget that finding things objectionable is the key ingredient to tolerance. However problems may arise if people do start voting for them =/ Let's not forget they have seats in the Greater London Assembly and the European Parliament.

edited 22nd Jun '11 11:11:48 AM by PiccoloNo92

Yeah... they have seat in the Euro-P?

But isn't that with 'foreigners'? Don't they hate them?

edited 22nd Jun '11 11:18:47 AM by Inhopelessguy

I dislike the lack of science in politics. People rely too much on charisma and rhetoric when they should be focused on the policies and solutions.

I agree. Gordon Brown was a decent politician, as far as policy and ideas go, but he just didn't suck Murdoch's wang hard enough in 2010 and therefore looked stupid in the public eye.

I agree with you completely on needing to integrate with Europe, how unbalanced are special relationship is, and that we could actually be running shit with Germany.

However, the way we constantly denigrate ourselves is actually another thing I sorta hate about our culture. Yeah we're not on a level with say America or China, but for a tiny little island we really matter and have way more influence then we give ourselves credit for.

I wish we didn't have so much influence. It kind of gives the appearence of something we can't (or won't) back up. Britain hasn't been a "big player" since Suez, and I think its time the government realised this.