I would bet that if promiscuity rates between the UK and Spain were fed into a computer, the result would be exactly the same. We beat ourselves up over and over again over small and silly differences, like the colour of our eyes, or drinking half-pints instead of pints (unless you're a very fast drinker, you can't drink pints in Spain, the beer would be warm before you're halfway down the glass).

We're fellow Europeans and if you want to comment on obvious differences between races, go to China. Or France.

The funny statistic used to be that while Holland had legalised abortion, they also had the lowest rate per 1,000 population in the world.

A fun thing was that when they looked thru the human genome, there was no way looking at the data whether they were looking at the Dna of a negro or a white European.

So......
Are we Embarrassed by the Brits ?

probably, but then under all the bluster Spaniards are embarrassed by the activities of some of the Spaniards home and abroad.
And the same goes for all nationalities.

Surely the embarrassment shows a certain national conscience where no matter how well behaved we are there is always someone who will let the side down, or appear to us to do so

and I didnt go to Harrow or Eton except for the day

rgds

Quite,
...according to a book I am now reading, the Brits are very easily embarassed by the rowdy actions of their fellow men, whilst the Spanish simply don't give a toss, their whole purpose in life being to cause maximum disruption and make as much noise as possible from the day they were born to the day they die.
Kids are encouraged to do so from an early age.
Restaurants and bars are little more than shouting competitions, everyone insisting on making their point as vociferously as possible with no one keeping their mouths shut long enough to hear or understand a single word thats being said.
I often wonder how they find time to get their food down their necks betwixt all their shouting and screaming.
Then outside in the streets the old guys are furiously waving their sticks and fists at each other, as each and everyone of them insists he is the one who knows best how to put the World to rights.
During my early days in Spain I used to sit and watch them in amazement whilst trying to figure out which one would land the first blow.

I subscribe to an Italian forum for campervan enthusiasts. The members there are constantly moaning about the other members behaviour in Northern Europe during the August exodus; when they 'show up' the Italians by their selfish and noisy behaviour. As we say in Italy 'tutto il mondo e' paese'

'lluego,
'o nonno

Is that like "Hay gente pa to "?

More or less. Should translate I suppose as 'todo el mundo es un pueblo'

'lluego,
'o nonno

Ah, then the Spanish would be todo el mundo es un pañuelo.

Hay gente pa to means that it takes all types.

I beg to differ with your book's author. As I stated at the end of my first post, I have read articles and posts and I have had long conversations about situations involving Spaniards that embarrassed their fellows. I fact, they accurately identified the disturbing behaviour --often being noisy, impolite, or queue jumping.

We Spaniards have a deep sense of the ridiculous, perhaps that will help you to understand why we tend to take it bad when we are warned, even in a soft or sweet way.

Some of us are unaware about the inappropriateness of our behaviour in certain moments, but sometimes it is a cultural issue rather than misbehaviour. As an example, I am very sensitive to noise and I hate firecrackers and noisy places like discos, stadiums and battlefields, so I tend to avoid them. I tell my children to be as quiet as possible over all when they are in public areas. When I have to make noise I try to minimize it -- I even use rubber soles in my shoes to avoid noise! But I understand other people are more noisy because --I guess-- noise don't bother them. I suppose that's what happens with the average Spaniard, high tolerant to noise and rule breaking by culture.

Anyway, let me point that the language used in the above quoted post won't help to make Spanish friends.

To be precise, the aphorism is el mundo es un pañuelo. Notice that todo el mundo means 'everybody' in Spanish.

Strange post.
You begin by saying you beg to differ, then continue by concurring with much of what I said.
I think most of us are well aware it's a cultural issue and I hope you realize that some of our posts are just a little tongue in cheek.
IMHO your attitude to noise is the exception rather than the rule.
In any event, like most fellow Brits, I can assure you I am rarely upset by the various excesses, but instead generally appreciate the contrast in cultures,.... as long as I don't have to live permanently in the middle of it all of course.

Thanks for the correction.

The Spanish around us do tend to be noisier and more lively, but not in a bad way.

yeah, I have an aversion to those as well

I agree with you, but I disagree with the remarked statement. I state that both Brits and Spaniards get embarrased when witnessing some of our fellow's misbehaviour.
Not to mention. I'm interested in reality rather than in political correctness. I find it more useful. I'm here to learn regardless I like what I learn. Please talk openly. Thank you anyway for the clarification.

I suppose if a brit is totally integrated (such as a few on here!) then they would be embarrassed by the spanish..no?