A Question for Brits...

[DeistPaladin]

Which British Accent? There are like 100. (pleasemeanmine)

Also, which American accent? I live in Louisville, right on the border between the "mid-west" and "south" and even for a small city as ours (circa 900 K) there are cataloged five different native pronunciations of our city.

I use #1 on the list.


I might have thrown off an American analog to Harry Higgens. I used to speak with a Kentucky twang softened somewhat by an Indiana accent but living in other areas of the country have broken that. The first non-Kentucky city I lived in was Washington, DC, where I went to school for four years. I used to throw an "r" in the word, "Warshington". Then one day someone screamed "WASHINGTON!" in response. A bit uncalled for but that startled me enough to break that habit.

[kılıç_mehmet]

So I'm watching an old episode of Top Gear, one where they're making fun of Hammond for being "American," saying he drives ridiculous cars, wears cowboy hats, and puts cheese on everything. Is that a thing? The cheese thing? Do we Americans put cheese on too many things? Do Brits (or Europeans) not? What other things do we Americans do that you guys find ridiculous?

If your *cheese* can be called *cheese*.

[KichigaiNeko]

I am to understand it is 'Henry Higgins'

[Shell B]

If your *cheese* can be called *cheese*.

Am I missing something? I didn't know Turkey was known for its distinguishing cheese.

[Cinjin]

Just for the record. I'm certainly well-aware that Thanksgiving is an American holiday. I only asked because some Americans celebrate holidays that are not American.

[Rahul]

Am I missing something? I didn't know Turkey was known for its distinguishing cheese.

Apparently it's a big deal over there.

Turkey Has A Very Rich Cheese Culture And History

http://turkishfood.about.com/od/Discover...heeses.htm

[Cyberman]

To give it some perspective, it's a bit like my saying that everyone from South America's Cape Horn to Barrow, Alaska, is a Yank.

Call somebody a Yank in Texas and you're likely to get your ass beat.

That's kind of my point.

---

Ok, now that the foreplay's out of the way, I'll have a bash at the main event.

1. Do Brits (including Ireland of course) celebrate the US's Thanksgiving?

As other commentors have said, it's not a thing over here. Or if it is, nobody talks about it.

2. Do Brits dislike Americans (on average)?

Again, already addressed but I can concur that it tends not to be an issue among those of us less tabloid-driven.

3. Do you like having a monarchy?

Personally, no I don't. We took all the executive power from the monarchy over three and a half centuries ago and put it in the hands of the people to govern themselves. Far as I'm concerned, it's like keeping stone tablets to write on in a world of email and social networking.

They're for sale if anyone's interested. Or at least I'm sure we could come to some arrangement.

4. Do you prefer American TV shows over British TV shows (on average)?

On average I don't really watch all that much telly anyway, but I'd say it was probably around 70-30 for the homegrown stuff. I grew up in the seventies, a decade shaped by classic TV like The Goodies, Top Of The Pops, Morecambe and Wise, Benny Hill (note spelling), The Two Ronnies, Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em, Fawlty Towers, and of course Doctor Who (with Blake's Seven just catching the tail end of the decade). At the same time from across the pond we had The Six Million Dollar Man, Mork and Mindy, The Incredible Hulk, Star Trek, Kojak, M*A*S*H, the immortal Columbo, and so on.

TV for me hit the wall sometime in the mid-eighties, but there have been a few watchable shows since then (Father Ted springs to mind, as does Family Guy).

So I guess I'd say I prefer good TV to lowest-common-denominator stuff, regardless of its origin. For instance, one still-classic series which was an instant hit over here was the wonderful Monkey.

5. Do you feel there is any truth that Americans have better teeth than Brits?

Never really thought about it before The Simpsons etc started poking fun. Like the 'warm beer' thing, I'd like to know the origin.

6. Do you think American's have a sexy accent or do you think we sound really stupid?

Depends what they're saying. Probably the only exposure most of us ever really get to Americans is in the form of TV and film. Quite often - just as with UK regional accents/dialects - the more eccentric-sounding the accent, the less intelligent the character is supposed to be; yet two of my favourite and most intelligent YouTubers are WildwoodClaire1 and Desertphile, both of whom sporting very fine examples of what might popularly be termed 'hick' accents.

Everyone's sexy to me!

7. What's so great about Doctor Who?

Are you kidding? A series built on the concept of time travel, devised in such a way as to be any genre of storytelling (without the need of a holodeck) and on multiple levels, able to raise awareness of the environment in one story then be a warning against the rise of fascism in the next? One which can change the core cast completely again and again without altering anything about the nature of the programme? One which brought Carole Ann Ford, Katy Manning, Liz Sladen and Louise Jameson into the home of wide-eyed growing lads on a regular basis?

I agree with what StuW said previously, though I'd take it further and say that Doctor Who began its second decline after David Tennant took over (the first coinciding with Colin Baker's first season and jumping clean over the shark when Sylvester McCoy arrived). Personally I'd have liked to see the series continue in the direction of Christopher Eccleston's interpretation.

8. How common is the word 'fag' used when referring to a cigarette?

I already mentioned this, but it's still very common round here.

9. Do you wish your country had won the Revolutionary War?

Not really. I'm not sure what might have been different, or whether it might have been preferable - hmm, sounds like a job for Peter Capaldi there.

10. Would you be willing to let me stay with you for a week if I visited your country?

Sure! Seriously, I'd be glad to have you! Let me know when, so I can stock up on Marmite.

---

Stimbo's accent...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uf8cU0Bc...ata_player

I cannot stand that advert!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E8_GVfPuw4M

[NoraBrimstone]

Stop talking like that then!

[Cyberman]

Anything for yow, cupcake!
[/pseudo-Brummie]

[Shell B]

Am I missing something? I didn't know Turkey was known for its distinguishing cheese.

Apparently it's a big deal over there.

Turkey Has A Very Rich Cheese Culture And History

http://turkishfood.about.com/od/Discover...heeses.htm

Who would have thought? I guess they're all nationalist with their cheeses because I have never seen a Turkish cheese in my life.