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Do your countrymen embarass you? Do your countrymen embarass you?
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Photo by Marc Gibaud, Clouds on Tres Cerros and Mount Fitzroy, Argentinian Patagonia

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Photo by Marc Gibaud,
Clouds on Tres Cerros and
Mount Fitzroy, Argentinian Patagonia



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  #1  
Old 4 Oct 2013
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Do your countrymen embarass you?
I used to travel abroad alone a lot for work and stay in hotels often in tourist areas and I never failed to be mortifyingly embarrassed by the British abroad. The behaviour of the drunken British tourist doesn't really help either.

I assumed it was just the British that were this uncouth, illeducated, rude and shamefully embarrassing, until I met my wife who's first language is Russian (she is Belarusian) and she feels just the same way about Russians Abroad.

Do people from other nationalities feel the same way, do your countryfolk embarrass you?
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  #2  
Old 4 Oct 2013
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.

[QUOTE]I assumed it was just the British that were this uncouth, illeducated, rude and shamefully embarrassing, until I met my wife[/QUOTE
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Old 4 Oct 2013
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don't quote out of context!
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  #4  
Old 5 Oct 2013
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No, the British do, unfortunately, have a well deserved notoriety for being spectacularly badly behaved when on holiday.

It is shameful & embarrassing to be associated with them, sometimes.

Very sad.
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  #5  
Old 5 Oct 2013
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Why do some british people behave badly when abroad?
I have often had comments along the lines of "so nice to meet you and you are so well behaved. I/we thought the british were louts".
Very sad.
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  #6  
Old 5 Oct 2013
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I think the 'Brit's abroad' is true in Western Europe only.. Especially in the Spanish and French resorts and the Stag/Hen weekend destinations.

Where the budget flights can't reach, we usually have a very good reputation of being polite, friendly and well mannered. At all ages.

So I like to believe anyway
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  #7  
Old 11 Dec 2013
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It is sad, and the sharp end of the stick (wide end of the wedge?) extends from football hooligans to British soliders attacking NYC police!

Stay away from Prague and Magaloof, and you don't have to worry about the British abroad so much.

But although some of us can be awful...


Quote:
Originally Posted by bobn View Post
'... you are so well behaved. I/we thought the british were louts"..
I don't think there is need for others to be quite so patronising!
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Old 8 Oct 2013
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Originally Posted by moggy 1968 View Post
do your countryfolk embarrass you?
I think it's not so much 'countrymen', but humanity in general. Individually, humans can be wonderful, but as a collective we are sadly lacking at times. When I travel, I see some folks travelling in a way that is respectful of other culture and people, and yet other folks behave like morons.

I don't think you can or should generalize by nationality.
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Old 9 Oct 2013
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Originally Posted by brclarke View Post
I think it's not so much 'countrymen', but humanity in general. Individually, humans can be wonderful, but as a collective we are sadly lacking at times. When I travel, I see some folks travelling in a way that is respectful of other culture and people, and yet other folks behave like morons.

I don't think you can or should generalize by nationality.
Individuals can be pretty idiotic as a single entity too. No national prejudices on that - I've met dickheads from all corners of the world. However, fortunately they are far, far outnumbered by the huge number of great people I've met, again with no generalization regarding origin or class. Although on second thoughts, the British "upper class" types tend to be over represented in the dickhead category.....
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Old 9 Oct 2013
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Originally Posted by estebangc View Post
we all have pissed in the streets while drunk. We Spaniards are just like that. Our own attitude fostered this behaviour from tourists, so we should not blame them for doing it massively.
It is a cultural difference though, surely?
In France, is it still the right, and legal, for a male to piss in public?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pissoir



Quote:
Originally Posted by docsherlock View Post
Although on second thoughts, the British "upper class" types tend to be over represented in the dickhead category.....
You really should not talk about the large majority of our Members of Parliament in that tone of voice!
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Old 23 Oct 2013
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I get tired of fat, whiney Americans griping about this, that, and the other! For whatever reason, they can never do that quietly.
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Old 23 Oct 2013
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My wife and I were sat outside a café in Zagora, Morocco enjoying our mint tea and just watching the world go by. We were horrified to see an English extended family walk by wearing their union flag shorts, bikini tops and short skirts showing no respect for where they were. They were loud with it too and a total embarrassment. They would have been right at home in Benidorm. This was April 2012.
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Old 4 Nov 2013
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nordics !
Swedes and Norwegians do a pretty good job of disgracing themselves on holiday too ! .....the Finns can put the booze away for a quiet bunch !
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  #14  
Old 3 Feb 2014
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I'd just like to apologise to all my fellow countrymen for any instances where I have embarrassed them
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Old 4 Feb 2014
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cringe worthy moments
Had my fair share of embarrassed moments. Fellow Scottish people in Dover one night. I had to apologise to the entire bar staff after a Glaswegian slapper had mouthed off in front of everyone about this and that and "you Unglish" jeez.

Then in Malaga .. red blotchy faces usually with frown, Man U / Newcastle /Celtic tops on, and I mean the whole family, stomping up the street as if the world owes them and why can't they have normal british /food/TV ?... and they usually get it too. Why do they have to be so loud and let everyone know they're british? Easyjet has a lot to answer for!

Then again, I've been to Bali a few times and there is the equivalent Aussie with Bintang shirt, hairy sweaty arm pits and bogan tendencies ... "maaaaate"! drinkin piss and shaggin sheila's.

Best to avoid touristy places methinks
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