How do you define British culture?

[snorky]

blah blah blah

is there any end to this ?

an excuse to start an argument amongst yourselves over seemingly minsicule differences of opinion - another british trait

The Roman Legions commonly though of the Sub Hadrians wall brits as argumentatitive Shouty piss artists - not much has changed has it

[Ted Max]

It's just ended.

But I don't think it was a miniscule difference of opinion at all.

Sorry to have bored you.

[DaveR]

This thread bears compelling (and occasionally eloquent) testimony to one of the defining qualities of the English (and probaly the British, and Irish) - our love of, addiction to, obsession with, words.

Whether spoken or written, British culture revolves more than any other I know around words

Even our musicians are as well known for their lyrics as their music, and the roll call of great British visual artists is a short one - how many have been name-checked on this thread so far?

We also have an ability to absorb all sorts of curious foreign ideas and practices and then blithely assert that they have always been English (this is more of an English than British trait) which makes the whole job of defining domestic culture so much trickier.

[brum]

Brendan Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

>>

> - Eloquence

> - Fair play (some people would call this tolerance

> but I prefer not to because the term implies a

> whole bunch of ideological yet unworkable ideas

> rather than just giving your fellow man a fair

> go)

> - Humour

> - Superficiality (This refers to pop culture,

> celebries, material obsession etc.)

> - Entrenched privilege/exploitation

> - Self absorbed neurosis

All the above I feel comfortable about. Very well thought out, Brendan. One additional ingredient to the pot may be 'politeness' although this I fear is approaching its sell-by date.

[Keef]

I guess I'm slightly patriotic, I'd never ever put a St George's flag in my window, but I do feel English. I think it's down to a bad habit of binge drinking, and swearing in a way that can only be described as an art form. Actually, I feel southern English, not just English.

[HonaloochieB]

Take Your Pick.

Compendiums of games.

Wham!

Wham.

Polare.

Queerbashing.

Fortnums.

Exaggarating.

Doing your best.

Wanting 2012.

Hating 2012.

Jon Feltz Ferrari.

Feigning indifference.

The WI.

Dad's Army.

Kneejerk cynicism.

Good manners.

Ronnie Kray.

The Two Ronnies.

The Fast Show.

Michael caine.

The Bill.

Cocaine.

Delicatessens.

Collectors.

Murderers.

Enid Blyton.

Blurasis.

Unions.

PG Wodehouse.

The BNP.

Question Time.

John Peel.

Jeremy Clarkson.

Live Aid.

Puns.

A good clip round the ear.

Sticky buns.

The Specials.

Danny Baker.

[Tony.London Suburbs]

JRR Tolkien

Eric and Tony Blair

Marks and Spencers

Electric Avenue

Mungo Jerry

The Prisoner

The Avengers

Roger Moore

Butlins

Sex Pistols

[mockney piers]

wasn't tolkein a safa?

[Tony.London Suburbs]

mockney piers Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> wasn't tolkein a safa?

John Ronald Reuel Tolkien was born on 3 January 1892, in Bloemfontein in the Orange Free State (now Free State Province, part of South Africa) to Arthur Reuel Tolkien (1857?1896), an English bank manager, and his wife Mabel, n?e Suffield (1870?1904). The couple had left England when Arthur was promoted to head the Bloemfontein office of the British bank he worked for. When he was three, Tolkien went to England with his mother and brother on what was intended to be a lengthy family visit.........the rest is history(tu)

[brum]

...and he lived in Hall Green Birmingham, so that makes him a brummie too!

[HonaloochieB]

mockney piers Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> wasn't tolkein a safa?

And I bet he was good at it. It doesn't matter, does it?

But he informed British culture.

He did it in a way that makes me suspect I'd rather eat my own dung than read any of his books.

But nonetheless he did.

[Tony.London Suburbs]

HonaloochieB Wrote:

He did it in a way that makes me suspect I'd rather eat my own dung than read any of his books.

Looch: Criticise my other half, take my mistress, pi*s on my chips, but I BESEECH you do NOT say a bad word against a Man with the widest, most fertile and vivid imagination humanly possible, a Man with the brain power that I, as a mere mortal, could not begin to comprehend....;-)

[HonaloochieB]

Tony.London Suburbs Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> HonaloochieB Wrote:

> He did it in a way that makes me suspect I'd

> rather eat my own dung than read any of his

> books.

>

> Looch: Criticise my other half, take my mistress,

> pi*s on my chips, but I BESEECH you do NOT say a

> bad word against a Man with the widest, most

> fertile and vivid imagination humanly possible, a

> Man with the brain power that I, as a mere mortal,

> could not begin to comprehend....;-)

Seeing as it's yourself, TLS, I'll leave it out.

Seeing as it's yourself?

Leave it out?

Blimey guv, it'l; be aaah Bisto next.

[Mikecg]

LOL

[Tony.London Suburbs]

HonaloochieB Wrote:

Blimey guv, it'l; be aaah Bisto next.

I've always said you were different gravy Loochie:-$

[Brendan]

Stella

Chelsea

Hair gel

River Island

Cheap cocaine

[Tony.London Suburbs]

Ian Wooldridge

Kenneth Williams

Lord Reith

Ms Dynamite

George Cole

Germaine Greer (Honorary)

Clive James Ditto

Rolf Harris Ditto

Leonard Rossiter

Jack White

[Tony.London Suburbs]

John Sentuma

John Harvey-Jones

Anita Roddick

Cadburys Chocolate

Tea (and Sympathy)

Crufts

Led Zeppelin

Pink Floyd

Ian Botham

Ken Dodd

Debbie Reynolds

Blackpool

[Tony.London Suburbs]

Speakers Corner.

[red devil]

Muller Fruit Corner

[Peckhamgatecrasher]

Alexis Korner (honorary)

[Tony.London Suburbs]

Corner Shops.

[red devil]

Dunces Corner...

[Dulwich Born And Bred]

The Monarchy!

Only because when I am on my travels and I say " I am British" the replies I get from the locals always centre around the Queen and Buckingham Palace. They actually ask if I live close to Buckingham Palace....No dear, I live in a far better area!

[Eliza.D]

A mug of strong tea and a bacon butty.