Roland Hulme

It's been a topic of conversation in my household recently (and the opposite notion.)

What life lessons do you think British people can learn from the American mentality? My wife tells me I should be willing to ask for what I want more often, instead of being 'polite' and keeping my mouth shut.

And on the other end of the scale - I keep telling my wife that she could learn a lot from the British mentality when it comes to casual conversation - as in keep your feelings, anxieties and colorful stories quiet until you know somebody better.

neil

Sort of on the subject of being willing to ask for what I want - this is something I never had a problem with, but I do it in a polite/friendly way, whereas my wife was always a bit more direct about it and could sometimes come across as being rude. She learnt from me that being polite about it in the first place usually gets you what you want quicker than her approach and it's rare that I have to really fight for what I want.

Redlippie

The go-getter attitude which is often lacking in Europeans.

Tarkak9

How's the sofa at night.... comfy?!?


You do know how you identify who the Brits are in a room... they are the 2 at the doorway saying "No, no... after you" to each other!
The only context I can think of is in the realm of customer service.

Celsius

Big is not better.
Greed is not good.
More car drivers does not mean better cars or drivers.
The American dream is just that for most (including those born as Americans).
Money does really talk (especially if you're old money).
Americans aren't really that tolerant. e.g. where's the Jews in government? e.g.2- Why hasn't there been a female/non-Christian/non-Caucasian (delete as appropriate) US president yet?

Scouse Express

Americans can learn this from the Brits.......they can learn how to give their employees some decent vacation time, for starters:curse::curse::curse:

Jim.

cindyabs

So you're saying there's nothing positive that could be absorbed from living in the US as a Brit?

Werrf

How to push for what you want is a good one. Beyond that...well, most of what I've learned here isn't in any way endemic to America. That people are people wherever you go is the main one.

tamms_1965

It's called "work" for a reason.

cindyabs

Starting with the Revolutionary war (although the first Jews to arrive on American soil were of Portugese Sephardic ancestry over a century before the War) they have been important contributors to our country-


http://www.compuserb.com/jewsngov.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History..._United_States

Henry Kissinger wasn't exactly chopped liver.


As to the rest-a non Christian, or female or person of color being elected president. Well we've been working on it.

snowbunny

All work and no play leads to unhappy workers who burn out and die early.

Bluegrass Lass

Most Americans wouldn't know polite if it bit 'em in the arse.

elfman

I think we could use the turn-right-on-a-red-light (or left in Britain) rule in the UK

Celsius

I'm working on this. It's going to take a little time.

cindyabs

That's not a problem, I've got all the time in the world.