Tell me of stereotypes.

[burntcopper]

British in general or English only, either is welcome.

Non-UK citizens/dwellers only, please.

And remind me, are we supposed to be stereotyped as more or less polite than Canadians?

Comments

[derryderrydown.livejournal.com]

I think the Canadians are meant to be genuinely polite, whereas we use politeness as an offensive weapon.

[gmh.livejournal.com]

I suspect that it might (to a certain degree) be a class thing - I was always taught that You Were Polite No Matter What; noblesse oblige et cetera.

You might have to have them killed tomorrow, but it simply wasn't the done thing to be rude to them.

[fahrenheit-f430.livejournal.com]

whereas we use politeness as an offensive weapon.

I agree with that. My mum used politeness like a thumbscrew, and she taught me that when the bastards have to say 'Thank You' through gritted teeth - you've won.