English = Posh / Americans = Fat!

[Lizzardis]

OK, so I was sat here, in my chair a few days ago and I started to think about how people in different countries see each other. (Dunno why I did, I was just bored I guess)

I started to think back to that flash End of ze world and it shows the English people speaking posh and drinking tea. That got me thinking, why is it that English people are always subjected to "Drinking tea" and "Speaking posh" E.G with the world "Pip pip ol' chum etc etc" and that we ALWAYS eat crumpets! Yes I do drink tea but I don't speak posh, nor do I eat crumpets....

And why is it that American people are always subjected to being fat? Not all Americans are fat, in fact they are not even in the top 5.

So I ask you, what brought up this image? I mean it wouldn't just come out of nowhere, so who made up that English always drink tea, eat crumpets and talk posh? And that all Americans are fat?

[Porkchop]

The tea thing comes from Britain in the 1800's, where they had Tea Time as a set time of the day. Not sure if they still do, but I can bet that's where that stemmed from.

As to us being fat, well, people just see a ton of fat people around here, and say "Hey, USA must be the fattest nation!"

[1Tyla1]

At 6/21/09 10:37 AM, Lizzardis wrote: And why is it that American people are always subjected to being fat? Not all Americans are fat, in fact they are not even in the top 5.

Actually, it only shows the percentage instead of the amount... obese, and I've never even heard of a few of those countries.

[Lizzardis]

At 6/21/09 10:39 AM, Porkchop wrote: The tea thing comes from Britain in the 1800's, where they had Tea Time as a set time of the day. Not sure if they still do, but I can bet that's where that stemmed from.

No they don't have that anymore....But what about the crumpets? and the posh speaking?

As to us being fat, well, people just see a ton of fat people around here, and say "Hey, USA must be the fattest nation!"

I went to America a few years ago and i only saw a handful of fat people in my 2 week stay.....

[ratchet103]

74% overweight people is still a fuckin mass of people. 'not even in the top 5' pffft

[ParadoxSaint]

At 6/21/09 10:37 AM, Lizzardis wrote: And why is it that American people are always subjected to being fat? Not all Americans are fat, in fact they are not even in the top 5.

Hahah, all aboard- Chubster Island!

1. Nauru -- 94.5% overweight

[HungarianSupermarket]

At 6/21/09 10:39 AM, Porkchop wrote: The tea thing comes from Britain in the 1800's, where they had Tea Time as a set time of the day. Not sure if they still do, but I can bet that's where that stemmed from.

The Queen still does. And the lazy bitch wants the handle on her cup to be facing towards what time of day it would be (if the saucer was a clock) when it is served to her. Why do I even know this.

[pyromaniac616]

At 6/21/09 10:52 AM, HungarianSupermarket wrote: The Queen still does.

As do I and my family.

[Lizzardis]

At 6/21/09 10:52 AM, HungarianSupermarket wrote: Why do I even know this.

Because its a useless piece of information you may never use yet your storing it for later use....

At 6/21/09 10:52 AM, Kubert wrote: Everyone knows this.

Clearly it isn't like that since I'm British and I don't east crumpets, nor do I say Cherrio!

[Struggle]

At 6/21/09 10:39 AM, Porkchop wrote:

see a ton of fat people around here, and say "Hey, USA must be the fattest nation!"

A ton of fat people isn't that many fat people.

[Mr-Money]

I can assure you that British people are not posh. Most Americans are more posh than Brits. We Brits are dirty, grimey, miserable bastards.

[Lizzardis]

At 6/21/09 11:04 AM, Mr-Money wrote: I can assure you that British people are not posh. Most Americans are more posh than Brits. We Brits are dirty, grimey, miserable bastards.

You maybe....But I'm not. I'm just a normal person. None of this posh crap and eating crumpets.

[sushi13]

At 6/21/09 11:04 AM, Mr-Money wrote: I can assure you that British people are not posh. Most Americans are more posh than Brits. We Brits are dirty, grimey, miserable bastards.

I second that. British people are not posh in the slightest. The stereotype is either 150 years old or just plain wrong.
Also I think the American stereotype has come about from the whole fast food culture. Not everybody eats that crap though.

[Sammeh]

English invented tea.

Americans invented fast food.

English enjoy fast food

Americans enjoy tea (or so I've heard)

[Metal-Sonic-v2]

At 6/21/09 10:45 AM, ParadoxSaint wrote:

At 6/21/09 10:37 AM, Lizzardis wrote: And why is it that American people are always subjected to being fat? Not all Americans are fat, in fact they are not even in the top 5.

Hahah, all aboard- Chubster Island!

1. Nauru -- 94.5% overweight

I took one look at that map, and I immediately thought of adipose tissue (tissue composed of fat cells).

Coincidence?

[Sysko]

It's just Stereotyping. Don't worry about it too much. Of course, with Victoria Beckham being the living, breathing example of Britain's "posh" stereotype and Drew Carrey is the "fat American" stereotype, it'll never go away. In reality is that the majority both Americans and Brits are hard-working middle class people who just want to put food on the table for their families, but the fucking media portrays Brits as all rich snobs and most Americans as lazy fatasses. So if you need someone to blame, blame the mainstream media.

[JonnyTheWinnar]

I'm English and never eaten a crumpet, or seen someone with a monocle in real life.

[Zenan]

At 6/21/09 12:06 PM, Sammeh wrote: English invented tea.

No we didn't. It's common knowledge that we didn't, our tea gets imported.

According to Chinese legend, tea was invented accidentally by the Chinese Emperor Shen Nong in 2737 B.C.

Clicky!

Pip Pip

[SohlTofang]

Ha ha, British or not you're a fag.

[Koriigahn]

Hugh Grant.

Fucking Cunt.

[Spoopy]

Stereotypical much?

[Lizzardis]

At 6/21/09 12:23 PM, SohlTofang wrote: Ha ha, British or not you're a fag.

I'm not gay.....But my boyfriend is! :3

Haha. Anyway, the question I'm trying to get across is the fact that WHY did these stereotypes appear...and how did they appear...

[Proottalfain]

At 6/21/09 12:53 PM, Lizzardis wrote:

At 6/21/09 12:23 PM, SohlTofang wrote: Ha ha, British or not you're a fag.

I'm not gay.....But my boyfriend is! :3

Haha. Anyway, the question I'm trying to get across is the fact that WHY did these stereotypes appear...and how did they appear...

They appeared because at some time they were true. That's how it is for most stereotypes. If you think that Canadians are all lumberjacks, well at one time the truth wasn't that far off. If you think that French people are smelly, well there was a time when they bathed once a year and used perfume to mask the odor.

[xKore]

At 6/21/09 12:53 PM, Lizzardis wrote: Haha. Anyway, the question I'm trying to get across is the fact that WHY did these stereotypes appear...and how did they appear...

They appear because they have been partly true in some period of the countries history. The British stereotype of posh and tea-drinking most likely comes from the 19th century period when we ruled the fucking world and most rich people, who were representatives of Britain, were posh and avid tea-drinkers.

[Sheizenhammer]

At 6/21/09 12:53 PM, Lizzardis wrote: Haha. Anyway, the question I'm trying to get across is the fact that WHY did these stereotypes appear...and how did they appear...

Simple bandwagons. That's really all there is to it.
People will believe the first thing they're told about something, and in the absence of anything to challenge it (i.e. actually going out and seeing it for themselves), it sticks.

English people used to be obsessed with tea, but that was centuries ago. Doesn't stop the stereotype from perpetuating itself.

Americans, though not as fat as some other nationalities, do have a habit of being particularly lazy with everyday activity (the Segway, anyone? Why would you invent a machine to get around having to walk even small distances?). Since people associate laziness with obesity, it's not surprising the idea that all americans are fat got off the ground.

Meh, anyone who believes this shit is an uneducated moron anyway, so it's hardly a serious issue.

[SuspiciousPenguin]

I quite like englands stereotype of always drinking tea becuase i myself drink way too much tea, but i am not posh just outstandingly middle class. Also i have been to america quite a few times and i couldn't really see where the fat thing came from, yes sure there were overweight people but here in britain we have fatties as well and in everyother country. So as if you didn't already know stereo types are just a bunch of balls.

[Lizzardis]

At 6/21/09 02:29 PM, titchman12 wrote: So as if you didn't already know stereo types are just a bunch of balls.

Well yeah I know. Its just that its annoying that people are subject to these stereotypes.

[Cally]

The English stereotype seems to be either posh, or cockney. The posh stereotype seems to be from 100 or so years back when there were more obvious class divides - you were either stinking rich or workhouse poor.

Even though it's not like that anymore, and we've all settled into regional accents, the fire is kept burning because every English character in the movies is either posh or cockney.

I don't drink tea, can't stand the stuff - but I'm partial to a crumpet.

[Gateau]

At 6/21/09 10:43 AM, ratchet103 wrote: 74% overweight people is still a fuckin mass of people. 'not even in the top 5' pffft

Keep in mind that overweight doesn't mean cellulite and fat sticking out of their shirt/rolls everywhere. You don't even have to be chubby and be overweight. So if you are 5'5 and weight 121 lbs you are classified as overweight, because that's one pound over what your BMI ratio should be.

Also, there are fat people in the US duh, but there are also fat people all over Europe and Asia and Africa. Let's not be judgmental or stereotypical! :D

[Skwurll]

Most english people DO drink tea