I can't help but notice the number of British users and thought it would be interesting to see what you think.
I spend a lot of time on Tumblr and some of my favorite posts are the ones where British kids vent about American spelling or how we serve tea cold, or that one where someone tried to explain how we advertise TV shows as airing at "7/8 Central time" because we have four time zones. And the Eagle jokes.
Oh, and the picture of George Washington driving a mustang gets reblogged a lot. Of course Tumblr is a poor metric for anything rational, but I think its really funny. Do British jokes get annoying or are they offensive too often?
I find the chief irony of British history to be that the Scots actually won.
Centuries of conflict to conquer Scotland, and the English royal line is replaced with a Scottish one(which is itself eventually replaced by a Dutch line)
Erm, I'll have you know we have a German woman married to a Greek on the throne!
Not that it matters because given the amount of interbreeding that went on with that lot I'm pretty sure the Queen is her own Uncle.
All ways up, you'll find the English, which is different from the British if you're going to start talking about the Scots, don't mind having the piss taken, as long as it is actually funny. Hell self-effacement is something we're known for.
As a Scottish person I find most British jokes hilarious and I've never taken any offence to any, even the ones against Scotland. Although I have one or two English friends who don't appreciate them.
I'm not saying thats always the case, but Scottish people tend to take ridicule fairly well
SilverMK2 wrote: To be fair though, a lot of American "comedy" is anything but funny so it is understandable if you did not get actual humour
Right matey. Because we all know Monty Python rehashes, drama-dies about about priests in quaint villages, and sci-fi comedies with muppets are the bees-knees
And lets not forget shows about "chavs", whatever that means
SilverMK2 wrote: To be fair though, a lot of American "comedy" is anything but funny so it is understandable if you did not get actual humour
Right matey. Because we all know Monty Python rehashes, drama-dies about about priests in quaint villages, and sci-fi comedies with muppets are the bees-knees
And lets not forget shows about "chavs", whatever that means
FWIW, I think Steve Coogan and Ricky Gervais are hilarious...I've never seen a show or film by either I didn't like.
(But seriously, wtfis a 'chav'??? I guess its time for an overdue trip to Urban Dictionary)
A little later: And here we are (def #1 from UD, I'm guessing 'the other f-word' here means cigarette in this context)
Picture this a young lad about 12 years of age and 4 ½ feet high baseball cap at ninety degrees in a imitation addidas tracksuit, with trouser legs tucked into his socks (of course, is definitely the height of fashion). This lad is strutting around, cigarette in one hand jewellery al over the over, outside McDonalds acting as if he is 8 foot tall and built like a rugby player, when some poor unsuspecting adult (about 17/18) walks round the corner wanting to go to mcdonalds for his dinner glances at the young lad, the young lad jumps up in complete disgust and says “Whats your problem? Wanna make sommin of it? Bling Bling” when the adult starts to walk towards the young lad, the young lad pisses himself and runs off to either his pregnant 14-year-old girlfriend or his brother in the army crying his eyes out.
What's really amusing is when US tv execs try copy shows like The Inbetweeners. I didn't find Inbetweeners U.S. all that funny.
Chavs are basically the British equivalent of your trailer trash. Wears a lot of tracksuits, cheap bling and (usually) fake Burberry caps. Breed like rodents and usually have 3 or 4 kids before they're 20. Live off the taxpayer's money.
I genuinely don't understand why you guys make jokes about our teeth. It really confuses me. I mean, we have the NHS, so we're even more likely to go to the dentist and get stuff checked than those in the US, so why is it?
Is it because we're less likely to get braces when they're not necessary? We don't whiten our teeth? Beause your most famous president is fairly famous for his lack of dental care...
angelofvengeance wrote: What's really amusing is when US tv execs try copy shows like The Inbetweeners. I didn't find Inbetweeners U.S. all that funny.
Chavs are basically the British equivalent of your trailer trash. Wears a lot of tracksuits, cheap bling and (usually) fake Burberry caps. Breed like rodents and usually have 3 or 4 kids before they're 20. Live off the taxpayer's money.
I think i'm probably one of the few that didn't really like the Inbetweeners. Maybe i didn't give it enough chance, but it just reminds me of being in any English town/ city and watching dumbass people, but on a screen instead.
I'm not really sure what you're asking OP. You're asking us British, but then the topic title asks about British jokes.
If it's any use, addressing your friends as the C word you Americans admire dearly so (yay British sarcasm), is perfectly normal/ adequate communication. Hell, i've seen/ heard in friends using it with female friends, though haven't really crossed that line myself. But if you can insult your friends to such an extent, it's safe to say you are good friends and very open, which can only be a good thing.
I also think British comedy on the tv is pretty rubbish (you guys love that word i know), Only Fools & Horses and Red Dwarf is where it's at.
SilverMK2 wrote: I think it is because we don't typically have our teeth bleached and coated with plastic
Yeah I remember reading somewhere that you lot actually have really good oral hygiene, but we seem to go by bleach and surgically corrected strait teeth. My dentist tries to convince me to get mine fixed every time. It annoying as balls because I literally have 1 tooth on my bottom row that is twisted ever so slightly and that's it.......... wait what are we taking about? Chavs or something?
I'm pretty sure American jokes are about them being morbidly obese, bible bashing, over-patriotic, ammosexuals, with a poor grasp of world geography. Here are some I photographed in Rome:
Spoiler:
Why would anyone make fun of Eagles, Eagles are bad ass. Scotland's official animal is a unicorn -- Which is about as manly as wearing a dress -- which they also do. I wouldn't take it to heart though. Berating each other is a way of life for British people. Spending time with friends or going to visit family is just one long barrage of insults.
Sometimes it gets tiring. The other day I went to the shop with my friend to get orange juice. All I did was suggest we get the one without bits. Then I'm assaulted with "What's wrong with bits? Are you worried you'll get bits stuck in your vagina?" *sigh* Sometimes it's so uncalled for. I guess I'm used to it though. I find it weird when I go on holiday, foreign people are all nice and friendly -- too friendly, like they wanna touch you or something -- it makes me feel uncomfortable.
KingCracker wrote: Yeah I remember reading somewhere that you lot actually have really good oral hygiene, but we seem to go by bleach and surgically corrected strait teeth.
Yes, an OECD study found that British people have the best oral hygiene in the world. In fact I asked my dentist about tooth whitening, but they recommend against it because it weakens the enamel. To be honest American teeth are becoming a bit of a joke now in themselves. I've watched quite a few shows and films lately where the actors have radioactive white teeth. It's become just another hideously unnatural cosmetic procedure.
SilverMK2 wrote: I think it is because we don't typically have our teeth bleached and coated with plastic
Yeah I remember reading somewhere that you lot actually have really good oral hygiene, but we seem to go by bleach and surgically corrected strait teeth. My dentist tries to convince me to get mine fixed every time. It annoying as balls because I literally have 1 tooth on my bottom row that is twisted ever so slightly and that's it.......... wait what are we taking about? Chavs or something?
Yeah, my dentist does the same thing. I have the slightest gap between my two front teeth and every time I'm there for a cleaning they ask me, "Have you ever thought about getting that gap fixed?" I finally told them that there is nothing with my teeth that need to be fixed. I'm pretty sure they just want my money.
I genuinely don't understand why you guys make jokes about our teeth. It really confuses me. I mean, we have the NHS, so we're even more likely to go to the dentist and get stuff checked than those in the US, so why is it?
Is it because we're less likely to get braces when they're not necessary? We don't whiten our teeth? Beause your most famous president is fairly famous for his lack of dental care...
There is a stereotype about British people that they have bad teeth. In this day and age, I'm sure its an outdated stereotype
Amurikan OP has obviously gotten offended when he found out the world didn't resound will cheers of "Hell Yeah" when Uncle Sam lays down some US Style democracy and some might actually have been somewhat satirical about it. I know that pain cousin.
I remember when a USer first suggested to me that God wasn't an Englishman. My eyebrow twitched undetectable but otherwise my monicle stayed in place and I maintained a stiff upper lip. Inside I was devastated! :')
The Internet is a mean place full of meanies who do mean things with their keyboards. Ignore them an know that the Queen will keep you safe. Pip pip.
Brits are Limey bastards with crumpet fueled attitudes. Frankly, they're off their nutter. Truly frightening stuff.
Also, did a fellow American insult Monty Python? The only good thing to come out of Britain? I challenge you to a duel. A sword for me, a herring for you. That'll teach you. I'd use wording that Superman used once, but somehow Dakka adjusts it. If its good enough for Superman, it's bloody well good enough for Dakka!!
timetowaste85 wrote: Brits are Limey bastards with crumpet fueled attitudes. Frankly, they're off their nutter. Truly frightening stuff.
Also, did a fellow American insult Monty Python? The only good thing to come out of Britain? I challenge you to a duel. A sword for me, a herring for you. That'll teach you. I'd use wording that Superman used once, but somehow Dakka adjusts it. If its good enough for Superman, it's bloody well good enough for Dakka!!
I did insult Monty Python. It was kinda sorta a little tiny bit funny in a "make your friends think you're smart" kind of way some 30 years ago, but lets face it, time has not been kind to that group's comedic products.
By the way, you're totally, absolutely, 100% incorrect about Monty Python being the best thing to come out of Britain. Obviously, its.....uuuuummm.....hmmmmm.....welll......jeeeez.....rrrrrrrrrrr.....uuuuhhhh....oh boy.....I'm drawing a blank, I'm so sorry
Automatically Appended Next Post: Oh yeah...its the Beatles!!!! That's the one! Took me a minute. It's been a long time!
Do people actually get offended by jokes about them or their nation? Everything is fair game for jokes including in fact in general the better friends you are with someone the more acceptable it is to the the piss outta them.
I think the problem with a lot of american versions of british shows is that they either try to do a shot for shot remake, or they change it too much and forget what made it funny.
The office was a good example of a good american version. It took the basic concept of the office but it made it distinctly american and distinctly its own. They understood what would and wouldn't work about the office in america.
TBH, I don't get offended by that sort of humour (provided it is in jest), but let's face it, it's just not funny is it? The 'my country's better than yours' gak? Pretty fething juvenile.
If there was a way to make it genuinely funny, then I'd be all for it. Joking about anything is forgiveable as long as it's genuinely funny. I honestly can't accurately put into words how dull I find the 'Britain: stuck-up/bad teeth, America: fat/stupid' stereotypes.
Oh yeah, actually I watched it on a whim on Netflix, and that was my introduction to Steve Coogan. After I saw that, I was hooked, and gobbled up anything I could find.....including most recently, Alpha Papa
Now I can't stop listening to "Cuddly Toy" in the car
Automatically Appended Next Post:
carlos13th wrote: Do people actually get offended by jokes about them or their nation?
Only people who actually take pride in accidents of birth
Albatross wrote: TBH, I don't get offended by that sort of humour (provided it is in jest), but let's face it, it's just not funny is it? The 'my country's better than yours' gak? Pretty fething juvenile.
If there was a way to make it genuinely funny, then I'd be all for it. Joking about anything is forgiveable as long as it's genuinely funny. I honestly can't accurately put into words how dull I find the 'Britain: stuck-up/bad teeth, America: fat/stupid' stereotypes.
Exactly how I look at it. Each nation has its joys and down falls.
Albatross wrote: TBH, I don't get offended by that sort of humour (provided it is in jest), but let's face it, it's just not funny is it? The 'my country's better than yours' gak? Pretty fething juvenile.
If there was a way to make it genuinely funny, then I'd be all for it. Joking about anything is forgiveable as long as it's genuinely funny. I honestly can't accurately put into words how dull I find the 'Britain: stuck-up/bad teeth, America: fat/stupid' stereotypes.
I agree with this, but what I can't get behind is your dislike of Monty Python.
Albatross wrote: Monty Python is rubbish. It just hasn't aged well at all.
Also, if you haven't seen Alan Partridge, Brass Eye, the Thick of It or the Office, your opinion of British comedy is null and void.
Absolutely incorrect, old chap. If we opened your head and removed the part that has already watched Life of Brian three or four times, and then made you watch it again, you would laugh your face off.
I'd also urge Dakkaites to check out Mitchell and Webb. Great stuff in the classic British sketch comedy vein.
The Monty Python films are brilliant and I'll fight anyone who says otherwise.
The TV show on the other hand was more of a mixed bag. There are the brilliant sketches we all know and love, but for every good sketch there are 3 or 4 forgettable ones. Flying Circus still deserves all the respect in the world for being so groundbreaking. I can forgive them for being inconsistent whilst finding their feet.
Monthy Python is really hit-and-miss for me. I loved the Holy Grail movie, most sketches not so much.
I much prefer Little Britain for sketches and 'Allo 'Allo, the Office and Keeping Up Appearances as comedy series. Those things only the English can make, as they are excellent.
Some American comedies are also good like Friends but the humour is very different.
The one country who cannot make good comedy series is actually Holland. It is just not fun, none of them are. I think it is because they don't include sex-scenes in the comedy series. Look at every Dutch directed film (or movie for you Americans); There is always sex in them. "We" cannot make movies without sex. This might cause the movies to sometimes be internationally succesfull, like Paul Verhoeven's movies
But back to topic; I think jokes regarding country are never annoying; I think they are great! Especially the French, jokes about the French are always good
LuciusAR wrote: The Monty Python films are brilliant and I'll fight anyone who says otherwise.
The TV show on the other hand was more of a mixed bag. There are the brilliant sketches we all know and love, but for every good sketch there are 3 or 4 forgettable ones. Flying Circus still deserves all the respect in the world for being so groundbreaking. I can forgive them for being inconsistent whilst finding their feet.
Put your dukes up then I'm not a fan either. Is just not my thing.
Us Brits do take a while to learn to drop the superiority thing.
Once we learn that we once ran the world, we get uppity when people who were once part of 'us' drift off and do their own thing.
Then we grow up, and just get grumpy. There was a mention of a quote about the F1 racing on the breakfast radio this morning, and they spent a while laughing about the word "winningest". We'd have said "most successful" or something, but any time a word gets messed about with that much, we tear it apart. 'Funning' is another, along with 'funnest'.
But, we're even worse to ourselves.
Just ask an Englishman about the Welsh...
As for Brit-to-US versions of TV programmes. I thought the point of Red Dwarf was that the guys in it were stuck millions of years from home, with no sign of women. Then, the US version has Kristine Kochanski from episode 1.
Monty Python is hit-and-miss. Either you go for that kind of thing, or it's just more of the Goons.
There are lots of better sketch shows, like Mitchell and Webb (bad guys), Goodness Gracious Me (going for an English), Manstrokewoman (manflu).
Skinnereal wrote: ...
As for Brit-to-US versions of TV programmes. I thought the point of Red Dwarf was that the guys in it were stuck millions of years from home, with no sign of women. Then, the US version has Kristine Kochanski from episode 1.
Monty Python is hit-and-miss. Either you go for that kind of thing, or it's just more of the Goons.
There are lots of better sketch shows, like Mitchell and Webb (bad guys), Goodness Gracious Me (going for an English), Manstrokewoman (manflu).
Which version of Red Dwarf are you talking about? Kochanski only came in in series 7 as a (bad) replacement for Rimmer, stayed for series 8 but was gone by Back To Earth, at least until the dream seuence at the end. Unless there was an American remake I'm blissfully unaware of.
I think Python has held up well enough, especially the stuff they're famous for. I defy anyone not to laugh at Biggus Dickus or The French Taunt, whether it's the first viewing or the 50th. They've had some duds, to be sure, but so did the Beatles and no one claims they haven't aged well. Python did to comedy (along with the Two Ronnies and the like) what the Beatles did for Rock music, and without them, we wouln't have the 'Mitchell and Webb's or 'Armstrong and Millers' of today.
Paradigm wrote: Which version of Red Dwarf are you talking about?.... Unless there was an American remake I'm blissfully unaware of.
Yeah, the US attempt.
I think Python has held up well enough, ....
They've had some duds, to be sure, ...
... without them, we wouldn't have the 'Mitchell and Webb's or 'Armstrong and Millers' of today.
That's true. There is some great Python stuff. But I have trouble sitting through a full Flying Circus.
"On the shoulders of giants", and all that.
Even something as simple as Dr. Who, I can't seem to make it through a single episode! Yet alone some of the other shows...
Indeed I hear 45 minutes can be along time for an Amurikan to go between meals*. BOOM! Slightly pisstaking and not a little unpleasant to be on the receiving end of: British humour at its best.
RiTides wrote: My wife loves British humor, the fact of which I find hilarious but the humor itself is completely lost on me
On the flipside, barring Monty Python and clones thereof, I love British comedy, but my wife can't watch it, because she can't understand a word of it (the accents and slang, I mean)
The Young Ones were great but a bit dated. I'll join in with those that dislike Monty Python. Just too dry humor for my taste. I liked the inbetweeners at first, but then it just became a constant stream of the same "your Dad's a bender" joke. Probably shouldn't binge watch it on Netflix though.
I loved Red Dwarf, but they broadcast a few episodes without the laughter track, it was certainly noticeable.
Was that episodes of the original series, or the Back to Earth miniseries? Because BTE had no laugh track at all, and it really did detract for some reason.
Swan-of-War wrote:The Young Ones were great but a bit dated.
I think the Young Ones has to be given credit for basically defining/redefining Slapstick, but I think Bottom did it better since Mayall and Edmonson had found their feet a little more.
Back sort-of on topic regarding Brit vs US humour/comedy, I've never liked any American sitcoms, but what I will say is that some of the most hilarious films have come out of America. The Big Lebowski, Wild Hogs, Night at the Museum (yeah, it's a kid's film, it's still bloody hilarious).
But then, they still got nothing on the Shaun of the Dead, Hot Fuzz, Paul or Johnny English, there we go
I personally dislike Mel Brooks movies for the same reason I dislike Monty Python movies. The comedy is dull, seems like its designed to appeal to school age kids, and it hasn't aged well for me.
I personally dislike Mel Brooks movies for the same reason I dislike Monty Python movies. The comedy is dull, seems like its designed to appeal to school age kids, and it hasn't aged well for me.
To each his own though!
Yeah, because satire is what school aged kids want in their comedy (in reference to Monty Python). To be fair I've been a fan of Monty Python since I was 10 so when I first watched it I enjoyed it for it's absurd moments and began to appreciate it's social/political commentary and intellectual
To be honest, I think Its Always Sunny in Philadelphia is the funniest show going, and it's not exactly what I'd call "sophisticated" or "intellectual", so take my opinion with a big spoon of salt.
There's loads of great American comedy around at the moment - Curb, Louie, 30 Rock... It's a myth that american comedy is broad and dumb, IMO. You can't judge it all off Friends.
I usually get one with most Americans when I cross the pond and people don't seem to have a problem with the British sense of humour, maybe the accent when I've had a few sherbets though.
What I don't understand is American TV stations have a knack of taking a successful British Comedy show and turn it into a lifeless piece of garbage yet it still runs for years (the Office I'm looking at you)
PastelAvenger wrote: I usually get one with most Americans when I cross the pond and people don't seem to have a problem with the British sense of humour, maybe the accent when I've had a few sherbets though.
What I don't understand is American TV stations have a knack of taking a successful British Comedy show and turn it into a lifeless piece of garbage yet it still runs for years (the Office I'm looking at you)
I do enjoy a good monocle though.....and cuppa.
To me, the American Office was superior to the UK Office, because IMO Steve Carell is just funnier than Ricky Gervais. Whatever tickles your fancy though. I did think the UK Office was OK...maybe in this case, it's also just a difference between what American and UK offices are actually like. Art imitating life imitating art imitating life and so forth.
jasper76 wrote: To me, the American Office was superior to the UK Office, because IMO Steve Carell is just funnier than Ricky Gervais
I'd like to take this opportunity to apologise for Ricky Gervais.
Steve Carell is indeed funnier than him. I find that most people are. It's probably the grin.
jasper76 wrote: To me, the American Office was superior to the UK Office, because IMO Steve Carell is just funnier than Ricky Gervais
I'd like to take this opportunity to apologise for Ricky Gervais.
Steve Carell is indeed funnier than him. I find that most people are. It's probably the grin.
I, in turn, would like to apologize for Tom Hanks, Kevin Costner, Kevin Spacey, John Cusack, Ed Norton, Richard Gere, Nicolas Cage, Will Smith, Brad Pitt, Ashton Kutcher, Tommy Lee Jones, John Travolta, Cuba Gooding Jr., Dustin Hoffman, Brendand Fraser, Ed Harris, James Franco, Ben Affleck, and Matthew McConaughey. You deserve better.
jasper76 wrote: To me, the American Office was superior to the UK Office, because IMO Steve Carell is just funnier than Ricky Gervais
I'd like to take this opportunity to apologise for Ricky Gervais.
Steve Carell is indeed funnier than him. I find that most people are. It's probably the grin.
I, in turn, would like to apologize for Kevin Costner(at least in his non-sports movies), John Cusack, Richard Gere, Nicolas Cage, Brad Pitt(for his role in Troy), Ashton Kutcher, John Travolta, Brendand Fraser, James Franco, Ben Affleck. You deserve better.
There are people who say that Seinfeld is funny! The only funny thing on that show was Kramer.
Black adder, Red dwarf, Bottom, the Young ones, Hi-de-Hi! ,Alias Smith and Jones, Fry and Laurie and of course Monthy Python!
Keep spreading the word brother! Amen to that!
As for The Office, neither version was the least bit funny (in fact all mocumentaries can go die in a forest fire), and both Ricky Gervais and Steve Carell are about as funny as pulling teeth without any anaesthetics...
jasper76 wrote: To me, the American Office was superior to the UK Office, because IMO Steve Carell is just funnier than Ricky Gervais
I'd like to take this opportunity to apologise for Ricky Gervais.
Steve Carell is indeed funnier than him. I find that most people are. It's probably the grin.
I, in turn, would like to apologize for Kevin Costner(at least in his non-sports movies), John Cusack, Richard Gere, Nicolas Cage, Ashton Kutcher, Brendand Fraser, James Franco. You deserve better.
No offense, but you guys like some crapoy actors. As a closet hair metal fan, I can dig it.
Speaking of which, as an American, I also feel the need to apologize for Rush. I know they're Canadian, but we should've done our duty to silence that shrill voice long ago. We owe the world that for getting mixed up in Vietnam.
Speaking of which, as an American, I also feel the need to apologize for Rush. I know they're Canadian, but we should've done our duty to silence that shrill voice long ago. We owe the world that for getting mixed up in Vietnam.
WHAT!? Rush are pretty much the best thing to have come out of Canada, closely rivalled by Leonard Cohen of course.
jasper76 wrote: No offense, but you guys like some crapoy actors. As a closet hair metal fan, I can dig it.
Speaking of which, as an American, I also feel the need to apologize for Rush. I know they're Canadian, but we should've done our duty to silence that shrill voice long ago. We owe the world that for getting mixed up in Vietnam.
Have you seen Pulp Fiction, The Graduate, Gone Girl? Do you like good movies?
Speaking of which, as an American, I also feel the need to apologize for Rush. I know they're Canadian, but we should've done our duty to silence that shrill voice long ago. We owe the world that for getting mixed up in Vietnam.
WHAT!? Rush are pretty much the best thing to have come out of Canada, closely rivalled by Leonard Cohen of course.
Rush is great same with Neil Young, The Band and Arcade Fire, Jasper why do you keep hating on things that are good?
Rush is an awesome band, until the vocals come in. Then pets hide under beds, and small children start weeping.
Pulp Fiction (and every other Tarantino movie I've seen) is pretentious drivel. It's been a long, long time since The Graduate, and Hoffman has been in many, many, many movies since then (the psychologist in Sphere, anyone???). I'be never seen Gone Girl.
I do really, really like Neil Young.
(P.S. I'm trying to poke a little bit of fun here...I don't begrudge other people's taste in entertainment. There's no accounting for it! For example, Slayer is the best band in the history of recorded music, but I bet you dont agree with me )
I don't listen to too much Heavy Metal music but Slayer is a fine choice for a favorite band (I like them quite a bit too) and "Reign in Blood" is one of the most critically acclaimed and influential Heavy Metal albums out there. As far as best band it would probably be The Beatles, but my personal
favorite would probably be Television, Ramones, Sonic Youth and/or The Clash.
Automatically Appended Next Post: Also, Rush is fantastic. There are so many other Canadians I'd apologize for as an American long before Rush. Bryan Adams and Celine Dion come to mind.
jasper76 wrote: For example, Slayer is the best band in the history of recorded music, but I bet you dont agree with me )
Well, that's not opinion, that's a verifiable fact.
Kerry King is the reason why children are still born named Kerry. Same thing with Tom Araya being the reason why Tom, or Thomas has remained a popular name
Also, Rush is fantastic. There are so many other Canadians I'd apologize for as an American long before Rush. Bryan Adams and Celine Dion come to mind.
Did you forget about the Thing that shall not be mentioned?? Or did you purposefully not mention that one?
jasper76 wrote: Wow...Television! I haven't though about them in a long, long time
I never much got into Sonic Youth, but the Ramones and the Clash are ace. As, of course, are the Fab Four.
"Sister" and "Daydream Nation" are the only albums that are really essential from Sonic Youth, there early albums are pretty much unlistenable unless you like an album that pretty much consists of slow droning noise that is occasionally accompanied by screeching.
jasper76 wrote: Wow...Television! I haven't though about them in a long, long time
I never much got into Sonic Youth, but the Ramones and the Clash are ace. As, of course, are the Fab Four.
"Sister" and "Daydream Nation" are the only albums that are really essential from Sonic Youth, there early albums are pretty much unlistenable unless you like an album that pretty much consists of slow droning noise that is occasionally accompanied by screeching.
That would explain why I never got into them. Whenever I heard them, they were new, and just as you described ref their early albums.
Yeah, with "Sister" and "Daydream Nation" the music actually resembles rock music and the noise elements are there to add different atmosphere, textures, etc, you can actually hum out the beat of the songs.
Did you forget about the Thing that shall not be mentioned?? Or did you purposefully not mention that one?
Struck me as poor taste. I wasn't going to rub that in their faces.
OK...you guys gotta clue me in on this.
Automatically Appended Next Post: I hope your not talkin about Beiber. I love that kid!
Never heard his music. Don't even need too...
Ich bin ein Belieber!
Automatically Appended Next Post: For real though. In every civilization, if they're lucky, a beacon is brought into the world that changes everything.
The Romans had Caesar.
The Jews had Jesus.
The Indians had Ghandi.
And now, at long last, we have our Saviour from the North!
jasper76 wrote: Wow...Television! I haven't though about them in a long, long time
I never much got into Sonic Youth, but the Ramones and the Clash are ace. As, of course, are the Fab Four.
"Sister" and "Daydream Nation" are the only albums that are really essential from Sonic Youth, there early albums are pretty much unlistenable unless you like an album that pretty much consists of slow droning noise that is occasionally accompanied by screeching.
WHAT!? Experimental Jet set, Trash and No Star is their best album by far! 'Winner's Blues' is brilliant, in particular. Check it out, you'll like it.
Automatically Appended Next Post: I hope your not talkin about Beiber. I love that kid!
No man, no way. I wasn't talking about him. If we HAVE to bring it up, I was talking about... uh, well, I think we were either talking about Alanis Morissette or Avril Lavgine! Yeah, definitely one of those two. Not that guy, certainly not.
PastelAvenger wrote: I usually get one with most Americans when I cross the pond and people don't seem to have a problem with the British sense of humour, maybe the accent when I've had a few sherbets though.
What I don't understand is American TV stations have a knack of taking a successful British Comedy show and turn it into a lifeless piece of garbage yet it still runs for years (the Office I'm looking at you)
I do enjoy a good monocle though.....and cuppa.
To be fair, American TV networks can turn ANY kind of successful foreign TV show into lifeless garbage, just look at what they've done to those great Scandinavian crime dramas in recent years.
Automatically Appended Next Post: I hope your not talkin about Beiber. I love that kid!
No man, no way. I wasn't talking about him. If we HAVE to bring it up, I was talking about... uh, well, I think we were either talking about Alanis Morissette or Avril Lavgine! Yeah, definitely one of those two. Not that guy, certainly not.
OK, I'll have to settle on being out of this insider joke.
In any case, Beiber is to modern western culture as Jesus was to the Ancient Roman Empire, I think we all can safely agree on that, and go back to discussing guilty pleasures, UK and US comedies, and the like.
He is not a bad actor, he, he has just been in two of the worst films ever.
Most of his work is good with afew dimonds that just shine like the whole damn mine
Ribon Fox wrote: He is not a bad actor, he, he has just been in two of the worst films ever.
Most of his work is good with afew dimonds that just shine like the whole damn mine
Funny, I dont remember seeing him in "Lost in Translation" lol
I'm a bit in the bag right now painting Termagants (shoot me!) and watching the UK Office, and I have pinpointed why I like the US Office better than the UK Office: everyone in the UK Office is a total, irredeemable douche bag except the secretary, and everyone absolutely despises everyone else, except the secretary and Bilbo.
The US Office is much more optimistic, where people are annoyed by each other, but no one hates each other, and no one (as opposed to everyone) is a 100% douche bag with the possible exception of the Temp.
So the US Office is an inherently optimistic, uplifting show, and the UK Office is an inherently depressing show.
Is this the difference between the US vs UK worldview, or is it just one TV show vs. another TV show???
jasper76 wrote: I'm a bit in the bag right now painting Termagants (shoot me!) and watching the UK Office, and I have pinpointed why I like the US Office better than the UK Office: everyone in the UK Office is a total, irredeemable douche bag except the secretary, and everyone absolutely despises everyone else, except the secretary and Bilbo.
The US Office is much more optimistic, where people are annoyed by each other, but no one hates each other, and no one (as opposed to everyone) is a 100% douche bag with the possible exception of the Temp.
So the US Office is an inherently optimistic, uplifting show, and the UK Office is an inherently depressing show.
Is this the difference between the US vs UK worldview, or is it just one TV show vs. another TV show???
IDK... Breaking Bad, SOA, Walking Dead, House of Cards. All populated by horrible, self serving people. I think it's just how writers are making characters these days.
House of cards was a uk show first. And i rather liked the central character in the uk version, i thought he was frightfully charming and witty. Rather.
The people you work with are people you were just thrown together with. I mean, you don't know them, it wasn't your choice. And yet you spend more time with them than you do your friends or your family. But probably all you have in common is the fact that you walk around on the same bit of carpet for eight hours a day.
I don't know...I try to get along and focus on the good things about most everyone I've worked with. I've probably only truly disliked 2 or 3 people in my worklife spanning ~25 years so far., even though there have been plenty that got on my nerves.
Normally I prefer my comedy without a laugh track but I absolutely adore Fawlty Towers.
I think that anybody who has to interact with the public in any capacity can relate to this.
The Simpsons has to be my favourite American TV export. Certainly up until Phil Hartman died. They still have the very occasional good episode now but the classic seasons are so well written that they're infinitely rewatchable and quotable.
The vast array of support characters prevents the main cast from becoming stale. Skinner has to be one of my favourite characters.
I honestly think you'd be hard pressed to watch the old seasons and not love them.
jasper76 wrote: I'm a bit in the bag right now painting Termagants (shoot me!) and watching the UK Office, and I have pinpointed why I like the US Office better than the UK Office: everyone in the UK Office is a total, irredeemable douche bag except the secretary, and everyone absolutely despises everyone else, except the secretary and Bilbo.
The US Office is much more optimistic, where people are annoyed by each other, but no one hates each other, and no one (as opposed to everyone) is a 100% douche bag with the possible exception of the Temp.
So the US Office is an inherently optimistic, uplifting show, and the UK Office is an inherently depressing show.
Is this the difference between the US vs UK worldview, or is it just one TV show vs. another TV show???
Worldview, I think.
Being stuck in a cube farm is seen as a death sentence. Not a zenith. There's more bitchiness and politicking in Aussie and brit offices than in the US - and its of the more snide, character assassination type.
jasper76 wrote: I'm a bit in the bag right now painting Termagants (shoot me!) and watching the UK Office, and I have pinpointed why I like the US Office better than the UK Office: everyone in the UK Office is a total, irredeemable douche bag except the secretary, and everyone absolutely despises everyone else, except the secretary and Bilbo.
The US Office is much more optimistic, where people are annoyed by each other, but no one hates each other, and no one (as opposed to everyone) is a 100% douche bag with the possible exception of the Temp.
So the US Office is an inherently optimistic, uplifting show, and the UK Office is an inherently depressing show.
Is this the difference between the US vs UK worldview, or is it just one TV show vs. another TV show???
Worldview, I think.
Being stuck in a cube farm is seen as a death sentence. Not a zenith. There's more bitchiness and politicking in Aussie and brit offices than in the US - and its of the more snide, character assassination type.
Pretty much this; British workers stuck in a dead-end office job understand that their future consists of awkward Christmas parties, annoying/unreasonable bosses, petty coworkers, and if you're really unlucky customers *shudder*. For some reason American workers stuck in a dead-end office job still really believe, deep down in their soul, that one day they'll be running the company and lording it over the peons.
Pretty much this; British workers stuck in a dead-end office job understand that their future consists of awkward Christmas parties, annoying/unreasonable bosses, petty coworkers, and if you're really unlucky customers *shudder*. For some reason American workers stuck in a dead-end office job still really believe, deep down in their soul, that one day they'll be running the company and lording it over the peons.
So this is an incorrect characterization of US workers at desk jobs in general. Plenty, perhaps most, people who work desk jobs have no aspirations whatsoever of achieving managerial or other executive positions, and are content to come to the office, do their job, and get paid for their work And in many skilled positions, workers make more money than their managers do.
So this is an incorrect characterization of US workers at desk jobs in general. Plenty, perhaps most, people who work desk jobs have no aspirations whatsoever of achieving managerial or other executive positions, and are content to come to the office, do their job, and get paid for their work And in many skilled positions, workers make more money than their managers do.
For instance, over this past weekend, my mom was telling me how they (well really, her and one other person) had to come up with a new power point presentation a la "school house rock" on how a bill becomes a law, and how it affects their position as state workers (it's a new "manager" and apparently actually had no idea how State law making functioned ). And by affects them as state workers, she meant how things like budget allocation, special projects, etc. are passed onto their office.
Pretty much this; British workers stuck in a dead-end office job understand that their future consists of awkward Christmas parties, annoying/unreasonable bosses, petty coworkers, and if you're really unlucky customers *shudder*. For some reason American workers stuck in a dead-end office job still really believe, deep down in their soul, that one day they'll be running the company and lording it over the peons.
So this is an incorrect characterization of US workers at desk jobs in general. Plenty, perhaps most, people who work desk jobs have no aspirations whatsoever of achieving managerial or other executive positions, and are content to come to the office, do their job, and get paid for their work And in many skilled positions, workers make more money than their managers do.
Ehm... no they don't. The money-making bit, I mean. No line-worker in a cube-farm makes more money than anyone with the word "manager" in their job title. That's... simply not how corporations work.
Pretty much this; British workers stuck in a dead-end office job understand that their future consists of awkward Christmas parties, annoying/unreasonable bosses, petty coworkers, and if you're really unlucky customers *shudder*. For some reason American workers stuck in a dead-end office job still really believe, deep down in their soul, that one day they'll be running the company and lording it over the peons.
So this is an incorrect characterization of US workers at desk jobs in general. Plenty, perhaps most, people who work desk jobs have no aspirations whatsoever of achieving managerial or other executive positions, and are content to come to the office, do their job, and get paid for their work And in many skilled positions, workers make more money than their managers do.
Ehm... no they don't. The money-making bit, I mean. No line-worker in a cube-farm makes more money than anyone with the word "manager" in their job title. That's... simply not how corporations work.
I make more money than my manager. I have a cubicle (though I telework 2 days a week).
Perhaps I don't know what you mean by "line-worker". I work as an analyst. Am I a line worker? Other people where I work have the exact same job as me, so I guess so.
Pretty much this; British workers stuck in a dead-end office job understand that their future consists of awkward Christmas parties, annoying/unreasonable bosses, petty coworkers, and if you're really unlucky customers *shudder*. For some reason American workers stuck in a dead-end office job still really believe, deep down in their soul, that one day they'll be running the company and lording it over the peons.
So this is an incorrect characterization of US workers at desk jobs in general. Plenty, perhaps most, people who work desk jobs have no aspirations whatsoever of achieving managerial or other executive positions, and are content to come to the office, do their job, and get paid for their work And in many skilled positions, workers make more money than their managers do.
I'm sorry, I thought dry humour about the difference between Brits and Americans in a thread specifically about British humour filled with American posters discussing said humour would land, evidently I was incorrect.
For me if its funny I will watch it don't care who it is.
Favourate US comics has to be Rich Hall and Chris Rock they both have me in stitches.
On the flip side of that I really can't stand Ricky Gervais he really winds me up.
Oh and the whole US/UK history thing, you guys always forget one thing.....if it wasn't for our ancestors you guys would be talking French So I think we are even.
Oh and the whole US/UK history thing, you guys always forget one thing.....if it wasn't for our ancestors you guys would be talking French So I think we are even.
And if it weren't for us, you'd be speaking German
The British Top Gear beats the pants off the American one as well.
Someone made another Top Gear??
(yes, I know that someone took 3 American idiots and thought they could make a half-way decent replica of an International Icon... but failed miserably)
Pretty much this; British workers stuck in a dead-end office job understand that their future consists of awkward Christmas parties, annoying/unreasonable bosses, petty coworkers, and if you're really unlucky customers *shudder*. For some reason American workers stuck in a dead-end office job still really believe, deep down in their soul, that one day they'll be running the company and lording it over the peons.
So this is an incorrect characterization of US workers at desk jobs in general. Plenty, perhaps most, people who work desk jobs have no aspirations whatsoever of achieving managerial or other executive positions, and are content to come to the office, do their job, and get paid for their work And in many skilled positions, workers make more money than their managers do.
I think this is a pretty fair generalisation.
On my first visit to New Orleans, a couple of decades ago, we pulled up in a parking lot and the attendant started chatting. "You gotta move over here, young people like you, it's the best place in the world." He was a parking lot attendant and his home was probably washed away in Hurricane Katrina.
Is being optimistic in the face of depressing reality a good thing? Definitely yes and definitely no.
). And by affects them as state workers, she meant how things like budget allocation, special projects, etc. are passed onto their office.
