Hi all, Just spotted a Facebook post from an old, but not very close friend which said simply "Hate for motorbikes" I can only assume that one of us must have upset him. Well we could look at this in a couple of ways. One, someone with a motorcycle has been a bit of a knob, been a bit antisocial, and caused offence. Or maybe its just the manifestation of a particularly British disease, where we can't bear to see someone having more fun than ourselves?
The post could have been because someone wanted a lie-in and a noisy biker ruined it by revving his engine. Or, maybe a biker was thought to have caused an accident which caused damage to the poster's car or injury to themselves or friends. People use the word hate for everything from mild, passing irritation to a deep-seated rage against something that destroyed their lives. So yeah, it's either entirely understandable or just plain knobbishness :smile:
After a little prompting, he said that he was out on his bicycle, and he hated the 'thousands coming the other way, especially the ones who were overtaking straight at me.' Hmm. He's a fairly timid sort.
Yes, I suppose thats an answer... However, its interesting to find out the views of others. I know that he's a motorsport enthusiast, so expected him to like mechanical things being used properly, which is why I found his post surprising. The trouble is, what if everyone begins to think this way?
A little story, on how non-brits see some brits. I work here due to my language skills, not born here, but somewhere in a field in Scandinavia Before moving to UK in 2009, we had a general picture of brits always being über-polite. After living here for 4 years now, i have found, that i have to mind my own business, because if i ask, the question in return comes straight away "what the fcuk of yours is that business - pi$$ off!". I have found, that for my british colleagues, i need to use "please" twice in each sentence, if i want/need some help or a task completed. I have found, that managers couldn't care less about you, but, oh my god so slimy they will be, if they need you. Pointing out to a motorist that they are running on a flat tyre, is answered with "The Finger". Asking for something in a store is a night mare: "Haven't you got more butter?" Answer: "Why do you think we would sell butter, here in Tesco's??" or "Where do you think it would be!?" Well, thanks. I am sorry to say, but the impression left is getting shattered. It didn't help, when a builder in his red van over took me, after lane merged, with the result, i was forced to block the brakes and beeped the horn after him, so i would't be hitting the 10 inch curb. He then slams his brakes, jumps out and screams "Don't you race off from me at lights again, you foreign cunt". Gladly i took a picture of his van, and then had a chat with the Police. It turned out i could report him for road rage and racism. However, i asked the police to have a chat with the man, before raising any charges - there would be no way, he could know, that i wasn't british. To the Police offices surprise, the chaps excuse was "i am working with Polish workers all day" I am sorry, but to me, that doesn't justify anything, and the selfish behaviour, i've been met with here in UK is not rare. But i keep living here
Sorry to hear you're having trouble with (hopefully only a few ) English people, but I have a little observation to make. My mother in law ( well one of them,!) is Norwegian, and just sometimes she says something, and although she doesn't mean it to sound like it does, it comes across to us as something totally different. Now I have noticed this and make allowances and listen very carefully to what she is saying and can pick up just what she means, but it is easy to take something the wrong way. This is not a criticism of her or any Scandinavians but it may explain some of the issues you have. I hope this goes some way to alleviate some of the issues you are having, it seems that our ears hear things slightly different ( just the good old English language again!) Chris
Hi Chris, Great reply, and I can only say, that I know what your Norwegian Mother-in-law must go through - its not always easy to speak in a second language And that could actually be a good point - if you didn't knew your Mother-in-law, would you show same respect? Most seems to have the opinion of not - but why not? I often feel, that Brits are looking for something to get offended over, but I don't really understand why - it doesn't fit with that general picture of, the English language is so polite. Any way, we've got a bit side tracked now, because OP was asking for why bikers is seen in some cases, as "outstanding", one way or another... /M
My son has a friend who's Finnish. Great English, better than his but when we have a chat its difficult to catch emphasis or tone. But...the English spoken in the UK is getting more Aussie (everything sounds like a question) or American (odd words like 'like' on the end of every sentence). Does my head in and no wonder someone from another language would struggle to understand the tone! And I'm sure I've probably had a rant about bikers at some point on FB...thats what its there for ;-)
Can I ask where you are from? I have to say I find Swedish and Finnish very easy to get on with. A lot of my Finnish friends are very blunt Sarcastic but very polite. I know where I stand and if I ask for the truth I get it . I enjoy their company. My Swedish friends are more chatty and again super polite. There is great rivalry between them in good natured way. I have to say if I could live in Scandinavia I would in a heartbeat. Even moving counties in Uk is hardwork sometime !! Some counties are friendlier then others .
Yes English is changing but rather then Aussie nearer to London is getting more patois makes me wince.
I would like to think that I would be as polite to anyone, but it is difficult for her, and I also have to say that, having been to Norway 3 times now, they are wonderfully polite and warm people, as we're the couple of Swedish that I have met! I think we could learn an awful lot from them! Not least the ability to speak a second language ( something I can't do!)
Red van-man was Salford.... Yeah I know, shithole - but neither of us lives in the area, so couldn't use that excuse. Work is in Wigan, flat tyre-episode was on some service station along M1
