Book: Watching the British. Hidden rules of conduct

The British of all classes are convinced that tea has miraculous properties. Cup of tea can cure, or at least significantly to alleviate almost any trifling ailment, from headaches to scraped knees. Tea is also a good cure for all diseases and social or psychological in nature - from insulted "me" to the emotional trauma resulting from divorce or bereavement. This magic drink and effective as a sedative and as a stimulant. Tea and soothes, calms and excites, increases vitality. Whatever your mental or physical condition, all you need is "a good Cup of tea".

If we ourselves do nothing but criticize their weather, foreigners are not allowed to criticize. In this sense, we treat the weather as a family member: one may Express dissatisfaction with the behavior of their children or parents, but the slightest hint of condemnation from the outsider is considered unacceptable and is regarded as bad manners.

Irony around the head. In the words of one astute observer, the British "born to irony". We swim in it from his mother's womb. This - amniotic fluid... We are joking you are not joking. Worried about not worrying. Serious not seriously.

Don't confuse humor with the English "good humor" or "cheerfulness". Often it is something opposite.

The Englishman will apologise to you, even being your fault in a puddle, if it is obvious that you pushed him in there unintentionally.

Perhaps the rules of modesty invented in order that we do not give vent to his natural haughtiness, as well as the rules of politeness to restrain our aggressive tendencies.

- Well, how's your book about English identity? What kind of head work?
- Writing about sex.
It will be twenty blank pages?

Learn to meet every problem, from the charred toast to the third world war - our traditional cry of "That's so!", saying it offended, with immense patience and self-confidence of a knowledgeable person, and you will become fully acculturating Englishman.

The main thing - hypocrisy.
Restraint, restraint, reticence, shyness, embarrassment, evasiveness, hypocrisy, politeness through clenched teeth - it's all very English.

Only bourgeois to buy furniture; real aristocrats inherit furniture.

Often say that to the animals we are treated as people, but it's not true. You never saw how we treat people? So surly and unfriendly attitude towards animals would have been unthinkable.

Recently the English a new excuse to stay home, raise the imaginary "lifting the ground" and to relieve themselves from the stress of social interaction: the Internet, email, chats, web surfing, instant messaging. If it was invented specifically for introverted, socially inhibited, adoring words. the British.
In cyberspace we are in his element - in the world of disembodied words. No need to worry about what to wear, whether to make eye contact with people, shake hands, kiss cheeks or just smile. No awkward pauses or false starts shyly. No need to break the tense silence of remarks about the weather, idle chatter to delay the beginning business conversation, offer tea or to use other mechanisms of protective reactions. There is no need for the traditional long good-byes. Nothing material, no people of flesh and blood. Only the written word. Just what we love.
And most importantly, cyberspace is a great rastormazivate. Releasing the impact of cyberspace is a universal phenomenon, not only in England. Representatives of many cultures recognize that in the process of interactive communication they are more open, more talkative, less reserved, than when communicating face to face or by phone. But for the British, who in a greater degree than other people, in need of such social "intermediaries", releasing effect is very important.

People hesitate because they are, in their own opinion saying, "right." Formality causes confusion. And deviation from Convention causes confusion. All confused.

Moderation is an admirable trait, but need to be moderate in moderation.