What is British Culture?

en.wikipedia.org...

British Culture and values, what are they? What are the values of this nation? We are steeped in history and for a small Island in the ocean have managed to become one of the most powerful nations on the globe. We had an empire that spanned the earth. We were victorious in 2 world wars (and 1 world cup)

Fast forward to 2010, what do we look like now. The highest prison population in western Europe, The highest rate of teenage pregnancy in western Europe, the highest rates of obesity in western Europe, a binge drinking culture. A society that packs its elderly off to homes, because we no longer want to deal with them and a society where the ambition of most young people is to become famous, where, according to one poll, Cheryl Cole is regarded as woman of the decade.

I apologize for not providing sources for all my claims, but you get the gist.

So what is British Culture, what values can we say we all abide by?




[edit on 2-4-2010 by woodwardjnr]

reply to post by woodwardjnr


Personaly, the words British culture mean little to nothing to me..
I have no idea what the Gov means when it uses such phrases, especially when that Gov does not support our own cultural traditions.

I meantioned in another thread that in my neck of the woods we have an extensive bonfire council covering numerous societies and towns in the area.. these traditions are said to be among the very few to have survived under Cromwells protectorate, at times they are mentioned as the longest unbroken traditions in England.

Yet we habe to fight against red tape this Gov has thrown up to keep those traditions alive. The bonfire council went to UNESCO to get cultural protection, protection from our own Gov, and protections that many other cultures enjoy..

BUT as this Gov will not sign the convention, we can not get the same protections that other cultures enjoy.

So, really what is the british culture the Gov speaks of on the one hand and not defend on the other.. I have to question what is it they are trying to create when they undermine our heritage!

Soon we will simply be a nation of old buildings and nothing more..

Edit: day of poor spelling!

[edit on 2/4/10 by thoughtsfull]

reply to post by woodwardjnr


I also do not buy into this 'Britishness' tag. I am from England and am English.

Religious toleration, Freedom of speech are some of the aspects of our culture which were bought about over centuries as a result of just the opposite.

Drinking is a part of our culture like it is everyone else's, we just take it to the extreme. Teen pregnancy can be blamed on the parents not simply giving the kids advice and escorting them to the doctor to get the pill when it is obvious they are going to or about to have sex.

Not that i'm from UK. But your OP makes me think that is it not so, that every nation got their "dark sides" ? Believe me, Denmark is not a pink cloud either. However, You got British humor, Brit pop, James Bond, Fawlty Towers, Monty Python, Soccer Aid, beautiful garden culture and you gave the world Led Zeppelin and Pink Floyd

reply to post by flymetothemoon


Well said Flyme, Starred. Thankyou for appreciating the music and humour, they are some of the best aspects of our nation. And Soccer A.M. when Tim Lovejoy was on it was legendary.

British culture in 2010 ?

Single parents with multiple children by multiple fathers.
Drunkeness and drug abuse.
Being not willing to work, as the state pays more for you to stay at home.
Crass , yob behaviour as the norm.
Talking like you were born and raised in Jamaica.
Shall I go on ?

Originally posted by ukmadmax
British culture in 2010 ?

Single parents with multiple children by multiple fathers.
Drunkeness and drug abuse.
Being not willing to work, as the state pays more for you to stay at home.
Crass , yob behaviour as the norm.
Talking like you were born and raised in Jamaica.
Shall I go on ?

sounds like your talkin bout me blud, innit

reply to post by Peruvianmonk

Sorry to say danish soccer is not what it used to be. Now i'm keeping my eyes on Soccer Aid in the UK. Gordon Ramsay's sexy legs on a soccerfield. Just wow

Originally posted by flymetothemoon
reply to post by Peruvianmonk

 

Sorry to say danish soccer is not what it used to be. Now i'm keeping my eyes on Soccer Aid in the UK. Gordon Ramsay's sexy legs on a soccerfield. Just wow

whats soccer aid, youve mentioned it twice, I've never heard of it before

reply to post by woodwardjnr

This : Soccer Aid

It's a charity game and all profits from the ticket sale goes for UNICEF. It's at Old Trafford in Manchester this year. UK against rest of the world. Prev. team included such as Peter Schmeichel, Maradona and Figo. I have not seen such enthusiasme and engagement since Denmark's good days in Mexico 86. Can't wait to see this on YouTube

Originally posted by woodwardjnr
en.wikipedia.org...

We were victorious in 2 world wars (and 1 world cup

)

The World Wars were a combined effort by more than one country.
When did Britain win the world cup?


As for the British culture...I believe that the majority of people don't know much about their own culture but can tell you a lot about other cultures/countries.

Flymetothemoon made a good point. He/she (that comment on Gordon Ramsays legs makes me wonder ) said that we have our comedy etc etc. It makes me think about me moving to Saint Petersburg in the summer. I have spoken with many Russians from SPb here in Scotland who think I am crazy to want to go live there when Scotland is so great and beautiful but I say they are crazy for wanting to live here because Saint Petersburg is great and beautiful. The same conversations happened with some Dutch people when I lived there.

The fanaticism with celebrities nowadays isn't confined to just the UK. The same as high prison populations and everything else you mentioned happens in other countries. Ask people from other countries and they'll say the British brand is envied around the world...to an extent. Forget politics. Our music, the (German) Royal Family, our comedies and TV shows, football, poor cuisines, NHS, our diverse accents and our celebrities are some of what people recognise globally.

I was going to mention the fact that being British is very "in" and loved in America at the moment but that is understandable for a country with no culture JOKE.

But with regards to values....I agree there is definitely something amiss with what we hold valuable in our lives. Communites breaking down, yob culture, binge drinking, X Factor as opposed to current affairs...it certainly seems that most don't know their arse from their elbow.

Originally posted by itchy_tartan_blanket

Originally posted by woodwardjnr
en.wikipedia.org...

We were victorious in 2 world wars (and 1 world cup

)

The World Wars were a combined effort by more than one country.
When did Britain win the world cup?

As for the British culture...I believe that the majority of people don't know much about their own culture but can tell you a lot about other cultures/countries.

Flymetothemoon made a good point. He/she (that comment on Gordon Ramsays legs makes me wonder

)

Wonder about what ? Lets talk about the wonderful English roses shall we ?

reply to post by flymetothemoon


well, one can never be too careful nowadays. I didn't want to assume that you were a female. I can't imagine any girl liking Mr Ramsays legs. His wallet yes...

I would prefer to speak of a thistle than a rose But a dozen english roses are more welcome than a dozen thistles Do you want to chat about bacon?

The thread title should have been:

What was British Culture?

Great Britain has lost what it once was culturally. There is no more "Distinctly Brit". You have been overrun by hordes of immigrants who seek to destroy your cultural identity and make it their own. Like us in the U.S. you are giving away your nation, you are just farther along in the process than we are. The U.S. may possibly have a chance of stopping it, but it seems Great Britain is lost.

Only a matter of a decade or so before the beheading of Christians in the streets begins.

Originally posted by expat2368
The thread title should have been:

What was British Culture?

Great Britain has lost what it once was culturally. There is no more "Distinctly Brit". You have been overrun by hordes of immigrants who seek to destroy your cultural identity and make it their own. Like us in the U.S. you are giving away your nation, you are just farther along in the process than we are. The U.S. may possibly have a chance of stopping it, but it seems Great Britain is lost.

Only a matter of a decade or so before the beheading of Christians in the streets begins.

What an utterly ridiculous comment. And even if it were true, it would make a change from so-called "Christians" extolling their virtues, backed up by threats of beheadings, since the early days of the church.

British culture is English culture apparently, although not in the way that many 'Cardiac Celts' think. There's a sympathy given towards Scotland and Wales regarding nurturing or restoring either culture or national identity. England? "Nah, celebrate your Britishness, mate. You're British not English, you racist bastard."

What makes this worse is that most conceptions of England or Englishness are predominantly Southern.

Originally posted by itchy_tartan_blanket
reply to post by flymetothemoon

 

well, one can never be too careful nowadays. I didn't want to assume that you were a female. I can't imagine any girl liking Mr Ramsays legs. His wallet yes...

I would prefer to speak of a thistle than a rose

But a dozen english roses are more welcome than a dozen thistles

Do you want to chat about bacon?

Regarding Mr Ramsays's legs...I'm a vegetarian You can keep them.The legs. And the Bacon made of pig

Great point about the thistles..Some people pay attention to the rose. Some look more at the thistles...Every nation got them, and the people living their daily life, indeed learn this.



[edit on 2-4-2010 by flymetothemoon]

I think we still have our cultural heritage in the history, the buildings, the architecture. But our cultural values have been sorely tested. I am close to despising much of what we stand for right now.

We have been on a three decade long binge of wealth creation/generation. Was there nothing more disgusting than the ridiculous, spiralling property market bubble/speculation? Having not been a part of that, I admit to laughing into my hat when the whole house of cards collapsed. It was unsustainable and unrealistic - promising people something on the never never.

Adn what are we left with? A 30 year high in unemployment (and that's not taking into account the millions languishing on incapacity benefit), the highest teenage pregnancy levels in Europe, exploding STD levels, increasing illegal drug usage, more broken homes, high prison populations, increasing immigration into one of the most densely populated countries in the world. I could go on...

But, the thing that really angers me, the thing that sends my blood pressure rising, is the increased level of selfishness, rudeness and intolerance I encounter on an almost daily basis. We used to be noted around the world for our politeness, courteousness and good manners. Working in the field I work in, I regularly come into contact with the public, and the attitude and aggressiveness I encounter are not what I was raised with, not the values instilled in me, and were not the behaviours of my parents and my grandparents generation.

This, I believe, is the real sickness at the heart of the UK...

British culture? chicken tikka massala, imperialism, stiff upper lip, blackadder, monty phythons, fishing, queueing, Bob Geldof, Diana Spencer, the trooping of the colour, Glastonbury, fish n chips, benefit culture, 51st state, the Beatles, concentration camps(kitchener boer war), the crown temple, the middle temple, grays inn, linclolns inn, football(soccer), cricket, David Icke, Maggie Thatcher, Winston Churchill, the list goes on but all add up to what is british culture

some really good posts and i apologise for saying Britain won the world cup.
On that note, look what has happend to Football recently, our national game. supporters can no longer identify with the players they are cheering on.Players now earning more in a week than the average person can expect to see in a lifetime. Add to that the amount of foreign players in our leagues with no aleagence to their local teams, who will happily move from one club to their rivals for the right money, in the process stifiling the future of young British players.

Anyway, thanks for the interesting replies